BGleas

I don't remember the first time I got a DVR (maybe 2008), but this is the first time I'm not bothering to record an IU game so I can watch it. Not even going to bother. Apathy is probably the word right now.

While it's still early, one thing I never got about Michigan getting love in the preseason is that they bad last year before Levert got hurt.

I agree, but in basketball the best player gets treated like the QB in football. When the team wins they get all the praise and when the team doesn't they get much of the criticism. Not saying it's right or fair all the time, but that's just the way it is.

For Yogi it's the same as Crean. Just win and it changes everything. If IU wins the Big Ten and goes to a Final Four this year, Yogi goes from the "AJ Guyton" category to the "Alford, Chaeney, Bailey, Thomas, etc." category. Winning changes a lot.

I was at the game. Maryland fans are legit and some of the most creative with chants, etc. The arena is really nice too. As for the game, Robert Carter is legit. Might be their best player. Reminds me of Antawn Jamison. Trimble is a bit overrated, but is still a great college player. Even the Maryland fans I was with get annoyed at all the calls Trimble gets and all his flopping. The real difference for Maryland is Suiliamon is a real calming influence on the court with his experience, and then something they have that we don't is legit size behind Stone. They're almost better with Dodd and Check in. Negatives are that they have no real backup point guard, and that playing a bigger lineup (Laymen at the 3) is messing them up a bit. It's turned them into more of a halfcourt team, when with Trimble you really want to get out and run. Will be interesting, they're extremely talented and deep, but I don't think quite as good as top 3-5.

Agree. That's where I was hoping we'd plug in Kegler, Alkins would fit there too, but we need a bigger athletic wing to go next to Bryant and Davis.

I don't have a problem with the call to pass, but should have rolled Sudfeld out to have a throw/run option.

I was talking about the pregame ceremony in particular, not the actual banner itself.

Wisconsin had a great team last year, but the show they're putting on for raising a Final four banner is similar to what an NBA team does when they get their rings on opening night. Hate to take anything away from them, but it's a little much.

I heard he's been cast in the sequel... http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120765/?ref_=nm_knf_t1

I think this team will go as far as Yogi, Troy and JBJ's focus and leadership on defense takes them. Along with depth, this is the biggest thing that has me worried for a letdown this season.

If there's two things this team is missing, it's interior depth and an athletic 6-5 to 6-7 wing that allows Troy to play the 4. IU would be a true contender if we had something like: Yogi JBJ Wing with size Troy Bryant And then you bring Rojo, Max, Zeisloft, Hartman and a true backup 5 off the bench.

Sounds familiar.

I always love when Slippery Rock gets crushed!

I'm pretty sure Golson was dismissed from school at ND. He left school for a year and could have gone anywhere and then decided to come back to ND. I think it was the same thing with their corner Russell too.

Ummmm, ok. Not sure what you're talking about. I said I'm glad we have Hartman and that he'll play an important role this season. He's not a power forward though. Not sure why that upsets you so much?

I'm suggesting that he's not an interior player. Do you really consider Colin Hartman a power forward? He's not a guy that can defend or rebound with Perry Ellis, Robert Carter, Caleb Swanigan, Marcus Lee, etc. The good teams in college basketball have 4's that are two inches taller and a heck of a lot more athletic than Hartman. I don't mean this as a bash Hartman post. I like Hartman and think he'll play an important role this year, but he's not really an interior player. That stint starting at the 5 last year was a bit smoke/mirrors.  

Colin Hartman is nice player and I'm glad we have him, but he's not an interior defender or rebounder. This team could use true interior depth, like real big guys.

Agree. Was not insinuating that we should have kept Holt, just meant it would be nice to have some experienced depth behind Max.

Yes, but it would be nice to have Holt as depth behind Max.

IU will be more successful if it's leaders (Yogi, Troy, JBJ) commit to making defense a priority, not an afterthought. Thomas Bryant is great, but he'll be riding the pine a lot in foul trouble if those three continue to take plays off on defense and not commit to focusing on it big time.

My preference is to always take the points until you have to go for 2. A lot of game left, that extra point could be important later.

Any chance we don't give up points here?

Agree! There's a lot to happen still, but I would be ecstatic over a Kegler, Davis, Brown, CuJo, Gelon class. I doubt we'll get them all, but find a way to lock that class up in the Fall, and then based on NBA entrants and transfers, let the chips fall where they may in the Spring with Alkins/Maker. What I like about the initial group of Kegler, Davis, Brown, CuJo and Gelon is that outside of Gelon they're all high 4*'s. While I'd love the stud top 10-20 recruits, I think you can build a very successful program, and probably a more stable/consistent one, with guys like Watford, Yogi, Troy, Bryant, Morgan, Kegler, Davis, Brown, etc. 4 * guys that are likely to stay 2-4 years. That's your foundation, then the McDonald's guys are gravy as opposed to required.

Reminds me of the PSU loss in basketball a couple years ago, when we were up 11 with like a minute to go. Awful!