BGleas

This is all about personnel IMO. When you have a lineup of Yogi, JBJ, RoJo, TW, Bryant, you have two BIG minus defenders in JBJ and Troy, then you have two average defenders in Yogi/Bryant, and one above average in RoJo.    When you have two terrible defenders in a lineup of five it brings everyone else down at least a notch. With JBJ out, we've replaced his defense with Hartman (average) and OG/Morgan (appear to be above average), it changes the dynamic of everything. Now they really only have to cover to TW, and let's be real he's a bad defender, but JBJ is horrendous. Troy's gambles aren't as costly now, because everyone else is in position behind him.    Take the names out of it, you just can't have two terrible defenders in the lineup, you can probably cover for one, but not two. It's a huge trickle down effect. 

I don't think Knight ever comes back, but if he does my guess is it will not be for some kind of anniversary or recognition game. It will be just a random game and everyone will do their best to keep it out of the media/quiet until he walks out right before tip-off. No ceremonies, no halftime speeches, etc. 

I'd add no JBJ. He's is absolutely awful on defense, and his mistakes defensively impact not just him, but his teammates too.

^^ it's amazing that he hasn't developed any semblance of a mid-range game.

Just finished the game, a few quick thoughts. - Most enjoyable game to watch to this point for me - I love this freshmen class - Bryant is a beast, and OG and Morgan just make plays that winners make, and all 3 are very good passers - I don't think it's a coincidence that I enjoy watching IU more when JBJ is on the bench While I hope he's healthy, I don't wish injury on anyone, but I would love to see this team develop with JBJ on the bench (due to performance, not injury). I'm a bit perplexed that RoJo and Troy have struggled in these two games, but if we would get them going, and begin to run the team through Bryant and Yogi, with a solid group of role guys in RoJo, Troy, Hartman, OG, Max, Z and Juwan, I think we could have something. I still think we're behind MSU, Maryland, Iowa and Purdue though.

On paper, yes. Will be interesting to see how Izzo, who obviously is one of the top coaches in the game, handles having all these freshmen UK style. Sometimes guys, even as talented as Izzo, can struggle when they're outside their lane. He's not used to having a lot of the freshmen with potential agenda's. Will be interesting to watch.   

If I'm remembering correctly, two of JBJ's offensive rebounds were the on the same play (got his own offensive rebound twice) and it was a play where he made an awful drive and he had Bryant wide open for a dump-off dunk, but he instead drove into two guys and threw it up. That's an instance where stats alone don't tell the story.   

Great comeback win. Wish we played better overall, but sometimes a win like that can bring guys together. If this was my team for the foreseeable future my lineup is this: Yogi RoJo Hartman Williams Bryant Bench: Zeisloft Beifeldt OG Morgan (if healthy) Yogi and Williams are on short leashes. I'm telling Troy that if he plays like he did in the first half today he'll be on the bench. I'm telling Yogi that this is his last chance to step up as a leader on both ends, and it's time to start feeding the big fella. I'm telling RoJo this is his team now. He's my guy, from a leadership standpoint, for the next 2.5 years. This is his team. I'm telling JBJ that we'll entertain the idea of him playing again when he decides he actually wants to be on a winning basketball team. He can play again when he stops being selfish on both ends, and starts putting more on the table than he takes off it.

I'm 99% convinced that Duke will hire from within the "family", and I'm 99% convinced that if Stevens comes back to college he'll be the next Coach K. I have no feeling on whether he'll come back to college or not though. I can't imagine the uproar if he comes back somewhere else. 

For what? The 3rd year in a row?  

I think the Priller chants are fun/harmless, but you have to admit it's probably a little embarrassing for Priller. 1) He's probably embarrassed at being called out so much more than other players. 2) He's a scholarship player that plays less than some walk-ons, and that type of reception is usually for a walk-on and often times a senior at that. Priller has been getting this since day 1. 3) Priller also probably feels partly appreciative of the applause, but probably also partly that he's being mocked. And let's be honest, he is being mocked when the crowd goes nuts like that for him.    I really don't think Crean was mad because he wants to force Priller out and the fan applause is going to make him stay. There are numerous reasons players transfer, and fan applause is probably pretty low on the list. I could be completely wrong, but if he was upset over the fan applause for Priller, it seems more likely to me it's because they're a little embarrassed by it all. 

True, though Isiah Thomas is playing at an All-Star level this year. He's not in the Curry realm by any means, but in the discussion with the other guys. GS started Ian Clark (who?) and Brandon Rush their places.   

Being a Celtics fan, I'm loving it. But, GS is without Harrison Barnes and Klay Thompson.   

Saw on twitter that a beat writer for the Des Moines Register got a compound leg fracture in the court storming.

I would love for IU to underachieve in the tourney the way UK does, or even KU.

Bailey VO Cheaney Jeffries Henderson Bench: Alford Gordon Zeller DJ White Edwards This was tough, I wanted to include Eric Anderson, Greg Graham and Dean Garrett. The debate in terms of starter/bench for me was between Bailey/Alford/VO.

And it's the most basic defensive concepts you learn at an early age that they are completely awful at.

I'm with you. My questions really weren't meant to be directed at you or Wayne's, more of a thinking out loud thing that was spurred by your post.

I completely agree with you and HoosierPap here on the premise of that article. But, the question for me would be, at what point does it go from a player problem to a coach/program problem? First it was Jeremy Hollowell's fault. Then it was Naoh Vonleh's. Then Hanner Perea. Then Devin Davis. Then Emmitt Holt. Now Yogi Ferrell. I do understand that Yogi has been the constant through this entire time, but at what point is that culture the fault of Tom Crean? So while the article may be accurate and it does give me a slight (slight being keyword) amount of pause on the "Crean has to go" mantra, it still leaves the question of whether he's equipped to handle this.

The Celtics have a TON of assets. They have Brooklyn's 1st rounder this year unprotected, as well as Minny's and Dallas'. Then next year they have the right to swap picks with Brooklyn and the following year I think they also get Brooklyn's pick. They also have a ton of 2nd round picks. Danny Ainge absolutely destroyed Billy King in the Pierce/Garnett trade. Yes, rookies take a while to develop, but Ainge's entire plan is to flip all these assets into a couple all stars/superstars. He's trying to replicate the Garnett/Allen trades. Now, that's easier said than done, but you could argue his assets this time are better than he had previously and it could happen fairly quickly. He flipped Wally Sczerbiak, Delonte West, Al Jefferson and Gerald Green into Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett.

I made a post to this effect on another board, but I'll make it here too. First, let me be clear. I am not actively rooting against IU. It's not like that. I didn't tune in last night wanted Duke to win. But, I'd be lying if I didn't say that during the St. Johns game I was checking the score throughout the day at work and there was a little part of me hoping St. John's would come back. Not because I hate Crean. He's a good person. But, he's not the guy and I'm just tired of not being excited about IU basketball anymore. I'm tired of the constant "will he/won't he be fired". The worst case scenario is that we bounce back enough to be a 7ish seed and moving on from Crean at the end of the year is a grey area, and then we're stuck with another year of hot seat talk, etc. I wanted this season to be a grand slam (win the conference, make a tourney run, be a top ranked team, etc.) or clear cut that we're moving on to a new coach. That middle ground is the worst case scenario for IU basketball.

Wow...that's all I can say. This isn't even a great Duke team.

Amazing how Louisville loses all those guys the last two years and they appear to not be skipping a beat. Must be nice!

ESPN has ignored the UNC scandal at a staggering level.

I hate to be negative, but my prediction for this game is that our shots don't fall on the road, causing our defense to suffer, guys to play hero ball and we ultimately get overwhelmed and lose fairly big. We'll hit some 3's down the stretch to make the score closer than the game really was.