Dave from Dayton

4 in my family and a friend are all going from Dayton to Columbus OH for the IU @ OSU game on 2/19. Really would like to win that game. However, right now...after watching the OSU OT win over Nebraska...it appears IU is not of that caliber at this time. But there is hope. Hope that Phin quickly gets the ball in play, scores early and often. Xavier keeps his cool and scores early and often. Tamar Bates has the game slow down for him and does well. That all of our shooters hit from the 3 at over 40%. That assists and cuts go up. That defense stays excellent throughout the whole game. That IU hits free throws down the stretch and in closing minutes of the game. That Race is at 100%. That IU out rebounds the other team all of the games. And IU gets into the NCAAT with room to spare. Never give up! This is Indiana!

Oh woe. Indiana lost a game on the road in the B1G. Think I will quit watching them and cheering for ole IU!/s Get a grip. No one likes to lose. But it is relatively early in Coach Woodson's effort to turn this program around. Has IU done what it could to attract quality recruits to the program? Yes...finally. Has IU gotten a great coach to come to IU as head coach? Well, he does check a load of boxes that previous hires didn't. Was Coach Woody successful as a player and an NBA coach. Yes and yes. As to the latter, he did well considering the NBA. Is IU positioned to improve during the year? Dunno. The jury is out...but with his staff it looks ok. Who is motivating the players to move without the ball? To play defense all game? To shoot more effectively? Does IU adjust well to the overutilization of TJD? Well, the guards and forwards that IU has are not up to the talent of what is needed. But, this is the first year of the new coaching staff being in place. I look to recruiting to make or break IU. And that jury will be out for a couple of years. This isn't 'automatic'. This isn't plug and play. This isn't quick fix territory. Step back from the ledge. Get a perspective. Woody may not be the second coming of RMK. He may not have the success of a Coach K. If one thinks that IU should have gotten a better college coach...then why didn't IU? Could it be because: they didn't want to; they didn't fit; they weren't available?

I think that I may have over estimated the scoring.

Put the breaks on! I can't keep up with the action. Whew....

We are playing PSU's slow, methodical game. Now with Phin in...the game will be slower.

Crap...X has 2 fouls. Oh noes.

A team back in. Break this game open

Intentional foul..

B team practice...ugh.

IU 74 Key Stoners 64

My IU vs OSU tickets were purchased through Stubhub. It was because of the 120% Covid credit policy...which, no doubt, helps to maintain their ticket sales and profits. That certainly reduced the risk of losing lots of moolah.

79 Indiana 59 Rocky Side This is the last chance before the long slog through the conference. Will IU come out flat? Will IU play a whole 40 minutes? ( spoiler alert: no) Will Trayce and Race play tag team? (spoiler alert: yes) Will IU turn over the ball more than 15 times; score over 80; hit 8 threes; hit 70% FTs; defend the 3? (spoiler alert: yes; no; no; yes; yes) Will Woody wear a suit and will IU win? yes to both Will IU cover the spread? I don't know the spread. Will AH be relatively full of fans? 13000 out of 17000 I have tickets to IU @ OSU on 2/19! Taking the family and a friend...great seats! Can IU win at the Schott House? Yes, if X keeps his cool; and we hit 8 threes, and TJD doesn't sit early, etc.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Mele K..., and to all another National Championship Basketball Banner for Indiana! Got the go-ahead to get 4 tickets to the IU @ OSU game in February! Price jumped...so checking...Just rechecked...price drop!

Actually, I would like to say that I'm gunning for #1. But, that is not the case. I'm extremely reluctant to predict against the Hoosiers any time they have somewhat of a reasonable chance to win. I get little satisfaction picking a Syracuse over IU and being right. So I will strongly vote with my heart and soul for the Hoosiers. Almost always predicting IU to win just seems to me to be the way it should be. I grew up in Indiana. Graduated from IU-B. Married an IU grad and moved to Madison WI. Got a Civil and Environmental Engineering degree up there. Whenever IU plays WI...I cheer unreservedly for IU! So I picked wrong twice this season. But I feel great about that. I do enjoy predicting though. I am somewhat surprised so far that IU's scoring is so low. But, part of that is that the possessions are down because of IU's really decent defense. No complaints here.

kb, you're #13 with 964. Just ahead of the main pack. For example, I'm #28 at 938. Don't stumble.

Hurrying Hoosiers 80 NKU black and gold? Bourbon Drinking Norse 57 A Norse is a Norse Of course of course, and no one can talk to a Norse of course. Unless, the Norse is the famous Norse... with the name of George Clooney.

I like a sense of urgency, team play, assists, blocking out, give and go, effective screens, smart play, finishing, minimizing mental errors, great recruiting, in-game adjustments, and coaches wearing suits if that helps us to win. Not to mention great point guard play. We are doing better than I had thought we might. Not as good as I hoped we would do. Our free throw percentage is up. Our 3-point shooting is improved. Our point guard play is better. TJD and Race are engaged and TJD is going with his other hand. Defense is generally very decent. I just want to continue to see improvement...even when the tougher part of the season hits. I hope Covid doesn't cause serious damage. I see IU in the NCAAT! Low bar but there it is. And Purdue still sucks.

The point guard position is the starting 'point' of over half of the plays in a game. IU has been lacking a stellar PG for way too long. Yogi was pretty darn good. Phin was a more than decent Frosh PG. But he has gotten his bell rung at least twice. And other injuries have obviously impacted. Maybe he will get his groove back this season. He is a decent option if he wouldn't dribble too long at the top of the key before distributing or slashing. He did play fairly well last night. I agree that if X doesn't kick start the team then Coach Woody has to change out that position for the time being. But, I do not understand the offense of only the PG moving. Why the other players just stand and wait for the PG to initiate a play seems to me to be a problem...with an easy solution. Why not get Race to move to the high position and get him the ball to initiate a play early in the game. That or hit a 3 early. Missing the early 3 and a matador defense in any of the very early plays by the other team...puts IU in the hole game after game. Take a pick of many options...any of them will get the team going imho. I understand the 4 and 1 offense and the focus on trying to get TJD the ball early. But if the other team is prepared for that then IU has to be prepared immediately to react on offense using Plan B.

Hey, a win!

IU did look like they were playing in boots the first 12 minutes. Slow starts get to me. Don't understand why Coach Woody doesn't change flavor of his gum when they start slowly.

Defense picked up the last 7 minutes. TJD started to awaken. Race is great.

In the olde days...a doobie and a beer. Or a beer and a loaded brat.

Sign up for Hulu or another streaming service for trial period. Cancel within their time period. They will ask for CC. But it won't cost if one complies with the cancellation policy. I won't do Sling. They had a trial advertised. But a glitch that maybe I caused cost a month of fees. And they were jerks.

Can IU play better than UK? Yes! (ND just beat UK up there. But neither team is stellar.) Will IU's defense stop ND's cuts and screens and in-bounds plays? Mostly. Will IU beat ND? Oh yes! Can ND stop TJD, Race, etc.? Uh, not likely. Will IU hit 3s, FTs, and keep their cool? Some. 70%, uh I don't know. Wee People 67 Hoosier Daddies 76 This could be the start of something special...