cthomas

The downside to the internet/social media era is that fans get over invested in the recruiting process. We try to interpret every little thing these kids say or do and view all of it through our very biased lens. Would love to have Garcia as part of next year's team, but I doubt CAM is going to spend much time worrying about it if he goes somewhere else. Coach will simply move on to someone else. Garcia seems like a good kid with a really solid family who is making a choice that feels best for him. I don't read anything more into it than that.

Agree with this completely. Romeo was the right player at the wrong time. We just didn't have enough pieces with enough experience to allow him to excel.

I've seen enough to believe this team better than last year's. It's much better balanced and everyone on scholarship is capable of contributing when called upon. Chemistry is obviously better and we have yet to see the team at full strength. I'm seeing a really high ceiling for this group. I'm excited for what it is now and what it can be over the next couple of years.

We need to continue to upgrade our talent and build depth. I thought we were very competitive even though we played most of the game without our two best offensive players. We have a shot in each of the remaining games, although neither will be easy. I see progress and actually look forward to the rest of this season and next. That doesn't happen very often.

Or maybe the other team is just better. Players matter.

Have to think Penn State will make him a point of emphasis and try to take him away. Should provide an opportunity for some others to make plays.

After what he did to Cathedral, I'm a Charlie Spegal believer. Hard to believe only Army and Indiana State have offered him a scholarship. After reading Gregg Doyle's IndyStar article about Spegal, he seems like a very high character, humble, team oriented kid. Seems worthy of a scholarship offer to me. In fact, it seems disrespectful, considering what he has accomplished, not to offer.

Agreed. We had an ambush set up and Minnesota took away our cover. A win will require a seasons best effort all around.

Would love to see the series start up again. Would also like it to be played on the respective campuses. I thought the offer of rotating home and neutral sites was fair and a good compromise to what Cal wanted. Call me stubborn and/or just plain dumb, but I'm not willing to completely capitulate to Calipari's wishes just because he had a bad experience in Bloomington.

Not concerned about rankings at all. CAM is getting the kids he wants who fit what he is trying to do. That's all that matters to me.

I think he is progressing. To me, he has improved in all areas since last year. Part of the problem is that he was labeled as "lost" on defense last year and gets more intense scrutiny this year than some others. Everyone got lost on defense last night at one time or another. Listening to CAM's post game comments, Damezi is part of the rotational plan going forward, especially as a scoring wing. I think he'll get there defensively and continue to grow. There was a time when we didn't really expect that much from players until they were juniors or seniors.

Absolutely. There are guys in '21 we could use that scholarship on.

TJD should be on a poster of what an Indiana basketball player should be.

The problem with our 3 point defense is we let them get to their spot and then try to close out with pressure. Good defenses run the shooter off his spot making him shoot a less comfortable shot. The offense on the other hand continues to grow. I think we will be ok on that end.

I like what I've seen so far and think it will only get better as guys continue to figure out their roles. Once RP and DG both get healthy and in basketball shape, I believe this will be a really entertaining team to watch. I hope to see that growth continue tonight. At the very least, I finally get to watch a game live.

I think it's safe to say that 'conventional wisdom' no longer applies to kids these days.

Sort of a coach Knight lite response to a sport's writer's question. The older guys around here all know what a great relationship Coach Knight had with the media.

I felt bad for the guy who asked the question. CAM really lit him up! I wonder if there is some not so good history with that particular media guy?

That's almost exactly what CAM has been saying this entire preseason. The young guys are coming along and, once the veterans are all back and healthy, this team has the potential to be pleasingly good.

Whether we get him or not, I can't think of anything the staff could have done differently. And, Garcia seems to be doing what he needs to do to be certain he makes the right decision. This to me is how the recruiting process should work. From all appearances, he is a high quality kid and whatever the decision I wish him success.

Bracey, I can't miss 'em all, Wright. His struggles shooting on the road were legendary.

No need to worry about that now since he's done for the year. Hopefully he comes back stronger and more durable next year. Time to get Tuttle ready in case something happens to Ramsey.

I'm shocked this whole discussion, which has been going on all season, hasn't died of utter exhaustion.

Shocking. I know nothing lasts forever, but I never thought I'd see the day when IMS left the Hulman family. Truly the end of an era.

I don't think we should let the QB questions divide us. They are both capable. I prefer Penix, but have no problem with people who prefer Ramsey. Whoever gets us the W is fine with me. I've been following since the '50s, so I'm loving where we are right now.