Five Prime

I'm at the stage of life that I view these players as kids rather than peers. I would be a very proud parent of any of these guys. Successful season considering the #1 goal was make the NCAA tourney and end a drought. Obviously as a program there is still a looooong way to go. We need an overall talent upgrade. There are some pieces but still need several more to complete a puzzle to compete at the top of the Big 10. I would like to say I'm confident we'll get there but the last 2 decades have left me very skeptical.

I see we are still talking about the pregame travel schedule...cool...

Games like this is why Indiana basketball hasn't been taken seriously since the great Bobby Knight

This is a bad look no matter what happened during the season prior

I guess we've mailed it in tonight.

They are experienced and disciplined but not all that athletic outside of Johnson. I guess I'd classify good differently than others on here. They are an average ncaa tourney team imo.

I don't know, but they probably felt alright considering they already beaten them twice and had locked up a 1 seed weeks ago

I don't see anything on St Mary's that all that impressive honestly. Our defensive intensity has fizzled

I think we may be in trouble and not because this team is that good but because we just can't shoot

I'm not seeing anything too scary out of this St. Mary's team. Maybe a slightly better version of Wyoming with less length on the wings.

Flop warning? Wait, is that why Iowa lost?

Agree but getting a couple to drop early will be critical, both from a confidence perspective and strategic game flow/adjustment perspective.

I have a feeling St Mary's is going to double team TJD and pack the lane. Kopp and Stewart must hit a couple early 3s.

I can say this with fair bit of confidence - if we lose tomorrow there won't even be a thought in the players or coaches minds that travel had an impact on the result. "If only the plane would have gotten us there 5 hours earlier..." or "If only we didnt have to travel all the way out to Oregon" No, that's some eeyore loser mindset.

St Mary's is winnable. UCLA? Not sure about that, matchup problems.

On the list of factors that determine the outcome of an NCAA tournament game I'd put travel pretty far down the list. Let's go Hoosiers!

Lol

Because they play in the West Coast Conference.

Guys, I have to work tomorrow and I'm still drinking bourbon. IU basketball may be bad for my health.

Yeah **** Iowa and the Bohanans

I like it but the only one that needs parentheses is Archie

Agree, it goes both ways. I hear some saying the travel will impact our performance but just as significant is St Mary's prolonged break

Don't forget Bates. I think he has a very bright future at IU

Anything is possible (insert Kevin Garnett gif)

It will be interesting to see if that moves towards IU which is what I'd predict