Class of '66 Old Fart

Not to be outdone by JBJ and OG, a 3rd Hoosier up for a national award. Bryant named to preseason watch list for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watch list for the 2017 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which honors the nation’s top center, on Friday. Indiana sophomore Thomas Bryant was one of three Big Ten players named to the 20-player list along with Purdue’s Isaac Haas and Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ. The complete watch list, per a release, is available below: Moses Kingsley, Arkansas Eric Mika, Brigham Young University Justin Patton, Creighton Marques Bolden, Duke Zena Edosomwan, Harvard Thomas Bryant, Indiana Bam Adebayo, Kentucky Tim Kempton, Lehigh Omer Yurtseven, North Carolina St. Chris Boucher, Oregon Isaac Haas, Purdue Paschal Chukwu, Syracuse Jarrett Allen, Texas Tyler Davis, Texas A&M Thomas Welsh, University of California, Los Angeles Kennedy Meeks, North Carolina Luke Kornet, Vanderbilt Mo Alie-Cox, Virginia Commonwealth University Josh Hawkinson, Washington St. Ethan Happ, Wisconsin

Latest from Hutch at The Anderson Herald-Bulletin Late arrival Davis has quickly gotten up to speed at IU BLOOMINGTON — De’Ron Davis didn’t have the benefit of easing into his first year of college by arriving in June with the other incoming freshmen on the IU basketball team. Instead, the 6-10 freshman stayed in his hometown of Aurora, Colo., to get some academic things in order. He got to Bloomington the weekend before classes started in the fall and was quickly thrust into the position of full-time college student. “I had a lot of catching up to do when I got here,’’ Davis said. “I thought I had worked hard over the summer, but that first day was pretty tough. It was mostly conditioning. The game was pretty physical. The first couple of weeks it took me a little while to get used to the physicality of the games, but after that building my motor is what I’ve been really working on.’’ Davis said he had always had a favorable impression of Indiana basketball fans throughout his recruitment. He mentioned the word “passionate” several times when describing Hoosier Nation. And he said his first impression of Indiana students was a good one, too, when he was trying to get moved in at the last minute in late August. “There were just a lot of people around who wanted to help,’’ Davis said. “People were just coming up to me and asking what they could do. They wanted to help me feel like I was home, and that meant a lot to me.’’ Davis said he’s happy to finally be on campus and getting ready for the season. He said Indiana had been on his radar for a long time and getting the chance to finally be a Hoosier is something he had really been looking forward to throughout the summer. “Everyone knows that Indiana had been recruiting me since the eighth grade,’’ Davis said. “I was the number one player in the nation in the eighth grade, but as the years went by I started to fall out of the top 15. But Indiana and the coaching staff stood by me through it all. Every time they would come to my practices or games, they would encourage me to continue to get better. “At one practice this year, Coach (Tom) Crean came in and handed me a list. It was all the things he wanted me to work on. I just feel like this is a place where I’m going to get better.’’ Having seen players like Noah Vonleh, Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo go through the college experience at IU and stick in the NBA in recent years has been something that has gotten Davis’s attention. But he said what he likes the most is seeing how much Crean and his staff influenced those players when they were at IU. “You can just see it in their games,’’ Davis said. “My main thing is that most players when they get to the league you can see how good their talent is, but when you see Cody Zeller and Noah Vonleh they’re still doing things that Coach Crean has taught them. Coach Crean knows the game well so if they’re still doing stuff that Coach Crean taught them in college and it’s working at the next level, it’s pretty clear that he really develops players.’’ Davis arrives at Indiana with lots of expectations. At 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, he is seen as a player who could make an immediate impact. He was a four-star recruit out of high school and ranked as the No. 44 player in the nation by Rivals.com. Indiana fans will get their first opportunity to see Davis, who will wear No. 20, in live action Saturday night when IU has its annual Hoosier Hysteria event in the newly renovated Cindy Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. All fans in attendance will receive an IU men’s basketball poster calendar, and the IU team will be available beginning at 5:15 p.m. to sign the posters for an hour. Davis said he hopes the first impression he is able to give off to his new fan base is that he’s an unselfish player. He also mentioned defense. “First I’m a team player,’’ Davis said. “The open man is the best man, the best pass. But I take a lot of pride in my defense, too. Easy stops on defense can lead to easy points at the other end.’’ Sophomore teammate Thomas Bryant said that Davis has impressed him every step of the way. “He’s a really solid player who is going to come in here and be successful right away,’’ Bryant said. “One of the things you see with him is that he’s willing to put in the work to take his game to that next level. When you have people who are willing to work hard, good things are going to happen.’’ Saturday night will be Davis’s first experience with Hoosier Hysteria. He said from everything he has heard he’s getting pumped up for it. “The players say it’s just crazy,’’ Davis said. “Every seat is going to be packed. And they just said to go out there and have fun and enjoy the experience.’’

Va Tech offered.

Another lackluster performance by the Bears (1-6) results in a 26-10 loss to the Packers. Howard with only 7 carries for 22 yards; however, the Bears as a team only had 69 total rushing yards. No receptions; targeted once.

2016-2017 Player Profile: OG Anunoby Heading into his freshman season, few knew of 6-foot-8 wing OG Anunoby. An unheralded recruit from Jefferson City, Missouri, he was widely considered an afterthought in IU’s 2015 recruiting class, ranked far lower than both Thomas Bryant and Juwan Morgan. Through last year’s nonconference slate, Anunoby had logged just 100 minutes on the court. In those 13 games, Anunoby never scored more than six points or played more than 17 minutes. When Big Ten play started, something clicked, and Anunoby began to blossom. He started off the conference schedule posting consecutive career-highs, scoring eight at Rutgers and 11 at Nebraska. In a road game against Michigan State, Anunoby had the Breslin Center awestruck when he dunked over Kenny Goins. “His work ethic is second to none,” Juwan Morgan said of OG Anunoby on Wednesday. “Every time I’m in [Assembly Hall], OG is in here. Before practice, OG is in here. I knew it was just a matter of time before he really understood what he could do and applied it to the court.” In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Anunoby effortlessly threw down a 360-degree dunk against Chattanooga on his way to a career night, finishing the blowout victory with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and adding two steals an assist and a rebound. Two days later, he shut down Kentucky’s Jamal Murray, helping the Hoosiers reach the Sweet 16. The nation had taken notice. Anunoby is now widely regarded as the top NBA prospect in the Big Ten and is one of 20 members of the preseason Julius Erving watch list, an award given annually to the best small forward in college basketball. “I guess it’s nice,” Anunoby said. “But it doesn’t mean anything. The season hasn’t started. We haven’t played any games yet.” Anunoby says he’s spent the offseason with an increased focus on ball handling, shooting and growing as a leader. “Just talking everything out,” Anunoby said. “Communicating really, that’s the big thing. Switches, defensive positioning, offense, who’s going to post. All that stuff.” If the comments from his teammates are any indication, OG Anunoby could continue rising up draft boards and piling up accolades. “People will see when the season starts how much OG has improved.” Thomas Bryant said Wednesday. He’s a key focal point for our team. He has improved so much since last year. I just can’t wait for people to see it.” Bottom Line: Anunoby hasn’t come anywhere near reaching his potential yet. His stats per 40 minutes as a freshman were outstanding: 14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks while shooting 61 percent from inside the arc and 45 percent from beyond it. The sample size, however, was simply too small to make any declarative statements. But if he continues his upward ascent while maintaining efficient shooting numbers and lockdown defense, the Big Ten better watch out. Quotable: “He’s starting to use his body to his advantage. When he has a smaller player on him, he’ll put him down in the post. He’ll go down in the post more often. Also, he’s more efficient from three-point range. Me and (Anunoby) go head-to-head almost every time we play basketball. Clashing together, iron sharpens iron, and he’s getting so much better out there. He’s taking full advantage out on the court.” – Thomas Bryant at Big Ten media day. ctory with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and adding two steals an assist and a rebound.

Final preseason game for the Nets and they get beat by the Knicks 116-111. Yogi with a single minute of play and 1 assist. Regular season starts next Tuesday and rosters have to be finalized on Monday.

Since they play different positions, not sure of any impact this has on Troy other than more bodies competing for roster slots but the Grizzlies have signed Matt Costello (MSU) and Kellen Dunham (Butler) and this puts the Grizzlies roster at 20. Cuts have to be made before the season starts next Tuesday. And then a few minutes later I found this: (Grizzlies) Waived G Chris Crawford and F Vince Hunter. Signed C Matt Costello and G Kellen Dunham.

Welcome aboard and appreciate the informative post. Hope you become a frequent contributor.

I think everyone recognized it would be an uphill battle for Yogi and the fact that he's at least had the experience of playing in both the summer league and the preseason games is a huge plus for him. In some respects, the D-League may not be all that bad for Yogi. A chance to play on a consistent and regular basis against pro-level talent vs. spending the majority of his time on the bench. Maybe more of a chance to further hone his skills and demonstrate that he's a true NBA talent.

Yogi's final preseason game is tonight against the Knicks. Game will be televised at 7:30 ET on NBATV. Immediately following the game there will be a Brooklyn Nets Team Preview.

NFL Week 7 Coaching Hot Seat Update http://thebiglead.com/2016/10/20/nfl-week-7-coaching-hot-seat-update/ Pagano is #2

Multiple tweets from Mike Miller: Glass: "When it's all said and done, I think it's preferable this way." Glass: "I felt it was best to go back to just the single year listings on those two banners that identify the Big Ten champions." Glass estimates it'd have cost IU $50-100k to add necessary infrastructure to hang two more banners in current spot. Glass said there have been no specific discussions about hanging the '83, '13 banners elsewhere, but he'd be open to consideration. Fred Glass says it was his call to remove '83, '13 Big Ten banners. "My strong view is we should recognize all 22 champions in the same way"

Louisville Courier-Journal - March 2016: Freshman Johnson boosts Trinity past Male Thrust into the starting lineup late in his freshman season, David Johnson is making it difficult for Trinity High School basketball coach Mike Szabo to ever consider leaving him out again. The 6-foot-3 Johnson continued to emerge as one of the city’s brightest young stars Tuesday, posting 16 points – all in the second half – and nine rebounds as the host Shamrocks beat Male 71-64 in a highly anticipated quarterfinal of the Class Act Federal Credit Union Seventh Region Tournament. Johnson was Trinity’s seventh man for the majority of the season but moved into a starting role Feb. 19 in the regular-season finale against Central after junior guard Lukas Burkman was declared out for the season with a foot injury. In four games since replacing Burkman in the lineup, Johnson is averaging 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds. “No question we know he’s a good player, but he’s a freshman,” Szabo said. “You have to build some trust, and he hasn’t really had any time to build much trust. But he’s quickly building it.” Johnson was one of four Shamrocks to score in double figures, joining Gabe Schmitt (22 points), Jacob King (15 points, five assists) and L.J. Harris (11 points). The Shamrocks (27-6) – No. 5 in the state in The Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings – advanced to face Ballard in Friday’s 6 p.m. regional semifinal at Valley. Bellarmine University signee Alex Cook scored 20 points and Hogan Brownley added 15 to lead No. 13 Male (25-6). Coach Willie Feldhaus said 3-point shooting was the difference, as the Shamrocks finished 10 of 20 from behind the arc and the Bulldogs were 5 of 20. “They just shoot it so well and put so much pressure on you out there,” Feldhaus said. “If you get too much out there, then they get shots at the rim.” After an even first half, Deondrai Williams’ free throw gave Male a 36-35 lead to start the third quarter before Trinity took control. Johnson scored six points and Harris added five during a 14-3 surge that gave the Shamrocks a 49-39 lead. Johnson, who capped the run with a pair of free throws at the 4:02 mark of the third quarter, said nerves have not been an issue for him since stepping into the starting lineup. “Lukas was a big part of our team, and we knew that we all had to step up,” he said. “With me coming into the starting role, I had to step up even more.” Johnson’s 3-pointer gave Trinity a 66-58 lead with 3:39 remaining before Male made a final push. After Brownley’s putback basket pulled Male within 67-64, Trinity committed a turnover with 1:05 remaining. Cornelius Watts’ 3-point attempt to tie rolled out, and Burton sank 1 of 2 free throws to give the Shamrocks a 68-64 lead with 41.5 seconds left. Johnson blocked Cook’s shot on Male’s next possession, and King followed with a pair of free throws for a 70-64 lead with 24.8 seconds left. “I love my kids, but these last two or three weeks it seems we’ve played from behind so much,” Feldhaus said. “We always had to fight to come back and make it a game at the end. … You just can’t play from behind against them all night long. It takes too much out of you.” For Trinity, it’s on to a meeting with Ballard in the Seventh Region Tournament for the fifth straight season. The teams have split the previous four, with the winner also going on to win the regional title. Szabo likes his team’s chances Friday, especially with the emergence of Johnson. “He’s a special talent with a really bright future,” Szabo said. “But his future is right now. He’s helping us win, along with his teammates. … “The thing I like is that he’s not intimidated. He’s aggressive and assertive. That’s what it takes to be good.”

New Albany's Romeo Langford named to American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Team

Zach Osterman - Indianapolis Star Player profile: A big year for James Blackmon Numbers to know James Blackmon Jr. 6-4, 200 pounds Junior guard, No. 1 15.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 46.3 percent 3-pt (13 games) About Blackmon Everything about Blackmon's offensive profile is exactly what Indiana needs -- it just needs it for an entire season. The Marion High School alum has been a consistent 3-point threat, and with Yogi Ferrell gone, Blackmon's now the best player on his team at creating his own shot. Even with Indiana's loaded frontcourt, guard play will be crucial for this team, in spacing the floor, involving those big men (particularly Thomas Bryant) and providing balance to IU's offense. Blackmon, who entered the NBA draft but withdrew to return for his junior season, has the ability to be one of the Big Ten's most efficient and prolific scorers, provided he returns from his ACL tear at full strength. One burning question For all of his impressive offensive statistics, Blackmon struggled at the other end of the floor as a sophomore. Fairly or otherwise (mostly otherwise), he became the poster child for the Hoosiers' disastrous defensive start in 2015, and their resurgence was pinned in part on his absence. It was never that simple -- and Indiana actually began improving defensively before Blackmon's injury -- but there's no doubt he needs to improve at that end of the floor. Tom Crean's team has the potential to be very good in that area this season, with versatile players like Bryant, OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan and Freddie McSwain giving them a wide range of match-up options. Can Blackmon improve himself to match that standard? Final word This is a big season for James Blackmon, who was solid as a freshman before losing most of his sophomore season to injury. He will be counted on to provide explosiveness offensively, and he will need to set a better example on defense. There's also a larger issue -- Blackmon is now a junior, and one of IU's most experienced players. He has spoken at length this offseason about being a better, more vocal leader, so the responsibility facing him seems to be one he appreciates. Now that Ferrell is graduated, Blackmon picks up the standard in the backcourt. Coming off of that ACL tear last December, is he ready?

From Dana O'Neil at ESPN NCAA charges Rick Pitino but not Louisville over dorm scandal Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino has been charged with failing to monitor a staff member in his basketball program, but Louisville otherwise escaped potentially serious penalties stemming from an NCAA investigation into allegations made by a former escort. The NCAA's notice of allegations, released Thursday, includes four Level I charges, with one to Pitino, two directed at former director of basketball operations Andre McGee and the fourth aimed at former assistant Brandon Williams. The university was not charged with any violations, including a lack of institutional control or failure to monitor, the two most egregious NCAA infractions. Pitino, however, could face a steep penalty. Although the NCAA did not say that Pitino was complicit nor is he charged with committing a violation himself, it alleges that the coach "did not monitor" McGee and failed to "spot-check" his program, including "actively looking for red flags." Pitino has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the accusations made by former escort Katina Powell. In her October 2015 book, "Breaking Cardinal Rules," Powell alleged that McGee paid her and other escorts thousands of dollars and gave them tickets to games in exchange for sex with recruits and players in the players' dormitory, Minardi Hall. The NCAA agreed, alleging that McGee paid some $5,400 to the escorts. The NCAA alleges that McGee's payments, made for at least 17 athletes and/or recruits, can be construed as impermissible benefits. What Pitino did or did not know might not matter. Under the most recent NCAA enforcement legislation, enacted in 2014, a head coach is presumed to be responsible for the actions of any and all staff members and can be held accountable for their violations, even if the coach is unaware. Not knowing what happened, in other words, is no longer a defense. The NCAA's stance is that the head coach should have known. However, Pitino can appeal the charges. Using case precedent, coaches charged similarly have faced multigame suspensions. Last season, Syracuse's Jim Boeheim and then-SMU coach Larry Brown each were forced to sit for nine games over violations. In a joint statement, acting university president Dr. Neville Pinto and athletic director Tom Jurich said they intend to dispute the charges lobbed at Pitino. "We believe that Mr. McGee acted furtively and note that the NOA does not indicate that any other university employee besides Mr. McGee had knowledge of these activities," the statement reads. "We are confident in Coach Pitino and we know he is and always has been committed to NCAA compliance." McGee, who had moved on to and later resigned from Missouri-Kansas City weeks after Powell's book was released, refused to talk to NCAA investigators. Williams, who was on the Louisville staff for one year as a program assistant, refused to turn over phone records. Refusing to cooperate with NCAA investigators, considered major breaches of ethical conduct, are typically dealt the harshest penalties. Acknowledging that violations likely did occur and in the hopes of mitigating further penalties, Louisville last season self-imposed a postseason ban, cut scholarships and reduced its recruiting access. The NCAA noted those efforts in its document, recognizing the "imposition of meaningful corrective measures and/or penalties." "These allegations underscore why it was appropriate for the University to impose strict penalties on our basketball program earlier this year," the university statement read. "... The penalties we imposed were among the most severe penalties ever self-imposed by an NCAA member." Earlier this month, Pitino said the school's self-imposed sanctions should be enough to satisfy the NCAA. The school has 90 days to respond to the NCAA's notice and dispute any of its findings. The NCAA will then have 60 days to review that response. That timetable, coupled with the Committee on Infractions meeting schedule, means that neither Pitino nor the university will learn of penalties until at least the spring of 2017. The university will hold a news conference at noon ET Thursday, when Pitino, Jurich and Pinto will discuss the NCAA notice of allegations. In conjunction with the university, the NCAA hired two consultants -- Chuck Smrt and Steve Thompson -- to lead the investigation and conduct more than 90 interviews.

From WDRB, Fox network affiliate in L'ville. The next post is from ESPN that Pitino as been charged with "failure to monitor". CRAWFORD | NCAA alleges major violations against McGee, Pitino Posted: Oct 20, 2016 9:27 AM Updated: Oct 20, 2016 9:31 AM LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A year-long investigation into the University of Louisville men’s basketball program after a former Louisville escort alleged that she provided strippers and prostitutes for recruits and players has resulted in four alleged Level I violations -- the most serious the NCAA can levy -- including two against former administrative staffer Andre McGee and one against head coach Rick Pitino for failure to demonstrate that he monitored McGee, though the notice does not allege that Pitino had any knowledge of the violations. The program escaped, however, the most severe allegations -- charges of a lack of institutional control and failure to monitor the program. The university says in a statement that it will dispute the charge against Pitino, which could include an NCAA suspension and/or a show-cause penalty if upheld. The NCAA alleges that McGee, a former graduate assistant coach and director of basketball operations, provided impermissible benefits "in the form of adult entertainment, sex acts and/or cash at Billy Minardi Hall . . . or hotels to at least 17 then men's basketball prospective and/or current student-athletes, two then nonscholastic men's basketball coaches and one then men's basketball prospective student-athletes's friend. The value of the impermissible inducements, offers and/or extra benefits was at least $5,400." In all, the document details 14 strip shows, 11 sex acts and two declined sex acts. The NCAA, along with U of L representatives, conducted more than 90 interviews with current and former players and recruits, parents, coaches and others involved in the case. The Notice of Allegations was delivered to the school on Monday. U of L released the document Thursday morning, and is expected to hold a news conference later today. In a statement, acting president Neville Pinto and athletic director Tom Jurich said: "As parent and university leaders who care about every student who comes to the University of Louisville, we are heartbroken that inappropriate behavior took place here. It saddens us tremendously. We promised that if something was done wrong, we would be open about it, acknowledge it and correct it. . . . From the start, the NCAA Enforcement Staff had our full cooperation. Its staff and our investigators spoke to numerous Louisville employees and third parties, and the university produced every document requested by the NCAA. We are disappointed that former Director of Basketball Operations Andre McGee did not cooperate. These allegations underscore why it was appropriate for the university to self-impose strict penalties on our basketball program earlier this year." The statement also notes that the notice aligns with the results of the university's inquiry. It further points out that, "The NOA does not contain an allegation that Coach Pitino had knowledge of what took place in the dormitory. The NCAA does not allege a 'lack of institutional control' at Louisville, a very severe allegation. The NCAA does not allege that there was a 'failure to monitor' against the institution, also a severe allegation. The NCAA does not allege that Coach Pitino 'failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance,' a serious allegation. The NOA does contain a narrower allegation -- which we will dispute -- that Coach Pitino failed to demonstrate that he monitored McGee. We believe that McGee acted furtively and note that the NOA does not indicate that any other university employee besides Mr. McGee had knowledge of these activities. We are confident in Coach Pitino and we know he is and always has been committed to NCAA compliance. The entire episode is a deep disappointment to all of us who love this university." A Notice of Allegations is roughly akin to a complaint in a civil court proceeding. The allegations in the U of L’s notice are the result of interviews, several meetings with Powell and her attorneys, examination of her journals and records, and the examination of many records provided by U of L. They largely represent a collaborative effort between the NCAA, the school and its consultant, former NCAA enforcement staffer Chuck Smrt, president of The Compliance Group, a Kansas City-based firm that assists universities with NCAA issues. The school released a redacted version of the notice this morning, and expects to hold a news conference today., with athletic director Tom Jurich, acting president Pinto and university consultant Chuck Smrt expected to be in attendance. The allegations stemmed from claims by former Louisville escort Katina Powell that she provided strippers and prostitutes to men’s basketball players and recruits from 2010 to 2014. Any penalties U of L receives would be in addition to those already self-imposed by the school, which include the postseason ban enacted last Feb. 5 and scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions put into place on April 6, including the loss of two scholarships, 30 recruiting days and two official visits over the next two seasons. The major questions still remaining, whether the school may have to vacate victories or even its 2013 NCAA championship, and whether Pitino could be subject to suspension, remain unresolved by the receipt of this notice.

Final preseason game for Troy and the Grizzlies last night and they beat the Timbervolves 101-94. Troy started once again and logged a total of 19 minutes. 10 pts on 2-2 FG's; 1-1 on 3's; 5-6 FT's; 6 reb; 1 asst; 2 stls; 1 TO; team was +22 while he was on the court. Regular season starts on the 25th; rosters have to be finalized on the 24th. Troy has certainly made a very strong case for making that final roster but now it's just wait and see. Yogi's final preseason game is tonight against the Knicks.

Zach Osterman - Indianapolis Star Nearly 100 percent, Juwan Morgan ready to step up BLOOMINGTON – It didn’t take much to separate Juwan Morgan’s shoulder by the end of last season. Something as simple as deflecting a pass would jar it loose, crumple Morgan to the floor and pull him out of the game. Offseason surgery to correct a problem that dated to high school has given IU’s sophomore forward a newfound comfort and -- even though he’s still awaiting full clearance -- more confidence on the floor. “I’m very close, probably not more than a week, maybe less, off from being back 100 percent,” Morgan said at team media day Wednesday. “There definitely is a freedom, just being out there and not having to worry about, ‘Oh, I can’t do this because it might come out,' or 'I have to be careful with this because it might come out.’ Being able to do everything 100 percent, it feels good.” Injury caused him to miss nearly half of IU’s non-conference schedule, before he became a mainstay off the bench during Big Ten play. Morgan appeared in all 18 games during the Hoosiers’ run to an outright regular-season title and averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game as a freshman. But Morgan’s shoulder kept giving him trouble, knocking him out of games against Iowa and Maryland, limiting him in March and eventually requiring surgery. That procedure – and his subsequent rehabilitation – dictated the extent of Morgan’s summer workload. Now, just more than three weeks out from the Hoosiers’ season opener against Kansas, he’s finally close to full strength. “Beginning (rehab), I wasn’t able to do a lot of things, like passing with a left hand, I’d have to pass with two, or crossing outside my body with my left (arm), it was harder to do,” Morgan said. “But now, with all the treatment and rehab, it’s pretty much there.” For an Indiana team that must replace Collin Hartman (knee surgery), Morgan’s health is critical. He was one of the Hoosiers’ best rebounders a season ago, even in limited minutes. He shot 24-of-30 from the free-throw line and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers. At times, when IU coach Tom Crean was trying to spell point guard Yogi Ferrell, he would make Morgan responsible for bringing the ball up the floor. “Juwan wasn’t handling the ball by accident,” Crean said late last season. “That’s what we do in practice.” As much as he could, Morgan polished his ball handling further this summer. “Every day, I’m working on it,” Morgan said. “Last year, it was probably like one or two drills I would get in at point guard. Now, it’s like running the whole offense, running the whole drill at the point guard position.” Morgan is part of a deep, talented Indiana frontcourt, perhaps the best in the Big Ten. Alongside fellow sophomores Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby, he’ll need to be more than just a useful reserve. After a promising freshman season and necessary offseason surgery, Morgan said he’s ready. “People are going to see a very big difference in my game, and just how hard I always go,” Morgan said. “It’s just gonna get taken up a level.”

From Alex McCarthy Hartman, McSwain bond during rehab Freddie McSwain immediately had something in common with his roommates when he moved to Bloomington. He moved in with senior forward Collin Hartman and junior guard Josh Newkirk, both of whom have battled back from knee injuries in the past. McSwain also has a past of knee injuries, and unfortunately for him and Hartman, history quickly repeated itself. Both McSwain and Hartman have had knee surgeries in the past month. Newkirk has remained healthy so far this year after having microscopic knee surgery last summer. While McSwain’s injury isn’t quite as serious as Hartman’s, the two have bonded during their recoveries. “It’s been good,” Hartman said, before laughing and amending his response. “It’s been bad and good. You hate to see a teammate be in the same situation or the same rehab, but he’s doing great.” Hartman didn’t give details as to what his injury was and the timeline for his return is still uncertain, but he talked optimistically about the season ahead, hoping for a speedy recovery. When he tore his ACL after his freshman season, he returned to the court sooner than many expected, and while each injury is different, he feels confident in his ability to bounce back quickly again. McSwain has also been involved in practices so far, spending time with IU head coach Tom Crean and working on the weaker areas of his game. McSwain, who strung together highlight-reel dunks and high-flying rebounds at Neosho Community College in Kansas, is looking to become more of a scoring threat on the perimeter. “I’ve been doing a lot of shooting with coach Crean,” McSwain said. “He really likes to shoot the three, so that’s what I’ve been doing. I’ve got into defensive drills…getting back to trusting my leg again.” McSwain, whom Crean has described as resembling an NFL tight end, hopes to help Indiana on the boards while also being a stopper defensively. Crean also said McSwain came in and immediately stood out in the weight room, where he quickly became one of the top performers. Hartman also noticed McSwain’s explosiveness before McSwain underwent the minor knee surgery. McSwain was a late arrival to campus as he still had academic work to finish up this summer, so he missed valuable time, but Hartman said McSwain’s done as well as could be expected. “Obviously having missed the summer and coming in and being thrown into this program, it’s tough for guys to transition,” Hartman said. “He’s doing a good job, focusing in.” McSwain, just like any other player on the team, is still growing in terms of being a vocal leader, Hartman said. McSwain said he’s focusing on rehabbing and on improving his consistency on the court more than anything else so far. Hartman, always affable and good-natured, was laughing as he chronicled what has been a rough couple months for his family’s health. His mother, who has had numerous knee surgeries in the past, had another procedure recently, and his brother had his wisdom teeth taken out the same week. “The insurance company is like, ‘What is going on with you guys?’” Hartman joked. It’s been an interesting experience for Hartman to experience rehab both in person with McSwain and from afar with his mother. He’s been able to help both parties keep their spirits up during their recoveries, which in turn has kept him from overthinking and worrying too much about his own situation. Hartman has also spent time bringing along the fully healthy newcomers as well as McSwain. True freshman wing Grant Gelon in particular singled Hartman out as a mentor so far, mostly from the standpoint of knowing the plays and the system better than just about anybody. It’s been a priority, Hartman said, to impart that knowledge to the newcomers, but the most important ideal he’s pushing to them is about taking advantage of their opportunities. “I think that’s one of the biggest things for me,” Hartman said. “The least I can do is help these guys get acclimated much faster than I did my freshman year, so that they don’t waste a year as I somewhat did just because I was a deer in the headlights.”

A little something to maybe lighten our collective somber mood. Terry Hutchens ‏@IndySportsHutch My first interview experience with Devonte Green was challenging. I asked him nine questions and he answered them in 12 words total. Terry Hutchens ‏@IndySportsHutch 10m10 minutes ago It was probably just bad questions on my part. I'm kind of new to this you know.

And plenty of video evidence that the Colts are 2-4 and in last place in their division. Do you think Pagano ever actually listens to what he's saying?

Jeff Rabjohns ‏@JeffRabjohns 51s52 seconds ago Indiana forward Collin Hartman (knee) says it's possible he plays this season. More: Zach Osterman ‏@ZachOsterman 11m11 minutes ago Collin Hartman declines to specify injury but reaffirms it's possible he can return this season.

Fluff piece in the Indiana Daily Student on TB: http://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/10/thomas-bryant-looks-to-improve-on-freshman-campaign

OG is on this list. Top Collegiate Small Forwards in the Nation Named to Watch List SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the 20 watch list members for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award. Named after Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player Julius Erving, the annual honor in its third year recognizes the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee comprised of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates. “Julius Erving is unquestionably one of the most respected and gifted athletes to ever play the game of basketball,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Before he was the professional super star known as Dr. J, he was an outstanding small forward at UMass. The young men on this watch list have shown glimpses of Mr. Erving’s skillset and we look forward to watching them develop this season.” Julius Erving attended the University of Massachusetts and averaged 26.3 points and 20.2 rebounds per game, making him one of only six NCAA men’s basketball players to average more than 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. After two seasons, Erving made the jump the American Basketball Association and was the league’s most recognizable player when it merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976. During his professional career, Erving won three championships, four most valuable player awards and three scoring titles. In 1996, he was named a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. “I’m excited to be a part of this process as we set out to identify the top small forward in the college game this year,” said Julius Erving, a 1993 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “These student-athletes have worked tirelessly to earn their places on this elite watch list and I know they will continue to improve throughout the season. It’s anyone’s award to be earned.” By mid-February, the watch list of 20 players for the 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award will be narrowed to just 10. In March, five finalists will be presented to Mr. Erving and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The winner of the 2017 Julius Erving Award will be presented at the ESPN College Basketball Awards Show presented by Wendy’s in Los Angeles, CA on Friday, April 7, 2017. Broadcast information will be released at a later date. Previous winners of the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award include Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016) and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015). For more information on the 2017 Julius Erving Award, log onto www.HoophallAwards.com. 2017 Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award Candidates Evan Bradds, Belmont Kelan Martin, Butler Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson Terry Larrier, Connecticut Jayson Tatum, Duke Dwayne Bacon, Florida St. OG Anunoby, Indiana Deng Adel, Louisville Justin Jackson, North Carolina VJ Beachem, Notre Dame Jae'Sean Tate, Ohio St. Dillon Brooks, Oregon Tres Tinkle, Oregon St. Vince Edwards, Purdue Dikembe Dixson, UIC Kevin Hervey, UT Arlington Jalen Moore, Utah St. Josh Hart, Villanova Markis McDuffie, Wichita St. Trevon Bluiett, Xavier *Players can play their way on to and off of the list at any point in the 2016-17 season*