pumpfake

The way those refs kept going over to the scorer's table, I thought we were going to see a finish like the '72 Olympics, jeesh. I thought the effort was pretty good and it had to be with so many missed shots and brain farts (mostly from our seniors). I love the hustle from McRoberts, but he's got to be able to add something to the scoring column - it's not like we're loaded with scorers. FT shooting was pretty good, especially down the stretch.

My only guess is that when Archie put the sell on him to reaffirm his commitment, maybe Clifton and his dad insisted he not be redshirted (?). Whatever the case, I believe unless a player is brought in as a project (which I hate), he should be able to get minutes and contribute on a mediocre team like we have now. As it stands now I have to feel like this was a recruiting "miss".

I had a bad feeling that those last 3 minutes or so of the first half was going to be our undoing, but the right guys played and kept playing hard. It also felt like this team really liked the pace the game was played at. Question for anyone who knows: Is the Hurt kid that plays for MN the brother of Matthew (who I hope was there)?

Indeed. I'd also give McRoberts kudos for hustle and Durham attaboys for playing solid and under control.

This is my armchair psychologist take on what may be going on with some of the players: My W.A.G. is that when CAM came in he told the players that they were going to have to work their butts off every day and they -thought- they knew what that meant. As the season proceeded, they came to realize it was a lot more work and dedication than they believed and some have decided it's not for them. I remember Knight (and other coaches) talk about how a player never understands work/effort - they think they're giving it their all but have to learn they have much more in them. It seems pretty obvious from the many comments from those of us who've watched IU basketball for decades that this group doesn't appear to be "leaving it all out on the court".

A few odd thoughts after some reflection: - Apparently Dakich said something about Davis being lazy in practice? (I listen to Fisch with the TV muted). This is very disturbing if true, IMO. It also may address the question of why Archie doesn't bench some players. He sees them daily and how much effort and production they show in practice. Perhaps he doesn't have any real alternatives due to not having anyone who he feels would play better or harder when certain players aren't getting the job done. When Davis comes out disinterested and in immediate foul trouble we have little choice but to bring in Freddie (a player that would sit behind a few of our football walk on players in the past). - As I stated last night, I'm really leaning strongly in the direction of believing that the 4-year player is the way to build this program back up. I know we all want to be among the NC/UK/KU/MSU clique but modeling after the Butler approach might be a much better strategy (a better brand of ball - tougher, smarter with lots of 'local' talent to build with). I have no doubt that if we build a team this way that we will attract several highly ranked players to boot. - Finally, something both befuddling and amusing - Rob Johnson. This is a guy that declared for the NBA draft this past Spring (really, I'm pretty such he did!). Obviously he was told he needed to be better to make it at the next level, but where is the evidence that he's busting his arse to get there? Maybe he thought he could just bail out and get paid at the same time and when the reality that wasn't possible he's decided to just coast and then go play overseas? He's not alone in being underwhelming this season, but jeez his draft stock has to be lower than it was before. Sorry for the rambling, semi-coherent post. I think it's just reality setting in.....

I have to wonder if Davis is actually capable of thriving in the Big Ten. He spent the entire summer training and working on his conditioning, but was getting consistently beaten by Happ (footwork and in the air). Maybe he's not physically talented enough to play at this level (IDK). Whatever the case is, he's just not making much of an impact on the court.

Yeah, it would stink but it's pretty much been the norm for the last couple of decades (missing on in-state studs).

And sadly that might be for the best. RL along with our signed recruits won't make us FF contenders, and then he'll be gone after one season. It would stink losing a highly coveted, in-state player, but I'm beginning to believe that's not the recipe to resurrect this program.

I don't look forward to playing PU. With how our front court got beat like a drum tonight, that game will be a blood bath.

Yeah, there's a lot of truth in what you say. Right now we are so far from being a talented team that I have to wonder how much improvement we can expect simply because of next year's incoming freshmen.

I've wondered for a while, and now am becoming convinced of it, that Archie needs to concentrate on recruiting HIS kind of player. Players that will be here a while and build the program and style of play - not one-year rentals that just want to audition for the NBA and pick up some hardware to go along with their cup of coffee. Rebuild and establish your brand and then look toward the thoroughbreds.

Hell, you can't even count on beating the cupcakes in November & December anymore.

Honestly, I hope a bunch of these guys transfer so we can bring in guys who are capable of playing hard and playing smart. At least 3 of the worst offenders will be out of eligibility. We desperately need to bring in some transfers to play up front because right now we've got nothing. Morgan lacks a killer instinct and frankly I've given up on Davis. Yes, much of this is out of frustration but right now we suck. Period.

We could sure use someone that played like Moye or Neil Reed on this current team.

We now know that Arch can't spin straw into gold. Not that he should have been expected to work miracles with a mediocre roster, but it was something I had hopes for. Last year's team was bad and we arguably lost the 3 most valuable players from it before this season, so I have no problem with the above description of our current talent level. What did disappoint me was our lack of toughness, making the same mistakes on defensive switches time after time, and instances of bored or lazy effort. There was a play in the first half when Justin Smith finally got in the game and then just stood there watching when there was a loose ball (that McRoberts dove for) - that was indicative of much of the effort level I saw. We have very little in the way of size. Very little in the way of reliable/consistent shooting. Very little in the way of physical superiority. Fine. But lack of effort, failure to learn and play smart basketball, and playing soft are inexcusable. Also, I really support Collin Hartman, but he hasn't exactly been stellar the last few games (and is deserving of some criticism our other two seniors deservedly get). Maybe this team has a bunch of guys who just don't have the fire in the belly - I don't know. But that is my biggest disappointment with last night's performance. I really hope that much of this is simply a result of our former coach's inability to recruit talented and TOUGH MINDED players, it seems the best players we saw over the past 8 years were more motivated to get to the NBA than to beat the hell out of their opponents. Again, I just don't know.

I take no pleasure in saying this, but the disgusting truths are a) no coach, we haven't improved exponentially since the ISU game and b) we are IPFW's b*tch at this point.

True. And our seniors, as a group (including Hartman), have been next to worthless.

Yep. I think the incident with Knight involved making some kind of flyer or poster for recruit(s) that had some derogatory stuff about TT. I guess it's all part of the game, but how much and how far a coach goes with it is telling. (I suspect having Garland list IU as 3rd or 4th on his list when he announced might have been Drew's idea - just my suspicion).

I have to wonder if Bryce Drew has picked up some of brother Scott's "dirty" negative recruiting tricks. I seem to recall Scott doing something that angered RMK when he was still at TT.

Yep. I don't know if I'd even include Sheehey as his senior year was, IMO, disappointing. I still believe you can compete with a good system and the right players.

The thing that (is supposed to) make seniors so valuable is reliable and smart play. We don't get that from ours, and I think a lot that is because they played the first three years in an undisciplined and chaotic system. When you think about it, how many players did we have in the Crean years that were great seniors? Not many.

I will gladly give $100 to anyone at the game who will punch the P.A. announcer in the throat.

I fully understand and agree with your point. Butler got to two FF's with those type of players and played a solid and enjoyable style of ball. I'll add that there are some 5 stars that you do really want, and plenty you don't. If we begin to have success with the right players, in-state stars will take notice.

Add me to the list of those who don't expect to see much more come from the investigation. The two takeaways, IMO, are that the feds were only concerned about financial crimes and the NCAA will (predictably) continue to act like the three monkeys.