Old Friend

Sure what? You don't have the sack. You know it and I know it. Move on.

I know.

I'll take the same bet. I'm with Boot

Touche'. See my post above. We ain't got Bohannon.

Indiana needs a playmaker. Bohannon is unreal. We do not have a playmaker.

He doesn't catch the ball in position to step up. What can anyone do from 23 feet? Seriously? He needs to catch the ball 15 feet or less from the rim.

There was enough to see progress. This one came down to missed FT's and shots around the rim. And the same guys making losing plays time after time after time. I cannot believe an Indiana team misses 9 FT's in regulation in 19 attempts so game goes into overtime. How you get 11 from Fitzner, make six 3's, hold Bohannon scoreless for a half and get beat is amazing to me.

And he does so 22 feet from the rim. It's baffling.

I had been screaming at my TV to get someone in the middle of that zone who can score from there. Nobody's going to beat a zone on the perimeter. Why did that take 8 minutes to figure out?? Well done, Fitzner. Now....you cannot front the post with nobody behind. Wonder if they'll figure THAT out?

No...Pendleton Heights is 4A and in with Connersville, New Pal, Mt. Vernon, Greenfield Central, and Richmond. Connersville and New Pal both not bad. Here's the link to Blackford's sectional. http://indianahsbasketball.homestead.com/files/sect24.htm#loaded

I think this solution is the best if proposed. Works in baseball...kids have to stay 3 years, I think. Better for everyone. If a kid is ready for the NBA, he should be able to go; but "ready for the NBA" has to mean more than a kid can jump or is a man-child. Can he handle the travel? The money? The lifestyle? The expectations? The pressure? There's a lot more to it than just basketball talent; so if the NBA would truly make the D League someplace valuable, they'd wok with the NCAA and provide a place to go for kids who don't want college but truly do have NBA potential. The biggest problem is so many kids are told they do and they go to college with that in their heads, then have everything fall apart for them and end up in Europe or Asia playing ball. Which is fine, but it's not the NBA.

This is why typed words suck. I meant he'll play against better competition in his sectional than he has all season. I coached in AAU for a while and have been on high school benches for 10 years. Basketball in school when teams scout you and take away the better players (high school teams don't have the depth of talent AAU teams do) is a very different game than AAU which is more wide open.

What are you talking about "it's not true?" They're in a sectional with Delta as you mentioned (who's 22-0, 23rd in Sagarin right now...of 410), Hamilton Heights who is 14-8 and 8-2 in 3A this season; and New Castle who's 12-9, #48 in Sagarin with a top 50 schedule. Blackford has played 4 teams all year 3A and above. They will absolutely play better teams in sectionals. What are you smoking??

Iowa 72 Indiana 56

No defense in AAU. Get a better read from him in his sectional when he'll play better teams.

Indy Metro an athletic and undisciplined team. Tough to say whether or not this one was 'him' or 'them,' but a great stat line. I'd put more stock in 21 against Ben Davis.

Kid was an all star in KY 2 years ago in the Indiana v Kentucky series and was...okay in those games. Was a second stringer and maybe had 6 points in the game Kentucky won.

I wonder who might agree with this (that it's a solid line regardless of who he's playing) but feel differently about Luke Brown?

I would agree with you absolutely when parents are involved and pulling strings. Absolutely. If I hadn't seen what I did a year ago, I wouldn't have the thoughts I do. Maybe a fool's errand, but I'm not giving up on him yet...unless the attitude problem is as real as some have stated earlier. That would change my mind. I do think people can change. Especially young people. Many don't. No question.

Right now? Archie looks hesitant and uncomfortable. All the time. I think there is far more to this than any of us can possibly know.

I swear. It's true. I've hidden it for so damned long.... At some point, you just have to admit your flaws. Expose them. It feels SO good to be free from the facade I've maintained for so many years! =)

I'm no great mind..just been coaching a long time and I'm opinionated as hell. I'm sticking with potential. Kid was recruited by a different coach to a different system; and I saw enough last season to give me some hope there's something that will click. I don't disagree with what you said....I'm just not yet saying "he'll never get it." I gave Green the same mental courtesy before the season, even though I couldn't stand him last year. I guess I'm the same on Smith. He may prove that a fool's errand; but I'm not giving up on him yet. Edit : Just read some of the above posts and I may now be leaning the other way on him. I'm nothing if not fickle. And opinionated.

We've lost 11 of 12 with Green. We could lose 11 of 12 with Jager. =)

I'm a believer in experience and learning lessons. We'll miss Morgan. No doubt. We will not miss Fitzner or McRoberts; and I'm not convinced we'll miss Romeo very much. That will be unpopular and I know unconventional; but the way he's being used isn't good for the team and isn't good for him. At this point in his career; he needs the ball as close to the rim as possible so he can get downhill more often before help can get there. I'm going out on a limb and saying there will be other new faces and at least 1 will be a shooter. Franklin can make the 3, as can Hunter; even if he's not that pure shooter we need. So I'd expect 3 kids next season who can make that shot, added to Durham and Phinisee; and I think that roster will look far different than this one. Phinisee, Durham, Hunter, Davis, and Smith (yeah..I'm on his bandwagon until he pushes me off simply because of the potential I see) is a solid starting 5 assuming improvement - but I don't want to hear it. I want to see it. Then Jackson-Davis, Forrester, Franklin, "new shooter," and Thompson off the bench, plus whoever stays (I don't care whether Green, Moore, or Anderson stick around)? I think that's enough to have some hope; but Archie and staff need to get heavily into player development, and that's more than ball handling and shooting. There's a toughness that needs to develop. A situational attitude of winning that needs to be instilled and the players held accountable to it. I have hope....even without Brooks or any idea who "new shooter" is. =)

I'm willing to bet there will be no less than 5 players on next season's team who have not played a second on this season's team. Davis will be fine replacing Morgan and TJD will have some room to grow into the role. I think Thompson plays some down there; and my true hope is either Forrester or Smith to get better in the paint. I think there will be some attrition after this season; and I also believe Hunter will indeed play, and for all practical purposes be a freshman. I think Phinisee and Durham will mature (and Phinisee will be healthy...I still believe something has been "off" since his concussion, but hard to put a finger on it). There's hope....even without Morgan and Langford. Shooters who can spread the defense a little would really help; and between freshmen and transfers, I bet we get 2-3 of them. I think next season's roster is very different from what we see now.