Old Friend

I've been on that train of thinking for a while. And I don't have much of a filter (I know...shocker to the long termers!). You very well may have!

For giggles... https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-65-power-five-schools-slideshow-wp-191443165/photo-p-strong-41-indiana-strong-photo-191443047.html Better than we were, but still not very good. Not sure what Glass' directive is, but I continue to blame IU's presidents. Myles Brand made a decision Indiana was not going to be defined as a basketball school; Adam Herbert forced us to hire a minority to replace Mike Davis; and Michael McRobbie cares about money far more than sports, and there are a ton of examples. I know a ton of people blame Fred Glass, however I think the problem is way deeper than him. We had similar problems before he was hired, and I don't think he gets to make decisions on what his mission truly is.

Illinois is not Indiana. If we (and the students) want to be a winner and claim we're still a basketball school; the seats need to be filled regardless of record or opponent (although I completely get empty seats for Bull Sh*t State in December). See your point, however don't ever want to compare Indiana w Illinois

I agree with all of this. What I don't agree with is a coach spending that much time on defense with a team that has 5 seniors on it. This season, our only chance - even WITH Davis - was to play solid defense but score in transition. The whole roster save the freshmen had been taught that way; and to completely change it when really only one of the freshmen was going to play much, was counter-productive to THIS team. I would have been on board with a younger team all or most of whom would be returning; but he has another off season with them. Our offense is clearly behind our defense (and both have been terrible on occasion); and it's cost us a couple of games, now. I am also no fan of force feeding one way of doing things. The pack line defense, much like Knight's man to man, is limited in some ways by personnel; and will eventually be solved. I am more a fan of being flexible and sound at a few things.

A completely disgusting performance by a disgustingly rudderless on-floor ship. Good God. Our seniors (save Johnson sometimes) are abysmal. Hartman was absolutely awful tonight. McSwain holds the world record for having his shots blocked. Newkirk is a walking turnover. We are forced to play, in Durham, Newkirk, and McSwain, 3 horrible basketball players. Our focus is just awful. How does a team from INDIANA miss 13 of 29 free throws? Seriously. How? How does Juwon Morgan improve as much as he has, yet miss key free throw after key free throw? (But my God, he was terrific again....we are AWFUL without him on the floor) How on God's Earth does Hartman shoot 1-4 and 0-3 from the 3 point line? Isn't he a senior?? How do Johnson and McRoberts each equal the total rebounds of Hartman and McSwain combined?? (Hartman was just terrible tonight) How in the holy hell do we shoot 50.8% and allow 41.5% FG's; make 3 more FG's than our opponent and still manage to get beat? Against an 0-8 team in conference? Our senior leadership sucks. There. I said it. Yes. It sucks. Looking at you, Hartman. Johnson. Newkirk. Why does Justin Smith play just 20 minutes? He's only shooting 54% from the field this season, and is one of the only guys who was able to get in position to defend that stupid 4th grade elbow hand off. This team is maddening. That felt good. Thank you for reading.

I think Romeo is a 2 year guy, so I will officially say 'both" and completely cop out. Phinisee will start next season and be a 4 year point guard. As valuable to this program as Yogi was. Romeo would prove to recruits that Indiana is a great place to go, and we'd win next season with him. Both are program changers for different reasons, and although I am very much on the Phinisee train, I think 'both" changes this program for the better and for the long term. If pressed and forced to choose, I have no idea what I'd say. Good question for different reasons.

Whew. I know many were frustrated early. Still....he shouldn't be able to hear anyone who's not right behind him. Hoping time will cure it.

Just shaking my head. I want that guy to see the honey of this job....not the bull crap of it. I hate that. New system, not a bunch of talent.... No wonder he seemed frustrated early on. I really hope he's patient. I also believe winning will cure all; but I also believe this is a special place and fair weather fans are a problem.

Agreed. Last couple of minutes were "normal." Big Ten games, no matter the opponent, should be loud. Duke is loud no matter who they play. So is Purdue these days. So is Michigan State. We're making excuses now (not you....collective), and it's not a good recipe. If we all want recruits and we all want a winner; this "eh" attitude cannot be the way of the Indiana Basketball world.

I liked some of your other points; disagreed with others; however I've only been to one game this season so can't comment or verify, but if this comment is true, I find it even more sad. The building was sterile last night.

Oh yeah. =)

Fair weather students have no business having tickets. Know where you are. It is absolutely the students'' job to go to the games.

Then they are spoiled, entitled brats who don't deserve the seats. Been that way for decades and they have been full for as long as I can remember. A poor excuse.

Chants. Big heads. Costumes. Some of the best seats in the building. Profanity. With the good comes the bad. I was embarrassed tonight. Embarrassed for Fred Glass and embarrassed for the student body. Assembly Hall was sterile for 38 minutes tonight. There were 2000 empty seats. The middle aged man in me (who will seem very old to IU students) says "when I was in school, we got 4 games." FOUR! And we didn't get to pick them. Two games were balcony, one main level, and one on the floor. We got to go....4 times. And we did. Even when we weren't very good. See : 1988. Students now get all the games if they want them. It was clear to me tonight they don't. We can't play Purdue every night. We can't play Duke every night. Sometimes....we play Maryland. On a Monday. And you generally blow it off. You want Romeo Langford? Be a better crowd than Purdue. You want a winner? Be louder than Nebraska. Tonight was a pathetic excuse for a crowd. The place was as quiet as if we were playing Northeast Arkansas during Christmas break. I don't know if students are entitled, have no clue where they are (perhaps with all the east coasters, but I'd like to think we can find 7000 basketball fans on that campus), or what...but this was far removed from any Indiana Basketball I have known. If the students don't want the tickets, limit their access and sell them to people who care about Indiana Basketball. Oh, and students? Stop with the profanity. It's sad. Off soapbox.

Whether we won or lost is completely immaterial most of the time, as is how a kid would fit on this team. He will never play on this team. Recruits want to know how THEY will fit. How THEY will be used. What THEIR role is. This team has 5 seniors on it, 4 of whom play major minutes. Winning or losing a game this season matters almost zero to a kid who's getting even decent advice. Recruitment of Romeo Langford is how he will be utilized within an offense and defense; and how he will help himself grow as a player.

That completely depends on what recruits are watching and what games they've seen.

Reading through this thread the last few days, I have to say....we have a whole lot of people who love to speculate. Lots of odd guesses. Some who think they know what AND why. Some reasoned opinions. And some clearly fabricated crap. An impressive display! What we do NOT have is anyone who knows anything. Hell, boys...James Blackmon said he changed his mind 3 times walking on to the stage. What makes anyone think he knows what Romeo's going to do? Let alone WHY he's going to do it. He'll go where he feels most comfortable. Indiana is on the upswing, and he knows that. The current team has very little talent, but it has some..and more coming. Plus an experienced team coming back and a true point guard who he knows very well. I have no idea why anyone would want to play basketball at Vanderbilt, simply because I hate where the teams have to sit there. But Romeo will go where he can enjoy his college experience; work on his game; and where he feels like the best fit. And none of us know that. I would bet HE doesn't know yet.

There are games, players, recruits, movies, ice cream flavors, favorite dish soaps, art, the periodic table, dogs, wives goodand bad, kids, birthdays, snow amounts, construction zones, brooms, mops, pots, pans, and a litany of other things we can talk about. Why is anyone discussing this?

Think he'll do more as a freshman than Berry did, but I'd say that's a good comparison. Phinsee is just smart. He knows where team mates need the ball, he is a natural leader who can run an offense, and he lets scoring come to him. When he plays with the best kids his age, he always looks like he belongs. (at least when I've seen him) If he fails, I'll look foolish because I've been bullish on him for a long time....and I have zero worries.

This is my horse. I saw him play in the state finals as a sophomore; and I could see it even when his body was not yet developed. Tis kid is fantastic and WAY better than his ranking. Likely a 4 year player; and as much as I want Romeo; this is the kid I wanted most. He is now showing what he really is....we're gonna love him.

Did anyone else thing the broadcast team was Clark Kellogg and Mike Tirico? I swear to God, until I saw the guy and saw his name (which I didn't recognize), I thought it was Tirico.

Something I loved and never saw under Crean. We adjusted to what another team's defense was doing, set up offense to beat it, and executed it. During the game. Loved that.

Open to interpretation, but given his history with me, I thought so. Was there a point to the first sentence other than to condescend? I responded in kind. You think it was unwarranted. I disagree. Over.

First of all, my original question was "why would Morgan leave?" which is hardly against any civil policy. You can also ask people to respond without being "reason for censor side stepping." Calling a spade a spade. Morgan is not at all the most worthy pro player on our roster at this time. That would be Justin Smith. Way more athletic and a bigger pro-style body. Morgan wasn't on anyone's radar 9 weeks ago. Yes. Any player on our roster can play professionally somewhere if they want to. Have you seen some of the leagues in foreign countries? There are mediocre high school players who could make some of those teams. There are 10-12 professional teams in every country in Europe, and more than that in Asia. There's another 16 year old 6'2" guard named Coco Nazareno from Albania playing in Lithuania. I would bet anything I have he's not a better player than anyone on our roster. Which is why I asked....why would Morgan leave? (above anyone else) It was a legitimate and reasonable question unless you want to spin it otherwise.

It was a condescending sh*ty answer. Don't hide and put it on me. I asked a question because you made a statement and you were a smart @$$. Back to the question which you still haven't answered. Why single him out? That's true for every decent player on every team in college basketball.