RaceToTheTop

As a freshman, De'ron looked like he was going to be that interior presence that was much needed.....but he had a ton of problems with committing fouls. That never really changed. The injuries at this point have slowed him to a point where you see flashes, but a lot of the time it's painful to watch him.....especially if he's forced to defend a quicker player. The weight he put on didn't help either, but that certainly could be a product of the injuries and not being able to get in shape. It is worth mentioning that Brunk had his own history of injuries and was a pretty sought after recruit out of high school when he signed at Butler -- he was the 14th ranked center in his class. Didn't play his freshman year at Butler and redshirted, then barely played the next as he got in shape. And he is still getting better...he's a guy that was getting 7.7 rebounds/40 minutes at Butler last year and is at 11.5 this year at IU. I could see him being an 11/8 guy next year.

I don't see him getting much time as a freshman other than except as a guy to bring energy and play defense....but it's not exactly a stretch saying an incoming fringe top 150 recruit isn't going to play much when only two players graduate. His projection right now is that of Will Sheehey. Like Sheehey, he was a plus athlete and defender who was not a great shooter coming in. Sheehey was 6'5" coming to IU and grew a couple of inches so he has a couple of inches on Galloway, but Galloway is a better passer coming in that Sheehey was (and ever became). The you are describing -- moves like Brunk, handles worst than Justin, but is 6'3" -- isn't a guy who could ever play in the Big Ten. I have no idea what player you are talking about, but it's not Galloway.

We set zero picks for our shooters.

Damezi was also helped by talent around him at SB Riley that was heads and shoulders above the teams he played his junior and senior year. The South Bend area was very, very weak then and two of his team mates are now in D1 (Eastern Michigan and Fort Wayne) and they had a pass first point guard who was getting about 8 assists per game and had D1 talent but not D1 size. I think if Damezi had played downstate in a better conference, either his faults would have shown more or he would have learned to play through them.

Pretty lazy, unrealistic evaluation of Galloway if you come away with 'he's about as slow dribbling with the ball as Brunk' and he 'has worse handles than Justin Smith'. You are correct in his shooting ability but he's a plus defender and plus athlete. Plays with toughness as well and plays through contact. That said, he doesn't address the biggest glaring weakness we have.

How much did it cost you?

When you ask why certain guys are playing, remember that right now our bench is Davis, Green, Anderson, and Franklin. And Smith and Brunk both had two fouls in the first half.

Rob, for one, needs to take advantage when he's left open. If not, he's a really easy guy to guard.

He is a one dimensional one-in-three three point shooter. He was that at IU, Oklahoma State, and he's that now at Penn State. Difference today is he's two of his three pointers but he's just as likely to hit 0 of 3.

Not sure he was on the pregame injury report but was tweeted he went to the locker room at some point during the first half. Would assume something in warm ups.

Al and RP combining to take 4 shots is as frustrating as Green taking 7 in 10 minutes.

Yes, but if you aren't making shots it's good to see that you show up in other ways.

He went to the locker room at some point in the first half, likely did something in practice or warm ups that flared up. No reason to start rumors.

Al and RP have to step up in the first half. Complete non-factors.

Get a stop, lead at half. But I'm expecting Stevens to run at the hoop and be given a call.

Curtis Jones doing everything and nothing simultaneously for Penn State.

SMH, Green.

100%

Chances that De'ron hits both free throws?

As bad as we've been, it's a four point game. If we can get to the half in the same shape with no further foul problems, that's a plus.

Smith with two fouls, Thompson out, Hunter out, Davis and Brunk with two fouls each. What lineup would be good?

Sorry, but DeVonte has to play tonight.

Went to the locker room.

Stevens shuffled when he caught the ball.

Smith has to let that one go given the fouls. SMH.