Hardwood83

In fairness last night provided much to rant about. I'll try changing the subject with a moderate rant. I think people lose about 10% of their IQ every day starting a week before Christmas. The way they drive, alternating between racing around or creeping along. Then wander the stores drenched in sweat with a wild look of desperation in their eyes. I love Christmas, but CALM THE FRICK DOWN. It's all gonna be ok, but seems some people need to be slapped back to their senses.

Are mid-season transfers possible?

Of course you are right, but they did hit a few 25 footers with a hand in their face. Missing those open looks brings it back to the average!

This feels like a season crushing loss. Not sure how they recover from this.

Feb 20th home opener could be a real hoot. Might be sunny and 48° or sleeting and 26°. How does the rest of the B1G look for the upcoming season?

Any rumors or news on XJ's status? I wouldn't expect him until the 12/29 game, but if he's not back for that...... I seem to recall hearing it was not a fracture and wasn't an ankle sprain. I know there are lots of injures possible, but am very curious what is going on. Really need him for the Nebraska game 1/3.

I agree with you, but wouldn't the same have been applicable to JHS through 10 games last season? Not saying MM is JHS, but it is possible.

ESPN has him at 6'1:" 213lbs. He looks more stout than that! Line him up in the slot and let McCully work the outside.

That will get CCC a lifetime contract a la Cal at pUKe!

The pressure thing might be true, but not sure in what world this isn't good: O$U fans are delusional jack-*****. McCord might not be the absolute highest level of QB, but he was 11-1 with the only loss on the road to the #1 team, by a single score. Sure he had 2 INT's, but they also only had 107yds rushing for the game. Retards, sheesh I hate O$U.

Your gut is correct. Cupps won't be ready for that big of a step and Trey is a great 6th man (both IMO obviously) Gunn shoulda Redshirted last year and Newton coming off nearly 2 years of inactivity is a question until proven otherwise. Transfer portal for the win!

You had me at 'no TO's'. It's an absolute killer and winning teams seldom do it.

Or more like this?

It's hard not to be a little discouraged about the current state of IUBB. Not so bad that I want Bruce Pearl though, I just want Woodson to win :) It could be worse, we could be Iowa or Mich State. Sheesh. If XJ was healthy and IU had pulled in a good (not even great) SG from the portal last summer I believe they'd be a fringe top 25 team. The guard quality & depth is a couple of big steps below top teams.

I have to disagree. The CFP isn't killing the ACC. Sure FSU got screwed, but leaving their conference doesn't fix that, it's just an excuse. What is the end game here for the B1G and conference expansion? Sincere question- is the goal simply mindlessly gathering as many valuable properties as possible (like a hoarder) or is there a plan to make sense of this at some point? I want to believe there is, but circumstances tell me otherwise. This isn't some inevitable progress, it's just mania for it's own sake. Can someone explain to me how a 19 team, nation-wide conference is manageble, sustainable and a positive thing for IU and college sports overall? Any chance this is the end and the conference will spend the next 10yrs assimilating the new members and creating a culture? No, next month will be Miami and then No Carolina and.....? The Big Ten should tell FSU 'no', but of course that won't happen, because more is always better.

I read once that schools usually hire the opposite of whatever coach they are replacing. So if it's a hard-nosed, Defensive guy leaving, they bring in a free-wheeling offensive minded coach, etc.

Not quite 180°, I think Prime Time's house-cleaning by telling all the inherited players "you suck, and we hate you, get out!" is the complete opposite of LEO! But of course you are right. I want McCulley & Lucas et al to stay, but if they think bolting is 'best for them', fine, what's best for ME is IU to win games and if they don't want to be part of that, then eff em.

It's a tough crowd obviously. With Gunn I understand it more, he's a gifted athlete and second year player and until last night didn't look like he had attended a practice. Obviously he's coming around, so great news for all of us. I'm with you on Cupps though, kid is giving it all and has made very few mistakes and still getting raked over the coals. Yes he has gotten beat on defense a few times, but not enough to warrant the criticism. He'll be a terrific 4yr player and fan favorite is my guess.

Anyone have a sense of his defensive ability? I know that isn't highlight video stuff, but just curious if he has a rep for being solid on D?

Yeah, I was looking at the headlines for all the players entering the portal and those "opting out" of the bowl games and it is really sad. Of course there are way too many bowls, but still some teams will have skeleton crews playing because of the new normal. The aspects that make college football unique are mostly gone. Rivalries are a thing of the past for a chunk of the country. Instead we get Stanford playing Wake Forrest in a conference game. Yay. I still watch, but I don't care nearly as much as I used to. Apathy is the most dangerous thing for any product (ask Disney!) I wonder how prevelant that attitiude is becoming about NCAA football?

I'm kinda in the same position. I have a long list of (legitimate) complaints and criticisms about this team....but they are 7-1! I much prefer learning while winning! I've said it before, but if Queen is paying attention to what Bigs have done at IU the last few years and still chooses someplace else? That's on him. I mean sheesh.

Agreed, also Bardo was much better than usual, IMO. About Gunn he said "he's growing up right before our eyes" and he's right. A couple weeks ago he looked absokutely terrible.But IU doesn't win tonight without Gunn. Any B1G road win is a big deal, so I am very pleased.

Yes, I added my edit almost immediately, so obviously you responded before that. I was, in fact talking about the speculators, in this case Trilly.

Who knows, Queen may commit this afternoon, but it sure does feel like attention whoring. Same with Harper and.....well most of the B-Ball recruiting complex. "Look at me, this time I really mean it!" ETA- not directed at Queen personally, since he seems to have kept a low-profile.

And where were you a week ago when I bought Peacock for a year!?! J/K of course. It's cheap and now I can watch 'The Office' reruns anytime I want! I am concerned about how IU will slow down McDaniel. He has really improved and the performances of Mack, etc don't inspire confidence.