Hardwood83

I've mentioned before that I doubt the starting line-up for the opening game is the same as it will be in January. I also seriously doubt 2+ Freshmen start (barring extenuating circumstances.) I think Phinisee and Hunter will be major contributors, but don't expect them to start, especially right away. Based on Archie's comments at Huber, experience and understanding the system are important and I'm skeptical that 2-3 Freshmen are all going to pull that off. I could see McRoberts starting on occasion, especially early in the season, but agree that isn't the most hopeful sign for a big year. The good news is IU has a lot more options than last year and the future is bright!

Exactly, I get that it's made for TV, but at least pretend to put some thought into it. Really sick of Duke, that cheating, rat-faced bastard Coach K and their arrogance.

I wasn't concerned until the last couple of days. This is very cool, gonna be hard to keep expectations reasonable!

Won't IU need a SG as much or more than a PG in this class? I know everyone isn't sold on Green (Sr) but Phinisee (So) should be ready by then and Durham (Jr) could cover a little PG. Assuming Romeo bolts for the draft there wouldn't be any typical SG's on the roster in 2019. Maybe Hunter and/or Anderson emerge as a guard and that would be great, but I like the look of Newman's game from what I've seen and would prefer him over a PG in 2019.

Happ. I hate him and Wisconsin, but imagine his interior D, and offensive presence for IU? Nasty. Drawback? A distinct lack of spastic celebrations.

Already play Hooker U, so they're out. I doubt we get BC or ND, although I wouldn't mind playing at South Bend. Don't want to see Duke again, would be nice to play someone different like maybe @ FSU or Miami. I expect a predictable media match-up against a big name though.

Exactly. Did Cody, Vic and OG make the right decision leaving early? Absolutely. Troy & Bryant? Ehhhh, they obviously made more money then they would have at IU and no guarantee they would have improved their stock by coming back. Still, it was hardly the fairy tale beginning to their career. If Juwan was likely to even be drafted it would be reasonable. Leaving early and not getting drafted = mistake most of the time. Europe and the G-League can wait.

It's bad luck to be superstitious....but make sure you sleep in the same spot!

Me either, in fact I would shocked. That's an under-sized line-up with 2 Freshmen and 3 of the 4 guards on the roster too. Not saying it wouldn't be an exciting team, but not sure the D would be there, especially right out of the gate.

I'm fully expecting him to be OAD. If somehow he decided against all odds to stay like Cody or Bridges at MSU, that would be incredible....but I'm not going to count on that. What are the stats of success for one year players?

Lots of options with this roster. Being as objective as possible this roster doesn't look like a top 10 -15 team to me. Lots of new faces, only one sure NBA talent and not a lot of proven shooters, etc. However, they should play sold D and look like one of the top 3 teams in the B1G. If IU can out-perform (for ONCE) I think they can win the conference and make a run in the tourney.

I should have been more clear- I mean he has the skills already- good enough shooting, ball-handling, defense, etc. "Just" decision making has to get much better.

Exactly, that's the question, isn't it? Someone said in another thread that Green is likely THE most important player in determining this team's ceiling- I agree with that. He doesn't even need to "improve" much IMO, just be consistent., make the easy play, etc and IU is going to be VERY tough. If not? Then I really hope Rob is ready for some responsibility because he's looking at playing a lot. I think it's a good sign that there are only 2 certain starters. Could be 5-6 others and that is a good, good situation. As ChicagoHoosier said, a lot to drool over with this roster. My opening day line-up: Green, Romeo, Smith Morgan, Fitzner. I don't think that will necessarily be the starters by Jan, though. No idea what the bench rotation will look like, but I would like to see whoever the 13th guy is red-shirt, especially with a preferred walk-on level guy like ZM picking up some minutes.

I would be thrilled with that! I don't expect him to dominate inside, but really can't see him playing on the wing. I would also think that 6-8 mins/game would be a wasted scholarship unless he has some very solid intangibles & leadership.

It's a fair question....for Archie. He must have a reason for bringing him in and Fitzner must have agreed with it.

You might be right, but bringing Fitzner in as a 3 or 4 makes no sense to me. And if they aren't planning on him getting solid minutes then why bring him in at all? I seriously doubt he knowingly transfers to play the same or fewer minutes at IU then he did at SMC. Not disagreeing with your assessment, he definitely doesn't look like low-post banger, I'm just very curious to see how he'll fit and IU already has plenty of 3-4 players: Hunter, McRoberts, Anderson, Morgan, Smith, Thompson, maybe even Romeo (3) and Moore(4).

Watching Cavs- Raptors, I can't help thinking about how nasty OG would have been defensively under Archie. I bet he would have been an absolute beast in that system.

Your point was Davis "wasn't effective" and when shown he actually was the rebuttal is "but the competition sucked" We get it, you are not a DD fan. I suspect he won't play much this season, so you should be spared from being subjected to that misery. Getting back to Fitzner, I disagree with those that think he'll only be a minor role player. I think he's the likely opening day starting 5. There aren't a lot of other great options and I doubt Archie brings him in to play 12 mins a game backing up Thompson or Moore. Morgan is not a center. He played it last season AFTER Davis got hurt and before McSwain emerged, in other words because Priller or Moore were the only other options.

Right, Davis is a pretty skilled guy with solid post moves, imo. His weakness is athleticism. I've only seen a few clips of Fitzner, but I am already confident he'll be more successful then DD hedging on the ball and playing outside the lane. I also can see Fitzner starting at the 5 beginning the year. I'm doubtful Davis is healthy enough or anyone else is experienced enough, since I don't think Juwan will play Center regularly.

Combined with solid to above average defense? I'll take those numbers in a heart-beat! None of our options at Center are likely going to be all B1G, just need it not to be a glaring weakness, IMO. ETA: basically exactly what HoosierAloha said

I was just comparing the six players gone from last season to the 6 new ones for 18-19. But you're right, Green, Smith and Thompson are all important pieces.

Out with the old and in with the new: Newkirk < Phinisee Johnson < Langford Hartman < Anderson (since Colin was injured, healthy I think he would have contributed much more consistently) McSwain = Forrester (being generous to Jake here since Freddie really came on late in the year. Priller < Fitzner Jones < Hunter Obviously this is a paper comparison, but am I wrong? Hasn't IU upgraded with every transition? Experience is about all that we lose....and sadly Josh didn't play like a 5th year PG very often. Priller & Jones didn't contribute anything. I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it. I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!

"Pro" has quite a range. Making $26,000/yr playing in the Balkans isn't the same as being a NBA lottery pick for millions of $$. I love and appreciate Juwan, but he's a lot closer to the former than the latter. Coming back to IU can only help him, barring a catastrophic injury.

If Fitzner- or any other big man- is added to the 2018 class I assume that means DD is red-shirting. At the very least that he won't be expected to contribute much. As said above, no real downside to this....unless you're McRoberts and had hopes for that last scholly!