Lebowski

I hear ya. A position that once had too much depth is now looking pretty darn thin. We'll see. Hopefully our beloved Hoosiers will figure something out. They might end up moving around some players in other positions. Does anyone know of players on the current roster that was a RB in high school?

I don't agree. The passing game improved, that includes pass blocking. The run game decreased, that includes run blocking. All that might have been by design though because they were playing with a new OC. They won 8 games without the 2018 running game. Both players will be missed but like I've been saying for awhile now, the core of the team is still intact. In my opinion, the biggest loss this off-season so far has been losing the S&C duo to Bama.

I don't believe in luck. Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. But that's just me.

IU was leading the game six and a half into the 4th and tied with a minute and a half til the game was over. They put up 31 points on the road. It's foolish to think their front 5 didn't produce.

You're not wrong with some of your assessments. SOS wasn't a strong one that's for sure, however I would argue that the 2019 Hoosiers would have gone bowling with the exact same schedule they had in 2018. Also, in 2019 they won the games they were supposed to win with 3 of those in conference wins on the road. I don't agree the lines got man handled often nor abused in some of those losses. I think only two of their losses (OSU, Michigan) were brutal. All of their other loses they were in the game until the end. And most importantly, Ramsey wasn't the starter as injuries plague the entire team throughout the entire season. Bottom line, the Hoosiers improved from the year prior. And doing it with a young roster.

I'm not sure I agree. Keep in mind a couple of things here. The defensive stats in general were better than 2018 and the offensive stats produced more points, more rushing TDs, more passing yards and relied less on the run game than the previous year. Now that might be due to a number of factors, SOS, new OC and DC etc. etc.. But the bottom line is that compared to the two years the younger front 5 and front 7 produced more wins and a bowl appearance. This team is young. I'm a firm believer that the strengths of any team in any conference at any level of football is and will always be at the front 5 and front 7 level. That's football. Without either you just got a really bad football team. Games are won and lost in the trenches.

I wholeheartedly agree. The front 5 and front 7 on both sides of the ball at the end of the season are pretty much still around. I think people are forgetting how incredibly young this roster is.

In my opinion, with this team it's a stat that speaks volumes. Not just about the player getting that stat but the 4 other players on the court with him.

If the NCAA tourney was held at Assembly Hall, pretty dang far.

Race 8pts 13 +/-

Another win and another solid performance from Race.

Race 3-3 from the line, 10 boards, 50% from the field and the most telling stat 21 +/- Does anyone now where I can find a player's +/- stat? I can't seem to find it on the various sites I'm looking at.

Another delightful game to watch from Race and another win. There's a pattern going on here folks.

Race Thompson's performance last night against Iowa was a delight to watch. He had that grit and did the small things that translated into complete contribution to the team. He needs to stay healthy.

Indeed. However, we've lost a lot this off season. So we'll see how the changes take place. Hopefully, everyone just hits the ground running and our beloved Hoosiers continue to improve from last season. It's really refreshing to look at where IU football is today. The prognosticators, albeit pointless in the grand scheme of things, actually see IU football finishing 3rd in the East division and 7th overall in the conference. Far out man. Hopefully that'll help in recruiting.

3 of a kind that are high face cards isn't 11th in a conference of 14. You're chances of winning with that hand is far much greater with 14 playing on the table. At some point accountability of being able to develop 'the cards dealt' has to fall on the person playing the cards.

Maybe he's thinking TJD enters the draft?

I just want a team that has a decent basketball IQ, plays solid/grit/hustle defense and makes 70-75% of their free throws. In my opinion, a coach that can get those three things out of his/her players is a really good recipe for success. Recruiting classes come and go but those three things from a team, I think, is effective.

I'm just going to say this. In Knight's second year at IU he took his "non recruits" to a final four. Mike Izzo, in his third year, his "non recruits" won the conference and he took his team to the Sweet 16. Billy Donovan, in his third year, his "non recruits" finished 3rd in the conference and he took his team to the Sweet 16. And there is a whole list of other coaches I can give examples. At some point you have start to question Archie's ability to develop players. Development isn't only physical. It's also mental. And in my opinion this team isn't developing mentally or physically. It's gotten worse. If you want to wait another year for you to determine that, so be it. I've come to a conclusion that this isn't what IU basketball is about. Especially after that debacle this past Saturday.

Awesome thread. In my opinion the three discussed only one (Race) we really can talk about development. The other two haven't really played enough for me to get a gauge on development. I typically like to look at the following year to gauge development. I've already expressed my concerns with a lot of the players that have been here from the start of CAM's reign. I thought I would have already seen some solid contributions and development. But then again, if I'm being honest with myself, I'm just some dude on the internet trying to be an armchair QB to a situation I really don't know that much about. I will say the potential for Jerome Hunter is through the roof! I really hope he continues to grow and avoid injuries during the way. That dude could be something special for us beloved Hoosiers fans.

Thanks for sharing. Appreciate it. I would say every college basketball fan, including myself, wants their team to accomplish that type of consistency. There's what 5 to 10 schools out of what 350 plus schools that are where you want our beloved Hoosiers to be. So I guess there's room for IU to get on that train. Getting on that train though takes special type of people (from top to bottom) to be leading the way. My only disagreement with you is the how part aka x's and o's. For me at least, I don't think it really matters on how our Hoosiers accomplishment that lofty task. Just so long as they aren't in the news about FBI investigations and prostitution parties, the x's and o's part of it don't really matter to me.

I'm just curious. What is your version of Indiana basketball, do you have something in mind? Again just curious.

If IU plays like they did against FSU they're a top 15 team. If they play like they did against Northwestern they're not worthy of anything. Jekyll and Hyde

Best of luck to Coach Sheridan! He was a big part of the development of Peyton Hendershot. Let's hope he'll be able to produce and keep the Hoosiers rolling. They've got a tough schedule this coming season so it'll be a big challenge for sure.

They lost to SBU at home and two on the road to MSU and PITT. I'll wait and see once how they fair in the grind of the schedule. I wholeheartedly agree. Doing the extra things is on the player. But I believe you're just talking about the extra things the make a VO. Those aren't a common thing. They're a diamond in the rough. You're not going to get an entire team of VO's even if a player does the extra things. Some players need a coach to motivate them. I know not doing the extra things you speak of and just doing the required things the system/program is having a player do should result into some sort of development. It's not like these players don't practice, go to weight room, watch film, have nutritionist, get personal tutors, etc. etc..