Honkyman

Golfman25 said: "Great coaches adapt." Who is going to start instead of the current starters? Galloway played starter minutes against Michigan (23 minutes) and scored zero points. He can't shoot and like last season after a couple of games opponents have figured out how to defend him making him an offensive liability. Phinisee returned to his old self against Michigan scoring just 2 points. Geronimo scored 2 points and looked like he was sleepwalking the whole time he was on the floor. Meanwhile, Stewart scored 9 and Kopp scored 5. The problem is that IU doesn't run plays for their best shooters. When they finally started running plays for Parker Stewart near the end of the Michigan game, he hit three 3-point shots. Except for the Purdue game, the bench rarely delivers.

There are no set plays for Miller Kopp or Parker Stewart. The ball goes into TJD. If he gets doubled up then the ball is suppose to go back out to the open man. But because they aren't moving, if they are open, they usually aren't open long enough to get a shot off. Michigan on Sunday showed how that works when the defense doesn't get back quickly enough.

It very well could be better not to have Stewart and Kopp on the floor at the same time. However, it should be noted that ball movement was poor against Michigan for the entire game, even when both of them were on the bench.

VO5 said: "Having one of Galloway and Phinisee on the court at all times." Phinisee and Galloway both played awful--2 points combined. Starting either one of them would have made no absolutely difference. The entire team stunk with the exception of Xavier Johnson. Johnson was IU's best player today. At least he tried to make something happen. There was no energy with anyone else.

The bench played poorly today. Durr got his 4 points on two nice jumpers (Durr should try to teach TJD how to shoot). Phinisee was back to playing like he usually does. Bates tried a shot from behind the basket. Does he think he is Larry Bird? Geronimo was invisible. Galloway has no business shooting anything but a layup. He's a terrible shooter and even missed a layup after a nice steal. A three point shot from Galloway is the equivalent of a turnover. The offense is mostly one-on-one--too little ball movement. The coaching staff has to figure out ways to get Parker Stewart and Miller Kopp more open 3s. Parker hits a good percentage of open 3-point shots. Michigan played like their preseason ranking. They looked like the best team in the league.

Michael Durr played well against Edey, better than TJD did (and they both scored 4 points against Purdue). TJD's foul trouble may have actually helped IU's chances.

IU 73 Michigan 67

IU 67 Purdue 66

IUScott said: "Even with IT they were still 7-5 and if Turner didn't decide to start playing like he was capable of we wouldn't have won." Actually, IU turned it around before Landon Turner started playing like an All American. It happened when Knight gave into his players' request that Isiah become "the coach on the floor." Once Bobby let Isiah play his way, IU started playing like a really good team. But Turner's improved play made them the team that steamrolled its way to the national championship. Would IU had won without Turner playing at his potential. Hard to tell. IU also had Tolbert, Kitchel and Whitman in addition to Isiah Thomas which made them a really good team. They also had Jim Thomas, Steve Risley, and Stever Bouchie who were really good role players.

IUFAN1976 said, "Take the 81 championship team..." The 1981 team had a point guard named Isiah Thomas. Our point guards obviously will never play at Isiah's level. But they have to play better than they have for this team to have a chance to get better.

Good performances out of TJD, Race Thompson, Jordan Geronimo, and Tre Galloway. Xavier and Phinisee were barely adequate. Bates looked better than has recently. Geronimo is a force. Parker Stewart hit a couple of important 3s. Miller Kopp hits his first 3 and then misses four. Phinisee o-4 from 3. Good to finally win one on the road. Purdue will be tough to beat but at least we're at home.

IU 69 Nebraska 62

75-72 Hoosiers

Northwestern is a tough place to coach. They have had a couple of decent seasons over the years but for the most part they have been the doormat of the conference. If Collins can't sustain success there it is hard to imagine who might.

I can't imagine Race would return for a 6th year at IU. At some point, people want to get on with their lives. He can make money playing in Europe.

IU 72 Ohio State 70

Phinisee has been inconsistent even as he has played better. He was terrible in the first half against Penn State Sunday but kept IU in the game near the end. He has always had moments going back to his winning shot against Butler freshman year. But inconsistency has been a more accurate mark of his career at IU.

Bates brings more athleticism than Kopp. But he looked completely lost in the first half against Penn State. That seems to be why Woodson ended up going with both Xavier and Rob while sitting Kopp in the second half. Bates is not ready for starting time. Geronimo looked good in the first half, though, but didn't play but once briefly in the second half. Rob played terrible the first half but kept IU in the game down the stretch.

What a poor offensive effort.

Brumdog45 said: "Thompson was going offensively but sat for 7 minutes." Yes, but he was replaced by Geronimo who was played well--2 for 2 with 3 rebounds.

Hard to see watching this how IU is a tournament team. Can't hit the outside shots and can't get TJD more than five shots.

Bates won't be starting over Stewart or Kopp. He's not ready for starter time. He's been too inconsistent and conference play will be more challenging for him. He's got great potential and shows flashes of things to come. Hopefully he will be contributing with consistency by the tournament time.

IU 70 PSU 65

IU-82 NKU 63

I'm not sure why Johnson needs to shoot 9 3s, especially if he is only going to hit 2 of them.