Honkyman

TJD and Race Thompson played very well together during the last several games and it was never clear who was playing the 5 and who was playing the 4. Those two are interchangeable at those two positions. Brunk can only play the 5.

Joey Brunk will start at the beginning of the season. It is doubtful Brunk averages the same amount of playing time as last season should Race Thompson play as well next season as he did at the end of last.

Yes, all IU fans want the IU team to make the tourney every year. Few thought it would happen in his first year. Most thought it would with Romeo in the 2nd. And many doubted the team would this past year. Almost everyone agreed that Archie would need his players rather than Crean's players before we would know if he could bring IU back to true respectability.

Brumdog45 I think this will be the third straight year someone has said that. ---------------- That's not accurate. The consensus has always been that IU needs to make a jump forward when Archie has his own players. With the exception of Al Durham that time is now.

I would be surprised if IU is in a top 3 with Patterson. I think Maryland has a better shot at him than we do.

No need for name calling. And, yes, this is the year for Archie Miller to demonstrate he can coach at IU. (If there is a season).

It sounds like Garza will be back. He isn't getting real feedback because NBA executives aren't holding workouts or giving feedback. That's not likely to change any time soon.

Yes, there has been incremental improvement under Archie Miller. However, IU fans don't want to see the basketball program inch its way to respectability. IU fans want to see a team now that is exciting and is competitive for the conference title. One of the reasons for fan frustration is that the offensive doesn't seem well designed or effective. Hopefully, with Lander and TJD leading the way plus a fair amount of experience, the offensive will finally be dynamic instead of lethargic. But if IU is still in the lower half of the Big 10 standings at the end of next year, there will be even greater disappointment even if we make the NCAA tournament (if there is a season and a tournament). Making the tournament is a must but fans want to see a truly improved product.

Durham's strength is that he plays hard. He has also hit some clutch shots and free throws. But if Franklin finds shooting consistency or Leal transitions well, Durham could find himself losing playing time.

Yogi was a 5-star McDonald's All American. He was good as a freshman, the starting point guard on a team that was ranked #1 for part of the season. But he wasn't a "game changer" until later in his college career. The last IU player who was truly a "game changer" as a freshman was Cody Zeller. Romeo wasn't even a game changer as a freshman though he was good. Romeo's best game at IU was against Maryland when he scored 28 points. IU lost that game. Being a "game changer" is more than being good. It means the ability at least at times to control a game or to influence the play sufficiently that the team wins. Lander is obviously talented but he is skipping a year of high school. Nobody has any idea how he will transition to college. Hunter isn't even close to being a game changer.

I'm not sure there are any proven game changers on this IU team. TJD maybe. Certainly not Hunter or Lander who has yet to play a college game.

Archie will start Joey Brunk at the beginning of the season. What happens later is anyone's guess. Kristian Lander may begin the season coming off the bench as DJ Carton did for Ohio State. Lander will likely move into the starting lineup at some point. In any event, he will average 25 minutes a game or more whether he starts or not. Phinisee Durham Hunter TJD Brunk

Justin committed to one kind of a coach but got a different kind. He should be given credit for hanging with IU for three years when they needed him and getting his degree before moving on. Some on this board seem to want to trash him on the way out. It's hard to see why. He was 2nd on the team in rebounds and 3rd in scoring this past season. And, he was the best defensive player on the team. IU would not have won the game against Michigan State in 2019 without Justin's 24 points. And his defense clearly helped IU win a couple of games in 2020. He has talent and I suspect he will end up with a coach more to his liking. Good luck Justin. His leaving creates opportunity for Race Thompson, Jerome Hunter and probably others.

I don't see Justin going to a chaotic situation with a program that has no realistic chance at post-season play--which is where Georgetown is right now.

I could see Justin going to Notre Dame, Illinois or Purdue if he wants to stay near home and play for a decent coach. There's room on Maryland but the coaching is terrible. Xavier might be a good fit. If he goes to Nevada he could play for Steve Alford. He's not going to Georgetown. Patrick Ewing just tested positive for COVID-19 and the team is a mess as four players transferred out of the program this year.

Archie told Justin that the offense would run through TJD and Kristian Lander. Justin wants a bigger role. That's the way it goes. Maybe he will find a school where there can happen.

I'm not going bother discussing this with someone who obviously is unfamiliar with the subject and is just trying to be annoying.

Did I see Jerry Sloan play at the University of Evansville? As a matter of fact I did--several times. And anyone who saw him play knows he was a great player.

323SGrant IMHO he was a good player ________ Jerry Sloan was a good enough college basketball player to be selected 4th in the 1965 NBA draft. So I suppose in your opinion you have to be selected in the top 3 in the draft to be better than just a "good" college player.

Jerry Sloan wasn't just a good player at the University of Evansville--he was a great player there.

I'm sorry to see Justin Smith go. He has NBA athletic ability. He just seemed unable to develop a reliable outside shot--that one game against Michigan State in 2019 notwithstanding. I suspect he just needs a change in scenery. I suspect it will be difficult for him to find a truly better situation, however. IU could be pretty good next year and playing on a good team is the best way to get noticed by pro scouts. We'll see. Good luck to him.

I wouldn't consider myself the smartest. But thank you anyway.

Gee, that thought had never entered my mind ... -------- It sure seemed that way when you wrote "Seems such a waste (extra scholarship) particularly when you can easily add a guy for a year." Not so easy when there aren't any available. "Maybe a big..."?

LamarCheeks said: Certainly, there has to be a grad transfer with a year of eligibility remaining worth looking at -- maybe a big since TJD and Brunk are pretty much all we have there? ___________ Don't you think if there were a grad transfer worthy of an IU scholarship, the coaches would have already been in contact? There are virtually no grad transfers out there--they have all committed. Maybe someone will surface over the summer but it seems unlikely.

Georgetown stinks. They have lost more players to transfer than Purdue. IU will play a better team than Georgetown in the Gavitt--Xavier or maybe Villanova.