Honkyman

Duke was a disastrous loss last year in that IU got destroyed and the team looked helpless. Arkansas was a one-point loss on the road and the only loss before the ACC-Big Ten Challenge gamer at Duke.

I confess I don't read all the posts, but I don't remember anyone writing that having another quality point guard wasn't necessary or was unimportant. In fact, I can't imagine that IU fans wrote that it is unimportant to have quality back up players at all positions, including point guard. Some may have written that it will be difficult to attract a top point guard capable of starting if necessary when the team had a starting point guard returning as a sophomore. Most 4 and 5 star players want to go somewhere where they will play and hopefully start right away. Some may have written that recruiting a shooter should be a top priority given how poorly IU shot from 3-point range last year. It seems you are trying to take credit for being right when nobody really disagreed with the premise, i.e., we need multiple good players at all positions including point guard. I could be wrong. Perhaps, some posted that having another quality point guard is not important to the program's success. As I say, I haven't read all posts. It just seems improbable.

The question about Maryland has revolved around the coaching rather than the talent. Turgeon has them playing very well this year so far.

Getting a second "true" point guard is easier said than done. Archie has tried to recruit other point guards but hasn't been able to land one despite genuine efforts. I don't believe any posters here indicated it was a bad idea to recruit another point guard.

Not a particularly impressive win against a not particularly good team. But IU did what they had to do in November and went 7-0. Now the fun begins. Before long, we'll have a much better sense of how good this team is.

OK so Franklin finally made a three. Then turned the ball over. Can't wait for Phinisee to return.

5 for 11 on free throws; 8 turnovers.

Why is Franklin shooting 3-pointers? He's 10% from three.

When was the last time any player from Gary, East Chicago, or Hammond came to play at IU? Dan Dakich was born in Gary but went to high school in Merrillville. Rich Valavicius who was a member of the 1976 undefeated team before transferring to Auburn starred at Hammond High. Bootsie White, an All State guard was from Hammond and came to IU with George McGinnis and Steve Downing. Other than those three, I'm not aware of any players from that part of the state who have played at IU.

No matter what happens against Marquette, Maryland will be well prepared for the rigors of the Big 10 schedule.

Old Friend--you are way too intense.

It is interesting to read fans trash an IU player who scored 16 points on 6 for 11 from the field including 3 for 5 from 3-point range in a double digit victory over the best team IU has played to date. Yes he had 4 turnovers but Durham had 5. The whole team was sloppy the second half. We likely wouldn't have been in the game without Green's first half offensive performance. And, he played pretty good defense throughout the game. Give it a rest.

I suspect Green will be starting instead of Franklin from here on just as he started the 2nd half against Princeton. At the same time, it wouldn't be surprising to see Durham and Green starting at guard with Phinisee coming off the bench. At least against Princeton, those two were more effective playing together.

We were lucky to be a finalist for Dawson Garcia. He's an excellent player and would have done well in Archie's system. But we got in on him late compared to Marquette. Marquette is closer geographically. And as I've said before, IU will have a tough time landing top out-of-state talent until we do better on the court. Hopefully that is happening this year. Time to move on.

Lander plans on studying mechanical engineering? I guess he's going to Purdue then. Or maybe MIT.

Dawson mostly talked about the fan base when discussing IU. He talked about his role when discussing Marquette. As the end he said his decision will be based on his relationship to the coaching staff and the role they have planned for him. It sounds like Marquette.

If IU makes the Sweet 16 this season it will be because TJD plays well enough to catch the eye of NBA scouts and draft boards. It doesn't mean he will go pro even then. He could stay another year just as Zeller did.

Yes, Justin Smith and TJD look very good.

Posters who are claiming that IU looks better this year than at this time last year have foggy memories. At this time last year, IU was 3-0 including a 23-point victory over top 25 ranked Marquette. Going into the Big Ten--ACC Challenge, IU was 5-1 losing only an away game by 1-point to Arkansas. Fans were very excited and saying much the same thing as they are now. I'm glad we're winning, but the opposition so far is basically exhibition level--all four are ranked 275 and below in Kenpom ratings. We'll have a better sense of what this team can do this season in December when IU starts playing more serious competition.

IU 99 NA 61

Happy for the win. But continued poor 3-point shooting will plague this team against better competition. Green may or may not help in that department. Green is streaky so when he's on that's great. When he's not he'll be like Phinisee was today. Durham, Smith, and Jackson-Davis are carrying this club although Race Thompson had his best game as a Hoosier.

Yes, the offense still looks a bit lethargic. But why not wait for the season to unfold bit before diving into gloom and doom mode? I'm a native Hoosier living in Washington, DC now. I see how the local professional baseball team became World Champions this season after losing its super star to free agency. The Washington Nationals were a better team this year because it had much better chemistry after Bryce Harper left. And, his departure opened opportunities for other players, including younger ones. I'm not saying the Hoosiers will win the 2020 NCAA national championship. But losing Romeo Langford and Juwan Morgan while adding TJD, Armaan Franklin, and Joey Brunk is likely to be a net gain. Plus, the loss of Romeo and Juwan will give returning players more of a chance to shine. Give it a chance. BTW, Fred Glass hired the best basketball coach he could get--the only one of the available top coaches who was willing to come to Bloomington.

I'll be really surprised if Archie is playing three guys together for extended minutes that can't handle the ball and create offense off of ball screens. Archie started McRoberts for most of two seasons and he couldn't create any offense.

Dakich isn't a journalist. He's an entertainer. He only gets paid to get people listening to his show, not to be journalistically accurate. He sometimes has sports journalists on his show and those people should generally be accurate in their comments.

Justin Smith will be starting at the 3 because of his defensive ability and Archie values defense above all else (though Jerome Hunter could supplant Smith if he shows he can play defense). If Green and Phinisee hit a reasonable percent on their 3-point shots, if our interior offense is more diverse than last year as it should be, and we hit free throws (doubtful if the secret scrimmage is an indicator), then IU will be fine this year.