JPCIVOP

I would like a 12 or 13-win team in conference, and a Sweet Sixteen berth.

I think the thinking goes like this. Guys capable of playing the 5: Bailey, Alexis, Harris Guys capable of playing the 4: Bailey, Alexis, DeVries, Goode, Leal, Miles Harris Hardly any shotblocking, but a lot of spacing and positional flexibility. As I say elsewhere, I think those factors and the strength of the perimeter defense are what they're going for. People interested in rim protection (I am one) are interested in defense. Leal, IMO, adds to the defensive picture in a way that I'm not sure anyone else gettable in the portal could. I'm curious to see how this works out, and think it's worth some patience.

Agree on taking Leal. An out of context stat, but one which communicates something: Leal had a Defensive Box Plus/Minus this year of 5.7. During Oladipo's All-American year in 2013, he had a DBPM of 5.6. It communicates something of the value that Leal brought this year to the defensive end of the floor. His defense on Braden Smith this year demonstrated that. I've been suspicious of this roster's rim protection. But Leal is good enough on defense, that I think he contributes more than the kind of center we'd be likely to get at this point. Conerway, Wilkerson and Leal would be three bulldogs on the perimeter; seems they want the team to be built on shooting and perimeter defense, and Leal builds toward that goal.

Yeah; Anunoby got hurt, but one would hope to be more than one OG Anunoby away from losing to IPFW...

Think that's true; Would think that Bailey, Conerway, Wilkerson and DeVries would likely be high-usage guys, and so my question would be the fit around them. My putting Goode in there is more about my hesitancy about how much trust to put in the other guys who haven't shown so much at this level.

I'm assuming he is because of his experience, and the level of shooting that he showed last year. IF this IU team is really good, that will be because of their ability to splash threes; on offense I love the idea of Wilkerson, Goode, DeVries and Bailey on the floor at the same time. Think they're dangerous enough to live with them being less effective on defense.

Seems we're getting closer to being able to have an opinion on the team. Wonder what people think of this assessment. Assuming the starting lineup will be something like this: STARTERS Tayton Conerway Lamar Wilkerson Luke Goode Tucker DeVries Reed Bailey BENCH Connor Enright Jason Drake Nick Dorn Jasai Miles Sam Alexis Seems like a team that should be decent to good at perimeter defense, and average to decent at interior defense. It is a real question mark if Tucker DeVries is the closest thing in the starting lineup you have to a rim protector. Bailey has size but just has not been a threat at all to block/alter shots. I think if this team wants to be good on defense, that a lot will rely on Sam Alexis living up to his promise, and playing a lot of minutes. Offensively, they look like they could be lethal; literally could be the best volume 3pt% team since Crean. Assembly Hall is starved for that style of play, and so I think the ingredients are there for a special season in terms of fan support if everything breaks right. Just that a couple of those defensive question marks could hold back this team from its full potential. Looking forward to the year!

The closest one would have been Crean, one year removed from a Sweet Sixteen, with a team that had been ranked #3 early in the year, and with what would have been a strong recruiting class coming in. Understand why they did it at the time, but hindsight says pretty clearly that that year was not the one to move on from a coach.

Seems like he's exactly the kind of big DeVries likes; rebounder, shot blocker, defender. Undersized, but doesn't play undersized. Think he would be a big get if they pulled it off.

Actually think DeVries has a pretty similar offensive philosophy to McDermott; we'll get to see something like it before long!

So glad we get to attend to high school recruiting again...

I do think people are underrating what it means that Dolson hired Cignetti. Cignetti being the coach this season made them $29 million over and above what they made the previous year. The basketball job used to be the only bellwether for the AD; opening football up as a revenue source changes the game. I really doubt he's going anywhere until he wants to leave.

This is also true, which is awful for a team so attracted to 2-big lineups, and which had Oumar Ballo...

I'll concede that point; the 5 is around the basket, and is the lone opportunity at second chance points. The other guys vacate immediately, but you're right.

Well, I'm not sure about the Oreb part of that... one of the markers of his system is that he sends no one to the offensive glass.