HoosierFan1994

For me, Bates' minutes are determined how well he's playing when he enters the game. He had a few chances last night...fell down on what would have been an easy two points and missed a floater.

I think IU would be 12-5 with Johnson right now. As far as a run I'd like to see this lineup in the tournament JHS X Miller Race Trayce Bench: Trey, Malik, Kaleb It's just hard to say how far this team could go. If they get a 4 or a 5 seed and get Kansas in the Sweet 16, I don't feel very good. However, I could see them beating a team like Alabama.

Yep. I don't think anyone on here thought this was a National Title Contender. I think this team could make a final four run IF they are at full strength/we get a good draw. Right now this is a Sweet 16/Round of 32 team. Would I like them to go beyond that? Yes. But they're meeting expectations without one of their best players. My hope is that we have some postseason success to attract more talent in the transfer portal/recruiting trail.

Thank goodness the NCAA tournament is a neutral site.

Not sure this one loss hurts IU outside of maybe a double bye in the BTT. I am more upset they blew a 9 point lead. Lot's of teams on the 3-5 seed line lost as well. 1) TJD did look tired. Hopefully this isn't a recurring thing. Might be smart to get his minutes in the low 30's the next few weeks before March Madness starts. Then you can really play him 36 plus minutes. 2) I don't like to "bash" on players at all. I'm sure Tamar Bates is a great person. But right now, he has no business being on the court. He missed a floater a few feet from the basket in the first half. Michigan State turned around and scored in fast break. It just seems like when he makes a mistake it really really costs this team. I hate it because I thought he would either be the 2 or 3/6th man this year. 3) Woodson has to figure the bench out. Most teams go 7/8 deep in March. Right now I don't trust anyone outside of Reneau/Banks. Yes, getting X back will be huge. I just felt Geronimo didn't give us much in the front court. Why Kaleb Banks isn't playing more is beyond me. When he entered the game in the 2nd half IU made a really nice run. He may not score but I felt on defense he does a good job...bottom line is starters got IU a 9 point lead and once the reserves came in that lead vanished (Yes, Woodson should have left Jalen in.) 4) That being said...not time to hit the panic button. Not even close. As 007 said this is the best time of the year. It's hard to win on the road in the Big Ten (But not in any other conference; look at Kansas on Monday and Providence last night..) Interested to see how the Purdue game goes. Would LOVE to win that one. If not, finish strong at home and let's see where they are at in the Big Ten Tournament.

Agree that IU has been the best Big Ten team since the calendar turned. I just don't know where the best Big Ten team ranks among the best in college hooops. I think IU has to be at their very best tonight. Good 3 point shooting, limit turnovers, hit your free throws. Like you said I expect a ton of home cooking.

I'm thinking way ahead but getting two wins this week changes the trajectory this program is going in...in a good way. Edit: Not that it's in a bad place now..it's not. It just tells me that this team is the Best Team in the Big Ten and is ready for a deep run in March.

For me, I feel like Trayce is easily going to get his. I'm sure Jalen will have a typical game (make big plays, a few costly ones as well). Race Thompson has played two of his best games against Northwestern and Illinois (8/11 from the field. Was 8/26 since coming back). This team needs consistency from the 2/3 spot. I think IU is very very hard to beat if two things happen: 1) Miller Kopp hits 2-3 three pointers. Last 5 times he has done that Indiana has won. It's what won them the Illinois game. Without him they don't make that run at the end of the game. 2) Trey Galloway scores double figres. Have only lost once this year when that happened (Penn State).

Win one this week and then sweep the remaining home games and this team is in really really good shape going into March.

Agree. Hoping Northwestern starts to lose. IU is a combined 0-3 against them and Maryland.

Great topic. It's so hard. I think top 3 have to be Scott May, Steve Alford, and Calbert in no order..Isiah maybe 4 but he only played 2 years. To be considered the GOAT at IU I think you had to have been on teams that made multiple deep runs in March and were at the top of the Big Ten. At the end of the season I'd like to make a top ten list. If Trayce can lead this team to a deep run in March I think he may crack the list. I certainly think he's the best player IU has had since Calbert.

I really hope IU doesn't wait until the Big Ten Tournament...but I understand they're looking out for him long term. I am sure he wants to have some kind of pro career. Sort of hoping for either Purdue or Iowa. If he isn't going to be back until the Big Ten Tournament, it probably needs to be a reserve role off the bench...still an upgrade over what Bates is giving us. Just hope that he can come back next week and get 4 games or so under him before the NCAA Tournament Starts. If he can even be 75% of what he was I think that's huge. He's going to help on defense. Agree or disagree this team needs some kind of juice. He would have really helped Saturday even in a reserve role.

Appreciate you doing this. Well done.

Insane the Big Ten has seven teams between a 5 and an 8 seed!! Big Ten Tournament will be fun this year. Dumb question: Let's say there is like a 5 way tie with IU and other teams for seeding in the B1GT...does it come down to record against the other teams you are tied with? IMO it should be strength of schedule. I have a feeling like 4 teams will be 12-8 and 3 will be 11-9.

Being off tomorrow for Presidents Day I had some fun with Barttorvik. Tonsoni said this on the Assembly Call episode Saturday, but IU at worst is going to be a 5 seed..unless they crap the bed and lose out. If they split (which most expect) IU is probably a 4 seed. To be a 3 IU needs to split and win a couple games in the BTT OR win at least 3/4 and don't have a bad loss in the BTT. IF IU won all 4 regular season games and won the BTT, they're still a 3 seed. As much as I want them to win the BTT, rest might be more important if they've locked a 3 seed up. (EX: they don't get the double bye, they'd play 4 straight days..no thanks). Honestly, not a bad place to be in at all considering Xavier Johnson has missed the majority of the season AND Race Thompson hasn't been right until now. That being said, I don't want a 4 seed. I'm tired of really good IU teams getting a terrible matchup. It happened in 2012 with UK and 2016 with UNC. IU had a 4/5 seed those seasons. They had some really silly losses that prevented them from being a 3 seed with a better "draw". This team had a rough 3 game stretch that is going to prevent them from getting a better seed.

Agree. They have a solid trio of Hoggard, Walker, and Hauser. Don't let any of them go off like we did with Mayer. If Kopp and/or Galloway play a decent game, IU can win. Frustrating IU isn't getting much from its bench. Tamar has to step up this week. Doesn't sound like X will be back this week. Maybe next week.

Win is a win. Glad the guys pulled through. It's been said many times but this team has lost this game the last 5-6 years. Trayce continues to be awesome. If he can outplay Edey in West Lafayette and IU gets a win he's your NPOY. Jalen makes two really bad plays at the end of that game but makes up for it. Kid is awesome and I hate that we only get him for a year in Bloomington. One thing I like about this team is it feels like someone else steps up. Sometimes it's Trey or Malik. Today it was Miller. Thought he responded well after a bad game. Hit some HUGE 3's in the 2nd half and had a nice little pass to Trayce at the end. Plays some decent defense. Race played his best game since his injury. He was decent at Northwestern too. Feel like he's getting healthy at the right time. He was playing 30 minutes before the injury but I think he's going to be around 20-25 minutes from now on. Devils advocate is that this game should not have been very close. IU let Mayer get going. Said pregame he was the only guy who could beat IU without Shannon. Was really surprised IU was 13 on the S-Curve. Can't imagine they got any lower after winning yesterday. I thought they would be 16/17. I unfortunately think we lose the next two, win our last two home games, and get at least one win in the B1GT. Probably gets IU a 4 seed. I'd like to see them steal a game next week. However, Michigan State is going to be very very hard to win at. Purdue too.

Doubt Trayce wins but it really should be between him and Edey. Should be pretty close too. May come down to the game next week.

Wrong place but I thought this was funny. Lunardi had IU as the third 4 seed before the game. Today? They are the first 4 seed. Losing one game here and there likely has no major impact on your seeding. Onward to Illinois!

haha..that guy cracks me up. Chris, what is his role? Is he really important? Or was it one of those things when Woody got hired he wanted to bring his buddy along? We all call him sleepy head. Sometimes he gets pretty animated. I think it was against Iowa and even last night.

Yep! I don't plan on focusing on that until after April 3rd when Woody/Trayce lead us to banner 6 :) Have to think with Jalen/Trayce development this year IU would be attractice for a transfer PG and big man.

Woody has no choice but to do a massive portal dive. Why IU needs to make some kind of run with this group. (BTT, make second weekend of NCAAT, etc).

I think both the officiating was horrendous/had a major impact on the game AND IU still had their chances and could/should have won are true. The officiating was awful against UNC. IU didn't let it matter. Unfortunatly you have to capitalize on your chances. I 100000% agree the conference needs to change.

Big Ten basketball is really getting hard to watch. Feel like it gets worse every year. I remember 10 years ago how exciting B1G basketball was. IU was #1 for most of the year. Michigan was the National runner-Up. Michigan State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin all had really good teams. Now? Just awful. Purdue, IU, and Illinois I think are the only teams I can see making a deep run..My issues are: 1) If you're going to threaten IU with a technical foul for vulgar language at Assembly Hall, do it at Northwestern. Shame on Northwestern. I didn't like IU chanting "Sloppy Seconds" a few years ago at the St. John's player. There is no need for that. I know Miller is a big boy but still, be consistent. 2) The constant hacking was horrible and one sided. I didn't understand that at all. Supposedly did it to Edey on Sunday as well. Again, be consistent. Not one to ever blame officials. But I can't remember an IU game as bad as last night. Now, as bad as the officiating was, IU had their chances. The WTF pass by Jalen, the play where Race lost the ball. Those all could have resulted in made field goals. Love Woody but the double T was bad...got 4 points out of it. Time to move on and beat Illinois Saturday. This team is still playing for seeding in the B1GT and NCAAT. Northwestern has a lot of road games coming up. I think the #2 in the B1G is still up for grabs. Love the fight from our guys but that was a lot of bad basketball in the first half regardless of officiating.

Nice. Hope he's back before the B1G Tournament.