HoosierFan1994

Gameday!! Most excited I've been for a season since 12-13. Can't wait to be there tonight. In 2017 my wife and my dad started taking me to games around my birthday which is always at the start of the college hoops season. The first one was the infamous Indiana State game. Last year it was Eastern Michigan which was a close game at the end. Here's to hoping tonight's game is a rout for us. A little bit about Morehead State: Picked to finished second in the OVC. Looks like they lost a lot of producation last year. Their best player transferred to Auburn. Another kid plays at Minnesota now. Overall 7 of their 8 top scorers are gone. They were a tournament team in 2021. Spradlin is a solid coach. Best player looks to be Alex Gross who was an NAIA All-American. The rest of their starters will be players who transferred from around the country. Mix of D1, D2 talent. Coach Spradlin stresses an up tempo offense and to be more aggressive on defense this year. Looking at the projected starters from the Almanac IU is going to have a major size advantage. Give me IU 78-57.

IU 78 MSU 57

Is anyone else going to be there? I hope they let you on the court after the game. They did not last year when I went.

I refuse to pay for this product again. I'm excited for the season. Normally I wouldn't pay for this. I'll just listen to Fish like I normally do.

Field of 68 guys had him coming off the bench with their projections in the almanac. I wasn't surprised... I feel awful for the kid. I do think he's much better than what we've seen.

It's flat out ridiculous fans of Indiana Basketball have to pay extra outside of their cable bill to watch their team play. It should be live on BTN. Especially Monday's game. Sorry, but IU Basketball moves the needle.

Agree. Exhibition or not, the competition is going to be awesome. I think Jalen and Malik should start. CJ should be in the rotation. Those three weren't here last year. Time to bust the "this is the same team" myth some lazy college basketball writers say. It's not that Jalen and Malik just looked good. They were by far two of the best players for IU. Not saying they will have rough games. They will. But the fact they look this good compared to the rest of the team is telling. The others outside of Trayce better step up!! Or they won't be playing as much. Woodson doesn't have a choice there. Time will tell.

I know it's an exhibition game but...Trayce is our most talented player. Jalen/Malik are 2/3. Thoughts?

Thanks! Little one and the wife were asleep so I felt like doing something big. Pretty excited for the year. CBB is better when IU is near or at the top. I can't freaking wait to be there on Monday night. Also have to give a shoutout to the Almanac. Really good CBB season preview put together by the Field of 68 guys. They aren't as high on IU as most publications are. But some good info in there. If anyone wants a link to it DM me I'm more than happy to share.

I hope! If he plays like he did Saturday on a consistent basis. Not sure how they determine first team and what not but if it includes multiple guards I think Jalen and Xavier have a chance to be 1st team.

Wow...I missed this. This isn't a good look. I've never seen a coach lower expectations.

This is probably the most challenging year to pick B1G has been in a while. I think IU is the clear #1. Michigan and Illinois are 2-3 in some order. 4-10 IMO can be in any order. Here are my picks: B1G Poll 1. IU- Too much talent..at least on paper...compared to the rest of the conference. Key will be shooting. 2. Illinois- High ceiling team. How will they play out? I really like Skyy Clark and Ty Rodgers. I think Shannon will be very good for Underwood. How big of the jump does Hawkins make? 3. Michigan- I trust Juwan Howard to have Michigan in the mix. Hunter Dickinson is going to put up huge numbers this year. I like Llewllyn the transfer from Princeton. Bufkin will have to step up. 4. Ohio State- LOVE their freshman class. I think McNeil (Who IU Wanted) will be good. How healthy will Sueing be? I think this is a team that will be top ten good NEXT year. 5. Michigan State- In terms of experience they are second to IU. But who steps up for Sparty? My bet is Walker or Malik Hall. Center is a big question mark for them. 6. Iowa- I think Murray will make a jump but not as much as some think. They return some decent players from last year. Depth is a concern for me. and Defense. Not a Fran fan but I think he will get this team in the big dance. 7. Maryland- My surprise team. I think Willard will do well at Maryland. He has a few transfers (Young) with some experience coming back. I think Maryland was much better than their record shows a year ago. It didn't help they had an interim coach. 8. Purdue- Borderline tournament team. Can Edey play a lot? I'm not sure he can. Backcourt is a concern for me. Loyer and Smith, two true freshmen, have to step up. However, Matt Painter will have them in the mix. I say Boilers sneak in. 9. Wisconsin- Decent frontcourt. I'm not buying the Chucky hype like some people. I was in person last year at Assembly Hall for the collapse by IU. It was literally Johnny Davis and Brad that killed us. I think losing those two will really hurt them. But, it's Wisconsin. They are kinda like Michael Myers. I won't believe they will suck until they actually do... 10. Rutgers- I was kind of high on this team in the preseason. However, losing Geo and Harper is going to hurt. Saw McConnell is out with an injury. I think Clifford will have a big year. Just don't sure they will be that deep this year. 11. Minnesota- Battle and Garcia along with Cooper will make things fun. I like their starting 5. But, not sure they have the depth. NIT team maybe? But a year away. 12. Penn State- I like Micah (as a Cowboys fan I think anyone with the name Micah who is associated with Penn State is a bad a**). Again, I think they are a year away. 13/14. Northwestern/Nebraska- They will get beat up this year. Only two "gimmies" in the B1G. I think both will have a new coach in 23-24. Awards B1G Player of the Year: Hunter Dickinson. I would love for Trayce to win. I think he will be second. However, I think Hunter is going to put up massive numbers on a top 25ish team. B1G Freshman of the Year: Skyy Clark. Again, I want to pick Jalen. I just think Skyy is going to have to do more for Illinois than Jalen will for us..unless Xavier plays the way he did on Saturday. B1G Coach of the Year: Kevin Willard. I think he will make Maryland respectable again. He really took Seton Hall as far as he could with them. He has a solid roster. I want to pick Woody but they're pick to finish first. All-Conference 1st Team: Hunter Dickinson (Michigan), Trayce Jackson-Davis (IU), Kris Murray (Iowa), Terrence Shannon Jr (Illinois), Xavier Johnson (IU-yes. I think when he's on he is the best PG in the B1G). 2nd Team: Zach Edey (Purdue), Malik Hall (Michigan State), Jaelin Llewellyn (Michigan), Skyy Clark (Illinois), Jahmir Young (Maryland) 3rd Team: Tyler Wahl (Wisconsin), Jamison Battle (Minnesota), Justice Sueing (Ohio State), Caleb McConnell (Rutgers), Jalen Hood-Schifino (IU) Tournament: IU- 4 seed (IF IU goes 2-2 or better in our 4 non-con games it will help their seeding. I'm afraid this will be like 2016. Win the B1G but get a crappy seed in the tournament.) Illinois-6 seed Michigan-7 seed Ohio State-8 seed Michigan State-9 seed Iowa-10 seed Maryland-11 seed Purdue-11 or 12 seed (last 4 in) BONUS: IU Record 9-2 in non-conference (beat UNC and Arizona; lose to Xavier (first true road game) and Kansas (close one). 15-5 in B1G play. Regular season champs. Conference Tournament Champs. Make the Sweet 16 and lose to pUKe (you d**n well know they'll put us together in Louisville if they can). 29-8 overall. I think it'll be a good year, but we fall short. Trayce becomes an IU legend. Woody has this program going in the right direction..I hope. I won't apologize for having high expectations. IF they are the #13 team in the country and B1G favorite their season will look like this. Time will tell.

1) I'll put this frontcourt against anyone in the country. All week I've talked about getting the reserves minutes in these kind of games. I don't know how often Logan Duncomb will play this year but I think he is going to play a huge role in this program down the road. Malik is a grown man..more on him later. Was awesome to see Race hit 3's. I saw where Anthony and Tamar both said he was going to be much better beyond the 3 point lien this year. 2) Coach Woodson is going to have to get Malik minutes. I saw someone suggest this...Race at the 3, Trayce at the 4, Malik at the 5. Not sure that is possible. What do you guys think? Malik is a starter right now on 13 of the 14 Big Ten Teams. Nothing against Miller Kopp. He's a great person and ambassador to IU. But there need to be questions asked if he's starting at the end of the season. This leads me to my next point.. 3) It's an exhibition game but Race showed up today however I was disappointed in the other returning guys today. Especially X and Geronimo. They are all going to have to earn their minutes. This includes Tamar, Trey, Miller, etc. I think this freshman class has three guys that are going to be in the rotation. CJ Gunn really impressed me today. I hope he continues. Unfortunately it looks like Kaleb Banks won't see much time this year. I heard good things about him in the offseason but I guess he is too raw. It's an exhibition. Can't get too high and can't get too low. But it's awesome to see this team in live action. I thought they actually ran an offense today and it was refreshing to see.

The Varsity app is another way to stream the games. I think they also have IU related Podcasts. I know they'll show the Coach Woodson show once it gets started up.

As I said yesterday, especially in exhibition games, play the 2nd unit. Don't play Trayce and Tamar if they aren't near 100%. Curious if Malik would play the 5 or if they'd slide over Race and put Jordan at the 4 spot to star the game.

This, specifically good teams. This is the difference between this team losing the first weekend and making the second weekend and beyond.

Spot. On. Man, I hope Jalen isn't a one and done. I'd love to see him and Malik start together.

I'm kind of with you..as long as Jordan can play a much bigger role (reserve to a starter). But, it won't happen. Race has been getting 28 minutes a game the last two years. I think that number, along with producation, will decrease a little. Don't get me wrong, he's a good player and an awesome teammate. But, there are times his game doesn't fit the flow of the game. I'd kind of like to see him and Jordan split that 4 spot at times.

I know this will happen in our exhibition games but I hope in the non-conference games (NOT UNC, Xavier, Zona, or Kansas) that if IU has a comfortable lead they play the "2nd unit". Race, Xavier, and Miller are all for sure gone next year. Trayce probably is as well. If Jalen impresses he could be. For the 23-24 season this team needs Trey, Tamar, Jordan, Malik, Kaleb, and the rest to really step up. Don't get me wrong, the starters need to play. However, if IU is up 20 with 8 minutes to go, play the reserves. They need meaningful reps. I think as the season goes on the rotation will shrink a little. Get these guys the reps now. I think it will help long term. There will probably be a little drop off next year but I don't want it to be IU has a good year and follows it with a bad year of missing the tournament.

I'll give my "official" picks soon with standings, all-conference, and awards but a few things: 1) Illinois and Purdue, IMO, have an easier conference schedule than IU does. I won't flip out if IU does not finish first in the B1G regular season. However, they need to finish top 4 so they can get a bye. 2) I think Maryland is extremely underrated. Kevin Willard was solid at Seton Hall. They have some nice transfers coming. 3) Don't know if this is good or bad but the talent level in the Big Ten is down. I feel IU is head and shoulders above everyone right now. But...they have a more difficult conference schedule. It's possible they could have 3 All-B1G guys. Illinois is probably 2nd in terms of "on-paper" talent. I think many are overrating Michigan and Purdue because they have an All-American coming back. However, they don't have enough talent around them. I think Michigan State/Ohio State could easily finish top 3/4 if they have a guy that breaks out this year. Don't sleep on Rutgers or Wisconsin.

Sorry, I was just never on board with Coach Allen. I think he is a great guy. But, he's only had two good seasons at IU (I guess we can call 2020 a full season). 0-3 in bowl games. They completely choked in the Gator Bowl and lost to a team with a losing record in the Outback Bowl. 5-15 since the contract extension. I don't care about the low standards for football...IU and their fans deserve better. I see him here another year or two unfortunately. I agree with most, I don't see a buyout happening after they just extended him in March of 2021. Side note: Why do teams/athletic programs reward coaches for okay results? Colts gave Reich, along with Ballard, a contract extension after ONE freakin playoff win. They've been a .500 team since the contract extension. Just like Glass giving Crean one after ONE good year. I don't get it...

No, Tamar won't be this year. For 23-24 I think he could. Part of me hopes Jalen is a one and done...I think that could take IU from a 2nd weekend team to a legit final four contender.

Not going to lie this is why I think it will be him. For Trayce to say that...he sees this every day. I think by seasons end Tamar will be starting. In fact, it's possible he will be the best player on this team next year.

Good video. My bold prediction (not so bold): Nothing against Miller but I think someone takes his starting spot by the end of the year. Not because of Miller's play but because someone is going to breakout and just demand more playing time. We will see. Tamar is my guess based on what I've read.

Different game but I am going with some work friends to the December 20 Elon game. Will things be open around that time as well? I know there is a game on the 23rd and avoided that one since I thought places might be closed.