HoosierFan1994

I've been super busy lately (getting ready for our baby girl due in April) so I haven't been on here as much! I hope all at BTown Banners are doing well! Wanted to give a few thoughts about IU basketball. 1) These next four games are crucial for me to buy into Archie Miller as being the right guy at IU. Michigan State is a must win Saturday. I don't have much faith against Michigan other than to hopefully be competitive. That leaves @ Rutgers and @ Purdue. For petes sake, beat Purdue. It is time. Archie is just as bad against Purdue as Harbaugh is against Ohio State. 2) I'd like to see these things happen Win 3/4 four games to end the season (Michigan State and Purdue being must wins), win a couple Big Ten Tournament Games, and win your 1st Round NCAA Tournament game. I don't have much faith in all that happening, but I really want some momentum going into the 2021-2022 season. I really like this group of players that Indiana has. I think the culture has changed. The freshman/sophomore class seems really tight. If Trayce comes back next year (I'd lean yes), this could be a special group. Especially if Parker Stewart is the kind of player IU thinks he is. Problem is I don't have much faith in this coaching staff. I think I'm like most of you. I'm tired of being mediocre. I went about a month or so without watching IU play. I think the Northwestern game was the first one I've watched since the first Illinois game. I just hope this team can have a strong finish to the year.

Yep. Go big or go home. I want IU to make the CFP. Only way is if they beat Ohio State. If they are idle this week and play Northwestern they make a NY6 bowl but not the CFP. If they were to lose to OSU I bet they still get a good bowl. Hardly any risk.

The real answer..it's too early to tell. I feel Providence and Stanford are two decent teams-teams that many felt would make the NCAA Tournament before the season. I think IU is a tournament team. The question is how good. I feel offensively they have to ride TJD and Race to get going. I'm not sure I trust their guard play just yet.

They have to win this year. I'm tired of the BS excuses. There aren't any in 2020-2021. He has two top level recruits on this roster with a ton of experience. The one "Crean" player has played his entire career under him.

Not to be that guy but this is why... Since the 2016-2017 season... Purdue 99-40 (54-22 in B1G) 2 Big Ten Championships, 1 Elite 8, 2 Sweet 16's, 7-0 vs. IU Indiana 73-59 (33-43 in B1G) 2 NITs I'm sorry, I'm a big IU fan and even I know Purdue right now is a better program than Indiana....I hope that changes this year.

Agree. Ever since Romeo I've stopped really getting into recruiting. Maybe it's because Archie was trying to build his team but he has "his guys" now. It's a roller coaster.

Haven't been on as much lately so I hope all the good people at BTown banners are doing well. My thoughts-it sucks to lose an in-state kid but I can't blame him. Purdue has been a much better program than IU in the last 5 or so years. That being said, this is a massive year for Archie. There are no excuses. He essentially has two burger boys (TJD and Lander would've been had he stayed in 2021). The majority of the team returns with some experience. The time is now. I'll worry about next year when it comes. I think with the rules college basketball will have almost a free agency next spring. IU can get someone then.

Totally agree with you about that '16 team. While the '13 team gets praise (as it should), I think the '16 team could beat them. Why? The '16 team had more guys that did the little things. The '13 team really relied on 6 guys (Cody, Vic, Hulls, Watford, Yogi, and Sheehey). Remy, Hanner, and Jeremy were awful. Elston was injured that year. The '16 team had 9 guys that could play. Yogi was the star and Thomas/Troy were All-Big Ten good. However, the other guys just did their job. Robert Johnson, Collin Hartman, Max Bielfeldt, Nick Zeisloft, OG, Juwan. What hurt the 2016 team was the disastrous Maui trip, blowout at Duke, and the one in done BTT loss to Michigan at the buzzer (I was there). Had they gone 2-1 in Maui, maybe played Duke close, and went further in the BTT they are probably a 2/3 seed. UNC was unstoppable that night in the Sweet 16 Didn't they just shoot lights out? Don't get me wrong, the 2013 team was great and should have won it all that year. But the 2016 team was pretty good too. The talent in 2016 in college basketball was superior too than it was in 2013. You could also put the 2012 team in this conversation too. They had a bad 3 game stretch in January that prevented them from getting a 2/3 seed. I thought all three of these teams were final four/elite 8 good.

My definition of underrated is someone who helped the team more than we realized. My IU era started in 2001 so here is my list: G Tom Coverdale- was the glue of that 02 team. Played hurt and came up big during that run. G Jordan Hulls- Big 3 point shooter/automatic at the FT line. If he wasn't hurt he could have been the Zone Buster against Syracuse. G Matt Roth- I think not letting Math Roth come back was one of Crean's 3 worst decisions at IU. He provided a nice spark off the bench. Outside of Sheehey that team didn't have much off the bench. He would have helped. F Max Bielfeldt- 2016 SOY. He really helped the 2016 team. F Collin Hartman- Like Bielfeldt, he really helped that 2016 team. He just did his job. His injury really hurt the team the next season. 6th Man: G Nick Zeisloft- The 2016 team had players that really just did their job and it helped the team. Nick was a nice spark off the bench and I think started some games as well.

That explains why he doesn't get the accolades I thought he would.

What does everyone think about Jalen Washington? Seems like the top '22 in-state player.

I think he is the favorite for Mr. Basketball. Furst is up there too.

Forgot about him. Yes, that is it.

Peegs put a "6" medium confidence pick for Villanova. Would be surprised if IU lands him.

I think Kaufman is one of the kids that got really screwed with no AAU season this year. I think he's a top 50 player. Most sites have him around 65-75. I'd bet he makes the 2021 top 50 before this is all said and done.

This sounds like great news. Have to think it's between IU and Louisville. Who was the last out of state kid ranked this high to come to IU? Bryant was in the 20s. This kid is 10-15.

My Early Line Up: Lander Phinisee Durham Thompson TJD Bench: Hunter, Brunk, Geronimo, Franklin, Leal Like many of you, would like to see them add a big that can play the next two years. If something happens to TJD, Brunk, or Race we are thin there. I expect IU to be a top 20-25 team this season and finish in the top 5 of the B1G. I'd like one if not two NCAA tournament wins this year. Really pumped the team could be returning on June 15.

Great kid, but his numbers are going to drop. He was at 20 this year. I think it'll be around 12-15 next year. I think it'll be Lander, Phinisee, Al, Justin, TJD. Also, looking at this lineup, you'd have Brunk, Thompson, Franklin, Hunter as your subs. That leaves Geronimo, Leal, Galloway. I don't see this team going more than ten deep. Question is, do you redshirt one of the freshman? I think the answer is yes.

This is the lineup I've wanted for three months. The seniors will get minutes, but I really like this lineup.

Happy Khristian will be on campus next year, although this is no shock. I am happy to see a kid from Evansville play for IU. I saw him play at Reitz at few times. He is certainly a 2-3 year kind of guy. He's going to have a solid season (I agree that I see a DJ Carton like numbers). He's a favorite for Big Ten FOY.

I said this when IU got him, but I just feel that TJD is going to end up as one of the All-Time greats at IU. Especially with the ones recently (Jeffries, Gordon, White, Zeller, Oladipo, Yogi).I remember Crean saying something before Cody's 2nd and final year at IU. It was something like "Enjoy him while you can." Same for Trayce. If Garza goes pro, he becomes the front runner for Big Ten POY. The key for this team is getting some more help around him. If IU can get another player to play at an All-Big Ten level (in order of most likely: Smith, Phinisee, Lander), this team can most certainly contend for the conference and make a deep run.

Yes, honestly that may have been Crean's best class. 2009 and 2010 were pretty darn good.

I'm pumped for the 2020 class. The experts are everywhere. Some say Geronimo is the best, some say it's Leal or Galloway. Add Lander and I think this is a solid class.

So are you saying tomorrow?

There was some twitter account that said a commit was coming "cough cough"-meaning Kaufman. Who knows? I could see him coming at anytime. I don't think he will be able to visit any schools for awhile. IMO that helps IU.