ray

If Duke loses, then that’s the best start to this game I could ask for.

I wonder if Brooks has seen it. Either way, I doubt he cares considering it's what the Kentucky coaching staff tells him (whether genuine or not) that should matter to him. Unfortunately, what his parents say matters to him as well. I hope they leave it up to him in the end. Another positive going for Indiana is that this thread has far exceeded the mandatory 100 pages.

And he’s unofficially visited all three...Dayton, Western Kentucky, and West Virginia. I don’t believe he’s made any other visits.

If Wisconsin has anyone drill four or five consecutive falling away three-pointers late in the second half with two Indiana defenders in his face, then I say Archie comes up with a game plan to take him out at the knees before he hits three more in the next two possessions.

Or, perhaps it already is. I found this and thought to myself, "Dang, that's a lot of scoring for a bunch of 16-year olds." http://www.maxpreps.com/leaders/basketball/,scoring/indiana/stat-leaders.htm?classyear=10&position=all If you click on all states and sophomores, then click load leaders you'll see there are 87 sophomores in the country averaging 20 or more points per game and 6 are from Indiana. There's also a freshman from Indiana (Caleb Wright) scoring 22.0 ppg but I see he's playing for a "home school" team. It makes me wonder how many of the sophomores from other states are playing for teams like that. I noticed there were an awful lot nationwide from the sophomore class playing for Christian schools, which may not mean anything in some cases and could mean a lot in other cases (I've seen some of the Christian schools around here and they need all the boys in the high school to make up a team...just sayin'). And, yes, I realize a monster class is more than just scorers. I merely looked up leading scorers, but there's so much more to a monster class than some kids who can score. I just thought this proved your point.

I haven’t been paying enough attention to a lot of the threads. I’m not leaving Muncie anytime soon, so I’ll be sure to watch some of Reggie’s games next season.

You’re right. I just looked it up. I thought Terrence Clarke still had the only IU offer from 2021. Furst and Lander both do as well. Blackmonn and Brown have not been offered.

I agree Indiana should show some presence in case he matures in ways that convince the staff he deserves a scholarship. Perhaps they already do? I wouldn't know. Is he still icing his knees? If so, then he's apparently still growing (Osgood/Schlatter disease). Even then, he'll still need to bulk up a bit (but he's still only 16). And I tend to agree players who dream of wearing the stripes often give more (especially role players who are willing to do whatever it takes and due to their attitude and effort end up making a greater impact than many expected). That said, though, even with more effort some players have limitations which make it impossible for them to outperform others with more natural advantages. Another group which often exceeds expectations is the underdogs (Oladipos) of the world, but I don't believe Archie Miller will recruit (gamble and often strike out on) the "diamonds in the rough" as relentlessly as Tom Crean did. I think Brown has the elite basketball IQ to run a team from the point guard position, the team-first/whatever-it-takes attitude to act as role player until his time arrives, and the determination and work ethic to overcome any physical (height, athletic, or strength) obstacles that stand in his way. More importantly, the kid can already score and pass on another level and Indiana could use both NOW. Still, I'll trust Archie is watching closely who he believes fits into his system. And, as I stated above, he may be watching Brown more closely than we realize. I hope he is, but not if it requires him to take his eyes off another player he deems more appropriate to his style of play. If I'm not mistaken, then Archie has only offered one kid from the 2021 class. I'm sure he's paying attention as much as he feels is necessary. Whether that's enough attention to keep a kid from looking elsewhere is anyone's guess.

I'm not sure how much interest Indiana has showed any of these players. It could be far more than we realize, but I do know Leal and Brown have both stated Indiana is their dream school. I am slightly concerned that a dream school becomes less dreamy once you realize another school with more recent success and from the same state and conference is showing you very early on they see you as a priority (Knight made it clear to Bailey he was a priority very early and established a strong connection). Then again, it could also be looked at from a very different angle...attention and offers received from a school that holds out (which Archie certainly does more so than Crean did) can be perceived as more special to some kids. It's hard to say what interest Indiana has in any of them, but there's a lot of competitive players around the state. It would be hard (and dare I say, foolish) as a coach of a team lacking pure shooters to not pay some attention to kids like Brown and Blackmonn who are consistently pouring in points from allover the court. I'm sure they're all on the staff's radar with the inside out approach being the game plan in their recruiting. I hope if Archie does end up wanting these players he doesn't find himself asking for their services too late in the game. I trust Archie knows what he is doing.

Knowing the shooting woes of Indiana this year and the fact guys like Bohannon and Kline have completely taken over and changed the outcome of games makes this article all the more convincing that long-distance shooters are mandatory on any roster. I was at the Ball State game this weekend where BSU led the entire game and then couldn't hit any open threes to save their lead and the game in the late stages. New Castle's sharp shooter committed to Ball State. BSU has struggled from 3 this year, which in the past has often been among its better strengths, so his addition will hopefully help their cause. Indiana needs shooters...and/or a guy like Tim Buckley on the staff.

Immediately after my first post Old Fart welcomed me. I felt welcomed immediately. I’ll never forget it. Your first post, which I happened to catch because it was in response to one of mine, and I welcomed you. It’s the best site on Indiana University basketball I’ve found, and I’m glad you found it too. Enjoy!

Oh, wow! This explains a lot with the silliness that is Sam Story. Thanks!

My brother has been telling me for awhile this is his favorite recruit. He might be the most important recruit for Indiana in the short-term (which becomes long-term) we’re talking about.

I guess I haven’t read the tweet from Forrester the elder yet. I thought “the great Archie Miller” comment came from Justin’s dad.

Thanks for all the updates you give on all these recruits. It’s very much appreciated. Do you know if he was invited by Michigan or Michigan State? EDIT: I’m guessing UM, considering it was their home game.

I don’t think that’s the argument people are trying to make. I’m certainly not of the belief anyone of the younger bigs (who have been healthy enough to play) have been significantly better than Smith (although with effort and time they may become much more so). I think people just see his attitude as bad for the team chemistry (title of this thread) and that players with a good attitude, an enthusiasm for the team regardless of personal attention or accolades, and a desire to do whatever it takes (for the team) deserves time before a kid who sits and mopes while on the bench when players receiving .5% of the minutes Smith receives are up cheering on THE TEAM. It’s the sense of entitlement and selfishness most people cannot tolerate, or at least that’s the part that disgusts me.

There’s no question it’s a bad look for these parents. And, it would not only embarrass me but upset me if one of my parents acted this way. I would demand of them to allow me to defend myself and to prove myself without their public accusations which do nothing more than single me out and make any issues I’m having with teammates and/or coaches even worse. With that said, I would absolutely love to coach. I could deal with these entitled parents for one year and then retire rich and never work again. I have a lot of passions I could explore the remainder of my life. With one year of Archie’s salary I could easily retire. TOTALLY worth a couple morons berating me.

I have a hard time condemning Jake for his dad’s comment, if his dad’s comment is in regards to what needs to happen for the team to gel. If he’s not asking for Jake (specifically) to play more, but rather, asking for multiple others with better attitudes to play before Justin, then perhaps he’s on to something. If the team and parents are having issues with a singled out player, then there might be legitimate issues with that singled out player. Just my two cents. With that said, though, Jake’s dad would do his son a better service by keeping his opinions (and attacks on the coaching staff?) off social media. With the turmoil evolving between Smith, Smith’s dad, (and others?) it might be best to sit quietly and wait. My hesitation to condemn Jake is also influenced by what appears to be an enthusiasm for the team at all times and a great attitude. I imagine Moore will find playing time elsewhere. Smith is obviously not happy and will be gone too. Green still gets a lot of play, so who knows what will come of him. Thompson is getting more time and he has a little ground to make up but seems a capable passer and a hustler with a knack for rebounding. Forester has been getting more time than the others as of late (until Race became availabile). Fitzner finally had a game where he made a significant impact (although, he’s not the “younger bigs” referenced by Forrester’s dad). Smith sat a lot (part of this is due to Thompson and Davis becoming available, but is likely more than that). Demezi might be willing to give next year a shot after some off-season improvements, but it depends on how he’s mentally handling a much smaller role than he’s used to. Who knows what will come of all this? It seems like we might have APR issues early on in Archie’s tenure.

Jordan Bohannon disgusts me. With that said, Morgan finished with 15 points bringing his total to 1,237 career points. This leaves him 3 points shy of Dick Van Arsdale.

Outside of Bob Huggins being there a couple times and a couple other schools visiting 2-3 times, who else was in on him so much earlier that you believe Indiana is likely too late? I’m only asking because from what I have read McNeil has only visited a couple schools and he’s had only a couple visitors who have come more than once. You may be right, but I think if anything he’s showing mutual interest in a couple schools because they have showed more interest and that interest came a little earlier. It’s natural for an early suitor to gain a bit of loyalty, but things often change in a hurry when a school like Colorado State is a kid’s primary suitor but then other bigger fish come to see him and begin expressing interest. He may have already found his desired place, and if that’s the case, then you’re right. I haven't found enough info on this kid to come to that conclusion though.

They may have played harder last night than usual with it being their senior night, but they did have a couple decent players and some shooters. I run in that gym at different times of the day and number 5 and number 23 (their two senior captains) are in that gym every morning and most evenings in the off-season. A friend of mine said #23 broke his leg his freshman year and was never as good as people expected, but he and #5 are gym rats for sure.

Thanks, and welcome to Btownbanners!

Perhaps this explains why I’ve yet to see Smith (with his record-breaking vertical) win a jump ball, yet I believe Indiana has gained the possession to start the game each time Davis (viewed by many as not athletic) has jumped. I’ve been wondering how he hasn’t won any jump balls for Indiana. I realize it’s as much about timing as anything and Davis has a few inches on Smith (as do most of Indiana’s opponents in jump ball situations). Still...

I agree, Old Fart. Thanks for pointing that out. My brother said the same thing last night and then on the next possession he did exactly that...faked and drove left, then made an excellent pass from the lane or scored (forget now). You're absolutely right, though. It was very rare to see him go left...he certainly favors going right and needs to mix it up.

MY FIRST IN-PERSON LOOK AT BROWN (my overall experience and semi-amateurish evaluation): My brother made his way to Muncie to join me for tonight's game (see his evaluation above RCS29). Rather than endure the inevitably horrific junior varsity matchup, he and I went to Elm Street Brewing Company (a lovely gem in Muncie for serious micro-brew connoisseurs). After a couple beers we headed into the Ball Gymnasium building and I stopped to lower my alcohol level. While there in a crowded men's room, it was immediately clear people had come from different places to catch a glimpse (in many cases, not their first) of the 16-year old basketball star currently living in a tiny town in Indiana. One man, a proud resident of Hartford City, approached me and said, "People don't understand the impact this kid has on our small town. People are coming out in droves to watch games played by a team that before his arrival won only one game in 70. He has brought life to Hartford City." Another man, when asked if he was there as a fan of Muncie Burris or Blackford, responded with, "I could care less who wins. I'm from Cowan. I'm just here to watch a teenager score a bunch more points than anyone else ever has." I then entered the court to a full house. On my way up the stands I noticed a sign on the front row marked, "reserved for James Whitford" (Ball State's head coach) and then noticed him sitting there. I found a bleacher spot in the small gym next to my good friend, a philosophy of sports professor at BSU who was joined by other faculty members and a Ball State coach from an unrelated sport. My friend mentioned he saw who looked to be a Purdue scout, possibly a Matt Painter look-alike or his brother in full Purdue garb. We settled in. As the players were warming up it was quickly noted Brown's shooting stroke was pure and consistent. He drained 5 shots in a row from near half court before the 6th bounced off another player's shot. Brown moved to another location where he continued to find nothing but nylon. At the start of the game Brown was guarded by one of Burris' senior captains, listed as 6'4" with a lot of length in his arms. That matchup would soon turn to double teams as Brown easily jab stepped and crossed over his opposition with ease. Okay...I'll just get to it. My observations and what stood out to me most: (NOTE: my stats may be a bit off) 1. More important than anything I witnessed, it was absolutely clear he was a team-first player. He was far more excited after every assist than he was from scoring...becoming pumped up for his team (throwing up his hands and/or slamming his fist up and down in the air and hollering). I counted 9 assists for the game, but it could easily have been 15 or more had his teammates been capable to drain open shots where Brown made no-look passes that left them with no Burris player within 7-10 feet of them. For a 36-38 ppg scorer he was as unselfish a player as you'll find. He had one teammate who had a pretty shot (Stroble), but outside of that he is very limited with options. Still, I believe he had 9 assists. 2. His court vision is superb and seemingly on another level for a kid his age. He saw the entire court at all times on offense. He didn't make any poor shots and was very capable of breaking down the defense on his own and scoring or finding open teammates. 3. He may not be the most athletic of players and he needs to gain a lot of strength, but he didn't back down and was extremely quick on his feet. He is much faster than I anticipated. 4. His defense was suspect at times, possibly from helping out too much and jumping passing lanes prematurely, but I believe he is very teachable in this respect. For the record, I lowered my alcohol level at half-time too and heard people talking about how his coach wants him to back off and remain out of foul trouble. As my brother pointed out, this could be a sign of weakness the coach recognizes (can he not play good defense without fouling) or it could be that the coach knows they have little chance of victory without him in the game for the full duration. Again, though, I don't see him incapable of playing defense as he is much quicker than I imagined he would be. With a basketball IQ that seems miles ahead of players in his age range, I think some additional bulk and some freedom to play defense could greatly improve his only weakness I witnessed. For the record, he did make at least two very sweet on-ball steals where he left the player wondering what happened. He also jumped a passing lane once or twice. 5. High basketball IQ. For example, he faked a pass coming to him from a teammate which made his defender completely bite and left Brown wide open to drive (the teammate didn't find him for an open layup). 6. His ability to score is obvious. In the third quarter, the game was stopped briefly to announce that Brown (in less than one and a half seasons) had broken the school scoring record as a sophomore with a limited freshman season. To go back to my first and most promising observation, when he stopped to be handed the ball and to be recognized for his record-breaking moment, he barely paused long enough to have a picture taken before he tossed the ball out of his way and immediately ran to his teammates and started giving instructions. He is a floor general in the grandest sense, even before he is a scorer...always looking to pass when possible, but obviously unafraid to score at will...albeit, a general of a less-than-ideal army of teammates. 7. He had very few turnovers and a whole lot of passes that made the crowd ooh and ahh. I had him for two turnovers. If my stats are correct, that's 9 assists to 2 turnovers (and as noted before, he left teammates with "shootaround" shots with no defenders that they didn't bury). 8. I had him for 34 points. And as I said before, he didn't take any hero shots or ill-advised shots. He missed a couple he probably makes most games, but he didn't have too many misses. 9. I will finish not by saying Archie needs to offer now, but by reiterating a sentiment I've made in the past on this thread. God help Indiana University if he chooses to play at Purdue.