Loaded Chicken Sandwich

Even as a fan I am able to separate myself from fandom and writer/poll maker. I hate it, but I have to to be taken even slightly serious. But I do give some smaller schools a chance every year just because it is cool to see when there is some tiny school that is 15-0 or something crazy. The AP is supposed to be releasing their Top 25 today(?). I want to see how close mine is to theirs because I always try and put my Top 25 out before theirs so people don’t think I just copy off them. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

All of those teams have plenty to prove. I just want to see Purdue prove they can win without Edwards. They lost a lot with him solely and it’s hard to replace that. I think we saw that when Yogi left. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they moved into the Top 15 in the first few weeks. Edit: UK will be good and athletic and have some sophomores leading the way. MSU will be good but I think UK is more talented and deeper. MSU’s bench will be their problem. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I have released my College Basketball Top 25! 1. Kentucky 2. Michigan State 3. Kansas 4. Louisville 5. Duke 6. Florida 7. North Carolina 8. Maryland 9. Gonzaga 10. Virginia 11. Oregon 12. Ohio State 13. Memphis 14. Villanova 15. Texas Tech 16. Seton Hall 17. LSU 18. Arizona 19. Xavier 20. Auburn 21. Utah State 22. Tennessee 23. Purdue 24. VCU 25. Saint Mary’s Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

We had our best FT shooter on the court in Al(shot 74% last year) and he went 6-8. Our top 3 FT shooters returning are Al(74%), Green(73.6%) and Phinisee(66%). So don’t expect it to get much better. Davis shot 57.7%, Smith shot 51.4%, Race shot 50%. Brunk shot 64.8% at Butler last season. Damezi didn’t attempt a FT last year. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I don’t see Marquette actually being a Top 20 team at the beginning of the year unless Howard just goes bonkers. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

So much for that trashy NET system. The committee still made baffling decisions. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I think the top teams will be better. Outside of the top few it’s going to be chaos probably. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

That’s a very interesting starting 5. So does anyone know the deal with Green? I’d imagine he’d be starting instead of Anderson. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I think everyone is forgetting one... The Hash-Slinging Slasher. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

I thought about it.. if we can beat Nebraska AND Northwestern, we could very well be ranked because we play Penn State. Meaning we’d be in the rankings through a bye week and help ratings by going to PSU ranked. Which would help the perception for PSU by beating a ranked team. James Franklin does have a vote in the coaches poll. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Trent Green calling the Colts game today. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

My College Football Top 25 1. Alabama(1) 2. LSU(2) 3. Ohio State(3) 4. Clemson(4) 5. Oklahoma(5) 6. Penn State(8) 7. Oregon(7) 8. Notre Dame(9) 9. Florida(10) 10. Georgia(11) 11. Auburn(13) 12. Utah(15) 13. Baylor(17) 14. Texas(12) 15. Wisconsin(6) 16. Iowa(19) 17. SMU(20) 18. Minnesota(NR) 19. Cincinnati(22) 20. Appalachian State(25) 21. Iowa State(NR) 22. Michigan(16) 23. Boise State(14) 24. San Diego State(NR) 25. Louisiana Tech(NR) Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

You don’t have the ability to “slash” from the block. Was Shaq considered a slasher? How about Montrezl Harrell? No. But they caught it on the block and dunked it right? What didn’t they do though? Slash. Because perimeter players are slashers. Not post player. But I guess we can start considering them slashers from now on. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

You do understand that slashers start from the perimeter right? Trying to play Smith on the block only is only going to make him fail. More than Hollowell failed while Crean was trying to make him be Watford 2.0. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Cool moment in the Minnesota game. Kid may have only been holding for an XP, but I’d say that’s pretty good after 4 battles with cancer. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

I don’t remember saying anything about Vic. I think someone else did. I compared him to Mo Harkless. Because he fits into the mold. Harkless, Al-Farouq Aminu, Andre Roberson, Luc Mbah a Moute. Guys that are good defenders who can still improve from the outside but it isn’t exactly necessary because of the intangibles they have. There are specialist in the NBA and some guys who have never heard of and never thought should have made it, make it. How many people thought Royce O’Neal and Torrey Craig would be starters in the NBA on two of the best teams? Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Well you can’t slash from the block. And how many were yelling at their TV’s to tell Troy to stop dribbling? Probably everyone. But he was a great slasher and did improve a little as a playmaker even though he was still a bit out of control. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

5-2... just one more and it can be gained next week. Last time we started 5-2 was the 2007 season when we won 7 games. I think we have 3 very very winnable games left and a winnable one against Michigan. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

So much for that great defense. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

His skill set is slashing and defense. It isn’t banging down low and working on the block with his back to the basket. But if he wants to work on his shooting why should we as fans disparage him? We should be excited that he’s motivated and willing to work on a part of his game that he knows isn’t good enough. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Should be a win. Shouldn’t be as close as last year. Hopefully this team is ready to whoop some a$$ and take care of business. When was the last time Indiana started a season 5-2? Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

Archie’s job is to coach the team. And part of that is helping Smith succeed at IU and beyond IU. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Juwan Morgan was a great college player. Sometimes it just doesn’t work out. There are players playing in the NBA that he was better than in college. That happens. Smiths career isn’t over. His dream to make it to the NBA isn’t over. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Archie’s job is to make players better, put players in a position to succeed and as part of being a basketball coach at a school like Indiana he has to help guys reach their goals and dreams. What player would ever commit to Indiana if they feel the coach doesn’t care about their goals to reach the NBA? You think Al is playing PG now because that’s what is best for the team? Because that’s what he is best at? Probably a part of his growth and what scouts want to see and Archie likely sees that as a positive because he can now develop Al into a multi purpose guard. Which makes the team better. You think Archie is telling Smith to quit working on his game because he’s not going to make the NBA? Or is he encouraging him because he knows it will make the team better? You would be an awful coach at the college level. Smith is a perimeter player. Being a slasher is being a perimeter player. The amount of 3/4’s that cant or couldn’t shoot the 3 is a pretty good number. And Smith May never become a rotation player but may a bench mob dude and I’m sure he’d be happy with that. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app

Except you want him in a role he doesn’t fit and one that will make him fail. He’s a 3/4. He’s a slasher, defender and when focused and aggressive a rebounder. We’d love to see his 3 game get better because it helps the team that much more. Not wanting guys to expand their game and get better literally makes no sense. A guy like Smith can work on his 3 ball and still work on the rest of his game and he’s already a natural slasher and good defender. And if he has a dream of playing in the NBA and has the work ethic to make it happen, then that is awesome and every fan should support that and hope he continues growing as a player. Good lord, people call me a pessimist yet want to dog on Smith for trying to make a dream come true. You really don’t have to be a good shooter to be in the NBA and you don’t even have to be able to dribble. Smith has the tools to make a roster and him trying to make himself better and into an NBA prospect will only make this better. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners mobile app