Home Jersey

I agree on all fronts. RE: 4, I think based on the way Mack was acting on the bench, it's not that he's thinking about his ranking. I think he's just genuinely lost on defense to the point that Woodson couldn't afford to have him out there down the stretch. He's got to pick that up but I think the spirit he brought on the bench is encouraging in the sense that he has the physical tools. He's just got to learn to keep his mouth running on D and stay consistent. We need him to do so much more than he showed tonight. And Walker, Gunn and Banks were pretty disappointing. I find Gunn so frustrating at times. Walker was forcing shots that just isn't his game. As a senior, he's got to be smarter than that.

Whew that game was a trip. I'll take a win no matter how we get it. Obviously so much to improve on... not even worth listing it all right now. I'll focus on the positives for the moment... --Ware. Does anything need to be said? A double double in his debut. Can't ask for much more than that. --Gabe Cupps. I probably wouldn't have believed you before the exhibitions if you told me the most impactful freshman/one who would be playing at the end of the game with the outcome on the line, would be him instead of Mgbako. But this kid clearly has such a work ethic. It's fun to root him on. --We all wanted to see more from Galloway... He wasn't perfect tonight by any means but I think its pretty clear he's improved again during the offseason. XJ also was frustrating at times and can play a lot better. But I'm encouraged at how he was able to take over when we needed him to. So much to clean up.. but it's game one with a very new roster. We need to build chemistry and learn the defense ASAP. But there is plenty of talent here. We have the ingredients for a very fun season and competitive team. As we've basically all said... it's going to take time. Not always going to be pretty. But its all about peaking at the right time in this game.

What a weird sequence that was.

Omg finally some life. Cupps, X, Gallo, Malik, Ware is by far our best 5 tonight. Let's not take our foot off the gas coming out of this break.

Lets go X! That's the type of play a 6th year player needs to make.

Thank the LORD Malik converted the 3 point play.

This team is just going to have such a hard time coming back once they're down in a game. The rotations on defense are atrocious tonight.

This is officially... bad.

This team with a Zeisloft would be a dark horse favorite for B10 champions

How they come out in the second half will tell us a lot about this roster and what we're made of, mentally.

I think Mgbako is trying, but to me he looks genuienly LOST on D, a lot of the time. And when his shot is not falling, he struggles to affect the game in a positive way.

I don't want to start some sort of debate, but... I do wonder how Cupps would look with the first unit and XJ leading the second unit with more of a scoring focus.

We are getting serious help from the refs, to be honest. This foul disparity is not going to be the case in the second half, I imagine.

XJ has to hit those free throws.

Mack has so much room for improvement still.

Another weak foul call on Reneau. Even the guy who got "fouled" was surprised at the call

If Ware hit that second three Assembly would've erupted.

7 mins without an IU FG. Ooof.

Great rebound by Ware, caught the ball high - kept it there and went up strong to draw the foul. He needs to do more of that and he will be a 1st round draft pick easily. He is looking like our most talented/best player so far, pretty easily.

One of my biggest concerns for this year is Woodson not fully taking advantage of Ware's perimeter skillset. Some of his comments yesterday make it pretty clear he does not think the game should be played that way. I don't know whether we will take enough per game.

I feel pretty confident it won't be Walker. He's definitely looked the best of those 3 so far, IMO

Ware has the potential to be so great. If he can grow to learn to not bring the ball down so low in the paint, he would score probably 4-8 more points a game. He's 7'2? They can't get it as easily if you hold it up high KW

Cupps is already a huge fan favorite, rightfully so.

Great finish with XJ. We don't have a deep backcourt, but I like it.