HoosierHoopster

Appreciate the feedback -- and my points are all just my opinion. I've seen this kid lock people down on D - I've also seen him get lost. And as I've posted, I know a guy personally who scouted both Vic and Geronimo and told me Geronimo was better than Vic at the same stage. Of course they were both high schoolers at the time, but this is a scout's take. He has huge upside. And we have some guys whose D is pretty clearly lacking (and we're missing Galloway). I want to see G get floor time because the sooner he's rolling on all cylinders -- not getting lost etc. -- the better we'll be on D, on the glass (he rebounds), and with additional O he brings. I don't like not playing guys who can help down the road or in matchups. G can do both.

Based on how Wisconsin has played so far and their players, we should comfortably out-rebound them, and TJD and Race have a distinct advantage against their bigs. Related, but for Wisconsin's typical home-cooking refs, TJD and Race should both be at the stripe, and if, officials willing, they're shooting the FT's they should, they need to connect on them, as that could absolutely be the difference between the expected L and a W. Wisconsin, though, turns opponents over and we turn it over at terrible rate, and will lose if we do so tonight. And Wisconsin plays methodically, very slow pace, and they take care of the ball. So yeah, rebound, get to the line (come on zebras) and hit the FTs, avoid careless TO's, avoid foul trouble especially X, and we have a legit shot.

Just can’t pick Wisc, can’t stand them. And they’re going to slow the game down to turtle pace, mob TJD, and look to force us into doing what we do worst - turn over the rock. We have two lineups of players averaging more than 1 TO, we’re towards the bottom of D1 in turnovers - SOooooo, - TJD and Race tag team the crap out of their average bigs, - we come out focused and take care of the ball, - TJD hits his free throws, - we get some timely threes, - we limit Davis And surprise everyone with a nail biter W IU - 67 Wisc 65

Geronimo has excellent upside and has already shown good D, give him run and he’ll contribute, sit him and try to play 9 with tighter rotations and we fall into a hole repeatedly in the first half because we have a defensive liability on the wing whose shot has been inconsistent but who has nonetheless sometimes continued to shoot repeatedly while missing everything leaving a lack of offensive balance, and a really good point but who can’t help but foul early. I’ve never been in the 8-9 man rotation camp, we do have depth and should use it. We have guys who are close whi need run, so they help when they come in and aren’t ice cold and lacking floor chemistry (we’ve already seen that). We are missing Galloway though - he was really coming on, and that’s because he got developed, the guy who couldn’t shoot got better with time and run, playing to his strengths as a point-forward type.

Our inside- out play can improve. The 3-point shooting is improving and as we get more inside- out going the floor will expand with it

How we defend Davis is going to be key, if not the key, imo. And another slow start would be hard to overcome in Wiscy's house. Man I hope we come out fully ready and focused.

Warmup

I'm already throwing a hissy fit

Davison is no slouch for sure, but Davis is their engine. He's also hitting at 40% from deep (Davis at 34) and assists at 2.4/game. I don't have a good answer but Kopp on Davis is probably a disaster waiting to happen. (Not meant as a slam on Kopp, but that's a really bad matchup)

One - small - reason for optimism in my mind is we're coming off the road test / battle at Cuse. Hoping that will have us ready.

Like you I expect Scoop in fairly soon, but I'd prefer Stewart early. X already fouls heavily and I don't want him in foul trouble 5 min in. BTW, Geronimo hasn't been playing great, but he has shown he can lock people down, and I'd like to see him get part of the defensive assignment when he comes in. Scoop though prob will be get a real test here. We're going to have to really switch well, in any event, but man that's a bad matchup

Kopp would be a bad call for that defensive assignment. 6'5 scoring machine from deep and inside. Kopp does not have the defense to take on that assignment and we'll almost certainly be in a hole quick if that's it. Would have to think Fife et al will make a call here.

So Guard Johnny Davis leads Wisc in points, rebounds (!), assists and steals. Averages 20.1 ppg. 40% from the arc. Shut. Him. Down. He didn't play in their one loss ag Providence.

It really is mindboggling and just plain hard to comprehend why or how the refs basically suit up for Wisconsin in their house. I have never seen any other team/venue where it's that bad. Why is it? How does this continue year after year after year? It really is pathetic. I don't care where I finish in the prediction league -- I just can't bring myself to give any vote to the cheeseheads. I will predict in blind optimism. I will hope the refs each fall down and sprain their ankles.

Don’t think it’s one player - he says there is always a player shooting after practice and “every guy” he’s seen do it has had it pay off.

uh, Ark Pine Bluff coach has his players running sprints -- MID GAME against ISU lol. Wow.

If only! I would have a grin plastered on my face for a week

1. Coaching staff / Woodson and overall direction of the program - return to IU basketball 2. Lineup rigidity, under-use of depth which impacts having to play from behind, repeated slow starts

Single digits from the arc! Lol

Had to miss the game - dang it Can someone fill me in on a few things — from box X only played 16 min, issues? How did Leal do in his 12? See that Bates was 2d in scoring and played 24, highlights? No Lander at all? What is up with that? So we dominated 2d half, adjustments?

New pick IU red - 79 ugly red - 68

What day is it? Edit, probably sideways bc I haven’t had the coffee yet….

Preface - really like your posting and often agree with you. here, I buy in half way. I understand the statement, and agree - rankings mean only so much. But then a top ranked player, as Lander was, achieved that ranking on demonstrated talent to multiple scouts over an extended period. And the question about coaches? Lander came in as a 17 year old, skinny high school senior, and the first and only coach before this season was that offensive genius, Cam. And now Lander has been starting to get more minutes - under Woodson, and he had clearly played better, while not being fully there, and he’s made mistakes, mistakes that show a lack of experience, which is what Woodson referred to in giving Rob the nod. It’s just not accurate or fair to say that shows Lander isn’t good.Talent and ceiling? They’re there, really think that’s obvious. Decision making and judgment? Not yet

I do think his game has grown this season and he’s showing steady improvement. He isn’t lost on either end (was last season), he’s finding guys better, his shot looks better, he’s clearly stronger. But also think he hasn’t yet had the college game slow down for him, he plays so fast he has missed things because of it like in OT last game — then you have Woody give the nod to Rob noting his experience— Lander basically got 0 experience because of Cam and so that shouldn’t be surprising— but I do want to see Lander getting game experience, his upside is seriously high, and if / when ge gets there we’ll all be very happy

Think you went a bit far here. Lander was a top rated point guard in his class for very well demonstrated reasons. Heck you can just pull up Rabjohns' recent tweet about how Lander's excellent play (at the time) was what he (Rabjohns) saw in Lander for years while he was demonstrating outstanding point guard ability. All discussion above is fair. Lander continues to have weaknesses in his game, and I for one do trust this very experienced staff to play the player who has earned his floor time. However, it's really unfair to Lander to cross-compare him to Leaf. Lander has exceptional talent. He absolutely earned his ranking (to the extent rankings matter). But who plays between him and Rob and when will continue to be the the coaching staff's call and fair discussion.