HoosierHoopster

Or hey the natural extension, because CAM played Smith as a “wing” therefore he was a wing! Clearly if he was a 4 CAM would’ve not put him at the 3, right? the insistence of being right seems to be getting in the way of actual discussion. Ignoring, as has bern repeatedly stated, that we’re talking about playing him on the wing with a developed handle, as necessary for the wing, as in no one said he already has that, with developed experience at the position becsuse he clearly has the physical tools and defensive tenacity and demonstrated exceptional D at the 4 spot already including defending - blocking 3’s, and obviously unlike Smith in any way has a good looking outside shot and has knocked down big 3’s in several games (are we really comparing JG to Smith? Really?) is just to say but look he hasn’t played the 3 yet therefore he can’t? Ok. A pessimist finds difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist finds opportunity in every difficulty. :) I see plenty of reason to develop JG — to improve his handle - to give him and the team more versatility. If he can’t he can’t, but no, we don’t know that. shouldn’t have ever let Vic shoot 3’s after his first 2 seasons bc you know he couldn’t shoot. Oh yeah, 40-plus shooter as a junior. Same conversation then - I remember it well, he’s not and won’t be an outside shooter. Ok.

Honestly it’s just about positional understanding with JG, that really should be obvious to anyone critiquing his perimeter D. He started bball late, he came to IU still raw despite making big leaps in his game in NH and getting late recruiting bc of it. He has all the tools and i think everyone here agrees made big strides his soph year in positioning, defensive reads, and play around the basket/rebounding along with elite shot blocking. But perimeter D includes switches, understanding offensive sets initiated up top, reacting to inside out and p & r / p & p, and playing almost entirely the 4 for Race his lack of experience at the college wing showed — But it’s crazy to me to talk about him as a poor perimeter defender without even bothering to note any of that. His lateral quickness, length, speed, defensive tenacity generally (exceptional), timing on blocks - including, hello, 3-pointers, is clear. A guy like Kopp has literally none of that, none. What Kopp has is experience on the wing for defensive reads. His effort also is good. But zero speed, athleticism, length, hops etc. On a Crean team JG would’ve gotten a ton of time early and i would bet a million it would’ve included wing play. So CAM was just awful, and Woodson required experience and proven defensive progress before real time, acknowledged that his assistants were yelling at him in a game to put JG in, and he then dominated, then later said in the tourney that he “discovered” a guy on his bench in JG and played him extensively (finally) and golly, JG was outstanding in the tourney. He is primed to have a major role as he should next season, and i’d bank on dominant offensive showings from him whether he’s playing a traditional 4 (would like to see that with Race) or on the “wing”

It’s message board fodder and honestly it gets old

Right, the focus on TO’s is exaggerated here, Kopp did almost nothing with the ball, he doesn’t even try to create his own shot.

Ok you know we 100 percent always agreed Smith was no wing, that was obvious, and JG has much more potential. Also though think we still get bogged down labeling or casting positions, definitely now a smaller faster more positionless game, as we see Draymond play center — and JG has defended centers etc. Kopp is most definitely not a better defender though, JG’s perimeter D was about learning the area - wing / perimeter D, as opposed to having the lateral quickness and movement, the close out to blocking a corner 3? JG, something Kopp could only dream about. Anyway we see his current level of development and potential differently, no issues there people will, but I would much, much rather see investment in his potential, which is higher than most, than a grab for the next shiny thing

Gleas i think you’re a bit too far down on JG’s upside including the wing with handle improvement over the summer and forward. There’s some talk he’s working now on his handle per the staff. His D is exceptional across positions, his outside shot form is solid and improving, hit a number of crunch 3’s, handle clearly still needs work but a comparison with Kopp? The guy added so little, and any comparison of their stats and advanced stats has Geronimo miles better. Yeah he generally subbed for Race, yes don’t disagree he’s primarily a college 4, but he has the upside / athleticism / length / quickness / shot blocking on the wing / lateral movement to be an effective wing. I would play him there today over Kopp, easily. We can be a long, athletic, attacking team, or a team with “wings” who stand around on the perimeter, don’t shoot much and can’t create their own shot? I hope to see good handle growth from JG, his upside is excellent whatever happens I absolutely hope / think he is staying, major contributor end of season into ncaa tourney, should only get better

Couldn’t agree more

Agree. And honestly the portal is a mixed bag to me. I don’t like the shiny new thing grab a player thing. We need outside shooting, but we also have major potential in 2-way players on the team who are growing into major players— Geronimo and Bates. Guys who know Woodson’s system, have returning chemistry with the team, are fully bought in, and who do a lot more than just score, and who have big time upside. Running out and picking up some other team’s shooter at the likely expense of losing JG or Bates? Count me out. Woodson needs to play them more and not just roll back a kopp starting lineup or grab another shooter after bringing Race back. Kopp’s a shooter, he can help, but he’s not a guy who creates his own shot and he doesn’t bring much more. Bates is a good shooter and his game will be a lot better as a soph. Geronimo is a monster in the making, a lot like OG, his stroke is good, with continuing handle growth he can play the wing or 4. That lineup that @HoosierCoop posted (TJD, Race, JG, JHS, X) is exactly what I hope to see. Athletic, dynamic guard and wing play, strong and experienced up front, 2-way players, high energy across all spots, and real chemistry

Yeah we get Good Friday off too, love the long weekend

Except it’s Thursday :)

This is Houston. The reality of the system in Houston is that there a lot of bad police, and a lot of tension between the public and the police, and the criminal justice system is ridiculously backed up, as in by hundreds of cases. This aint Indiana, lol. (As an aside, the cops actually threw my son's cell phone out the window, smashing it, when they arrested him, on false charges. I'm not kidding.)

^^ All correct, and the good news here actually is that there is a trial date, so that a deal or dismissal can be worked out early. Otherwise, he would stay in the system for an extended period of time bc generally the prosecutor won't look at it until there's a need to. Unfortunately, I have personal experience -- my son was falsely charged with assault on an officer. It wasn't him. They arrested the wrong kid. But he was charged and then told we had to wait on the body cam. That took several MONTHS, just to get us the body cam, which shows what we've said all along, they arrested the wrong kid. Now we're still waiting, months later, for them to get around to it. And he's still subject to the system. That's beyond messed up. X's situation is much, much better.

Yes and there’s a long, long list of very successful NBA players drafted in the 2d round, the guarantees aside

There it is -- win the Wiscy way! We don't have to be better, we just have to have the refs

We gonna be alright. I heard @Stuhoo picked up a Fife play — he’s got that on the floor leg bite down

I grew up playing hockey. I’ll take out whoever’s playing point in a clearly dirty flagrant, be kicked out of the game, and you guys take it from there

Agreed, and I'd like to see Kopp utilized better. If he's on the floor to shoot 3's, he should be shooting. The number of shots he generally took in games begged the question why he was out there.

I don't know if Woodson will continue to start Kopp because of his experience and the 'threat' of his shooting (which, realistically, is about all it was this season), but if he does, in my book it's a real mistake. We're clearly better on both sides of the ball with Geronimo playing significant minutes. First, it's hard, if not boneheaded, to ignore Geronimo's clearly far better offensive contributions - per 40 min: 13.8 ppg (Kopp: 9.5), FG% 52% (Kopp: 36%). The 3PT% is for Kopp at 36%, but Geronimo's total is 31% and better over the last few games when Kopp barely put the ball in the basket while Geronimo was key down the stretch. - per 100 possession: Geronimo's ORtg 102.8 (Kopp 97.8). I mean, that's not close. Defensively, how do you not include rebounding - Geronimo's 11.3 per 40 is best on the team (excluding Childress, Duncomb who barely played). That's an outstanding number. Hell, his DRtg per 100 possessions (points allowed) is miles better than Kopp, 94.6 (behind TJD and Race, not counting Childress, Duncomb) to Kopp's 102.7. Or Geronimo's blocks? 2.2 per 40, second best on team, to Kopp's .4. Kopp's D? Geronimo is way better defensively. Kopp absolutely got beat on possession , Geronimo rarely got beat individually, agree early on he would get lost but he clearly improved during the course of the year and made the team much better, defensively, when he was on the floor, including vis a vis Kopp. As I've said before this is not to dis Kopp, his experience, hard work on the floor, and at least the promise of his shooting has real value, but Geronimo absolutely should be playing more, whether or not he starts, and in my book his starting over Kopp should be an easy call. Kid can shoot too. Has to better his handle for more wing play, but I'd bet on that happening over the summer, his handle improved during the season.

What I really hope to see is Woodson and staff running plays for perimeter scoring and inside - out. A lot of our lack of outside shooting was on the staff, with the insistence on playing through the post / TJD. But we also have guys like Bates who should significantly elevate their roles who can score at different levels on the court so part of that growing O should come with that more dynamic play than Stew and Kopp standing on the perimeter— Def hoping to see that O grow a lot this season

He also already has a college body, he's a big, strong pt/combo guard. That goes a long way to readiness to contribute

You are so insensitive! :)

Not a drinking story, but another 'great policing' story Pulled over going 95 on I495 (DC) Cop: You realize you were clocking 95? Me: Yeah sorry, my wife just called, says she's starting to have contractions (she was) Cop: Get going son, you need to get home --

Bates was really progressing before the personal loss and issues he went through, after that he missed games and then didn't fully regain his trajectory. Fully expect he will as a soph. He has all the talent as a two-way guard who can score at 3 levels, and as a soph would expect Woodson will now turn to him more

Thank you. College kids do stupid things, it’s like people live in a moral judgmental vacuum. In context, which actually matters, no one was hurt, no one failed a breathalyzer, no one had drugs, it’s was the early morning post midnight hours, there weren’t other cars / traffic around, and yeah, he’s a college kid, who has been giving back in the community, who has been showing growth, who deserves more than being kicked to the curb with knee jerk acceptance of a cop’s account. Let the kid have his day in court — it is what the U will do, because this is a legal matter and it’s the right thing to do. Let all the facts come out, and think of the kid (yes, he’s a kid, like all “college kids”) as your college kid. Would you want him to have a chance, learn from it, or just kick him to the curb. Damn, the moral righteousness and immediate judgment just floors me sometimes

At 3:00 am?