HoosierHoopster

After our poor start against Cuse, then the fight to double OT, and now starting Conf play, I think our guys come out strong and focused. Good W coming

Agree. The slow start though was bad, though, and not sure why we came out of the gate so poorly. Some stat pluses -- we shot 40 percent from deep, our outside shooting is clearly improving, though Bates was an unusual 0-4, after coming into the game over 40 percent, he's going to continue to get better as he adjusts as a frosh. Related, Kopp turned the corner last night, major bounce back game for him. On the very down side, 26 TO's is awful, and 7 of those were by Race and 6 by TJD. Guess they'll be doing some serious running. I was confused as to why X wasn't more involved in the scoring -- 9 assists (to 3 TO's) if fantastic, but only 2 shots? Our offense is improving, but it's still not well balanced, and I think we're going too far in shortening the bench. 3 players playing 45 plus minutes, another with 39 in a double OT game while the bench barely played -- right, our bench had a terrible last game, but before that game it was a plus, and guys like Bates and Geronimo need playing time, Lander too, we're going to need that bench support in the B1G.

This is just crazy

Looks just like Crean. ........ :)

Good! Looking forward to seeing him back out there

Except that most people are idiots. :)

I think you may be right -- def hope so -- I think we're pretty clearly the better team, but man it's the first road game and I don't like that football venue/arena. Definitely need to bring it tonight.

I want a sweep of Wiscy. Man I really, really can't stand that program. It's time to stick it to the cheese heads.

He’s doing some practicing, that’s all i know, sounds like a game time decision

A good watch - get confident --

IU -- 73 Cuse -- 68

Yeah, Hulls' injury didn't help - he had a separated shoulder. And Cody missed almost everything. Ball movement was terrible, just as it was in the game against Temple. Yeah, not my best memory lol

Good post. I haven't made my prediction here yet but largely agree -- we've been snakebit by Cuse and are thinking in the past. We have a different team, differently coached, and Cuse hasn't been strong this year. However -- it's our first road game, and we have struggled against the zone this year already. I still think we pull it out.

I can't believe you asterisked out "oh snap" :)

Largely agree. The NBA scouts / drafts on potential / upside / athleticism and demonstrated ability, and team workouts go a long way, but the well-rounded big that excels at the college level (e.g., Morgan) often will have a place / role depending on team needs at the time of the draft and over the summer. TJD is killing it, the crazy 10 blocks and his extreme high-level scoring doesn't go unnoticed. He has holes in his game, he is not an elite athlete, he hasn't shown any level of consistent shooting (but he has started to show shooting this season), and we all know the off-hand has been a development need. I wouldn't under-sell Cody and Vic though. That class wasn't the strongest, but besides their both going in the top 5, Vic went on to be an all star and both have carved out long, successful NBA careers, Cody as a strong role player. TJD has the tools, skill, motor and size to carve out a role player career in the NBA, imo. No I don't think he's a first-rounder at this point, but yes I'd be surprised if he's not in the League whether it's after this season or the next.

Ok that’s freaking impressive

And the question is whether TJD can improve his stock by showing more shooting, developing off hand and having good workouts. He has started off the year well, it’s still November

Hmm I don’t disagree? I was just talking about Bates. Good news is that over the past few games our deep shooting overall is improving— Stewart is definitely a key - hope that trend continues

Al Queda and Isis are deeply insulted by the comparison :)

There are no certainties in predicting player draft likelihood generally and with a guy like TJD who hasn’t been projected - yet - it’s an open question. However, if he shows shooting and off-hand development over the season I’d be willing to bet money on it, and i’m not a betting guy. It’s easy and hindsight to say hey Cody was a first rounder etc, but that’s not the point - the point i made was that the same things were said, repeatedly, about him and the others — game doesn’t translate to the NBA, not athletic enough, etc. each had weaknesses in their game that made the move questionable (and Yogi only stayed all 4 because he had no shot at being drafted). TJD is a consistent jumper / strong workout away from being drafted. He’s a dominant mobile big. Woodson will give him - as he has - the feedback he needs, and i’d bank on him shooting more as the season goes forward

So now 1 game later he’s at 43 percent. I guess the speculation thing is gone, lol. Bates is a strong outside shooter as part of his 3-level scoring, the more we see of him the better he’ll be

Our schedule hasn’t helped the ranking discussion. With Cuse’s last loss even a W there (not at all a gimmee) may well not be enough — a big statement W there could.

Read my post again on what could get him there. And btw Yogi was undrafted

Some other guys this was often said about: Cody Bryant OG could also add Yogi, who though he’s no longer in the League played his way in and made it and did well in Dallas then made a bad bet on Sacto. Troy was in for a spell too. TJD should continue to develop the off hand, and jumper. He already has shown about everything else he needs to make it. Not yet first round, shooting could get him there. I don’t think he stays another season, if he continues to excel his ability to improve his draft stock in another season drops away. Working out for teams under the new draft rules will tell him a lot. One thing is pretty certain— Woodson is right there to give good advice, with the NBA experience and connections. And it was largely Woodson pointing out his areas of weakness and what he needed to improve that brought him back for this season.

That’s what i was thinking of earlier - truly special