24 year old loyal Hoosier fan

[jbeaman9]

Please bear with me, this is my first New Topic post since becoming a member of this site. (Take it easy on me)

I have watched IU basketball, like many of you, since I was just a little boy growing up in southern Indiana. I played my fair share of basketball, and even played against and cheered against Cody Zeller while he was at Washington.

My earliest and most fond memory was back in 2002, when IU shocked the college basketball world by upsetting Duke. I was 10 years old at the time. That memory should let most of you know I did not live in the "golden years" of IU basketball. That was the last, and only, time the Hoosiers have made it to the final four and championship game, IN MY LIFE.

I have enjoyed watching over the last 5 years or so as we went to sweet 16's and underachieved according to IU basketball standards. However, after watching the last few games I have a few comments to make based on what I've seen and can remember from my young life of IU basketball.

I got much more enjoyment out of watching players like Hulls, Watford, Jones III, Pritchard, and Elston over the likes of Troy, Thomas, James, and Noah. I enjoy watching a group of guys go out AS A TEAM and fight for 40 minutes and maybe get beat by 20-30, than to watch a bunch of individuals who don't take pride in playing defense. I understand, wins make things easier on everyone and that is the standard that has been set by those who have come before the current players, back when I was not around. However, I will say it again, I would rather watch the teams that I don't have to constantly question their heart, their effort, and their dedication to their teammates and the program, to INDIANA UNIVERSITY. Not just the dedication to themselves and looking to raise individual draft stock.

Sorry for the lengthy post, please, share your thoughts and remember, go easy on me!

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[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Now that you're no longer a 'virgin', we better see more New Topic posts from you.    ...heart, effort, dedication = playing FOR Indiana not at Indiana.

[jbeaman9]

My thoughts exactly. Guys like Hulls exemplify what playing FOR Indiana means.


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[recker222000]

My thoughts exactly. Guys like Hulls exemplify what playing FOR Indiana means.


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Crwan no longer recruits guys like hulls. Sad.

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[jbeaman9]

Maybe that's the issue, he's going after big time recruits to make it look good, maybe we should get more guys like Hulls, Watford, Verdell. 4 year guys wanting to succeed for one another and play FOR IU


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[Trish]

I turn 24 shortly.. honestly our 2002 days were the best years of IU basketball for our age.

I agree with you, Jordan and Derek were more fun to watch. Know why? Because they were "Hoosiers". We don't recruit "Hoosiers" anymore, well at least they don't want to come here anymore. We need the grit and grind guys, the ones who play for Indiana not at Indiana.

I'm afraid those days are gone. Crean has lost the state of Indiana in recruiting and pretty much nationwide, we seem to have peaked.


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[Crimson and Cream]

Being the same age as yourself I also share the same Hoosier memories, starting with that 2002 run to the NC game. I also agree this Hoosier team is missing the heart and determination that past IU teams have had. Extremely frustrating to watch.

[Crimson and Cream]

3 minutes ago, Treesh said:

I turn 24 shortly.. honestly our 2002 days were the best years of IU basketball for our age.

I agree with you, Jordan and Derek were more fun to watch. Know why? Because they were "Hoosiers". We don't recruit "Hoosiers" anymore, well at least they don't want to come here anymore. We need the grit and grind guys, the ones who play for Indiana not at Indiana.

I'm afraid those days are gone. Crean has lost the state of Indiana in recruiting and pretty much nationwide, we seem to have peaked.


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I agree with most of what you said, just want to point out one thing. Some of the most popular Hoosiers in our lifetime (same age as yourself) have been guys not from in-state. Guys like Vic, AJ Moye, and DJ White were all out of state guys who were fan favorites and are probably my favorite 3 Hoosiers ever. Being from Indiana doesn't guarantee they will play like Hoosiers. Some of the best Hoosiers were from other areas.

[jbeaman9]

I agree with both of you, would like some perspective from the more seasoned IU fans out there. What are your thoughts?


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[jbeaman9]

I agree with most of what you said, just want to point out one thing. Some of the most popular Hoosiers in our lifetime (same age as yourself) have been guys not from in-state. Guys like Vic, AJ Moye, and DJ White were all out of state guys who were fan favorites and are probably my favorite 3 Hoosiers ever. Being from Indiana doesn't guarantee they will play like Hoosiers. Some of the best Hoosiers were from other areas.

Great point. AJ is one of my all time favorites too. DJ White played with an unbelievable passion for Indiana. That '02 team was full of tough gritty guys. Tom Coverdale an example. Not flashy, not a human highlight reel. Just got it done when it needed to be done.


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[Stuhoo]

 

I thought that last year's team, with Zeis, Yogi, Max, OG, Juwan, Niego, Collin, TB, Troy, Burton, and Rojo was also a complete joy to watch once they hit their stride.

 

[jbeaman9]

 

I thought that last year's team, with Zeis, Yogi, Max, OG, Juwan, Niego, Collin, TB, Troy, Burton, and Rojo was also a complete joy to watch once they hit their stride.

 

I also enjoyed watching them, look at the bulk of that list though. Take out Yogi, TB, Troy, Rojo and look what you're left with. Tough as nails, under the radar guys. How many can you say we have on this years roster? McRoberts?


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[Crimson and Cream]

4 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

Great point. AJ is one of my all time favorites too. DJ White played with an unbelievable passion for Indiana. That '02 team was full of tough gritty guys. Tom Coverdale an example. Not flashy, not a human highlight reel. Just got it done when it needed to be done.


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Coverdale, AJ, Fife, Jeffries, Hornsby, I could keep going. So many contributions from that team. And that was it, they played as a TEAM. We had Jeffries as the lone star and then just great balance through the rest of the roster. Those were the days man...

[OliviaPope40]

I can the 2002 Duke game clear as day and it was spring break and I was in a friend's hotel room and we were having a blast. I can remember my first game of watching Cody play it was at home and it was against Stetson and I knew that this was going to be something special. I can remember packing for another spring break trip and I had packed some of my IU gear in my bag to wear for the rest of the tournament unfortunately the airline lost my luggage and we lost to Syracuse that night I was livid. 

[jbeaman9]

Coverdale, AJ, Fife, Jeffries, Hornsby, I could keep going. So many contributions from that team. And that was it, they played as a TEAM. We had Jeffries as the lone star and then just great balance through the rest of the roster. Those were the days man...

Some would consider that "sad" lol that we consider those "the days"
I wish I'd been around during the real glory days. Watching some of those teams would probably make me more upset with today's team.


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[Hovadipo]

I still think this group of guys can be fun to watch. It isn't a "Hoosier" thing. It isn't an effort thing. It isn't a determination thing. They just simply aren't currently playing well and are being led in a piss poor direction. These guys play really hard and by all accounts work their collective arses off. I don't get this sense of guys playing "at" Indiana or whatever has been referenced a few times recently. Hard to blame the guys being put in these bad positions when they play hard.


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[Stuhoo]

5 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

I also enjoyed watching them, look at the bulk of that list though. Take out Yogi, TB, Troy, Rojo and look what you're left with. Tough as nails, under the radar guys. How many can you say we have on this years roster? McRoberts?


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Toughness is not our problem this year, in my opinion. Heck, we're out-rebounding everyone! A lot of the same guys who seemed tough last year are playing lost at times. Our problem this year is that our guys are "playing unprepared."

That having been said, this year's team STILL has a better chance of winning a national championship than last year's team. 

 

[HooHooHoo22]

I'm 23 and it's awesome how all of us remember the 2002 final four run. I can still remember exactly where I was with my mom when we came back to beat Duke. That's when my love for IU basketball started. IU basketball is a big part of my life. I travel the state all the time going to antique malls, and flea markets searching for old IU memorabilia. I love the history of the program. Recently though, my passion for It has gone down. I want our Hoosiers to win so bad that it hurts. Like others have said, I'll take the 6 and 12 win teams we had earlier in creams tenure. We played with so much fight, so much heart. I rather start all over again then watch what I've been seeing this year. I feel like this season is so close to becoming disastrous.


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[Crimson and Cream]

3 minutes ago, jbeaman9 said:

Some would consider that "sad" lol that we consider those "the days"
I wish I'd been around during the real glory days. Watching some of those teams would probably make me more upset with today's team.


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I hear ya, we missed all the banners and the undefeated team and most importantly missed Coach Knight. 

[jbeaman9]

I still think this group of guys can be fun to watch. It isn't a "Hoosier" thing. It isn't an effort thing. It isn't a determination thing. They just simply aren't currently playing well and are being led in a piss poor direction. These guys play really hard and by all accounts work their collective arses off. I don't get this sense of guys playing "at" Indiana or whatever has been referenced a few times recently. Hard to blame the guys being put in these bad positions when they play hard.


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There are some that play hard consistently, I can't argue that. I will say this, in reference to the teams I mentioned earlier. Going back and watching highlights or old games. How many players like TB do you see? Complaining nearly every possession, gets one layup with a foul and pounds his chest. I've watched the IU v Duke 2002 game so many times on YouTube it's unreal. When JJ hit some of his great shots during the final stretch of the game. Watch his reaction, he turns around and runs to get back and get a stop. I know it's old fashioned and not "cool" anymore but I wish we had a defensive stopper. Not one person on this roster I would bet on to get a big time stop when necessary.


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