The Optimist's Shorter Rotation Theory

[Beachfront Property 619]

Note: I fully understand this is one game and a very small sample size. Here is a wild theory - feel free to tell me I am crazy.

Last year, JBJ goes down and the Hoosiers go on a run to the Big Ten Title after looking terrible in the non-conference. JBJ's poor defense is blamed. People claimed we were simply a better team without him. This year, OG goes down for the season and Morgan has to miss the game. We play the best offensive game we have in months. I don't think anyone is going to claim we are a better team without OG and Morgan. However, is it possible we play better as a team with only an 8 man rotation? JBJ makes a couple of shots and Crean doesn't immediately yank him out of the game. McRoberts is able to get in a rhythm and make plays without knowing in the back of his mind he is about to get pulled from the game.

What are your thoughts? Am I just being overly optimistic?

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

You're crazy

[HoosierAloha 30,068]

Actually, there might be something more to this but right now it's just one game. Last season Yogi and JBJ wanted to be batman and neither really wanted to play the "lesser" role and sacrifice for the team.

This game might have just been JBJ getting hot and carrying the team. I do think the rotation needs tightened regardless of how many players you have. There's no reason to "tweak" and play kids that don't fit or play them extended minutes.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,744]

What Beachfront opined is somewhat in line with GnarlyTimGarl's coments in OG Out For Season.  Injuries cut back on the number and frequency of CTC's possible substitutions and it forces other players to respond and on-court roles become more clearly defined because of that.

[Alford Bailey 12,384]

No question guys can get in a better rhythm 

[Hovadipo 56,178]

I was thinking this earlier today. It's an unfortunate plus that we've had so many injuries.

You're also crazy.

But I like it.


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[mdn82 25,510]

I think everyone is pretty well spot on. If everyone was available James doesn't score 16 in the first 10 minutes. He scores 8-10 and then gets pulled.


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[FortWayneHoosier 6,128]

Love this, there for sure is something to this. I think we will see how well this plays out in the next few games


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[Feathery 4,005]

Time will tell. Right now Im subscribing to the thought that when a player gets injured, many tines a team plays great the following game. However, over the course of the season they will end up struggling. I think that is what we saw today, we shall see what happens goikg forward. 

Overall, tightening of the bench should have happened years ago. Play your best 8 and if you are really deep you can go 9 some games. 

[Oladipo 130]

Time will tell. Right now Im subscribing to the thought that when a player gets injured, many tines a team plays great the following game. However, over the course of the season they will end up struggling. I think that is what we saw today, we shall see what happens goikg forward. 

Overall, tightening of the bench should have happened years ago. Play your best 8 and if you are really deep you can go 9 some games. 

Most teams play bad the game after a injury cause the adjustments that are made imo

[BGleas 7,903]

I think IU's record might be different right now if you had a healthy rotation of JBJ, RoJo, Green, OG, Hartman, Morgan, Davis and Bryant. I meant literally have nobody else dress for the game, just those eight guys. Maybe let CuJo dress to have just in case, but that's it. No Newkirk, no McRoberts (who I actually like, but we don't need more guys), no McSwain, etc. Crean just can't substitute, No reason your best players shouldn't average 30ish minutes a game. 

[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

JBJ should average 32 the WHOLE year, TB should average 28-30, RoJo 30, OG before injury 32, Juwan 26-28, DD 12-18 depending on play, DG 10-20 depending on play, Newkirk 0-12 depending on play, cujo 8-14, mcroberts 5-12. This would give our best players more minutes and also enough time for younger kids to develop. Minutes have been Creans main issue his time here imo. His best don't always play the most and his worst seem to play too much. Trying to make everyone happy but he dont get if a kid gets some time rather than none he will be more upset because he wont want to get off the court. Crean is more of a friend than coach.

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[MartintheMopMan 7,765]

27 minutes ago, Yogi's Picnic Basket said:

JBJ should average 32 the WHOLE year, TB should average 28-30, RoJo 30, OG before injury 32, Juwan 26-28, DD 12-18 depending on play, DG 10-20 depending on play, Newkirk 0-12 depending on play, cujo 8-14, mcroberts 5-12. This would give our best players more minutes and also enough time for younger kids to develop. Minutes have been Creans main issue his time here imo. His best don't always play the most and his worst seem to play too much. Trying to make everyone happy but he dont get if a kid gets some time rather than none he will be more upset because he wont want to get off the court. Crean is more of a friend than coach.

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I don't buy the "trying to get kids time" argument at all, unless you have something to back it up.

[recker222000 1,010]

Most teams play bad the game after a injury cause the adjustments that are made imo

Last yeat we rallied. This looks very similar. Nobody can stop jbj right now.

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[LockdownD 2,238]

9 hours ago, recker222000 said:

Last yeat we rallied. This looks very similar. Nobody can stop jbj right now.

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Right. JBJ is in a good place right now.  Hope he stays there.

[JustWinWoody 3,385]

I disagree with the shortened rotation theory.  When guys go down to injury (which happens A LOT for us), the longer rotation keeps guys "tuned in" so they can step in.  Sure, in crunch time there should only be certain guys on the floor, but they all need to play some to stay sharp IMO.

[mdn82 25,510]

I disagree with the shortened rotation theory.  When guys go down to injury (which happens A LOT for us), the longer rotation keeps guys "tuned in" so they can step in.  Sure, in crunch time there should only be certain guys on the floor, but they all need to play some to stay sharp IMO.

Hasn't it been proven under Crean by him keeping players "tuned in" it is a detriment to us getting in a rhythm? On Zeller's team we had 7 players over 10 mpg (Hollowell had 9.7 pg). This year we have 10 players averaging over 10 mpg. That is excessive. Was Zeller's team more fit? We ran the same pace. Part of it is injuries skewing the numbers, but not to that degree.


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[HoosierAloha 30,068]

Hasn't it been proven under Crean by him keeping players "tuned in" it is a detriment to us getting in a rhythm? On Zeller's team we had 7 players over 10 mpg (Hollowell had 9.7 pg). This year we have 10 players averaging over 10 mpg. That is excessive. Was Zeller's team more fit? We ran the same pace. Part of it is injuries skewing the numbers, but not to that degree.


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Without looking at stats I would say that the Zeller years were more uptempo.

[Stuhoo 80,782]

Hasn't it been proven under Crean by him keeping players "tuned in" it is a detriment to us getting in a rhythm? On Zeller's team we had 7 players over 10 mpg (Hollowell had 9.7 pg). This year we have 10 players averaging over 10 mpg. That is excessive. Was Zeller's team more fit? We ran the same pace. Part of it is injuries skewing the numbers, but not to that degree.


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The Zeller team was mentally and physically exhausted by tournament time though.

[mdn82 25,510]

The Zeller team was mentally and physically exhausted by tournament time though.

I think a large part of that was the crazy practice pace we seemed to have lessened last year.


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