Late Season Optimism

[cthomas 6,373]

3 minutes ago, Diadem said:

	I think a lot has to do with Clifton . Would he now red shirt if that's what Archie required, or would he be happy replacing the legendary Priller ? I agree it doesn't bode well for his future given his results so far . But he did block a couple shots and seems mostly engaged on the bench that I've seen .

I have to think his coaching prior to coming to IU was quite poor. CAM has mentioned more than once that Clifton is still learning the game. YIKES!  Contrast that to constantly commenting on Al's high basketball IQ.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,250]

4 minutes ago, cthomas said:

I have to think his coaching prior to coming to IU was quite poor. CAM has mentioned more than once that Clifton is still learning the game. YIKES!  Contrast that to constantly commenting on Al's high basketball IQ.

Another Crean projected diamond in the rough.

[Stuhoo 79,977]

Just now, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Another Crean projected diamond in the rough.

 

I can see both sides. If he really IS a diamond in the rough with a good attitude then he might shine next year; it's happened.

One thing I AM sure of: Archie and staff know the real deal, and will act accordingly.

 

[HoosierAloha 30,044]

I would like to see Moore stay and develop.  He could potentially be the type of big that works in Archie's system; blocking shots, hedging on ball screens, and a mismatch on offense.  He has a ways to go though.  Is he willing to put in the work over the summer and next season to have an impact as an upperclassman? 

We'll need at least one of Thompson, Moore, and Forrester to contribute next season.  A rotation of Davis, Morgan, Smith, and another big should give us the length and athleticism from our 4 and 5 to finish towards the top of the Big Ten.

[CrossboneIU22 1,193]

Our biggest problem I see for next year is shooting from distance. Can Al and Devonte pick it up? Romeo would solve this issue BIG time. Can Smith be consistent and confident shooting away from the goal? We are going to need this outside shooting to keep teams from just loading the block. 

[JustWinWoody 3,385]

1 hour ago, CrossboneIU22 said:

Our biggest problem I see for next year is shooting from distance. Can Al and Devonte pick it up? Romeo would solve this issue BIG time. Can Smith be consistent and confident shooting away from the goal? We are going to need this outside shooting to keep teams from just loading the block. 

Anderson will help with the outside shooting too from what others have said on here.  

[Chris007 43,626]

4 minutes ago, InArchWeTrust said:

Anderson will help with the outside shooting too from what others have said on here.  

A grad transfer would help also. I also think McRoberts will be better next year too. 

[KDB 1,027]

On 2/20/2018 at 4:15 PM, HoosierAloha said:

I would like to see Moore stay and develop.  He could potentially be the type of big that works in Archie's system; blocking shots, hedging on ball screens, and a mismatch on offense.  He has a ways to go though.  Is he willing to put in the work over the summer and next season to have an impact as an upperclassman? 

We'll need at least one of Thompson, Moore, and Forrester to contribute next season.  A rotation of Davis, Morgan, Smith, and another big should give us the length and athleticism from our 4 and 5 to finish towards the top of the Big Ten.

I really like Race Thompson, out of those three, i'd put my money on him to be the main contributor.

[JustWinWoody 3,385]

2 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

A grad transfer would help also. I also think McRoberts will be better next year too. 

Any scoop on the kid from VU that Archie watched last week?  One could speculate on things but I try not to do that.

[Chris007 43,626]

Just now, InArchWeTrust said:

Any scoop on the kid from VU that Archie watched last week?  One could speculate on things but I try not to do that.

As a former VU guy I should but no I know nothing.

[Free Jurkin! 1,498]

On 2/20/2018 at 2:51 PM, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Another Crean projected diamond in the rough.

I don't think Moore is an indictment on Crean. NBAdraftexpress had him as a projected 1st rounder for next year, and there was a lot of buzz around him that wasn't reflected in the national ranking. Hopefully he stays and realizes his potential.

[Hardwood83 4,763]

49 minutes ago, Free Jurkin! said:

I don't think Moore is an indictment on Crean. NBAdraftexpress had him as a projected 1st rounder for next year, and there was a lot of buzz around him that wasn't reflected in the national ranking. Hopefully he stays and realizes his potential.

I agree. True "projects" should be rare, but that isn't the same as a kid that needs a couple years to develop.

I expected a little more out of Moore this season too, especially once DD went down, but big men often need some time to get it together.

How likely is it IU will fill his scholarship with someone that will contribute more? Almost certainly not for next year- and after that is a total crap-shoot. 

I hope he sticks around, really works hard and tears it up in the future. 

[rodmilbourn 36]

For the first time in a long time I have a great deal of optimism at the end of the year and really wish we had another month of watching this team play.  There are many reasons for this and if you will allow me, I am going to address those in this post.
1.  First and foremost, and it took a while this season, but we have seen a team get better game after game at the end of the year.  We didn't peak in January like most teams under CTC.  We don't look dejected, tired, and downright miserable in February like we have seen for the majority of the past 9 years.
2. We have a better B1G record this year than last year with a less talented team.  I do not believe the B1G is as down as many believe, so that is up for debate here, but we have virtually the same team minus the 2 G-Leaguers and 1 NBA player and didn't gain near that talent.  Smith is playing well and Al has had a good game here and there but at this point, they are not at the same level but yet we still have a better league record and a similar overall record to this point.  
3.  We are playing great Defense.  Something we only saw one year under CTC and that was mainly due to Vic and Zeller.  A team that should have been to the Final 4.  Victor was great at getting steals and deflections which led to a lot of fast break points.
4a.  Half Court Offense is actually being ran and working to get good shots. 
4b.  We can also beat a zone offensively.  We know where the ball needs to go and where to look once it gets there.  Our passing needs improvement to be much more effective in this area but that will come in future seasons when Archie doesn't have to spend so much time on the defensive side of the game.
5.  The bench is used as a punishment/motivator.  We never saw this under CTC.  
6.  Turnovers are not being tolerated.
7.  Substitutions are not pre-planned and happen as the game requires.  
8.  Big Heads are GONE!  If the Big Heads would have made more sense, I could have gotten on board, but what in the hell does Samuel L Jackson, Chuck Norris, Will Smith, a Panda Bear, and Big Bird have to do with IU?  I understand Victor Oladipo, Zeller, Cuban, the We are IU campaign guys, and I can even understand where's waldo with the Red and White but the heads that were being used were poorly done in my opinion.
9.  I think we can actually do something in the B1G Tournament for a change.  The way we are playing defense gives us a chance in almost every game we play recently.
10.  Its a stretch but I feel like we have a long shot at still making the Tourney or at the least making the NIT and possibly winning it.  
I am excited about the future of IU Basketball and what Archie Miller can do with this program.  I was not a fan of this hire in the beginning but he has won me over by watching his coaching style this season and doing what he has with this team. 
The only area I still have concern is in recruiting.  It is still a work in progress for me, as we really only have 4 committed recruits in his tenure so far, so I am anxious to see how he will be able to recruit and specifically the state of Indiana, so verdict is still out.   I do like the 4 he has coming in, but its not a highly ranked class and for us to be successful long term on a national scale like Kansas, UNC, Duke, and UK, we will need higher ranked recruits and higher ranked recruiting classes going forward.  Can he produce them?  We will see.  My feelings or hope is yes, but until I see it, I have to remain open minded and skeptical at this point.
Thanks for reading! 
Let's Beat Nebraska!
 
 
 

Curious.... what was the visiting team free throw shot percentage this year v.s. Last few years with the Big Heads gone? I feel like they were much more distraction than Birthday balloons!! Thoughts? Stats anyone??


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[CrossboneIU22 1,193]

On 2/27/2018 at 12:30 AM, rodmilbourn said:

Curious.... what was the visiting team free throw shot percentage this year v.s. Last few years with the Big Heads gone? I feel like they were much more distraction than Birthday balloons!! Thoughts? Stats anyone??


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Small sample sizes but to answer your questions:

2016 - 65.7% (222-338)

2017 - 65.5% (232-354)

2018 - 70.5% (215-305)

Would need a larger sample size to really make any conclusions but on the surface it appears that it could have made a difference.  I would like to see the numbers vs a team that uses those long plastic balloon sticks that wave and bang together to make noise (Sorry if that is what you mean by birthday balloons above).

[Bailey7878 2,506]

Sounds like we will have to beat Purdue to get into the NIT. What a buzz kill if we go another year with no postseason


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