Indiana vs Penn State Post Game Thread

[JSHoosier 19,950]

Green gave IU a spark in the first half and PSU a spark in the second.  Relying on him for big minutes is playing with fire because of his sub-zero basketball IQ.  It's why I have never been a fan.

Maybe he got away with it on playgrounds in New York but it doesn't work at this level.

[incrediboy 922]

Later in the season I think we will look back on this game as a crucial one. As Watkins gets healthy, Penn State will start winning and I will be surprised if it doesn't finish in the top half of the league and go to the Big Dance. Its win over Va Tech was no fluke, and Tech beat Purdue at Mackey after being down by 6 at the half. Hopefully we'll get Hunter back when conference play resumes. I'm feeling very good about this team going forward.

[Chips&Dipo 1,464]

A few things:

The offense was stagnant at times, but I think that was because of the operators more so than the sets. I really like how CAM overcrowded one side of the floor to open up curlers on the corners and top of the key. Lots of movement on the sides. Good way to confuse aggressive defenses.

A few times, Romeo would get the ball at the top of the key and then immediately pass the ball back (he was also lazy a couple of times on his curls). I agree with hoosierpap when he says Romeo is missing a killer instinct and I have thought that the whole season. His tentativeness the second half was the difference, not the offense. That being said, he is projecting the right way and I think he slowly figuring it out. If he can be as aggressive as he was the first half for the rest of the season, he could do some special things.

Juwan has got to become more consistent. He gets touches but doesn't convert and then commits stupid, reach in fouls and has to play soft rest of the game. He didn't really turn the corner last year until after the crossroads classic. I am hoping he does something similar this year.

RP is going to be a special player (broken record). His play and body type reminds me so much of Yogi (dude's biceps are no joke). Not saying he is going to be the same player, but get some talent around him the next few years and watch out. He does get lost some times on defense, but he definitely corrects himself during the game which is a hard thing to do.

Smith is approaching freshman/sophomore year Troy with me. He does some things very well (rebounding, defense), but his offense lapses are hurting us more than his other qualities (especially since Romeo and RP are such good rebounding guards). If I see him catch the ball on one side of the basket and he dribble to the other side of the basket to put up a bad shot one more time, I am going to have to start buying higher ABV beers for the games.

Greene really helped hemorrhage the bleeding in the first half, but then he went off the wall. He needs to understand his role on this team and (apparently) needs to respond better to coaching.

Al is doing the opposite of Greene. He understands his role on the team and has been a positive piece all season. Has had some mistakes, but overall has been a key asset and a positive on the offensive side.

When I saw Moore go in, I said "oh no." Was glad with some of the things he did, but then he got completely lost on defense. Looked like Bambi on roller blades out there.

Overall: Good win and saw lots of positives and negatives, which helps lead to better coaching. We played and beat a top 10 defense (which also explains lulls in offense on our end) and a top 40 team overall at home. We beat them on an off night by us. They didn't shoot free throws well, but we also shot 10% for the first 5-10 minutes. I think after the game on Saturday (and hopefully a commitment by Brooks), the week off will be a nice break for the team to come together and work on its issues.

ALSO: That guy totally goal tended Phinese right?

[Uspshoosier 45,373]

Later in the season I think we will look back on this game as a crucial one. As Watkins gets healthy, Penn State will start winning and I will be surprised if it doesn't finish in the top half of the league and go to the Big Dance. Its win over Va Tech was no fluke, and Tech beat Purdue at Mackey after being down by 6 at the half. Hopefully we'll get Hunter back when conference play resumes. I'm feeling very good about this team going forward.

The Purdue game was on a neutral court but I agree with you Va Tech is good team and penn st is going to beat some good teams at home


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[Lebowski 2,499]

This was a very complicated game, man.  You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's.  And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man.  Lotta strands in old Duder's head.  Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

[Uspshoosier 45,373]

3 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

 
Sure (in theory), but it's just not that simple. 
I'm certainly no college-level coach but I've coached a little, and it is very, very difficult (and throws everything out of whack) when you have to try to 'hide' a player on either end of the court. I know you're using hyperbole, but can you imagine Archie telling Smith and Romeo that "Smith should give Romeo his possessions?" One of the great things about Romeo is that he doesn't mindlessly 'hunt shots' (okay, last night he took one NBA distance heat-check three pointer).  Romeo is new at this, but his already getting a great sense of when it's in the team's best interest for him to take over. The last 3:30 of the NW game and a few times last night when the shot clock was running down are proof positive. Romeo's usage rate is already plenty high.
 
BY THE WAY; as much as I try to be a jolly good time around here, I LOVE it when the board talks real basketball. Huge kudos to pap, usps, Old Friend and others for prompting this conversation!
 

Kudos should go to you as well on talking real basketball.  Also with Moore keep in mind he might be a sophomore but he is younger then a lot of the freshman. Could be the case with him that if he sticks it out here he will have a huge jump junior and senior year. He just needs to keep working and staying positive. As good as his instincts and timing are with his shot blocking, his ball screen defense is a major work in progress. If he is in the game a good coach is going to attack him every time. Part of the game. Tons of players struggle with this. In Gonzaga’s win against Duke, Few had his guards attackBolden and force him into ball screens. He got shredded pretty much every time.


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[Stuhoo 79,929]

5 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

This was a very complicated game, man.  You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's.  And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man.  Lotta strands in old Duder's head.  Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

 

Government Cheese...IS THAT YOU?

 

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

Seems everyone wants to crown Rob and bury Green.... I feel the opposite.

All these comments about how Rob won us the game, but to me if it wasn't for Green we are way out of it and can never make the comeback in the first half. Rob didn't look good at all to me until a few HUGE plays at the end. But as much as our offense stalled in the final 4 minutes was because he stood at the half court circle and dribbled for 20 seconds every possession.... then started the weave at the top of the key and then we turned it over or had to take forced/rushed shots.

Rob still isn't seeing the open guys in time... and he made some incredibly acrobatic shots that could have been easy passes to open guys.

Fitzner has to be ready to shoot when he catches the ball... he is not good off the dribble or the step back, he is all catch and shoot so that is what he needs to do.

Romeo on the other hand needs to continue to be aggressive with the ball in his hands and not necessarily take the catch and shoot shot, it doesn't look right when he shoots off the catch as if he doesn't have the rhythm.

Morgan needs to keep doing what he is doing except the fouls.

Smith just needs to be planted on the bench... his rebounds were big this game but I scream at him everytime he touches the ball it seems.

I really feel like the only reason Clifton played was because he is from PA and maybe possibly had family at the game? He showed some potential though so it would be good to see more of him and Jake.

Durham can be added to our "Dawg" list!

McRoberts missed his only shot so badly I immediately commented to my wife that he won't take another shot for 3 games... then he passed up some open shots later in the game... he has absolutely NO CONFIDENCE in his shot.

[mdn82 25,510]

 
Government Cheese...IS THAT YOU?
 

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[Old Friend 8,389]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

 

The offense isn't great right now - true.

But, let me give you the positive spin on that. Last year we improved dramatically on offense by Jan/Feb with DeVonte Green and Josh Newkirk (yeesh) running the show, complemented by a very young and confused Smith and Durham, and with the extremely limited McSwain and Hartman in the big rotation. 

If those guys could 'get it' as the year progressed, then Phin and Romeo absolutely will. That, and as you said, a sophomore Durham is an entirely different player than he was as a freshman.

 

I absolutely believe this will happen.  My statement was indeed intended as  "right now."  

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

McRoberts unwillingness to shoot was why many including myself were worried about him potentially being a starter during the offseason. If he’s not confident and then you throw Smith in at the same time, you’re essentially playing 3-5 on offensive. Really hope McBob gets that confidence we saw before the injury back, his defense and hustle is way too valuable.


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[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,221]

49 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

This was a very complicated game, man.  You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's.  And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man.  Lotta strands in old Duder's head.  Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

Hey gang, it's Bill Walton!

[BGVille Hoosierfan 2,909]

How about that crowd last night???


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[coonhounds 8,855]

McRoberts unwillingness to shoot was why many including myself were worried about him potentially being a starter during the offseason. If he’s not confident and then you throw Smith in at the same time, you’re essentially playing 3-5 on offensive. Really hope McBob gets that confidence we saw before the injury back, his defense and hustle is way too valuable.


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That three he attempted wont help his confidence it was ugly

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[ebridges24 2,425]

37 minutes ago, jbell833 said:

How about that crowd last night???


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SRO

[Stuhoo 79,929]

1 hour ago, ebridges24 said:

  1 hour ago, jbell833 said:

How about that crowd last night???

SRO

 

SRO = "Seats Rarely Occupied?"

 

[Bailey7878 2,506]

Rewatching game at 2am (18 month old teething). Fitzner had a terrible ending to the game
Missed 3
Next possession missed layup
He had Romeo wide open for a layup but mishandles the ball and ends up getting fouled
Misses front end of 1 and 1
After miss could of got called for a foul going after the miss (surprised they didn’t call it on the road)


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Fitzner was pumped up way too much from some on here. Hw is simply not that good and i expect his minutes to decrease

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[JustWinWoody 3,385]

2 minutes ago, Bailey7878 said:

Fitzner was pumped up way too much from some on here. Hw is simply not that good and i expect his minutes to decrease

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I respectfully disagree.  He can shoot the lights out when he is "on" and we will need him this season.  He will get it going, his stroke is too good not to, IMO.  

[Bailey7878 2,506]

I respectfully disagree.  He can shoot the lights out when he is "on" and we will need him this season.  He will get it going, his stroke is too good not to, IMO.  

Yes he can shoot but his defense is horrible. Obviously I am not high on him.

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[Hovadipo 55,359]

3 hours ago, JSHoosier said:

Green gave IU a spark in the first half and PSU a spark in the second.  Relying on him for big minutes is playing with fire because of his sub-zero basketball IQ.  It's why I have never been a fan.

Maybe he got away with it on playgrounds in New York but it doesn't work at this level.

Is there any proof that he played on the playgrounds of New York or is this just a generalization because he’s from there?