IU Basketball News and Notes

[Chris007]

35 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

...That we would be be better this year --- through 10 games, I'd add. 

The shortcomings of personnel/roster have been covered in full. Get XJ back healthy and, despite the fact they didn't help themselves in the non-con, this team still could end up doing better than last year's in terms of B10 standings/tournament finish. I'm sure that is a hot/homer take to some but I'm just not willing to speak definitively about any team after 10 games, especially not one like ours where they are new and gelling together. If we don't blow out these next three teams I'll be more concerned, but not hugely. 

You sunshine pumper you. Come on we need more doom and gloom. More grinch and less Santa

[LIHoosier]

1 hour ago, Golfman25 said:

Unless he's insane, he's staying.  He hasn't shown near enough to be NBA material, imo.  He's not a jump out of the gym athlete -- so "potential" isn't there as much.  And right now, his results are really freshmanie.  Maybe he breaks out big in the second half of the season.   

In the days before NIL, I'd be afraid he'd leave anyway. But nowadays unless you're a surefire first rounder, there should be enough NIL for Mgbako to stay. Besides being a foul magnet, Reneau for example has made a nice jump from freshman to soph-o-more.

[Chris007]

21 minutes ago, LIHoosier said:

In the days before NIL, I'd be afraid he'd leave anyway. But nowadays unless you're a surefire first rounder, there should be enough NIL for Mgbako to stay. Besides being a foul magnet, Reneau for example has made a nice jump from freshman to soph-o-more.

Reneau still fouls too much. I think some of it is he has that reputation as a fouling machine. But he has gotten much better

[Golfman25]

3 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

Reneau still fouls too much. I think some of it is he has that reputation as a fouling machine. But he has gotten much better

They give you 5 for crying out loud.  Use them or loose them I always say.  :)    

[Golfman25]

1 hour ago, Hardwood83 said:

I agree with you, but wouldn't the same have been applicable to JHS through 10 games last season? Not saying MM is JHS, but it is possible. 

Yes but I think JHS is a better athlete and can be drafted on potential.  He certainly turned it on after X got hurt and was impressive with how quickly he picked it up.  MM on the other hand looked like he never played basketball the first few weeks.  Coming along now though.  

[go iu bb]

2 hours ago, Hardwood83 said:

I agree with you, but wouldn't the same have been applicable to JHS through 10 games last season? Not saying MM is JHS, but it is possible. 

JHS was already on the radar by this point in the season. He really impressed a lot of scouts at the the Pro Day. This year it was pretty quiet after that so I'm guessing MM didn't do as well.

[BannerVille]

11 hours ago, Ngw7183 said:

I would argue you and most that feel like you have just as many “ifs” in your stance. You assume and project failure in spring recruiting, portal work, X coming back, how we were going to get pounded by 25+ against Kansas, etc etc. 

You don’t win by being the most pessimistic or assuming negative on all fronts. Logic says Woody and staff have shown enough that this thing is trending very positive and you don’t have to some lowered expectations to see it. 

There is one main issue. If X wasn’t hurt last year, we would have been even better. JHS would be back and we would have more easily landed a portal PG with guaranteed role (JHS as 2 and Trey on bench). If he isn’t hurt this year, Auburn for sure is much closer at minimum and Kansas is probably a win. 

So yes, we should have a better roster. Big miss but also easier said than done when all the better guys didn’t want to compete with X. That is reality. However, Woody and staff need to own that and I am sure they do. 

Here is the punch line though, we are acting like we are sooo far away. Should already have been to a final four. We never will be again at this rate, etc. When in reality, X not getting hurt twice has changed everything or we are way better in both years. That isn’t a program that is a mess and destined to mediocrity like it is being portrayed. Logic says it is closer to back on track than flaming out. 

Why do so many talk like X is this superstar who fixes all the problems?  He had a good stretch of games in March 2022 and it would be great to have that guy again, but he hasn't been around even when healthy.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Last night on his Monday night radio gig with Fisch --   Mike Woodson says Xavier Johnson is 'still going to be out' -- but doesn't know how long. Is now on the stationary bike but not doing any on the court activity.

IMO, he won't be back until January.

[Hornsby]

Last night on his Monday night radio gig with Fisch --   Mike Woodson says Xavier Johnson is 'still going to be out' -- but doesn't know how long. Is now on the stationary bike but not doing any on the court activity.
IMO, he won't be back until January.

Could be an issue all season it appears

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[IUFAN1976]

2 hours ago, Hornsby said:

Could be an issue all season it appears

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I was afraid of that!  I assume it’s the same foot that he broke last year, am I correct?

Here is what Mike Woodson should do when X returns:

X comes off the bench for 3-4 minute intervals twice per half just to give Trey and Cupps a break.  And this is done until he is either 100% healed or you milk it that way the rest of the season.  We need him for that 3 guard rotation because all the other guards suck!   

[Rico]

14 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

I was afraid of that!  I assume it’s the same foot that he broke last year, am I correct?

Here is what Mike Woodson should do when X returns:

X comes off the bench for 3-4 minute intervals twice per half just to give Trey and Cupps a break.  And this is done until he is either 100% healed or you milk it that way the rest of the season.  We need him for that 3 guard rotation because all the other guards suck!   

Yep.  Right now X is critical for depth.

[TheWatShot]

I kind of figured X was going to be a problem all year after the second (or maybe it was the third) time that he went down grabbing his foot and had to be helped off the court. Sadly, I think it's going to be a mental hurdle that he just isn't likely to clear. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Where's our math majors?  X is the unknown factor.  Solve for X.

[go iu bb]

29 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Where's our math majors?  X is the unknown factor.  Solve for X.

X=ln(sqrt(42.3))/5

[Demo]

34 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Where's our math majors?  X is the unknown factor.  Solve for X.

IUBB -X = NIT

But, I was most assuredly not a math major.

[thebigweave]

Find this exchange interesting regarding X..

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[WayneFleekHoosier]

Find this exchange interesting regarding X.. 

 

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[/quote Hmm. Kinda odd. Just play Leal more and give him the green light. Lol. [/url]

 

[HoosierHoopster]

33 minutes ago, thebigweave said:

Find this exchange interesting regarding X..
 

 

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Sounds like Woody’s ribbing him  :)

[J34]

[J34]