IU Basketball News and Notes

[Dave from Dayton 3,926]

I concur with Demo's list.  I saw McGinnis my first year at IU at the old fieldhouse.  I wish that Coach Knight could have had him for a year.  Wilkerson was a gazelle.  A joy to watch.  Oladipo was a rocket.

I was enthralled by Zeke. Not only gifted physically...but he was superb in being a floor general. Everyone was better on the court because of him.  I remember Coach Knight yelling at him pre-freshman year.  Then in Zeke's 2nd year, Coach Knight just let Zeke command the team. 

1979 McDonald’s All-American

1980 USA Male Basketball Athlete of the Year

1981 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player

1981 Consensus First Team All-American

1981 NCAA Champion

Coach Knight called him Pee Wee.  If I had a choice of players year in and year out...I. Thomas would be the point guard. 

[LIHoosier 27,380]

2 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

Man, Goodman is connected ... 

Allegedly, his daughter follows IUBB on X.

[HoosierHoopster 7,727]

6 hours ago, Demo said:

Now you’ve done it. I’m at home with an uncooperative back so I have nothing better to do than think about this. It could go on for a minute. Off the top of my head and in order of when they played:

1) McGinnis- the anti-Perea. Not a great vertical athlete, but everything else was positively ahead of his time. Upper and lower body strength, 1st step quickness, long speed, change of direction, body control and 1 of the best sets of hands I’ve seen in basketball. If a basketball generation is 15 years, Mac may not have been a generation ahead, he might have been 2. At his peak he was Barkley at 6’8” instead of 6’4”. 
2) Wilkerson- In the mid-70’s 6’7” guys who were probably plus-6 or so with effortless change of direction and body control and legit 40 inch verts basically didn’t exist. As a defensive toolkit he was rare to the point of maybe unique for his time. In the F4 against UCLA he took Raymond Townsend, who was a really good college PG, and smothered that guy. 
3) Smart- probably some upper body stiffness and not great hands from being #1 on an IU list. Length, strength at his size, 1 and 2 foot explosiveness, speed end to end, 1st step, change of direction, all elite. 
4) Oladipo- that a 6’4” 205lb dude could beat literally any defender at all with his 1st step, I’ll never get over how easily he could do it. And then he just had the whole toolkit past that. His body breaking down was such a shame. 
 

SMH. How could you leave this guy out?

[HoosierHoopster 7,727]

Hard to list them in order bc different eras and all, but I'd include

Vic, hands down

Wilkerson

Smart

Troy - on pure athleticism

Sheehey

and just maybe OG. His injury his soph year ended things at IU but a guy who can guard literally anyone, block anyone, dunk on you, and outrun you down the floor merits consideration

 

[cthomas 6,564]

10 hours ago, Demo said:

Now you’ve done it. I’m at home with an uncooperative back so I have nothing better to do than think about this. It could go on for a minute. Off the top of my head and in order of when they played:

1) McGinnis- the anti-Perea. Not a great vertical athlete, but everything else was positively ahead of his time. Upper and lower body strength, 1st step quickness, long speed, change of direction, body control and 1 of the best sets of hands I’ve seen in basketball. If a basketball generation is 15 years, Mac may not have been a generation ahead, he might have been 2. At his peak he was Barkley at 6’8” instead of 6’4”. 
2) Wilkerson- In the mid-70’s 6’7” guys who were probably plus-6 or so with effortless change of direction and body control and legit 40 inch verts basically didn’t exist. As a defensive toolkit he was rare to the point of maybe unique for his time. In the F4 against UCLA he took Raymond Townsend, who was a really good college PG, and smothered that guy. 
3) Smart- probably some upper body stiffness and not great hands from being #1 on an IU list. Length, strength at his size, 1 and 2 foot explosiveness, speed end to end, 1st step, change of direction, all elite. 
4) Oladipo- that a 6’4” 205lb dude could beat literally any defender at all with his 1st step, I’ll never get over how easily he could do it. And then he just had the whole toolkit past that. His body breaking down was such a shame. 
 

It's been a really long time and I still marvel at the skill of McGinnis. You are absolutely right, probably two generations ahead of his time. And Wilkerson remains one of my all-time favorite Hoosiers. It's heartbreaking that he was not able to finish the championship game and celebrate with his teammates. He certainly earned it.

[Demo 22,027]

https://x.com/IndianaMBB/status/1798122197493703156
 

really looking forward to video clips

[Stuhoo 86,439]

12 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://x.com/IndianaMBB/status/1798122197493703156
 

really looking forward to video clips

Love for Coach:

[HoosierHoopster 7,727]

30 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://x.com/IndianaMBB/status/1798122197493703156
 

really looking forward to video clips

Look at those arms. One thing for sure, this team won’t get pushed around. 

[Demo 22,027]

21 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Love for Coach:

When I saw that pic my first thought was what the hell is Rob Phinisee doing at a June workout? 

[Stuhoo 86,439]

3 minutes ago, Demo said:

When I saw that pic my first thought was what the hell is Rob Phinisee doing at a June workout? 

[Hovadipo 60,231]

8 minutes ago, Demo said:

When I saw that pic my first thought was what the hell is Rob Phinisee doing at a June workout? 

I spent a couple minutes trying to figure out why a bunch of dudes he didn't play with were hugging him and just moved on. It wasn't until right now that I realized it was Myles lol. The portal era is hard.

[IUc2016 7,121]

14 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

I spent a couple minutes trying to figure out why a bunch of dudes he didn't play with were hugging him and just moved on. It wasn't until right now that I realized it was Myles lol. The portal era is hard.

Definitely not hard to spot Goode's bright red hair in that pic though lol

[Stuhoo 86,439]

On 6/5/2024 at 9:09 AM, Stuhoo said:

Love for Coach:

Love for Coach isn't just a photo; it's also a short video.

Myles Rice is a personality for sure:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C72Dvj8Pt3a/?hl=en

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,146]

All 12 scholarship players are now on campus.  Stanford's on a quarter system and that's what delayed Carlyle's arrival.

[Demo 22,027]

https://x.com/ClifMarshall/status/1800236861064892852
 

As depressing as being a physically breaking down old dude sometimes is, pretty sure trying this one would just lead to a stroll into traffic.

[Stuhoo 86,439]

20 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://x.com/ClifMarshall/status/1800236861064892852
 

As depressing as being a physically breaking down old dude sometimes is, pretty sure trying this one would just lead to a stroll into traffic.

 

#TommyCreanDeflectionEnhancementDevice

 

[ElectricBoogaloo 4,307]

Looks like tweet was deleted. What was it?

[Stuhoo 86,439]

51 minutes ago, ElectricBoogaloo said:

Looks like tweet was deleted. What was it?

Myles Rice in the gym using some kind of new age 'hit the flashing light pad' device with comment that it improves deflection timing and ability.

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 88,146]

Peacock TV subscription offer

https://www.insidethehall.com/2024/06/11/sign-up-for-peacocks-19-99-annual-deal-to-save-on-watching-iu-basketball-games-next-season/

[8bucks 7,125]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Myles Rice in the gym using some kind of new age 'hit the flashing light pad' device with comment that it improves deflection timing and ability.

 

I used to be pretty good at whack-a-mole.  I am sure I would have aced this