*RANT HERE*

[JSHoosier 20,281]

4 minutes ago, IUCrazy2 said:

I don't know, I think he would have stunted JHS's growth.  And based on last night, XJ still has quite a bit of stupid in the tank.

And he very well could've turned it over 7 times by himself.

He was ejected with 13 to go yesterday and already had 5 turnovers.

[Home Jersey 7,717]

This year I've adopted Princeton as a "second" team since it's basically the best basketball in the state (pretty sad for RU and SHU). 

The way they move the ball is BEAUTIFUL. The way the players communicate amongst themselves - not just on D, but on the bench and during TOs. Their seniors get on the younger guys a$$ for taking a bad shot or throwing the ball away. Every possession is valued. 

There is coaching constantly happening on the bench. Mitch Henderson will spot a guy ball watching, walk down the bench and often say something like "Xaivian is ball watching, his man cuts baseline and the backdoor is open every time. Make sure you check him/get a hand in the passing lane" etc. Every time a bad shot happens (which is very rarely) as in too early in the offense, not your kind of shot, etc... the assistants are asking the kids on the bench "tell me what you just saw happen" or "what should so-and-so have done on that instead?" And when the kids come out, Mitch always talks to them. Always. Sometimes it's a few words and a pat on the butt, usually it's about 10-15 seconds, which is actually a lot of time for a coach to give you a point of emphasis/guidance, etc. The players are always hyping each other up going into halftime... always bring the energy... players go into the locker room first while the coaches have a huddle for a couple minutes and look at the stat sheet/talk about what needs to happen. I've just not seen any of that at the IU games I've been at. We don't feel connected as a team and maybe I'm overanalyzing it but Woody was pissed alllll night. Even early on. The tension that the staff was feeling last night was palpable, to be honest. And the kids didn't look like they were up to the challenge/bought in to the system.

Princeton's gym is super small and basketball fans from all over NJ are going to PU games now because it's a GREAT product on the court. If you're a basketball junkie, you can actually hear a lot of what the benches are saying... I've seen a few HS coaches sitting in the first row scribbling on a notepad. It just sucks that I'm confident Princeton would beat IU this year with a roster full of future investment bankers, doctors and lawyers lol. 

[hper50 1,225]

3 hours ago, Henryville Hoosier said:

They thought they had Brad Stevens and when he said no thanks, they went scramble mode and hired Woodson. IMO

I don't doubt this at all, and know @Chris007 has said the same multiple times, but if we didn't have a solid backup plan in case the HEAD COACH OF THE BOSTON CELTICS changed his mind about returing to a COLLEGE PROGRAM. that is absolutely insane to me. 

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,438]

I want to like these guys.  I want to love our team.  But it’s hard to do that with a poor team executing so terribly.  Its instinct to place blame. And EVERYONE DESERVES IT!  I don’t know what’s going on with this group but things just aren’t jiving.   Galloway’s shooting ability/confidence is some of the worst I’ve seen from a SG at the level of the BIG.  Being a 50% free throw shooter on a large sample is baffling.  
 

It’s such a frustrating and hard to watch team besides the alley oops to Ware and a lot  of the work from Reneau.   Mgbako is now missing free throws and making silly unfocused plays.  
 

I think we do have some great dudes on this team personally, but the on the court stuff is as bad as I’ve seen.  

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,691]

53 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

The morning of Sunday, January 14, 2023 we were 1-4 in conference and 10-6 overall.

We beat Wisconsin that day to start an in-conference streak in which we won eight out of nine.

Just because we did it last year does not mean we will this year, but there is recent precedence for that possibility.

TJD went on an absolute tear on the streak too that was pretty wild and was putting him the medias NPOY talk.

[Kentuckysucks 2,265]

Just now, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

TJD went on an absolute tear on the streak too that was pretty wild and was putting him the medias NPOY talk.

And we also had Race, Kopp, and an elite guard in JHS.  We don't have that talent or leadership this season.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,691]

55 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

The morning of Sunday, January 14, 2023 we were 1-4 in conference and 10-6 overall.

We beat Wisconsin that day to start an in-conference streak in which we won eight out of nine.

Just because we did it last year does not mean we will this year, but there is recent precedence for that possibility.

TJD through those 9 games was averaging...

24.2 points

13.7 rebounds

3.7 assists

3.3 blocks

Had 2 games of 20+ rebounds as well.

[Stuhoo 81,074]

Just now, Kentuckysucks said:

And we also had Race, Kopp, and an elite guard in JHS.  We don't have that talent or leadership this season.

When we were 1-4 in conference pretty much no one thought that having Race or Milley K was a positive, nor did they yet think that JHS was an elite college guard.

That having been said, Trayce put last year's team on his back, both on the court and from a leadership standpoint.

[IU_FanClub 1,680]

I don't think it is hyperbole to say the entire season boils down to the next 2 games and really the Purdue game. 2-0 in the next two keeps you alive. You drop one of them with @Wisconsin and @Illinois coming up and we're dead. Go into those games at 13-5 (5-2) with a Q1 under the belt and a rivalry win and you at least have afforded yourself those two upcoming losses.

[Stuhoo 81,074]

4 minutes ago, IU_FanClub said:

I don't think it is hyperbole to say the entire season boils down to the next 2 games and really the Purdue game. 2-0 in the next two keeps you alive. You drop one of them with @Wisconsin and @Illinois coming up and we're dead. Go into those games at 13-5 (5-2) with a Q1 under the belt and a rivalry win and you at least have afforded yourself those two upcoming losses.

I think that's hyperbole. If we beat Minny, lost to Purdue, and won one of the next two we would be squarely in the hunt for a tourney bid.

Now, if we lose at home to Minnesota? That would be a grim sign that we're starting to play sad and those three super-tough games become season enders if we tank them.

[realTomCrean 1,540]

Scheduling helped IU this year. Jan 20-26 (1 week) off, Feb 11-17 (1 week) off, and Feb 28-March 2nd off (4 days). Maybe that's normal for B1G, but unfamiliar to me as an avid fan. I don't remember IU getting 2 significant breaks in conference before.

Edit: My wife is due on 14 Feb so kudos to the schedulers working for me 

[IU_FanClub 1,680]

2 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I think that's hyperbole. If we beat Minny, lost to Purdue, and won one of the next two we would be squarely in the hunt for a tourney bid.

Now, if we lose at home to Minnesota? That would be a grim sign that we're starting to play sad and those three super-tough games become season enders if we tank them.

Yeah in that situation you're right however I am counting pretty much every road game left as an auto loss except maybe Maryland, Minnesota, and PSU and I don't feel confident in those ones either

[Stuhoo 81,074]

2 minutes ago, IU_FanClub said:

Yeah in that situation you're right however I am counting pretty much every road game left as an auto loss except maybe Maryland, Minnesota, and PSU and I don't feel confident in those ones either

Well sheeeet ...if we won those three 'easier' road games we'd be in a great position to win at least 11 conference games, and we'd likely be in. But as you correctly say, confidence in us winning any road games is at a season low based on what we saw the other night.

[IU_FanClub 1,680]

Just now, Stuhoo said:

Well sheeeet ...if we won those three 'easier' road games we'd be in a great position to win at least 11 conference games, and we'd likely be in. But as you correctly say, confidence in us winning any road games is at a season low based on what we saw the other night.

Also just trying to hype myself up for the next two games haha. I hate feeling like the season is over after every loss but each loss we find new and painful ways to make it seem like it.

[Hoosier DaDa 2,501]

5 hours ago, Chris007 said:

He has that look like should I crap my pants or walk to the restroom

I think decision was already made.  There is crap in his pants. 

[JSHoosier 20,281]

6 hours ago, Chris007 said:

He has that look like should I crap my pants or walk to the restroom

Then decided it was too far to walk and let it rip.

[HoosierHoopster 7,042]

One day at a time. Not getting too worked up, or too elated, about any W or L so far. I do think the team will shape up better down the stretch.

Next 4 are home games ag Minny and PU, away games @ Wisc and Illinois. Yes, we will beat Minny at home. And as the students will be going nuts and the team will be hyped, we can beat PU at home. We're losing those away games. Either 1-3 or 2-2. I'm going with 2-2.

Next 2 are home ag Iowa and PSU. We'll go at least 1-1. I think we win both, but either of those teams can get hot from outside, we'll see.

Next 2 at OSU, at PU. Probably both L's. OSU, maybe but doubt it (we did win there last year, though.)

Next 2 at home ag NW and Nebraska. At least 1-1, need to get up for NW.

Next 2 at PSU, Wisc at home. I'll say 1-1, seems like we lose at PSU just like we lose at Rutger.

Next 2 at MD, at Minn. 1-1 just because they're road games. Hate, hate the Barn.

Then a W at home against MSU.

Add these up, we're a tourney team if it plays out.

[OliviaPope40 6,532]

Someone help me out here I take it X can not play the next game am I reading the room right.

[Golfman25 5,480]

2 hours ago, Banksyrules said:

Honestly all the coaches that were let go all had the same problem (except Sampson). They were all too stubborn to change tactics. Seems too common with most coaches but it would be nice to have a coach  to think that hey our plan is not working, let's change it up. 

That is the ultimate characteristic of long term successful coaches.  very few and far between.  

[TheWatShot 14,056]

3 minutes ago, Ngw7183 said:

Am I wrong in remembering that many were also calling those same players including TJD lazy, didn’t care, etc at that same time? Wasn’t that the same week that the fan wrote the letter to TJD calling him soft? Maybe not.

I agree, easy to look back and say… but we had XYZ… didn’t feel that way then.

I think the fan letter was written after we blew that big lead and lost at Iowa. That was followed up by a home loss to Northwestern where they kicked our tails all afternoon and we hit a bunch of cosmetic threes late to lose by one. Then came the debacle at PSU, and a Fire Mike Woodson thread was born (don't bother looking for it; the title was changed after we got back on track). The fan behavior on this board was flat out shameful during that week. Endless bickering about how much the players didn't care, everybody sucked, administration was happy being irrelevant, anyone who wasn't pissed didn't expect enough, etc. I remember saying that if people were that unhappy with the effort level of 18-22 year olds playing a game, then maybe they needed to get out more. Didn't go over very well. lol