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Posted
2 minutes ago, Henryville Hoosier said:

I wish Leal could gets some of those minutes, unless he’s hurt. 

I too wish Leal had gotten more playing time this year, although he has been hurt some of this season. Woodson gave Gunn minutes Leal might have gotten early on in the season.  But Gunn while athletic has been a poor shooter this year. I don't think you put Leal in the game in a critical situation like Michigan after not having played much this season. After Indiana started the conference season out so poorly, Woodson tightened the rotation and IU's record improved.

Posted
1 hour ago, Honkyman said:

If not Bates, who does Woodson go with? CJ Gunn who is shooting 8.3% from 3-point range? If not Kopp, who does Woodson go with? He has been using Banks to spell Kopp but Banks has not been particularly reliable. On the one hand, critics complain that Indiana has no bench. On the other, critics complain that Woodson goes with the most experienced players. The fact is among guards--after JHS who is a freshman and Galloway, there is no player other than Bates who could have reasonably filled in for Galloway when Galloway fouled out in the Michigan game. And, the decision proved to be the right one as Bates hit two critical 3-point shots. It is easy to complain about playing certain players but you have to consider the alternative.

You're missing the point. I'm not saying there was a better frosh guard to go with, I quoted it as a reflection of his mindset -- he virtually always goes with experience over talent, he came in starting the God awful Stewart/Kopp combo all season and he's continued. This isn't about "Bates." There have been multiple games where either Malik or JG were playing hands down better than Race and/or matched up better, but he/staff just roll out Race to start even injured. It's not about "critics" it's about the need he feels to play experience. And that was probably in part built in the League.

Posted
10 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

ou're missing the point.

Not missing the point. I'm disputing it. You cited Woodson's comment about playing Bates because he is senior (i.e., more experienced) than other alternatives. So your example was about Bates. As for Stewart/Kopp, there weren't great alternatives last season and they were the only two players with decent 3-point shooting numbers (Xavier Johnson came on strong with his 3-point shooting at the very end of the year).  Your point about Race Thompson is debatable. Malik Reneau has played like a freshman as much as not (though he has played well at times) and Jordan Geronimo has a tendency to disappear in games. Malik averages 15 minutes a game and Geronimo 13. Race is averaging 22 minutes a game. Everyone is getting minutes and everyone has had an opportunity to  contribute. Thompson has contributed more. But Woodson tends to pull Malik and Geronimo when their play is costing IU. And, he leaves them in when their play is helping.

Posted
2 hours ago, Honkyman said:

Not missing the point. I'm disputing it. You cited Woodson's comment about playing Bates because he is senior (i.e., more experienced) than other alternatives. So your example was about Bates. As for Stewart/Kopp, there weren't great alternatives last season and they were the only two players with decent 3-point shooting numbers (Xavier Johnson came on strong with his 3-point shooting at the very end of the year).  Your point about Race Thompson is debatable. Malik Reneau has played like a freshman as much as not (though he has played well at times) and Jordan Geronimo has a tendency to disappear in games. Malik averages 15 minutes a game and Geronimo 13. Race is averaging 22 minutes a game. Everyone is getting minutes and everyone has had an opportunity to  contribute. Thompson has contributed more. But Woodson tends to pull Malik and Geronimo when their play is costing IU. And, he leaves them in when their play is helping.

No, read my post closer. Here's exactly what I said: "This statement was about why he went with Bates over a freshman, but it’s a direct statement of what he’s been doing since he started, he favors veterans, to a fault." I then went on specifically talking about Woodson's starting/playing Stewart/Kopp, and Race. I nowhere talked about why he should or shouldn't play Bates.

Re Stewart/Kopp, we can disagree on that pick. Stewart? He was horrible, all year. He accomplished nothing, zero, all year, but started anyway. He was a defensive liability, all year, and did nothing offensively. With Bates on the bench at the time there was the ability to develop him -- and we've seen, this year, how Galloway's 3-point shooting has developed. He could have played that role, he could have been developed into it last year, but he wasn't. The idea that because Stewart in theory could shoot 3's along with Kopp they would create spacing was a total bust -- we shot by numbers at the very bottom of the B1G, the bottom -- having both out there all season did not create space, and it certainly didn't add scoring. What became obvious is that it was because they were experienced, vets, not because they contributed, that drove their repeated unsuccessful starts. This isn't me being some kind of 'critic,' it's just what it is.

The Race discussion is debatable, agreed -- my opinions here are clear, yours and others on Race are fair, though I disagree, I don't mean to indicate otherwise. My main beef has been how Race was immediately re-inserted into his starting role despite that he was -- CLEARLY -- hobbled, playing poorly, getting beat defensively, and not scoring, while clogging the lane because he pulls a defender in when TJD is looking to drive to the hoop. JG and Malik were playing really well, we scored better with them (I don't think that's debatable) when Race was out after the Woodson sit down with JG, we were firing on all cylinders, we scored the best we have all year and destroyed Illinois at Illinois. Then Race is just re-inserted. That's over-reliance on experience, while ignoring what happened when he was out, and the impact of his playing under 100%. But then JG got injured, and yes, he's been up and down and not consistent -- but on that, he was consistent when starting after Woodson had the sit down talk with him, that's when our run began, he hasn't been off the bench. With Malik, he's been gaining and gaining as he learns to avoid fouling (he's been much better), I think just about everyone sees how good he'll be and how good he is at times, much higher ceiling than Race. Woodson/Staff have been gaining confidence in him, at least, but I'd like to see him play more -- and when Race isn't doing well, he should be pulled the same way staff pulls JG the second he makes a mistake.

Posted
18 hours ago, HoosierHoopster said:

No, read my post closer.

I read your post quite carefully the first time. You used Bates as your starting off point. Perhaps, you wish you hadn't started with Bates, but you did. The bottom line is it only makes sense for Woodson to not go with the more "senior" player if there is someone less senior who is playing better. Case-in-point--Jalen Hood-Schifino, who is a freshman. And, the first player off the the bench this season is another freshman--Malik Reneau.  Your problem isn't that I missed your point. It is that your argument doesn't hold up.

Posted
3 hours ago, Honkyman said:

I read your post quite carefully the first time. You used Bates as your starting off point. Perhaps, you wish you hadn't started with Bates, but you did. The bottom line is it only makes sense for Woodson to not go with the more "senior" player if there is someone less senior who is playing better. Case-in-point--Jalen Hood-Schifino, who is a freshman. And, the first player off the the bench this season is another freshman--Malik Reneau.  Your problem isn't that I missed your point. It is that your argument doesn't hold up.

Good grief you lack basic reading comprehension. Your inability to admit you misread my post is just weak. Just stop and move on

Posted
On 3/7/2023 at 6:29 AM, Honkyman said:

If not Bates, who does Woodson go with? CJ Gunn who is shooting 8.3% from 3-point range? If not Kopp, who does Woodson go with? He has been using Banks to spell Kopp but Banks has not been particularly reliable. On the one hand, critics complain that Indiana has no bench. On the other, critics complain that Woodson goes with the most experienced players. The fact is among guards--after JHS who is a freshman and Galloway, there is no player other than Bates who could have reasonably filled in for Galloway when Galloway fouled out in the Michigan game. And, the decision proved to be the right one as Bates hit two critical 3-point shots. It is easy to complain about playing certain players but you have to consider the alternative.

FWIW, Anthony Leal is a junior and Bates is a sophomore…..so he isn’t just picking on who’s been around longer.

Posted

Anyone know if there are designated sections for IU fans at the United Center for Friday night?  Looking to go with some friends and ideally be sitting around other IU fans.  I didn't see anything on the IU website about being able to order through them, looks like just some left on ticketmaster in the upper deck and then the rest available through stubhub.

Posted

Headed to Melbourne Beach FL, then south...Hollywood FL, Key West...2 weeks plus.

Will likely hit Hell N Blazes Brewery (and sports bar) in Melbourne for the Friday game.

Tonight, since I graduated from Wisconsin and IU,  and I live in Ohio now...I will be cheering for...both teams, UW and OSU to beat each other up... 

I would rather see UW win tonight.  But wouldn't mind at all if both teams lose.

Posted
6 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

FWIW, Anthony Leal is a junior and Bates is a sophomore…..so he isn’t just picking on who’s been around longer.

In fairness Leal doesn’t play at all, that’s apples and oranges 

Posted
4 hours ago, Dave from Dayton said:

Headed to Melbourne Beach FL, then south...Hollywood FL, Key West...2 weeks plus.

Will likely hit Hell N Blazes Brewery (and sports bar) in Melbourne for the Friday game.

Tonight, since I graduated from Wisconsin and IU,  and I live in Ohio now...I will be cheering for...both teams, UW and OSU to beat each other up... 

I would rather see UW win tonight.  But wouldn't mind at all if both teams lose.

I would guess Gard is one more mediocre season from getting the boot. New regime in Madison. They fired their much more successful football coach for stumbling. 

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