(C) Kel 'el Ware - COMMITTED TO INDIANA

[OGIUAndy 771]

2 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Woody on what he’s saying to Kel el Ware during summer practices:

“I’m constantly…when I’m on him, I’m like ‘This ain’t Oregon.’…You wanna be a basketball player and you chose to play for Coach Woodson and his staff? There’s a different degree of work and how hard you’re willing to play that we demand. And, early on I wasn’t seeing it but as of late? He’s playing pretty good.”

This was the knock on him at Oregon. So I hope he buys in. 

[yogisballin 2,376]

7 hours ago, OGIUAndy said:

This was the knock on him at Oregon. So I hope he buys in. 

Hell yes! Hopefully we see it on the court

[Demo 20,374]

10 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Woody on what he’s saying to Kel el Ware during summer practices:

“I’m constantly…when I’m on him, I’m like ‘This ain’t Oregon.’…You wanna be a basketball player and you chose to play for Coach Woodson and his staff? There’s a different degree of work and how hard you’re willing to play that we demand. And, early on I wasn’t seeing it but as of late? He’s playing pretty good.”

I really want to believe, but I gotta see it. This team’s ceiling is tied to this kid.

[Stuhoo 81,529]

6 hours ago, Demo said:

I really want to believe, but I gotta see it. This team’s ceiling is tied to this kid.

If you heard Woody say it, you'd have the same "I gotta see it" conclusion.

Woody is clearly aware of the issue and has been on him. Sounded like he was trying to give encouragement with the "playing pretty good" aside, but that it's going to be a work in progress. There were also a few Woody asides referencing that Ware has special talent, so that's good to hear.

[DChoosier 8,662]

Aside from a few questions, some of which are below, I am 100% certain about next years team :)

* Will Ware play like “freshman at Oregon” or highly touted recruit ?
* Is MR ready for a bigger role ?

* Is MM as good as advertised and quickly make an impact ?
* Can Trey be a more consistent offensive threat ?
* Is X fully recovered and will he make good decisions?
* Will the team mesh?
* Is the bench actually deep this year?

I believe that most, if not all, of the above questions will be answered in a positive way but who knows until the ball is rolled out.

[yogisballin 2,376]

10 hours ago, Demo said:

I really want to believe, but I gotta see it. This team’s ceiling is tied to this kid.

It really is. He and MM with MR being able to take on a bigger role without fouling. If he can’t then we have JS which is nice. I hope Newton and X are fully recovered by beginning of season. 

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 9,256]

13 hours ago, yogisballin said:

It really is. He and MM with MR being able to take on a bigger role without fouling. If he can’t then we have JS which is nice. I hope Newton and X are fully recovered by beginning of season. 

Ahhh there is absolutely no reason to worry about XJ! It was a broken bone! 

[Stuhoo 81,529]

Xavier has been full go in summer practices. He's fully healthy heading into the fall.

[go iu bb 6,277]

1 hour ago, btownqb said:

Ahhh there is absolutely no reason to worry about XJ! It was a broken bone! 

Yeah, I don't get all the hand-wringing so many have about his health.

Sure he missed most of last season but not because of complications or the seriousness of the injury but just because of the time it naturally takes to heal. He was close to coming back at the end of the season so no reason to think that he wouldn't be fully healed well before next season.

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,549]

38 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

Yeah, I don't get all the hand-wringing so many have about his health.

Sure he missed most of last season but not because of complications or the seriousness of the injury but just because of the time it naturally takes to heal. He was close to coming back at the end of the season so no reason to think that he wouldn't be fully healed well before next season.

He could have played the end of the season if that's what they decided.  They made a business decision to get him an extra year

[Demo 20,374]

 

[Stuhoo 81,529]

24 minutes ago, Demo said:

 

OhhOOOOOOOHHHHH boy.

[Hovadipo 56,552]

That is a freakish human being. 

[Stuhoo 81,529]

If Woody can get that motor running hot for most of the time he’s on the court? Look out we’re gonna be something this year.

Edit: Freeze that video at exactly the eight second mark. Basketball must be easier when your athleticism basically allows you to treat the rim like it's a Nerf hoop.

[Stromboli 6,076]

12 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

That is a freakish human being. 

That was my thought too! Dude has length like crazy, balance and coordination. Real easy to see the ranking. Nuts that we have his talent and we aren’t even relying on him to be a star. 

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,549]

3 hours ago, Stromboli said:

That was my thought too! Dude has length like crazy, balance and coordination. Real easy to see the ranking. Nuts that we have his talent and we aren’t even relying on him to be a star. 

That's the thing, this year I could see Mgbako, Reneau, and Ware all as major problems.  X is a bit of "x-factor" and Galloway is unheralded so I kinda get the disrespect to some degree but if a few of these guys pop this roster has some serious athleticism and talent.  I think our ceiling is way higher and obviously a little bit of a lower floor as we don't have a TJD to feed.  Some of the stuff I saw from Reneau last year has be quite confident though.  

[Stuhoo 81,529]

Just now, WayneFleekHoosier said:

That's the thing, this year I could see Mgbako, Reneau, and Ware all as major problems.  X is a bit of "x-factor" and Galloway is unheralded so I kinda get the disrespect to some degree but if a few of these guys pop this roster has some serious athleticism and talent.  I think our ceiling is way higher and obviously a little bit of a lower floor as we don't have a TJD to feed.  Some of the stuff I saw from Reneau last year has be quite confident though.  

I really, truly think that the one single player that the fanbase and media are sleeping on is...

Payton Sparks.

He may not be an NBA talent, but he's a great kid and an enforcer, screen setter, and at-the-rim-finisher that will be very much appreciated throughout the upcoming season.

[Stromboli 6,076]

26 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I really, truly think that the one single player that the fanbase and media are sleeping on is...

Payton Sparks.

He may not be an NBA talent, but he's a great kid and an enforcer, screen setter, and at-the-rim-finisher that will be very much appreciated throughout the upcoming season.

I don’t disagree. I think he’ll be a steadying force all season. 

[Demo 20,374]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

I really, truly think that the one single player that the fanbase and media are sleeping on is...

Payton Sparks.

He may not be an NBA talent, but he's a great kid and an enforcer, screen setter, and at-the-rim-finisher that will be very much appreciated throughout the upcoming season.

For sure. There won’t be many, maybe any, Big 10 teams who are able to roll a big off the bench with that frame and those feet with a couple of years of experience who can then guard the block 1 on 1 allowing Ware to lurk as a help defender like a freaking pterodactyl. Also, I’m looking forward to Xavier Booker trying to post up Sparks, Sparks jamming a forearm into his kidneys and driving him about 10 feet and Booker never stepping inside the 3 pt line again. That’s gonna happen.

[Stuhoo 81,529]

2 minutes ago, Demo said:

For sure. There won’t be many, maybe any, Big 10 teams who are able to roll a big off the bench with that frame and those feet with a couple of years of experience who can then guard the block 1 on 1 allowing Ware to lurk as a help defender like a freaking pterodactyl. Also, I’m looking forward to Xavier Booker trying to post up Sparks, Sparks jamming a forearm into his kidneys and driving him about 10 feet and Booker never stepping inside the 3 pt line again. That’s gonna happen.

That's never gonna happen.

Xavier Booker is never going to get anywhere near the lane on offense. It's too scary in there for his sensitive disposition.