Who would you choose to have a GREAT season?

[Hardwood83]

If you could choose one player to have a great (not good- great) season, who would it be? Who has the most influence on team success? 

I'm going with Trey. If he has a great year and everyone else is just solid- what they are supposed to be- then IU will be very good. So what is 'great' for Trey? I'd say about doubling last year's numbers. 

32mpg, 48.5%FG, 45% 3pt (on higher volume) 75% FT 5.5 Reb, 3-1 Asst to TO & 13.5ppg all while playing above average defense. 

An argument can be made instead forJohnson, Mgbako & Ware for certain too. Who is your choice and why? 

[Parakeet Jones]

I lean toward X because I think we will go as he goes. 

[Demo]

Reneau. Expecting something near 15 and 8 on solid efficiency. Will be pretty surprised if he’s not the 1st option in the half court.

 

[go iu bb]

Either Ware or Mgbako. They have the highest ceilings so for them a great season would be much better than and more impactful than anyone else on the team. On top of that, it would vault that player up the draft boards which would only help IU in future recruiting.

Between those two, I think Mgbako is the more likely to have a great season.

[Stuhoo]

CJ Gunn.

Because if all of the others meet expectations and Gunn goes nuts we’re a crazy good team.

[J34]

A healthy sixth year point guard, coming off of injury.  X is the "X" factor.

[Dave from Dayton]

It would have to be a guard that can distribute and make things happen.  Is that X?  Is that Gunn as backup?  Is it Trey?  

It has to be X.  He is the experienced PG that really has to excel. He is the starter.  He has to get the ball across the line.  He has to keep things moving to beat the clock.  He has to have one step on the defender.  He has to make everyone else look good.  It would be a plus if he could hit some.  And free throws will also be a key.  He has to take the other side's PG and put the whammy on him. He has to keep his cool.  He cannot get injured for significant stretches. 

There are lots of parts, and lots of keys.  But the PG has to be really, really good.  And he is an upperclassman.  

Make it so.

 

[Hovadipo]

If Kel’el Ware has a great year, he’s gonna be a top-5 (3? 1?) draft pick and that’s good for this year and a lot of other years.

 

Love this topic. Not sure if there’s a wrong answer. 

[HoosierHoopster]

I honestly have no idea at this point. Just too early for me with the unknowns of several new players and the possibilities they bring. 
No idea - but if I go out on a limb and have to pick, would probably go w/Bako. I love upside and his looks off the charts to me. Looking forward to seeing all of these guys show.

[Scotty R]

If Ware has a great year then IU will have a very good team

[IUFAN1976]

The entire team!!!

Individual:  X, MM & Ware

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Ware.  He has a lot to prove.

[str8baller]

3 hours ago, J34 said:

A healthy sixth year point guard, coming off of injury.  X is the "X" factor.

I think this is where I land. I’ve been critical of him but I truly think Woodson has been good for him. He has a chance to be a first or second team all conference type guy. 
 

Second choice: Reneau. Third: Mbakoa (sp?)

[HoosierCoop]

I think it is a must that we send at least one player in the first round.  Whether it be Ware, MM, etc.  That would mean that one or some had a great year, coaches did their thing and scouts have done their diligence.  It's a crucial step in recruiting to keep this trend up every year.

[hoosierbgh]

Ware. If he is great relative to his talent level then he single handedly raises both the floor and ceiling for this team. His playing great also increases the versatility of this team and likely cures most if not all personnel fit issues. 

Although college bball is a guard's game, X doesn't have to play great, he just has to play solid for IU to be very good. 

Same with TG.

Both MR and MM being good will raise the team's floor but I'm not sure either one of them being great moves the ceiling nearly as much as Ware being great would. 

[8bucks]

10 minutes ago, hoosierbgh said:

Ware. If he is great relative to his talent level then he single handedly raises both the floor and ceiling for this team. His playing great also increases the versatility of this team and likely cures most if not all personnel fit issues. 

Although college bball is a guard's game, X doesn't have to play great, he just has to play solid for IU to be very good. 

Same with TG.

Both MR and MM being good will raise the team's floor but I'm not sure either one of them being great moves the ceiling nearly as much as Ware being great would. 

X seems to be a slow starter for some reason.  Year 1 with us he came on strong at the end but then again last year he got off to a slow start.  Hopefully he does not try to do too much and can avoid the slow start again this year.  

[hoosierbgh]

11 minutes ago, 8bucks said:

X seems to be a slow starter for some reason.  Year 1 with us he came on strong at the end but then again last year he got off to a slow start.  Hopefully he does not try to do too much and can avoid the slow start again this year.  

Yes, I think the not trying to do too much thing is key for X. 

[Ryno6284]

If Ware has a great season, a lot of credit should go to Sparks for pushing him during practice!  If Woody can unlock Ware’s potential…..fun year ahead!

[fwgreenway]

45 minutes ago, Ryno6284 said:

If Ware has a great season, a lot of credit should go to Sparks for pushing him during practice!  If Woody can unlock Ware’s potential…..fun year ahead!

I think it will be quite interesting if Sparks is the one to have a 'great' season. What will that mean for the the rest of the front line players? Not sure. Might elevate their play or maybe they fall a bit short of their ceilings?

Also, I'll go with this is Gallo's team - most influential player/team leader. With X being 1A in leadership.

[HoosierTrav]

Calbert Cheaney seems to be high on CJ Gunn. I’d love to see him reach his ceiling. I think it’s pretty high.