Which Current Players Would Have Thrived Under RMK?

[Stuhoo]

I just watched the perfect in 1976 showtime documentary on the all-time greatest Hoosiers team.

It got me wondering; which of our current players would have thrived playing for Bobby Knight?

For me, the obvious first choice is Trey Galloway.

Not having seen him in candy stripes yet, but hearing how Woody talks about him, I’m also certain that Payton Sparks would have been perfect. Jalen Hood Schifino too.

I also think that CJ Gunn, who has a long way to go on the court, has some thick skin and may have been a great fit as a Knight player.

Finally, and above all others, the player on our current roster that I expect would have fit the perfect mold of an extraordinary Bobby Knight player would be …

Gabe Cupps.

[Scotty R]

I would say no current players would ever play for RMK and his style of coaching

[Stuhoo]

3 minutes ago, Scotty R said:

I would say no current players would ever play for RMK and his style of coaching

I call bullshirt. RMK won like no one had at Texas Tech in the 2000’s.

 

[Scotty R]

4 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

I call bullshirt. RMK won like no one had at Texas Tech in the 2000’s.

 

That was 20 years ago and  kids has changed since then

[LamarCheeks]

Funny -- the first name that entered my mind when I saw the title of this thread was Trey. 

Also, though the ship has sailed, I wonder what RMK could've done with a healthy Logan Duncomb. 

I don't think many thought of Matt Nover as a Big Ten-caliber talent, but RMK helped make him a very servicable big man. 

[IUFAN1976]

I would say:

Trey, Cupps, Sparks, Leal, Walker and maybe Reneau

[JSHoosier]

I could see Cupps.  Smart player that limits turnovers.  If he's turns into a good shooter he'd be coming off screens for open looks too.

Not current player but on the staff, I'd say Hulls.  The way he could shoot opposing teams would've gotten tired of chasing him off screens all game long.

[TTT]

At Knight’s peak or near peak…Most of them. Personal and team success and winning on a major level has a way of doing that.

sidenote: even back then not everyone would or could play for Knight.

[Golfman25]

3 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

Funny -- the first name that entered my mind when I saw the title of this thread was Trey. 

Also, though the ship has sailed, I wonder what RMK could've done with a healthy Logan Duncomb. 

I don't think many thought of Matt Nover as a Big Ten-caliber talent, but RMK helped make him a very servicable big man. 

And a movie star. :)

[Demo]

It may be a touch lazy of me, but the only kid who I’m pretty confident wouldn’t is Ware. That just screams Lawrence Funderburke. The one I would like to have seen is Johnson. Watching RMK handling his passion and volatility, the way he was able to with Lewis, would have been entertaining.

[realTomCrean]

I'm going to answer your question with a list of recent former players who would not have thrived under Coach Knight:

1) Troy Williams

2) Devonte Green

3) JBJ

4) Grant Gelon

5) Romeo Langford

 

[CSP]

I think Knight would have been great for Romeo. 

[JSHoosier]

29 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

I'm going to answer your question with a list of recent former players who would not have thrived under Coach Knight:

1) Troy Williams

2) Devonte Green

3) JBJ

4) Grant Gelon

5) Romeo Langford

 

I tried to imagine Williams or Green on an RMK team.  Oh, that would NOT have been good.

[realTomCrean]

Robert Johnson and Trey Galloway are the two players in recent history in my opinion would have thrived the most under RMK

[CSP]

54 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

Robert Johnson and Trey Galloway are the two players in recent history in my opinion would have thrived the most under RMK

TG wow. for sure would have been great under Knight, coaches kid, adapts quickly. 

Good call 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 hour ago, btownqb said:

I think Knight would have been great for Romeo. 

Maybe he wouldn't have stood in the corner?

Seriously though, the Romeo discussion is an interesting one.  Following his career arc leads to some interesting assumptions.  Was he never as good as initially thought? (likely, yes) did his injuries really derail his career and knock him off path?  (maybe).  Anyway, I'm curious to see how JHS career ends up stacking up to Romeo's.  I think assuming JHS can ever get a consistent 3 point shot, he'll be a very good pro, but if his shooting percentages don't increase, I worry for him a bit.  

[CSP]

10 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Maybe he wouldn't have stood in the corner?

Seriously though, the Romeo discussion is an interesting one.  Following his career arc leads to some interesting assumptions.  Was he never as good as initially thought? (likely, yes) did his injuries really derail his career and knock him off path?  (maybe).  Anyway, I'm curious to see how JHS career ends up stacking up to Romeo's.  I think assuming JHS can ever get a consistent 3 point shot, he'll be a very good pro, but if his shooting percentages don't increase, I worry for him a bit.  

Why did Romeo's coach allow him to stand in a corner? 

JHS has lead guard skills at his size, huge advantage over Romeo. 

And I can't agree with the "never as good as originally thought"... Jim Shannon ran iso ball for Romeo all of HS, and Archie had zero offense and couldn't teach or develop guys on the offensive end. That hindered Romeo a lot. I mean they didn't even develop Romeo's left hand. Jim let him catch it right-wing basically every single possession in HS, Romeo would rip and go right immediately.. pull up, step back, or straight to the hoop all going right, every single possession. Worked in HS, didn't develop Romeo though. 

I watched the kid put up 48 against Nunge/Hemenway in the Semi-state and I didn't even think he played well lol put 46 on Brunk/Scruggs in another semi-state in 3Qs. Romeo's wrist injury was significant in HS and he should have had it repaired then. 

Also... and this doesn't have anything to do with post-HS --- undoubtedly a Top 10 Indiana HS player ever. 

I am also willing to admit, I'm a tick biased toward him... I was watching Romeo put up big scoring #s in 7th grade and seemingly 100 games after that. I grew to really like Romeo and how he operated. Quiet dude.  Silent assassin. 

 

[realTomCrean]

6 minutes ago, btownqb said:

Why did Romeo's coach allow him to stand in a corner? 

JHS has lead guard skills at his size, huge advantage over Romeo. 

And I can't agree with the "never as good as originally thought"... Jim Shannon ran iso ball for Romeo all of HS, and Archie had zero offense and couldn't teach or develop guys on the offensive end. That hindered Romeo a lot. I mean they didn't even develop Romeo's left hand. Jim let him catch it right-wing basically every single possession in HS, Romeo would rip and go right immediately.. pull up, step back, or straight to the hoop all going right, every single possession. Worked in HS, didn't develop Romeo though. 

I watched the kid put up 48 against Nunge/Hemenway in the Semi-state and I didn't even think he played well lol put 46 on Brunk/Scruggs in another semi-state in 3Qs. Romeo's wrist injury was significant in HS and he should have had it repaired then. 

Also... and this doesn't have anything to do with post-HS --- undoubtedly a Top 10 Indiana HS player ever. 

I am also willing to admit, I'm a tick biased toward him... I was watching Romeo put up big scoring #s in 7th grade and seemingly 100 games after that. I grew to really like Romeo and how he operated. Quiet dude.  Silent assassin. 

 

One thing is for certain, there will never be another recruiting thread on here that can compare to his

[WayneFleekHoosier]

12 minutes ago, btownqb said:

Why did Romeo's coach allow him to stand in a corner? 

JHS has lead guard skills at his size, huge advantage over Romeo. 

And I can't agree with the "never as good as originally thought"... Jim Shannon ran iso ball for Romeo all of HS, and Archie had zero offense and couldn't teach or develop guys on the offensive end. That hindered Romeo a lot. I mean they didn't even develop Romeo's left hand. Jim let him catch it right-wing basically every single possession in HS, Romeo would rip and go right immediately.. pull up, step back, or straight to the hoop all going right, every single possession. Worked in HS, didn't develop Romeo though. 

I watched the kid put up 48 against Nunge/Hemenway in the Semi-state and I didn't even think he played well lol put 46 on Brunk/Scruggs in another semi-state in 3Qs. Romeo's wrist injury was significant in HS and he should have had it repaired then. 

Also... and this doesn't have anything to do with post-HS --- undoubtedly a Top 10 Indiana HS player ever. 

I am also willing to admit, I'm a tick biased toward him... I was watching Romeo put up big scoring #s in 7th grade and seemingly 100 games after that. I grew to really like Romeo and how he operated. Quiet dude.  Silent assassin. 

 

I tend to agree with a lot of this but it hasn’t translated with multiple years in the NBA with multiple coaches with ideas.  That can’t all be blamed on Archie obviously.  That’s why it’s a interesting thought experiment.  
 

I saw him go head to head vs Zion and pretty much win that matchup.  He showed glimpses at Indiana and had a solid season all things considered, enough to get drafted where he did, but since then it’s been a slide. 

[HoosierHoopster]

1 hour ago, btownqb said:

I think Knight would have been great for Romeo. 

I agree, think RMK would have had him excel in his motion offense