IUBB vs Army - Sunday, 11.12.23 @ 7:00 on BTN

[HoosierFan1994 4,746]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

Not on topic, but I'd kill to get last year's version of Miller Kopp on this year's team.

Miller; if you're reading this, the Hoosier fan base misses you! so feel free to create an anonymous account and like this post to show that you're watching from afar!     ;)

I forgot to mention this last night...but I miss Miller Kopp and Race Thompson. Way more than I thought. I was wrong on that. 

[RaceToTheTop 25,835]

2 hours ago, IndyResident16 said:

You don't have to sub a guard for a guard. Start your traditional 5, sub out Reneau for Cupps at the first media TO and slide MM to the 4 and play a rotation from there giving Gunn spot minutes. 

What’s your traditional 5 in this scenario if you are ‘sliding’ MM to the 4?  Because if your lineup is X, Gallo, Cupps, MM and Ware,  MM is already at the 4.

If there is one thing I want to avoid, it’s giving Cupps even spot minutes right now.  He’s a liability.  If you only have three playable guards, that means limited time with all three on the floor.

[RaceToTheTop 25,835]

1 hour ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

So I guess we are going to judge him just off that one game? Makes sense. I mean it isn't like we played Parker Stewart and Miller Kopp at 2 and 3 or anything.

To be fair, it’s more than one game.  He’s had three years to show he belongs.

That said, at some point if Gunn can’t show anything then Leal should get his spot minutes

[IndyResident16 567]

6 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

What’s your traditional 5 in this scenario if you are ‘sliding’ MM to the 4?  Because if your lineup is X, Gallo, Cupps, MM and Ware,  MM is already at the 4.

If there is one thing I want to avoid, it’s giving Cupps even spot minutes right now.  He’s a liability.  If you only have three playable guards, that means limited time with all three on the floor.

The starting lineup we've used the last two games. Start with that and then replace Ware/Reneau with Cupps after the first media TO. We're currently playing two centers and then a PF out on the wing. Cupps isn't any more of a liability defensively than Reneau or MM right now trying to guard quicker players. You don't have to keep 3 guards on the court at all times, but having 3 guards vs 2 Centers and a PF is the better alternative. 

Edited November 13, 2023 by IndyResident16

[Golfman25 5,437]

16 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

What’s your traditional 5 in this scenario if you are ‘sliding’ MM to the 4?  Because if your lineup is X, Gallo, Cupps, MM and Ware,  MM is already at the 4.

If there is one thing I want to avoid, it’s giving Cupps even spot minutes right now.  He’s a liability.  If you only have three playable guards, that means limited time with all three on the floor.

Cupps is a liability?  You smoking something?  

[Hoosier987 1,170]

3 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

Cupps is a liability?  You smoking something?  

He may mean in terms of size against Big Ten opponents or stiffer competition. I could see where Cupps could potentially be a liability on the defensive side because of his size.  Gabe will be a very good player, I’m confident in that…however, it still remains to be seen in his young career if he can hold his own against stronger opponents. This isn’t a knock on Gabe either, just the reality of the situation.

[Golfman25 5,437]

2 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

He may mean in terms of size against Big Ten opponents or stiffer competition. I could see where Cupps could potentially be a liability on the defensive side because of his size.  Gabe will be a very good player, I’m confident in that…however, it still remains to be seen in his young career if he can hold his own against stronger opponents. This isn’t a knock on Gabe either, just the reality of the situation.

Sure, but let's at least give him a chance before we call him a "liability."  Geeze.  

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,674]

29 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

He may mean in terms of size against Big Ten opponents or stiffer competition. I could see where Cupps could potentially be a liability on the defensive side because of his size.  Gabe will be a very good player, I’m confident in that…however, it still remains to be seen in his young career if he can hold his own against stronger opponents. This isn’t a knock on Gabe either, just the reality of the situation.

Yea no way you can ever win with "short guys" playing the 2. Jordy Hulls sucked. Tyson Walker sucks... Definitely should never have anyone under 6-4 at the 2. No way.

[J34 1,484]

26 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

He may mean in terms of size against Big Ten opponents or stiffer competition. I could see where Cupps could potentially be a liability on the defensive side because of his size.  Gabe will be a very good player, I’m confident in that…however, it still remains to be seen in his young career if he can hold his own against stronger opponents. This isn’t a knock on Gabe either, just the reality of the situation.

Gabe Cupps is the last person on the roster we need to worry about. He's one of the strongest guys on the team. He's 6'2 and played against high level competition for years. Would you say the same thing about Boogie, if we'd have landed him, at 6'2 175lbs? 

[JSHoosier 20,231]

So far our opponents have taken 72 3s and hit 26.  We've attempted 24 and hit 8.  The last time we were near the top 100 in attempts is Crean's last year.

[Home Jersey 7,590]

The NBA sub pattern can not happen again. It just can't. If Woodson does not recognize that after allowing Army to go on that huge run at the start of the game, I'm seriously concerned for the rest of the year. Let's see how we look against Wright State. 

Walker... I am sure is a good kid... I wish we picked up a guard in the portal. That and Jakai being injured is seriously gonna limit this back court. Thank God Cupps is ready for big minutes. I hope XJ, GC, and TG don't end up too fatigued at year end. 

I will say... upon rewatching, yes Banks had plenty of lapses, but I do think he shows the most competence of the wings on our schemes. Mack is looking lost and looks like college game is a little too fast for him right now. Surprising considering all the hype and runs with Kyrie, etc. I do think he figures things out eventually and it helps elevate our team... when exactly, not sure, hopefully sooner than later. 

As I've said, still think its too early to reasonably project our ceiling. But last night shows us the floor is awful. The good news... the team and staff are obviously aware things need fixing. The bench looked so P.O.ed losing to Army in the first half... everyone knows what a performance like that says about our team right now. Let's see how they respond. XJ's comments about practice are concerning, but it's encouraging that he's calling people out and trying to hold the team accountable. I hope the locker room is receptive. 

My bigger question though is... will the staff make the proper scheme adjustments to fit this personnel? If not, it will be a long year.

This is where XJ's leadership abilities will truly be tested IMO. Can he be the one to get Coach to buy into making necessary scheme changes (shooting more 3s comes to mind)? I hope he knows what buttons to push and the staff is open minded enough to adapt. 

That said... we won the game, a bunch of big programs lost. Let's see how they look against Wright State... 

Not sure how much we'll learn from the Empire Classic, considering UConn is going to be a drumming in all likelihood. I hate that right now I don't feel confident saying Louisville would be a win. 

[IU - Kaulie 1,891]

18 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Re:

On 'not playing MM'......

He's averaging 17 minutes/game.  It's not like he has stuck with him overly long.  But I also fully believe that in practice he has shown that he is a guy that should be starting.  Having it not go well for the first two games of career doesn't change his talent level.  I'm not sure who you think should be getting minutes and burying him on the bench....Cupps is getting 20+ minutes per game so far.  Woodson has had to patchwork plays at the three by either playing three guards or by having Banks there temporarily.  

MM is going to be good.  Gotta be patient.

He can’t play on the wing so that means he can’t play with Ware and Malik.  Ware and Malik need to play a lot of minutes.  Sparks needs to play.  MM needs to back up Malik and play 10-15 minutes/game.  Banks needs to start.  Cupps needs to play his 20 minutes.  Walker and Gunn are going to get minutes.

[IU - Kaulie 1,891]

1 hour ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Yea no way you can ever win with "short guys" playing the 2. Jordy Hulls sucked. Tyson Walker sucks... Definitely should never have anyone under 6-4 at the 2. No way.

Tell that to Miami last year.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,674]

2 minutes ago, IU - Kaulie said:

Tell that to Miami last year.

Our last few B1G title teams have played small ball.

[Hoosier987 1,170]

1 hour ago, J34 said:

Gabe Cupps is the last person on the roster we need to worry about. He's one of the strongest guys on the team. He's 6'2 and played against high level competition for years. Would you say the same thing about Boogie, if we'd have landed him, at 6'2 175lbs? 

I was literally responding to why another poster thought the other was smoking. If you notice in my original comment, I simply provided a theory of why maybe the other poster said he was a liability. I agree, there are many others who are more of a liability than Cupps. With that said, we’ve yet to see Cupps go against bigger guys. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do. I’m confident in Gabe. 

[HoosierHoopster 6,983]

10 hours ago, JSHoosier said:

I don't think we're going to be taking a lot of 3s with Woodson as coach; his comments have sort been take them if they come, he doesn't discourage them but it's not an emphasis either.

And this is a real problem- and one I don’t understand. As in, why? 

[IU - Kaulie 1,891]

3 minutes ago, Ngw7183 said:

It isn’t about height. It is quickness. He doesn’t have enough for elite players. He is fine but people need to slow down acting like this kid is going to be the answer, he is limited. 

So you believe Cupps doesn’t have the quickness but you think MM has the quickness to play on the perimeter/wing or anything other than the 4?

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,674]

23 minutes ago, Ngw7183 said:

It isn’t about height. It is quickness. He doesn’t have enough for elite players. He is fine but people need to slow down acting like this kid is going to be the answer, he is limited. 

Huh... Wonder how he stayed with the kid from FGCU...

[cthomas 6,476]

All of this is CMW's problem to work out. He, and the staff, sees these guys every day in practice and has watched them at least since they got on campus. I know it's fun to speculate about what combinations would be better, but coach's opinion is the only one that matters. I also can't believe he doesn't see the same issues. Hopefully, he pushes the right buttons to get out of the players what he sees in them. At the end of the day, he is accountable for the product on the floor. 

[WayneFleekHoosier 48,386]

Reneau is our 2nd best player imo. Ware has been our best. Both guys need to play a lot. Our guards aren’t too good. The fact that we love Cupps as much as we do, says everything.

As far as the 3. Man, idk. Mgbako could be the guy if he took his intensity level from a 1.5 to an 11 and thought about team first, move the ball principles. Will that happen? Unlikely.

Gunn is the same player as last year so far. Walker could be a dude but doesn’t dribble or shoot like you want. Banks has potential, but…..

So X, cupps, Galloway does make the most sense rn, but I’m not that impressed with any of them right now. Bummer.


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