* Empire Classic * Indiana vs. UCONN Sunday 11/19/2023 1 pm ESPN @MSG

[Hornsby 2,090]

It’s all good. I remember you and a couple of other being a very vocal supporter of it. He just wasn’t a fit from day 1. It happens but at this point his minutes need to be very limited.

It never made sense he averaged like 3 a game at Miami. We needed two guards from the portal. Instead we have gunn.


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[realTomCrean 1,543]

31 minutes ago, Uspshoosier said:

You can see the difference between a final 4 caliber team and a borderline tourney team.   IUs margin of error is way smaller.  UConn didn’t even play that good and was without Castle.   Still this was only a 10 point game with 7:22 to go.   

Not too long (less than 5 mins) we had strung together about 3-5 defensive stops, had the ball in transition to cut it to 4/5pts and X put it on the ground immediately following a rebound. in turn, steal + and 1 = 10pt game. Back breaker

[Stuhoo 81,302]

For me?

I found the way we played against Army far more troubling than the way we played against UConn. Against Army we looked disjointed, low-intensity, and without players that could have impact against top tier talent.

Whereas against UConn CJ Gunn had 4 steals and seven points in 20 minutes, and Malik looked like a legit scoring option that forces defensive rotations. Now if only CJ could hit a mother****ing three point shot?

Because IMO, we need both a playable CJ Gunn and a scoring option that draws defensive attention to be a viable team.

[realTomCrean 1,543]

I saw on X that local writers and radio shows are insinuating that Coach Woodson needs to be fired. Is this real or FAKE NEWS? 

[Hoosier987 1,209]

15 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

I think Sparks's time needs limited though.  I'd rotate Ware and Reneau at the 5 and put Mgbako at the 4 but then we'd need someone to put at the 3 and depth is thin in the backcourt.

I don't disagree...but this is where we're at unfortunately with the way the team is constructed.

Sparks will probably get 10-15 min a game just to spell Reneau and Ware. , I'm not sure what else we can do except to play a 7 man rotation and I don't think Woodson will do that....with that said, 8 man rotation should suffice. However, as I type this, I get the worry we will see Sparks, Banks, Walker all out on the floor together again.

[Hoosier987 1,209]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

For me?

I found the way we played against Army far more troubling than the way we played against UConn. If nothing else, because CJ Gunn had 4 steals and seven points in 20 minutes, and Malik looked like a legit scoring option that forces defensive rotations. Now if only CJ could hit a mother****ing three point shot.

Your last sentence is key. That would make all the difference in the world...however, I'm not so sure we're going to see a drastic change (at least now)...his mechanics are way off...for one, he jumps way too high, pushes the ball and is hardly ever set. I may be wrong, but he typically misses way long on his shots which has led to some air balls on jumpers within 12' 

[Stuhoo 81,302]

2 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Your last sentence is key. That would make all the difference in the world...however, I'm not so sure we're going to see a drastic change (at least now)...his mechanics are way off...for one, he jumps way too high, pushes the ball and is hardly ever set. I may be wrong, but he typically misses way long on his shots which has led to some air balls on jumpers within 12' 

There was one time late in the game where a whistle blew just before CJ was going to launch a three. He shot it anyway, and did so barely more than flat-footed: Swish.

Anecdotal I know, but still.

[reconmkd 4,409]

5 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

There was one time late in the game where a whistle blew just before CJ was going to launch a three. He shot it anyway, and did so barely more than flat-footed: Swish.

Anecdotal I know, but still.

I swear, if he would just not try to jump through the roof on all his shots, he could likely be a 35+% from 3. The shot is there, he is just too amped up and jumps way to d@mn high.

[Hoosier987 1,209]

4 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

There was one time late in the game where a whistle blew just before CJ was going to launch a three. He shot it anyway, and did so barely more than flat-footed: Swish.

Anecdotal I know, but still.

OH yes. I remember that shot distinctly. I was about to write in the game thread of how ironic it was that he finally made a three -- but that it didn't count cause it was after the whistle and play had stopped.

[JSHoosier 20,313]

To me Gunn looked like he might be getting a little more comfortable.  Active on defense, thought not perfect, and he had a midrange pull up that looked good; plus he knocked down a 3 just after the whistle blew.  Hopefully he's getting comfortable and just needs to see some shots start falling.

[Hoosier987 1,209]

25 minutes ago, reconmkd said:

I swear, if he would just not try to jump through the roof on all his shots, he could likely be a 35+% from 3. The shot is there, he is just too amped up and jumps way to d@mn high.

Adrenaline/nerves are high which is why I believe he jumps so high and over shoots. If he shoots it with half the strength he feels he needs to...it might just go in.

[Golfman25 5,515]

16 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

I saw on X that local writers and radio shows are insinuating that Coach Woodson needs to be fired. Is this real or FAKE NEWS? 

Ah ha.  What I have been waiting for.  The "Fire Mike Woodson" thread.  :)  

[Golfman25 5,515]

5 minutes ago, reconmkd said:

I swear, if he would just not try to jump through the roof on all his shots, he could likely be a 35+% from 3. The shot is there, he is just too amped up and jumps way to d@mn high.

He's a spaz.  He sees an open shot and becomes a 5 year old, hyped up on sugar, at toys R us.  

[reconmkd 4,409]

7 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

He's a spaz.  He sees an open shot and becomes a 5 year old, hyped up on sugar, at toys R us.  

I disagree with the spaz part. As a senior in high school, Gunn shot 46.8% from the field and 37.4% from 3. He can shoot, but he obviously needs to calm it down about 10 notches and let the game come to him.

[Josh 12,649]

16 hours ago, Ngw7183 said:

Philosophy major or criminal justice? 

Nah, see, I can be fully aware of how YOU perceive me and how a select group does but that doesn’t mean I have to accept that opinion because you want me to.

I am also not calling others out for any of that. would love to but I am just debating with facts and not the person.  I haven’t intentionally not called out posters directly like you are doing with me and others have done with me in the past. 

I'm not trying to call you out, you asked why you're treated differently and I answered.  That's it.

Enjoy the game tonight

[realTomCrean 1,543]

22 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

Ah ha.  What I have been waiting for.  The "Fire Mike Woodson" thread.  :)  

A forum vote for whomever starts the thread to be permanently banned if started before 2024. 

[JSHoosier 20,313]

11 minutes ago, reconmkd said:

I disagree with the spaz part. As a senior in high school, Gunn shot 46.8% from the field and 37.4% from 3. He can shoot, but he obviously needs to calm it down about 10 notches and let the game come to him.

He looks like he's still thinking more than reacting, like the game hasn't slowed down for him yet. He does look like he's starting to get it though.

[Golfman25 5,515]

25 minutes ago, reconmkd said:

I disagree with the spaz part. As a senior in high school, Gunn shot 46.8% from the field and 37.4% from 3. He can shoot, but he obviously needs to calm it down about 10 notches and let the game come to him.

Yeah, I was a gym class All American. :)   Kid is well into his second year.  Should be calmed down by now.  

[IU_FanClub 1,680]

4 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

Yeah, I was a gym class All American. :)   Kid is well into his second year.  Should be calmed down by now.  

You seem to really hate CJ lol

[monskisprodigy 1,946]

46 minutes ago, reconmkd said:

I swear, if he would just not try to jump through the roof on all his shots, he could likely be a 35+% from 3. The shot is there, he is just too amped up and jumps way to d@mn high.

We all saw the same thing which is funny...how are the coaches not seeing it haha. I commented about this as soon as I saw it. It was a much more natural shot...elevated normally, form was perfect and it hit the bottom of the net. You could see him visually shake his head...thinking "of course that one goes in". 

Honestly, the max vertical jump on his shots is hindering him by itself, but then he adds a fade away to every shot and it just compounds. If he would elevate normally and go up vertically, more would drop. Need a shot doctor on this team...get in the gym with Hulls. 

CJ Gunn has the tools to be a big contributor for us. He played well defensively...and if he hits a couple of those open shots, we are having a much different conversation about him. I really would like to see him start in front of Mgbako today, to be active with his hands, cause some disruption and hopefully bang a couple jumpers.