IUBB @ Michigan - Tuesday, 12.05.23 @ 9:00 on Peacock TV

[IUFAN1976 2,747]

39 minutes ago, Dave from Dayton said:

This flawed IU team never gave up.  Players down the bench are all starting to get it. More rebounding by others than Ware helps.  Defense is better, too.  

A tip of the ole toupee to Coach Woodson for calling a couple of timely timeouts.

Did you see the way that IU was covering the 3-point shot? Cupps makes me laugh.  Only because he is steady and a freshman on the road in the Big Ten conference games. He does seem to get the ball into the flow of the offense more quickly than X.  Nice.

Sure, there were turnovers and missed assignments; but, overall there is marked improvement in communication and knowing what to do and when.

Reneau needs to not foul.  Ware needs to not foul in the first half.  Ware needs to know what to do if and when he is doubled or cannot get open for a pass.  Standing around on offense is a killer.  Hit some free throws down the stretch and IU is a tough team to beat.  But we shall see.

Once they ran a couple of plays for individuals, things clicked again.  Everyone scored.  Everyone contributed.

 

This team is starting to show some toughness too!

[Home Jersey 6,355]

I still don't think it has sunk in just how lucky we are to have someone as awesome as Ware the season after saying good bye to one of our most prolific big men in program history. Absolute STUD. 

[IUFAN1976 2,747]

17 minutes ago, Tom White said:

I'm with you on that. Players like Ware don't grow on trees, but after his last play of the game I'm beginning to believe they grow into trees.

He looked like a giant Sequoia tree when he jumped that high in the air, wow!!!

[Banksyrules 4,462]

36 minutes ago, Chris007 said:

No need for the discussion because Woody is not changing the lineup. 

I get that but he should start if we want to make a splash in the tournament. Just saying.

[Certified Sunshine Pumper 8,852]

9 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

I get that but he should start if we want to make a splash in the tournament. Just saying.

Why? 

[HoosierHoopster 6,711]

18 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

I still don't think it has sunk in just how lucky we are to have someone as awesome as Ware the season after saying good bye to one of our most prolific big men in program history. Absolute STUD. 

100%

When we landed Ware the talk was there was no way he could replace TJD, the dominant inside player he was, and with Ware coming off a lackluster year at Oregon, but the potential was there, and man has he broken through to that potential --

Whether or not we compare him to TJD, he's a dominant player in his own right with, in my opinion, more versatility to his game, and that likely will only continue to grow through the season

[Hovadipo 54,716]

9 hours ago, realTomCrean said:

ESPN had the attendance for tonight’s game at 90% capacity 11,396 out of 12,707 seats

[Home Jersey 6,355]

Just now, HoosierHoopster said:

100%

When we landed Ware the talk was there was no way he could replace TJD, the dominant inside player he was, and with Ware coming off a lackluster year at Oregon, but the potential was there, and man has he broken through to that potential --

Whether or not we compare him to TJD, he's a dominant player in his own right with, in my opinion, more versatility to his game, and that likely will only continue to grow through the season

Right - the nuances of their game are very different. But how fortunate could be to have virtually no drop off on interior production - offensively and defensively - after leaving TJD. Woody sure is making the Oregon coaching staff look like amateurs the way Ware has put it together so quickly

[HoosierHoopster 6,711]

^^

One of these things is not like the other

[Class of '66 Old Fart 83,593]

Maybe, just maybe, we'll look back at the end of the season and consider that losing X for multiple games was actually beneficial for the development of the team.

[realTomCrean 1,503]

2 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Checks out. I think some people were using the restroom, so they didn't have to miss any of the game ;-)

[Banksyrules 4,462]

Just now, btownqb said:

Why? 

I understand that he’s going to have a lot of mistakes but I just see that potential at the end of the road.

He’s got great defending instincts but more importantly he has the athleticism to stop elite guards from driving on us for easy buckets. Needs reps for that.

I was also very encouraged by his shooting yesterday. I love Trey and he definitely has a big part of the team but he can’t shoot well. If Gunn could shoot that jumper and three even into an average level that just opens up more space for our big men who have great footwork and can cause some serious damage. He has the form and release angle which makes me believe that with more time and reps that we can have that by the time march rolls around.  Him and Mgbako are the key to the type of run we’ll have. Just my opinion. 

[Hovadipo 54,716]

9 hours ago, JSHoosier said:

I like Cupps but I think some people expected too much out of him as a frosh. I've regularly said I think he can be a good piece as upper classmen but will likely need to adjust and develop to the college game.

In his 8th college game, he just played as the lead guard for 32 minutes with 1 turnover in a B1G road game. He needs to get better, but I don't think he needs to "adjust to the college game" at all.

[HoosierHoopster 6,711]

Just now, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Maybe, just maybe, we'll look back at the end of the season and consider that losing X for multiple games was actually beneficial for the development of the team.

I don't think there's any real question that playing w/o X is beneficial to team/certain individual player development.

The bigger question is whether we're better with him or without -- I don't think there's a legitimate question that we're better with him, but very happy to see the development of players like Cupps

[go iu bb 5,427]

10 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Loved the Peacock broadcast. The studio show is pretty good too. Higher quality all around than BTN. 

It's no BTN+ but it's ok.

[realTomCrean 1,503]

What a great game. Couldn't go to sleep afterwards. Best part of the game for me:

2-year-old son: Da da is that Indiana?

"Yes, that's INDIANA."

2-year-old: Indiana playing basketball?

"YES INDIANA BASKETBALL"

2-year-old: GO INDIANA (claps) 

It was late, he put his book down to cheer for IU and fell asleep watching with me. IU Basketball is generational - did the same thing with my father growing up and still text with him and my brothers about IU almost every day. Priceless memories

[go iu bb 5,427]

10 hours ago, Hoosierfan1901 said:

https://x.com/nbcsports/status/1732252469265064287?s=46&t=0mbJ_TT4MQ8KZKv29ZqhSg

What's crazy is that it initially looks like Ware jumps just a split second too soon but then he just hangs out in the air waiting for the ball to come to him.

[Stromboli 6,076]

6 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I don't think there's any real question that playing w/o X is beneficial to team/certain individual player development.

The bigger question is whether we're better with him or without -- I don't think there's a legitimate question that we're better with him, but very happy to see the development of players like Cupps

Tony Adragna posted this a week ago. We’re better with X. I’m ready for the question to die. This injury stinks because it feels like it does take him some games to wind up and start controlling the floor. 
 

 

[Hovadipo 54,716]

7 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

It's no BTN+ but it's ok.

It's half the price of BTN+, gotta keep expectations in check.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich 8,582]

Thank goodness Woody was listening to me during that last timeout LOL