IUBB @ Nebraska - Wednesday, 01.03.24 @ 9:00 ET on BTN

[IUFAN1976]

3 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

One bad game doesn't have me ready to panic. I am very very concerned though by the same issues on the court and Woodson's press conference yesterday. He sort of threw the guards and Mackenzie under the bus... he's the one who built the roster. A little accountability would be nice. There's got to be a lot of mixed feelings in the locker room. JHS was getting roasted on Twitter last night for playing poorly with the Lakers... sure would be nice if he were playing himself into the lottery instead. Hope Mackenzie is taking note...

Getting to the tournament would be a great year. But the bar has to be higher in year 3. Get them playing strong through the rest of the conference season then go get some stud guards Woody!

I’m sorry to say it, but we don’t have the players and personnel to compete good enough to get us to the tournament.  Our roster construction is awful and our guard play is awful.  Instead strictly focusing on the front court, he should have brought in a point guard and shooting guard.  Instead he counted on X, who has missed the last 7 games until last night, and Trey, who is nothing more than a guard off the bench for good teams.  Making the tournament and competing in games starts with good guard play and we have none.  It was obvious last night that Cupps not ready to play significant minutes, he couldn’t guard a fence post last night.  
 

We definitely don’t have the personnel to play Woodson’s type of defense.  Why not switch defenses occasionally throughout the game?  It worked earlier in the year, and it might make it harder for teams to prepare against us.  Right now, teams having their way being able to run their offense and get any shot they want, especially from behind the 3 point line.

[str8baller]

12 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

It was obvious last night that Cupps not ready to play significant minutes, he couldn’t guard a fence post last night.  

I don’t know what was up with Cupps last night, but I didn’t see a single perimeter come ready to play D. I’ll give XJ a pass since he hasn’t played in a while. But Leal and Galloway completely botched talking through a switch off the ball…. Such a simple thing that it stands out when two senior “leaders” look like HS freshman out there.    
 

We either have dumb players (I don’t believe this) or a scheme that frequently breaks down against the slightest quality guard play. I don’t love the offense right now, but the defense concerns me. 

[Golfman25]

37 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

On the surface it's one game. We still can't guard the perimeter and at this point that's a systemic issue, we've had problems keeping team off the offensive glass which again is systemic at this point. Still stink at FTs, which is just inexcusable. Our defense has gotten worse each year as well.

Nebraska itself is one game, but we continue to show serious underlying problems that in year 3 still haven't been addressed.

19 turnovers didn’t help.  10 in second half, so it didn’t improve 

[HoosierFan1994]

I haven't been on here as much this season for the reason that this team isn't really all that exciting to watch. It has been a brutal 3 months for this program. IMO, it all started when Fland chose Kentucky. 

1) This is like deja-vu from last January. Last year I was concerned that injuries would derail the season. This year I just don't think this team is any good. At best, a fringe NCAA Tournament team. That being said, we will see what happens. 

2) Woodson absolutely deserves heat. We as IU fans are told that this program is top 10/15 in NIL. This coaching staff left an open scholarship open. Also, Leal is someone who hasn't played significant minutes in his 3 year career. Add in Jakai redshirting only 9 players...unacceptable. 

3) There isn't much to look forward too. I get IU is in on a lot of top recruits. But we heard that with this '24 class all summer. So far, just 1 player signed. Looking at next year, Liam, Malik, and maybe Mackenzie are bright spots. Possibly Cupps with Jakai. 

4) There has been no improvement since November 7 when they started the season against FGCU. None. 

They better turn it around fast. Indiana cannot afford to take a major step back. It looks like it is heading that way. I said this last January...I just don't know about this staff. At times I like them. But..2/3 of our assistants are Archie Miller holdovers. I get fans get excited when they get a recruit or do a cryptic tweet, but what have they won? 

[JSHoosier]

44 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

I’m sorry to say it, but we don’t have the players and personnel to compete good enough to get us to the tournament.  Our roster construction is awful and our guard play is awful.  Instead strictly focusing on the front court, he should have brought in a point guard and shooting guard.  Instead he counted on X, who has missed the last 7 games until last night, and Trey, who is nothing more than a guard off the bench for good teams.  Making the tournament and competing in games starts with good guard play and we have none.  It was obvious last night that Cupps not ready to play significant minutes, he couldn’t guard a fence post last night.  
 

We definitely don’t have the personnel to play Woodson’s type of defense.  Why not switch defenses occasionally throughout the game?  It worked earlier in the year, and it might make it harder for teams to prepare against us.  Right now, teams having their way being able to run their offense and get any shot they want, especially from behind the 3 point line.

It's year 3 and Woodson built this roster. If he doesn't have the players for his defense then it's time to move on.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

8 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

It's year 3 and Woodson built this roster. If he doesn't have the players for his defense then it's time to move on.

I think 75% of the problems fall on Woody. Fans don't want to face the fact he's a C- coach. And it doesn't help he's stubborn. And even if he wasn't, his top 2 assistants are about as worthless as can be from a basketball IQ standpoint.

[IUFAN1976]

29 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

It's year 3 and Woodson built this roster. If he doesn't have the players for his defense then it's time to move on.

You have to worry about right now, move on should happen, if things don’t change, after the season.  But he needs to coach this team with the players he has and put them in the best position to win games and that may mean changing from the style of play you want to play to the style of play that fits this team better to put them in a possible good position to win.  That is all I am wanting and worried.  Let Dolson, the IU President and the others worry about moving on from Woodson, but I don’t think they will.

[Chris007]

3 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

You have to worry about right now, move on should happen, if things don’t change, after the season.  But he needs to coach this team with the players he has and put them in the best position to win games and that may mean changing from the style of play you want to play to the style of play that fits this team better to put them in a possible good position to win.  That is all I am wanting and worried.  Let Dolson, the IU President and the others worry about moving on from Woodson, but I don’t think they will.

I would be very surprised if we paid his buyout of 12.5 million after the season. 

[monskisprodigy]

33 minutes ago, JSHoosier said:

It's year 3 and Woodson built this roster. If he doesn't have the players for his defense then it's time to move on.

Even good teams lose games...it happens, its college basketball. This isn't what bothers me.

What bothers me is everything most have hit on in this thread...there are glaring issues that every joe bob fan from Evansville to Gary to Ft. Wayne can see, and it's not improving or getting addressed. Heck, in a lot of areas it's getting or gotten worse. This staff hasn't shown the ability to construct a roster that fits their "style of play" (whatever that is), and refuses to adjust to meet the actual ability of their players. And what really concerns me, is that we seem to be in love and all in on every 5 star recruit, but keep swinging and missing. 

If Nebraska can go to the lower level and find a kid from Japan to hang 25+ points on us, this staff should be able to find solid BASKETBALL players that can help us win games. I don't care about freaking stars, I don't care about the supposed "athletic ability" or "upside"...I want kids that can play the game, regardless of what state, AAU team or watchlist they are or are not on. 

Woody needs start fixing it this year, have it corrected by next year, or move on....How many more years of mediocrity can be shielded by our aging Blue Blood status...I fear not many. 

 

Anddddd....I'm done (off the ledge, had to get it off my chest haha)

[IUFAN1976]

Just now, Chris007 said:

I would be very surprised if we paid his buyout of 12.5 million after the season. 

Exactly, which is why we let Dolson and company worry about that and Hope this coaching staff and team can turn it around quickly.

It’s obvious that Woodson doesn’t have the type of players that fits his type of system he wants to play.  Coaching staff needs to change with their personnel to put them in a better position to be successful.

 

 

[AZ Hoosier]

6 minutes ago, IUFAN1976 said:

You have to worry about right now, move on should happen, if things don’t change, after the season.  But he needs to coach this team with the players he has and put them in the best position to win games and that may mean changing from the style of play you want to play to the style of play that fits this team better to put them in a possible good position to win.  That is all I am wanting and worried.  Let Dolson, the IU President and the others worry about moving on from Woodson, but I don’t think they will.

Woodson is too stubborn to make the necessary changes to what he wants his team to do... and he ignores the fact that he recruited a bunch of players (I almost used the word "team" there) who cannot or will not play the style that he wants to play. We have a poorly constructed roster with gaping holes that is incapable of guarding the perimeter and guards who are incapable of scoring points. Folks, this season is toast.

[Chris007]

I do love to see the battle between Banks and Gunn to see who’s worse each game.

Also last night showed why Leal doesn't need to play

[Chris007]

2 minutes ago, monskisprodigy said:

Even good teams lose games...it happens, its college basketball. This isn't what bothers me.

What bothers me is everything most have hit on in this thread...there are glaring issues that every joe bob fan from Evansville to Gary to Ft. Wayne can see, and it's not improving or getting addressed. Heck, in a lot of areas it's getting or gotten worse. This staff hasn't shown the ability to construct a roster that fits their "style of play" (whatever that is), and refuses to adjust to meet the actual ability of their players. And what really concerns me, is that we seem to be in love and all in on every 5 star recruit, but keep swinging and missing. 

If Nebraska can go to the lower level and find a kid from Japan to hang 25+ points on us, this staff should be able to find solid BASKETBALL players that can help us win games. I don't care about freaking stars, I don't care about the supposed "athletic ability" or "upside"...I want kids that can play the game, regardless of what state, AAU team or watchlist they are or are not on. 

Woody needs start fixing it this year, have it corrected by next year, or move on....How many more years of mediocrity can be shielded by our aging Blue Blood status...I fear not many. 

 

Anddddd....I'm done (off the ledge, had to get it off my chest haha)

At this point don't you think the style of play of the staff is playing two bigs, and not shooting a lot of 3's? 

[monskisprodigy]

1 minute ago, Chris007 said:

At this point don't you think the style of play of the staff is playing two bigs, and not shooting a lot of 3's? 

It appears that way...but I guess what can you do when you have constructed a roster with limited guards and zero players that can shoot it from the outside with any consistency.

The announcers last night mentioned that Woody and Hoiberg were the two coaches in the Big Ten bringing the "NBA Style" offenses to the league...our NBA style just happens to be from 1980.

[Chris007]

1 minute ago, monskisprodigy said:

It appears that way...but I guess what can you do when you have constructed a roster with limited guards and zero players that can shoot it from the outside with any consistency.

The announcers last night mentioned that Woody and Hoiberg were the two coaches in the Big Ten bringing the "NBA Style" offenses to the league...our NBA style just happens to be from 1980.

It feels like I'm watching Cousy to Russell for 2. And that was before my time. Celtics and Lakers of the 80's were more entertaining this last night. 

[Golfman25]

1 hour ago, HoosierFan1994 said:

I haven't been on here as much this season for the reason that this team isn't really all that exciting to watch. It has been a brutal 3 months for this program. IMO, it all started when Fland chose Kentucky. 

1) This is like deja-vu from last January. Last year I was concerned that injuries would derail the season. This year I just don't think this team is any good. At best, a fringe NCAA Tournament team. That being said, we will see what happens. 

2) Woodson absolutely deserves heat. We as IU fans are told that this program is top 10/15 in NIL. This coaching staff left an open scholarship open. Also, Leal is someone who hasn't played significant minutes in his 3 year career. Add in Jakai redshirting only 9 players...unacceptable. 

3) There isn't much to look forward too. I get IU is in on a lot of top recruits. But we heard that with this '24 class all summer. So far, just 1 player signed. Looking at next year, Liam, Malik, and maybe Mackenzie are bright spots. Possibly Cupps with Jakai. 

4) There has been no improvement since November 7 when they started the season against FGCU. None. 

They better turn it around fast. Indiana cannot afford to take a major step back. It looks like it is heading that way. I said this last January...I just don't know about this staff. At times I like them. But..2/3 of our assistants are Archie Miller holdovers. I get fans get excited when they get a recruit or do a cryptic tweet, but what have they won? 

Isn't part of the staff supposed to be recruiting gurus?  So far, not so good.  

[kreigh8]

3 minutes ago, Golfman25 said:

Isn't part of the staff supposed to be recruiting gurus?  So far, not so good.  

From what I saw last night, one member of the staff watches the games with only 1 eye open. Know it's late, but found that interesting

[Chris007]

We also have 3-point line kryptonite. We can't shoot, we can't defend it and we love to foul it. 

[JSHoosier]

1 minute ago, Chris007 said:

We also have 3-point line kryptonite. We can't shoot, we can't defend it and we love to foul it. 

I'm sure either our shooters or perimeter defense look great in practice.

[Golfman25]

Nobody wanted to go to a full burn it down and rebuild when Woody got here.  But you can't have as many busts (I'm counting at least 4-5) as we have had the last few years and see progress.  The portal makes it worse in the sense that we see that as the "quick fix," which it is not.