IUBB @ Illinois - Saturday, 01.27.24 @ 3:00 ET on Fox TV

[HoosierHoopster 6,889]

We’re well outside the NCAA tournament right now, but fanciful as it sounds I wouldn’t necessarily count us out yet. We’re better with X starting warts and all, Bako is becoming the player we anticipated, gotta get our sidelined star back and that’s looking more likely, and the next bunch of games are winnable. Tourney selection doesn’t often look at conf tourney showings but that may be what it comes down to

[Uspshoosier 45,527]

2 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

Tourney selection doesn’t often look at conf tourney showings but that may be what it comes down to

Historically results  after Friday doesn’t really affect their bracket.  

[Home Jersey 7,036]

I mean... tournament seems out of question to me. I really don't see any scenario/path outside of winning BTT. 

Yes keep trying to win and make things competitive. But the staff's focus IMO should be on finishing this year out as a developmental program and doing all you can to retain Reneau, Mgbako and McNeeley. Add in Cupps and Gallo, with Sparks getting limited bench minutes and you've got the outline of a foundation to build in for next year assuming you can land a haul like you need in the portal. 

Sucks. 

[str8baller 5,177]

1 hour ago, AKHoosier said:

1-7.

We'll likely end up 3-5 as long as I didn't just jinx it.

Iowa is one of those teams that will give us trouble if they’re on. They aren’t as good from 3 as they have been the last couple years, but they’re still capable of going off. We’re largely incapable of guarding the 3.  If Iowa is hitting jumpers early we can easily lose that game.
 

I don’t believe Woodys defense has come remotely close to bothering them yet, have they?

[AKHoosier 6,787]

20 minutes ago, str8baller said:

Iowa is one of those teams that will give us trouble if they’re on. They aren’t as good from 3 as they have been the last couple years, but they’re still capable of going off. We’re largely incapable of guarding the 3.  If Iowa is hitting jumpers early we can easily lose that game.
 

I don’t believe Woodys defense has come remotely close to bothering them yet, have they?

What also worries me is how Fran seems to own us as of late.

I wouldn't be surprised if Woodson's only beaten Iowa once or twice. 

[Hovadipo 55,498]

16 minutes ago, AKHoosier said:

What also worries me is how Fran seems to own us as of late.

I wouldn't be surprised if Woodson's only beaten Iowa once or twice. 

He’s never beaten Iowa. 0-4 I think. 

[Hornsby 1,703]

Iowa is one of those teams that will give us trouble if they’re on. They aren’t as good from 3 as they have been the last couple years, but they’re still capable of going off. We’re largely incapable of guarding the 3.  If Iowa is hitting jumpers early we can easily lose that game.
 
I don’t believe Woodys defense has come remotely close to bothering them yet, have they?

They usually make about 15 thrres vs us it seems. And we cannot make three to save our lives

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[Hornsby 1,703]

I mean... tournament seems out of question to me. I really don't see any scenario/path outside of winning BTT. 
Yes keep trying to win and make things competitive. But the staff's focus IMO should be on finishing this year out as a developmental program and doing all you can to retain Reneau, Mgbako and McNeeley. Add in Cupps and Gallo, with Sparks getting limited bench minutes and you've got the outline of a foundation to build in for next year assuming you can land a haul like you need in the portal. 
Sucks. 

MM is likely gone by all accounts.

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[DChoosier 8,213]

3 hours ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

We are 2-5 in January... What was the Kenpom prediction?

Kenpom predicted 1-7.

We have won 100% more games than predicted. HUGE over-achievers!!!

[Hoosier DaDa 2,291]

16 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

I couldn’t come up with an AI prompt that wouldn’t cause the other mods to ban me. We’ll be back Tuesday!

More 3 legs?? ;)

[DChoosier 8,213]

13 hours ago, Bankshot said:

Oh yes, I do absolutely think that things would/could be different with a few better shooters out there. I agree with that.

I just don’t think they would be “different enough” with our other structural issues.

I don’t think though that just adding a couple of better shooters is going to help with free throws, or blocking out, or good defensive switching, or not leaving good outside shooters, or over helping away from the perimeter, etc.

i’m also not convinced yet that Woodson would transition to more of a perimeter game if we even had different or more shooters.

Ware, Reneau, Mbako, and Johnson statistically are good enough three-point shooters, that they ought to be taking more of them. In other words, it seems that we have some shooters who are good enough that if Woodson’s offensive scheme was truly committed to a perimeter game, we would be doing more to emphasize it and we just aren’t.

That’s an interesting point. With Ware and MR we actually have two bigs (bump it to 3 with MM) that have the ability to be perimeter threats, take more threes and pull out the defensive bigs while opening up the middle.  An open middle would help our slashers, X and TG,  use their best offensive skill which is attacking the basket.  Sure would be nice to see us change it up. What do we have to lose?

[Bankshot 544]

30 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

That’s an interesting point. With Ware and MR we actually have two bigs (bump it to 3 with MM) that have the ability to be perimeter threats, take more threes and pull out the defensive bigs while opening up the middle.  An open middle would help our slashers, X and TG,  use their best offensive skill which is attacking the basket.  Sure would be nice to see us change it up. What do we have to lose?

I’m definitely not an X and O’s genius, but thought we might do some of that at times this year, and thought it might have been a good strategy with Edey and Purdue.

Especially with the 3pt percentages some of those guys are shooting. Bottom line (and it’s a little bit weird) is that our bigger players  are shooting threes better than our other players

[Home Jersey 7,036]

1 hour ago, Hornsby said:

MM is likely gone by all accounts.

Sent from my SM-A146U using Tapatalk
 

I agree but the staff still needs to try and keep him. 

[Hoosier987 1,105]

46 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

I agree but the staff still needs to try and keep him. 

Why do you think Mgbako is gone? He’s not going to the NBA. I do worry about the transfer but we got NIL $.

[Home Jersey 7,036]

7 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Why do you think Mgbako is gone? He’s not going to the NBA. I do worry about the transfer but we got NIL $.

Portal. I think the narrative about him/his season has been set already, and the best way for him to reset the narrative is to portal. I personally could see where he would feel he has not been best set up for success so far this year. That said, he has improved a lot... who knows what he is thinking right now/what he will when the season ends. I hope he stays! I just don't see it right now. Would like to think the staff is already on it...

[Hoosier987 1,105]

9 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Portal. I think the narrative about him/his season has been set already, and the best way for him to reset the narrative is to portal. I personally could see where he would feel he has not been best set up for success so far this year. That said, he has improved a lot... who knows what he is thinking right now/what he will when the season ends. I hope he stays! I just don't see it right now. Would like to think the staff is already on it...

I agree that he hasn’t been utilized to the maximum…I always have felt more plays should be run for him, especially since he’s our one legit threat from outside. With that said he’s not a one and done player like I think he thought he was. No coach would’ve changed that.
 

Regardless, the Staff needs to be already on it ensuring he stays. Sit him down and come up with a plan that’s going to enable him. No reason why he shouldn’t be option 1a or 1b next year. He’s going to be a bona fide star once he figures everything out. We can ill afford to lose Mgbako and I strongly feel that way. If he didn’t have the tag of a top 10 player, a lot would be really happy with the way he’s played and developed over the season. Before Woodson targets the important portal season, he needs to lock down Mgbako and Reneau. 

[Golfman25 5,240]

2 hours ago, Hoosier987 said:

Why do you think Mgbako is gone? He’s not going to the NBA. I do worry about the transfer but we got NIL $.

He'll need to go somewhere they don't care about defense.  :)  

[Golfman25 5,240]

2 hours ago, Hoosier987 said:

I agree that he hasn’t been utilized to the maximum…I always have felt more plays should be run for him, especially since he’s our one legit threat from outside. With that said he’s not a one and done player like I think he thought he was. No coach would’ve changed that.
 

Regardless, the Staff needs to be already on it ensuring he stays. Sit him down and come up with a plan that’s going to enable him. No reason why he shouldn’t be option 1a or 1b next year. He’s going to be a bona fide star once he figures everything out. We can ill afford to lose Mgbako and I strongly feel that way. If he didn’t have the tag of a top 10 player, a lot would be really happy with the way he’s played and developed over the season. Before Woodson targets the important portal season, he needs to lock down Mgbako and Reneau. 

I'll say this.  Woodson has been his biggest defender.  Whenever he comes up, Woodson knocks down the "stars" stuff and notes that he is only a freshman, doing freshman things, and his coming along well.  

[IUFAN1976 2,901]

1 hour ago, Golfman25 said:

He'll need to go somewhere they don't care about defense.  :)  

Well then, he’s at the right school.  It looks like we don’t care about D either.  He has gotten a little better at D.

[Bowhunter 2,693]

Mgbako is playing crappy defense. Looks lazy guarding on the perimeter. This really bothers me. It’s totally effort related. I could see him leaving for another school. I want him to buy in and stay here. It will be interesting to see  what happens.