Things you're most curious to see this basketball season

[Home Jersey 6,579]

Since our undefeated Hoosier football team has a bye this week, and we're just about two weeks away from our first look in the charity game, curious to hear what everyone is most interested in seeing about this year's team. The obvious one for everyone, I assume, is a more perimeter-oriented offense. I'm also wondering how they'll do with Woody's defense, given the new players in the system. In terms of the players... 

• I think Mgbako will be the player many hoped for last year based on the 5 star billing. Scoring machine. Hopefully he is more competent on both sides of the ball this year. 
• What role Cupps eventually takes on... I have a tough time finding many minutes for him. But I know others are higher on him than me. I like his supposed work ethic... 
• Gallo as 6th man - feels like we've been saying that is his ideal role for 3 years now. Hope he thrives in that role the way we expect him to. 
• Jakai is obviously the question mark / dark horse factor on this roster
• Ware and TJD were very different players... I think Ballo will be more similar in terms of scoring around the basket. REALLY pumped about his fit on the roster. 
• Reneau ... what a cornerstone he has been for Woody. He will likely get the back up 5 mins this year. Can he hold up on defense? Does he continue to step outside and show more from out there? I don't know if he envisioned himself as a 4 year player coming out of MVA... who knows what he thinks now. The front court next year is a big blank at the moment. 
• Flipping Goode from Illinois has me legitimately excited about this team. Quality depth for the first time in how long? 
• Speaking of quality depth... guard play. Carlyle gives us a 2nd power 5 FOTY. Rice could be the best point we've had since Yogi. 

On paper, other than front court depth, this team is very talented and well rounded. Proven production across the board. Style of play is the big question mark. And what identity the locker room has... that's hopefully where Gallo and Leal contribute in a big way. Can't freakin wait to root for this team through the inevitable ups and downs. 

[Magnanimous 4,463]

Who will be our leading scorer in the NC game?
 

Seriously. If we’re paying top dollar, we should expect top results.

 

[Scotty R 2,127]

I am looking to see if the  offense will  actually be different than the first 3 years.

[OliviaPope40 6,432]

Free throw shooting I'm hoping we can make them and not miss so many loss a lot of games at the line. Also whether MR can stop getting into foul trouble and not foul out of games.

Edited October 12 by OliviaPope40

[HoosierHoopster 6,788]

1. How much time will 4 out 1 in lineups get? We’ll start Ballo - Malik, but then one will rest and we’ll see some other (more diverse, less predictable, and ultimately better for tourney play) lineups- but for how much time? How much will Woodson adjust now that we clearly have the players to do so.

2. impact of Rice. Can’t wait to see it.

3. Jakai - gamechanger if he’s full bore. Cautiously optimistic. The way he could change the way we play…. 

4. Ballo bullying PU. A smile on my face.

5. Will Gallo be a 6th man off the bench? Would be a major change really in Woodson’s thinking.

 

[Napleshoosier 10,137]

If Woody can leave the cigars and wine alone and coach basketball!  We got players, do we have a coach?  Show me.  I’m from Mo.!  (Not really from Mo. but u get it)

[HoosierTrav 7,731]

I’m most looking forward to a few things. I’ll list them in order. 
 

1. The offense: Woodson mentioned shooting more 3’s and having the roster to play the way he’d like to play. We shall see. 
 

2. Bryson Tucker: Possibly the least talked about burger boys I can ever remember. He’s so good offensively. I believe he will end up like OG Anunoby, in the sense that he comes in with no noise and ends up having the biggest and brightest NBA career. 
 

3. Myles Rice & Kanaan Carlyle: Rice has B1G POTY potential and will likely be the best PG we’ve had since Yogi Ferrell. Carlyle has the ability to score points in volume, very quickly. 
 

I think this roster has the potential to be elite. National Championship potential. The coaching is the biggest question mark on this roster imho. 

[LamarCheeks 17,980]

Remember in "Blue Chips," when Happy -- the fat-cat booster -- went nuts on Coach Pete Bell at the post-game presser and had to be escorted from the proceedings? 

Now that boosters and alumni are legally spending major coin on programs and players, I'm wondering when we'll see something like that after a team's crappy performance?

Not necessarily at IU, but anywhere. 

As we see on this board, people are a tad passionate about their college sports -- and at some point, I can see that occuring. 

[johnsoniu 6,278]

14 minutes ago, LamarCheeks said:

Remember in "Blue Chips," when Happy -- the fat-cat booster -- went nuts on Coach Pete Bell at the post-game presser and had to be escorted from the proceedings? 

Now that boosters and alumni are legally spending major coin on programs and players, I'm wondering when we'll see something like that after a team's crappy performance?

Not necessarily at IU, but anywhere. 

As we see on this board, people are a tad passionate about their college sports -- and at some point, I can see that occuring. 

>shuffles deck<
pulls out Lexington, KY; sometime in December.

[RaceToTheTop 24,917]

I'm most curious to see the breakdown in playing time for each player.  On paper, this is by far the deepest team that Woodson has had.

[DChoosier 7,827]

4 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

I'm most curious to see the breakdown in playing time for each player.  On paper, this is by far the deepest team that Woodson has had.

Playing time is going to be a big issue which, in a lot of ways, is a positive. Just hope the disappointed players handle it well.

[Home Jersey 6,579]

1 hour ago, RaceToTheTop said:

I'm most curious to see the breakdown in playing time for each player.  On paper, this is by far the deepest team that Woodson has had.

Definitely the big question right now. I'm sure it will work out differently, especially early in the year as we know Woody likes to test out different lineups and play a deep rotation to see what he is working with.

Only 200 minutes to go around. 40 at each position. 

Just using round numbers to keep it simple, let's say at the 5, the plan is to play Ballo ~30mpg. Reneau plays the other 10 mpg at the 5 position. If Reneau gets 25-30 minutes per game, that means he takes 15-20 mpg at the 4 spot. That leaves 20-25 mpg at the 4 spot, most likely for Mgbako, Goode and Tucker. Let's call it 20 mpg at the 4 spot and 40 mins at the 3. 20mpg for Mgbako/Goode/Tucker. Again, I'm sure it will work out differently. Just some back of the napkin math until we see rotations in practice. 

The backcourt math is also interesting. 80 mpg to go around across Rice, Carlyle, Gallo, Cupps, and Newton. Cupps and Newton will need to seriously earn their minutes competing against those guards. That's not even factoring in Leal who may have a lot of good will with the staff as a senior leader. If Newton can be the tenacious defender / explosive athlete he was before the injuries, that could be what elevates the trajectory of this team or not. 

Minutes will be tough to come by. I love that there will be competition to get on the court. All sorts of interesting rotations we could see... look forward to seeing how the staff has tweaked their strategy 

[fwgreenway 495]

#1) The Defense - On ball pressure. Turnovers. In your face shut down D

#2) Get out and run. Early offense. Early open looks from deep. Rebound. Rebound. Rebound

#3) Play under control. Play smart. Don't beat yourself

#4) Keep Reneau out of foul trouble and team free throw shooting %

#5) Will Galloway be as good after last year injury and off season surgery?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Dave from Dayton 2,935]

Another National Championship basketball banner hanging in SSAH.  Coaches taking advantage of matchups.  Great recruiting. Much improved assists, shooting percentages, defensive efficiency, breakout seasons for lots of team members, and winning the B1G and POTFB...too.

[WayneFleekHoosier 47,932]

Above all else, Fun, fast paced winning basketball.

 

Individually, I love the players.  I think the roster has real potential.  I’d love to see Newton healthy and impactful.  Ballo to stay healthy and miss less than 2 games on the season.  

Can Mgbako improve his defensive footwork?

Players playing hard, smart, and aggressive.  

Boxed out rebounding.  

Championship game in the Bahamas.  
 
14-6 in the B1G at worst.  

Sweet 16 run or better.  

[HinnyHoosier 4,769]

Effective roster depth. I'm ready to wear teams down with matchup problems off the bench and energy that doesn't drop off. 

[IUFAN1976 2,775]

Wins, wins and more wins!!!  Oh yes, and something that finally looks like coaching!

[rcbowla 7,020]

Whether a, seemingly, talented roster can overcome mediocre to bad coaching. We've seen it happen many times before in college basketball so why not.

[AZ Hoosier 6,540]

Can Armond Hill manage to stay awake for the games?

[Dave from Dayton 2,935]

Since my wife of 47 years and I will be in St. Croix USVI in early to past mid-March, I want to see beaches and Indiana in the NCAA Tournament on March 18.  Will be really fun juggling beach and snorkeling time with the games.  Great problem to have.  I'm up for it.  Buck Island Reef National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)