IUBB vs USC - Wednesday, 01.08.25 @ 7:00 on BTN

[cybergates]

4 hours ago, Uspshoosier said:

He is bush league.  While IU was shooting FTs at his end he would yell box out as loud as he could right when the shooter was shooting.  He is lucky I didn’t run on the court and tell him to his face “USC lost” and then pose like Crean or the cop 

[Home Jersey]

Play Ballo ~25 mins a game, have Reneau as the back up 5 for the 15 minutes Ballo sits. Start them together but let Reneau try and play more on the perimeter a bit (I’m sure many will cringe at that suggestion). I think WayneFleek said it first but I’m wondering how much of it is Ballo/Reneau together vs those two plus Mgbako. Mgbako’s shooting gives him the edge obviously and why he starts. But maybe he needs a similar wake up call to Ballo for a few games and can sit… Start them with MR playing more like Mgbako and evaluate after 5 mins. That gets Malik up to 20mpg and you can roll with the hotter hand in the second half, etc. Just throwing **** at the wall here though.

[str8baller]

I’m just assuming all the Ballo defenders/Reneau critics didn’t watch the Penn State game. That first half was the most atrocious rim protection and paint defense I’ve seen in a long time. And that was with Ballo in. 
 

Maybe give Reneau the benefit of playing 4-1 a couple games and see if his passing and offense don’t improve too. I feel like a lot of what is being attributed to Ballo, at MRs expense, is just an artifact of us playing a style more beneficial to our talent on the perimeter. 

[J34]

17 hours ago, reconmkd said:

But it was Cheney who fixed the freethrow problem. 

Correct 

[IUFAN1976]

3 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

Play Ballo ~25 mins a game, have Reneau as the back up 5 for the 15 minutes Ballo sits. Start them together but let Reneau try and play more on the perimeter a bit (I’m sure many will cringe at that suggestion). I think WayneFleek said it first but I’m wondering how much of it is Ballo/Reneau together vs those two plus Mgbako. Mgbako’s shooting gives him the edge obviously and why he starts. But maybe he needs a similar wake up call to Ballo for a few games and can sit… Start them with MR playing more like Mgbako and evaluate after 5 mins. That gets Malik up to 20mpg and you can roll with the hotter hand in the second half, etc. Just throwing **** at the wall here though.

I’d like to play them together the least amount as possible but if MW is going to start them together, and he will, play them 2-3 minutes to start and adjust from there.  

[Juwan Moye]

3 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

Play Ballo ~25 mins a game, have Reneau as the back up 5 for the 15 minutes Ballo sits. Start them together but let Reneau try and play more on the perimeter a bit (I’m sure many will cringe at that suggestion). I think WayneFleek said it first but I’m wondering how much of it is Ballo/Reneau together vs those two plus Mgbako. Mgbako’s shooting gives him the edge obviously and why he starts. But maybe he needs a similar wake up call to Ballo for a few games and can sit… Start them with MR playing more like Mgbako and evaluate after 5 mins. That gets Malik up to 20mpg and you can roll with the hotter hand in the second half, etc. Just throwing **** at the wall here though.

The Ballo/Reneau pairing is primarily an issue on the offensive end.

 

The Ballo/Reneau/Mgbako pairing gets us exposed on the defensive end. Basically playing two 5’s and a 4 so we can’t guard the perimeter and then our “size” doesn’t rebound because they’re out of position.

[Hoosier DaDa]

9 hours ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Osterman -

Across their last three games, Trey Galloway and Myles Rice have combined for:

• 79 points
• 27 rebounds
• 29 assists
• 11 turnovers

It's nice to have good guard play. 

[Hoosier DaDa]

6 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Anyone have any thoughts on Reneau

Hope Malik doesn't read BTownBanners because his feelings are going to be hurt LOL. 

[Hoosier DaDa]

22 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

Time for my favorite pro tip: If you’re on iPhone, download the AdBlock Pro app and set it up to work on Safari. This site runs like a dream with that. All fundraiser funds can be directed to my personal Venmo thank you. 

BIG Thanks for the pro tip. Did this earlier today after reading your post. Everyone if you haven’t done this already do it you’ll be thanking Hovadipo just like I am right now.

[RaceToTheTop]

5 hours ago, J34 said:

Correct 

I don't know if I would go so far as to say he 'fixed' the problem.  Ballo is a career 57% free throw shooter who is shooting 59% this season.  He was horrible last year but he was a 70% shooter in the 21/22 season.

[RaceToTheTop]

11 hours ago, IUFAN1976 said:

 He’s selfish, a ball hog, terrible defender, and not a good rebounder or rim protector.  

 Overblown, IMO.  I think a lot is being put on IU winning three games in a row where two were at home against two of the worst three teams in the Big Ten and a road game against a Penn State team that is starting to look like fool's gold.

Reneau is a pretty money player when he does get it down low.  I'm not sure I'm upset about a 'ball hog' who takes 9 shots per game and shoots 60%.  I think the issue compounds when Ballo, Reneau, and Mgbako are on the court together because none of them are guys who create their own shot and defensively that puts Mgbako on a wing.

Also remember, though, that the selling point that got Mgbako here was him playing the 3.

[IUFAN1976]

10 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

 Overblown, IMO.  I think a lot is being put on IU winning three games in a row where two were at home against two of the worst three teams in the Big Ten and a road game against a Penn State team that is starting to look like fool's gold.

Reneau is a pretty money player when he does get it down low.  I'm not sure I'm upset about a 'ball hog' who takes 9 shots per game and shoots 60%.  I think the issue compounds when Ballo, Reneau, and Mgbako are on the court together because none of them are guys who create their own shot and defensively that puts Mgbako on a wing.

Also remember, though, that the selling point that got Mgbako here was him playing the 3.

Yes, I overstated my remarks and I apologize and you are right, the problem is when all 3 are on the court together and that’s on MW.

[Whoozhers]

Might be too early to say but….. it’s starting to feel good about wearing IU gear again.

LET’S GOOOOOO HOOSIERS!!