Puerto Rico Trip 8/5 - 8/12

[tyappleg]

Never a doubt.  Final 4 tickets being purchased. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

LOL. Credit for toughness and execution.  Amazing. 

[IU5355]

Hoosiers Win! What competition level does this mega team compare to? Anyone have any idea or follow Euro Ball? I get they are a pro team but how good are they?

[Home Jersey]

An IUBB staff that can manage late game scenarios? A team that plays smart, hard, and never quits? 

Be still, my heart. 

[go iu bb]

1 hour ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

I feel like this is preparing us as fans for what’s upcoming.  Maybe we can pull another miracle comeback?  
 

 

Yep, preparing us for a team that will continue to play hard and won't give up. Adjustments will be made by the staff and players. It's good to know this in advance.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Osterman over the last couple of minutes -

FINAL: Indiana 81, Mega Superbet 80

And Wilkerson plays the defense that completes the comeback. More to come, but an exciting come-from-behind win to close out this tour against a tough opponent. Hoosiers finish 3-0.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Indiana takes the lead

IU 81, Mega 80, 6.6 seconds left 4Q: Lamar Wilkerson has had two absolute dimes in the last three minutes, including a drive and dump for a dunk to a cutting Reed Bailey just now to take the lead.

This second half (really the entire game) has been defined by the push and pull of Indiana trying to get him going as Mega tries to take him away. Hoosiers are within one stop of another comeback win.

Ristic smooth

Mega 80, IU 79, 39.6 seconds left 4Q: Quick timeout after Aleksa Ristic got his defender in the air with a fake and drove the lane for a smooth floater. It's a small sample size, but there's a lot to like and a lot to work with in his offensive game going forward. Good mechanics, great feel.

IU's got it within one for the first time in ages. A third-straight stop would give the Hoosiers a chance to take the lead.

Tight finish coming

Mega 80, IU 74, 1:58 left 4Q: Coming down to the wire here. Indiana hasn't hit enough 3s to take control of this game but the Hoosiers have allowed just 30 points since halftime, really digging in defensively.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 minute ago, Home Jersey said:

An IUBB staff that can manage late game scenarios? A team that plays smart, hard, and never quits? 

Be still, my heart. 

The execution on the last 3 possessions was excellent. 
 

Now the hard question?  Are we better without Enright on the floor on both ends of the court.?

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

2 minutes ago, HoosierDevils said:

Notable that IU is doing this with Conerway on the bench most of the second half after dropping 18 in the first 

Reports he limped to the bench at one point and I didn't see any indication he returned to the court.

[AH1971]

Just now, IU5355 said:

Hoosiers Win! What competition level does this mega team compare to? Anyone have any idea or follow Euro Ball? I get they are a pro team but how good are they?

It's a middle-tier Serbian team known for producing good, young talent. I don't think they have the funds or resources to keep these guys long term so they develop them as 17-18-19 year olds until they are sold to the bigger clubs or go to the NBA draft. I believe I read this team had 4-5 guys go D1 from last years team and another kid drafted by the Bucks. The Italian 7-3 kid we are recruiting is currently on the team but don't believe he played this week. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

3 minutes ago, IU5355 said:

Hoosiers Win! What competition level does this mega team compare to? Anyone have any idea or follow Euro Ball? I get they are a pro team but how good are they?

Raby compared them to an A10 school 

[go iu bb]

A good mix of game situations in the 3 games:

- Blowout from start to finish without letting up

- Down big early, come back to win in a blowout

- Down big early, come back to win a close game in the last 10 seconds

[WayneFleekHoosier]

1 minute ago, go iu bb said:

Yep, preparing us for a team that will continue to play hard and won't give up. Adjustments will be made by the staff and players. It's good to know this in advance.

Both ends of the coin.  Good to figure out why we are 2 completely different teams.  DDV will definitely be able to point to these saying we aren’t winning on talent alone.  The comebacks are impressive but also a warning in the same light.  
 

[hper50]

Well, one thing's for damn sure. These guys don't give up. Can't wait for November.

[Hovadipo]

I MegaSuperBet that we’re back. 

[Hardwood83]

2 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

The execution on the last 3 possessions was excellent. 
 

Now the hard question?  Are we better without Enright on the floor on both ends of the court.?

I was surprised he started each game. If he fouls like this in real games, then I'd say 'no.' But from the indications these officials were unlike what IU will see again, who knows. Having a tough, willing defender & distributor off the bench ain't a bad thing though. 

[Stuhoo]

Damn. Lamar off the bounce for the win? That’s some good sauce.

Awesome to see this kind of team collective cojones in August.

This will not be a team that physically “out-lineups” others, but it’s likely going to be a pleasure to watch them.

PS; I was skeptical about Ristic contributing this year but it seems pretty clear that I was wrong and that he’s a very mature young player that will help a ton.

[WayneFleekHoosier]

2 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Raby compared them to an A10 school 

Yeah, this is in the equation.  Will be facing much more athletic and gifted teams.  But they know that.  Time will tell.  I’m sure they learned some stuff out of this.  I’m worried about top talented teams vs us,  but it isn’t my job to worry about that, I’ve got crowns to worry about now.  lol. And on that note, back to work. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

I hope someone will post the official FIBA box score.  From what I've seen we outrebounded them 36-28 and had an 11-5 advantage on the offensive glass.  After held scoreless in the first half, Wilkerson finished with 17 and DeVries 13.

[tyappleg]

1 minute ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Raby compared them to an A10 school 

For an entire new 12; coming off of only 10 practices, with one of our key guys (Ristic) only being with the team for about a week, makes me pretty optimistic for this year. 

I dont think we are a final 4 team or anything, but feel good about us in the 5-9 seed range in the tournament. 

I have way more confidence in the coaching staff than I have the last 2. 

[go iu bb]

6 minutes ago, Hardwood83 said:

I was surprised he started each game. If he fouls like this in real games, then I'd say 'no.' But from the indications these officials were unlike what IU will see again, who knows. Having a tough, willing defender & distributor off the bench ain't a bad thing though. 

Also keep in mind that the defense isn't where it needs to be yet. So some of the fouling could be either him or someone else not being where they should have been, basically things that will get worked on and corrected.

I will say that he has averaged 2+ fouls per game every year and 2.4 per game the last 2 years so he does seem to be foul prone. Last season he fouled out of only 1 game but also had 6 games where he had 4 fouls, most of those in conference.