IUBB vs Washington - Sunday, 01.04.26 @ 8:00 on BTN

[DChoosier]

19 hours ago, reconmkd said:

Maybe 1/2 to 2/3. Lot of empty lower level seats. 

Not surprised with the lack of attendance as I couldn’t believe how low the Stubhub prices were.  
Attendance will pick up once the students return, we pick up a few more W’s and football season ends. 

[Hovadipo]

10 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

Not surprised with the lack of attendance as I couldn’t believe how low the Stubhub prices were.  
Attendance will pick up once the students return, we pick up a few more W’s and football season ends. 

8:00 tip on the Sunday night of a bunch of people’s final day of Christmas break is crazy. We’ve had a really weird schedule this year. 

[Shooter]

6 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

They left Enright and Conerway unguarded on the perimeter early and the two of them scorched them from deep. Enright is a career 36+% 3pt shooter on volume (2-5 last night), so he can't be left completely unguarded. He also had nine assists and zero turnovers last night. And he took two charges. He was IU's game MVP. 

Btw, after Conerway and Enright hit a bunch of threes they came out on them. Conerway then blew past people to the rim and Enright got into the lane for a ton of assists. A better strategy for Washington? Play good team defense one through five to pressure, deny, and help. They don't do that because "Danny Sprinkle." Woof.

Washington started the game in a triangle and 2 which was pretty crazy. Haven't seen that in a while. Credit to Conerway and Enright for shooting them out of that, but I wouldn't say they ever really came out on Enright. Plenty of possessions he was "guarded" by Steinbach, who was giving him a 10 foot cushion and playing more of a rover role.

Triangle and 2 was a bit extreme, but that won't be the last team to play way off of Enright and dare him to do anything offensively. 

[Stuhoo]

2 minutes ago, Shooter said:

Washington started the game in a triangle and 2 which was pretty crazy. Haven't seen that in a while. Credit to Conerway and Enright for shooting them out of that, but I wouldn't say they ever really came out on Enright. Plenty of possessions he was "guarded" by Steinbach, who was giving him a 10 foot cushion and playing more of a rover role.

Triangle and 2 was a bit extreme, but that won't be the last team to play way off of Enright and dare him to do anything offensively. 

Steinbach is 6'10" and looooonnng. He gave Enright space, but his hand up is a problem for 6'0" Enright

[Shooter]

3 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Steinbach is 6'10" and looooong. He gave Enright space, but his hand up is a problem for 6'0" Enright

I'm just saying, part of our offensive issues against good teams is that it's hard to play 4 on 5 on offense. Disciplined defenses will sag off him, not bite on shot fakes and play the pass when he drives.

Enright currently occupies a usage category Kenpom calls "nearly invisible" - following the tradition of Anthony Leal and Gabe Cupps in recent years. You are right that he has a decent career shooting percentage. It will help us a ton if he is willing and able to knock down shots when he's open.

[Uspshoosier]

IU got burnt by a non shooter hitting really on as well.   Claude is a terrible 3 pt shooter but he drained 2 early ones.  IU should have had 2 more 3s that were counted as a 2.    Dorn and DeVries hit long 2s with a foot on the line 

[str8baller]

1 hour ago, Shooter said:

Washington started the game in a triangle and 2 which was pretty crazy. Haven't seen that in a while. Credit to Conerway and Enright for shooting them out of that, but I wouldn't say they ever really came out on Enright. Plenty of possessions he was "guarded" by Steinbach, who was giving him a 10 foot cushion and playing more of a rover role.

Triangle and 2 was a bit extreme, but that won't be the last team to play way off of Enright and dare him to do anything offensively. 

Correct. I had a long post written out that I thought I posted but I guess not. Anyways, they weren’t challenging his 3’s. I went back and looked at the second half. In fact his first miss—3rd attempt—the guy goes to close out, sees it’s Enright and turns around to back towards the paint. 
 

After 3 misses, at the 16 min mark, Enright didn’t attempt another 3.  
 

He did a nice job of driving into space and passing (a really nice job) but Washington is the only team that really has had any problem with him doing that so far. 
 

I think going forward in conference where teams are more familiar with each other and better scouted you’ll see more teams dare Enright to beat them. We’ll need to find answers.

[Unexpectedflash]

47 minutes ago, str8baller said:

Correct. I had a long post written out that I thought I posted but I guess not. Anyways, they weren’t challenging his 3’s. I went back and looked at the second half. In fact his first miss—3rd attempt—the guy goes to close out, sees it’s Enright and turns around to back towards the paint. 
 

After 3 misses, at the 16 min mark, Enright didn’t attempt another 3.  
 

He did a nice job of driving into space and passing (a really nice job) but Washington is the only team that really has had any problem with him doing that so far. 
 

I think going forward in conference where teams are more familiar with each other and better scouted you’ll see more teams dare Enright to beat them. We’ll need to find answers.

Not sure there is an answer this year sadly. Conerway is really the only one that can consistently beat their man off the dribble. We need like 2 more of him. Maybe play Dorn more when enright isn’t shooting but that puts even more on conerway. Tucker is so unathletic for a guy being paid as the best player on the team that’s it’s sadly limiting 

[Home Jersey]

4 minutes ago, Unexpectedflash said:

Not sure there is an answer this year sadly. Conerway is really the only one that can consistently beat their man off the dribble. We need like 2 more of him. Maybe play Dorn more when enright isn’t shooting but that puts even more on conerway. Tucker is so unathletic for a guy being paid as the best player on the team that’s it’s sadly limiting 

Options definitely seem limited but we will see what DDV and staff come up with.

I think Dorn being on the floor helps a lot. IMO, the offense is kinda night and day based on how well Wilkerson is moving off-ball. Tucker has to be a staple on this team but his athletic limitations have sort of surprised me. I think (and hope) he will break out of this shooting slump soon. Sisley has a big role too - could see it expanding a bit.  

[newcastle12]

22 hours ago, LamarCheeks said:

Anybody remember or have any knowledge of how the Bryson Tucker departure went down? I can barely remember what I did yesterday, yet what went on last offseason.

Did he have any interesting in staying? Did D-Rock have any interest in keeping him? 

I do remember that it sure seemed as if he and Woody weren't on the same page during the last few games of last season. 

Almost all of the portal peeps that left stayed until their meeting, and then declared for the portal immediately after talking with D Rock.

So the fact they took the meeting and then left right after probably answers that question on who's idea it was.  Everyone was tight lipped about the specifics after though.  

[Shooter]

37 minutes ago, Unexpectedflash said:

Not sure there is an answer this year sadly. Conerway is really the only one that can consistently beat their man off the dribble. We need like 2 more of him. Maybe play Dorn more when enright isn’t shooting but that puts even more on conerway. Tucker is so unathletic for a guy being paid as the best player on the team that’s it’s sadly limiting 

Back in his Drake days Tucker took roughly equal 2s and 3s. This season, more than twice as many 3s as 2s. And it's not only because of higher competition - it's the same story vs the non-con cupcakes.

I only watched him once or twice at Drake, but it seems like his athleticism has been sapped a bit with injuries and some extra weight.

[str8baller]

6 minutes ago, Shooter said:

I only watched him once or twice at Drake, but it seems like his athleticism has been sapped a bit with injuries and some extra weight.

I would buy this theory only because last night I thought to myself, “Tucker looks a little reenergized and that the layoff did him well.”

 

Back to @Unexpectedflash s point, I think the answer has to be one of or a combination of Sisley or Dorn. Last night Sisley carried the scoring load for an important stretch.  
 

Bailey was once again really bad. I’m confused as to why he played more than Alexis. And I’m with everyone on Tucker. He may need to revert to more of a spot up shooter.   But if Sisley or Dorn could emerge as a legit “6th starter” type, I would feel a lot better about where this is headed. 
 

But hey, on the bright side those are a ton of nitpicks and we still won by 10 against a decent opponent.  

[Uspshoosier]

52 minutes ago, Shooter said:

only watched him once or twice at Drake, but it seems like his athleticism has been sapped a bit with injuries and some extra weight.

Never had athleticism he was just playing MVC level athletes and now he is playing B1G athletes.  Big difference.  His game was never based on athleticism 

[Uspshoosier]

If IU is to make the tourney then in my opinion it will be Tucker  getting them there.   He is in a shooting slump right now but that can change in a second.  Loyer was 11-41 going into their last game after his hot start to the season where he couldn’t miss.  He found his stroke again the other night.  I’ve watched Tucker his whole career.  He is a really good college player just not explosive in any form.   

[FortWayneHoosier]

1 hour ago, Uspshoosier said:

Never had athleticism he was just playing MVC level athletes and now he is playing B1G athletes.  Big difference.  His game was never based on athleticism 

I carry this same thought. There’s levels to this…and MVC to Big Ten is night and day difference. 

[Shooter]

11 hours ago, Uspshoosier said:

Never had athleticism he was just playing MVC level athletes and now he is playing B1G athletes.  Big difference.  His game was never based on athleticism 

It's not just B1G athletes. The two games prior to this against Chicago State and Siena, he took a total of 20 threes and only 5 twos. That's a significant change in his shot diet compared to earlier in his career.

I am certain you watched him play at Drake more than I did. I wasn't expecting him to be a super athlete, but I was expecting a version of Tucker closer to what we saw vs Marquette. A shooter but also someone who can score inside via smart cutting and attacking closeouts.

[Hovadipo]

38 minutes ago, Shooter said:

It's not just B1G athletes. The two games prior to this against Chicago State and Siena, he took a total of 20 threes and only 5 twos. That's a significant change in his shot diet compared to earlier in his career.

I am certain you watched him play at Drake more than I did. I wasn't expecting him to be a super athlete, but I was expecting a version of Tucker closer to what we saw vs Marquette. A shooter but also someone who can score inside via smart cutting and attacking closeouts.

I’ve also watched him a bunch (not as much as Mailman, but am a Valley Guy also) and I think it’s both. He’s seeing better athletes in-conference and he’s definitely not moving like he used to. Obviously was never explosive, but he just kinda……lumbers. It seems like he’s been injured for the last 3 years. He was beat up big time their last year at Drake.

Still think if we go anywhere it’ll be on his shoulders in one way or another. They need to get him going. 

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, Hovadipo said:

I’ve also watched him a bunch (not as much as Mailman, but am a Valley Guy also) and I think it’s both. He’s seeing better athletes in-conference and he’s definitely not moving like he used to. Obviously was never explosive, but he just kinda……lumbers. It seems like he’s been injured for the last 3 years. He was beat up big time their last year at Drake.

Still think if we go anywhere it’ll be on his shoulders in one way or another. They need to get him going. 

Hasn't been leg or back injuries. Two bad shoulders shoudn't make him so heavy legged.

[str8baller]

 I’m going to disagree with USPS and Hov. I think if we’re going somewhere it’ll be on the back of Wilkerson. He shook off a slow start and carried the team a little that second half. He’s getting more comfortable with the athleticism at this level and getting into the lane a bit more where he’s actually a pretty good passer.  He had 17 shots to Tuckers 7. 8FTs vs 0. And played 39 min to Tuckers 31.  
 

Tucker needs to still move off the ball and be the worlds most dangerous spot up shooter. But him doing anything with the ball in his hands is a chore. 

[Hovadipo]

30 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

Hasn't been leg or back injuries. Two bad shoulders shoudn't make him so heavy legged.

He had a long lingering ankle injury his last year at Drake. He moves like he still has it, whether he does or not.

And whether it's age or something else, he's certainly put on some freight without upgrading the motor.