What Three Things Will You Be Watching For In Friday's Game?

[JaybobHoosier 11,852]

With the first regular season game coming up on Friday, there are quite a few questions surrounding this years' team, and rightfully so.  Because of that, I want to see what people will be watching for in the season opener.  It could be turnovers, style of play, free-throws, certain players, etc.  It doesn't have to be concerns, it could just be how players adjust or play.  Please name three, and describe why!

 

GO HOOSIERS!

[BlueDevil 8,693]

For me...

1. It is important how IU handles the ball they had way too many turnovers against USI and the first half against Hillsdale. Ball control is key for any team.

2. Noah Vonleh at the stripe. He is going to get to the line a lot this year and if he cannot knock then down there will be no choice but to sit him in crunch time when free throws matter.

3. Improvement. No matter the outcome, it is important to see improvement every game from the young guys. This is a very young team and as long as they improve, it will benefit in the long run. They will be a very tough out by the end of the season.


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[JaybobHoosier 11,852]

Turnovers - This team is a little "loose" with the basketball.  Yogi is great at ball-handling, but can get a little "wow pass" crazy.  He needs to make the smart passes and plays, not the ESPN Top10 type of play.  Also, everyone else are questionmarks with the ball in their hands.  Hollowell makes me nervous, Robinson is a Freshman, and Williams likes to get deep into traffic.  How will this team handle the turnovers, we will see?!

 

Over-Excited - With all the inexperience on this team, how will they start and play the game?  This is a very young team, and it is completely understandable for them to be over-excited, esp. from the start.  I'm just curious to see how they are going to adjust and get situated after that.  We have a lot of depth, but that depth is very young too.  Just a lot of young guys that will be over excited to play. 

 

Offensive Identity - IU had made a nice nitch with a defensive identity, and that will be their strength this season.  However, I want to see what type of offensive identity they are trying to establish.  We have roles already in place for certain players, but in the two exhibition games, I didn't see a good offensive identity.  Yes, it is still very early, but what will IU do to try and get an offensive identity established.

 

Those are my three for this game.  Very excited and can't wait!

[Dalton26 16,892]

1. How we start. We've started both games this far slow and flat. I'd like to see us get going early. If we keep these slow starts up we won't stand a chance in B1G play.

2. Free Throws. Missed Free throws can be the difference between a W and L. I'd like to see the FT% up.

3. Ball Handling. I want to see Yogi and whoever backs him up to really take care of the ball. I want to see the team as a whole cut down on turnovers.


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[Naturalhoosier 15,434]

Stability

Leadership

Consistency

[WBHoosier 41]

1. How we start - we need to play with 100% effort and focus all the time, not just when we fall behind. Some games, once you fall behind there is no coming back.

 

2. Turnovers/Free throws - I lump them together because they can both be solved with focus and practice. 

 

3. Who plays the shooter? - SOMEONE has to try and stretch the floor, so who plays that role and who succeeds in it?

[JaybobHoosier 11,852]

Great stuff guys, keep it coming!

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Like others said, the start will be important.

 

1.  Slow start?  - That's now two games in a row the Hoosiers have come out flat and played poorly in the opening minutes.  I'm hoping alot of this can be attributed to nerves as we are rather young, but it can't continue.  Our first road game won't be pretty if they come out flat...   Syracuse... Dear Lord..

 

2.  Defense - I'll be interested to see if the defense is as strong as it has looked in the first few games.  Obviously our athleticism and length is really creating havoc on these smaller less athletic teams.  I'll be interested in watching the team defense and deflections moving forward.

 

3. Free Throws - It's going to win and lose us games this year.  Mark my words.

[mdn82 25,510]

1.  Defense

2.  Yogi's leadership during the regular season.

3.  How the freshman grew from the exhibitions to the start of the season.

[Homegrown Hoosier 40]

1. Quick Start

2. Solid Defensive Performance

3. Leadership of Yogi and Will

[FortWayneHoosier 6,196]

Troy williams- hes gonna my favorite player i can just tell, I really like his enthusiasm, speed and quickness, but he seems  a little out of control at times, and needs to slow down and focus on what hes doing.

 

Start- like everyone else said, theyve come out flat in the start of both exhibtion games. It needs to be changed

 

Finishing- To me last year everytime our guys got up by ten or more, and seemed to just give up and not take it as serious as they would if they were down. I would like this team to keep up the pace and not let down when they have a lead.

[djsalway 4,161]

Stan and Devin - I'm really looking forward to seeing what these two freshmen can do not only in this game, but throughout the season. The biggest thing for me to see with them is what they do on the boards and defensive end. They both bring so much energy and will be key on the defensive side of the ball.

 

Start - Like everyone else has said, we have to start well. No getting behind because this team has 9 seniors who know what it takes.

 

Free Throw Shooting - Once again, I know everyone has said this, but it is a HUGE part of this season. If we can't make free throws, we can't win as many games as we'd like. Remember, we led the country in free throws attempted last year, so a drop off in percentage is a big deal.

[Kineticz 87]

The slow starts aren't worrying me just yet, we had a lot of injuries this preseason.. So I'm thinking we were working with plays and sets that were unfamiliar to most of the guys.

The only thing that scares me is Jeremy running the point. He isn't deliberate enough yet. Seems like he is seeing the play a step behind his defender. Maybe this game speed experience will help him get up to speed with the rest of his game.


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[chicagoHOOSIER 1,051]

I am beginning to wonder how long it takes before this is our starting lineup:

 

Yogi

Stan

Troy

Noah

 

+1 of any of the following

 

Will

Jeremy

Hanner

Luke

 

I understand that taking Will out of the starting lineup takes our best senior out of the lineup and emphasizes our youth, but Will isn't exactly dominating out there.

 

so minus Will, plus each of the following:

 

1) Jeremy

2) Hanner

3) Luke

[Dalton26 16,892]

I am beginning to wonder how long it takes before this is our starting lineup:

Yogi
Stan
Troy
Noah

+1 of any of the following

Will
Jeremy
Hanner
Luke

I understand that taking Will out of the starting lineup takes our best senior out of the lineup and emphasizes our youth, but Will isn't exactly dominating out there.

so minus Will, plus each of the following:

1) Jeremy
2) Hanner
3) Luke

I've wondered the same thing. Will just doesn't come off as a starter to me. He seems like the kind of player that needs to start on the bench and kind of see how the flow of the game is going. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see him coming off the bench at some point.


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[djsalway 4,161]

I've wondered the same thing. Will just doesn't come off as a starter to me. He seems like the kind of player that needs to start on the bench and kind of see how the flow of the game is going. I wouldn't be shocked at all to see him coming off the bench at some point.


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Will has even said before that he likes coming off of the bench better.


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[Parakeet Jones 3,773]

1.  Can we put together 40 minutes of good play even if it is against weaker competition.

 

2.  As most everyone else has said, how much do we turn the ball over.

 

3.  Division of minutes and combinations of guys used. 

[JaybobHoosier 11,852]

I understand where you guys are coming from, and agree. However, Will has always been a player that can go 9-9 against Purdue, but then go scoreless the next 2. I think he will be a starter most, if not all of the season. I would really like to see:

Yogi
Stan
Troy
Jeremy
Vonleh

But I think JH is a year away from starting. That's why I think Will will be starting a lot.

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[Dalton26 16,892]

I understand where you guys are coming from, and agree. However, Will has always been a player that can go 9-9 against Purdue, but then go scoreless the next 2. I think he will be a starter most, if not all of the season. I would really like to see:

Yogi
Stan
Troy
Jeremy
Vonleh

But I think JH is a year away from starting. That's why I think Will will be starting a lot.

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I'd like that line-up. I'm curious to see how HMP looks 7-8 games in.


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