IU vs. Stony Brook Rapid Reaction

[mdn82 25,501]

First, and most important, I am hopeful everyone made it through the day in one piece.  I missed part of the first half with no power, so this will be choppy for sure.  I didn't need 40 minutes of evidence to see Noah Vonleh is an absolute beast.  There was one play in particular that comes to mind on how great this kid is.  On a missed free throw, they threw two bodies on him to block out.  He didn't seem to fight for the board and Crean gave him an earful.  My lip reading isn't the greatest, but it was easy to see he told him to fight.  The rest of the night he put on a performance.  In between him and Yogi, it was a fun night against a tougher opponent.  

 

Not all was great however.  From the line, we not good at all.  We are still at a point where the sample size is too small, but this team just is not going to be a team we are going to feel comfortable watching at the line all year.  Tonight, they went 30-49.  Also, turnovers seem a little high by first glance with 17.  

 

Back to the good (because it is much more fun), we out rebounded a team by 15 who was besting their opponents by 10 a game.  Things that won't show up in the stat sheet is how different it is watching an over athletic team rotate defensively from one year to the next.  This team closes defensively in a way we haven't seen for a while.  How impressed are all of you with Noah Vonleh's hands?  That kid does not drop anything that comes in his area.  

 

Yogi and Noah were easily the talk of the game tonight.  Yogi had 24 points, 6 assists (2 TO's), and 5 rebounds.  Hell of a game for the little guy.  He seemed to have only one stretch where he was just exclusively looking for his shot instead of looking for the right play.  On this team, more than not, he will be the best option.  It is just a higher percentage when he gets into the lane and dishes like he did early in the game.  Noah Vonleh who is no doubt sky-rocketing his draft stock with another impressive double-double of 18 and 15.  Other than that, I thought Evan (12 pts), Jeremy (10 pts), Troy (8 pts, 6 rebounds), and Will (9 pts), had solid games.  Hanner and Devin gave their usual solid contribution on both ends.  

 

All in all it was a good game in what will probably be our toughest home game before conference.  I was almost certain Noah would be a 2 year player heading in to this year.  Not really, because of his skill level, but because how stacked this draft would be.  He is no doubt in that top 5 ish Freshman with his play.  Dude has been killing it.  That will be another discussion for another day.  We have things to take to the drawing board, but a lot to like heading into arguably our toughest week of basketball until conference.  We will have tougher games for sure, but this will give our kids an idea of what college basketball is really about.   

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Nice work man. I don't want to fill your head, but I look forward to these at the end of games. You do a great job of wrapping it all up. Great work!


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[JaybobHoosier 11,836]

Great job Mdn. I actually haven't got to watch the 2nd half yet because of previous plans. In the first half, Hanner played very well except for the fouls, and Jeremy played bad in the 1st. Can't wait to watch the 2nd half.

[mdn82 25,501]

Great job Mdn. I actually haven't got to watch the 2nd half yet because of previous plans. In the first half, Hanner played very well except for the fouls, and Jeremy played bad in the 1st. Can't wait to watch the 2nd half.

 

Hanner was doing very well inside when my power went out.  Didn't last long, but it came back on during halftime.  Watching him catch a ball in traffic reminds me every time just how impressive Noah's hands are.  Hanner doesn't do bad, but he still has a lot of problems catching a ball clean.  Noah has the best hands I can recall on a Hoosier freshman.  I agree with Jeremy.  He had a couple of real lazy turnovers that I seen.  He is versatile, but him at the point just scares me.  

[maxwell 576]

To the op:  :paint: :Nice Work!

[OliviaPope40 6,340]

Nicely done my friend.

[CR3AMnCR1MS0N 1,867]

IU!!!

[mdn82 25,501]

Thanks ladies and fellas for the kind words!  

[ehusserl 7]

Vonleh gets stronger and more confident with each play. Each dunk. He is so capable. It's as if he is a huge spring that keeps winding up and releasing, but each time the spring winds faster. It releases stronger. I'm glad we have these preseason games to get him some experience in red/white. It will be amazing to see what he achieves this year.

 

Also, Yogi made some very tall plays for his height today. One particular drive in the lane got him way up above the rim. His off season work has really paid off.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

The best play today was Yogi's missed three that Noah rebounded, pump faked, then went up and slammed it home. Crean's reaction to that play shows me he's been trying to get Noah to do that every practice and every game so far. Crean's message appears to be sinking in. Damn Noah is good!


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[CR3AMnCR1MS0N 1,867]

-Vonleh is a beast! Sad that he will prob only play 1 or 2 years here.  Hopefully we can hang a banner while he's here!

 

-Troy... has sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much potential. To me he plays like Victor Oladipo, but looks more rounded than Vic did early in his career.  No disrespect to Vic, but I think Troy has more potential and possibly more athleticism.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

No disrespect to Vic, but I think Troy has more potential and possibly more athleticism.

Crean called Williams the most athletic player he's ever coached. So that answers your last statement!


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[chicagoHOOSIER 1,051]

Your write-ups are on the same level as the pros on the other sites.

 

Very good work.

 

Good job.

 

Thanks for doing that.

[Stuhoo 77,794]

Great job Mdn. I actually haven't got to watch the 2nd half yet because of previous plans. In the first half, Hanner played very well except for the fouls, and Jeremy played bad in the 1st. Can't wait to watch the 2nd half.

 

You are correct, sir.

 

Nice write-up by mdn, but Jeremy and Will are not going to enjoy the film review session from last night.

[mdn82 25,501]

You are correct, sir.

 

Nice write-up by mdn, but Jeremy and Will are not going to enjoy the film review session from last night.

Completely agree on Jeremy and Will.  Jeremy was way too lazy with the ball in his hands.  Will just didn't move his feet all night.  I really liked how he came out, going to the rim.  Both have some things to work out for sure.  We can't have them play so reckless this week, or we will be in trouble.

[Stuhoo 77,794]

Completely agree on Jeremy and Will.  Jeremy was way too lazy with the ball in his hands.  Will just didn't move his feet all night.  I really liked how he came out, going to the rim.  Both have some things to work out for sure.  We can't have them play so reckless this week, or we will be in trouble.

 

I'm not worried at all about Will, but with Jeremy, driving into traffic "Verdell style" is becoming a trend that needs to be reversed.

[JSHoosier 19,706]

I'm not worried at all about Will, but with Jeremy, driving into traffic "Verdell style" is becoming a trend that needs to be reversed.

Jeremy does have a habit of driving out of control, but I haven't seen him drive with his head down into a triple team yet.

[OliviaPope40 6,340]

I'm not worried at all about Will, but with Jeremy, driving into traffic "Verdell style" is becoming a trend that needs to be reversed.

Will made a bad choice by fouling out when he just got in the game again but Jeremy as a starter scares me a little bit.

[Stuhoo 77,794]

Jeremy does have a habit of driving out of control, but I haven't seen him drive with his head down into a triple team yet.

 

It's not quite that bad. More along the lines of "driving with his head up into a double team".  Kept rewinding my dvr on the issue last night, and it's there.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

I think Hollowell just needs to slow down a little bit. Always looks like he is moving faster than his body will allow. I'm sure Crean is telling him to push the ball and drive though. I just don't see it so much right now. He'll be a big contributor this year, but I also think he will cost a game or two late with a bone headed play.


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