Most Underrated IU BBall Player All Time

[323SGrant 1,176]

Wayne Radford was the Jim Thomas of the 76 undefeated teams best I can remember. He was a big, physical player that was steady and always played his best in important games. Indiana basketball has always been about a will to win and both Thomas and Radford are two great past examples of this

We were leaving a funeral service at the auditorium a few years ago and a small kid was just learning to walk and fell on the sidewalk and Wayne Radford picked him up before we could blink. Very nice guy!

[ou812dude 3,326]

Great choices and lots of great memories!

And ou812dude--- I had not thought about Steve Eyl for a long time. I loved it when he came into a game because he made sure you knew he was there. He would get the ball on the wing and go hard to the hoop. If you did not stop his drive-- he would flush it on you!

!

His main weakness...Free throws...ohh my Lord...bricks galore


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[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

323SGrant--like that Radford story.  It's great when players and ex-players don't let their glory days go to their heads.  I remember the year after we won the 87 championship my little brother visited me at IU and Dean Garrett and Keith Smart each took time out to talk to him and gave him a pair of their tennis shoes. Classy and humble representatives of IU!

 

By the way----Garrett's shoes were HUGE!

[JSHoosier 20,998]

Always though Ted Kitchel was underrated. In recent years, I don't think a lot of people around the country realized how good Jordan Hulls was outside of his shooting.

That's who I was going to say. He was a great shooter but more that just a shooter. Even Brad Stevens commented that he was undervalued after we played Butler.

There's a reason the wheels fell off after he got hurt against Temple and we started playing better after he came back in.

[shortspacequickness 1,034]

That's who I was going to say. He was a great shooter but more that just a shooter. Even Brad Stevens commented that he was undervalued after we played Butler.

There's a reason the wheels fell off after he got hurt against Temple and we started playing better after he came back in.

Totally agree... it's interesting that so many people pegged him as a terrible defender when in actuality he was really just a half step slow against the quickest guys in the country. He was an excellent positional defender and saw the whole floor, and wouldn't be playing where he is if he weren't.

 

It's really too bad his career ended the way it did with the shoulder injury.

[GloryDays 5,994]

Wayne Radford was the Jim Thomas of the 76 undefeated teams best I can remember. He was a big, physical player that was steady and always played his best in important games. Indiana basketball has always been about a will to win and both Thomas and Radford are two great past examples of this.

Yep. Those to guys were what every team needs. I loved Radford as much for his attitude as his play.I thought Remmy was going to be that kind of player.

 Don't know what happened there unless it was Stan's signing.Stan has a whole lot of that going on too as far as the physical aspect.The other part not so sure.

[CampHoosier 3,697]

Tijan

[yogisballin 2,382]

Nover is an excellent pick, I was only 10-11 yr old his senior season. The thing I remember most about that guy was how tough he was.

My pick is to--Tom Coverdale or Jeff Newton. Newton was a fantastic shot blocker. He and Jeffries worked so well together in the front court. Coverdale, well I just loved his overall game. This slow white, red headed kid could shoot and liked making the big play/shot in the crucial moment of the game. Tough guard. Maybe he would've been a little quicker had taken it easy with the beer drinking! From what I remember he could drink just about anyone under the table at a party!


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[WayneFleekHoosier 49,187]

true story Yogis, Coverdale sure could drink and did drink a few.  Not sure what his liver is like now-a-days.  I'd see him at the bars all days of the week.  Wait!? What's that say about me? 

 

I liked Jeff Newton's game as well.  He was much better than he gets credit.  Had a good 15 foot shot too.

[JSHoosier 20,998]

Totally agree... it's interesting that so many people pegged him as a terrible defender when in actuality he was really just a half step slow against the quickest guys in the country. He was an excellent positional defender and saw the whole floor, and wouldn't be playing where he is if he weren't.

 

It's really too bad his career ended the way it did with the shoulder injury.

As much as I liked Hulls even I'll say he was pretty bad as an on ball defender because he lacked the lateral quickness.  Fortunately, there is more to defense than on ball and he was fine as an off ball and help defender.

 

You can be a good on ball defender and be pretty bad in the other areas, Rivers was good on ball and sucked off ball.  There is more to both individual and team defense than on ball.

[shortspacequickness 1,034]

As much as I liked Hulls even I'll say he was pretty bad as an on ball defender because he lacked the lateral quickness.  Fortunately, there is more to defense than on ball and he was fine as an off ball and help defender.

 

You can be a good on ball defender and be pretty bad in the other areas, Rivers was good on ball and sucked off ball.  There is more to both individual and team defense than on ball.

I try to forget that Jeremiah Rivers played here. 

[yogisballin 2,382]

true story Yogis, Coverdale sure could drink and did drink a few. Not sure what his liver is like now-a-days. I'd see him at the bars all days of the week. Wait!? What's that say about me?

I liked Jeff Newton's game as well. He was much better than he gets credit. Had a good 15 foot shot too.

I agree. I did forget to mention that 15' and in jumper he had as well


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[LazOffTheBench 3,638]

Tom Abernathy. A key member of the legendary championship team who never seems to get any attention or credit.

[323SGrant 1,176]

323SGrant--like that Radford story.  It's great when players and ex-players don't let their glory days go to their heads.  I remember the year after we won the 87 championship my little brother visited me at IU and Dean Garrett and Keith Smart each took time out to talk to him and gave him a pair of their tennis shoes. Classy and humble representatives of IU!

 

By the way----Garrett's shoes were HUGE!

Good to hear that about your little brother and Big Dean and Smart!

[hoosierski 66]

Brian Evans. 1996 B10 Player of the Year, All American.

Over achiever that fir well on the Bob Knight system.


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[OliviaPope40 6,798]

I try to forget that Jeremiah Rivers played here. 

I think most people forgot possibly because he didn't do much for the program.

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

Laz---like the Tom Abernathy pick---so true!