College Bball Thread

[Stuhoo]

4 hours ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

Cal is feeling some pressure. This is how most coaches feel.  He knows the rabid fanbase is ready to turn on him. And Titus and Tate and I want to know how long Oscar will be out.  This is pretty typical of him.  I love seeing it though because I can see through it.  

He looks like a guy trying to explain to his landlord that his rent check will be sent any day now.

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

 

 

[Demo]

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

 

 

Meaningless 

[HoosierFan1994]

20 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Hey Calipari - this is kind of weird. Here are his current comments on this #4 team nationally (hint: they won't finish the season in the top ten).

 

Wow...I missed this. This isn't a good look. I've never seen a coach lower expectations. 

[Hovadipo]

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

 

 

A self imposed summer vacation from eating microwaved hot dogs in tiny gyms. Thank you for your service, Bill.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

I wasn't going to this year but I decided why the hell not and did a Top 25. Gives me something to do on Monday morning while I'm off. 

College Basketball Top 25

1. North Carolina
2. Gonzaga
3. Houston
4. Kansas
5. Duke
6. Baylor
7. Kentucky
8. Creighton
9. UCLA
10. Texas
11. Tennessee
12. Auburn
13. TCU
14. Virginia
15. Arkansas
16. Alabama
17. Oregon
18. Villanova
19. Indiana
20. Michigan
21. Illinois
22. Arizona
23. San Diego State
24. Xavier
25. Texas Tech

[Honkyman]

1 hour ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

19. Indiana

Seems more realistic than many pre-season rankings.

[HoosierHoopster]

3 minutes ago, Honkyman said:

Seems more realistic than many pre-season rankings.

For me it's just hard to say at this point -- what's "realistic?" 

One way to look at it, we are a veteran-loaded team that last season was missing a stud-level guard/on-ball play, now there in JHS who the NBA scouts are raving about and who looks fully ready to be dominant,

and another impact player, gained, minimally in Ren, who is at least very good, both major upgrades over who they're effectively replacing,

and with the vets comes expected growth in Bates, JG and Galloway, JG having significantly improved his play at the end of season into NCAA tourney play (but whose continuing growth remains to be seen), Bates who got the summer props and we haven't seen him live due to injury, and Galloway who just maybe is now shooting better,

and TJD is clearly primed for a big season and with less competition up front in the B1G.

So we need the pieces to all come together and shine to take a major step up from the fringe tourney team we were last year, but the pieces are there.

[Stuhoo]

1 minute ago, HoosierHoopster said:

For me it's just hard to say at this point -- what's "realistic?" 

One way to look at it, we are a veteran-loaded team that last season was missing a stud-level guard/on-ball play, now there in JHS who the NBA scouts are raving about and who looks fully ready to be dominant,

and another impact player, gained, minimally in Ren, who is at least very good, both major upgrades over who they're effectively replacing,

and with the vets comes expected growth in Bates, JG and Galloway, JG having significantly improved his play at the end of season into NCAA tourney play (but whose continuing growth remains to be seen), Bates who got the summer props and we haven't seen him live due to injury, and Galloway who just maybe is now shooting better,

and TJD is clearly primed for a big season and with less competition up front in the B1G.

So we need the pieces to all come together and shine to take a major step up from the fringe tourney team we were last year, but the pieces are there.

At the risk of repeating myself, three things:

1. Replacing Parker Stewart with Jalen Hood Schifino,
2. Replacing Michael Durr with Malik Reneau, and most importantly
3. Year two of a majority of the team fully experienced in the system.

That makes us a realistic national contender IMO.

[HoosierHoopster]

4 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

At the risk of repeating myself, three things:

1. Replacing Parker Stewart with Jalen Hood Schifino,
2. Replacing Michael Durr with Malik Reneau, and most importantly
3. Year two of a majority of the team fully experienced in the system.

That makes us a realistic national contender IMO.

I'm not sure I'm ready to say we can be a national contender, but I think we should and will contend for top of the B1G, and depending on the draw, health etc. that we should have a good showing in the NCAA tourney. 

I can't tell yet what our outside shooting is going to look like -- how much Woodson/staff will use it. With this team, we have scoring and playmaking we didn't have or we're just starting to grow last season, I don't see 3-point shooting as holding us back from contending in the B1G, but I am in a wait and see mode on how Woodson / staff utilize the arc  -- and really how often -- guys like Kopp and Bates are shooting deep. Kopp is a set shooter, he's not going to be creating his own shots, but he should have lots of open shot looks, here's to hoping he's taking them, unlike last year, and that Bates -- and JG -- are taking and making more -- if that comes together, sky's the limit, imo.

[Stuhoo]

8 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I'm not sure I'm ready to say we can be a national contender, but I think we should and will contend for top of the B1G, and depending on the draw, health etc. that we should have a good showing in the NCAA tourney. 

I can't tell yet what our outside shooting is going to look like -- how much Woodson/staff will use it. With this team, we have scoring and playmaking we didn't have or we're just starting to grow last season, I don't see 3-point shooting as holding us back from contending in the B1G, but I am in a wait and see mode on how Woodson / staff utilize the arc  -- and really how often -- guys like Kopp and Bates are shooting deep. Kopp is a set shooter, he's not going to be creating his own shots, but he should have lots of open shot looks, here's to hoping he's taking them, unlike last year, and that Bates -- and JG -- are taking and making more -- if that comes together, sky's the limit, imo.

What do you think would be an acceptable result for the four marquee non-conference games?

[HoosierHoopster]

56 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

What do you think would be an acceptable result for the four marquee non-conference games?

I'm thinking 2-2. UNC is a beast but I think we pull it out at home, probably lose away at X (but have the talent to win), we'll definitely lose @KU imo, and I think we take down AZ on the neutral floor. But I can see either 1-3 or 3-1. I suppose 1-3 would be acceptable, but imo not if we're laying claim to our pre-season ranking. Time to step up!

[rayl456]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

What do you think would be an acceptable result for the four marquee non-conference games?

I'm hoping to split them...2-2.  I believe we can beat Xavier on the road and Arizona in Vegas.  North Carolina and Kansas will be tough.  Not impossible, but unlikely.

[Stuhoo]

1 hour ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I'm not sure I'm ready to say we can be a national contender, but I think we should and will contend for top of the B1G, and depending on the draw, health etc. that we should have a good showing in the NCAA tourney. 

 

14 minutes ago, HoosierHoopster said:

I'm thinking 2-2. UNC is a beast but I think we pull it out at home, probably lose away at X (but have the talent to win), we'll definitely lose @KU imo, and I think we take down AZ on the neutral floor. But I can see either 1-3 or 3-1. I suppose 1-3 would be acceptable, but imo not if we're laying claim to our pre-season ranking. Time to step up!

 

8 minutes ago, rayl456 said:

I'm hoping to split them...2-2.  I believe we can beat Xavier on the road and Arizona in Vegas.  North Carolina and Kansas will be tough.  Not impossible, but unlikely.

Bingo!

2-2 against national contenders means y'all think we are on par with national contenders. 

I rest my case, counselor HH    :)

[IU Scott]

I think we will beat UNC and Arizona and lose at Xavier and KU. I do feel like we can win at KU because they lost a lot from last year and will have a lot of new players.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

1 hour ago, Stuhoo said:

At the risk of repeating myself, three things:

1. Replacing Parker Stewart with Jalen Hood Schifino,
2. Replacing Michael Durr with Malik Reneau, and most importantly
3. Year two of a majority of the team fully experienced in the system.

That makes us a realistic national contender IMO.

Right... But it is still a roster that to this point, hasn't done anything in their collegiate careers as a team. Especially nowhere near where expectations are. But that's the great thing going into this season, everyone seems to have massive question marks. Can UNC play like they did in the tourney all season? Timme will be good but Strother make a leap or does someone else for Gonzaga? Sasser will be great but who else steps up? How does Kansas fill in for Braun and Ochbaji leaving? Who helps take the weight off Oscar at Kentucky? Duke returns a veteran PG but are freshmen loaded and have a 1st year coachetc etc etc. It's like that for every team. I'm not sure the last time it looked so wide open going into the season. There is normally at least 1 team you can point to that'll be head and shoulders above everyone and this year doesn't have that. Reminds me a lot of the 12-13 season in a way. A season lead more by upperclassmen than it was the dazzling freshmen. I could have ranked anywhere from 10-25 honestly. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Anything significant or a naughty naughty slap on the wrist?

 

[Hovadipo]

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

naughty naughty

Isn't that what got them into this mess

[HoosierHoopster]

38 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

 

 

Bingo!

2-2 against national contenders means y'all think we are on par with national contenders. 

I rest my case, counselor HH    :)

Ha, touche

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Seeing reports Gonzaga has approached the Big 12 about joining its conference.