B1G Problem/B1G Opportunity

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

At this point it's no secret that A) The B1G is not as strong as we might have thought and B) The B1G has suffered some absolutely embarrassing losses (NJIT, Eastern Michigan, Eastern Washington, Gardner-Webb, Texas Southern, UNF, URI, Immaculate Word, Hawaii). 

 

All things considered, the league looks pretty wide open. Given this, the door looks wide open for IU to make a move (most conservative predictions had us finishing between 7-10) and finish much higher than expected. 

 

So for the purpose of discussion: Where will IU finish and how will the B1G landscape look (tournament teams, NOT tournament teams etc)?

[hper50 1,645]

I'll say the Hoosiers finish in the upper part of the middle of the pack (5th through 8th or so).  Perhaps even fourth if some of these teams who've made multiple bad losses truly aren't as good as expected (Mich, Neb).  

[MikeRoberts 7,941]

We need to be top four. I think anything less is going to keep fans unsettled, Crean on the hot seat and recruits uneasy about coming on board.

This is where good coaches elevate their game and coach their way to a 24 win season and a good seas in the tourney. The other teams are laying it out there for us... Just have to take it

[Magnanimous 5,361]

It's tough because while the Big10 is down this year, our opening conference slate doesn't do us any favors. @Nebraska, @MSU, vs.OSU, vs.Penn St, @Illinois, vs.Maryland, @OSU. If Crean gets through that at 4-3 or 5-2 I'll have a good feeling about this year, but the conference is so weak that we can't just rely on a few upsets and close losses. We need to both win games and be the better team. It's possible to hang with any of those teams, but a stretch like that is when you expect your upperclassman burger boy PG to lead. We'll see what Yogi's got come 12/31.

[8bucks 7,486]

I honestly thought we would be top 5 even back when we thought the BT was good. Now that the BT is looking weaker, I think we can slide up to a top three spot.

[bnkepner 1,509]

I think top 3. Besides Wisconsin the only other big ten teams that are winning right now are OSU, Maryland, and Indiana. We match up well with every B1G pretty well. There are a good amount of B1G teams that can't match up with us either. 

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

This team is really gelling. Hanner is proving to be a reliable, and dare I say it, slightly above average option at the 5. Emmitt is a very solid backup. Hartman is a full blown utility belt at the 4 behind Troy who, if he continues his trend of the last two games, may very well be on his way to a breakout season. Yogi is arguably the best PG in the country, and we have the most electric freshman shooter in the country as well.

This team has a very high ceiling, but it's all going to depend on their effort level. This is going to be a fun year.

[coonhounds 10,532]

Its a toss up it didnt sound on the radio that we had the effort last night that we needed and this team will not b able to have that in conference. It is wide open and we could have a good season but will have to prove we r tough night in and night out other wise it wont matter cause we will have enough dissapointing losses to ruin the season

[southsidehoosier 5,149]

I wonder if last nights 2nd half effort came out of the team we were playing. I know when I played high school sports there were teams that we got hyped for and no matter how bad we were beating them we wanted to make the beating worse. Then there were small schools from the area that after some point of knowing the game/match was in hand you let up because well....you felt sorry for that school.

[WayneFleekHoosier 51,089]

I wonder if last nights 2nd half effort came out of the team we were playing. I know when I played high school sports there were teams that we got hyped for and no matter how bad we were beating them we wanted to make the beating worse. Then there were small schools from the area that after some point of knowing the game/match was in hand you let up because well....you felt sorry for that school.

i hope that's it. That 2nd half has left a very bitter taste in my mouth.

[shortspacequickness 1,034]

I'm still wondering if we should've canned Crean on Nov. 1. 10-2 is unacceptable at IU.

[southbostonjohn 14]

Old time I.U. Hoosier fan.  When the Big 10 was a the Big ten (10 teams)  they all played home and away game.  Now that we have umpteen teams with out home and away games its hard to tell.   Every one seems to think this team is moving up, I hope so to.  

[bnkepner 1,509]

Its a toss up it didnt sound on the radio that we had the effort last night that we needed and this team will not b able to have that in conference. It is wide open and we could have a good season but will have to prove we r tough night in and night out other wise it wont matter cause we will have enough dissapointing losses to ruin the season

At least we are losing multiple games to cupcakes like Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, etc.

[coonhounds 10,532]

At least we are losing multiple games to cupcakes like Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Purdue, etc.

I agree with that. Lol michigan and purdue I would b in full on meltdown mode and in fear of the next game lol. I am just saying to have a good season we will have to prove we can bring the intensity night in and night out or we will struggle in conference but if we can than there is a chance we will all be pleased with this season at the end

[Hovadipo 61,307]

No need for a new thread, but check this stat out:

@IndianaMBB: In the last three games, opponents combined to make just 6-of-45 three-point field goal attempts (13.3) against IU. http://t.co/XYYQqFBalc

One good opponent and two bad ones, but still. That's some good perimeter defense.

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

No need for a new thread, but check this stat out:

@IndianaMBB: In the last three games, opponents combined to make just 6-of-45 three-point field goal attempts (13.3) against IU. http://t.co/XYYQqFBalc

One good opponent and two bad ones, but still. That's some good perimeter defense.

 

Do you think a lot of it is the improved 2-3 zone?

 

 

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

I still go with top 5----I may push us higher after I see how we perform in true road games with such a young team.

 

Games on the road in the Big Ten are brutal.

[Hovadipo 61,307]

Do you think a lot of it is the improved 2-3 zone?

Could be. The zone definitely is improved, but we're still giving open shots. They're just missing them pretty often.

[rebelhoosier848891 9,588]

As long as the D keeps improving----we will keep improving!