Add "SIZE" To This Group - Then Sit Back & Enjoy!

[Naismith 136]

As with this entire season, we watched an undersized, but talented group, comprised "mostly" of freshman and sophomores, hang tough with the conference's best.  In my aged (class of '71) opinion, if we can keep this group intact (this may be difficult - if not impossible) and add viable size and talent to the front line - then 2015 / 2016 could be Special.

[KingPG21 6,587]

Oh good, more talk of how young the roster was. Just like last year, and can't wait until this time next year when we talk about how good the roster will be with another year of experience

[theriverpilot 6,256]

As with this entire season, we watched an undersized, but talented group, comprised "mostly" of freshman and sophomores, hang tough with the conference's best.  In my aged (class of '71) opinion, if we can keep this group intact (this may be difficult - if not impossible) and add viable size and talent to the front line - then 2015 / 2016 could be Special.

 

I will agree, we definitely need some size.  Holt has the will, but you can't teach height.

[Scooter D 928]

I will agree, we definitely need some size.  Holt has the will, but you can't teach height.

Holt was outstanding the past two days. You put him at a more natural position (3 or 4) and I think that this kid can be really good. It is clear that he has the desire.

[Alford Bailey 12,841]

Size helps treat the symptom but doesnt solve the problem of the total lack of understanding of how to play defense. And on offense, IF we land TB, does anyone think we are gonna pound the ball to him in the post on a consistent basis?

[Alford Bailey 12,841]

Holt was outstanding the past two days. You put him at a more natural position (3 or 4) and I think that this kid can be really good. It is clear that he has the desire.

HMP is here another season and when healthy  will continue to get the bulk of the minutes over Holt AND TB if we are lucky enough to land him. I see this being the "hot topic" next year if Crean survives.

[8bucks 7,074]

Most agree. We only disagree on the best way to consistently put a team together.

[Hoosier Roots 745]

HMP is here another season and when healthy will continue to get the bulk of the minutes over Holt AND TB if we are lucky enough to land him. I see this being the "hot topic" next year if Crean survives.

I see us putting TB at the 5 ( if we land him) and Hanner at the 4, while rotating in Holt and DD.

[JSHoosier 21,705]

I see us putting TB at the 5 ( if we land him) and Hanner at the 4, while rotating in Holt and DD.

Hanner doesn't have the skill set for a 4, and what makes you think Crean would put a lineup like that on the floor?  Watford may have played the 4, but he had the ability the stretch the floor because he had a skill set similar to a 3 so it's not the same situation.

 

In this offense, and his skill set, Hanner is a 5 and the same is true for Holt.  Crean wants his '4' to be able to stretch the floor.

[Alford Bailey 12,841]

I see us putting TB at the 5 ( if we land him) and Hanner at the 4, while rotating in Holt and DD.

Thats what most anyone would do but Crean wants 4 guys on the perimeter.

[schoosier 3,643]

you can't keep Holt off the floor. He has a natural instinct for the ball opposite of Hanner. I would like to see both in the lineup as I don't see us adding another post player unless big changes happen. Holt is a very good basketball player.

[LIHoosier 27,293]

In this offense, and his skill set, Hanner is a 5 and the same is true for Holt.  Crean wants his '4' to be able to stretch the floor.

 

Thats what most anyone would do but Crean wants 4 guys on the perimeter.

In Crean's dream world, the 2-3-4 spots would be clones of each other.

[Alford Bailey 12,841]

you can't keep Holt off the floor. He has a natural instinct for the ball opposite of Hanner. I would like to see both in the lineup as I don't see us adding another post player unless big changes happen. Holt is a very good basketball player.

You know that wont happen.

[Hovadipo 59,801]

Size helps treat the symptom but doesnt solve the problem of the total lack of understanding of how to play defense. And on offense, IF we land TB, does anyone think we are gonna pound the ball to him in the post on a consistent basis?

No...but I don't think Thomas is that type of player. I think he's going to be a rebound, alter shots, run the floor type of guy.

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

Size helps treat the symptom but doesnt solve the problem of the total lack of understanding of how to play defense. And on offense, IF we land TB, does anyone think we are gonna pound the ball to him in the post on a consistent basis?

I don't think that's the issue though. So much of our team's inability to stay consistent on offense was our opponents cheating out to the perimeter when it was clear we were getting too tired to drive. Regardless of the usage rate of a post player like TB, it opens up the ability for our team to do what it does best- Drain the 3. From there we open up more dribble-drive penetration as well.

 

Just like sometimes the best defense isn't blocking the shot (just altering it) the best offense is the threat of offense. 

[Myrmidon76 614]

I would like to believe that the only thing missing from our program is size. I really, really would. However, I will submit that you could add all the size in the world and if the defensive awareness doesn't DRAMATICALLY change....it will not matter at all. Changes need to be made. Some of them are coaching, some are scheme, and some are all about accountability. I have yet to see any meaningful changes in this era of our program so I won't hold my breath. It great to be hopeful, but it sucks when egos trample on that hope.

[WayneFleekHoosier 50,005]

We had one the college basketballs best rebounders last season and size. Vonleh was a tremendous talent that just gobbled up rebounds. Where did that lead us? Not to the NCAAs!

[Bryan Medema 1,488]

We had one the college basketballs best rebounders last season and size. Vonleh was a tremendous talent that just gobbled up rebounds. Where did that lead us? Not to the NCAAs!

 

Exactly. Coaching the post isn't Crean's strong-suit (that's not an open door to derail things), he's best with multi-tool perimeter players. Adding a poster player alone won't make this team better (EX: Vonleh's year) if the product around it isn't suited to the coaches style of play. I've said it too many times to count (though with less than 200 posts it wouldn't be too hard to track) but I really feel this team is well suited to CTC's style and adding a big man will help provide the requisite floor spacing on offense to make it work. As for defense, I feel that's going to be a particular emphasis this offseason. Our incoming class seems like it will slide naturally into defensive roles and bolster our ability to defend 12-deep.

 

The height of the incoming players plus (as I pray to RMK) Thomas Bryant, should provide us with enough size on offense to consistently execute our preferred shooting and slashing offense (even if TB is only scoring ~6 a game, his impact will be huge) while providing the length and depth we desperately need to keep our defense consistent/respectable. 

[Alford Bailey 12,841]

Now, add size AND a new coach, I would enjoy that.

[FKfootball 1,046]

If we get TB he needs to get post touches. Hes good inside. And has a midrange jumper too.