Blackmon Thread

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

They were smart enough to not make the same mistake JBJ did

What mistake? Coming to Indiana?

Step away from the ledge people...

[LIHoosier 27,682]

I may get blasted for this, but it seemed to me that Blackman has a bit of an I-Me-Mine streak to his play. Just my observation, and I could be misinterpreting what I see.

There were several games where he was going to get his 20 pts whether it took 8,18,or 28 shots to accomplish it.

[AKHoosier 7,651]

I kinda like Robert better to be honest.

[mdn82 26,344]

under no circumstance could he? I'm wondering if he's thinking about using the D league as a way to get better? It is literally out of dislike of CTC.

The problem is it is really hard to watch players get better in the D League.  Being up here by Fort Wayne (Which his family lives up here so he would know) they really do much development.  Hell, we just had players leave the Mad Ants to go to Europe to make money because they knew they weren't getting the call.  I consider James at this point a lot like Deshaun Thomas from OSU (who is also from Fort Wayne).  Can score like no other, but will not make it in the league.  His best chance for the next few years if he truly hates Crean is Europe.  I don't see his family allowing that.  In the D-League they make very little.  He would struggle to get PT because of his defensive ability.  Guys who are 2nd rounders or non-draftees are not going to get extra attention like a 1st rounder would get.  

 

I know from your post on this stance who your source is.  I am sure he did show you something that showed James wanted to go if he can.  He is not stupid and has said all along he wanted to be a one and done.  If he can't be a one and done he will be back.  Like I said earlier, there are two people who fit your criteria and one is in the Final Four.  The other is sitting at home likely to never play in college unless he gets his life together.  That is who I am banking on for this.  I can't see him showing you anything that isn't being read too far into.  He wanted to be a one and done.  Crean is a hard coach to play for and that has been said a lot by former players.  Sheehey couldn't stand Crean.  They butted heads, but that kid busted his ass for Crean.  Very few players love the way their coaches are on them, because they are demanding.  I am going to assume this is something that is just being read into a little much from a skewed vantage point.  Yogi will probably tell you the same things James will tell you about Crean.  He isn't going anywhere unless it is to the NBA.  James will be back unless he gets guaranteed money.  In the 2nd round you do not get that.  

[Rookie33 941]

I kinda like Robert better to be honest.

I concur WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

[FKfootball 1,046]

Glass said that he was pleased with the direction of the program. I would love to know an exact definition of what he believes is a positive direction. It seems like everything around the program is a mess right now. Our fanbase is so divided.

[coonhounds 10,531]

I think everyone is missing the big point to this. I felt by his body language and his inconsistent shot he wasnt happy here and I mentioned this during a game thread and got blasted for it. The big point is if this is true is he isn't happy and if he isn't happy he will never be at the level we need to be a successful team with him on the floor. I dont care if he leaves if he isn't happy but this is on crean. We have to many players imo not happy and this could be holding crean back from being a successful coach as much as is horrible in game coaching. This rumor makes sense to me but hopefully is a misunderstanding. I hate the thought of the one kid we were really excited to get being upset that he went to iu. Sorry for the long post just sick over this

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

I think everyone is missing the big point to this. I felt by his body language and his inconsistent shot he wasnt happy here and I mentioned this during a game thread and got blasted for it. The big point is if this is true is he isn't happy and if he isn't happy he will never be at the level we need to be a successful team with him on the floor. I dont care if he leaves if he isn't happy but this is on crean. We have to many players imo not happy and this could be holding crean back from being a successful coach as much as is horrible in game coaching. This rumor makes sense to me but hopefully is a misunderstanding. I hate the thought of the one kid we were really excited to get being upset that he went to iu. Sorry for the long post just sick over this

I don't necessarily think James isn't happy because he's at IU. I think this kid had the expectation that he'd come to college, light everyone up, and be off to the league. I think he's a kid struggling with the realization that, for probably the first time in his career, he's not as good as he thought he was, and if he wants to achieve his goals he's going to need to bust his butt to get there.

[Hovadipo 61,307]

He very well may not be happy here, but judging that by his on court demeanor seems a bit misguided. He's just a laid back guy, not showing much emotion on the court doesn't necessarily mean he's unhappy.

[coonhounds 10,531]

I don't necessarily think James isn't happy because he's at IU. I think this kid had the expectation that he'd come to college, light everyone up, and be off to the league. I think he's a kid struggling with the realization, that for probably the first time in his career, he's not as good as he thought he was, and if he wants to achieve his goals he's going to need to bust his butt to get there.

I hope that is the case because then if somebody gets through to him that he has to work hard and play team ball then he can be real productive for iu and his pro aspirations

[ou812dude 3,326]

I don't necessarily think James isn't happy because he's at IU. I think this kid had the expectation that he'd come to college, light everyone up, and be off to the league. I think he's a kid struggling with the realization, that for probably the first time in his career, he's not as good as he thought he was, and if he wants to achieve his goals he's going to need to bust his butt to get there.

Yes. The Victor Oladipo success model...more should follow his lead.

[coonhounds 10,531]

He very well may not be happy here, but judging that by his on court demeanor seems a bit misguided. He's just a laid back guy, not showing much emotion on the court doesn't necessarily mean he's unhappy.

I am just going by how if he went for a layup and got knocked down he would lay there for two possessions instead of getting back on d. Just his lazy d not so much his demeanor. I also believe when a great shooter struggles like he did there is some mental part that is not right.

[sddowning 146]

What mistake? Coming to Indiana?

Step away from the ledge people...

From Blackmon's point of view not mine. Should have clarified. I'm also basing that upon what I have heard in this thread so that may not even be his point of view.

[Hovadipo 61,307]

I am just going by how if he went for a layup and got knocked down he would lay there for two possessions instead of getting back on d. Just his lazy d not so much his demeanor. I also believe when a great shooter struggles like he did there is some mental part that is not right.

I wasn't necessarily calling you out. I had seen other people post that too and figured I'd weigh in. Sorry if it came off that way.

But to your post, it was definitely annoying when he had his lazy moments. And if his first few shots didn't fall, he never seemed to get out of the rut mentally. Totally agree there. My point was that all of the stuff going on on the court doesn't necessarily translate to him being unhappy off of it. It may have, but we won't ever know what he's thinking, so that's kind of unfair.

[coonhounds 10,531]

I wasn't necessarily calling you out. I had seen other people post that too and figured I'd weigh in. Sorry if it came off that way.

But to your post, it was definitely annoying when he had his lazy moments. And if his first few shots didn't fall, he never seemed to get out of the rut mentally. Totally agree there. My point was that all of the stuff going on on the court doesn't necessarily translate to him being unhappy off of it. It may have, but we won't ever know what he's thinking, so that's kind of unfair.

agree 100%.

[yogisballin 2,431]

I remember watching Nike Hoop Summit last summer and seeing JBJ play, thinking. Man, He is going to have to improve ALOT, if he wants to be a one and done! No disrespect to the kid just my opinion. Also thought, he has to have a really big ego if he thinks he is ready now. He didn't play big minutes on that team and it was pretty obvious why. We Hoosier fans saw it all season long!

If JBJ really is considering leaving early or transferring. Whatever the case may be. Then so be it. Let him walk! Could be addition by subtraction here. As of today, I have bigger hope and think there is more "potential" there with Robert. Said it all year long!

[8bucks 7,486]

I don't necessarily think James isn't happy because he's at IU. I think this kid had the expectation that he'd come to college, light everyone up, and be off to the league. I think he's a kid struggling with the realization that, for probably the first time in his career, he's not as good as he thought he was, and if he wants to achieve his goals he's going to need to bust his butt to get there.

Well the originator of the post that originated this post responded a page back that he is looking to leave literally because of Crean. That sounds like dislike.

It might be all on JBj but this would be two McDs in a row that developed a dislike for Crean in 1 year. Might be a kid problem might be a Crean problem that we do not know but we do know that it is a program problem.

[BGleas 8,977]

Just to add to this, I'm also thinking he probably sees guys like Trey Lyles and especially Devin Booker and is thinking 'if I'd just gone to UK that would be me projected in the 1st round'.

I'm not saying that's true, but that's probably what he thinks.

I don't necessarily think James isn't happy because he's at IU. I think this kid had the expectation that he'd come to college, light everyone up, and be off to the league. I think he's a kid struggling with the realization that, for probably the first time in his career, he's not as good as he thought he was, and if he wants to achieve his goals he's going to need to bust his butt to get there.

[LazOffTheBench 3,638]

I hope JBJ isn't taking advice from JaQuan.

[8bucks 7,486]

Just to add to this, I'm also thinking he probably sees guys like Trey Lyles and especially Devin Booker and is thinking 'if I'd just gone to UK that would be me projected in the 1st round'.

I'm not saying that's true, but that's probably what he thinks.

I think there is that but I think the players come here with the idea that they will be playing late in the tourney. They want to compete too, probably more than we do, and when it does not happen you start to question a lot of things, coaching included.

Had I a chance to go to a few schools and the one I chose did the worst of them I would be upset and it would be easy to question things.

Is he part of that problem? Sure but remember when Cody kept choosing to drive against teams his soph year instead of shooting the midrange J? Brings up memories of JBj driving in against bigs and having his shot rejected time and time again. Now remember Crean being interviewed before half time and saying we were not driving the lane enough? Sometimes you have different ideas on how to win and you differ from the coach. We certainly do on here