Too many forwards?

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

In the 7 years now that Coach Crean has been at IU, he's built a reputation as an Offensive minded coach, a coach that plays a lot of guards and typically plays "Small."  Yet approaching the 2015-2016 season, I see a roster loaded with Forwards and short on Guards.  Does this seem odd to anyone?  Also, for a Coach that likes to play guards and use a lot of different guard oriented lineups; are 4 guards enough for next year, and how are all of these forwards going to share minutes?  These are the questions that seem to be on my mind, lately.  

 

While I welcome the fact that Coach Crean has recruited more size for next year, I question how he's going to play all of these forwards.  I mean we're talking about a Coach that not only plays 3 guard lineups, but sometimes a 4 guard lineup.  We're talking about a Coach that never plays 2 big men on the Court at the same time.  Yet, I look at the roster and I see a team stacked with 6'6" and up players.  Guys like, Emmit Holt, Collin Hartman, Juwan Morgan, Devan Davis, Hanner Parea, OG Anunoby, and now Thomas Bryant.  Is anyone else curious on how Coach Crean will not only utilize these guys, but how a Coach that loves to have shooters on the floor at so many positions is going to be able to find a lineup to his liking with a lot of guys that seem to play the same position.  

 

Everyone knows that we needed to get some more size on this roster, and that our Defense must improve.  Is recruiting more front court players the Staff's way of addressing our defensive woes?  While some of our best players on the team are in the backcourt, I will be very curious to see how IU's frontcourt shapes up with so many players competing for minutes at the same spot.  It seems that the 4 spot will have a lot of competition next season.  

[tortex28 381]

Hopefully he doesn't try to mold the team into something it's not but rather uses his team's strengths to his advantage. I know at times that seems like it's asking a lot from this Coach lol.

[HoosierD 504]

In the 7 years now that Coach Crean has been at IU, he's built a reputation as an Offensive minded coach, a coach that plays a lot of guards and typically plays "Small." Yet approaching the 2015-2016 season, I see a roster loaded with Forwards and short on Guards. Does this seem odd to anyone? Also, for a Coach that likes to play guards and use a lot of different guard oriented lineups; are 4 guards enough for next year, and how are all of these forwards going to share minutes? These are the questions that seem to be on my mind, lately.

While I welcome the fact that Coach Crean has recruited more size for next year, I question how he's going to play all of these forwards. I mean we're talking about a Coach that not only plays 3 guard lineups, but sometimes a 4 guard lineup. We're talking about a Coach that never plays 2 big men on the Court at the same time. Yet, I look at the roster and I see a team stacked with 6'6" and up players. Guys like, Emmit Holt, Collin Hartman, Juwan Morgan, Devan Davis, Hanner Parea, OG Anunoby, and now Thomas Bryant. Is anyone else curious on how Coach Crean will not only utilize these guys, but how a Coach that loves to have shooters on the floor at so many positions is going to be able to find a lineup to his liking with a lot of guys that seem to play the same position.

Everyone knows that we needed to get some more size on this roster, and that our Defense must improve. Is recruiting more front court players the Staff's way of addressing our defensive woes? While some of our best players on the team are in the backcourt, I will be very curious to see how IU's frontcourt shapes up with so many players competing for minutes at the same spot. It seems that the 4 spot will have a lot of competition next season.

Only losing one guard and we all were frustrated when Stan came in. I don't think we need anymore than those 4. They will play so many minutes that I think you will see 3 of them in the game quite often.

[HoosierAloha 30,091]

I would love to see us play primarily a two guard traditional lineup. It seems as though coach Crean is very reactive. Two seasons ago we lacked shooting. We brought in JBJ, RoJo, and Z to fill that but then lacked size. Now we're bringing in Bryant, Morgan, and OG. Hopefully he sees that we lacked defense as well and brings in a defensive minded assistant.

If Troy slows down and develops a consistent jumper he could play the off guard with Hartman or Devin at the 3.

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

Our lack of shooting in 2013-2014 did result in him bringing in 3 great shooters last year with Nick, Rob, and JBJ, so hopefully the forwards that are being brought in for 2015-2016 will fill a gaping hole with our defense in the frontcourt.  I really hope that Coach Crean is not reluctant at playing guys like Holt and Bryant in the game at the same time.  I know that you lose perimeter scoring, but it's time that we stop being so soft and ditching the 3 guards and Troy lineup is a good way to start.  

 

I thought that Holt was a nice player for us last year, and I also thought that Hanner showed flashes of being a good player in the Post, add a nice player in Morgan, and another healthy off season for Collin to get stronger and adding a McDonald's All American in Bryant, and the Post players could be a real strength for this team.  It's certainly, on paper, the most talented team from top to bottom that Coach Crean has had in Bloomington.  Of course, our guys down low will still be put in unfavorable positions if our guards, minus Yogi, can't keep their man in front of them.  

[Alford Bailey 12,743]

Hopefully he doesn't try to mold the team into something it's not but rather uses his team's strengths to his advantage. I know at times that seems like it's asking a lot from this Coach lol.

This

[Alford Bailey 12,743]

I think we will be back to 2 guards, Troy at the 3 and two relatively tall guys at the 4 and 5. I hope our defensive woes are fixed at every position vs just expecting Bryant to alter shots at the rim.

[WayneFleekHoosier 49,587]

I think we will be back to 2 guards, Troy at the 3 and two relatively tall guys at the 4 and 5. I hope our defensive woes are fixed at every position vs just expecting Bryant to alter shots at the rim.

i hope and think you are right. We have enough 6'7" to 6'11" guys to make this type of lineup work.

It will be nice to go 3 guard lineups out of strategy vs necessity. Plus Troy handles it really well IMO. Need to get Holt, Hanner, Bryant, DD, Juwan minutes and see who is the best.

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

Juwan Morgan is an intriguing prospect and Emmit Holt as a sophomore is encouraging.  Both seem to be around the same size and both are effective around the basket.  I know Juwan's jumper has improved thru High School, but I don't think it's necessarily a weapon for him yet, and Emmit definitely needs to improve his Jump Shot, but I think both of these guys could really be weapons for us and I'm very interested to see who ends up getting more minutes when the Season begins. 

[HoosierTrav 8,026]

I'm a big believer that giving more than 8 players significant minutes hurts continuity. How many times have we watched our 5 on the court finally find a rhythm and get swapped for another 4-5 players who struggle to find that rhythm? In the meantime, our opponents play 7-8 players all game long against our fresh legs and have little issues. I'm not gonna lie. I absolutely hate his brand of basketball. It's hard for me to watch at times. The 2012-2013 team was in and lost way too many games due to this IMO. This upcoming season will be a total failure trying to please everyone by giving evenly distributed minutes. If I were coach, I would redshirt Morgan and OG and make Hanner, Devin, and Emmitt battle it out for minutes at the 4. If Thon comes, it gets much worse. I feel bad for our forwards we have now. These kids could be getting meaningful/plentiful minutes elsewhere.

[hoosierpap 14,300]

REDSHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

jk.

[Lt. John McClaine 541]

So you'd redshirt the two out of the three Freshman that we have coming, both of who happen to play on the wing where Troy will need to have someone back him up?  These guys are 3's, so I don't think they'll necessarily compete as much for minutes as you seem to think with guys like Devin, Hanner, and Emmit.  I wouldn't be opposed to reshirting one of them perhaps, but certainly not both of them.  

[8bucks 6,858]

So you'd redshirt the two out of the three Freshman that we have coming, both of who happen to play on the wing where Troy will need to have someone back him up? These guys are 3's, so I don't think they'll necessarily compete as much for minutes as you seem to think with guys like Devin, Hanner, and Emmit. I wouldn't be opposed to reshirting one of them perhaps, but certainly not both of them.

If these guys cannot contribute more than Max did this year a redshirt makes a lot of sense. We also have a chance now to play Troy at the three with only 2 guards and two bigs down low (considering HP, DD, TB and EH bigs). That would put rojo, CH and NZ as interchangeable guards and wings.

[bnkepner 1,509]

I could honestly see Morgan coming in and have an immediate impact. He plays very well with his back to the basket and can stretch out and hit jumpers. Holt can play defense in the post but has no jumper or offense game (other than put backs), Hartman was super unreliable on D, and Hanner was VERY unreliable in every aspect of the game. I think Morgan has just as much chance to make an impact as any of our post players not named Thomas Bryant

[Hovadipo 58,860]

So you'd redshirt the two out of the three Freshman that we have coming, both of who happen to play on the wing where Troy will need to have someone back him up? These guys are 3's, so I don't think they'll necessarily compete as much for minutes as you seem to think with guys like Devin, Hanner, and Emmit. I wouldn't be opposed to reshirting one of them perhaps, but certainly not both of them.

Juwan is not a 3. I would agree with redshirting OG though.

[HoosierAloha 30,091]

When was the last time Crean redshirted a player not due to injury? Don't see it happening.

[bnkepner 1,509]

When was the last time Crean redshirted a player not due to injury? Don't see it happening.

He had planned on doing so with Hoetzel until Devin Davis' accident. You are right though. I don't see anyone getting redshirted this year

[Alford Bailey 12,743]

When was the last time Crean redshirted a player not due to injury? Don't see it happening.

Good question. Kids  these days just move on to another school if they arent gonna play.

[Bowhunter 2,873]

OG is going to surprise some people! No need to redshirt :)

[bnkepner 1,509]

OG is going to surprise some people! No need to redshirt :)

He's Troy with a shot and D?