Pre-Season Polls

[incrediboy 928]

I would imagine most of you have seen this since the link is at the IU BB website:

 

http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/042915aaa.html

 

Kansas being ranked above us makes Maui more interesting IMO

[Magnanimous 5,359]

Kansas is always ranked highly to start the season based on name, talent, and lack of contending competition in-conference. Does anyone honestly think that Bill Self would win 11 straight conference titles if he was in the Big10 or ACC? Kentucky being ranked that high is a joke as well.

 

As far as I'm concerned, IU is pretty much the same team as Maryland but with a senior McDAA PG. Last year MD overarchieved and IU underachieved as well. If Maryland is considered a top 5 team than IU is right there as well with UNC, and the few other programs who are both talented and bring back their upper-classmen core (so no Duke or Wichita St this year).

[Beachfront Property 619]

I honestly don't understand why we are ranked at all. We lost ten out of last fifteen games. I understand we are adding a capable big man and everyone thinks that will allow us to make a big jump, but I think we are vastly overrated. 

[incrediboy 928]

I honestly don't understand why we are ranked at all. We lost ten out of last fifteen games. I understand we are adding a capable big man and everyone thinks that will allow us to make a big jump, but I think we are vastly overrated. 

I disagree. We finished 9-9 in the best conference in the country (two of the Final Four) and had Yogi hit two open 3-pointers (Purdue, at Maryland) and a free throw that would have sent the MSU game into overtime, we could have finished as high as 12-6. We played a team that demolished Kansas in the second round of the NCAA to the wire. We lose nobody of consequence. We gain a Top 25 recruiting class with our one missing link (Bryant) included. 

[JSHoosier 22,186]

I disagree. We finished 9-9 in the best conference in the country (two of the Final Four) and had Yogi hit two open 3-pointers (Purdue, at Maryland) and a free throw that would have sent the MSU game into overtime, we could have finished as high as 12-6. We played a team that demolished Kansas in the second round of the NCAA to the wire. We lose nobody of consequence. We gain a Top 25 recruiting class with our one missing link (Bryant) included.

If is a big two letter word though. If May stays healthy we likely go undefeated two years straight. If Henderson stays healthy we'd have another banner. If I was rich and in better shape I might have a chance with Emma Watson. If my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. If...okay I'll end it there.

If can apply to a lot of things. Bottom line, he didn't.

[incrediboy 928]

If is a big two letter word though. If May stays healthy we likely go undefeated two years straight. If Henderson stays healthy we'd have another banner. If I was rich and in better shape I might have a chance with Emma Watson. If my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. If...okay I'll end it there.

If can apply to a lot of things. Bottom line, he didn't.

My assistant principal in high school always said, "IF a toad had wings he wouldn't bump his ass on the ground all the time."

 

But IF you look at team rosters across the country, we do belong in the Top 25 IMO.

[Beachfront Property 619]

My assistant principal in high school always said, "IF a toad had wings he wouldn't bump his ass on the ground all the time."

 

But IF you look at team rosters across the country, we do belong in the Top 25 IMO.

No question if you look solely at the roster we are a top 25 team. Unfortunately, someone has to coach that roster. If you look at our roster's talent level and base talent level off of offers and star ratings, we were a more talented team than Wisconsin this year! Unfortunately, that does not mean we were a better team than Wisconsin.

[Striper 192]

Kansas is always ranked highly to start the season based on name, talent, and lack of contending competition in-conference. Does anyone honestly think that Bill Self would win 11 straight conference titles if he was in the Big10 or ACC? Kentucky being ranked that high is a joke as well.

 

As far as I'm concerned, IU is pretty much the same team as Maryland but with a senior McDAA PG. Last year MD overarchieved and IU underachieved as well. If Maryland is considered a top 5 team than IU is right there as well with UNC, and the few other programs who are both talented and bring back their upper-classmen core (so no Duke or Wichita St this year).

 

 

I honestly don't understand why we are ranked at all. We lost ten out of last fifteen games. I understand we are adding a capable big man and everyone thinks that will allow us to make a big jump, but I think we are vastly overrated. 

 

I will split the difference between you two.  There were moments where last year's team shined (the Maryland and Butler games come to mind), but a small line up always leaves you exposed, especially in the Big Ten.  That said, I think saying we underachieved last year is a stretch.  We were picked to finish in the bottom of the Big Ten.  We led the Big Ten and were nationally ranked for brief stretches.  While it was a roller coaster of a season, I would say we performed about as expected or a bit better. 

 

This is what gives me hope for this season and why our ranking is just about right.  We return everyone important and they have another year of development under them.  Some players like JBJ have realized weaknesses (hello, maybe we should make it look like we are trying to play real defense instead of 1980's Oklahoma defense), and can really focus on those to achieve their own personal goals.  And finally, through recruiting, we have supplemented what was one of our biggest weaknesses last year.  We deserve a decent but not great ranking, exactly what we got.

[Magnanimous 5,359]

I will split the difference between you two.  There were moments where last year's team shined (the Maryland and Butler games come to mind), but a small line up always leaves you exposed, especially in the Big Ten.  That said, I think saying we underachieved last year is a stretch.  We were picked to finish in the bottom of the Big Ten.  We led the Big Ten and were nationally ranked for brief stretches.  While it was a roller coaster of a season, I would say we performed about as expected or a bit better. 

 

This is what gives me hope for this season and why our ranking is just about right.  We return everyone important and they have another year of development under them.  Some players like JBJ have realized weaknesses (hello, maybe we should make it look like we are trying to play real defense instead of 1980's Oklahoma defense), and can really focus on those to achieve their own personal goals.  And finally, through recruiting, we have supplemented what was one of our biggest weaknesses last year.  We deserve a decent but not great ranking, exactly what we got.

 

Last year's preseason predictions were ridiculous and were incredibly lacking in insight. We overachieved based on them, but underachieved based on the realities of the team's potential. Last year was not a succesful season by any measure.

[Alford Bailey 13,190]

No question if you look solely at the roster we are a top 25 team. Unfortunately, someone has to coach that roster. If you look at our roster's talent level and base talent level off of offers and star ratings, we were a more talented team than Wisconsin this year! Unfortunately, that does not mean we were a better team than Wisconsin.

Agree. And, we have to make almost monumental improvement on defense to be in the talk as a contender. TB doesnt solve our defensive woes. This team across the board lacks a basic understanding of defensive principles that one highly touted frosh isn't gonna fix.

[PointBlank 116]

If is a big two letter word though. If May stays healthy we likely go undefeated two years straight. If Henderson stays healthy we'd have another banner. If I was rich and in better shape I might have a chance with Emma Watson. If my aunt had a pair she'd be my uncle. If...okay I'll end it there.

If can apply to a lot of things. Bottom line, he didn't.

 

Agree, every team in the nation can play the old "IF" game. 

[Striper 192]

If there was no 2-3 zone......