Has the team peaked?

[Feathery]

After the Ohio State game I wondered if this was as good as it would get for IU this season. It reminded me of the Maryland game at IU last season, where IU beat the #13 team by 19. The team didn't play at the same level the rest of the season. That game was in January as well as the game with Ohio State this season.

I wanted to see how the team played vs a weak Minnesota team. Was the OSU game a turning the corner or was it a perfect storm of us peaking and OSU being young? After the way the team didn't play well vs a terrible Minnesota, I tend to think we have peaked. The schedule is very soft but I see the February swoon on the horizon.

What do you guys think?

[biteoftheapple]

We most definitively have to see more. The game at Minny was a place we historically do not play our best. Our defense performed well enough. I do think the plan to bottle up our offense has been cast, with the Minny and Wiscy games. But in referenence to your question, I have to see more famed. I certainly hope not.

[MikeRoberts]

I don't think so. JBJ going down just opened new doors for others on this team. Multiple players are benefiting from this and have new roles and more minutes. I think these guys are just getting into a rhythm. Will not be surprised to lose a lot of games at the end of our schedule but think we still have ~5 games left before we hit that Crean swoon that seems to always happen

[Miller'sTheMan]

With all this talent? No we haven't peaked, not even close. 

[JSHoosier]

It might be a too early for the peak.  Although I would advise everyone to expect the team to peak too soon and the wheels start falling off late in Feb, that's just status quo with Crean as coach.

[Alford Bailey]

I'm watching to see if Crean can buck his usual trend. We started like crap and are now looking better which is good but do we sustain and build thru Feb. and March or fade?

[LIHoosier]

After the Ohio State game I wondered if this was as good as it would get for IU this season. It reminded me of the Maryland game at IU last season, where IU beat the #13 team by 19. The team didn't play at the same level the rest of the season. That game was in January as well as the game with Ohio State this season.

I wanted to see how the team played vs a weak Minnesota team. Was the OSU game a turning the corner or was it a perfect storm of us peaking and OSU being young? After the way the team didn't play well vs a terrible Minnesota, I tend to think we have peaked. The schedule is very soft but I see the February swoon on the horizon.

What do you guys think?

I'm not sure we'll truly know if a swoon in February will be because of the team's struggles or the fact that they'll be finally playing anyone worth a damn in the B1G this year (Iowa, Michigan, Michigan St, Maryland, PUke). Kind of a chicken/egg issue.

[Yogi'sBicep]

Most will argue that if the 12-13 team peaked, every Crean team will peak. That is widely the only argument behind the "peak" of IU. The thing about the IU 12-13 team is they weren't as athletic as this team or even a lot of teams they played, as a whole. I'm not saying they weren't better, because they were better basketball players. But athleticism alone is better now than then. It also seemed like back then we played 6-7 guys, now we play 9-10 guys. Yogi is playing less minutes now than he has the last 2 years. This team will mesh more as time goes along.

My say is they'll only get better as time goes along, ready to make a little noise in March.

[OliviaPope40]

You want to peak at right time and not early and that my friends is what happened with 12-13 team we peaked too early and not when it mattered. 

[Stuhoo]

Not a criticism , but when we start beating good B1G teams, then we will be peaking.

 

PS: A Shakespearean insult for all of you:

"You are a bootless, milk-livered giglet"

[HoosierAloha]

Can you determine if a team has peaked by one playing one game well and then struggling the next?

Did we peak after blowing out Creighton and then struggling in Maui?

This is rather balling, not questioning whether the team has peaked but doing so by observing one game. What...?

[schoosier]

Things look different with this team than at least the last couple of Indiana teams. First they are playing better defense plus better team ball. Bryant seems to be providing the ledership the others team lack. He demands tough play and expects it from others. I think this has helped Yogi also become more of a leader and OG provides consistent and smart play. While the level of competition will be racheted up very soon, being competitive with Iowa may be too much to ask. I would be happy to see close games against Maryland, Purdue, and MSU; and we could very well beat any if the games are close. Crean also seems different; it's almost like he is trying to stay out of his own way. This is a great thing. If he can keep his eyes on the game and keep the frenetic sideline pacing down, he may actually see the game flow make better substitutions than what we have seen up to now. I hope he is scaling back practices and his famous game day walk thrus. He only needs to see how his previous Indiana teams have failed in Feb and March to know he needs to go in a different direction. Lots to feel good about. I will remain positive for now based on our play against the gophers. Illinois can either make us take a step forwards or back; hopefully its in the right direction.

[Uspshoosier]

Things look different with this team than at least the last couple of Indiana teams. First they are playing better defense plus better team ball. Bryant seems to be providing the ledership the others team lack. He demands tough play and expects it from others. I think this has helped Yogi also become more of a leader and OG provides consistent and smart play. While the level of competition will be racheted up very soon, being competitive with Iowa may be too much to ask. I would be happy to see close games against Maryland, Purdue, and MSU; and we could very well beat any if the games are close. Crean also seems different; it's almost like he is trying to stay out of his own way. This is a great thing. If he can keep his eyes on the game and keep the frenetic sideline pacing down, he may actually see the game flow make better substitutions than what we have seen up to now. I hope he is scaling back practices and his famous game day walk thrus. He only needs to see how his previous Indiana teams have failed in Feb and March to know he needs to go in a different direction. Lots to feel good about. I will remain positive for now based on our play against the gophers. Illinois can either make us take a step forwards or back; hopefully its in the right direction.

we can be competitive with Iowa. Iowa is on a hot streak right now but don't forget they lost to notre dame and Dayton early in the year. Drake played them close before losing by 6 and they only beat Florida state by 3. I'm not saying we will win on the road against iowa I at least think we can be competitive

[HoosierAloha]

^ I think Max and Hartman have also provided good leadership. Hartman grabbed TB after what he felt was a bad call. TB seemed to have lost it for a second before regaining his composure and making a play.

I like the feel of the 2015 class already. OG and JMor seem to have steady play and steady heads. TB is more fiery but has controlled it better recently.

If Troy, RoJo, and Hartman can find their games again there is still another few levels this team can reach.

[schoosier]

we can be competitive with Iowa. Iowa is on a hot streak right now but don't forget they lost to notre dame and Dayton early in the year. Drake played them close before losing by 6 and they only beat Florida state by 3. I'm not saying we will win on the road against iowa I at least think we can be competitive

Iowa is skilled and deep. The big comeback against Purdue on Rick Mount day was as impressive as their dismantling of MSU on their home court. You rarely see an Izzo coached team get beat like that at home. Iowa has great play at all positions and Utupf is arguably the best player in the Big. We have no answer for him. Who's gonna guard him with that size? Troy or Hartman? Their point is really good and under appreciated. This is easily McCaffrey's best team at Iowa and is put togethervery well.

[HoosierAloha]

Iowa is skilled and deep. The big comeback against Purdue on Rick Mount day was as impressive as their dismantling of MSU on their home court. You rarely see an Izzo coached team get beat like that at home. Iowa has great play at all positions and Utupf is arguably the best player in the Big. We have no answer for him. Who's gonna guard him with that size? Troy or Hartman? Their point is really good and under appreciated. This is easily McCaffrey's best team at Iowa and is put togethervery well.

 

I was thinking this the other day.  I think our best chance is to have Hartman start on him.  When Hartman has to foul him make sure they count.  Then we bring OG and JMor in to guard him.  If he's taking those turn around fade away jumpers we're in business.  If he's hitting them you just clap for him.  I would allow Troy to guard him for a few possessions here and there.

[KingPG21]

Most will argue that if the 12-13 team peaked, every Crean team will peak. That is widely the only argument behind the "peak" of IU. The thing about the IU 12-13 team is they weren't as athletic as this team or even a lot of teams they played, as a whole. I'm not saying they weren't better, because they were better basketball players. But athleticism alone is better now than then. It also seemed like back then we played 6-7 guys, now we play 9-10 guys. Yogi is playing less minutes now than he has the last 2 years. This team will mesh more as time goes along.

My say is they'll only get better as time goes along, ready to make a little noise in March.

Eh, saying that the 12-13 team wasn't as athletic as a lot of the teams they played that year is a pretty big stretch. Vic was an outstanding athlete on the college level, Cody tested out as a great athlete, then you add in guys like Yogi, Hollowell (who is still a pretty fluid athlete), and Hanner. This year's team is more athletic, but you are underselling that team's athleticism a lot. Really Wat and Jordy were the only two on that team that logged big minutes that weren't really that great of athletes at the college level

[Feathery]

Can you determine if a team has peaked by one playing one game well and then struggling the next?

Did we peak after blowing out Creighton and then struggling in Maui?

This is rather balling, not questioning whether the team has peaked but doing so by observing one game. What...?

I'm not basing it off one one game. I'm asking bc of Creans history of having teams peak in January and fading in Feb/March. He has only had a couple teams in his career not peak too soon. So I was asking, could that have been our peak bc it was a tremendous game and we likely won't replicate it.

[Uspshoosier]

Iowa is skilled and deep. The big comeback against Purdue on Rick Mount day was as impressive as their dismantling of MSU on their home court. You rarely see an Izzo coached team get beat like that at home. Iowa has great play at all positions and Utupf is arguably the best player in the Big. We have no answer for him. Who's gonna guard him with that size? Troy or Hartman? Their point is really good and under appreciated. This is easily McCaffrey's best team at Iowa and is put togethervery well.

i agree they are probably playing the best ball in the big 10 and uthoff is probably the big ten player of the year as of now however you said you didn't think we could be competitive against them and I just pointed out teams we have beaten or teams we are better than played them close and some even beat them. I have watched all but 3 of there games this year while uthoff is there best player when they have lost Gesell has struggled in stretches in each game and I feel yogi matches up well with him. Limiting jok open shots will he key as well

[chitown hoosier]

I was thinking this the other day. I think our best chance is to have Hartman start on him. When Hartman has to foul him make sure they count. Then we bring OG and JMor in to guard him. If he's taking those turn around fade away jumpers we're in business. If he's hitting them you just clap for him. I would allow Troy to guard him for a few possessions here and there.

I think IU matches up at lot better against Iowa than MSU. TB should be able to at least neutralize Woodbury as long as he doesn't get poked in the eye... Gessel is good but he's no Yogi and the way Yogi has stepped up his defense should be an advantage for IU. The main question is how to defend Utoff and Jok. I don't think Hartman will be able to defend either of these guys well. You're right, OG and Morgan are going to have to be key players against them. Whoever is gaurding Utoff can't help on D because the kid is pretty automatic as it gets.