Has the team peaked?

[HoosierAloha]

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.

 

That's fair to ask but I think it's still early to determine that.  This team hasn't really separated itself in wins against Rutgers, Nebrasketball, Wiscy, or Minny.  This team has morphed into a team I don't really recognize as a typically "Crean" team.

[Feathery]

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.

Crean has a history of flaming out and having teams peak early. This was a huge complaint while at Marquette and he has only had 1 team at IU that played well in feb/March. That was a team with Verdell Jones on it.

I hope this team finishes strong. If they do Crean can win his 2nd Big Ten title in 4 years. The roster looks to be stabilizing. Maybe, just maybe we can put together multiple seasons of strong play.

[HoosierAloha]

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.

 

In the games I've seen Jok is pretty automatic too.  The other approach could be to try and shutdown the players around Uthoff and allow Uthoff get his.  I agree Yogi has an advantage over Gessel.  I also think that TB will have an advantage or at least neutralize Woodbury.  Woodbury still hasn't developed a solid offensive game.  I'll be satisfied with a split though.

[HoosierAloha]

Crean has a history of flaming out and having teams peak early. This was a huge complaint while at Marquette and he has only had 1 team at IU that played well in feb/March. That was a team with Verdell Jones on it.

I hope this team finishes strong. If they do Crean can win his 2nd Big Ten title in 4 years. The roster looks to be stabilizing. Maybe, just maybe we can put together multiple seasons of strong play.

 

The "roster stabilization" is in a wait and see mode.  We are possibly turning over our guards in a major way next season with Newkirk, CuJo, Gelon, and Green coming in.  We should have a good mix of upperclassmen/underclassmen and guards/bigs but there is a long offseason to go. 

[Old Friend]

Nah.  They can play much better than they have.  OSU was a great game because so much went right so early, Ohio State didn't play well, and Indiana rolled.  But they didn't play nearly as well as they can.   Yesterday wasn't pretty, either.  I don't think they've played their best game yet, and I think they're best game is FAR better than any complete one they've played so far.

[Yogi'sBicep]

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

I'm saying that 12-13 isn't as athletic as this team.
Yogi freshman- yogi senior
Robert Johnson- Jordan Hulls
Troy - Vic
Hartman- CWat
TB- Cody

Now, athleticism. Not basketball player. 1, 2, arguably 4 & 5. And from an athlete stand point Troy is there with victor.

Then the bench

OG is more athletic than any sub 12-13 had. And pretty even from there. Although, we are deeper now than then.

[mdn82]

I'm saying that 12-13 isn't as athletic as this team.
Yogi freshman- yogi senior
Robert Johnson- Jordan Hulls
Troy - Vic
Hartman- CWat
TB- Cody

Now, athleticism. Not basketball player. 1, 2, arguably 4 & 5. And from an athlete stand point Troy is there with victor.

Then the bench

OG is more athletic than any sub 12-13 had. And pretty even from there. Although, we are deeper now than then.

I would take a Junior Will Sheehey athleticism over a Frosh OG. OG is rangy and will be more athletic, but Will was very athletic.

[HoosierAloha]

I'm saying that 12-13 isn't as athletic as this team.
Yogi freshman- yogi senior
Robert Johnson- Jordan Hulls
Troy - Vic
Hartman- CWat
TB- Cody

Now, athleticism. Not basketball player. 1, 2, arguably 4 & 5. And from an athlete stand point Troy is there with victor.

Then the bench

OG is more athletic than any sub 12-13 had. And pretty even from there. Although, we are deeper now than then.

 

TB isn't in the same tier as Cody in terms of athleticism at this point. 

[Yogi'sBicep]

TB isn't in the same tier as Cody in terms of athleticism at this point.

yeah I suppose you're right. I live life through Crimson colored glasses. And the Sheehey comment is true, didn't even think about him

[HoosierAloha]

yeah I suppose you're right. I live life through Crimson colored glasses. And the Sheehey comment is true, didn't even think about him

 

I think you might be confusing physical measurements with athleticism.  I don't know TB's wingspan but I'm guessing he has an advantage on Cody.  Like someone mentioned earlier Cody tested as one of the best athletes as a "big."

[Yogi'sBicep]

I think you might be confusing physical measurements with athleticism. I don't know TB's wingspan but I'm guessing he has an advantage on Cody. Like someone mentioned earlier Cody tested as one of the best athletes as a "big."

that's really true. It never seemed, to me at least, like Cody ever got a block. While it seems like Thomas gets 1 or 2 a game.

[biteoftheapple]

that's really true. It never seemed, to me at least, like Cody ever got a block. While it seems like Thomas gets 1 or 2 a game.

Cody averaged 1.2 and 1.3 blocks per game in his 2 years.

[Feathery]

The "roster stabilization" is in a wait and see mode. We are possibly turning over our guards in a major way next season with Newkirk, CuJo, Gelon, and Green coming in. We should have a good mix of upperclassmen/underclassmen and guards/bigs but there is a long offseason to go.

Yogi is natural attrition due to exhausting eligibility. We have Johnson and Blackmon back next season. Newkirk has been here all season and will know the system. So we aren't overhauling the backcourt.

i don't expect any freshman backcourt player to start. We are finally is a position to let freshmen sit and learn and not be thrown to the wolves. That's basically what I mean by roster stabilization. There is always turnover in roster in the college game, but to let guys learn through practice and a few minutes here and there is ideal.

[Yogi'sBicep]

I have proved my memory and myself to be dumb here. I'd love to contribute more, but I simply don't got it!

[Feathery]

I have proved my memory and myself to be dumb here. I'd love to contribute more, but I simply don't got it!

I understand why you say this team is more athletic. Cody was athletic but other than running the court his athleticism didn't always translate to the court. I still remember him backing down post players and getting so low and then blocked going up.bi always attributed it to coaching than Cody not being athletic.

[HoosierAloha]

Yogi is natural attrition due to exhausting eligibility. We have Johnson and Blackmon back next season. Newkirk has been here all season and will know the system. So we aren't overhauling the backcourt.

i don't expect any freshman backcourt player to start. We are finally is a position to let freshmen sit and learn and not be thrown to the wolves. That's basically what I mean by roster stabilization. There is always turnover in roster in the college game, but to let guys learn through practice and a few minutes here and there is ideal.

 

Agreed there's usually roster turnover.  RoJo is the only one returning.  How will JBJ come back from his injury.  Yes, he's played in the system before but will he be able to do the same things as he did before or will he have to change is game/role.  While Newkirk practicing in the system for a year gives him a head start he hasn't played a second in a game that counts.  CuJo, Green, and Gelon will all be frosh though. 

[EvvIUFan]

Anyone know if TW is receptive to ppl talking to him out in public?

[Hovadipo]

Anyone know if TW is receptive to ppl talking to him out in public?

Pretty nice guy. I've seen people talk to him quite a bit and never have a problem.

[Uspshoosier]

Agreed there's usually roster turnover. RoJo is the only one returning. How will JBJ come back from his injury. Yes, he's played in the system before but will he be able to do the same things as he did before or will he have to change is game/role. While Newkirk practicing in the system for a year gives him a head start he hasn't played a second in a game that counts. CuJo, Green, and Gelon will all be frosh though.

while newkirk hasn't played in a game that counts in this system he at least has 2 years of playing in a tough conference like the acc that should help him transition next year

[incrediboy]

Not a case of team peaking. A case of two individuals whose performances go up and down like the stock market.

 

When Troy is good, Troy is very good, and he was very good against Ohio State. Next time out, he's "drive to nowhere" Troy (although he did make a big offensive rebound follow and a 3-pointer)

 

When RoJo is good, RoJo is very good. Lately RoJo hasn't been very good very often. I'm guessing it is health-related.

 

We played about the same at Rutgers and at Minnesota, not that many games a part.  We will have many better games. The problem is if we get Bad Troy and/or Bad RoJo we won't always be playing Rutgers and Minnesota.