2016-2017 Indiana Basketball

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

I've raised this issue in other threads, but I'm concerned what JBJ's overall skill level is going to be after rehabbing a third knee surgery.  Is he going to have explosiveness off the dribble, lateral quickness on defense, etc.?  At least 2 of his 3 have to be considered major surgeries because of the length of the rehabilitation period.  Won't be easy.

[yogisballin]

Hope ur right. We can replace him with talent and high basketball IQ.

Prior to the MSU game I would've said the same. I was done with Troy. But since then, he's been a different player on both ends. Anyone else seeing this? If he continues this same consistent play, I'd live to have him back. Would boost his draft stock as well. Which really at this point it has no where to go but up!

[Uspshoosier]

[attachment=3633:image.jpeg]
Looks like he might be doing some shooting drills he is in uniform in this picture

[HoosierAloha]

Prior to the MSU game I would've said the same. I was done with Troy. But since then, he's been a different player on both ends. Anyone else seeing this? If he continues this same consistent play, I'd live to have him back. Would boost his draft stock as well. Which really at this point it has no where to go but up!

 

Troy has been better but he's still not anywhere close to where he needs to be.  In the Maryland game he had two boneheaded turnovers that lead to 4 points (inches away from 5 points) for Maryland.  He also continues to be out of control on his drives and throws the ball towards the rim.  He has all the ability in the world to be a great finisher.  You can the majority of the time if Troy will make a layup when he leaves the ground.  When he makes he is squared to the basket but more often than not he just jumps and lets the ball go.  Also, he still tends to have 3-5 defensive plays where he leaves the rest of the playing 4-5 because he is terribly out of position or just plain guarding air out behind the three point line.  Games in March against good coaches teams will look to attack Troy.  He has been better but still has multiple WTH Troy possessions in each game.

[NoahW35]

image.jpeg
Looks like he might be doing some shooting drills he is in uniform in this picture

wearing the made in March uniforms. I like them

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Don't know why, but Troy simply has brain farts during most games and too many brain farts in some games.  I cringe when I see him bring the ball across mid-court, drops his head and shoulders and look out, it's gonna be a wild Troy drive to the bucket.  Some are spectacular in their finish; some are spectacularly bad.  Please Troy, load up on the Beano until April 5.

[NRT137]

Don't know why, but Troy simply has brain farts during most games and too many brain farts in some games. I cringe when I see him bring the ball across mid-court, drops his head and shoulders and look out, it's gonna be a wild Troy drive to the bucket. Some are spectacular in their finish; some are spectacularly bad. Please Troy, load up on the Beano until April 5.

Iu fans cringe when Troy starts to drive, NBA scouts will do the same. All we know is that he won't go first or second round. If he leaves, then fine. We have better defense. If he doesn't leave, then we'll just have to deal with Troy one more year. I personally hope he comes back because of his upside and because he'd be a senior, so he'd be one of our most experienced players.

[hoosierpap]

I want Troy back.I know he can be really frustrating but if he leaves you're losing 44.9 pts between Yogi (17.1), Troy (13.0), Max (8.0), and Nick (6.8).

 

Bring all three of the questionables back and you're looking at JBJ (15.8), Troy (13.0) and TB (11.5) with increased roles and you've got a solid foundation on offense. 

 

Obviously, there is more than PPG but I don't think I'm pushing Troy out the door.

[Trish]

I forgot all about Josh. Wonder how he will hold up. A backcourt of Blackmon and Josh who both have knee issues. That could be bad..

Curtis Jones and Davis will be nice additions. Need ROJO to develop along with OG.

We should be solid.

[incrediboy]

Interestingly, Crean has been working Morgan as a backup PG. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that next year.

[Brass Cannon]

Interestingly, Crean has been working Morgan as a backup PG. I wouldn't mind seeing more of that next year.

Our size could be impossible if we can run a lineup with him at PG

[IUaic]

Our size could be impossible if we can run a lineup with him at PG

 

I think we will have too much depth at guard next year to see him do any of that. Newkirk, Rojo, Cujo, Green, JBJ.

[HoosierAloha]

He's not being run at PG to be a full time PG in a bigger lineup.  I think it's to give him some time handling the ball so when he's playing the 4 or 5 he can take his man off the dribble.  It's also to relieve some pressure when teams go to full court pressure (similar to CWat against VCU).  That's my understanding at least. 

[Brass Cannon]

I would never say to use him at PG much but we could go big and destroy a team for 2 or 3 minutes if they were slow to react

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Latest from Hutch in the Anderson Herald-Bulletin on JBJ:

BLOOMINGTON — James Blackmon Jr. will be the first to admit that he has something to prove this season.

This can’t be how he believed his college basketball career would unfold. In fact, chances are the 21-year-old from Marion probably thought he would be in the NBA by the time he reached his third year of college.

But his knees have dictated a different timetable. A pair of knee injuries that have required surgery at the collegiate level have slowed his progress and tempered his dreams.

After watching the entire Big Ten season and NCAA Tournament in street clothes from the bench a year ago and cheering on his teammates, Blackmon said he clearly has a chip on his shoulder.

“I think when the season comes, a lot of people will see the chip, just because this is what I do,’’ Blackmon said. “When it’s taken away from you for a while, you get hungry.’’

The Dec. 22 non-conference home game against Kennesaw State was the final time that Blackmon was in an IU uniform a year ago. He had 19 points in that game and had built up a 15.8 points per game scoring average as the non-conference season had come to a close. That was on top of a 15.7 average he had as a true freshman the season before.

But in practice Dec. 28, two days before IU opened the Big Ten season at Rutgers, Blackmon suffered an ACL tear in his right knee. This was particularly difficult for the then-sophomore to stomach because he had just rehabbed extensively from offseason surgery to repair meniscus in his left knee. And it was his left knee that he injured in high school, a torn ACL that required surgery then, too.

It’s safe to say that Blackmon knows just about everything a person should ever know regarding knee injuries. He’s an expert in that field for all the wrong reasons.

He admitted that watching IU’s run to the 2016 Big Ten title as a non-contributor in conference play was tough. But having been through it before gave him some perspective, too.

“When I was out, I learned a lot about watching my teammates, watching film and just seeing the game,’’ Blackmon said. “More than that, I was seeing (the game) through a different way.’’

Indiana assistant coach Tim Buckley said Thursday that through the time with Blackmon nursing his most recent injury, he learned a lot about his talented shooter, too.

“You know, I learned a lot watching James,’’ Buckley said. “I think that physically he did all the things you need to do to recover from that type of injury. But I don’t think you can discount his mental attitude, how he carried himself and how he was persevering and never felt sorry for himself.

“I think it’s a great example for our team. He was really excited for our team to do as well as we did because he knows full well, and we do also, that if James had played we would have even been better than we were. I think that’s going to make us a better team this season having watched him go through something that was very tough and then see how he’s come out.’’

The good news is that he was recently cleared to begin practice with the Hoosiers without limitations. That doesn’t mean he’s not going to be careful though.

“I’m feeling great,’’ Blackmon Jr. said. “I recently just got cleared to do everything, and the coaches and our trainers are doing a great job of letting me know when to not overdo stuff.’’

Blackmon has gotten good at listening to advice. He explored the NBA in the offseason before being advised that he should return to school. But he’s glad he took part in the process. He said he got the idea for talking to the NBA from his head coach Tom Crean.

“I talked to about four teams — Minnesota, Indiana and teams like that,’’ Blackmon said. “And I just got good feedback from it. It was definitely a plus.’’

Blackmon said the feedback they gave him was simple.

“They just told me to stay healthy and keep working,’’ Blackmon said.

If he can take care of Job 1, and steer clear of the injury list, Blackmon has a chance to have a special season. The one thing IU fans should know is that Blackmon is clearly very eager to begin the 2016-17 campaign.

“I’m ready to go,’’ Blackmon said. “I’m ready to really get working again.’’

Indiana opens exhibition play on Nov. 1 against Hope College, a Division III school from Holland, Mich.. After a second exhibition Nov. 5 against Bellarmine, IU will open the season in Hawaii on Nov. 11 against Kansas.

[MikeRoberts]

Hopefully we see more of a desire to defend from him

[HoosierAloha]

Hopefully we see more of a desire to defend from him

This. If JBJ defends and has the season I think he will on offense I believe he gets drafted or is picked up on a UFA contract after next season.

[VO5]

Our boy Thomas got a Twitter. If any of you guys have one, go follow him:

nolimittb31

[Brass Cannon]

If JBJ is his old self on offense and is even trying on defense this team is going to be scary good. 

Were going to be more defense oriented probably, with JBJ and Bryant doing the bulk of the scoring in a half court manner.  Everybody else is going to have to knock down open 3s which I think we are all comfortable with that.

[bleedhoosier]

Does Hulls have any eligibility left so we can get him lost in the offense?

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