Looking to next season

[Ranger78]

You need a mixture of long athletic players with high IQ glue guys. Of course, I would always rate skill as the highest priority.

Too much is given to off the bus eye test... I'm all for how they perform on the court. I'm a fan of court eye test...

[Ranger78]

IU will not be UK.... from recent we need to emulate MSU and UCONN. Just my two cents ....

[HoosierAloha]

There is a good reason why only a select few make the NBA. It is rare to find size, skill, and athleticism hand in hand. There are 1000 Peter Jurkins for your Karl Anthony Towns.

That begs the question.. Those are the 3 key traits. Size, skill, athleticism. Which of the 3 is most valuable?

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I know it's probably not common but when I think of "length" it's kind of part of size and athleticism. Draymond Green kind of exemplifies that for me.


On a much more general level, it depends on your motives. Wisconsin has sacrificed athleticism and length in some areas for a higher skill level. Crean seems fascinated with length and athleticism while sacrificing high level skill. It takes something in between to win big.

[X-Hoosier]

So u want a team that is long, and athletic. Skilled or not? A team of Hanner Pereas?

My point is finding NBA size at every position for a college roster is usually going to yield a major lack of skills.


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Well probably but you can get away with it in college basketball. Look at San Diego State. They aren't title contenders but they're normally around the Top 25 with a very strong defense. And if you're at a very small school then you'll be able to exploit many teams out of athleticism.

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[Ranger78]

23 minutes ago, X-Hoosier said:

Well probably but you can get away with it in college basketball. Look at San Diego State. They aren't title contenders but they're normally around the Top 25 with a very strong defense. And if you're at a very small school then you'll be able to exploit many teams out of athleticism.

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we have that now... (top 25). I don't think you're wrong on the long athletic part, but we need to find the combination to get us past the sweet 16. I think your point about defense is the key, but I'm not sure that's solely on long athletic players. We need that for sure, but we need good defense fundamentals. I think this year team will answer a lot of questions about defense philosophy for me. If we don't start out switching from m2m to zone in the middle of a possession, I'll be happy.

[HoosierAloha]

9 minutes ago, Ranger78 said:

we have that now... (top 25). I don't think you're wrong on the long athletic part, but we need to find the combination to get us past the sweet 16. I think your point about defense is the key, but I'm not sure that's solely on long athletic players. We need that for sure, but we need good defense fundamentals. I think this year team will answer a lot of questions about defense philosophy for me. If we don't start out switching from m2m to zone in the middle of a possession, I'll be happy.

The 2015 class was a fantastic get in terms of defense.  Bryant had a difficult time adjusting the PNR early in the season but that's not uncommon for frosh bigs.  JMo and OG have both instincts and ability to make them plus defenders.  Bryant gave up some inside stuff by not doing work early.  I don't see him having the same issues as a sophomore with most of the other bigs.  I would call all of them plus defenders.  I agree though, I would like to see a top 25 adjD this season.  If they start approaching that area we're into the Elite 8+ area. 

[Ranger78]

Coach needs to show me it this year... I believe in him and i want to see a top defensive team, because with good guard play.... we might have something. 

[X-Hoosier]

we have that now... (top 25). I don't think you're wrong on the long athletic part, but we need to find the combination to get us past the sweet 16. I think your point about defense is the key, but I'm not sure that's solely on long athletic players. We need that for sure, but we need good defense fundamentals. I think this year team will answer a lot of questions about defense philosophy for me. If we don't start out switching from m2m to zone in the middle of a possession, I'll be happy.

I wasn't necessarily talking about Indiana. But if I was a coach, and especially a coach of a very small school.. SWAC, MEAC, MAAC, NEC.. then I'd go with the philosophy. You could run a conference off that.

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[X-Hoosier]

I really liked that UAB team from a couple years ago that beat... Iowa State?

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[Ranger78]

Just now, X-Hoosier said:

I wasn't necessarily talking about Indiana. But if I was a coach, and especially a coach of a very small school.. SWAC, MEAC, MAAC, NEC.. then I'd go with the philosophy. You could run a conference off that.

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I agree.

[biteoftheapple]

I wasn't necessarily talking about Indiana. But if I was a coach, and especially a coach of a very small school.. SWAC, MEAC, MAAC, NEC.. then I'd go with the philosophy. You could run a conference off that.

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But, you did say Indiana in the original statement.

[BtownBanner6]

I really liked that UAB team from a couple years ago that beat... Iowa State?

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If it's a question yes it was Iowa St they beat, actually was at that game, their crowd was fantastic got me into the game.

[X-Hoosier]

But, you did say Indiana in the original statement.

And Incarnate Word.

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[X-Hoosier]

I like watching offense and that's where the money is at. As a coach I live up more where Louisville is. Defense and rebounding.

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[gfunk69]

any word on whether he can ball? No doubt he is an athlete/physically mature, I think most are concerned he is a project vs someone that can help immediately

I understand that. But I kinda agree with X on this. You can continually build skill but size/lenghth/athleticism is something you are born with and can only be improved so much. Skills can be taught. If someone trains for 4 years hard on there shot, ball handling, defense,... They could improve a lot. However if they train 4 years trying to get bigger, faster strong they will only get as far as their genetics allow.

[HoosierAloha]

9 minutes ago, gfunk69 said:

 

I understand that. But I kinda agree with X on this. You can continually build skill but size/lenghth/athleticism is something you are born with and can only be improved so much. Skills can be taught. If someone trains for 4 years hard on there shot, ball handling, defense,... They could improve a lot. However if they train 4 years trying to get bigger, faster strong they will only get as far as their genetics allow.

And now you've introduced something more than length, skill, size, and athleticism.  Passion, desire, etc. to continue to get better is another aspect of recruiting what fits in your system. 

[X-Hoosier]

And now you've introduced something more than length, skill, size, and athleticism.  Passion, desire, etc. to continue to get better is another aspect of recruiting what fits in your system. 

Passion/desire and dedication fit into all systems. It is just getting those kids. A smaller school could have easily gotten an OG or Vic. And those are the types of players I'd go after at a super small school to play the 2 and 3.

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[Uspshoosier]

Indiana's roster for next season has "San Diego State" level versatility. Pieces are interchangeable. Like multiple Queens on a chessboard.
@jonrothstein


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[ALASKA HOOSIER]

Is sdsu level quality good? They didnt win a National championship

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[HoosierAloha]

Honestly, SDSU could be a power out in the west. Cal, UCLA, and UW are starting to pick it up their recruiting but for awhile it was just UA. At SDSU you could attract the western talent that wants to focus on just basketball.

There defense has been good to great but their offense has been turrrble, most years, at best. Maybe we could hire Fischer as D-coordinator?