Official 2016-17 IUBB Preseason Thread

[OliviaPope40]

How much longer again?

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Zach Osterman - Indianapolis Star

Nearly 100 percent, Juwan Morgan ready to step up

BLOOMINGTON – It didn’t take much to separate Juwan Morgan’s shoulder by the end of last season. Something as simple as deflecting a pass would jar it loose, crumple Morgan to the floor and pull him out of the game.

Offseason surgery to correct a problem that dated to high school has given IU’s sophomore forward a newfound comfort and -- even though he’s still awaiting full clearance -- more confidence on the floor.

“I’m very close, probably not more than a week, maybe less, off from being back 100 percent,” Morgan said at team media day Wednesday. “There definitely is a freedom, just being out there and not having to worry about, ‘Oh, I can’t do this because it might come out,' or 'I have to be careful with this because it might come out.’ Being able to do everything 100 percent, it feels good.”

Injury caused him to miss nearly half of IU’s non-conference schedule, before he became a mainstay off the bench during Big Ten play. Morgan appeared in all 18 games during the Hoosiers’ run to an outright regular-season title and averaged 2.4 points and 2.1 rebounds per game as a freshman.

But Morgan’s shoulder kept giving him trouble, knocking him out of games against Iowa and Maryland, limiting him in March and eventually requiring surgery.

That procedure – and his subsequent rehabilitation – dictated the extent of Morgan’s summer workload. Now, just more than three weeks out from the Hoosiers’ season opener against Kansas, he’s finally close to full strength.

“Beginning (rehab), I wasn’t able to do a lot of things, like passing with a left hand, I’d have to pass with two, or crossing outside my body with my left (arm), it was harder to do,” Morgan said. “But now, with all the treatment and rehab, it’s pretty much there.”

For an Indiana team that must replace Collin Hartman (knee surgery), Morgan’s health is critical.

He was one of the Hoosiers’ best rebounders a season ago, even in limited minutes. He shot 24-of-30 from the free-throw line and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers. At times, when IU coach Tom Crean was trying to spell point guard Yogi Ferrell, he would make Morgan responsible for bringing the ball up the floor.

“Juwan wasn’t handling the ball by accident,” Crean said late last season. “That’s what we do in practice.”

As much as he could, Morgan polished his ball handling further this summer.

“Every day, I’m working on it,” Morgan said. “Last year, it was probably like one or two drills I would get in at point guard. Now, it’s like running the whole offense, running the whole drill at the point guard position.”

Morgan is part of a deep, talented Indiana frontcourt, perhaps the best in the Big Ten. Alongside fellow sophomores Thomas Bryant and OG Anunoby, he’ll need to be more than just a useful reserve.

After a promising freshman season and necessary offseason surgery, Morgan said he’s ready.

“People are going to see a very big difference in my game, and just how hard I always go,” Morgan said. “It’s just gonna get taken up a level.”

 

[OliviaPope40]

I have conflicting plans on the night of HH.

[Hovadipo]

#12 in USA Today preseason coaches poll. Duke overwhelming #1.


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[GnarlyNormEllenberger]

I'm usually not what I would consider to be a "sunshine-pumper", but I am very optimistic for the upcoming season. My reasons are as follows...

- We have three elite-level players on the team. By "elite", I mean guys who could be an All-American at the end of the year and it wouldn't be surprising. Bryant looks to be be one of the five best post players in the nation, easily. He's bulked up even more at 6'10-255, has a high motor and is highly-effective scoring points in the paint. People criticize Blackmon for his defensive effort (and rightfully so) but he's an elite-level scorer who would probably average 20+ PPG on many Power-5 teams. Any improvement on the defensive side of things could elevate his game to All-American levels. But then there's Anunoby... and while I hardly ever leap such high praise on players who have played limited minutes/roles... OG is the real deal. He has the capability to excel at any facet of the game. At the very least, I think we'll see the college version of "3 and D". At best, he could be dominant at both ends of the floor... and make it look easy.

- I really like Robert Johnson and Juwan Morgan, too. They're not at the level of the three mentioned above, but they're high-level players. It looks clear to me that Johnson is becoming one of the leaders on the team. He can handle the ball, shoot and play defense at an above-average level. He's a complete guard that brings a lot to the table. And if it wasn't for OG's meteoric rise, I think we'd be talking a whole lot more about Juwan Morgan. He's a tough-nosed, versatile forward who takes pride on defense. If he's truly bulked-up to the 6'8-230 that he's listed as, look for him to take a huge step forward in his development.

- We've got an intriguing mix of newcomers. It's funny how much criticism Newkirk has received without even playing a single game for us, but at-worst, he'll be a good ball-handler in the rotation that provides quickness and defense. I think you'll see both our freshman guards find minutes. Jones can shoot it and stretch defenses. And it wouldn't surprise me if Green plays some big minutes this year. The guy is a major competitor and has about as complete of a game that you'll ever see from a "3-star" freshman. Personally, I don't expect major production from Davis this season, but I think you'll see him come along as the season progresses and fill his back-up role nicely. It's hard to gauge what we'll get from McSwain, but he's a high-upside JuCo guy who could be a major asset for us if he develops.

In my personal opinion, we have the type of roster that COULD win the Big Ten again and make the Final Four. But we'll need for things to click for that to happen. We'll need for guys to fill-in specific roles and do their roles well (which was a big reason for our end of season success last season.) I think we have the potential to be a good defensive team if everyone truly buys into that side of the ball. I don't see as many "pure" shooters on this team as we had last year, but we've got enough guys to keep defenses honest and run our offense as we have been. We won't need a Yogi-level PG, but we need to have at least one player who is comfortable and effective in that role. We'll need to stay relatively healthy in order to prevent younger players from having to play more minutes than they're ready for (as the Hartman injury has already taken away some of our wiggle room in this regard.)

In short, I believe this team is more than capable of adding onto one of our Big Ten Championship or Final Four banners (or even creating a Big Ten Tournament banner.) If we don't at least win some form of the Big Ten (regular season or tournament) OR make the Sweet 16, I'll be surprised and disappointed because I think we have the roster make-up to be a major player in the national landscape.

[OliviaPope40]

17 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

#12 in USA Today preseason coaches poll. Duke overwhelming #1.


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Christmas morning came early.

[Stuhoo]

15 minutes ago, OliviaPope40 said:

Christmas morning came early.

 

How so?

Geez, I always have found you an entertaining (and honest) poster, but the inferred theme  lately that you prefer Duke and Allen to anything currently at IU is notable.

And I'm not sure why.

 

[OliviaPope40]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

 

How so?

Geez, I always have found you an entertaining (and honest) poster, but the inferred theme  lately that you prefer Duke and Allen to anything currently at IU is notable.

And I'm not sure why.

 

There is no theme here and I still like IU and I always have. I'm sorry if I let you down Stu,

[Stuhoo]

10 minutes ago, OliviaPope40 said:

There is no theme here and I still like IU and I always have. I'm sorry if I let you down Stu,

 

Oh, puhleease. Not trying to get crocodile tears. Just wondering why all the Dukie love above and beyond IU love, right down to your Coach K signature line on each post, on an IU board. 

Don't want to derail the thread any further; probably shouldn't have to begin with. Move this back to IUBB.

 

[OliviaPope40]

7 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

 

Oh, puhleease. Not trying to get crocodile tears. Just wondering why all the Dukie love above and beyond IU love, on an IU board. 

Don't want to derail the thread any further; probably shouldn't have to begin with. Move this back to IUBB.

 

Okay fine I agree with you. If you to PM me by all means you can.

Edited October 20, 2016 by OliviaPope40

[OliviaPope40]

http://www.indystar.com/picture-gallery/sports/college/indiana/2016/10/19/iu-basketball-players-meet-media/92430236/

[OliviaPope40]

Numbers to know

James Blackmon Jr.
6-4, 200 pounds
Junior guard, No. 1
15.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 46.3 percent 3-pt (13 games)

About Blackmon

Everything about Blackmon's offensive profile is exactly what Indiana needs -- it just needs it for an entire season.

The Marion High School alum has been a consistent 3-point threat, and with Yogi Ferrell gone, Blackmon's now the best player on his team at creating his own shot. Even with Indiana's loaded frontcourt, guard play will be crucial for this team, in spacing the floor, involving those big men (particularly Thomas Bryant) and providing balance to IU's offense.

Blackmon, who entered the NBA draft but withdrew to return for his junior season, has the ability to be one of the Big Ten's most efficient and prolific scorers, provided he returns from his ACL tear at full strength.

One burning question

For all of his impressive offensive statistics, Blackmon struggled at the other end of the floor as a sophomore. Fairly or otherwise (mostly otherwise), he became the poster child for the Hoosiers' disastrous defensive start in 2015, and their resurgence was pinned in part on his absence.

It was never that simple -- and Indiana actually began improving defensively before Blackmon's injury -- but there's no doubt he needs to improve at that end of the floor.

Tom Crean's team has the potential to be very good in that area this season, with versatile players like Bryant, OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan and Freddie McSwain giving them a wide range of match-up options. Can Blackmon improve himself to match that standard?

Final word

This is a big season for James Blackmon, who was solid as a freshman before losing most of his sophomore season to injury. He will be counted on to provide explosiveness offensively, and he will need to set a better example on defense.

There's also a larger issue -- Blackmon is now a junior, and one of IU's most experienced players. He has spoken at length this offseason about being a better, more vocal leader, so the responsibility facing him seems to be one he appreciates.

Now that Ferrell is graduated, Blackmon picks up the standard in the backcourt. Coming off of that ACL tear last December, is he ready?

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/hoosier-insider/2016/10/20/james-blackmon-indiana-hoosiers-tom-crean/92406490/

 

Edited October 20, 2016 by OliviaPope40

[OliviaPope40]

BLOOMINGTON -- De’Ron Davis has his walkout song chosen, but the 6-10 freshman says he isn’t the biggest dancer.

That could make for an interesting evening, as Indiana kicks off its 2016-17 campaign Saturday with the fun-filled Hoosier Hysteria.

“I got my song,” Davis said. “But I’m not a big media person, or a big dancer for that matter … It’s going to be fun, everyone’s been hyping it up all week.”

Nonetheless, IU’s highest-rated freshman will entertain fans for the first time this weekend. Davis entertained, and dominated the state of Colorado at Overland High School. The state’s all-time blocks leader finished his prep career with back-to-back state titles and over 1,500 points.

After utter domination in a state where basketball does not reign supreme, Davis has joined the elite Hoosiers frontcourt of sophomore center Thomas Bryant and sophomore forward OG Anunoby -- the pair combined for 16.8 points and 8.4 rebounds as freshmen.

Davis said that he faced players such as Bryant on the Adidas circuit with the Colorado Hawks, but not in daily practices or high school games.

“I never went against a highly-talented big man like that every day,” Davis said about Bryant. “In the circuit you do, but not in practice. He pushes me to limits I’ve never been pushed before. Especially coming from Colorado, playing against 6-6 big men.”

Bryant, who decided to delay his NBA career, has already been surprised by Davis’ ability to score near the basket.

“He’s a well-versed player that’s willing to learn,” Bryant said of Davis. “I didn’t know he had that many moves down there, it caught me by surprise one time. He did something like a shimmy-shake up and under, and I was like ‘oh, man!’ It caught me. He scored on that bucket too and I was like ‘I gotta watch out for that.’”

Due to academic concerns, Davis missed a large portion of summer workouts in Bloomington, resulting in an August arrival. Davis admitted there is catching up to do before Indiana’s season opener against Kansas.

“Everything,” Davis said of what he’s had to improve upon. “My whole game. Coach has been breaking me down from the bottom to the top. Mainly conditioning, getting me in shape and building up my motor. I wasn’t here for the first two, three months when everything was really hectic.”

Davis is healthy, despite the mention from Indiana coach Tom Crean  he had been dealing with a sore Achilles. He suffered a sprained wrist during the April live period on the AAU circuit, but that has not “bugged me at all,” says Davis.

Davis’ initial role in Crean’s rotation remains unclear. With the likes of Bryant and Anunoby protecting the rim, Davis will at the very least help in frontcourt depth -- a refreshing strength for the Hoosiers.

“I don’t really know,” Davis said of his role. “We’re all in the same position -- guards play the bigs’ position, the bigs play the guards’ position. Coach has us all interchangeable, so wherever coach wants me, I’m going to do it to my best ability.”

With just a few days to prepare for his inaugural Indiana introduction, Davis has received plenty of advice for his first Hoosier Hysteria -- but not necessarily on any dance moves.

“It’s going to be a packed arena,” Davis said. “Every seat filled. Every day you step on the court, you want to get better, but just have fun. Dunk contest, 3-point contest. It’ll be a good day to play some hoops.”

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/indiana/2016/10/19/freshman-deron-davis-ready-help-iu-frontcourt/92434270/

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Zach Osterman - Indianapolis Star

Player profile: A big year for James Blackmon

Numbers to know

James Blackmon Jr.
6-4, 200 pounds
Junior guard, No. 1
15.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 46.3 percent 3-pt (13 games)

About Blackmon

Everything about Blackmon's offensive profile is exactly what Indiana needs -- it just needs it for an entire season.

The Marion High School alum has been a consistent 3-point threat, and with Yogi Ferrell gone, Blackmon's now the best player on his team at creating his own shot. Even with Indiana's loaded frontcourt, guard play will be crucial for this team, in spacing the floor, involving those big men (particularly Thomas Bryant) and providing balance to IU's offense.

Blackmon, who entered the NBA draft but withdrew to return for his junior season, has the ability to be one of the Big Ten's most efficient and prolific scorers, provided he returns from his ACL tear at full strength.

One burning question

For all of his impressive offensive statistics, Blackmon struggled at the other end of the floor as a sophomore. Fairly or otherwise (mostly otherwise), he became the poster child for the Hoosiers' disastrous defensive start in 2015, and their resurgence was pinned in part on his absence.

It was never that simple -- and Indiana actually began improving defensively before Blackmon's injury -- but there's no doubt he needs to improve at that end of the floor.

Tom Crean's team has the potential to be very good in that area this season, with versatile players like Bryant, OG Anunoby, Juwan Morgan and Freddie McSwain giving them a wide range of match-up options. Can Blackmon improve himself to match that standard?

Final word

This is a big season for James Blackmon, who was solid as a freshman before losing most of his sophomore season to injury. He will be counted on to provide explosiveness offensively, and he will need to set a better example on defense.

There's also a larger issue -- Blackmon is now a junior, and one of IU's most experienced players. He has spoken at length this offseason about being a better, more vocal leader, so the responsibility facing him seems to be one he appreciates.

Now that Ferrell is graduated, Blackmon picks up the standard in the backcourt. Coming off of that ACL tear last December, is he ready?

[OliviaPope40]

I'm reading that Glass made the decision to remove some of the banners hanging in the hall. Is anybody else reading that? 

[Class of '66 Old Fart]

Multiple tweets from Mike Miller:

Glass: "When it's all said and done, I think it's preferable this way."

Glass: "I felt it was best to go back to just the single year listings on those two banners that identify the Big Ten champions."

Glass estimates it'd have cost IU $50-100k to add necessary infrastructure to hang two more banners in current spot.

Glass said there have been no specific discussions about hanging the '83, '13 banners elsewhere, but he'd be open to consideration.

Fred Glass says it was his call to remove '83, '13 Big Ten banners. "My strong view is we should recognize all 22 champions in the same way"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JSHoosier]

4 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Multiple tweets from Mike Miller:

Glass: "When it's all said and done, I think it's preferable this way."

Glass: "I felt it was best to go back to just the single year listings on those two banners that identify the Big Ten champions."

Glass estimates it'd have cost IU $50-100k to add necessary infrastructure to hang two more banners in current spot.

Glass said there have been no specific discussions about hanging the '83, '13 banners elsewhere, but he'd be open to consideration.

Fred Glass says it was his call to remove '83, '13 Big Ten banners. "My strong view is we should recognize all 22 champions in the same way"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I agree with this approach.  I didn't like having a separate banner in the first place.

[OliviaPope40]

6 minutes ago, Class of '66 Old Fart said:

Multiple tweets from Mike Miller:

Glass: "When it's all said and done, I think it's preferable this way."

Glass: "I felt it was best to go back to just the single year listings on those two banners that identify the Big Ten champions."

Glass estimates it'd have cost IU $50-100k to add necessary infrastructure to hang two more banners in current spot.

Glass said there have been no specific discussions about hanging the '83, '13 banners elsewhere, but he'd be open to consideration.

Fred Glass says it was his call to remove '83, '13 Big Ten banners. "My strong view is we should recognize all 22 champions in the same way"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No mention of the banner when we went undefeated in 75.

Edited October 20, 2016 by OliviaPope40

[Josh]

Multiple tweets from Mike Miller:

Glass: "When it's all said and done, I think it's preferable this way."

Glass: "I felt it was best to go back to just the single year listings on those two banners that identify the Big Ten champions."

Glass estimates it'd have cost IU $50-100k to add necessary infrastructure to hang two more banners in current spot.

Glass said there have been no specific discussions about hanging the '83, '13 banners elsewhere, but he'd be open to consideration.

Fred Glass says it was his call to remove '83, '13 Big Ten banners. "My strong view is we should recognize all 22 champions in the same way"

 

                     

Uh oh, Bobby's gonna be mad. He may never come back now!

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[Class of '66 Old Fart]

2016-2017 Player Profile: OG Anunoby

Heading into his freshman season, few knew of 6-foot-8 wing OG Anunoby. An unheralded recruit from Jefferson City, Missouri, he was widely considered an afterthought in IU’s 2015 recruiting class, ranked far lower than both Thomas Bryant and Juwan Morgan.

Through last year’s nonconference slate, Anunoby had logged just 100 minutes on the court. In those 13 games, Anunoby never scored more than six points or played more than 17 minutes.

When Big Ten play started, something clicked, and Anunoby began to blossom. He started off the conference schedule posting consecutive career-highs, scoring eight at Rutgers and 11 at Nebraska. In a road game against Michigan State, Anunoby had the Breslin Center awestruck when he dunked over Kenny Goins.

“His work ethic is second to none,” Juwan Morgan said of OG Anunoby on Wednesday. “Every time I’m in [Assembly Hall], OG is in here. Before practice, OG is in here. I knew it was just a matter of time before he really understood what he could do and applied it to the court.”

In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Anunoby effortlessly threw down a 360-degree dunk against Chattanooga on his way to a career night, finishing the blowout victory with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and adding two steals an assist and a rebound.

Two days later, he shut down Kentucky’s Jamal Murray, helping the Hoosiers reach the Sweet 16. The nation had taken notice.

Anunoby is now widely regarded as the top NBA prospect in the Big Ten and is one of 20 members of the preseason Julius Erving watch list, an award given annually to the best small forward in college basketball.

“I guess it’s nice,” Anunoby said. “But it doesn’t mean anything. The season hasn’t started. We haven’t played any games yet.”

Anunoby says he’s spent the offseason with an increased focus on ball handling, shooting and growing as a leader.

“Just talking everything out,” Anunoby said. “Communicating really, that’s the big thing. Switches, defensive positioning, offense, who’s going to post. All that stuff.”

If the comments from his teammates are any indication, OG Anunoby could continue rising up draft boards and piling up accolades.

“People will see when the season starts how much OG has improved.” Thomas Bryant said Wednesday. He’s a key focal point for our team. He has improved so much since last year. I just can’t wait for people to see it.”

Bottom Line: Anunoby hasn’t come anywhere near reaching his potential yet. His stats per 40 minutes as a freshman were outstanding: 14.2 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 2.2 blocks while shooting 61 percent from inside the arc and 45 percent from beyond it. The sample size, however, was simply too small to make any declarative statements. But if he continues his upward ascent while maintaining efficient shooting numbers and lockdown defense, the Big Ten better watch out.

Quotable: “He’s starting to use his body to his advantage. When he has a smaller player on him, he’ll put him down in the post. He’ll go down in the post more often. Also, he’s more efficient from three-point range. Me and (Anunoby) go head-to-head almost every time we play basketball. Clashing together, iron sharpens iron, and he’s getting so much better out there. He’s taking full advantage out on the court.”  – Thomas Bryant at Big Ten media day.

ctory with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and adding two steals an assist and a rebound.