College Basketball 2007-2008

[TruffleShuffle]

well holy cross has now lost back to back home games to the service academies, which frankly is pretty hard to do

[rawaction]

IU stomped all over Iowa tonight. Iowa shot very well in the first half, despite consistently good defense to keep somewhat close, but Indiana's defense was very good. I would single out DJ White's consistently excellent defensive help on the perimeter as absolutely key. IU played with the best defensive intensity I've seen so far, and other than a few lulls did an excellent job of protecting the ball. Crawford and Thomas in particular need to focus on what they are doing (they accounted for 8/14 IU turnovers).

 

I also saw some nice gelling among the players. That's good to see.

 

Looks like Sampson finally figured out his team. With everyone healthy, he's done more of what I've been calling for all year. DJ and Dre on the court together. Ellis as the primary ball handler. He turns the ball over still, but mostly gets it where it needs to go. It's amazing that the team's offensive stars are also its best defenders. Gordon was excellent on Freeman. Blocked 3 of his shots, forced him into 6 TOs, and held him to 2-9 shooting after getting screened to death for 8 points in the first few minutes. DJ's help on the pick and roll is textbook. He's improved in that area since the season started. Dre and Stemler have also improved in that area, as teams were screen and rolling IU to death early in the season.

[Productive Outs]

In a little over 6 hours, it will time for the Vols to put a Gardner Webb type beatdown on the Mildcats in Lexington.

 

Actually, I don't think we'll win by 18, I just believe we can.

 

sorry, i have to laugh at you for saying "mildcats"

 

@ rawaction -- i know it helps your RPI either way, but kentucky is playing much better basketball right now.

[Guest]

Wow, UCLA won 80-75 in Eugene, playing without Lorenzo Mata-Real and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (only 6 Bruins played more than 7 minutes). Kevin Love dropped 26 and 18 in his Oregon homecoming and Darren Collison added a career high 21.

[illiniguy]

I like Lickliter's (Butler's) offensive scheme, and with a faster, better shooting team, Iowa will rapidly improve. Also, if they get a big man who can shoot from outside to set those screens, that shot will be open against the perimeter help/recovery defense like Indiana played today. Right now, against the kind of stifling defense they saw, I'd time passes to the big man while using a series of off ball screen to open a player in the lane. Then you'll have two mismatches and a defense all out of sorts. I saw Iowa do this a couple of times, but IU is very wuick in recovery, and Iowa generally doesn't shoot well enough to exploit it.

 

Yeah we just don't have many guys who fit what he wants and with a 7-man rotation there's no one to put in when he wants to send a message. Gorney is the closest thing to what he wants in a big man and when he shows up aggressive and confident he's put up nice numbers. When he doesn't he's a mess. Johnson has disappeared since the first IU game, our freshman are pretty nice fits but very inconsistent and when things start going bad Freeman gets out of the system and freelances.

 

Against Indiana at home the offense looked really crisp and we moved the ball so well. Plus we only had 12 turnovers in a 74 possession game. Last night we had 20 in a 64 possession game. IU looked much better last night, especially defensively. A lot of it was just unforced errors on our part that led to run outs, but White and Gordon were just unstoppable.

 

There's no question that you need some depth; Iowa's talent level is decent and Lickliter's system works well, but the depth just isn't there and you really need a body inside. More time in the system will also help a lot. I liked what I've seen from Iowa so far this Big Ten season, and I think -- given a couple years of solid to good recruiting -- Iowa will be a contender for the Big Ten title.

They have Matt Gatens coming in next year. A very solid player. They should have had Beas Haegma this year, but Alford really hurt em on that one. They are doing pretty good job considering they are short on talent this year.

[rawaction]

With Washington St.'s loss last night, IU is a win vs. UConn on Saturday away from being a top 5 team. Should be a good game tomorrow. IU beat them in Connecticut last year, with a lesser team. UConn brings back the same team, but with more experience, and they are better down the line. DJ has to stay out of foul trouble facing a front line that goes 7'3", 6'9", and 6'7". He put up 21 last year and played 38 minutes, but Thabeet was not an offensive factor last year. Our guard play is much better than their's and if we can knock down shots as usual at home and they struggle to shoot as usual on the road, IU should win a close one late.

[hawkeyecub]

I like Lickliter's (Butler's) offensive scheme, and with a faster, better shooting team, Iowa will rapidly improve. Also, if they get a big man who can shoot from outside to set those screens, that shot will be open against the perimeter help/recovery defense like Indiana played today. Right now, against the kind of stifling defense they saw, I'd time passes to the big man while using a series of off ball screen to open a player in the lane. Then you'll have two mismatches and a defense all out of sorts. I saw Iowa do this a couple of times, but IU is very wuick in recovery, and Iowa generally doesn't shoot well enough to exploit it.

 

Yeah we just don't have many guys who fit what he wants and with a 7-man rotation there's no one to put in when he wants to send a message. Gorney is the closest thing to what he wants in a big man and when he shows up aggressive and confident he's put up nice numbers. When he doesn't he's a mess. Johnson has disappeared since the first IU game, our freshman are pretty nice fits but very inconsistent and when things start going bad Freeman gets out of the system and freelances.

 

Against Indiana at home the offense looked really crisp and we moved the ball so well. Plus we only had 12 turnovers in a 74 possession game. Last night we had 20 in a 64 possession game. IU looked much better last night, especially defensively. A lot of it was just unforced errors on our part that led to run outs, but White and Gordon were just unstoppable.

 

There's no question that you need some depth; Iowa's talent level is decent and Lickliter's system works well, but the depth just isn't there and you really need a body inside. More time in the system will also help a lot. I liked what I've seen from Iowa so far this Big Ten season, and I think -- given a couple years of solid to good recruiting -- Iowa will be a contender for the Big Ten title.

They have Matt Gatens coming in next year. A very solid player. They should have had Beas Haegma this year, but Alford really hurt em on that one. They are doing pretty good job considering they are short on talent this year.

 

Yeah it's basically Gatens and some role players at this point. Anthony Tucker is a 6'4 guard from the #1 team in Minnesota is probably the next best one. Great shooter but probably only a decent athlete, decent ballhandler and decent defender.

Brommer is a 6'8 PF who was committed to Minnesota before Monson was fired and has more of an outside face-up game than a real post. He's pretty thin though and may need a redshirt year.

Jermain Davis is a JUCO guard who is supposedly a super athlete and defender, only an average scorer, ballhandler.

 

They're trying to find one or two more JUCO big men to help out next year. Things are looking a little better in the '09 class at least. They're sitting okay with much better talent. Of course if you put together a team with the recruits we finished 2nd or 3rd for over the last 10 years they'd be our best team in 20 years.

[illiniguy]

I like Lickliter's (Butler's) offensive scheme, and with a faster, better shooting team, Iowa will rapidly improve. Also, if they get a big man who can shoot from outside to set those screens, that shot will be open against the perimeter help/recovery defense like Indiana played today. Right now, against the kind of stifling defense they saw, I'd time passes to the big man while using a series of off ball screen to open a player in the lane. Then you'll have two mismatches and a defense all out of sorts. I saw Iowa do this a couple of times, but IU is very wuick in recovery, and Iowa generally doesn't shoot well enough to exploit it.

 

Yeah we just don't have many guys who fit what he wants and with a 7-man rotation there's no one to put in when he wants to send a message. Gorney is the closest thing to what he wants in a big man and when he shows up aggressive and confident he's put up nice numbers. When he doesn't he's a mess. Johnson has disappeared since the first IU game, our freshman are pretty nice fits but very inconsistent and when things start going bad Freeman gets out of the system and freelances.

 

Against Indiana at home the offense looked really crisp and we moved the ball so well. Plus we only had 12 turnovers in a 74 possession game. Last night we had 20 in a 64 possession game. IU looked much better last night, especially defensively. A lot of it was just unforced errors on our part that led to run outs, but White and Gordon were just unstoppable.

 

There's no question that you need some depth; Iowa's talent level is decent and Lickliter's system works well, but the depth just isn't there and you really need a body inside. More time in the system will also help a lot. I liked what I've seen from Iowa so far this Big Ten season, and I think -- given a couple years of solid to good recruiting -- Iowa will be a contender for the Big Ten title.

They have Matt Gatens coming in next year. A very solid player. They should have had Beas Haegma this year, but Alford really hurt em on that one. They are doing pretty good job considering they are short on talent this year.

 

Yeah it's basically Gatens and some role players at this point. Anthony Tucker is a 6'4 guard from the #1 team in Minnesota is probably the next best one. Great shooter but probably only a decent athlete, decent ballhandler and decent defender.

Brommer is a 6'8 PF who was committed to Minnesota before Monson was fired and has more of an outside face-up game than a real post. He's pretty thin though and may need a redshirt year.

Jermain Davis is a JUCO guard who is supposedly a super athlete and defender, only an average scorer, ballhandler.

 

They're trying to find one or two more JUCO big men to help out next year. Things are looking a little better in the '09 class at least. They're sitting okay with much better talent. Of course if you put together a team with the recruits we finished 2nd or 3rd for over the last 10 years they'd be our best team in 20 years.

Give us Jon Scheyer, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Scotty Reynolds, Willie Kemp, and Sherron Collins and let me know where we finish this year.

[Andy]

I would just like to point out how funny it is that IU has been in Big Ten play for nearly a month and yet UConn is arguably better than anyone they've played so far in the conference.

[SouthSideRyan]

I would just like to point out how funny it is that IU has been in Big Ten play for nearly a month and yet UConn is arguably better than anyone they've played so far in the conference.

 

There's no arguably about it. At Minnesota is the only Big 10 game IU should have been challeneged in.

[Exile on Waveland]

I would just like to point out how funny it is that IU has been in Big Ten play for nearly a month and yet UConn is arguably better than anyone they've played so far in the conference.

 

There's no arguably about it. At Minnesota is the only Big 10 game IU should have been challeneged in.

 

UConn's easily one of the top-two teams IU has played this year, along with Xavier. However, that's just how the Big Ten schedule broke; IU hasn't played Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State or Purdue yet.* The conference slate gets tough starting next Thursday at Wisconsin. Though at Minnesota (#46 Sagarin) is a solid win.

 

UConn is a difficult matchup for IU with their size. I'm very concerned about this game. As Raw said, IU did win at UConn last year, but both teams have improved. If IU isn't hitting outside shots, this could be a very difficult game.

 

*Edit: I don't mean to imply that UConn isn't better than Purdue or perhaps Ohio State. Just pointing out that of the likely top-5 Big Ten teams outside of IU, the Hoosiers have played only one.

[SouthSideRyan]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

[illiniguy]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

Only because of how poor the officiating is in that conference.

[CuseCubFan69]

I would just like to point out how funny it is that IU has been in Big Ten play for nearly a month and yet UConn is arguably better than anyone they've played so far in the conference.

 

There's no arguably about it. At Minnesota is the only Big 10 game IU should have been challeneged in.

 

UConn's easily one of the top-two teams IU has played this year, along with Xavier. However, that's just how the Big Ten schedule broke; IU hasn't played Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State or Purdue yet.* The conference slate gets tough starting next Thursday at Wisconsin. Though at Minnesota (#46 Sagarin) is a solid win.

 

UConn is a difficult matchup for IU with their size. I'm very concerned about this game. As Raw said, IU did win at UConn last year, but both teams have improved. If IU isn't hitting outside shots, this could be a very difficult game.

 

*Edit: I don't mean to imply that UConn isn't better than Purdue or perhaps Ohio State. Just pointing out that of the likely top-5 Big Ten teams outside of IU, the Hoosiers have played only one.

 

 

Interesting stat about UConn. They have led the nation in blocked shots for the last 4 or 5 years. I don't think another team has led a category like that for that amount of years, ever.

[Exile on Waveland]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

 

I think you'd have to put Purdue ahead of Minnesota at this point, no question. Winning one of those four is about what I'd expect, though I'm hoping for two. Anything more would be amazing. And I agree with illiniguy, a big reason Big Ten road games are so difficult is because of the incredible home team bias shown by the officials.

[rawaction]

I would just like to point out how funny it is that IU has been in Big Ten play for nearly a month and yet UConn is arguably better than anyone they've played so far in the conference.

 

There's no arguably about it. At Minnesota is the only Big 10 game IU should have been challeneged in.

 

UConn's easily one of the top-two teams IU has played this year, along with Xavier. However, that's just how the Big Ten schedule broke; IU hasn't played Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State or Purdue yet.* The conference slate gets tough starting next Thursday at Wisconsin. Though at Minnesota (#46 Sagarin) is a solid win.

 

UConn is a difficult matchup for IU with their size. I'm very concerned about this game. As Raw said, IU did win at UConn last year, but both teams have improved. If IU isn't hitting outside shots, this could be a very difficult game.

 

*Edit: I don't mean to imply that UConn isn't better than Purdue or perhaps Ohio State. Just pointing out that of the likely top-5 Big Ten teams outside of IU, the Hoosiers have played only one.

 

 

Interesting stat about UConn. They have led the nation in blocked shots for the last 4 or 5 years. I don't think another team has led a category like that for that amount of years, ever.

 

Sampson can't recruit big men. Calhoun can't recruit guards. Combine the 2 and you have the best team in the history of sports.

[rawaction]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

 

26-5 would mean either a home upset (29 straight wins in Bloomington) or losing all 4 of those tough road games. At this point, I can't see them losing at Illinois. I think we could beat O$U in Columbus also. Wisconsin isn't playing the best basketball, either, but I still think that's a loss.

[Exile on Waveland]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

 

26-5 would mean either a home upset (29 straight wins in Bloomington) or losing all 4 of those tough road games. At this point, I can't see them losing at Illinois. I think we could beat O$U in Columbus also. Wisconsin isn't playing the best basketball, either, but I still think that's a loss.

 

IU beat Illinois by four in Bloomington and trailed a good portion of the game. The crowd will be insane in C-U. Gordon will have two fouls in approximately 55 seconds. It's going to be very, very difficult for IU to get out of there with a win.

[soapy]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

 

26-5 would mean either a home upset (29 straight wins in Bloomington) or losing all 4 of those tough road games. At this point, I can't see them losing at Illinois. I think we could beat O$U in Columbus also. Wisconsin isn't playing the best basketball, either, but I still think that's a loss.

 

IU beat Illinois by four in Bloomington and trailed a good portion of the game. The crowd will be insane in C-U. Gordon will have two fouls in approximately 55 seconds. It's going to be very, very difficult for IU to get out of there with a win.

I think they are likely to lose at Illinois. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them lose all four of the games mentioned above. Of all those, I think @OSU is the most winnable.

 

It's hard to say at this point. Until they play some tougher games (which starts tomorrow) I have a hard time really telling how good they are.

[illiniguy]

Ehhh, I think Purdue is better than Minnesota, but at Minnesota is likely a tougher road game than at Purdue.

 

I think Pomeroy has you guys nailed pretty well at 26-5 to end the regular season. I'm trying to bet the guy next to me that IU loses 3 out of 4 at UI, OSU, MSU, Wisky. Big 10 roadies are ridiculous.

 

26-5 would mean either a home upset (29 straight wins in Bloomington) or losing all 4 of those tough road games. At this point, I can't see them losing at Illinois. I think we could beat O$U in Columbus also. Wisconsin isn't playing the best basketball, either, but I still think that's a loss.

 

IU beat Illinois by four in Bloomington and trailed a good portion of the game. The crowd will be insane in C-U. Gordon will have two fouls in approximately 55 seconds. It's going to be very, very difficult for IU to get out of there with a win.

I agree with all of that, but you will still handle us easily. We just don't have the talent.

[hawkeyecub]

They have Matt Gatens coming in next year. A very solid player. They should have had Beas Haegma this year, but Alford really hurt em on that one. They are doing pretty good job considering they are short on talent this year.

 

Yeah it's basically Gatens and some role players at this point. Anthony Tucker is a 6'4 guard from the #1 team in Minnesota is probably the next best one. Great shooter but probably only a decent athlete, decent ballhandler and decent defender.

Brommer is a 6'8 PF who was committed to Minnesota before Monson was fired and has more of an outside face-up game than a real post. He's pretty thin though and may need a redshirt year.

Jermain Davis is a JUCO guard who is supposedly a super athlete and defender, only an average scorer, ballhandler.

 

They're trying to find one or two more JUCO big men to help out next year. Things are looking a little better in the '09 class at least. They're sitting okay with much better talent. Of course if you put together a team with the recruits we finished 2nd or 3rd for over the last 10 years they'd be our best team in 20 years.

Give us Jon Scheyer, Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose, Scotty Reynolds, Willie Kemp, and Sherron Collins and let me know where we finish this year.

 

I'm not saying it doesn't happen with every team. The problem is (until recently) Illinois missed on some top talent and still brought in a good class. We would be 2nd or 3rd for a top 50 or 100 guy and end up with a total project or guy that can't qualify or doesn't stay on campus to replace him. Smith was the only consensus top 100 guy we landed since Horner/Brunner. I can't remember the last out of state top 100 guy we got who stayed 3-4 years.

[rawaction]

UConn will have just 3 guards in Bloomington tomorrow. Their 2nd leading scorer, Dyson, and top bench perimeter player, Wiggins are both suspended for violating team rules. That's over 20 points missing from a team that doesn't get much backcourt scoring.

 

I still expect them to come out strong, ala IU without Gordon and Bassett vs. UK. And ala Penn St. without Claxton.

[Flames24Rulz]

Even though this has been a highly disappointing year, I'm still really pumped up for Gameday. Heading over to the Arena in a little bit and I'll make sure I get some good pictures for the two or three of you that care about SIU :lol:

[illiniguy]

I was searching the boards tonight, which is common at late hours. Stupide overnight job. Anyways I stumbled acroos an interesting thing.

 

Mike Nadel: Weber-basher puts his money where mouth is

http://www.sj-r.com/Sports/stories/24114.asp

 

I don't care who he has lined up coming in the next few years. This isn't good for him. If the big time boosters start to grumble, Weber will be in trouble. That combined with the recent rumor of the Pruitts having something to say in a press release about Shaun's suspension. The seat in Champaign has to be getting hotter.

[Exile on Waveland]

UConn will have just 3 guards in Bloomington tomorrow. Their 2nd leading scorer, Dyson, and top bench perimeter player, Wiggins are both suspended for violating team rules. That's over 20 points missing from a team that doesn't get much backcourt scoring.

 

I still expect them to come out strong, ala IU without Gordon and Bassett vs. UK. And ala Penn St. without Claxton.

 

That's unfortunate for IU. I still expect a competitive game. UConn's huge frontline is still intact, which is what worries me. However, it would lessen a victory if IU wins; I wanted the Hoosiers to be fully tested. While I still think this will be a difficult game -- UConn is schizophrenic, IU could play the same and win by 15 or lose by 10 -- it won't mean quite as much.