Re: College Basketball 2008-2009

[E.J.]

Michigan basically plays the game with 4 guys on the floor. You can't count the big, gumpy white guy who does nothing but take up space.

[Sosa21MVP]

I don't know about the rest of the IU fans, but I have really enjoyed watching this team this year. I didn't think I could or would. This team is absolutely horrible. The talent level may be on the bottom 5% of division 1 basketball, and clearly bottom 10 total in all of major conference basketball. I know it's cliche, but this team does not quit. They started 4 freshman and a senior who was a walk-on today. They only went 7 deep without Dumes, their leading scorer, including 6 freshman and 5 scholarship players.

 

I think with next year's class and the experience gained from this year's group will make this team a tourney team right away. Having an experienced big man like Pritchard next year will be huge. Having a couple experiened PGs with Jones III and Rivers will be great. Having Dumes as a senior and Roth playing with players that can create shots for him will be huge. Going from an 8 man rotation with 1 year of combined experience to a team with 9 years experience (1 for the 6 frosh and Dumes this year, and 2 for Rivers) along with a solid freshman class will be huge for this team.

 

I know I predicted a NCAA tourney bid and "contending" in the Big 10 next year......a few months ago or whatever, much to the bemusement of SSR but I will say this, I'm fine if we are merely a NIT team next year. Actually seeing the stark, cold reality of this season has me prepared. But I think we will end up being squarely on the bubble next season. I'm just very excited to see if we can maintain the same level of effort/intensity with a more talented group of kids.

[Rusch33]

Wow. Pretty big expectations for a conference that returns basically everybody next year.

[CubColtPacer]

Indiana looked like a crappy mid-major. Crean has a lot of work to do. Kelvin really did a number on that program.

 

Fortunately for us Crean has been working hard for months now and we have a recruiting class coming in next season that is Top 10 at worst, maybe even Top 5. If he can get those kids to play as hard as the current group then next season will be a bit more fun to watch.

 

RSCI isn't a huge fan, with IU coming in at 16th as of their November update. This wouldn't take into account Rivers(3 star on rivals) though, and I think the big addition for Indiana next year is depth. Being able to 9 deep without resulting to walks on who can't shoot or dribble or guys who should be redshirting is a big help.

 

I could be mistaken but I think IU is after one more kid and if they get him, it would push them into the Top 10. I really don't follow the recruiting talk as much as others do, I will admit as much.

 

16th still sounds pretty good to me at this point. And yeah getting some depth will be cool. Quality depth.

 

IU can't get anybody else. They've actually oversigned by one so they have to run somebody off to get that extra player.

 

But to be fair, the RSCI list is based off of only the top 100 players. So they're only counting 2 of IU's 7 players coming in when compiling their rankings. IU has three other players who almost certainly just missed the cut and so if a couple of them crash the next version of the rankings IU could shoot up in a hurry (and that has a decent chance of happening because IU's recruits are doing very well this year in high school).

 

That list that they have on there is also painfully out of date. For example, Stephan Van Treese would not be anywhere near the top 100 list today. Most of the schools he was looking at refused to make an offer to him in fact.

[Sosa21MVP]

Wow. Pretty big expectations for a conference that returns basically everybody next year.

 

So I take it you missed the part where I said I would be happy with a NIT berth next year. Or is that still too outrageous? lol

[bukie]

Ouch, Butler just took a seeding hit today with a home loss to Loyola.

[SouthSideRyan]

Harris just ran right past 2 defenders. Pathetic defense by NU.

[rawaction]

I don't know about the rest of the IU fans, but I have really enjoyed watching this team this year. I didn't think I could or would. This team is absolutely horrible. The talent level may be on the bottom 5% of division 1 basketball, and clearly bottom 10 total in all of major conference basketball. I know it's cliche, but this team does not quit. They started 4 freshman and a senior who was a walk-on today. They only went 7 deep without Dumes, their leading scorer, including 6 freshman and 5 scholarship players.

 

I think with next year's class and the experience gained from this year's group will make this team a tourney team right away. Having an experienced big man like Pritchard next year will be huge. Having a couple experiened PGs with Jones III and Rivers will be great. Having Dumes as a senior and Roth playing with players that can create shots for him will be huge. Going from an 8 man rotation with 1 year of combined experience to a team with 9 years experience (1 for the 6 frosh and Dumes this year, and 2 for Rivers) along with a solid freshman class will be huge for this team.

 

I know I predicted a NCAA tourney bid and "contending" in the Big 10 next year......a few months ago or whatever, much to the bemusement of SSR but I will say this, I'm fine if we are merely a NIT team next year. Actually seeing the stark, cold reality of this season has me prepared. But I think we will end up being squarely on the bubble next season. I'm just very excited to see if we can maintain the same level of effort/intensity with a more talented group of kids.

 

I didn't mean contend for the conference title. I meant contending as in not being an easy win for everyone on the schedule. The only teams I see head and shoulders above IU next year are Michigan St, Illinois and Minnesota. Purdue is an easy couple notches better, but I don't think they are great and won't get a ton of help next year. IU should be better than NW, Michigan, Penn St, and Iowa next year. And should be right on par with Wisconsin and Ohio St. How they fare vs. the teams on their level will dictate on if they play in the real postseason or not next year.

[E.J.]

Harris just ran right past 2 defenders. Pathetic defense by NU.

 

Shurna has 4 fouls. He had to let him go.

 

Manny Harris is a freaking stud.

[Sosa21MVP]

I don't know about the rest of the IU fans, but I have really enjoyed watching this team this year. I didn't think I could or would. This team is absolutely horrible. The talent level may be on the bottom 5% of division 1 basketball, and clearly bottom 10 total in all of major conference basketball. I know it's cliche, but this team does not quit. They started 4 freshman and a senior who was a walk-on today. They only went 7 deep without Dumes, their leading scorer, including 6 freshman and 5 scholarship players.

 

I think with next year's class and the experience gained from this year's group will make this team a tourney team right away. Having an experienced big man like Pritchard next year will be huge. Having a couple experiened PGs with Jones III and Rivers will be great. Having Dumes as a senior and Roth playing with players that can create shots for him will be huge. Going from an 8 man rotation with 1 year of combined experience to a team with 9 years experience (1 for the 6 frosh and Dumes this year, and 2 for Rivers) along with a solid freshman class will be huge for this team.

 

I know I predicted a NCAA tourney bid and "contending" in the Big 10 next year......a few months ago or whatever, much to the bemusement of SSR but I will say this, I'm fine if we are merely a NIT team next year. Actually seeing the stark, cold reality of this season has me prepared. But I think we will end up being squarely on the bubble next season. I'm just very excited to see if we can maintain the same level of effort/intensity with a more talented group of kids.

 

I didn't mean contend for the conference title. I meant contending as in not being an easy win for everyone on the schedule. The only teams I see head and shoulders above IU next year are Michigan St, Illinois and Minnesota. Purdue is an easy couple notches better, but I don't think they are great and won't get a ton of help next year. IU should be better than NW, Michigan, Penn St, and Iowa next year. And should be right on par with Wisconsin and Ohio St. How they fare vs. the teams on their level will dictate on if they play in the real postseason or not next year.

 

I know, I was just referring to what I had stated previously here. I got carried away, I admit it. But I do expect us to be very competitive in terms of being a tough team to beat next season and we actually will be capable of winning a few games, lol.

 

That is kind of the point of what I had posted today although obviously it is lost on at least one person. That I've realized it is best to dial back the expectations. The Big Ten has been insanely competitive this season so I certainly don't expect IU to suddenly become a top 3 team in the league next year. But hopefully top 6 at worst.

[Rusch33]

Wow. Pretty big expectations for a conference that returns basically everybody next year.

 

So I take it you missed the part where I said I would be happy with a NIT berth next year. Or is that still too outrageous? lol

 

I still think that's pretty big expectations for a team that only has one conference win this year. Granted, they bring him a couple good players next year though. I think Indiana will be better, but possibly not an NIT team next year. We'll see though.

[JimSorgi]

I don't know about the rest of the IU fans, but I have really enjoyed watching this team this year. I didn't think I could or would. This team is absolutely horrible. The talent level may be on the bottom 5% of division 1 basketball, and clearly bottom 10 total in all of major conference basketball. I know it's cliche, but this team does not quit. They started 4 freshman and a senior who was a walk-on today. They only went 7 deep without Dumes, their leading scorer, including 6 freshman and 5 scholarship players.

 

I think with next year's class and the experience gained from this year's group will make this team a tourney team right away. Having an experienced big man like Pritchard next year will be huge. Having a couple experiened PGs with Jones III and Rivers will be great. Having Dumes as a senior and Roth playing with players that can create shots for him will be huge. Going from an 8 man rotation with 1 year of combined experience to a team with 9 years experience (1 for the 6 frosh and Dumes this year, and 2 for Rivers) along with a solid freshman class will be huge for this team.

 

I know I predicted a NCAA tourney bid and "contending" in the Big 10 next year......a few months ago or whatever, much to the bemusement of SSR but I will say this, I'm fine if we are merely a NIT team next year. Actually seeing the stark, cold reality of this season has me prepared. But I think we will end up being squarely on the bubble next season. I'm just very excited to see if we can maintain the same level of effort/intensity with a more talented group of kids.

 

I didn't mean contend for the conference title. I meant contending as in not being an easy win for everyone on the schedule. The only teams I see head and shoulders above IU next year are Michigan St, Illinois and Minnesota. Purdue is an easy couple notches better, but I don't think they are great and won't get a ton of help next year. IU should be better than NW, Michigan, Penn St, and Iowa next year. And should be right on par with Wisconsin and Ohio St. How they fare vs. the teams on their level will dictate on if they play in the real postseason or not next year.

 

I know, I was just referring to what I had stated previously here. I got carried away, I admit it. But I do expect us to be very competitive in terms of being a tough team to beat next season and we actually will be capable of winning a few games, lol.

 

That is kind of the point of what I had posted today although obviously it is lost on at least one person. That I've realized it is best to dial back the expectations. The Big Ten has been insanely competitive this season so I certainly don't expect IU to suddenly become a top 3 team in the league next year. But hopefully top 6 at worst.

 

Agreed. I'm really impressed with what Crean's done so far.

[Sosa21MVP]

Wow. Pretty big expectations for a conference that returns basically everybody next year.

 

So I take it you missed the part where I said I would be happy with a NIT berth next year. Or is that still too outrageous? lol

 

I still think that's pretty big expectations for a team that only has one conference win this year. Granted, they bring him a couple good players next year though. I think Indiana will be better, but possibly not an NIT team next year. We'll see though.

 

Yeah but we have been "in the game" in well over half our conference losses so I can't help but feel like several of those games could be turned into "wins" with actual talent on the floor instead of a rag tag collection of walk on's and scrubs.

 

And we do have probably at least 3 guys on the current team who could be core players next season (Nick Williams, Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth).

[E.J.]

Yikes. I'm not one to complain about the refs, but they've been absolutely awful in this Michigan/Northwestern game.

[E.J.]

Phew. Big win for Michigan. Keeps their slight Big Dance hopes alive.

[Andy]

Notre Dame played a stretch of 8 games where they played 7 teams who were ranked in the top 10 at some point during the stretch (Cincy was the exception). That may be the toughest stretch any college hoops team has played in decades. Brey should be hammering this point home every time he talks to the media. Politicking works. I will reiterate this point when Hasheem Thabeet wins Big East POY over Harangody - Calhoun's been all but carrying signs.

 

Anyway, ND had some issues with South Florida today - they always do - but managed to win 67-57. I was really impressed with our defense in the second half. Harangody had 19 and 11, but KMac was the big deal - hitting five treys. He's finally getting his shot back, and just in time. West Virginia on Wednesday night will be huge. With the reconfigured Big East tournament, seeds 5-8 get a bye and play a 9-16 seed team in their first game, so getting to the 5-8 mark would help immensely.

 

Ball State scored a huge victory today at home over the MAC East leader, Buffalo, 53-51. The Bulls had won nine in a row. Ball State's alone atop the West at 6-5 and gains a ton of confidence for if the two teams meet in the MAC tourney.

[CubInOK]

Notre Dame played a stretch of 8 games where they played 7 teams who were ranked in the top 10 at some point during the stretch (Cincy was the exception). That may be the toughest stretch any college hoops team has played in decades. Brey should be hammering this point home every time he talks to the media. Politicking works. I will reiterate this point when Hasheem Thabeet wins Big East POY over Harangody - Calhoun's been all but carrying signs.

You should hire pilots to fly planes with banners attached to them to go wherever UConn goes. They get the message out.

[SouthSideRyan]

The Cincy and St. John losses are going to kill them. Cincy because they're a fellow bubble team and the Big East isn't getting any more than 9 bids, and St. John's because they're terrible. It's okay to make the tough argument schedule as long as you beat the teams that aren't tough. Faltering against those 2 ruins ND's argument.

 

They absolutely need to win 2 of @ WV, @ UConn, and vs. Nova all while not faltering against the cupcakes. Doing so would give them a winning record in Big East and hold their loss total to a moderate 12 after the BE tourney.

[Andy]

The Cincy and St. John losses are going to kill them. Cincy because they're a fellow bubble team and the Big East isn't getting any more than 9 bids, and St. John's because they're terrible. It's okay to make the tough argument schedule as long as you beat the teams that aren't tough. Faltering against those 2 ruins ND's argument.

 

They absolutely need to win 2 of @ WV, @ UConn, and vs. Nova all while not faltering against the cupcakes. Doing so would give them a winning record in Big East and hold their loss total to a moderate 12 after the BE tourney.

Yeah, St. John's should never have happened. They'd be just fine without that loss, even now. I figure 9-9 with 2 BET wins would get them in, or 10-8 with 1. 9-9 with 1 BET win or 10-8 with zero would be bubble at best.

[cubbinalltheway]

duke is about to lose to boston college. loving this!

[Vanilla Ice]

what has happened to this team?

[E.J.]

duke is about to lose to boston college. loving this!

 

Awesome. Watching Duke lose is almost as good as watching the Yankees suck.

[Derwood]

Because I'm bored, here are the remaining schedules for the Big Ten:

 

ILL: PSU, @OSU, MIN, MSU, @PSU

 

IND: WIS, @PUR, NWU, @PSU, MSU, @WIS

 

IWA: UM, @MSU, @NWU, OSU, PSU

 

UM: MIN, @IWA, PUR, @WIS, @MIN

 

MSU: @PUR, WIS, IWA, @ILL, @IU, PUR

 

MIN: @UM, NWU, @ILL, WIS, UM

 

NWU: OSU, @MIN, @IU, IWA, @PUR, @OSU

 

OSU: @NWU, ILL, PSU, @PUR, @IWA, NWU

 

PSU: @ILL, @OSU, IU, ILL, @IWA

 

PUR: MSU, IU, @UM, OSU, NWU, @MSU

 

WIS: @IU, @MSU, UM, @MIN, IU

 

 

Anyone care to predict those games out and see how it shakes out?

[illiniguy]

what has happened to this team?

Lack of depth once again. Why the hell won't K play Mason Plumlee?

[illiniguy]

Because I'm bored, here are the remaining schedules for the Big Ten:

 

ILL: PSU, @OSU, MIN, MSU, @PSU

 

IND: WIS, @PUR, NWU, @PSU, MSU, @WIS

 

IWA: UM, @MSU, @NWU, OSU, PSU

 

UM: MIN, @IWA, PUR, @WIS, @MIN

 

MSU: @PUR, WIS, IWA, @ILL, @IU, PUR

 

MIN: @UM, NWU, @ILL, WIS, UM

 

NWU: OSU, @MIN, @IU, IWA, @PUR, @OSU

 

OSU: @NWU, ILL, PSU, @PUR, @IWA, NWU

 

PSU: @ILL, @OSU, IU, ILL, @IWA

 

PUR: MSU, IU, @UM, OSU, NWU, @MSU

 

WIS: @IU, @MSU, UM, @MIN, IU

 

 

Anyone care to predict those games out and see how it shakes out?

Michigan State is going to win the conference.