Exile on Waveland

It's ok, girls, you'll go back to clobbering everybody and having everyone in the nation slurp Tyler Hansbrough soon. They actually havent killed anybody all season, except for the really really bad teams, and State. All the other games (BYU, Clemson, Davidson, and Georgia Tech) were close games that easily could have gone either way. P.S. Hansbrough is not that good. He should not even be on ACC first-team IMO. I'm with you. I've never thought that much of Hansbrough. He's a really tough player and everything but ND's Luke Harangody is pretty much the exact same player (hard-nosed undersized power forward who gets close to a double-double a game) but gets much less hoopla because UNC is No. 1, and because they are UNC. ETA: Upon further review Hansbrough actually does get a double-double a game (21.6 and 10, vs Luke's 19.3 and 9.6) I love Harangody. I'm still apoplectic that Mike Davis wouldn't even attempt to recruit the kid -- especially considering his father played football at IU and his brother was playing football at IU. However, he's not as good as Hansbrough at this point. Harangody put up 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds last year, while Hansbrough was at basically 19 and 8 the day he stepped on the court. Also, Harangody's 1.24 and 1.35 points per shot don't compare. Harangody's very good, but Hansbrough he's not.

It's ok, girls, you'll go back to clobbering everybody and having everyone in the nation slurp Tyler Hansbrough soon. They actually havent killed anybody all season, except for the really really bad teams, and State. All the other games (BYU, Clemson, Davidson, and Georgia Tech) were close games that easily could have gone either way. P.S. Hansbrough is not that good. He should not even be on ACC first-team IMO. Hansbrough is averaging 21.6 points and 10.0 rebounds a game, while shooting 56 percent from the field (good for 1.8 points per shot). The past two years he's gone 18.9/7.8/57%/1.68 and 18.4/7.9/53%/1.61. You are either incredibly biased or blind. Now, if you meant to say he's not a great NBA prospect, I agree with you. Edit (this refers to earlier posts): Also, K-State blew out Texas A&M. So? Texas A&M has beat one good team (Ohio State), have a schedule ranked below Indiana's putrid schedule and have been blown out back-to-back games on the road. A&M has talent, but they haven't done much at all yet.

That was apparent in both high school and AAU ball. I'll never understand the hype Mayo received. He's talented, yes, but there are other factors than simply physical talent. It's especially a shame he was so hyped in a class that featured Beasley, Rose, Gordon, Love, etc. I said before the season for college I'd probably even take Bayless or Harden over him.

Your first point is incorrect: IU has played one good team this season (they just lost to them by 15). Surely no one would argue that IU has beaten anyone significant. They haven't. In fact, it's been an area of consternation among IU fans. Not all of it is their fault -- they did schedule Kentucky, at Southern Illinois, ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the upcoming UConn game. The season has been fun, but, for the most part, I've been pretty bored with the inevitable results. They do finally have a tough stretch coming up starting with the UConn game. I also think IU played pretty well at Michigan -- who is terrible, admittedly. That's still, at best, one good game in four. The Kentucky game was impressive considering who was missing. Ah yeah, I forgot about the suspensions/injuries for the UK game, that was impressive. Still, I pretty much agree with your overall point. While I'd rather beat UK than any other team on the schedule, I'm not sure it's a good thing that their most impressive performance came at half-strength. Where's the full-strength impressive performance?

Your first point is incorrect: IU has played one good team this season (they just lost to them by 15). Surely no one would argue that IU has beaten anyone significant. They haven't. In fact, it's been an area of consternation among IU fans. Not all of it is their fault -- they did schedule Kentucky, at Southern Illinois, ACC/Big Ten Challenge and the upcoming UConn game. The season has been fun, but, for the most part, I've been pretty bored with the inevitable results. They do finally have a tough stretch coming up starting with the UConn game. I also think IU played pretty well at Michigan -- who is terrible, admittedly. That's still, at best, one good game in four. The Kentucky game was impressive considering who was missing.

Let's turn Minnesota's badness into goodness too!! ? I read Raw's post to say IU should have won by more, but didn't, and that is concerning. No? I read it as saying normally IU should win the game by 20 points, but he's not counting Minnesota as having a brutal game as well. I don't think Minnesota necessarily had a brutal game; certainly not to the level of Indiana's 26 turnovers or by far Gordon's worst game (his previous low point total came in the game he got hurt and left in the first half). Minnesota only had 10 turnovers, and while they didn't shoot well from the line, they're generally not a good foul shooting team -- especially the main culprit, 47% shooter Tollackson, who missed all seven FT's. They were much worse from 3 than normal, however. Inarguably, some of IU's turnovers were a direct result of Minnesota's defense, but some were complete aberrations. Indiana must play better; however, they are 4-0 in the Big Ten and 3-0 on the road (winning at a place they never win and a place Michigan State couldn't).

The big thing that would worry me if I was an IU fan is you have a one year window with this team. Gordon and White are gone after this, plus I think you are going to get some more penalties from Sampson's calls. You have a lot of bad games. You have one of these in the tournament at all and you are done. Illinois and Minnesota shouldn't be allowed in the same gym with you because of your talent, but you are letting those type teams hang around you. It's a one-year window which is disappointing, but that's the zeitgeist now. I doubt Ohio State is terribly unhappy about their one-year window last year. Wish there was at least a two-year window, oh well. I have no idea how the penalties will work, though I don't think they'll be debilitating. IU needs to add a JUCO big man as they're going to struggle inside next year, but their perimeter attack will be very, very good. On Minnesota, any game involving IU and the barn will be tough. Seriously, most IU fans are more than happy to get out of there with any possible win. That place has been a house of horrors. Illinois-Indiana is a strange situation, as well. I wish IU had played better in both, but hope they can continue to improve -- their ceiling is still very high.

I really think Carolina is a step below Kansas, Memphis, and UCLA. They don't guard anyone. I agree. I think we'd kill them. The only teams that scare me are UCLA and Memphis. That's not to say those are the only teams that can beat us. I think we'll lose 1 or 2 games before the tourney. But UCLA and Memphis are the only 2 I'd love to avoid in the tourney. I don't know if anyone can kill them because they score so damn many points. But as of right now I think you guys beat them. Is there any chance that the four 1 seeds end up anyone besides KU, Memphis, UCLA, and UNC? I really can't remember a year when they were all so clear. I agree with both your points. I think defense knocks UNC a step below the other three, and think UNC, UCLA, Kansas and Memphis are basically mortal locks for the four top seeds.

The Colts have become extremely popular. Before this year's undefeated run by the Patriots, the Colts were involved in almost all the highest rated games in recent memory. (Excluding Super Bowls and such, those will always be higher regardless of who's playing.) I am guessing it has something to do with the 324,579 commercials staring Peyton Manning. Ha ha, that's probably a reason. But they've been very good, typically high-scoring and have star power (due to commercials somewhat, I'm sure). It's still odd for me seeing the Colts so popular. I used to have to listen to games on the radio because they were blacked out (not always), and when I went to games I could easily walk up and buy tickets right before the game.

The Colts have become extremely popular. Before this year's undefeated run by the Patriots, the Colts were involved in almost all the highest rated games in recent memory. (Excluding Super Bowls and such, those will always be higher regardless of who's playing.)

I don't mean to steal your thunder, but I'll convene with you, if you want. Not that I don't trust you, just that any discussion of Colts drafting is of great interest to me. I would love to have another person to discuss with. You're not stealing my thunder at all. Sounds great. We have to wait awhile to pick -- though Tony Ugoh was well worth this year's first. I might have missed it in the thread, but not sure when our draft starts. We can talk leading up to it. I'm assuming we're trying to mimic what the Colts and Polian will do? That's certainly extremely difficult, though a bit easier the last three top picks (I was expecting Jackson, Addai and Gonzalez).

Penn State can rebound, but they can't shoot foul shots, so Wiscy just needs to "hack-a-shaq" them and they'll win Unless the Badgers are down towards the end of the game, they just don't foul. They are very sound fundamentally, don't reach, and move their feet. They play great man to man, position defense. I hate them. Wisconsin has always been fundamentally sound. I think Bo Ryan could coach a team of walk-ons to 20 wins. Always a tough matchup for IU because they don't make mistakes. Bo Ryan is the best coach in the conference. Wisconsin is superbly coached. Interesting games for both 3-0 Big Ten teams this week. Wisconsin at Penn State tonight, and Indiana at Minnesota Thursday night. The Barn has been a veritable house of horrors for IU historically, and Tubby has had great success against the Hoosiers (though mostly against the incompetent Davis). This will be IU's toughest, most likely loss since playing Xavier. If either team moves to 4-0, they'll be ahead of the curve. Ohio State at Michigan State tonight is also a big game.

I don't mean to steal your thunder, but I'll convene with you, if you want. Not that I don't trust you, just that any discussion of Colts drafting is of great interest to me.

KU Memphis UNC UCLA WSU Georgetown Duke Pitt(they will be healthy again) Tennesse Michigan State Dayton Xavier Wisconsin(they are always way underrated) Stanford hell you might not be the best team in Indiana, Butler But I feel you are a real good top 25 team. By season's end, if Gordon starts to take control of the team, I think you will be a borderline top 10. A couple of those teams are matchup problems (stanford immediately comes to mind), but I don't think any not in the 6 I named are better, including Xavier. Just curious how you can say Xavier isnt better than IU when they beat IU pretty easily already. Not saying that if they met again things would be the same, but I think you have to say Xavier is the better team. And before anyone says "well is Iowa better than Mich St", the comparisons arent the same. Xavier is, and was, a bad matchup for IU. That's why I said weeks before the game I was skeptical about IU's chances. If they played again, I'd expect it to be closer as IU has improved, but perhaps the same outcome. Now, I don't know if that intrinsically makes them better overall or not. I also am not sure that Michigan State, Dayton, Wisconsin or Stanford are better than IU. Probably the same goes for Duke and Pitt. Maybe they all are, maybe none are. It's still relatively early; I'd like to wait until IU gets tested more. I still think IU is the best in the Big Ten. We'll see about that, though.

Right, plus Sampson has a track record of having his teams play better in the postseason than they did in the regular season. Oh wait.... Is that the best you have? :wink: I didn't predict anything. Just mentioned that its foolish to saw how IU will do 2 months from now based on one game in the mid January. I honestly think you will win one game in the tournament. One. Oh and before you go there we won't make any tournament. None. Before the season, you thought it was "absurd" that Gordon would make first team all Big Ten, and that Sampson would "kill" Gordon like he does all his talented players (despite not having really coached any). I don't think IU is a top-5 team, but they're better than they showed today. I thought today would be tough. Regardless, I'm not putting much faith in your predictions regarding IU. Illinois once again proves a tough matchup for IU. I think it has a lot to do with Pruitt, who with his size matches up and basically neutralizes DJ White. Weber is also a very good coach. I think I said it was absurd to count on a freshman being an all big ten performer before he ever plays a college game. I still think it is. Gordon is going to be that though. If you think Sampson is doing his best to prepare EJ for the pros than your nuts. How many shots did he take today? Not nearly enough for a guy who was the best player on the floor. EJ should pretty much shoot 50 percent of your shots. He isn't, thus Sampson is in a sense sitting on him. With the one-year rule, freshman are going to be a huge force in college basketball. Especially in a mediocre conference like the Big Ten. That was evident last year. Gordon was basically a lock to be among the best handful of players in the league. Gordon should take 50 percent of IU's shots? Are you serious? Sampson's job is to win, then to develop Gordon for the NBA. I hope 50 percent is an exaggeration. No team is going to win big with one player dominating shots like that. Gordon is leading the league in scoring; I'd say he's not being sit on too much. In close games at least I would want EJ taking half the shots. He is by far your best. Why the hell Mike WHite ever plays is beyond me. It basically screams for one man to be able to double him. Sampson coached a terrible game today. He allowed for Randle to doublt by playing White a ton and he never once played zone. As for your frosh thing, I guess you are right. Sampson is an above average coach, but he's by no means perfect. He's been out-coached in two of three Big Ten games so far. He did go to zone once, but Randle got free for a dunk then he scrapped it. That was a mistake. More offense needs to be run for Gordon late in the game, I agree. He's a fabulous scorer and shooter, for sure, but he's not yet a great one-on-one player due mainly to his ball-handling. Against a good defensive player -- especially a 6-9 one like Randle -- screens could be quite useful. As for Mike White, I'm certainly not his biggest fan. He can't finish inside at all. He plays hard and makes some hustle plays. However, he plays by necessity. The other options are Stemler or Thomas, neither of which bring much more. Sampson did go to a four guard lineup in the second half. When possible, that should be IU's most talented lineup. Some of this blame must also go to Davis, who recruited one credible high school big man in six years (and the one, DJ White, has basically his surrogate son).

Right, plus Sampson has a track record of having his teams play better in the postseason than they did in the regular season. Oh wait.... Is that the best you have? :wink: I didn't predict anything. Just mentioned that its foolish to saw how IU will do 2 months from now based on one game in the mid January. I honestly think you will win one game in the tournament. One. Oh and before you go there we won't make any tournament. None. Before the season, you thought it was "absurd" that Gordon would make first team all Big Ten, and that Sampson would "kill" Gordon like he does all his talented players (despite not having really coached any). I don't think IU is a top-5 team, but they're better than they showed today. I thought today would be tough. Regardless, I'm not putting much faith in your predictions regarding IU. Illinois once again proves a tough matchup for IU. I think it has a lot to do with Pruitt, who with his size matches up and basically neutralizes DJ White. Weber is also a very good coach. I think I said it was absurd to count on a freshman being an all big ten performer before he ever plays a college game. I still think it is. Gordon is going to be that though. If you think Sampson is doing his best to prepare EJ for the pros than your nuts. How many shots did he take today? Not nearly enough for a guy who was the best player on the floor. EJ should pretty much shoot 50 percent of your shots. He isn't, thus Sampson is in a sense sitting on him. With the one-year rule, freshman are going to be a huge force in college basketball. Especially in a mediocre conference like the Big Ten. That was evident last year. Gordon was basically a lock to be among the best handful of players in the league. Gordon should take 50 percent of IU's shots? Are you serious? Sampson's job is to win, then to develop Gordon for the NBA. I hope 50 percent is an exaggeration. No team is going to win big with one player dominating shots like that. Gordon is leading the league in scoring; I'd say he's not being sit on too much.

Right, plus Sampson has a track record of having his teams play better in the postseason than they did in the regular season. Oh wait.... Is that the best you have? :wink: I didn't predict anything. Just mentioned that its foolish to saw how IU will do 2 months from now based on one game in the mid January. I honestly think you will win one game in the tournament. One. Oh and before you go there we won't make any tournament. None. Before the season, you thought it was "absurd" that Gordon would make first team all Big Ten, and that Sampson would "kill" Gordon like he does all his talented players (despite not having really coached any). I don't think IU is a top-5 team, but they're better than they showed today. I thought today would be tough. Regardless, I'm not putting much faith in your predictions regarding IU. Illinois once again proves a tough matchup for IU. I think it has a lot to do with Pruitt, who with his size matches up and basically neutralizes DJ White. Weber is also a very good coach. Pruitt was a non factor the entire first half yet the Illini led by 4 at the half. Im sure that IU is better than they showed today, but I dont think they are so much better that they are a top 10-15 team in the nation. IU is very vulnerable. Pruitt had 14 and 8, White 15 and 10. Those are nearly identical numbers; hence, neutralization. I'm unsure what their numbers were at half, but, overall they're about equal. Indiana is vulnerable to teams with two good big guys, IU is weak at the four. They've also played an anemic schedule, which has hurt their progression. As has hardly playing with their full allotment of players. It's hard to judge how good IU is at this point, or how good they can become (they lost to the best team they've played by 15). But I'd struggle to list 15 teams that are clearly better, or 10 teams with more potential.

The home team is favored heavily nearly every game in the Big Ten. Officiating in the Big Ten is awful, and has gotten worse.

Congrats to the Chargers. They made the big plays, despite playing with backups at QB and RB (though Turner isn't your average backup). It's tough to win a game against a good team, or any team, when you turn the ball over four times deep in the opponent's territory. One of the most disappointing Colts games I can remember. Even with the return of Freeney, the Colts need another pass rusher. It's an extremely important position in their defense, and, despite having two great ones, they need depth there. I don't think anyone should write in stone the NE-GB Super Bowl matchup. That's what I'm predicting, but it wouldn't stun me if one lost. I had been saying all year the NE-Dallas SB wasn't a lock. Strange things happen in sports.

Right, plus Sampson has a track record of having his teams play better in the postseason than they did in the regular season. Oh wait.... Is that the best you have? :wink: I didn't predict anything. Just mentioned that its foolish to saw how IU will do 2 months from now based on one game in the mid January. I honestly think you will win one game in the tournament. One. Oh and before you go there we won't make any tournament. None. Before the season, you thought it was "absurd" that Gordon would make first team all Big Ten, and that Sampson would "kill" Gordon like he does all his talented players (despite not having really coached any). I don't think IU is a top-5 team, but they're better than they showed today. I thought today would be tough. Regardless, I'm not putting much faith in your predictions regarding IU. Illinois once again proves a tough matchup for IU. I think it has a lot to do with Pruitt, who with his size matches up and basically neutralizes DJ White. Weber is also a very good coach.

I think the Giants have the best chance among the underdogs. I got all four right last week; this week I hope I'm wrong about the Jax-NE game. But New England, Indianapolis, Dallas and Green Bay advance.

Fair, yes. To say they are the hottest team and one of the two best, no. If they won their division and played/beat LSU I'd be fine with them being recognized but they never even played them. They lost to an average SC at home and were crushed 35-14 by Tennessee and their best win was over a 4 loss Florida. At least Missouri won their division so that gives them an edge over them. WV out right won theirs, won their last 3 BCS games and yet they are 6th? OSU gets embarrassed by LSU after getting killed by Florida the year before but yet somehow command the respect to be ranked ahead of WV who beat OU by 20? We probably both agree that final rankings other than #1 really have little significance. I wouldn't have any problems with West Virginia being ranked #2. They dismantled OU, but I still think it would be tough to say that WV should have without a doubt been ranked ahead of Georgia or USC given all of their resumes. However, WV should have certainly received the nod over Missouri and OSU in the final rankings in my opinion. Even as a Big Ten fan, Ohio State should be ranked behind LSU, USC, Georgia, West Virginia, Missouri, Kansas, and, despite their three losses and bowl loss, probably Oklahoma.

I agree with the overall expected decline of the program (see, Rants). IU isn't likely to be very good next year. However, especially if 6-6 gets it done, IU could be in bowl position next year, too. They won't be as good as this year, but they have four very winnable non-conference games. Seven wins is probably the ceiling, with four to six wins most likely.

Basset is the best ball-handler on the team (1.8 A/TO; Ellis is 1.5, Crawford 1.4, Gordon 0.7). Gordon is in no way a better ball-handler than Basset. Gordon's ball-handling is not great for a guard; he's a fabulous player, certainly, but that's his biggest weakness. Ratliff is a shooter, but he's very limited. He can shoot and defend. Literally, that's it. Basset can do more -- he can get to the lane, handle the ball, run the offense. There's a reason Basset started last year as a freshman and is a starter on this year's team.

Bassett's not a huge loss. AJ should be able to pick up some of his shooting ability. Ellis needs to be the primary ball handler. Let Crawford and Gordon play on the wing. Let Ellis run the show. I think he's a significant loss. Maybe not "huge", but important. I think it's pretty damn near huge. However, we don't really know how the injury will affect him. He may come back and be close to healthy, hopefully.