Reading this forum has become an exercise in watching lemmings conform to the norm. There is very little original or analytical thinking. There certainly is abundant outrage. Try this experiment. Scan the titles of the topics on the first forum web page. Where is the traditional knowledge and sophistication of the Indiana fan base?
Below are takes on postings that recur through multiple topics.
Gab Cupps: Many posters offer that at best Gabe is rotational reserve as a junior or senior. Give me a break! Gabe is a freshman 1. He has been charged with protecting the ball and getting the team into its set. Is it that hard to project his game into a role similar to that of Michael Lewis? That said, I’m astounded that a coaching staff including Woodson, Cheaney and Hulls has not given attention to Gabe’s sideways jump shot. A high-speed computer would be required to calculate a targeting solution for that shot.
Trey Galloway: Trey Galloway would have a different role on a good team. He would be a 6th man rotating into the 1, 2 or 3, especially if a mismatch were offered by the defensive match-up. Because of roster construction Galloway is the main man at the 1 or 2, guards the best peripheral player on the other team and plays killer minutes. We should celebrate Galloway, not throw shade at him.
Kal’el Ware: About half-way through the State Pen match at Happy Valley I thought that IU had a 50% chance of winning the game. My optimism was founded on how Ware’s presence altered the State Pen offense. Ace Baldwin could not drive the lane nor back down his defender while Ware was in the game. Then Ware commits two reach-in fouls in situations that were unlikely to score points. Indiana junior high players know that reaching-in is a high-risk maneuver. It’s hard to win when your best player makes low IQ plays.
Malik Reneau: Before the season I questioned whether Reneau could play the 4 and whether he could play well with Ware. Reneau exceeded my expectations on both counts. Then came the reach-in around the logo in the Wisconsin game. It’s hard to win when your second-best player fouls out making a low IQ play.
Xavier Johnson: Tom Izzo once said that playing without a point guard was like a root canal. Well, followers of IU basketball are experiencing a root canal. Their pain spills on to the forum web pages. I envy teams that have an Ace Baldwin that can create a basket out of a dribble drive.
Mike Woodson: Before the season many on this board speculated that this Indiana team was a 0.500 team in the B1G. You know who you are. I could do some research and out you. Well Indiana is slightly worse than a 0.500 team in the B1G and everyone on this board is shocked. Woodson certainly could do a better job of managing the program, but he is not Lou Watson reincarnate.
2023-2024 Team: In Calbert Cheaney’s freshman year RMK played a team of freshmen and sophomores that played about 0.500 basketball. At the time I was amazed at the calm demeanor with which RMK coached the team. Apparently, he realized that he had a young team that needed to mature into a great team. Right now IU starts 2 freshmen, 2 sophomores and a senior. The W-L record reflects the composition of the team.
Below are takes on postings that recur through multiple topics.
Gab Cupps: Many posters offer that at best Gabe is rotational reserve as a junior or senior. Give me a break! Gabe is a freshman 1. He has been charged with protecting the ball and getting the team into its set. Is it that hard to project his game into a role similar to that of Michael Lewis? That said, I’m astounded that a coaching staff including Woodson, Cheaney and Hulls has not given attention to Gabe’s sideways jump shot. A high-speed computer would be required to calculate a targeting solution for that shot.
Trey Galloway: Trey Galloway would have a different role on a good team. He would be a 6th man rotating into the 1, 2 or 3, especially if a mismatch were offered by the defensive match-up. Because of roster construction Galloway is the main man at the 1 or 2, guards the best peripheral player on the other team and plays killer minutes. We should celebrate Galloway, not throw shade at him.
Kal’el Ware: About half-way through the State Pen match at Happy Valley I thought that IU had a 50% chance of winning the game. My optimism was founded on how Ware’s presence altered the State Pen offense. Ace Baldwin could not drive the lane nor back down his defender while Ware was in the game. Then Ware commits two reach-in fouls in situations that were unlikely to score points. Indiana junior high players know that reaching-in is a high-risk maneuver. It’s hard to win when your best player makes low IQ plays.
Malik Reneau: Before the season I questioned whether Reneau could play the 4 and whether he could play well with Ware. Reneau exceeded my expectations on both counts. Then came the reach-in around the logo in the Wisconsin game. It’s hard to win when your second-best player fouls out making a low IQ play.
Xavier Johnson: Tom Izzo once said that playing without a point guard was like a root canal. Well, followers of IU basketball are experiencing a root canal. Their pain spills on to the forum web pages. I envy teams that have an Ace Baldwin that can create a basket out of a dribble drive.
Mike Woodson: Before the season many on this board speculated that this Indiana team was a 0.500 team in the B1G. You know who you are. I could do some research and out you. Well Indiana is slightly worse than a 0.500 team in the B1G and everyone on this board is shocked. Woodson certainly could do a better job of managing the program, but he is not Lou Watson reincarnate.
2023-2024 Team: In Calbert Cheaney’s freshman year RMK played a team of freshmen and sophomores that played about 0.500 basketball. At the time I was amazed at the calm demeanor with which RMK coached the team. Apparently, he realized that he had a young team that needed to mature into a great team. Right now IU starts 2 freshmen, 2 sophomores and a senior. The W-L record reflects the composition of the team.