Closing halves, and closing games

[IUNorth]

Up 29-28 today with 1:30 left in first half. End the half down 37-30.

Down 54-51 with 9:30 to play in game. Score all of 7 points the rest of the game to lose 67-51. And that was with a meaningless bucket at the end of the game. So we managed 7 flipping points, in a chippy, hugely important, return game for the suspended kids…the final 9 minutes???

Enough blame to go around. Not gonna try and pin any on anyone.

I find it incredibly ironic though that the 2 guys we might be missing more than anyone, to help in these regards, are Rob Phinisee…and Al Durham. Rob has been a part of a couple of these debacles. But he is a guy, possibly our only guy, that’s capable of creating for himself and making outside shots. That shouldn’t be necessary when we have the two bigs we have…but here we are yet again. And then Al Durham…watched their game against DePaul tonight. His nickname now, evidently, is Mariano fricking Rivera…AKA the closer. Providence is 21-2, and they ride Durham nearly every possession late in games. He was something like 12-12 from the line, most of them late in the game.

It’s crazy how much better those 2 are overall than guys like Kopp and Stewart.

 

[ndhuntington]

It's plain and simple Woodson plays guys to many minutes. He doesn't trust the young kids and will not adjust his gameplan even though we all know who's getting the ball on each possession.

 

[Beorik]

Up 29-28 today with 1:30 left in first half. End the half down 37-30.

Down 54-51 with 9:30 to play in game. Score all of 7 points the rest of the game to lose 67-51. And that was with a meaningless bucket at the end of the game. So we managed 7 flipping points, in a chippy, hugely important, return game for the suspended kids…the final 9 minutes???

Enough blame to go around. Not gonna try and pin any on anyone.

I find it incredibly ironic though that the 2 guys we might be missing more than anyone, to help in these regards, are Rob Phinisee…and Al Durham. Rob has been a part of a couple of these debacles. But he is a guy, possibly our only guy, that’s capable of creating for himself and making outside shots. That shouldn’t be necessary when we have the two bigs we have…but here we are yet again. And then Al Durham…watched their game against DePaul tonight. His nickname now, evidently, is Mariano fricking Rivera…AKA the closer. Providence is 21-2, and they ride Durham nearly every possession late in games. He was something like 12-12 from the line, most of them late in the game.

It’s crazy how much better those 2 are overall than guys like Kopp and Stewart.

Yeah. Crazy but both Durham and Franklin averaged like 5 ppg each more last year than Kopp and Stewart average this year. I honestly thought Kopp and Stewart would be upgrades over them at the beginning of the year but clearly they are not. Franklin and Durham aren’t the high % shooters but they are better at getting their own shots and creating for others.

It’s pretty crazy that the two players fans loved to hate on last year, Rob and Durham, have been incredibly missed. Rob since he went down and Durham all year.

 

[Warison]

Kopp is doing a great Evan Fitzner impression. Dude is an absolute brick. A complete bust.

 

[IUNorth]

Yeah. Crazy but both Durham and Franklin averaged like 5 ppg each more last year than Kopp and Stewart average this year. I honestly thought Kopp and Stewart would be upgrades over them at the beginning of the year but clearly they are not. Franklin and Durham aren’t the high % shooters but they are better at getting their own shots and creating for others.

It’s pretty crazy that the two players fans loved to hate on last year, Rob and Durham, have been incredibly missed. Rob since he went down and Durham all year.

Obviously no way to know this…but just replacing Durham for Kopp and this team is quite a lot better.

I was like most everyone else…didn’t really bat an eye when Durham announced he was leaving. Franklin was the one I thought hurt more. I think we all took Al for granted. His numbers were actually pretty good his last year. And I think he might have gotten even a bit better with Xavier here to take some of his PG duties away.

I have a really dumb thought going through my head too…will we be better without TJD next year if he leaves?

Im as guilty as anyone for saying we need to dump it down to him more. I made that exact point after the Wisconsin loss. But man, maybe without that option, our guys like Bates, Galloway, and whoever else is in our backcourt…will have more room to make plays? Are Durham and Franklin thriving more because they aren’t with TJD any more??

 

[Beorik]

Obviously no way to know this…but just replacing Durham for Kopp and this team is quite a lot better.

I was like most everyone else…didn’t really bat an eye when Durham announced he was leaving. Franklin was the one I thought hurt more. I think we all took Al for granted. His numbers were actually pretty good his last year. And I think he might have gotten even a bit better with Xavier here to take some of his PG duties away.

I have a really dumb thought going through my head too…will we be better without TJD next year if he leaves?

Im as guilty as anyone for saying we need to dump it down to him more. I made that exact point after the Wisconsin loss. But man, maybe without that option, our guys like Bates, Galloway, and whoever else is in our backcourt…will have more room to make plays? Are Durham and Franklin thriving more because they aren’t with TJD any more??

It seems crazy but I have wondered the same thing. Obviously when TJD is shooting 60%+ dumping it down to him over and over works. Unfortunately he hasn’t been very efficient lately.

I do believe when we are not playing a double post Trayce and Race together it will open things for all our guards to create better. I expect Galloway and Bates to double or even triple their production next year with the lane more open. But maybe it’s just wishful thinking.

 

[ericrossiu]

Trayce imo has a very low basketball IQ, he’s an athletic big man that dunks very well with his left hand.
I won’t miss him next season.

 

[.Gerdis]

I always liked Al. He had heart, he sacrificed his body, and he tried to be a leader. He just did not have the physical strength, especially in the lower body. But he would attack the rim and try to will us to wins.

perhaps it isn’t just the change of teams, but getting out of the Big Ten where the league is so physical, and there are a wall of rim protectors waiting for every driver?

 

[bawlmer]

I have a really dumb thought going through my head too…will we be better without TJD next year if he leaves?

Im as guilty as anyone for saying we need to dump it down to him more. I made that exact point after the Wisconsin loss. But man, maybe without that option, our guys like Bates, Galloway, and whoever else is in our backcourt…will have more room to make plays? Are Durham and Franklin thriving more because they aren’t with TJD any more??

If TJD returns, he can't be the focal point of our offense on post up feeds. Use him more to screen off the ball, and be a secondary option. It's how he'd be used at the next level anyway.

 

[hickorytree1]

Trayce imo has a very low basketball IQ, he’s an athletic big man that dunks very well with his left hand.
I won’t miss him next season.

That comment proves how low your IQ is.

 

[aajohn2000]

Up 29-28 today with 1:30 left in first half. End the half down 37-30.

Down 54-51 with 9:30 to play in game. Score all of 7 points the rest of the game to lose 67-51. And that was with a meaningless bucket at the end of the game. So we managed 7 flipping points, in a chippy, hugely important, return game for the suspended kids…the final 9 minutes???

Enough blame to go around. Not gonna try and pin any on anyone.

I find it incredibly ironic though that the 2 guys we might be missing more than anyone, to help in these regards, are Rob Phinisee…and Al Durham. Rob has been a part of a couple of these debacles. But he is a guy, possibly our only guy, that’s capable of creating for himself and making outside shots. That shouldn’t be necessary when we have the two bigs we have…but here we are yet again. And then Al Durham…watched their game against DePaul tonight. His nickname now, evidently, is Mariano fricking Rivera…AKA the closer. Providence is 21-2, and they ride Durham nearly every possession late in games. He was something like 12-12 from the line, most of them late in the game.

It’s crazy how much better those 2 are overall than guys like Kopp and Stewart.

Final 10 Minutes of 2H
Score at 10:01 Remaining
Sparty: 54 / IU: 49

IU 2-9, 4 turnover’s
Sparty 8-16, 5 turnovers

Final
Sparty 76 / IU 61

 

[Hatchets7times]

Obviously no way to know this…but just replacing Durham for Kopp and this team is quite a lot better.

I was like most everyone else…didn’t really bat an eye when Durham announced he was leaving. Franklin was the one I thought hurt more. I think we all took Al for granted. His numbers were actually pretty good his last year. And I think he might have gotten even a bit better with Xavier here to take some of his PG duties away.

I have a really dumb thought going through my head too…will we be better without TJD next year if he leaves?

Im as guilty as anyone for saying we need to dump it down to him more. I made that exact point after the Wisconsin loss. But man, maybe without that option, our guys like Bates, Galloway, and whoever else is in our backcourt…will have more room to make plays? Are Durham and Franklin thriving more because they aren’t with TJD any more??

Well we won't bog the offense down next yr..At lest in the halfcourt..Trying to go to TJD all the time.

 

[Mas-sa-suta]

Up 29-28 today with 1:30 left in first half. End the half down 37-30.

Down 54-51 with 9:30 to play in game. Score all of 7 points the rest of the game to lose 67-51. And that was with a meaningless bucket at the end of the game. So we managed 7 flipping points, in a chippy, hugely important, return game for the suspended kids…the final 9 minutes???

Enough blame to go around. Not gonna try and pin any on anyone.

I find it incredibly ironic though that the 2 guys we might be missing more than anyone, to help in these regards, are Rob Phinisee…and Al Durham. Rob has been a part of a couple of these debacles. But he is a guy, possibly our only guy, that’s capable of creating for himself and making outside shots. That shouldn’t be necessary when we have the two bigs we have…but here we are yet again. And then Al Durham…watched their game against DePaul tonight. His nickname now, evidently, is Mariano fricking Rivera…AKA the closer. Providence is 21-2, and they ride Durham nearly every possession late in games. He was something like 12-12 from the line, most of them late in the game.

It’s crazy how much better those 2 are overall than guys like Kopp and Stewart.

Hindsight = 20/20...

 

[Chicago-bound Hoosier]

Kopp is doing a great Evan Fitzner impression. Dude is an absolute brick. A complete bust.

Perfect. Was making the Fitzner connection in my head yesterday. Our transfer track record has been kinda bad.

 

[bailey777]

Trayce imo has a very low basketball IQ, he’s an athletic big man that dunks very well with his left hand.
I won’t miss him next season.

I think you actually will. We lose our two best big men and help up front is not on the way.

 

[bailey777]

Kopp is doing a great Evan Fitzner impression. Dude is an absolute brick. A complete bust.

Seemed like he lit us up when we played against him so I was expecting good things but man total bust

 

[82hoosier]

Trayce imo has a very low basketball IQ, he’s an athletic big man that dunks very well with his left hand.
I won’t miss him next season.

 

[bailey777]

Bottom line is with this supposed star studded coaching staff we have this team should make the tourney. The recent play is really disappointing.

 

[bawlmer]

Seemed like he lit us up when we played against him so I was expecting good things but man total bust

I expected Kopp to come off the bench for occasional shooting prowess. The fact that he's still starting is really disappointing as far as what it says about guys like Rob and Bates.