ITH reporting Jordan Geronimo commit on twitter
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I didn’t think Al was a BIG caliber player when recruited. But the kid has really improved, yeah he had some bad shooting last year but so did all of the players. Al may turn out to be a diamond in the rough for his last 2 years. So I am going with him being a very good player for us. I can’t believe we have so many people down on Al when all he has done is give 200% his whole career. And if you remember he REALLY WANTED TO PLAY FOR IU NOT JIST CREAN BUT IU. That always stuck with me. He said he committed to IU not crean when crean was fired so I am really liking AL
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I am still positive on JSmith.
min ppg fg% rpg
2017-18 15 4.8 55% 3.2
2018-19 25 8.7 50.2% 4.5
Smith was our third leading SCORER and REBOUNDER as a soph. JSmith will improve again, his junior year, just as JMorgan and TWilliams did. Posters were running TW out of B'ton after his soph year. Look what these 2 did as juniors. When players "get old", they more often than not, improve.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if he grew some more. He gained something like a ridiculous seven inches the last three years.
I'm not down on him. He has contributed to this team just by being normal and making no waves. And by doing what he's asked to do without complaints and with effort. I just agree with Cracker that he's sometimes overrated as a player by some on here because of those basic values, which are probably shared by 80% of D1 basketball players but have been in somewhat short supply in B-Ton lately.
On a good team, he'd probably be a #7 player. There's nothing wrong with that. We've had a lot of players like him who have been fan favorites.
A year ago he was listed at 6'4".
With the type of game he has, 1 or 2" difference is a big deal. I hope he's a legit 6'6" now. Sounds like he is.
There is always one player the fanbase has to obliterate beyond any logic or reason. Just like Hunter has become the best player on the team without stepping on the court yet.
Yeah, everything I've read says that he's always been tall for his age and has played more as a big himself. Now he's working on developing his skills so that his game's more wing oriented.
I believe that Morgan and Romeo were our top two scorers this past year.
I hope you are correct.
We can not have the defense not guarding the 3 that IU has on the floor, like last season. Smith shooting 20% from 3pt, and 40% -50% FT is going to be the weak link that opposing teams will exploit. Those are not B1G skills numbers.
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I don't remember seeing anyone quit on a play like Smith did last year. The lack of continuous effort has soured people toward him.
Hunter...
I heard he is actually George Gervin's grandson!
I cannot agree about Smith. He makes a lot of lazy, mental mistakes indicative of a low basketball IQ. Now that we have more options on offense, Archie’s message has changed to defense. That is his best attribute to earn minutes.
I wonder if there are any Whovians in Hoosier Nation? If so, then ...
Nice one. A favorite saying of the 2nd best Doctor. David Tennant being #1.
Correct. The worst shooter on the team should not start or get the majority of minutes at the 3, which is normally a high scoring position. Damezi brings natural shooting and scoring ability. Hunter is the top option at the 3 if he is healthy. Race can play some 3 and be an offensive threat, and he can also play solid D.
I'm curious as to why you think that Race would be an offensive threat. I didn't see that when I watched him play last year. He only played in 9 games but averaged just 0.7 ppg in those. Most of them he didn't get much PT, but in the 3 game in which he played more than 10 minutes he scored a combined 1 point. He seems to me to be an opportunist scorer that gets his points off of defensive lapses, rebounds, FT, etc. I hope he looks for his shot more this season but didn't see anything to say he'll suddenly turn in to an offensive threat.
We're not playing H-O-R-S-E.
Damezi had a PER of 1.2....which is beyond bench warmer bad. Basically means that he doesn't do anything statistically that's positive. He doesn't rebound, assist, block shots and I can tell you he's light-years behind Smith defensively.
He actually shot 38% from three and still had a putrid low PER. He brought nothing to the table last year.
I could take five Smith's and play your five Damezi's and absolute destroy you.
Can he improve, of course. He has to after last year. He better show massive improvement in all phases to actually help us win but yeah, he has a chance to win the three point shooting contest at HH when that's the only thing he has to do with no one guarding him.
(For the record, I really like Damezi as a prospect but he has to make a massive jump to actually contribute).
I'll take that bet. I will pack all 5 Damezi's in the lane on defense and your 5 Smiths won't score. Shot fake your Smiths off the floor and drills 3s and floaters all day. 5 Smiths would have no offensive shooting ability. Or foul any of the 5 Smiths and rebound the missed FT. In a team game you can hide Smith's total lack of shooting ability. 5 Smiths would have nobody to pass to that could make a shot.
We're not playing half court either.
Just like in reality, full court game, further three point line and massive transition opportunities and putback opportunities against five Anderson's.
The Smith's would destroy you.
As disappointing as Smith was last year he still had a PER of around 12 (down from 17 his freshman year). Romeo had a 19. Even Race Thompson had a per of 14. Anderson was less than 2.
He has so far to go to just be a bench contributor right now. I hope he does but he's got a long way to go.
You are much higher on Smith than I am. I hope that he improves, or stays in his lane and does not attempt to prove to the coaches that he can shoot unless he has completely reconstructed his shot. Teaching Damezi to play defense is an easier putt than teaching Smith how to shoot. Also realize those PER numbers were with a Sophomore Smith and a Freshman Anderson. Smith is more athletic and better defensively, Damezi has more offensive skills.
I think Race as a Freshman only playing a few games after a serious concussion played better than Smith also. Hunter is the team's best 3 if and when he is healthy.
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Full court transition game can't happen with 5 Smths and no PG. It will be half court and 5 Smith's can't score in the half court. It is a matter of not being able to hide Smith's lack of shooting when there are no other better offensive options on the court. Missing 80% of your 3pt attempts will not beat any team of college players.
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I look forward to seeing him play but if he has some growing pains I hope the board doesnt turn on him the way we've seen the board do to certain players over the years. We have a lot of talent spread out on the roster, hopefully he doesn't carry the burden of impossible expectations by the fans.
They have around the same handle but Smith has much better feet. Damezi is a flat footed shooter so far who needs to improve significantly in about every other area to contribute.
The only game Damezi might win right now is horse if no dunking was allowed.
My only point is as a specialist Damezi will hopefully help but there is so much more that he hasn't shown do far that makes whatever he brings a negative. We don't win either MSU games, or the PSU game or the Louisville game without Smith. I can't think of a five minute stretch that we won because of Anderson last year. Even Clifton Moore had some big minutes (vs PSU and Iowa I think at home at the end of the first half).
Are you benching Brendan Dawson for a flat footed 3 point shooter? He was a 6'6" athletic wing that couldn't throw it in the ocean. How about Ronde Hollis Jefferson? He also was a 6'7" wing that had worse shooting percentages than Smith.
(Note I'm not at all saying that Smith is equal to those two, just that they were athletic wings who couldn't throw it into the ocean. You can win big with an athletic three who can't throw it into the ocean).
All three of these guys make their offensive paycheck in transition, putbacks and dives. It's a shorter putt that Smith will develop even better finishing in transition.
Now Race vs Smith is an entirely different animal. Damezi vs Smith isn't much of a contest right now. I'm actually hoping Anderson turns into a bulldog and develops an solid old man game. He'll never be a high flyer but he can get much more crafty, work angles, etc.
They say he's already one of the strongest players.
A word about Damezi- some guys just take some time and some extended minutes to put things together. Not every player can be a flash off the bench as a freshman. But it doesn't mean he won't end up good. The kid scored in bunches in high school. Similar to Rod Wilmont, I expect Anderson to be good as a senior.
If he isn't a solid part of the rotation this season I don't expect him to stay. We have Galloway, Leal, and Geronimo coming in.
That may depend on Hunter. Anderson would possibly play the 2-3 next year if Hunter is not healthy, regardless of the freshmen.
Guards- Phinisee, Durham, Franklin, Leal
Wings- Hunter?, Anderson, Galloway, Geronimo
Forwards- TJD, Smith, Thompson
Center- Brunk
No chance all 3 freshmen play a lot next year. And if the class gets bigger then likely a couple of them sit more.
I agree that Anderson has a long way to go but athletically, experience and strengthwise, he will already be ready. It is just a metter of getting comfortable in the system.
Guards- Phinisee, Durham, Franklin, Leal
Wings- Hunter?, Anderson, Galloway, Geronimo
Forwards- TJD, Smith, Thompson
Center- Brunk
No chance all 3 freshmen play a lot next year. And if the class gets bigger then likely a couple of them sit more.
I agree that Anderson has a long way to go but athletically, experience and strengthwise, he will already be ready. It is just a metter of getting comfortable in the system.
Brandon Dawson was a McD AA I believe from Gary, IN. Smith was not close to that.
Smith and Perea appear to both been over-rated in HS due to their leaping ability and athleticism. Crean got fooled by high leapers and extreme athleticism more than once in his recruiting at IU. Both were proven to be poor shooters in college with low offensive skill level. I would rather have lower rated, less athletic basketball players with higher level basketball skills, Coverdale, Hulls, Galloway, Leal all in the 100 range. Race appears to be ahead of both Smith and Damezi skill-wise, confidence wise, and defensively. Race is going to get PT at the 4 and 3, especially if Hunter is not ready to play at the beginning of the season. I was impressed more by Race than Smith and Damezi. I watched Damezi score in HS, drive the lane and use his size and strength, and also block shots above the rim on the break and in the 1/2 court. His shooting is more of a Magic Johnson style push shot with low elevation but that consistency also lends itself to be a very consistent release point on his jumper making it more accurate. Damezi can shoot, sometimes players do not always show what they can really do in small windows of playing time especially their Freshman year. I've seen more of Damezi's game than most posters, so that is why I am higher on him than some on here. I am optimistic that Smith accepts his role as a standout defensive player with his Intelligence in the classroom paying off into BB IQ as he learns how to play in the Packline D, and how he can contribute offensively with his leaping ability he should attack the glass for put backs and rebounds.
Smith and Perea appear to both been over-rated in HS due to their leaping ability and athleticism. Crean got fooled by high leapers and extreme athleticism more than once in his recruiting at IU. Both were proven to be poor shooters in college with low offensive skill level. I would rather have lower rated, less athletic basketball players with higher level basketball skills, Coverdale, Hulls, Galloway, Leal all in the 100 range. Race appears to be ahead of both Smith and Damezi skill-wise, confidence wise, and defensively. Race is going to get PT at the 4 and 3, especially if Hunter is not ready to play at the beginning of the season. I was impressed more by Race than Smith and Damezi. I watched Damezi score in HS, drive the lane and use his size and strength, and also block shots above the rim on the break and in the 1/2 court. His shooting is more of a Magic Johnson style push shot with low elevation but that consistency also lends itself to be a very consistent release point on his jumper making it more accurate. Damezi can shoot, sometimes players do not always show what they can really do in small windows of playing time especially their Freshman year. I've seen more of Damezi's game than most posters, so that is why I am higher on him than some on here. I am optimistic that Smith accepts his role as a standout defensive player with his Intelligence in the classroom paying off into BB IQ as he learns how to play in the Packline D, and how he can contribute offensively with his leaping ability he should attack the glass for put backs and rebounds.
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Did you see Justin Smith in high school? I'm assuming no. So comparing Smith in college to Anderson in high school is flawed.
Sam Thompson of OSU is probably a better comp. Parea never scored 24 vs MSU...not sure he scored 24 in his college career. Neither has Anderson.
I know Damezi was a freshman and will improve...don't forget Smith was just a sophomore and can also improve.
I want to see Anderson make a difference in a four minute spec of time before I even consider talking about benching a two year starter, top 70 ranked, more experienced slasher like Smith.
As Brian Snow said, Anderson is more of an undersized four because he can't stay in front of college level wings. That's not good.
An interesting stat about Anderson is that he didn't hit a shot in games in which he played fewer than 10 minutes. Also, he didn't hit a shot after the Big Ten season started.
It seems to me this indicates he will be a different player once he gets comfortable. I think he has the tools to be good.
I hope so because I like him as a representative of the program and we could always use a guy who can get buckets.
I'll admit I've been worried about him ever since I watched him get maybe three points in the state championship final four game. How can a supposed scorer only get three in the biggest game of his season in high school which was a blowout loss? Reminded me of Hanner getting six points against Bloomington South, outplayed by dudes half his size.
Then last year happened.
Hoping he can develop an old man game like Rosie Jones did at Butler. Rose couldn't jump over a Playboy magazine but he knew angles, threw his weight around and bullied his way to effectiveness.
Smith certainly showed some weaknesses as a sophomore, however, I expect this years team to be better balanced, therefore less likely to result in a player feeling like he has to do more than he is capable of. Let’s not also forget that with smith he has been more exposed, per se. in other words, he has played significantly more in college than Damezi and Race have, obviously.
Sophomore slumps are common. It’s not uncommon to then see a big jump in the Jr. year.
I am bullish on IU this year. I expect Smith to be in the top 3 MPG for this roster, along with Green and Phin. This will be a breakout year for Smith and Green.
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