IU with TJD Back
- Thread starter edub72
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It will be interesting to see how much IU's shooting improves. Shooting and the ability to defend a talented wing will be the keys to how successful this team can be.
Not sure we are top 10, but clearly think we will be in the top 25 to start the season and should stay there throughout the season.
I think with the return of TJD the floor is top 15. We should be an elite defensive team and have plenty of depth (we could potentially bring Geronimo and 3 5 stars off the bench).
The ceiling? I think top 5 is realistic. Shooting and size are the two areas we will struggle the most IMO. Most of the top 5ish teams have elite size, which can be overcome by good shooting. So, if we end up top 5, I think it will be because we surprise to the upside on shooting or see a major jump by Geronimo or one of the 5 star players.
To answer your original question, yes, I think we should be ranked around 10 to start the season. It should be a fun year.
The ceiling? I think top 5 is realistic. Shooting and size are the two areas we will struggle the most IMO. Most of the top 5ish teams have elite size, which can be overcome by good shooting. So, if we end up top 5, I think it will be because we surprise to the upside on shooting or see a major jump by Geronimo or one of the 5 star players.
To answer your original question, yes, I think we should be ranked around 10 to start the season. It should be a fun year.
I'm excited about the season in large part because of the frosh. I have a feeling Gunn may surprise to the upside.
The part of me that remains cautious is that many of the primary guys we are counting on lost by 29 in the tournament and were one of the last to get it. All of that makes me want to pump the brakes.
If Kopp is starting the entire year I think we are in trouble. Someone else needs to step up and take that spot.
The part of me that remains cautious is that many of the primary guys we are counting on lost by 29 in the tournament and were one of the last to get it. All of that makes me want to pump the brakes.
If Kopp is starting the entire year I think we are in trouble. Someone else needs to step up and take that spot.
Without the injuries , Pat may have been about the finest Hoosier to put on the uniform. Go back and listen to what his teammates had to say about him
I think it's safe to say IU will be top 20 and a B10 contender. If returning players like Geronimo, Galloway and Bates improve as much as underclassmen often do, and Hood-Scafino and Reneau are as good as advertised, Top 10 is certainly a possibility. We should be the deepest team in the B10, even despite the losses.
I think it's safe to say they won't be unless Bates/Geronimo or one or more of the freshmen break up last year's starting line up. What TJD and Race and X haven't fixed in 3 or 5 years is not going to get fixed this summer, improvement could be happening for Bates or JG. Running back the same starters will yield the same results, run the talent from the get go and we'll be better off for it
Not hardly. Gunn and Geronimo are the two best athletes on the team. He has the physical tools, but can he play at the next level?
He’s not the athlete Geronimo is. He’s not elite. His game is closer to pat Graham than Greg graham.
They need someone(s) who can create their own shots, a true scorer. Not sure if that player is currently on the roster or not. It must bother Woodson that no one on this roster is Mike Woodson the player. FT shooting is also still an issue. We don't know what the freshmen can deliver yet. Optimism is warranted, belief, not quite yet.
High expectations is where IU should be every year. Get use to it.
Agreed ..High expectations is where IU should be every year. Get use to it.
But the OP is wrong, it's not this board ... or any board driving higher expectations. IU fans are gun shy due to recent history and are full of doubt....
Not that IGAFF what these guys think other than Torvik ....
Stadium’s Jeff Goodman - ranked IU No. 9 nationally in his updated top-25, with no one above them from the Big Ten.
The NCAA and Big Ten Network’s Andy Katz - I’m going with Indiana No. 1 in the Big Ten.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein ranked Indiana No. 17 nationally.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello - maybe the Big Ten favorite.
ESPN commentator d1c# Vitale - No. 1 choice to win Big Ten followed very closely by Michigan.
The Big Ten Network’s Dave Revsine - clear cut Big Ten title contender.
Fox Propaganda Ministry radio host Aaron Torres - Indiana should enter next year as the favorite to win the Big Ten,.
If you prefer analytics, Bart Torvik’s early T-rank projections for the 2022-23 season place IU at No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten.
I don't care if TJD improves his game or not I want a BigTen Championship and deep run maybe final four run. Still worried about shooting but we have a athletic team.
You are 100% right on the typical IU fan. Getting burned year after year, underperforming talent ecomes the norm. They don’t give a shit about the #8 recruiting class. 5 stars play like Lander after all.
The voice of reason will be here for it tho!!!! You have to try this point break. I might actually be on cloud 9.
Yup ... 20 years ago and we would all be screaming final four.
It shouldn't be out of the question. Things sometimes have to swing a team's way for that to happen, but we should have a team (on paper) that you could realistically make that claim before the season starts. Expectation wise, this one is probably second only to the 2012 team that went into the year #1 or #2 (of teams over the last 20 years).
We should be really good.
Everybody needs to shoot shitloads of FTs b/w now and start of season. Do that, and what is clearly going to be a great team on paper will be tough to beat.
20 years ago we had three point shooters. Find the last time IUs top 2 outside shooters combined for 2.2 perimeter goals per game.
This team is talented, but they have to figure out who can be relied on for outside shooting. Best front line in the country though.
I had convinced myself there was an NBA team out there to set something up for TJD. I did not expect him to return and like all other IU fans I am super excited to see what next season will bring. I'm not predicting anything regarding top 10 or conference championships but a few things seem certain: IU will have a dominant front court. Race will be at the top of his game because there will be depth to give him an occasional rest (he works his ass off and was worn out the last couple of games last season). Lastly and best of all I expect the overall team confidence level to increase and that should mean less layups rolling off the rim, more 3 point shots falling, and overall better play. So my IU dream these days does not involve rankings or championships; those will just come naturally if the IU plays as a TEAM and finds a way to win the few that shouldn't have gotten away last season.
With all due respect Cav, you had Tamar playing at a much higher level in his freshman year than he did. Kids don't always perform or develop like we would all hope. Also, some things last season should have improved, like FT shooting, but didn't. These guys are a work in progress which i think Woodson has alluded to in his comments. Where they get to, who knows at this point.
Optimism is warranted for sure, as are high expectations - IU should be B1G favorites or in the the running every year. But CBK proved he was a great a coach even with less team talent and athletic ability. He typically got the most out of players and they consistently developed. Knight's second team went to the final four. While there was significant improvement at the end of the season for XJ and TJD, others either hit a plateau or simply didn't improve much.
If this next team shows significant individual player improvement after this summer, then I am a believer. I think Woodson has proven to be a good coach, a good to great leader and at least so far, in terms of attracting what looks like top notch talent, a great recruiter. But, I need to see more before I jump on the sweet 16, final four, Banner 6 bandwagon for this team.
Not sure it serves much to criticize folks for scepticism based on the last 25+ years of mostly futility, not to mentioned performing terribly against PU.
Can’t say I’ll like that. Low expectations haven’t disappointed me yet.High expectations is where IU should be every year. Get use to it.
FT shooting did actually improve and by a realtively large amount.
Each of the previous three years the average was right at 65%. Last year it was 70%. Not great but much improved. Everyone talks about Kansas, they were at 72% not much higher
With a very tough pre- big 10 season, I can see IU dropping out of top 25 then rising back into the top 25 and beyond as the season evolves.
Kansas was 72-74% all year and attempted more.(even taking out the 6 more games). They were better at 2 point shots too. They are headed in the right direction though and IU was much tougher to beat because of the better free throw percentage.
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