Looks like he hasn't closed the door for next year yet.
Race not done??
- Thread starter Chicago-bound Hoosier
- Start date
im actually thinking that if Race continues improve his 3 point shooting, he could work his way into a mid to late 2nd round draft pick because he has a great size/athleticism combo with good ball handling and defense. If he hears/feels his odds are reasonable he might just decide to come back.
Also maybe depends on what Trayce does,
Seems like a really good guy and teammate. I'm torn between wanting to see someone like him come back determined to finish what he started and right the wrong of any IU player ever being here for 4 years and not making the tourney to just saying, the sooner we move on from this collection of players the better. A few unfathomable things have happened with this group: never making an NCAA, losing on Coach Knight's return to Purdue, the PU losing streak (yes, they righted that one, but most of it happened on their tenure), the Rutgers losing streak, Michigan losing streak, WI losing streak, not being able to gut out a win vs Rutgers to likely get in the tournament... at home... on Senior Night... B10 tourney failures. That's a whole lot of WTF right there. I want any IU player to succeed, but at the end of the day, this collection of players has not gotten where they needed to go. Thoughts?
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I think year 6 could be the charm.
I disagree. He does not have great size or athleticism at the next level, nor shooting. You may have thought Tyler Hansborough had good size, and he looked puny when he got to the NBA. I think Race looks small against good sized post players at this level.
I can see where you are coming from in Race and others. It has been a bad run for sure. I personally would love for Race to come back. He brings so much to the table on the court. He has improved every year he has been here. He is a guy who any team in the country would love to have and would start for most. Just like Christopher Walken said on SNL about wanting more cow bell. Give the Hoosiers another year Race. I love what he epitomizes for a college player.
People are talking about playing Race at the 5 and JG at the 4 if both come back. That just seems like a disaster to me. We saw a lot of that small ball in the Mike Davis and Archie eras. It doesn’t work in the B1G.
Ummm, why are you letting CTC off the hook? Cody, I'm guessing, but beyond that, he played a lot of small ball in the post, and generally didn't have adequate size on the bench either, imo. I guess I never got over the vision of Robert Johnson guarding Isaac Haas for any reason more than a switch.
And, I agree, I like size on the floor in the B10, even in todays world of 3 ball. It's like "it's the Economy, Stupid" to me: "big guys are good to have on the floor in bball?" Who knew?
Weird. I heard just yesterday IU was going to lose their top 7-8 guys from this year.
His size/athleticism would certainly be nothing noteworthy in the NBA, just baseline sufficient. What I was getting at is there always 2-3 PFs of similar size/athleticism as Race that get drafted late, and that if he improves his shooting he could put himself in contention for a late pick
He had Vonleh and Bryant as well. He recruited bigs like Hanner and Jurkin and some others who didn’t pan out. But yeah it’s been a problem since that 2002 run. I still have nightmares of Freddie McSwain guarding Isaac Haas.
I'm suddenly feeling better about next yr if Race returns....I think he has a future in Euro ball but not the NBA. So not sure if another year at IU helps...maybe gets better at shooting the 3. He's a very versatile defender, hard to replace guys like him.
The worry I have with him leaving and JG taking his starting role is that Race has given us 30+ minutes (average) per game this year, with hard nosed defense, and hasn't been in foul trouble very often. I've seen nothing from JG that says he can play B1G level defense without fouling out in under 20 min.
The worry I have with him leaving and JG taking his starting role is that Race has given us 30+ minutes (average) per game this year, with hard nosed defense, and hasn't been in foul trouble very often. I've seen nothing from JG that says he can play B1G level defense without fouling out in under 20 min.
If (a) Race returnes, and (b) X returns, and spends the summer fishing with CMW while Woody talks to him about finding his inner peace, then next year has potential.
If TJD, Race and X leave...then we've got massive holes to fill on both ends of the court. You don't replace your top 3 scorers, top assists man, top 2 rebounders...without feeling pain (unless you can reload like Duke or UK).
edit-oh...and (arguably perhaps) our top 3 defenders, outside of Rob.
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I heard on a telecast that Race wants to try pro ball and if that doesn't work out, possibly the NFL as a tight end. His dad was asking him at some point if he wanted to try that if the NBA doesn't work out, if/when he decides to leave IU
Him coming back really is key to us being decent next year. We need a seasoned big in the worst way for next year.
We still could you just have to hope Race and X decide to stay. Pretty sure the other three starters are likely gone and probably a transfer or two. I would say we lose probably five guys minimum but hopefully that is it.
That would be outstanding. Think of how much he improved compared to last season and over the course of this year. If that trajectory continues, he'll be a major force.
I must be watching different NBA games than you. i don't see many PF's under 6'9" in the league and Race isn't outjumping them, out muscling them or out reaching them. To me, he's undersized at PF, and has struggled with the college 3 for the most part. I just don't see the type of frontcourt player I see in the NBA in Race, as some others seem to. What NBA power forward does he remind you of?
Wisconsin would like a word (lost about 70% of scoring/rebounding/assists)
Yeah, the Pete Gent (RIP) route. All big ten in basketball, then got drafted by the Cowboys.
The average NBA PF is 6'8" 227. The average center is 6'10" 245. Both of which are a drop of about an inch and 15 lbs over the last 10 years. Now starters/primary rotation players probably skew a little bigger
If Race and X return, that’s a start. Still gonna need Bates, Geronimo, and Duncomb to make major leaps.
Houston. 6'4 230 at the 4 spot. One example of many, considering almost every team has a small ball lineup. Draymond 6'6 at the 4, and a small ball 5.
Tatum, 6'8 210 at 4. Should I keep going?
Unless we pick up a center i would be fine with race at the five and Geronimo at the four.
PG Johnson, Phinesee,
SG Schifino, Bates, Gunn,
SF Kopp, Galloway,
PF Geronimo, Banks
C Thompson, Duncomb
PG Johnson, Phinesee,
SG Schifino, Bates, Gunn,
SF Kopp, Galloway,
PF Geronimo, Banks
C Thompson, Duncomb
I think Race is a better fit for what Woodson wants than TJD. And I think we will be better next year with Race on the team. To me it’s a no brainer that I want him back.
That lineup is fine if you take Kopp out. I get he just had one good game but he was mostly a bust on offense this year.
Also, Race's vertical is apparently 40" which even if generous and spots him a couple of inches still would put him in the top 4-5 in the NBA combine in any of the last several years.
Also, he brought up Tyler Hansborough, who in today's NBA would play an undersized center and probably would get drafted about 15 spots lower. It's also why Zach Edey who would maybe be a lottery pick 20+ years ago, is maybe a late second round guy now
Yup game has changed mostly at the four and five positions. TJD would have been a great power forward in the 80's. Edey a great center. Now, they're both liabilities. TJD on offense, Edey on defense. Power forwards are now undersized fives. Quicker, more skilled players at that position.
Crean even used Yogi to guard AJ Hammons. Not on an accidental switch...but on purpose. Those years were so infuriating. He would pull the silliest moves and lineups and then give a press conference telling everyone that the guys just need to get tougher. Every fan of IU could see things that he would stubbornly not acknowledge. He had a good roster every 2-3 years but even then it was tough as a fan.
Also, I wasn't saying that he would get drafted this year. My argument was that IF he improved his shooting, he might have an outside chance of being a late pick which also in no way guarantees making a roster.
Juwan Morgan, while undrafted, has been able to play a little in the NBA. Morgan was a bit craftier off the dribble, but Race has more size
I actually think it would be a real detriment to the team if he stayed. Let's face it, there's no way he's getting drafted after another year. He'd be like approaching 25 and still makes a lot of mistakes he shouldn't. He's better than he was because he's stronger that kids 4-5 years younger. Outside of something homerun in the portal, we are not going to be better (almost definitely way worse than this year on paper). Until the roster starts turning, his spot is just time others should have or we begging recruiting towards now. I think we stand a chance of being better without him and TJD. Nobody is going to see potential in someone who has been here that long, is that old, and still very flawed and undersized for the NBA
Oh man, not getting where the decent dudes on the team are now somehow poison. It’s Race’s fault Archie never got any guys who could shoot?
I get your point, but of all the players involved in these failures over the years, the least disappointing one for me has been Race Thompson. He's been one of my favorite players to follow.
No, it's not his fault, but he is probably a very low level euro player at best and should just hang it up and not take up a spot for year 6! and hinder recruiting and PT for others
Put the welcome mat out and hope he comes back. Solid individual.
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