Outside of maybe performing better or, as it is, staying healthy, this isn't the players' fault. There might be a couple of things said that sound bad about a player, but deep down this is about decisions made by the coaching staff.
Why is Anthony Walker on the team? I didn't get it when they signed him, and I don't get it even less now. The next time he pulls up in transition and shoots, should be the last time he ever sees the floor. He's a poor shooter. Period. He's a career 15% shooter from 3PT. He shot nearly 3 3PA per game as a sophomore at Miami. I kind of get seeing if a kid that age can develop, but as a 5th year senior, you just are who you are.
Walker's presence made zero sense when it came to roster management. I know he's had a couple of good games, but with Ware, Reneau and Sparks, IU didn't need a tweener big with zero....ZERO...range. They already have Kaleb Banks if they want to go small, and I'd rather go young those minutes, especially Walker didn't IU better or different. The didn't need the depth.
Woodson is so rigid in his rotations. It's stupid. He could easily go 'small' with Banks at the 4. They could go even smaller the Mgbako at the 4 when they had control of the game late or wanted to change the gravity on the court.
Walker is a MM power forward. He'd probably even be a better fit than Payton Sparks if Reneau could log more minutes at the 5. (BTW...love the direction Reneau's game). Personally, I think there are times when Ware and Sparks can play together, but that would change up Woodson's rotations. We wouldn't want that now, would we?
In lieu of Walker, there should've been a hugely concerted effort to bring in a proven shooter. Galloway and Gunn are players you have to guard, but they can't be your best options. They can't afford to be your best options when you already know Leal is a non-entity in the rotation. I don't know anything of Jakai Newton's game, but relying on a freshman to improve your shooting doesn't seem like a good idea.
According to the Peacock telecast, LeBron James said Gabe Cupps is the best shooter he's ever seen. LeBron James is a moron then. Cupps wasn't that great of a shooter in HS. He doesn't have consistent shooting mechanics, and while not all good to great shooters have natural shooting mechanics, i.e. Reggie Miller, when you're knocking them down like Miller did as a player at ALL levels, you don't mess with it. I saw Cupps play twice in HS and many times in the summer. At no point did I think he was anything more than an average shooter who could improve.
A great floor leader? Yes.
An unselfish PG with +vision? Yes.
A worker on defense? Yes.
Doesn't mean Cupps won't improve. This is, at this point, about this year. Also, it's not Cupps' fault James couldn't evaluate talent if it slid down a pole and sat in his lap. I like Cupps a lot. He just can't be the starter as a freshman.
I don't know anyone expected Xavier Johnson to such a mess, but he's been a detriment. Nothing else to say. I'm not at practice, but based on what I've seen I just wouldn't play him anymore.
So on a 13 man roster, IU has four players who can't play or shouldn't be out there. Two of whom are now getting consistent minutes. And in a game that relies heavily on making shots, especially from beyond the 3PT line, they have Mgbako, a stationary and open Galloway and an open Ware as their most consistent threats.
That's borderline malpractice from a team building perspective.
PS - Can someone check on Armond Hill during games? He's so inanimate that I worry if he's still awake.
Why is Anthony Walker on the team? I didn't get it when they signed him, and I don't get it even less now. The next time he pulls up in transition and shoots, should be the last time he ever sees the floor. He's a poor shooter. Period. He's a career 15% shooter from 3PT. He shot nearly 3 3PA per game as a sophomore at Miami. I kind of get seeing if a kid that age can develop, but as a 5th year senior, you just are who you are.
Walker's presence made zero sense when it came to roster management. I know he's had a couple of good games, but with Ware, Reneau and Sparks, IU didn't need a tweener big with zero....ZERO...range. They already have Kaleb Banks if they want to go small, and I'd rather go young those minutes, especially Walker didn't IU better or different. The didn't need the depth.
Woodson is so rigid in his rotations. It's stupid. He could easily go 'small' with Banks at the 4. They could go even smaller the Mgbako at the 4 when they had control of the game late or wanted to change the gravity on the court.
Walker is a MM power forward. He'd probably even be a better fit than Payton Sparks if Reneau could log more minutes at the 5. (BTW...love the direction Reneau's game). Personally, I think there are times when Ware and Sparks can play together, but that would change up Woodson's rotations. We wouldn't want that now, would we?
In lieu of Walker, there should've been a hugely concerted effort to bring in a proven shooter. Galloway and Gunn are players you have to guard, but they can't be your best options. They can't afford to be your best options when you already know Leal is a non-entity in the rotation. I don't know anything of Jakai Newton's game, but relying on a freshman to improve your shooting doesn't seem like a good idea.
According to the Peacock telecast, LeBron James said Gabe Cupps is the best shooter he's ever seen. LeBron James is a moron then. Cupps wasn't that great of a shooter in HS. He doesn't have consistent shooting mechanics, and while not all good to great shooters have natural shooting mechanics, i.e. Reggie Miller, when you're knocking them down like Miller did as a player at ALL levels, you don't mess with it. I saw Cupps play twice in HS and many times in the summer. At no point did I think he was anything more than an average shooter who could improve.
A great floor leader? Yes.
An unselfish PG with +vision? Yes.
A worker on defense? Yes.
Doesn't mean Cupps won't improve. This is, at this point, about this year. Also, it's not Cupps' fault James couldn't evaluate talent if it slid down a pole and sat in his lap. I like Cupps a lot. He just can't be the starter as a freshman.
I don't know anyone expected Xavier Johnson to such a mess, but he's been a detriment. Nothing else to say. I'm not at practice, but based on what I've seen I just wouldn't play him anymore.
So on a 13 man roster, IU has four players who can't play or shouldn't be out there. Two of whom are now getting consistent minutes. And in a game that relies heavily on making shots, especially from beyond the 3PT line, they have Mgbako, a stationary and open Galloway and an open Ware as their most consistent threats.
That's borderline malpractice from a team building perspective.
PS - Can someone check on Armond Hill during games? He's so inanimate that I worry if he's still awake.
