Don't look now, but IU isn't turrible

[bigbluelou]

Beat Illinois today on the road. Now sitting at 14-4 and 4-1 in the B1G.

I loathe them and their despicable fans, but they are actually playing pretty well right now. Can they sustain it? I hope so, just enough to keep Clappy around for a long time.

This post was edited on 1/18 9:50 PM by bigbluelou

 

[ThroughBlue]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

I hope they take advantage of an overrated Big 10 and get in as our 8 seed. That would be fun. UCLA game 2.0

 

[BourbonBalz]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

No, it just goes to show how bad the Big Ten happens to be. Indiana is not as bad as most thought they'd be, but they're still a bad team. As I said in another thread, the fact that they're 4-1 in conference shows how the conference actually is.

 

[That MGH Guy]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Just be good enough to be irrelevant but keep Crean on board. All I ask for. Keep that man employed!

 

[BoulderCat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible


Good enough so far to probably at least make the NCAA. They'll hang a banner for sure. Also keeps Crean off the hot seat. I'm good with it.

 

[UK90]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible


They have great guards and outside shooting. But absolutely NO size inside (they're starting a 6'6" white guy at center right now) and no defense.

Doing ok right now, but eventually the lack of size and defense (plus Crean's weird coaching) has to catch with them.

 

[UKWildcats#8]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

IU has beat Nebraska, Penn State, Illinois and OSU thus far. OSU is overrated as hell, and the others all suck. Let's see what they do with games coming up against Maryland, @OSU, @Purdue and @Wisconsin in the next 5 games.

 

[Xception]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

I don't want them to be awful , just good enough to keep them from getting a coach that might make them relevant .

 

[wild mandu]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by UKWildcats#8:
IU has beat Nebraska, Penn State, Illinois and OSU thus far. OSU is overrated as hell, and the others all suck. Let's see what they do with games coming up against Maryland, @OSU, @Purdue and @Wisconsin in the next 5 games.

Loss, loss, win, loss.

 

[TY U 2 WCS 4 9]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Anything that keeps weirdo there I'm all for.

 

[new era cat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by That MGH Guy
Just be good enough to be irrelevant but keep Crean on board. All I ask for. Keep that man employed!

Yes, it is nice to be standing on top looking down. People wished the same on us when we had The Anchor as our coach.

 

[hoggwildcat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Big ten is not good, out of the 5 teams they have played only 1 could be considered a tournament team, and that is the one they lost and lost big. For that matter, at this point you can argue that they haven't beat a tournament team yet (OSU, SMU) these two teams are big maybes to make the tournament. IU is easily a 10 loss team , which will probably make them a bubble team. If they played in last years Big Ten they would be lucky to be 500. They are not that good, they are fortunate that Big Ten is down. Look at the bright side they will win just enough to keep Crean.

 

[bradscats]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Indiana does not have a bad record but a win against Illinois doesn't say much since they are not good at all. IU may win enough games in a bad conference to get on the Bubble but they will lack quality wins big time. I hope they manage a 9 seed in our bracket and find a way to win the first game.

 

[bigc45157]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Troy Williams looks pretty good. He's been a nice surprise, from my perspective.

 

[kyjeff1]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

I want to see IU go on a run and get a 5 seed. Hopefully they get to the sweet 16 and lose by 40 to the cats then hang another SS banner. I hope they have 10 of those sweet 16 banners hanging in that hs gym by the time he gets fired. I think it's hilarious that this idiot came into a storied program and sensationalized mediocre accomplishments.
He set the standard when he hung the first SS banner, now he has to do it every time.

 

[IL Wildcat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by UKWildcats#8:
IU has beat Nebraska, Penn State, Illinois and OSU thus far. OSU is overrated as hell, and the others all suck. Let's see what they do with games coming up against Maryland, @OSU, @Purdue and @Wisconsin in the next 5 games.

Boom! This is absolutely the answer. I agree with others that the B1G is way down this year from previous seasons, but the other part is their fortunate schedule. Louisville killed them on a neutral floor. Ohio State is just like Indiana- trying to outscore people and not playing D. Let's see where they are in a few weeks. Once people start taking them seriously instead of laughing at the prospect of playing them, the wins will dry up.

I will agree with the OP that they are better than I thought expected though. And I also agree with the sentiment that they need Crean there for life.

 

[Chuckinden]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Good for them. It keeps Crean as their coach.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Don't need to tell me not to look in IU's direction.

 

[anon_9qtxg60vqzy0y]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Dan Dakich said on Twitter that Crean should be in consideration for National COY. Not sure if serious.

 

[Bkocats]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible


It does my heart good to see my fellow UK fans looking out for the interests of a rival. We all know Coach Crean is the PERFECT man for the job at IU - and I would like to include my own support in keeping him in that position.

I, too, hope IU does well enough to finish out the season with a 2nd round exit in the tourney.

 

[uk78]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

On this site expecting objective analysis of Indiana or UL is unlikely. The year UL won the Championship was at the same time up until after Christmas a number of posters here talking how it was all over for R.P. and that program. Here in the beginning of this year a number of posters made comments like Indiana would not even make the NIT and Crean was most assuredly going to be let go.

I kind of hope Indiana continues on a decent path because as one post indicated it means Crean stays as their coach. He is not as bad as people here make out, but he is several big steps well below Cal which keeps Kentucky and recruiting at a tremendous advantage.

I also thought after today that the 8/9 team might just be Indiana which would be a good safe match for Kentucky. I agree they can't compete on the boards. However, at the moment if Wisconsin ends up as our 2 seed then I don't think Indiana will be in the same division. Probably the NCAA will continue to try and give Duke gifts and have Indiana as a easy game for them instead.

 

[WildMoon]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

they are good enough to stay mediocre.

Worst case scenario for Indiana... hahaha

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by U9K:
Dan Dakich said on Twitter that Crean should be in consideration for National COY. Not sure if serious.

No doubt he is. Unfortunately the COTY more often than not goes to a coach who can't recruit, so he starts off with low expectations and when they have a decent season, he becomes a genius coach.

 

[hoggwildcat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

If people remember Crean at Marquette, a lot of his team's were perimeter oriented, and he really only had the one good team, we all remember which one that was. All the other teams were NIT teams or nor very highly seeded tournament teams. You could have called him 10 loss Crean. Looks like he is trying to follow that same blueprint. As long as IU keeps him they will never consistently make tournament.

 

[jrm693]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by Bkocats:

It does my heart good to see my fellow UK fans looking out for the interests of a rival. We all know Coach Crean is the PERFECT man for the job at IU - and I would like to include my own support in keeping him in that position.

I, too, hope IU does well enough to finish out the season with a 2nd round exit in the tourney.

Thats our niche isn't it looking out for our rivals best interests.

 

[Desperado_1955]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by That MGH Guy:
Just be good enough to be irrelevant but keep Crean on board. All I ask for. Keep that man employed!

Yep

 

[mj2k10]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by SilentsAreGolden:

Originally posted by U9K:
Dan Dakich said on Twitter that Crean should be in consideration for National COY. Not sure if serious.

No doubt he is. Unfortunately the COTY more often than not goes to a coach who can't recruit, so he starts off with low expectations and when they have a decent season, he becomes a genius coach.

Yep.

Here are some guys who NEVER won AP COY:

Dean Smith, Denny Crum, Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Rick Pitino, John Calipari.

Here are some guys who won it the last 10 years:

Tubby, Keno Davis, Mike Brey, Frank Haith, Jim Larranaga.

COY awards are a farce, and unless it comes to your coach in a year in which he won the title (which basically doesn't happen- the last time the AP COY was the guy who won the title was Bob Knight in 76), it's usually bad news for your team. It means expectations were really low.

 

[stevo51]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

"Oh, Gitche Manitou, guide the Hoosiers to enough victories to make the tournament. Grant the selection committe the wisdom, O' Great Spirit, to place Hoosiers in a bracket for our second game in the Yum"

 

[hotelblue]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

they won't be terrible, in a terrible big ten. poster who mentioned williams is correct. he's the only guy inside the arc that can do anything for them. without him, and even with a nice back court, they would be very weak. they just don't have a lot of options.

 

[SpensBRJ]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

From someone forced to watch Illinois basketball...Illini are mediocre on their best day without Rice.

 

[Smashcat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible


Give Crean a 10-year extension.

 

[reignof cats]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by mj2k10:

Originally posted by SilentsAreGolden:

Originally posted by U9K:
Dan Dakich said on Twitter that Crean should be in consideration for National COY. Not sure if serious.

No doubt he is. Unfortunately the COTY more often than not goes to a coach who can't recruit, so he starts off with low expectations and when they have a decent season, he becomes a genius coach.

Yep.

Here are some guys who NEVER won AP COY:

Dean Smith, Denny Crum, Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Rick Pitino, John Calipari.

Here are some guys who won it the last 10 years:

Tubby, Keno Davis, Mike Brey, Frank Haith, Jim Larranaga.

COY awards are a farce, and unless it comes to your coach in a year in which he won the title (which basically doesn't happen- the last time the AP COY was the guy who won the title was Bob Knight in 76), it's usually bad news for your team. It means expectations were really low.

AP has never awarded Nick Saban COY in football either. As usual UK is loaded in basketball, and only one considered for AA honors preseason and middle of the season.

 

[Mashburned]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

 

[dave5164]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible


Indiana played most of their Non-Conference schedule at home this year. They really had no competition except Louisville and they beat 94-74, SMU, and Butler. Most of these NON-Conference games were at home and their SOS is 80 by most sites and RPI is mid 50's by most sites. The Big 10 right now has Wisconsin at #7, Maryland #14, and OSU will probably drop out of top 25 after losing Saturday. Michigan State beat them by 20 and they beat OSU by 3 and the other 3 teams Neb, Penn State, and Illinois not doing so well in the Big10. They have Blackmon jr avg around 20ppg and that is about it for IU! They do have some tough Big10 teams coming up and they have to play Maryland twice, Wisconsin twice, at OSU. RealtimeRPI website has them ending up at 19-12 overall and 9-9 in the Big10. Don't know if that gets IU in the Dance with their RPI in mid-50's and SOS around 80. Sounds like an NIT bid.

 

[Smashcat]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Kenpom Top 50 B10 ratings. Not a big IU endorsement.


Rick Lewis þ@Coach_Rick57 51m51 minutes ago

Ken Pom Top 50 Big Ten (6 teams)
6. Wisconsin
14. Maryland
22. Ohio State
23. Michigan State
37. Iowa
49. Minnesota
52. Indiana

 

[ccukuk]

How awesome would it be if they 1) get in the ncaa tournament 2), get out of the first weekend 3) lose, of course 4) hang another sweet sixteen banner 6) still cut down the nets? That would be gold Jerry,gold!

 

[Bkocats]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by jrm693:

Originally posted by Bkocats:

It does my heart good to see my fellow UK fans looking out for the interests of a rival. We all know Coach Crean is the PERFECT man for the job at IU - and I would like to include my own support in keeping him in that position.

I, too, hope IU does well enough to finish out the season with a 2nd round exit in the tourney.

Thats our niche isn't it looking out for our rivals best interests.

yes, yes it is - it's too bad the general public doesn't know just how generous we are as a fanbase

 

[mkasten25]

Re: Don't look now, but IU isn't terrible

Originally posted by ThroughBlue:
I hope they take advantage of an overrated Big 10 and get in as our 8 seed. That would be fun. UCLA game 2.0

I don't want them as our 8 seed. I want them as our 4/5. Reason is we get a week to listen to the build-up to the game (KSR, Peegs, ESPN) and they'll make a banner for reaching the sweet 16. If they're our 8/9, then there's only two days of build up (and on a weekend). KSR and Peegs for rivalry week is just so much fun. And then when we win by 25+ it will just be glorious.

 

[jamo0001]

good. give Crean another hilarious extension.

 

[TankedCat]

I would love to see UK play them in the tourney.