basketballjones

Incredible write-up, Matt.

That’s a sentence I didn’t think I’d be reading.

You're 100% correct. My question would be, how many of those guys does it actually workout for? Spend a year sitting (again), potentially end up in a situation where it also doesn't work out. For every Joe Burrow there's 100 dudes you never hear of.

I'm so excited about his potential. Everything we hoped Christian Standhardinger would be?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

We're not running, "Doc Sadler's defense," by any stretch of the imagination and nor should we with the tempo we want to play. Also, Doc Sadler's defense required 3 hour long practices where 1.75 hours of it were beating the players into defensive robots, and the other 1.25 were beating them into offensive robots. Doc was brought in to help with scouting, game planning, game management, recruiting connections, and overall experience. All things he's an expert and elite at. But we won't be seeing the patented "Doc Defense" under Coach Hoiberg.

I don't see where he fits on this team next year, as far as major minutes go. If he can stay around to his Junior and Senior year, he could be a very effective player. I don't think he'll be the driver and ball handler that Burke is, but my hope is that he can become a lock-down defender of multiple guys like Burke can. But staying until that point is becoming rarer and rarer. So who knows.

If I had to try to get into @Norm Peterson's head and guess what's going on - I think I could do it pretty easily because I think he and I are at the same point with this squad. I, in my logic brain, know this is a wasted season of sorts because we just do not have the pieces and everyone is so new and inexperienced. Yet, once the game starts I can't help but notice the things they coulda/shoulda/woulda done to win. Free throws, rebounding position, silly doubles on average post players to give up 3's.... it's enough to drive a man mad. Hope you're enjoying your well earned sabbatical, Norm.

NU 73 PSU 72

He’s not making fun - he’s just not intelligent enough to name them or doesn’t put in the effort to learn them like professional commentators do.

Jesus Christ I just tweeted the same thing about Dakich. Dude shut up and chill.... guy doesn’t stop bitching, moaning, judging.

I’d give my left nut for Franz Wagner.

There's a mea culpa post coming from me regarding Thorir, that's for sure. I had definitely written him off while here. I was frustrated when he was recruited because I thought there had been multiple local guys who could do anything that he could do that we just ignored over the years. But, just being completely honest, I'm going to wait on it (I'm sure he just shrunk in his seat in defeat reading that ). This is just my opinion and evaluation, but at this point he is still just a dude taking full advantage of an opportunity to play freely on a really bad team. I applaud him for that and truly do appreciate his effort... and I commend him for taking advantage of this opportunity given to him - most don't. But, again, this is a bad team... My hope for next year - he's a glue guy that can come in and guard a lot of different guys, rebound, back-cut, and hit open 3's on a good team. And just so we're clear - I love the guy and it's been super fun watching him play this year. I am just not ready to be like, "omg we were all wrong on this dude, he's awesome!!!" *ducks and covers*

Speechless. I’ve been without words all day regarding this news. I’m an expecting father, and the vision in my head of him grasping for his daughter in their last seconds, knowing the helicopter was going down, is destroying me. I grew up as a huge MJ fan, but admittedly only caught the tail end of his career. I was in love with the “MJ attitude,” and never thought we’d see that again. But Kobe man.... dude was so fun to watch. And just a ruthless killer. I’m gonna stop cause I can’t do the man justice... RIP Kobe, his daughter, and the other humans on the helicopter. Thoughts and prayers to all the families involved.

This is going to be a battle! I think he is ours in the end.

The gameplan is fine. When it's not working and they've met their season total on a thing that hurts you worse than a post player getting a lay-up, and you stick with it, then it's not fine.

NU 70 RU 66 14

That was a pretty frustrating game and honestly the first game I’m going to squarely put on Coach Hoiberg’s shoulders. There were many things that we were doing that Wisconsin was not stopping, and somehow we managed to go away from all of them. Burke could not be stopped. Nothing was done to get him more touches. That down-screen/curl action on the wing into different actions could not be stopped, and he went away from it. Whenever we just iso’ed a side on one of their poor defenders, it always worked, and we didn’t stick with it. Instead we pussyfooted around the perimeter trying to run different things. Last, when do you go away from your defensive game plan when it’s clearly not working? Did they even try to force a post player to make a great play? Once Wisconsin got going from 3 there was no stopping them. At the rate they were making their 3’s, why not just give up post touches and see if he can score or not? Frustrating game. I wanted that one.

These guys can’t guard us one on one. Space it out and go by these cement shoes. If you can’t tell I really don’t like Wisconsin and I want this one.

Gosh dangit I wish Jervay coulda finished that!!!!! Ugh, he’s trying so hard. He NEEDED that. You could see how defeated he was walking back to the bench. I feel for him.

Have I ever discussed how much I hate trapping the post...?

STINKING BADGERS 78 Huskers 59

I share your optimism in theory, but will not be holding my breath.

I’ve been asking this question for years, but, why can we not ever have a serviceable guy like #50 for Indiana? Second question - we’ve got to be the only team that, year in, year out, has massive roster holes and noticeable deficiencies. There’s always a position we don’t have. Every year.

To add to this - it's going to be a weird year for a lot of guys next year. Could definitely see some chemistry issues based off of how much Burke and Thor have played and lead us, and then other, more talented guys playing.

NU 69 IU 83