IUPUI thoughts

[BM1090]

Point is definitely an issue on this team despite having three players at the spot.  Duane not a natural point and it showed with 5 turnovers.  Carter can play "D' but turns it over.  Cheatham the best option but his man-to-man D needs improvement.  His zone D is much better.

Zone with Cheatham, Cohen, Ellenson and Luke is hard to attack if they all play the fundamentals correctly. Alot of length there.

[dgies9156]

Thoughts on tonight -- Part 2

1) I guess this is called a win.

2) Too many guys who think they are still playing in the WIAA, IHSA, TSSAA etc. We've got a bunch of kids who are playing at a collegiate level for the first time -- and it shows.

3) So much for Henry being one-and-done. The talent is there but the polish will be at least a two year process.

4) We don't appear to know how to play together yet. That was VERY evident tonight as well as in the Belmont stats. That comes with experience.

5) If we do not do a better job defending the "3" ball, this is going to be a VERY long season. IUPUI had way too many open looks.

6) Cheatham shows an awful lot of poise. Watching him hit free throws when it mattered is a sight for sore eyes.

7) We're better than last year, but it's obvious we have a boatload of freshmen on the team.

[brandx]

4) We don't appear to know how to play together yet. That was VERY evident tonight as well as in the Belmont stats. That comes with experience.

Spot on. But the explanation is pretty simple - it's because we haven't played together before. As you said, that comes with experience.

[Big Papi]

Our outside shooting besides Sandy is awful.
We can't defend the dribble drive at all.  We either foul or give up penetration way to easily and that is against non-athletic teams.  Its basic fundamental defense that Wojo needs to be hammering into our players.

Until both areas improve this team will struggle to win.

Going forward, I like the talent of the freshmen but please recruit a point guard.  Cheatham and Carter at the point are not the answers.  How do we go from having great point guards year after year to now not having one for quite awhile.

Henry is going to be a very good player by the end of the year.

[NotAnAlum]

I'm starting to have flash backs to 2014-2015
NB Omaha = Belmont
NJIT = IUPUI

That team wen to a holiday tournament and surprised me.

Lets hope the parallels stop once conference play begins.

[MUsoxfan]

I admittedly saw very little of the game, but missed layups are just plain bad

[MarquetteDano]

I'm starting to have flash backs to 2014-2015
NB Omaha = Belmont
NJIT = IUPUI

That team wen to a holiday tournament and surprised me.

Lets hope the parallels stop once conference play begins.

One difference is that last year four of our main rotation players were seasoned veterans.  Now we have at best one seasoned veteran.  So this team SHOULD improve more than last year's team as the season wears on.

[79Warrior]

Funny the comments on Henry not being a one and done after two games. How would you like to be judged on two days of work?

[MU82]

A few things:

++Henry has shown some great flashes but no, he hasn't looked "NBA-like" through two whole games. That doesn't mean he won't settle into college ball and be a true beast by the time we get going in the conference season. Even if he's not a total stud, though, it doesn't mean he'll stay and it doesn't mean NBA teams will ignore him. It's all about potential. And I'm one who has thought all along he'll be around for more than one year.

++Duane's badly missed shots were one thing. His loose handle and carelessness were driving me nuts and I kept waiting for Wojo to get him out of there. In the end, though, he came through, so I tip my hat to him and Wojo.

++Count me among those who wonder why we totally stopped going to Luke. I know they were sagging down quite a bit, but there were several opportunities to feed him after he worked for position and he was ignored. He really had a solid game offensively and on the boards.

++Cheatham is gonna be a very nice player.

++It's hard to envision this being an NCAA tournament team now, but players and teams do improve over the course of the season. At least that's what I'm hoping!

[Herman Cain]

Funny the comments on Henry not being a one and done after two games. How would you like to be judged on two days of work?

I think the one and done concept was way over done. If anyone had bothered to watch the kid play in high school they would have understood that. He has some very nice skills, but his overall basketball IQ is lacking. He is a me first,stat oriented player who does not bring up the level of play of those around him.  He is a  6-10 Carlino. He has always been that way which is part of the reason he never won anything in high school.  That said I am still very happy he is on our team and am confident he will eventually become a polished and intelligent player as his basic skills are clearly strong.

I also think part of the problem is that Wojo has given him a complete green light, which no one else has. I think having him bring the ball up is screwing up the guards rythym. Yes he can do it, but that doesn't mean it should.

[🏀]

Duane is frustrating. Hopefully has a McNeal arc. Follows up less than ideal plays with a horrible play often. Jerel did that at times, but was a far superior player. Off shooting night?-wasn't good

Sandy is good on both ends. Stay aggressive, needs to get in the game quicker, starts too slow.

Hanny is the real deal, super excited about his future.

Henry will get better, defense improved.

Fishy needed to eat that second half, coulda dropped thirty on these guys.

Wally played nice defense, had a natural flow with Henry. Would like to see that combo to get Fishy more rest.

Carter needs a tune up, that engine ain't running.

Wojo needs to pull these guys of the quick three. Also, needed a substitution at the end.

[🏀]

And Wojo is forcing Henry to be a man. Three straight situations they've gone to him with the game on the line. None have worked.

[#UnleashSean]

Seems like Ellenson was handed the job.   I'm not sure he makes our best 5 right now.  His D is lacking.   Hopefully Wojo's evaluation of Ellenson was correct as the season goes on.    He put a lot of eggs in that basket.

2 double doubles is handed the job? What are you on?

[jesmu84]

I think the one and done concept was way over done. If anyone had bothered to watch the kid play in high school they would have understood that. He has some very nice skills, but his overall basketball IQ is lacking. He is a me first,stat oriented player who does not bring up the level of play of those around him.  He is a  6-10 Carlino. He has always been that way which is part of the reason he never won anything in high school.  That said I am still very happy he is on our team and am confident he will eventually become a polished and intelligent player as his basic skills are clearly strong.

I also think part of the problem is that Wojo has given him a complete green light, which no one else has. I think having him bring the ball up is screwing up the guards rythym. Yes he can do it, but that doesn't mean it should.

Pretty crazy how people who get paid to make that determination disagree with you.

[PGsHeroes32]

Seems like Ellenson was handed the job.   I'm not sure he makes our best 5 right now.  His D is lacking.   Hopefully Wojo's evaluation of Ellenson was correct as the season goes on.    He put a lot of eggs in that basket.

Uhhhh is this the liquor speaking?

Hes done a lot of disappointing little things thus far....but not in our 5 best? lol. Wed be absolutely screwed without him

[PGsHeroes32]

I'm starting to have flash backs to 2014-2015
NB Omaha = Belmont
NJIT = IUPUI

That team wen to a holiday tournament and surprised me.

Lets hope the parallels stop once conference play begins.

Belmont is far, far, far better than Omaha was last year. THat loss was a travesty. Belmont was simply dissappointing we didnt closeout but understandable.

[brewcity77]

This is hilarious. Henry is averaging 19.5 ppg/9.5 rpg and people think he isn't NBA ready? Tell that to Trey Lyles, Noah Vonleh, Steven Adams, and Alex Len, all of whom put up far worse numbers and were lottery picks. The NBA drafts on potential and Henry has a ton of it. He was off last night and went for 18/3/3. That's a pretty darn good off night.

[KenoshaWarrior]

This is hilarious. Henry is averaging 19.5 ppg/9.5 rpg and people think he isn't NBA ready? Tell that to Trey Lyles, Noah Vonleh, Steven Adams, and Alex Len, all of whom put up far worse numbers and were lottery picks. The NBA drafts on potential and Henry has a ton of it. He was off last night and went for 18/3/3. That's a pretty darn good off night.

Plus 10000

[Lighthouse 84]

The number of turnovers alone could be cited as costing us the Belmont game and almost costing us the IUPUI game.    If our guards take care of the ball, lots of problems are solved.  That said, we also give up way too many easy baskets, shoot threes poorly, don't feed the Fish enough and give up way too many offensive rebounds.  Iowa will be a tough game to win unless we fix some or all of the issues.

People bitch about Du turning the ball over.....Combs had 10 TOs!  During the game, I kept thinking about how he's killing MU. If I was a IUPUI fan, I'd have been thinking how much he needs to get a better handle or sit.  Funny how one's perspective can change depending on the side from which you look.

[brewcity77]

People bitch about Du turning the ball over.....Combs had 10 TOs!  During the game, I kept thinking about how he's killing MU. If I was a IUPUI fan, I'd have been thinking how much he needs to get a better handle or sit.  Funny how one's perspective can change depending on the side from which you look.

This is such a good point. Yes, Duane had too many turnovers, but the guy still was very efficient inside the arc and was one of our leading scorers. This team will need time to grow. It's very easy to look at our own deficiencies without seeing both sides of the equation.

Both Duane and Combs turned it over, but both were also instrumental in the positive things their teams were doing as well.

[NavinRJohnson]

This is hilarious. Henry is averaging 19.5 ppg/9.5 rpg and people think he isn't NBA ready? Tell that to Trey Lyles, Noah Vonleh, Steven Adams, and Alex Len, all of whom put up far worse numbers and were lottery picks. The NBA drafts on potential and Henry has a ton of it. He was off last night and went for 18/3/3. That's a pretty darn good off night.

Yep. Dude is gone. He is extremely skilled, and has agame that appears to be more suited for the NBA. Now, is he a finished product right now? No, but not sure if some of you guys have looked at the schedule, but they've got about 30 games left to play this year.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Duane Wilson is a conundrum. He shows flashes, but when things aren't going his way he seems like a sulker.

I think Sandy Cohen deserves to be starting. I thought he was a big difference in last nights game. Nothing not to like there.

Right now Luke Fischer is our best option on offense. Second is Henry, provided he's got his back to the basket. Just because he can handle the ball doesn't mean he should be. He is a disaster in the open court.

Two tough opponents, so far. At this point, fans should be looking forward to the cupcakes.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

One more thing...our rebounding effort was not good. We have as much size as anybody, but nobody seems to really want to go after rebounds...just letting them come.

[NavinRJohnson]

One more thing...our rebounding effort was not good. We have as much size as anybody, but nobody seems to really want to go after rebounds...just letting them come.

I think it's more a function technique than effort/want to, but the point is correct...rebounding needs a lot of work.

[Warrior of Law]

Duane is a 2 guard who isn't a very good shooter.  Cheatam and Cohen have been impressive, as has the frontcourt as a whole.  Lots of positives, but the PG position is the biggest hole right now.  Ideally Wilson picks up his play real soon using the last play as a momentum builder...