Keys to watch for against IU

[Marcus92]

KenPom.com ranks Indiana #24 in defensive efficiency. Their eFG% (4th), 3PT% defense (14th) and TO% (14th) are particularly strong. We'll need to keep the ball moving, look for opportunities to drive, find open shooters and protect the ball.

On offense, the Hoosiers do all their work in transition and inside. They're not a good outside shooting team (#195), but #9 in 2PT%. This is where MU's defense has been strongest so far. Sacar will probably be tasked with guarding preseason All-American Romeo Langford. Can Theo and Ed defend without fouling? This will be a big test.

Indiana is also just as deep as we are, if not more so. Eight players are averaging at least 15 mpg, 2 others at least 11 mpg.

[Jockey]

Meaningless stats.

They played two low level cupcakes.

[burger]

I hope we "throttle" those pompous F's......

Not just beat them.....Duke them.....aka Ken""ucky.......

Perfect opportunity.....

[Warrior Code]

Which helps us more at the end of the year: a win at IU or a neutral-court win over Kansas? I remember seeing that road victories are weighted more but I don't know the actual numbers behind it. Obviously, the final rankings will play a part and we can't know what they are at this point, but I wanted to get a gut reaction from scoop.

[brewcity77]

Which helps us more at the end of the year: a win at IU or a neutral-court win over Kansas? I remember seeing that road victories are weighted more but I don't know the actual numbers behind it. Obviously, the final rankings will play a part and we can't know what they are at this point, but I wanted to get a gut reaction from scoop.

If we go 1-1 and I get to pick, I'll take the win over Kansas. Until proven otherwise, they are the perennial Big 12 champs and haven't been worse than a 2 seed in the past 9 years. Ultimately, we know that the win over Kansas would be a certain Q1 win over a conference champ and 1 or 2 seed. The IU win would be big, but they probably aren't better than a 4-seed unless they win the Big 10 and could very well be a NIT team.

[Warrior Code]

Thanks, brew. That's kind of what I was thinking too. Although I don't see IU as a possible NIT team this year, unless something goes terribly wrong over in Bloomington.

[Nukem2]

If we go 1-1 and I get to pick, I'll take the win over Kansas. Until proven otherwise, they are the perennial Big 12 champs and haven't been worse than a 2 seed in the past 9 years. Ultimately, we know that the win over Kansas would be a certain Q1 win over a conference champ and 1 or 2 seed. The IU win would be big, but they probably aren't better than a 4-seed unless they win the Big 10 and could very well be a NIT team.

Unfortunately, we don't get to pick.  But let's go for 2-0.

[brewcity77]

Unfortunately, we don't get to pick.  But let's go for 2-0.

Not to be an ass, but did you even read what I quoted and was responding to? Of course we'd prefer 2-0, that doesn't answer the question.

[Nukem2]

Not to be an ass, but did you even read what I quoted and was responding to? Of course we'd prefer 2-0, that doesn't answer the question.

Was just having fun with a 2-0 alternative.  Don't be so touchy

[Marcus92]

Meaningless stats.

They played two low level cupcakes.

KenPom's defensive efficiency stats are adjusted for the level of competition. Metrics matter. Ask any college coach in the game today. No prediction is perfect, of course. But Indiana is getting votes in the AP poll for a reason. This is a quality team, one that could compete for a top 3 finish in the Big 10 and a 5 or 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.

[Silkk the Shaka]

KenPom's defensive efficiency stats are adjusted for the level of competition. Metrics matter. Ask any college coach in the game today. No prediction is perfect, of course. But Indiana is getting votes in the AP poll for a reason. This is a quality team, one that could compete for a top 3 finish in the Big 10 and a 5 or 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.

True to a degree, but the only stat you quoted that is adjusted for competition is defensive efficiency, which at this point in the season is still mostly pre-season projection baked in anyway. The other stats (eFG%, 3PT%, TO%) are raw & unadulterated, so completely biased by IU's early crappy competition (as are ours).

[brewcity77]

Was just having fun with a 2-0 alternative.  Don't be so touchy

Not touchy, just confused why you would say something that was so obviously irrelevant to the question at hand.

[GoldenEagle323]

Im not worried about anyone on IU but juwan morgan hasn't done much this season but i wouldnt be surprised if morrow was put on him considering they have played against each other

[Marcus92]

True to a degree, but the only stat you quoted that is adjusted for competition is defensive efficiency, which at this point in the season is still mostly pre-season projection baked in anyway. The other stats (eFG%, 3PT%, TO%) are raw & unadulterated, so completely biased by IU's early crappy competition (as are ours).

Good point, I should have clarified that. This will clearly be the first game by either team against real competition. But it does look to me like strength (MU offense) versus strength (IU defense).

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

KenPom's defensive efficiency stats are adjusted for the level of competition. Metrics matter. Ask any college coach in the game today. No prediction is perfect, of course. But Indiana is getting votes in the AP poll for a reason. This is a quality team, one that could compete for a top 3 finish in the Big 10 and a 5 or 6 seed in the NCAA tournament.

I forget the exact number, but KenPom doesn't become accurate until 5 or 6 games in. IIRC, level of competition is decided by what KenPom guessed (educated guesses but still guesses) teams would be for the first few games. Once there is enough data he switches so it is all based on information from this season.

I'm not an expert stathead so I could be wrong, but my understanding is that KenPom rankings are pretty useless for the first few games of the season.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I would love nothing more than to beat an Archie Miller coached team into the ground...

[Herman Cain]

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/indiana-basketball-injury-news-and-notable-numbers-from-montana-state/

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Was just having fun with a 2-0 alternative.  Don't be so touchy

[muwarrior69]

The team which has the most points after 40 minutes.

[brewcity77]

I'm not an expert stathead so I could be wrong, but my understanding is that KenPom rankings are pretty useless for the first few games of the season.

Full accuracy doesn't come until mid-January. Right now it's still heavily based on last year and projections rather than actual current data.

[Nukem2]

Not touchy, just confused why you would say something that was so obviously irrelevant to the question at hand.

Guess you have no sense of fun.  Lighten up young guy.

[brewcity77]

Guess you have no sense of fun.  Lighten up young guy.

My sense of fun is fine. Your post just wasn't funny.

[Nukem2]

My sense of fun is fine. Your post just wasn't funny.

Whatever.  Just all about possibilities.  I would love to be 2-0.   

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Took a look at some of the numbers for Indiana's first two games. It seems that Jerome Hunter is out indefinitely with a leg injury. He was their highest rated freshman other than Langford. They certainly didn't miss him in the first two but it does give us an easier task. We already knew Langford was a star, but they have two other true freshmen who played big minutes in the first two games. Robert Phinese and Demazi Anderson are both top 125 type players who have gotten starter level minutes in the first two games. Will be curious how they do against real competition instead of a sub 250 team and a sub 350 team. If they are relying on three true freshmen for major minutes, I feel a little more confident.

[MU82]

Not touchy, just confused why you would say something that was so obviously irrelevant to the question at hand.

I know! A Scooper saying something irrelevant and/or making light of something!

The nerve!! And so outside the norm of behavior 'round these parts!!!