2009-2010 Season Preview

Hello fellow Hoosier fans. It's time to fire up the IU Hoops blog again. Why did I pick today to get the blog going again? Well, there are a few reasons: 1) Face it, your baseball team sucks and there is not a single compelling story-line right now in the baseball playoffs. Most of the loyal readers of this blog happen to like teams in the NL Central. The Brewers perfectly illustrated that you have to have pitching to win in baseball. The Cubs are the worst franchise in the history of sport. While the Cubs stake claim to that honor in the complete history of sport, the Pirates certainly fit that bill in more recent history. 2) IU football sucks. Always has, always will. Trust me, I wish it weren't true, but it is. I would like nothing more to have a reason to fire up the grill, ice down some beers, and invite friends and family over for the big IU football game. College football is great and as each year passes, I feel more and more robbed that I have never been able to get fully immersed in the college football frenzy. 3) Most importantly, Friday night was Hoosier Hysteria, which marks the official start of basketball season. Before we get started with the season preview, a few notes about the IU Hoops blog:

• This blog is not intended to break news or for standard news stories. This blog is for opinions (often strong opinions) and analysis of our beloved Hoosiers. Fortunately, there are several blogs and sites that cover every single Hoosier hoops story and report breaking news as it happens. The good news is that I have included all of those blogs and sites down the right-hand column. I recommend you come to this site even when I don't have a new post because you won't miss a thing if you check out the headlines/links in the right-hand column. Right now, my favorite is Inside The Hall, these guys don't miss a thing and they have a writing style that is clever, efficient, and sometimes humorous. The IDS site has also received an overhaul and they do a great job covering the Hoosiers on their Hoosier Hype site (formerly the IDS Basketblog). With all that said, I don't think I will spend a lot of time recapping Hoosier Hysteria and yesterday's real practice that was open to the public, but there is ample coverage on these sites and links to the right.
• You can certainly continue to count on the IU Hoops blog for full post-game analysis. Often times, those posts will come very late at night after the games because I frequently record the games so that I can get the little Hoosiers to bed and really focus on the game.
• Your comments make this interesting for me. I enjoy writing this blog and even find it therapeutic, but I really really really enjoy it when we get some good discussion going. So please, comment early and comment often.
• I use bad language on this blog. I have had many the internal mental debate with myself on this topic and have often held back and re-typed after proofreading, but I have made the decision that "Jeff unfiltered" is what makes this blog different and interesting. Like I said, we are fortunate to have great IU Basketball blogs out there and availalble to us, so I want this blog to be for the fans. I'm a fan and fans have passion. And to be honest, I think swear/curse words really add a lot to the written word. It's hard to express emotion when only using the written word, there are no facial cues, verbal cues, or body language. If I say "I don't like Sean Higgins", that's pretty bland and kind of a given since he played for Michigan. But if I say "fuck you, Higgins", that should indicate that I had a strong disdain for Sean Higgins. Hint: this topic will re-appear later in this post.

Ok, on to the preview. Let's start by looking at the players. For the first game last year, I literally printed a roster so that I would know who was who on that make-shift team. This year, I won't need to refer to a roster, but there are still 7 newcomers this season.

Random note -- I recorded the IU/Illinois football game and I am watching that in the background as I type this post. Anyway, Trent Green just joined the booth and they noted that he spent 15 years in the NFL. Wow, I had no idea he lasted 15 years in the National Football League. Pretty impressive and good for him. It was interesting how he actually fared better in the NFL than he did at IU. Of course, he wasn't surrounded by a lot of talent at IU but I remember a lot of one-hoppers on 8-yard outs. He had a nice visit in the booth. I like Trent Green.

On a more disturbing note about that booth visit, I noticed it was Craig Koshun doing the play-by-play. This nit-wit does the Brewers pre- and post-game shows. He's bad at that and clearly you are bad at play-by-play when you are assigned the IU/Illinois football game.

Cool, they just showed a clip of Randle El against Illinois -- 422 total yards and 4 TDs. I'm still pissed that he didn't win the Heisman. What year you ask? Pick a year, I say. But probably his sophomore season; unfortunately, the unwritten rules that go against underclassmen and losing teams prevented him from winning. I don't even know if he was invited to the ceremony and I'm not going to look it up because I am spending a ridiculous amount of time on football right now. I should have stuck to the note above that they suck.....always have, always will.

Focus, Jeff, focus.

Ok, I'm back. Let's take a look at your 2009-10 Indiana Hoooooooo-sierrrrssss....

We're going to go in numerical order and you will notice some number changes.

#0 Kory Barnett - 6'6" 186 So - I just spent time on IU football, so I'm not going to waste any more time here.

#1 Jordan Hulls - 6'0" 170 Fr - Go ahead and let yourself get excited. This kid is a winner. And I think he is going to be a big-time winner at IU before it is all said and done. Listen, I don't know what he's going to do this year and how "ready" he is for big-time college basketball. But I have read a lot about this kid and he sounds exactly like what we want at IU and exactly what we need at IU. I followed online blogs of a couple of his games last year and he came up big when his team needed it most -- a steal here, an assist there, made FTs down the stretch, and a 3-pointer that was "the dagger" en route to a state title and Mr. Basketball award. A smart basketball player that knows how to win. I honestly think when his 4-year career is done, he might be an all-time Hoosier favorite. As for this year, the good news is that we do not need him to come in and run the show. Rivers will be the starting point guard and Hulls can come off the bench and develop at a pace that is appropriate for a freshman.

I think the above paragraph makes it clear that I like this kid's intangibles, but what about his actual game? Well, he can nail the 3 and he will make his FTs. A good ball handler with a very high basketball IQ. If there is an area that will challenge him at the college level, it will be the size and speed of the college players and the college game. But by everything that I have read, he will make up for it with his smarts, effort, and grittiness.

#2 Christian Watford - 6'8" 215 Fr - Versatile. That's the word that keeps coming up when you hear about Christain Watford. Rumor has it that Crean plans to work him out with the guards, wings, and big men because he wants him to develop into a player that can do it all. I'm anxious to see him play, but it sounds like he does a lot of things well -- score inside and out, rebound, and pretty good handles for a 6'8" player. Might be best suited for the 3-spot, but with our roster, I see him playing at the 4. Trust me, I am excited about this year, but I can't help thinking about 2 years from now and 3 years from now when these players have had a chance to develop. How freakin' great would a 6th banner be? After what we have been through as Hoosier fans, I can't even imagine how incredible that would be. I'm calling my bookie right now just so it is that much sweeter once it happens.

By the way, Matt Roth was #2 last year.

#3 Maurice Creek - 6'5" 200 Fr - Although Watford is the highest-rated recruit and the freshman that most people are penciling into the starting line-up, it seems that Mo Creek has been the buzz lately. Reading reports from those that have seen him play, it sounds like he's the real deal. Not like Eric Gordon or anything like that, but it sounds like Mo will definitely be a threat to score. He can shoot the 3 and knows how to put the biscuit in the basket when he's inside the arc. It's hard to get much information on the defensive skills of recruits and freshmen often struggle in that area, but I have read that Creek is a good defender. I also love his size at 6'5". At times, I am sure our back-court will be Rivers and Creek -- their size and athleticism could definitely be something to reckon with. Think about it, with Rivers, Jones, and Creek all being 6'5", we will often have a back-court where both guys are 6'5". Last year, we often had 4 guys on the court at the same time that were 6'5" and under.

By the way, Daniel Moore was #3 last year.

#4 Brett Finkelmeier - 6'1" 188 Jr

#5 Jeremiah Rivers - 6'5" 210 Jr - Obviously, the Hoosiers will be better this year, but I think the biggest factor in determining how much better depends on #5. Jeremiah is the son of Doc Rivers and a transfer from Georgetown. He has been to a Final Four and was named to the all-defensive team in the Big East. I think his defensive presence will be huge for this team. Also, keep in mind that he was able to practice with the team last year, so he is familiar with what Crean is trying to do and also has 2 years under his belt in the Big East. His offensive numbers were horrible at Georgetown and I think if you are expecting some kind remarkable turn-around on the offensive end, you will be disappointed. That said, I would expect more opportunity and more scoring than his 2.5 ppg that he had at Georgetown. He's athletic, has a good handle, and should be able to drive the ball. If he can get in the lane with the option to finish or kick to shooters, that is what the IU offense needs out of him. But again, it's going to be his defense that is going to make the difference.

#11 Daniel Moore - 5'11" 167 So - Loved the effort last year in a time of need, but love it even more that we've upgraded the talent level and he'll be grabbing some pine this year.

#12 Verdell Jones III - 6'5" 176 So - I'm a big fan. Got better and better and better last year. Too many turnovers? Yes, but he was also asked to do everything and had the ball in his hands a lot, so I'm not too worried about that. All reports are that he is looking great in the work-outs and has an improved 3-point jumper which started to show promise at the end of last year. He is versatile and has that sneaky way of getting where he wants to and has the size to shoot over most defenders. There's been a lot of talk about what position Verdell will play this year and will he get squeezed out of a starting spot. In my opinion, he will start for sure. Yes, he played PG last year and now we have Rivers and Hulls. Yes, at the 2-spot, there is Dumes and we have added Creek. But the great thing about Verdell is that he can play the 1, 2, or 3, so I definitely see him in there somewhere. The Hoosiers will play predominantly a 3-guard offense and Verdell will be one of the three.

Time for another break -- they just showed the "Jay Edwards/Nick Anderson" game highlight. Still painful after all these years. Even so, I just watched the Jay Edwards shot 17 times including 8 times in slo-mo. Amazing. Simply amazing. Edwards drove left and had nowhere to go.....went all the way to the baseline but still a defender in his face.....jump stop at the baseline, elevated while fading backwards and left out of bounds, but still able to put up the sweetest softest high-arcing shot that was nothing but net and I literally mean nothing but net. Even thought I know the Nick Anderson game-winner is coming next, I was still able to watch the Edwards shot and remember all the game-winners he hit that year, including one against Purdue and a great one against Michigan over the the outstretched hand of Sean Higgins. Fuck you, Higgins.

OK, so I often don't take the time or make the effort in the middle of my rambling on this blog to actually do research, but I decided to do a little google search on the Edwards shot over Higgins and here's what I found from SI:

The 6'4" Edwards, his face set in an emotionless mask, looks almost bored until the end of a close game, when suddenly he seems to demand the ball so he can show everyone why he just might be the best clutch player in the college game.

Ask Purdue, which watched helplessly as Edwards hit a jumper with :04 left for a 64-62 Hoosier win in Bloomington on Feb. 12.

And ask Michigan, the preseason Big Ten favorite, which saw its title hopes flicker out on Feb. 19 when Edwards hit the most exciting and important shot by a Hoosier since Keith Smart canned that jumper against Syracuse with five seconds left to win the 1987 NCAA title game in New Orleans.

Even Smart's shot didn't cause Knight to charge onto the floor and jump for joy, which is what he did after Edwards's three-pointer from the top of the key against Michigan. When Edwards took a bounce pass and went up, the scoreboard clocks in Indiana's Assembly Hall showed 00:00. The buzzer sounded with the ball in the air, meaning that Edwards had released it at the last possible moment and with the straining hand of Michigan's 6'9" Sean Higgins right in his face.

Swwiiiiish.

Amazingly, in the locker room after the game, the hero had a hard time working up so much as a smile for the press. "I was falling backward and couldn't see," Edwards said. "Then I heard everybody cheer. I couldn't believe that it went in."

As I recollect, it wasn't exactly a bounce pass that he received, it was more of a loose ball off the Lyndon Jones dribble. In fact, it was half loose ball, half pass. Lyndon started to lose the handle, but was at least able to direct the loose ball towards Edwards which turned out to be a 2- or 3-bounce, bounce-pass. Edwards scooped it up and with the final tick of the clock in motion, he went up for his jumper, lofted it high over the 6'9" hand of Higgins, and it was nothin' but net. Again, if I recall correctly, the reason he couldn't see it was because Higgins essentially gave him a high five after narrowly missing the ball and then followed through and knocked Edwards to the floor. Now I feel the need to search "Jay Edwards" on youtube.

.....and I found the video evidence on youtube. Before I provide the link, my apologies to Lyndon Jones because that was a damn fine assist on the shot that won the game (no loose ball). In all honesty, I enjoyed my mental memory better than the actual video. One thing that was accurate was SI's account that Knight actually jumped for joy and definitely had a more demonstrative reaction than Keith Smart's shot to win the title. Enough already, click here for the video.

Holy schnikeys! After watching the Jay Edwards winner over Michigan on youtube, I found the Haston buzzer-beater over #1 MSU. I have previously searched for video of this game to no avail. This is absolutely one of my favorite Hoosier moments ever. In fact, I would probably put it at #2 behind Smart's shot to win the title. Enjoy. We will get back to the '09-'10 preview in a moment, but this shit is just too good to pass up. If you didn't already watch it on your own, click here for the Haston buzzer-beater.

I love the reaction of Mike Davis. Yes, many short-comings when you talk Mike Davis. Seriously, he should have never even been given the job. But this reaction showed how bad he wanted it to work. This guy was so overwhelmed and stressed at this point that he could not even celebrate the victory, he could only fall to his knees in disbelief and relief.

Two other events really helped the legacy of Mike Davis as IU's head basketball coach....the first was the run to the Final Four and the title game....the second was that shithead named Kelvin Sampson.

Ready to get back to this year's Hoosiers? Are you still with me?

#15 Bawa Maniru - 6'10" 260 Fr - Listed at 6'10", but the coverage of Hoosier Hysteria on the BTN included the basketball team singing with an a capella group and Bawa looked 1" taller than Tijan Jobe who is listed at 7'0". I have heard that Bawa is a 7-footer so we will have to see if his official listing changes at any point. Regardless, that doesn't tell us whether or not he can play basketball. For that, I will tell you whether or not he can play basketball....are you ready.....no, he can't play basketball. Raw. Very raw. As raw as Tijan? Maybe, maybe not, but it sure sounds like it is in the ballpark of being as raw as Tijan. The good news is that he is a freshman and he has 4 years to develop. An amazing basketball body -- tall, lean, strong, and athletic. Definitely needs to develop better ball skills. However, over his IU career, I think the biggest impact is if he can be a shot-blocker. IU has added depth down low by adding Watford, Elston, and Capabianco to the return of Pritchard, but none of them are shot-blocking threats. If Maniru can develop over the years to be worthy of court-time, he could make a huge impact with his presence on the defensive end.

#23 Bobby Capobianco - 6'9" 230 Fr - I have to admit that I was less than excited after watching videos of Bobby playing HS and/or AAU ball. However, he seems to thrive off people doubting him. Already, after just one night of Hoosier Hysteria, you are hearing a whole helluva lot more about Bobby than you are Derek Elston. Many of the fan reports from people that attended Hoosier Hysteria said that Bobby was willing to do the dirty work down low but also had a nice touch on the jumper from outside.

#24 Steven Gambles - 6'4" 220 Sr - The winner of the dunk contest at Hoosier Hysteria, but not likely to see the floor a whole lot.

#25 Tom Pritchard - 6'9" 242 So - He was our best player at the start of last season, but then struggled a little towards the end and looked just plain tired. I think Pritchard will definitely benefit from the upgrade in talent around him and that will allow him to face fewer double-teams and go to work. There were some concerns that Pritchard might come into the season out of shape -- this was mainly fueled by Crean calling him out in one of his off-season updates. However, players get motivated in different ways and my sense is that Crean was using this simply as a motivation tactic. All reports from Hoosier Hysteria were that Pritchard looked good and ready to go.

#30 Matt Roth - 6'3" 186 So - Last year, he was completely one-dimensional as a 3-point shooter. This year, reports are that he is working on other aspects of his game, but my guess is that he will continue to be a one-dimensional player. Speaking of that one dimension, the rumor is that he has also worked on a quicker release, shooting off the dribble, and shooting inside of 25 feet. So, with more scoring threats on the court and more guys with ability to drive and kick, I am hopeful that one dimension can become a deadly weapon.

#32 Derek Elston - 6'9" 220 Fr - Interestingly, his name was barely mentioned from the Hoosier Hysteria scrimmage and Saturday's practice that was open to the public. I think he will come off the bench and definitely help on the glass. Also, if the Hoosiers do get out and run this year, Elston seems like he might be able to run the floor pretty well for a big man.

#33 Devan Dumes - 6'2" 188 Sr - Last year, there was a lot of focus on Devan's flying elbows, his streaky shooting, and his erratic drives to the basket. However, the one part of his game that I feel was overlooked was his defense. Although his defensive techniques may not have always been on task, he did really get after it on that end of the floor. I like the idea of Rivers and Dumes starting in the backcourt and putting some serious defensive pressure on the opposing team's guards. As for the offensive end, I expect more of the same out of Dumes, but hopefully he can play a little more under control and find more consistency from the arc due the increased talent level around him.

#40 Tijan Jobe - 7'0" 255 Sr - I have high hopes for Big TJ's senior campaign. Many expect the arrival of Maniru might eat into Tijan's minutes, but I predict he will be able to produce at the same level this year (0.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg).

So, Hoosier fans, what are your thoughts about this year's roster?

GO HOOSIERS!