What to do with so many guards?

GO HOOSIERS!

Will be great to see Ratliff back. He is this year's AJ Moye.....the under-the-radar Senior who just does it all. He will really push our perimeter defense up another level. I hope the crowd gives him the AJ Moye treatment when he enters the game. "AJ Ratliff clap clap clap clap clap, AJ Ratliff clap clap clap clap clap."

IU probably has a top 10 backcourt as far as talent and depth nationally with AJ back. No one else in the Big Ten including MSU has that level of depth. MSU has better frontcourt depth though.

Wow.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkt070...

IU plays #270 Chicago State? Really? Is that going to get IU prepared for the Big Ten season next week? ReallY?

And that following that grueling game against #298 Coppin State!

(And #332 Longwood! And #280 Tenn. State! And #286 Western Carolina!)

IU's strength if schedule is now a scintillating 270!!!!!!!!

Kudos, IU! No wonder Cellvin Sanctions begged to get out of that game against IUPUI this year!

IU's schedule is the weakest of anyone in the Big 10.

And the ACC.

And the Atlantic 10.

And the Big Sky.

And the Big West.

And the Horizon.

And the Ivy League (!).

And the Missouri Valley.

And the Pac-10.

And the Southern.

And the Southwestern.

And the Summit League.

And the West Coast.

(Weaker than anyone in the Ivy League? Really?)

Do any of you really think that playing the dregs of the NCAA will make IU a better team? Really? Do you think that perhaps a game against a tough opponent might actually teach IU how to play against the big boys?

Maybe that's why Cellvin couldn't win a single game in the Big Ten tourney last year (losing to a lower seed). Maybe that's why IU went 5-6 over their last eleven games last year. Maybe that's why Cellvin's last seven Oklahoma NCAA teams all lost to lower seeds (teams that included IU, Purdue, and even Indiana State).

With an experienced team, why is Cellvin scheduling the weakest schedule in the Big Ten and 13 OTHER CONFERENCES??????

He's not just a cheater and liar; he's also a coward.

With this kind of talent at guard, anything less that an Elite 8 apearance would be disheartening. jcb

LOL wrote:

Wow.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkt070...
IU plays #270 Chicago State? Really? Is that going to get IU prepared for the Big Ten season next week? ReallY?
And that following that grueling game against #298 Coppin State!
(And #332 Longwood! And #280 Tenn. State! And #286 Western Carolina!)
IU's strength if schedule is now a scintillating 270!!!!!!!!
Kudos, IU! No wonder Cellvin Sanctions begged to get out of that game against IUPUI this year!
IU's schedule is the weakest of anyone in the Big 10.
And the ACC.
And the Atlantic 10.
And the Big Sky.
And the Big West.
And the Horizon.
And the Ivy League (!).
And the Missouri Valley.
And the Pac-10.
And the Southern.
And the Southwestern.
And the Summit League.
And the West Coast.
(Weaker than anyone in the Ivy League? Really?)
Do any of you really think that playing the dregs of the NCAA will make IU a better team? Really? Do you think that perhaps a game against a tough opponent might actually teach IU how to play against the big boys?
Maybe that's why Cellvin couldn't win a single game in the Big Ten tourney last year (losing to a lower seed). Maybe that's why IU went 5-6 over their last eleven games last year. Maybe that's why Cellvin's last seven Oklahoma NCAA teams all lost to lower seeds (teams that included IU, Purdue, and even Indiana State).
With an experienced team, why is Cellvin scheduling the weakest schedule in the Big Ten and 13 OTHER CONFERENCES??????
He's not just a cheater and liar; he's also a coward.

Whaaaaaaa Heres a tissue. Just like a hater to continuously talk about last year and 5 years ago when HE WASNT EVEN OUR COACH. Thats your problem, your stuck in the past.

Someone calling someone else they have never met a coward on a message board. Oooh your a big tough guy. hahahahahahah

What a joke as usual.

Thanks for the laugh this morning. I needed that. So transparent its embarassing, but still very very funny.

Hey LOL,

Is that all you got? Thats pretty weak!!!

I bet you pride yourself in your silly little "posts" and I hate to be the one to burst your bubble but I think its time someone reaches out to you for some much needed help. Seriously, go get some help!!!

Its just a game!!!!! I understand you hate Coach Sampson but come on enough is enough.

LOL you are one weak SOB!!! Now do me a favor and go look up some more stats. I hear chics dig the stats, and lucky for you so do dudes!!

Yesssssssss!!!
Have been waiting all year to see this. Our defense will improve as well. Predict a 38 point blowout/tune-up game. B-ball is funny sometimes; even your best player can have an off night and miss every shot.
Now coach can sub and find out who is hitting 3's and who is laying bricks.
Welcome back A.J.!

It will be interesting to see who transfers out for lack of playing time.

Attention LOL - The schedule is what it is - I think you will find many major programs have similar ones - IU does not control how tough Ga Tech, Kentucky, So. Ill. will be; however, we will wait to pass judgement until after the Big Ten season - If IU can come through that with no more than 4 losses and goes on and does well in the NCAA - I believe it will be a good year - your comments would be best aired on your local PURDUE site - They do have one don't they?

With so much depth at guard. Why not. Full court press other teams, and take advantage of your superior depth and quickness. I do not know of any other team in the country that can go five deep at guard with this much tallent. Our front court is not that great, except D.J. of course.
Coach said in the article you must play to your strengths. Well this teams strenght is quick, athletic guards. They need to run and gun every chance they get, also pressure the other team all night long. Other wise our lack of bigs will cost us in the half court deffense. I would like to see this team just cut loose and run wild.

Lets go Hoosiers wrote:

Will be great to see Ratliff back. He is this year's AJ Moye.....the under-the-radar Senior who just does it all. He will really push our perimeter defense up another level. I hope the crowd gives him the AJ Moye treatment when he enters the game. "AJ Ratliff clap clap clap clap clap, AJ Ratliff clap clap clap clap clap."
IU probably has a top 10 backcourt as far as talent and depth nationally with AJ back. No one else in the Big Ten including MSU has that level of depth. MSU has better frontcourt depth though.

Please adjust your cheerleading skirt. It's okay to be a fan..but you sound like a girly-man.

joecool8420 wrote:

With so much depth at guard. Why not. Full court press other teams, and take advantage of your superior depth and quickness. I do not know of any other team in the country that can go five deep at guard with this much tallent. Our front court is not that great, except D.J. of course.
Coach said in the article you must play to your strengths. Well this teams strenght is quick, athletic guards. They need to run and gun every chance they get, also pressure the other team all night long. Other wise our lack of bigs will cost us in the half court deffense. I would like to see this team just cut loose and run wild.

Damn...you should have been hired to coach this team with your command of the game. You probably didn't have the paging program neccessary to recruit though.

Lets go Hoosiers wrote:

<quoted text>
Whaaaaaaa Heres a tissue. Just like a hater to continuously talk about last year and 5 years ago when HE WASNT EVEN OUR COACH. Thats your problem, your stuck in the past.
Someone calling someone else they have never met a coward on a message board. Oooh your a big tough guy. hahahahahahah
What a joke as usual.
Thanks for the laugh this morning. I needed that. So transparent its embarassing, but still very very funny.

SoS changes from game to game depending on how the teams you have played are performing against their latest opponent. IU's schedule has at times this year ranked tougher than NC's. Some top 25 teams play a fairly tough pre-conference schedule. Some do not. SoS can be skewed by playing in a major tournament such as the Pre-season NIT or in Hawaii. Indiana was not in a major tournament this year. As to an experienced team... do you call a line-up of predominantly Freshmen and Sophomores (throw in a JUCO or two)an experienced team? Remember a few years ago when Coach Davis had a young team and a top 10 schedule strength? We got did not look very good. I bet you were on the "get rid of Davis" bandwagon at that time. I do not know all of the ins and outs of scheduling, but I would guess that most of it is done at least 2 or 3 years out. Coach Sampson may not have had much to do with this year's schedule. Lastly, the only thing that matters is being healthy and playing well enough in conference play to gain a good seeding in the conference tourney and in the NCAA.

P.S. Now you can go back to playing your video game where you are the Conquerer and Master of the world.

Bill Clinton. Why all the hate. I voted for you twice.

82 IU Grad wrote:

It will be interesting to see who transfers out for lack of playing time.

Apparently you are the first transfer, but in all probability you've always been a pu fan with a pseudo IU handle. Nice try, Lambert.

Ratliff is average at best, but frankly is a bust as a former Mr. Basketball. Ellis is ok, not spectacular. Bassett is decent but not at point. Crawford will be nothing in road games especially, like most freshman point guards. The only guard of any exceptional talent is obviously Gordon. The rest are a pool of mediocrity. Top 10 backcourt? Only in the IU fantasy land. No better than 12-6, second round exit, and more excuses and spin to make Sampson more than the average to slightly better coach that he is.

LOL wrote:

Wow.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkt070...
IU plays #270 Chicago State? Really? Is that going to get IU prepared for the Big Ten season next week? ReallY?
And that following that grueling game against #298 Coppin State!
(And #332 Longwood! And #280 Tenn. State! And #286 Western Carolina!)
IU's strength if schedule is now a scintillating 270!!!!!!!!
Kudos, IU! No wonder Cellvin Sanctions begged to get out of that game against IUPUI this year!
IU's schedule is the weakest of anyone in the Big 10.
And the ACC.
And the Atlantic 10.
And the Big Sky.
And the Big West.
And the Horizon.
And the Ivy League (!).
And the Missouri Valley.
And the Pac-10.
And the Southern.
And the Southwestern.
And the Summit League.
And the West Coast.
(Weaker than anyone in the Ivy League? Really?)
Do any of you really think that playing the dregs of the NCAA will make IU a better team? Really? Do you think that perhaps a game against a tough opponent might actually teach IU how to play against the big boys?
Maybe that's why Cellvin couldn't win a single game in the Big Ten tourney last year (losing to a lower seed). Maybe that's why IU went 5-6 over their last eleven games last year. Maybe that's why Cellvin's last seven Oklahoma NCAA teams all lost to lower seeds (teams that included IU, Purdue, and even Indiana State).
With an experienced team, why is Cellvin scheduling the weakest schedule in the Big Ten and 13 OTHER CONFERENCES??????
He's not just a cheater and liar; he's also a coward.

Another insightful comment by The Ol Righteous One. You'll have your chance to confess ALL you sins tomorrow morning.

LOL wrote:

Wow.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/sagarin/bkt070...
IU plays #270 Chicago State? Really? Is that going to get IU prepared for the Big Ten season next week? ReallY?
And that following that grueling game against #298 Coppin State!
(And #332 Longwood! And #280 Tenn. State! And #286 Western Carolina!)
IU's strength if schedule is now a scintillating 270!!!!!!!!
Kudos, IU! No wonder Cellvin Sanctions begged to get out of that game against IUPUI this year!
IU's schedule is the weakest of anyone in the Big 10.
And the ACC.
And the Atlantic 10.
And the Big Sky.
And the Big West.
And the Horizon.
And the Ivy League (!).
And the Missouri Valley.
And the Pac-10.
And the Southern.
And the Southwestern.
And the Summit League.
And the West Coast.
(Weaker than anyone in the Ivy League? Really?)
Do any of you really think that playing the dregs of the NCAA will make IU a better team? Really? Do you think that perhaps a game against a tough opponent might actually teach IU how to play against the big boys?
Maybe that's why Cellvin couldn't win a single game in the Big Ten tourney last year (losing to a lower seed). Maybe that's why IU went 5-6 over their last eleven games last year. Maybe that's why Cellvin's last seven Oklahoma NCAA teams all lost to lower seeds (teams that included IU, Purdue, and even Indiana State).
With an experienced team, why is Cellvin scheduling the weakest schedule in the Big Ten and 13 OTHER CONFERENCES??????
He's not just a cheater and liar; he's also a coward.

And then he tells us all what a tough pre-conf it has been. Like we are all idiots. Thanks KS.
Seymour IN

I believe the AD sets the schedule does he not? And the schedule is set at least a year before with maybe a change or two if a school backs out. But let's be realistic here. No school playing a tough schedule wins much playing all guards. Or even 4 guards. That is a sign of weakness not strength to me. If you have big men not good enough to beat out a guard then you are in for a long season.

IU's weak schedule? Tell that to ESPN, who has IU in the Power 16 since the beginning of the season.

And we'll see how that plays out come tournament time when IU is maybe a three-loss team going in.