@mushroomgod they went through long stretches where they didn't defend the perimeter well.  But their size and overall talent level allowed them to squeak out the win.  Gonna be a really, really tough matchup for us.  But they'll struggle guarding us too.

@tammany you sound like a 3rd grader.  Would you like to wager our record is better next year? I think we will be decent this year. I also think we will not be as good next because our best player is the coaches son and he isn’t coming in the portal.  

Posted by: @gthomas

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I'm so sick of this "rebuild" and "Year 2" nonsense; it's simply a way for fans to justify a potentially underwhelming season. Nearly every team is rebuilding to some degree, and a team with strong NIL should compete immediately. There's plenty of precedent. 

Thank you!!!

@cavanagh and we're no longer able to get anybody out of the portal moving forward? Not sure where this stance is coming from.

I imagine we'll have a very strong portal class next year.

@surjay we won’t get anyone as good as Tucker I’ll bet money on that.  Our squad should do well THIS season. To think we will be better next or just disqualify this year is asinine.

@cavanagh Not sure its possible to know, one way or another.  But I think this years team can be pretty good.  And that will end up helping next years team, as much as anything.  Especially if guys like Dorn, Miles, Sisley, Harris are a big part of our team being good this year, and decide to come back to IU next year.

We're losing a lot, obviously, but returning 4-6 really good players is a leg up versus what he started with last offseason.  If he has more success bringing in athletes and some monsters inside... we might not be as skilled offensively, but we could end up being better suited against elite teams??  But I agree with you, saying that now, short changes THIS team, and what they're doing RIGHT NOW.  

In an effort to get this thread back on the original topic...Marquette hammered Little Rock 89-49 last night and bounced back up to 51 in KenPom (yes, very early to pay any attention to that number). Milwaukee's result against Texas Tech tomorrow night will be interesting. 

Missouri handled IU's first Big Ten opponent (Minnesota) 83-60 last night, putting 51 on them in the second half. That dropped the Gophers to 75 in KenPom, for context. For those that were not aware, they have a new coach after hiring Niko Medved from Colorado State.

Purdoo is a 3.5 point dog at Bammer tonight.  Roll Tide!

I didn't see Houston this week, but Purdue in the first half @ Bama is the best team I've seen. TKR is a problem. 

@hozo4ultimate I still think PU has a ceiling, like they always have, with regards to competing for a national title.  As good as Smith is, he is still pretty easy to target and exploit on the defensive end, if you have good, fast, physical guards to do it.  Lots of teams do nowadays, especially "top 5 seeds" in the NCAAs... of which they'd have to beat 4 of them in a row to win a natty.  That same Bama team they just played, as an example, likely wasn't fully gameplanning, like they would in an NCAA tournament game.  Especially if it was the first game of the weekend like a Sweet 16 game, or a Final Four game.  I think that Bama team probably hedges quite a lot harder on Smith and their millions of ball screens, and then attacks him relentlessly on the other end.  That's the playbook that has beaten them in recent years.  And while I think this team is VERY, VERY good.  Painter didn't really address that weakness in the offseason.  In fact, losing Colvin and Heide, might make it worse.  They may end up being more susceptible to length and athleticism on the wing, as the year wears on.

TKR looked great last night.  They are REALLY good.  They'll be top 5 all year, I'm sure.  But they won't hang a banner.  

One of the commentators last night said that Alabama was really up for this game since they felt humiliated by Purdue last year. Who will progress through out the season remains to be seen. I also found the huge rebounding difference in favor of Purdue interesting.

Iowa is going to be fun to watch and will give people fits.  Looks like a good hire.  Easy to why he's been successful everywhere he's coached.

Maryland hangs on to beat Marquette but they had a lot of trouble.. Marquette had a good 2nd half lead at one point.

Remember when Porter Moser was the hot coach?  Woof.

His teams play hard, but the the offense and talent doesn't work 

Posted by: @hooky

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Remember when Porter Moser was the hot coach?  Woof.

Yeah, but that wife... wow.