Bailey is going to be really good for us.  He will get pushed around by some bigs, in some situations.  But those same bigs that could push him around, won't be able to guard him effectively away from the basket.  And he's A LOT more athletic and bouncy than I thought he'd be.  There were numerous times last night I got him confused for wings/guards because of how easily he was handling the ball in transition, and how easily he was defending opposing wing/guards off the dribble.

Alexis did look very good.  He's a fair bit skinnier than I remembered him being at Florida, and before.  But of our current 2 bigs, he obviously has a better chance at holding his ground in the post, defensively.  With how good Bailey is away from the basket, I actually wouldn't mind those 2 play together a little bit.  But I'm sure DeVries knows we have to protect both of them as much as possible, especially until Harris gets back to give some help.

Enright... yeah... need the team to get fully healthy, for sure.

Bailey is a good player. Been pleased watching him preseason thru now. Glad we got him. He fits this team. DeVries knows what he's doing. Bailey will get some key buckets from in-between areas when the better teams are defending tough on the perimeter and also have a rim protector. He has smart moves.

Alexis is said to be a hard worker at developing his game. He needs to stay healthy. A weapon on those pick and rolls, and we need some defense and rebounds from him. He'll give it, just we lack depth. A great get by coach, he had a good eye. I thought the opposite of skinny, was thinking he looked strong, a build that can hold up.

Enright played all those minutes without credit for a shot? He needs to be deep depth. But he's OK. He's not all that great, but should be able to spell guys for a breather. He does make some good feeds. And is scrappy on defense when teams are trying to break out fast. I like that part. 

Dorn sure gonna help on the boards and defending post penetration with his length and agility.  Just as Harris available is good depth for insurance.

I just am skeptical on Bailey because he was a non factor against Baylor.  Last night big guys were fat slow blobs.  I haven’t see him shoot much, maybe he is better at that then I am giving him credit for.  Has good handles, for sure.  But I think with any physicality he is not gonna be able to get his shit up around the rim.  We shall see

@cavanagh Bailey's not meant to get his shit up around the rim. I think CDD made an error in judgement, not getting another post player or 2, but I think he deliberately wanted Bailey and Connerway for their ability to be comfortable on the perimeter but to take advantage of the driving lanes having those shooters will create. If you watched Bailey at Davidson, most of the scoring I saw was from the perimeter on drives. He handles the ball and passes really well. He's meant to pull the other teams big out to the perimeter and open the lane for he and Connerway and anyone else who wants to drive. We're thin in the post on D, but CDD has known that since he put this roster together so I think you'll see a lot of perimeter pressure and digging/doubling down.

@kkott ya but if he can’t shoot they will just sag off and his dribble drive will be meaningless.  Needs to be a good shooter to pull them out.

@kkott he’s a point type big. He’s a great passer too. No more back to the basket sh!t. Going to take a bit for some to get used it. Oh and I love it.

@cavanagh Fair.  Up to CDD, and Bailey himself, to utilize him/play in a way that maximizes what he can do well.  He's a VERY good passer for a near 7' big.  As a pinch post guy, with all the actions we run off it, he will be a very valuable offensive tool.  And he'll either have plenty of room to work off the dribble himself, if opposing bigs play off him a little...or he'll pull them away, and allow for the other guys to finish in the lane without one of the shot blockers standing in their way.  He's a very valuable piece to CDD's system.

But your concerns are obviously valid...and I suspect will show themselves, at times, against a decent amount of teams on our schedule.  How can we overcome it, that'll be the question.

@cavanagh he can and will shoot. He won’t light it up but he will make his guy guard him especially when you see a Purdue trot out a 3 big lineup. 😉

Bailey was impressive at times last night. He sees the floor, handles the ball and can run. Most importantly, and like the rest of the team, he plays hard and isn't a weirdo. I'm anxious to see how he adjusts to the pace on Sunday. His development may be the key to this team's ceiling. 

@cavanagh the Post Anthony Leal syndrome is strong, give Enright a pass for now. He has earned a shot with the mustache alone. He is making fun of himself (he opposite of Leal) and I think he can shoot it,  but he smart enough to kick it around to dudes that knock down open shots.  It was Alabama AbC, but early on Enright dominated a few pocessions on both ends.

Our PG can ball. I don’t know if he can get to the rim in the B10, but I dig what I've seen so far.

Tucker and Wilkerson are worth whatever was paid. Those are the kind of kids that have been lighting us up for years. 

And my favorite part of last night in the hall, our coach isn't a weirdo.

Posted by: @cavanagh

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Then there are a few I’m worried about.  

Effort seems not be an issue.  What a pleasant surprise.  After the last four seasons of hot garbage coaching, the players actually care every second I have seen them play.  That is Indiana bball.  

TUcker reminds me so much of Paul pierce.  Just gonna work you with fundamentals and that shot is the truth.  God he is good.  

I gave Coach shit for comparing Lamar to Korver, but my man is taking Jordy Deep threes with confidence.  Hit 45%+ from deep and make me eat my words about that kinda shooting.  

Bailey has looked great against scrubs but I don’t think he is very athletic, and those moves aren’t gonna work against athletic bigs. I see him getting man handled in the big ten.  Hope I’m wrong.  

Gonna need Alexis to stay healthy, he is the only guy that can maybe stop an opposing Big man.   Again, Bailey is a twig with not much bounce.  But Alexis looks much better than expected.  

Been hearing Dorn can play, need another baller on the squad so fingers crossed.  

Enright is the new Leal.  Get him out of here. 😼

i was curious for your take because I found myself in conflict with the universally rosy reviews in the game thread. You let me down being so positive.....I feel cranky today so here goes....

I'll first agree with some of the positives mentioned......I always thought Alexis was the 'steal' of our portal 'draft'.  I have no reservations with him, except that I wish, with his game, that he was 6 10. I hope he's a legit 6 9 because that guy he was playing against last night looked like a horse in comparison.  But he's a gamer.

I agree with North that Baily is more athletic and springy than expected.  He's also a good passer and FT shooter.  However, I think he will be a non-factor as an outside shooter.  He took few 3s last year as the center of D's offense.  And he had trouble last night on several occasions finishing against a good HS team while they were still competing.  His ability to drive to the basket and finish against good defenses is doubtful.  His ability to defend in the post and to grab contested rebounds is also doubtful.  I question his ability to be effective against higher level competition.  With his height and skills I think he'll be fine against bad and mediocre teams.  We overpaid for the guy.

I was disappointed with Conerway's play, but more especially CDD's reactions to his play. There were 4-6 completely ridiculous passes/pass attempts.  I expected him to be a serious player.  CDD had had months to work with the guy and this is the result? I thought he was underrated in the portal rankings.  He wasn't.  How was that guy Sun Belt P of the Y?

Enright moves well, moves the ball well, and plays hard.  He would make a great walk-on.

This board has WDS (Woodson Derangement Syndrome).  Everyone is "We're going to shoot lots of 3s, we're going to be fun to watch, we'll play hard...."  That will get you to 6th place in the BT by year 3.  You can shoot lots of 3s and still have some discipline with it within your offense.  The BT race is not a HORSE competition.  Not sold on CDD....at all.  But I'm a victim of the CIG effect.  I don't see this guy have the drive, the gravitas, to get it done.  On the Bob Knight-Tom Crean scale he's about half way.

Ok, time to get back on my meds...

Posted by: @hoosier-clarion

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Dorn sure gonna help on the boards and defending post penetration with his length and agility.  Just as Harris available is good depth for insurance.

Dorn's not much of a rebounder.  Averaged 3.8 last year at Elon.

Football being good is what matters. Basketball is a luxury.

Posted by: @d-b-cooper

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@cavanagh he can and will shoot. He won’t light it up but he will make his guy guard him especially when you see a Purdue trot out a 3 big lineup. 😉

He averaged 1.2 3 point attempts (attempts, not makes) last year as the center of the Davidson offense.