More physical league doesn't nec mean more fouls...it could very well mean fewer fouls called.The big Turk has had 4 or 5 fouls 29 times in 66 career games.
That basically means his minutes are limited all season. And wait til he gets in the B1G where physicality in the paint is common.
Yes, there is no guessing here. And I am repeating myself but they had better get a defensive PF who can guard and play regular minutes in the conference. Having 2 rotational guys over 6'7" is not enough.
That new 7' guy is a multi-year project, not someone who can come in and guard Zach Edey, Aday Mara, Kofi Cockburn....list goes on and on.
Injuries are all part of the game. Can't plan for them but simply hope your team doesn't have many significant ones.
Listened to a recent podcast on Oregon basketball concerning the 2025-26 season. That was one team that dealt with injuries to a number of key players. Nate Bittle missed quite a bit of time to a foot injury and Jackson Shelstad was out with ligament damage to a hand. Altman coached shorthanded throughout the year as other players were also out of action.
IU was fairly fortunate last year dealing with injuries. All teams are crippled when key players go down. Need healthy seasons from Sherrell and Burton for DeVries to have a successful season.
Injuries are all part of the game. Can't plan for them but simply hope your team doesn't have many significant ones.
Listened to a recent podcast on Oregon basketball concerning the 2025-26 season. That was one team that dealt with injuries to a number of key players. Nate Bittle missed quite a bit of time to a foot injury and Jackson Shelstad was out with ligament damage to a hand. Altman coached shorthanded throughout the year as other players were also out of action.
IU was fairly fortunate last year dealing with injuries. All teams are crippled when key players go down. Need healthy seasons from Sherrell and Burton for DeVries to have a successful season.
yes injuries happen. But would you go into football season with only 1 QB. We have one 5.. this German kid doesn't count yet. It's the same problem we lacked last year (not enough size) and it's still not properly addressed. Now is this a CDD thing or an AD thing with a budget limit. Who knows cause it's like Fort Knox down there as if it makes any difference that they divulged the info or not. Anyway.. we are going into the season short handed. Are we better than last year sure.. are we top tier yet .. nope. I'll never understand why we aren't aiming for the top here. To think we will hit lightning in bottle twice is naive. What Cig did is nothing short of a miracle when you look at the budgets of the top 25 spenders for rosters.
With the shortage of bigs, it just put more pressure on coaching. Can DD figure out a way to play more zone to keep guys fresh and out of foul trouble? Can this staff coach these guys up to help keep them from fouling? questions that need answered for sure.
As for putting the roster together - I think IU has done about as well as expected. they spent money, got 2 bigs that should be very good and bring physicality, versus last yr when we had all mid major guys with no physical presence. Easy answer is spend more. unless the staff knows a few kids will withdraw from the draft, it looks like Iu has set a spending limit and reached it. The puzzling thing for me - DD recently stated he wanted more post depth?
IU was not fortunate last season with injuries.
8 healthy scholarship players in Oct and Nov.
Two players of unknown value and capability didn't play all season due to preseason injury.
If the playable depth this upcoming season is lacking, that's going to piss me off and is a roster construction sin.
@hoosiers94 How do you figure 1 five? Sherrill can clearly play the 5, as that's been his primary position. He may well be coming here wanting to play the 4 and show he can play out on the floor, but certainly he can spell the big guy when he goes to the bench, and I'd imagine will move to, or at least defend the 5 when the big guy is out. I agree, I'd love to have another player who can play the 5, but the reality is most likely that role will be as a practice player and behind the big guy (I need to learn to spell his name!) and Sherrill. Just funny to me to suddenly hear folks screaming about post depth on this year's squad when we have two 5s better than anyone from last year.
@middawg I'm going to disagree with you on the injury situation. If we all agreed 100% on these boards they would be meaningless.
Indiana didn't lose a quality guard like Shelstad or a player like Bittle. The Oregon situation was far worse than Indiana's. They had a number of key players lose significant time. I'm not so sure Drake or Harris would have played much and Conerway seemed to hang it up after he was out.
DeVries was fortunate in the respect that his two main scorers, Wilkerson and his son were basically available for the season.
We really have added only one big though.
Sure, two who are better, but Sam Alexis is gone. And he was a good inside player.
@hoosiers94 How do you figure 1 five? Sherrill can clearly play the 5, as that's been his primary position. He may well be coming here wanting to play the 4 and show he can play out on the floor, but certainly he can spell the big guy when he goes to the bench, and I'd imagine will move to, or at least defend the 5 when the big guy is out. I agree, I'd love to have another player who can play the 5, but the reality is most likely that role will be as a practice player and behind the big guy (I need to learn to spell his name!) and Sherrill. Just funny to me to suddenly hear folks screaming about post depth on this year's squad when we have two 5s better than anyone from last year.
so you're saying that doing something at less than 100% is acceptable to you. We are still thin in the front court. Despite the additions. I guess we can agree to disagree. It's better than last year but it's still not optimal as far as roster is constructed. And Sherrill can't play 40 minutes don't care what position you put him at .. nor can Yigi. So we've learned from last year but not enough.
@openwheel A Sam Alexis type player would be the ideal type of add for roster spot #13.
It is going to bum me out if Josh Harris is actually healthy this year and plays well for Florida Atlantic . I mean I hope he does get fully healthy and play well, not what I mean. Just we need somebody. Thought we might find an Alexis, but maybe money is tight.
NVM - thought he had gone to a bigger program, Florida. But it's FAU . OK by me if he plays well for their schedule, lol.
@openwheel A Sam Alexis type player would be the ideal type of add for roster spot #13.
It is going to bum me out if Josh Harris is actually healthy this year and plays well for Florida. I mean I hope he does get fully healthy and play well, not what I mean. Just we need somebody. Thought we might find an Alexis, but maybe money is tight.
If they grandfather in 4 year Seniors into 5 in 5 eligibility rule, we may find Alexis...
A good friend will bail you out of jail, but your best friend will be sitting next to you in the cell saying "that was f***ing awesome"
I think it's going to be 5 to play 7 .
Mathematically impossible, it seems, but the NCAA will find a way.
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They had better hope there are no injuries. Not ever any foul trouble. And no teams with 3 bigs in the floor at once. No slumps by any of our starters. And that all 3 freshmen can contribute from day 1. I can see them aiming for lower on the totem pole but these last two additions are head scratchers to say the least
They are counting on the six they signed plus Sisely and an least one frosh to play imo. They will also have to hope nobody gets hurt which they have been lucky with but eventually you get multiple injuries in a year . If any of the main three get injured it could go south I get they had to way overspend to get them but the depth is going to be a big issue imo especially if a starter gets hurt.