Comments on: Hoosiers hang on at home against Ohio State, 72-69

By: CoveyDale

CoveyDale — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:13:14 +0000

i looked it up myself – 14 games at 25% or worse.

By: CoveyDale

CoveyDale — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 12:13:14 +0000

i looked it up myself – 14 games at 25% or worse.

By: CoveyDale

CoveyDale — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:33:05 +0000

how many games has he been 20% or worse?

By: CoveyDale

CoveyDale — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:31:35 +0000

that's the one!

By: Dirk

Dirk — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:43:40 +0000

Sure EJ causes defenses to collapse on him, but here's what happens next: turnover, ill-advised shot, no-look pass thrown away. Even if other guys are open, the ball doesn't make it their way.

Point guards win close games and EJ isn't a point guard. With 10 seconds left, put the ball in Armon's hands and let him do the creating with DJ or EJ as secondary scoring options, and IU will win.

By: ALH_00

ALH_00 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:44:00 +0000

How can you say decision making has not improved after 25 games? EJ has gotten better. It’s an evolution, because teams are doing things differently against him than they were at the beginningof the season. He is prone to a few bad decisions, but every player is.
His mid-range game was pretty good in the PU win. He needs to use it more, but I know it’s there.
I can’t argue with the high turnovers. But he more than makes up for it by drawing contact, hitting foul shoots, and opening things up for the team.. If he could dish out a few more assists…
Absolutely disagree that his shot has become inconsistent. 45% from the floor and 38% from distance on the season. Not too shabby.

I will agree with the whining. He always gives the “why wasn’t the foul called, look”. It’s tired and should stop. Let the coach deal with the referees.

By: kelin

kelin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:42:00 +0000

ALH-
Ej’s flaws are his decision making that has NOT gotten better 25 games in
His lack of midrange game continues to hinder him
His HIGH amount of turnovers for a NON POINT GUARD
His shot has become inconsistant….
His Whining is a PROBLEM

If you put this game EJ played in the NCAA tourney IU losses.
7 turnovers erases every assist and steal he has made…..

By: dabig

dabig — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:42:00 +0000

His stats were good, but it’s disheartening when you see him drive into a defender who simply takes the ball away from him. Maybe part of the reason DJ looked tired was that he WAS tired of hustling down on offense only to watch Gordon drive and get blocked.
White and Gordon are gonna get double teamed any time they touch the ball within 20 feet of the basket. DJ can recognize that and pass it. Gordon still struggles with the concept of what to do when there are multiple defenders.
DJ’s play has been pretty consistent all season long. It’s Gordon’s play that will make the difference between this being a Sweet 16 team and being able to go further into the tourney.

By: ALH_00

ALH_00 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:14:00 +0000

It was a struggle for EJ sure, but SUCKED? He had a poor shooting night, made some bad decisions, and they really played solid defense on him (sometimes with three players). But he played 40 min., scored 17 points, got to the line (and exectued 8-9), highlight real put back, 6 boards, 3 assists, and 3 steals (to go with 7 turnovers). In what world does that = SUCKED? And what flaw are you talking about exactly…suckyness? tOSU made some nice plays on some ill-advised drives. But, I don’t hear anyone complaining when he sinks 10-15 free throws in other games where he gets fouled on moves like that.

As to your last point…I agree that teams are picking their poison with EJ and forcing him to put the ball on the floor and then attacking with help-side defenders. That is giving the rest of IU’s team WIDE OPEN LOOKS…No other player on our team demands such attention…and he doesn’t demand it by SUCKING.

By: kelin

kelin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:49:00 +0000

The Detroit Pistons of the 80′s with mahorn, Lambier, Rodman etc….were thugs on the court….There is nothing about EJ, Jordan, or Jamarucs that suggest they are that…

By: kelin

kelin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:47:00 +0000

That Thug comment was uneccessary….they weren’t thugs when the beat PU or MSU…now they are thugs…wow, never heard that tone on this blog before…..

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:12:00 +0000

You don’t think EJ’s ability to get to the rack AND shoot opens up opportunites for Armon?

EJ and DJ have to be the focal point. Bassett, as we’re seeing, thrives as the 3rd option.

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:05:00 +0000

The thugs? You are an idiot and a racist.

By: ALH_00

ALH_00 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:57:22 +0000

It truly is a completely different team. DJ is a vastly different player, Stemler is playing out of position, and aside from Bassett, everyone else is new (or never played). But, at this point in the season, they should be used to one another, which makes last night's performance frustrating (at times). But like you said, they pulled out the win.

I will also agree that we are spoiled this year. The Hoosiers being this good is a long-overdue treat. I've seen a handful of teams that I know are better than IU (Tenn., Memphis, UCLA, Kansas for sure…maybe a couple others), but it isn't that many. I also think IU has a good shot of beating any of those teams on a neutral floor on any given night. I'm loving this season despite the turmoil, and really looking forward to the Big 10 and NCAA tournaments. It's been a while since I could say that with confidence.

By: kelin

kelin — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:42:29 +0000

I think we have been ez on Ej most of the year but last night …call it what it is….he SUCKED and that is a flaw in his game. It taken a few weeks and some scouting reports for teams to figure him out but they have controlled him moe lately…..

By: SocksShortsSwish

SocksShortsSwish — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:30:53 +0000

Here, here.

Think about it…how many pieces of this team were playing together last year?
DJ-Bassett-Stemler, really, and that's it.
We're a vastly different team this year. We've been spoiled on how well this team has gelled. Good teams win on off nights. We did so.

By: DD

DD — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:19:49 +0000

Eric Gordon needs to slow down and stop forcing the offense. I noticed even when he does not have the ball his tendency to remain stationery and wait for the ball. That also seems to be the same with the remaining IU players. D. Thomas is not providing IU with quality minutes. I'm so disappointed with his play and he needs to step up. I was hoping with the change to Dan Dakich that Mike White would get more minutes. I don't think he seen the floor at all last evening. Why not give Brandon McGee a chance? At the end of game last evening D.J. was having problems getting up and down the floor. Thank god for Gordon's offensive rebound at the end of the game. When you look at OSU – two victories we not bad when they took Tenn to the wire and pounded Florida. A win is a win. I can't believe this coaching staff has gone all year without a T. At the end of IU games all year calls have seemed to go against IU. Remember the no call travel against Wisconsin? It also appeared last night the OSU player traveled without a call being made. Rick Hartzell who was the official at Northwestern made several questionable calls. Remember him at Wisconsin with the Bracey Wright no call? Hartzell also called the T on Ellis for the rough foul on Jordan Crawford. Kids need to stop complaining and DD needs to get on the officials. Need to play better Sunday at MSU or we will get beat. Go MSU beat Wisconsin.

By: ALH_00

ALH_00 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:16:04 +0000

I can't believe all of this negative talk about EJ. What do we expect from this kid? Take him for what he is and enjoy the fact that he suits up for our team, and not Illinois. Yes he turns the ball over too much. But, he is our team's best player…one of the best in all of college basketball. Everything we are able to do offensively is dictated by EJ and DJ and how teams try to stop them, including the open looks that Armon, Ellis, and Stemler get constantly.

EJ has some developing to do, but his skill set as a freshman is better than 99.9% of college basketball players. You could put together snippets of him doing well at every single aspect of the game from various points this season (including mid-range). He is the complete package, and is as ready as he needs to be for the NBA. Has anyone seen the Bulls?…EJ has to be better than Duhon, Hinrich, or Ben Gordon…certainly after a couple years to improve. Give EJ a break for one off night.

By: Matt J.

Matt J. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:09:49 +0000

He would also probably be well served to grasp the ball with two hands while going into traffic rather than cradling it on his hip.

By: Matt J.

Matt J. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:08:00 +0000

At times, it looks like he's still trying to shake off the after effects of that concussion.