We need a solid point in 2011! If this guy fits the bill then so be it but we must have an impact PG in that class.

This is completely based on the rankings and the NBA top 100 camp, but is Nic Moore at the same athletic level as Tharpe? (and that's not a rhetorical question… I'm assuming Naadir is better than Nic–who I realize is an in-state kid–but I'm looking for input)

We seem to be in a little bit of a better position, recruit wise, now than when we were first interested in him. I was under the impression, for some reason, that we had already offered him but guess not. He said he is just waiting to see if we make him an offer so it sounds like he might be ours to lose if Crean decides to pull the scholly trigger. Can't really put my finger on it but there is just something about this kid that says not first choice. The fact that he did not pick to wear the IU jersey before his commit to Providence should not be cause to dismiss him completely but it should definately be factored in. We need / want kids that have made it obvious that they want to play for IU. The last thing we need is a kid coming and then right away thinking that maybe he made a mistake. The kind of eagerness that VO and AE have displayed about becoming a Hoosier will, I think, be contagious for their new teammates as well as recruits that come in for a visit. Make no mistake these guys are still kids in a lot of ways and one of those ways is that when they hear another kid talking about how great something is and they see how much fun that same kid is having they cannot help but want to check out whatever it is closer and want to have some of that same kind of fun for themselves. Like I said I think the kind of attitude that VO and AE have shown will be contagious and that is the kind of virus that you want your players and recruits to become infected with. IU flu no vaccine needed !!

If Naadir gets an offer, then Nic Moore should too….like both kids.

We seem to be in a little bit of a better position, recruit wise, now than when we were first interested in him. I was under the impression, for some reason, that we had already offered him but guess not. He said he is just waiting to see if we make him an offer so it sounds like he might be ours to lose if Crean decides to pull the scholly trigger. Can't really put my finger on it but there is just something about this kid that says not first choice. The fact that he did not pick to wear the IU jersey before his commit to Providence should not be cause to dismiss him completely but it should definately be factored in. We need / want kids that have made it obvious that they want to play for IU. The last thing we need is a kid coming and then right away thinking that maybe he made a mistake. The kind of eagerness that VO and AE have displayed about becoming a Hoosier will, I think, be contagious for their new teammates as well as recruits that come in for a visit. Make no mistake these guys are still kids in a lot of ways and one of those ways is that when they hear another kid talking about how great something is and they see how much fun that same kid is having they cannot help but want to check out whatever it is closer and want to have some of that same kind of fun for themselves. Like I said I think the kind of attitude that VO and AE have shown will be contagious and that is the kind of virus that you want your players and recruits to become infected with. IU flu no vaccine needed !!

Thanks for the heads up eph! I also loved the picture of VO–but mostly for the smiles he was putting on the faces of the youngsters. I'm glad to see CTC giving back to the community and I hope stuff like that becomes a regular event as things get more “normal” for IU. There's room in the state for more than two philanthropic coaches (ex-Colt Tony Dungy and IUPUI's Ron Hunter come to mind).

Thanks Kelin… I honestly had never watched or research Nic Moore. Lots to like about him.

Here's another video of the kid… Dane Fife is in the stands too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InQIO61f_t0&feat…

PHD – Thanks for the TP update by CTC. Glad they have high expectations for him. He was not an offensive option last year and he played like it

Tom Crean was quoted saying, “We want to see what a hungry, aggressive Tom Pritchard looks like having a great offseason.” I believe that Pritchard will deliver this year.

I like this ALOT. Assuming Michel can fill his role at the 5 spot, imagine what Pritchard and Elston can do at the 4. This frees up CWAT do be a matchup nightmare at the 3. The dominoes are falling my friends!

Neat article on the Star today about the IU basketball camp here in Indy on the westside. I think I'm most excited by the picture of VO … the kid is already falling in love with Indiana and it's community… man, I can't wait to see this kid play in an IU jersey.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100623/SPORTS…

I can't really pinpoint major differences. Moore is an inch or so shorter, but bigger/stronger. Both kids can shoot it and get into the lane. Nic Moore had a huge game (28pts) against DSR and Terone Johnson in the state finals before fouling out I believe…What we know about Nic Moore is, he is a strong leader, has interest in IU, and is a PG

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-MdAHXC3NI&feat…
He is #11 the 5'11 kid sending a shot out of bounds….

Thanks KB. I was impressed with his speed on the break, but I didn't see much of a stop/start, dribble-drive type speed (like Yogi). But I think I agree with you now, if we offer Naadir, we should probably offer this kid… but I think I'd prefer AT or BJY or JD.

I'm actually one of the 58 who votes for TP to average the most boards. He really was a beast freshman year (relatively speaking) until he wore down and that was without any help. This past year was certainly a huge disappointment, but you have to think his potential (if in shape) is pretty high in terms of leading the big men in minutes and grabbing boards. With the wings taking attention away from him and the experience of being a Junior, he could easily play 25-30 minutes a game.

Still has to get in shape and work his ass off, but if he does it, he could be a really pleasant surprise (or reminder, as the case may be).

I'm going to post this next line on every recruiting thread from this point on: Can we just get an early commit from some stud in July please!!! Ease my pain!!!

Now, that said, I think this kid is a nice player and if CTC strikes out with the guys he really wants in the 2011 class then he'd be a nice add but I do believe there are definitely players I'd rather have and I'd think those same players would be higher on IU's list as well. If IU doesn't land JD, Thomas, Zeller, BJ Young, etc. then sign a guy like this and be happy with it. If IU does land a couple of those guys to go with AE then it's an afterthought.

VO just seems to ooze enthusiasm with anything that has to do with IU. Looked like in that picture he was having as much fun as the kids were. Crean and the players going to where they did and doing what they did is still yet another part of rebuilding the IU foundation. Besides that is just the right thing to do and shows the players what kind of a good feeling they get when they give something back like that. Anybody that has ever worked with kids, sports or nonsports, knows what that feeling is like and it makes one understand at least one of the reasons someone chooses teaching as a profession. Like the director of the center said those kids will never forget that day and who knows there might just be a future 5 star or two in that group and that is a really good memory for him to have when the recruiting process starts.

The cat is out of the bag. I paid $25.00 for each TP compliment within this post. I had no idea people would sink that low and take my money.

When I look at the 2010 Hoosiers, I don't even have TP on the radar. I would say he's behind the following kids in terms of the rotation…….not in any particular order.

Rivers
Creek
C Wat
Hulls
VIII
Elston
VO
Guy
Roth
Maybe even Capo

That puts him at #10 on my depth chart. If he can do anything that resembles the first 2/3 of his freshman year, it would almost be like picking up an extra recruit. The TP of old is exactly what the team needs right now. He's obvioulsy capable. But something really went wrong.

Good luck TP. We're rooting for you trust me.

A lean and mean TP is good news for the Hoosiers. However, I expect TP to share time with Michel at the 5 spot (about 20 minutes each unless one or the other just dominates or is on fire in a particular game). I don't see him playing a lot of 4.

I think CTC wants a long and athletic line up that presses and pushes the ball up the court. He has the guard depth this year to really push it, but the front line depth is still lacking. He wants guards that can rebound and forwards that can handle the outlet pass. The forwards need to be able to handle the ball at least a little bit in the open court. DE and CW fit that bill. I am not so sure about TP or Capo, regardless of how hungry they are.

While the starting lineup will likely have CW at the 3 and DE at the 4, I expect we will continue to see a lot of three guard line ups to take advantage of that guard depth. CW and DE will end up sharing a lot of time at the 4 and TP/GMM will share the 5. Or, even a four guard line up with GMM in the middle (imagine the press with MC-6'5″, VJ-6″5″, JR-6'5″, VO-6'4″ and GMM protecting the rim with his 7'8″ wingspan. I imagine that line up could get some steals and a lot of transition baskets off of its defensive efforts, which is exactly the type of ball I think Crean wants to play.

Don't get me wrong, I think TP being light and full of fight will really help out with front line depth and he will play, especially in a half court line up, but CW playing the 3 will depend on his ability to compete for that spot against the guard depth. I hope they all come ready to battle for playing time becuase it only makes the team better.

We've explored what a fat, slow TP can do and it didn't get him or IU anywhere, therefore I'm optimistic a hungry/aggressive TP is the direction to go. Yow…if TP can't turn it this year he has got to go. If he would have just progressed a little after his freshman year he'd be a beast. He just gave up though and lost his way. Come back home TP, we need you.

Just think Purdue game! Unfortunately, it's not cool to hope that TP has to endure some sort of tragedy before every game to get him to come out and play with fire and aggression. Hopefully he can just come up with that on his own.

It is NOT going to happen! We will know something by September!

I know you guys are just screwing with me about Pritchard …………. trying to get me to list all the overlooked things he does again for the team …………. well ……….. I am not going to do it …….. and that is a relief to all of us

One advantage Pritch has over Guy and Capo is an actual post game that we need. He is a threat to score from the inside and doesn't get his shot blocked like Capo does. I am rooting for Pritch more than Rivers. If Tom can bounce back next year it makes IU fierce.

I knew I smelled a rat

I will put that in order for you based on the minutes I think each will average:

MC – 30 min.
VJ – 26
CW – 25
DE – 22
JR – 20
GMM – 20
TP – 16
JH – 10
VO – 9
WS – 8
BC – 8
MR – 5

I believe that totals slightly less that 200 total minutes, which leaves a few minutes of garbage time for the walk-ons. Obviously, I think TP will be a contributor and could even flip flop his minutes with GMM if he really does show up to play this year. This is not suggesting that TP is a better player than VO, WS, or JH, but they aren’t really in competition for the same minutes.

CTC wants to run and press more this year so he will have to rotate players in and out to keep them fresh, which means fewer minutes this year for some players but hopefully more productive minutes. Also, the minutes will be tilted toward the guards versus the front line players because that is where the depth is.

VJ, MC, and CW are the top players on the team and will get plenty of time on the floor. We will see guards subbing into the 3 spot with CW getting minutes in both the 3 and 4. DE has the opportunity to take minutes from CW at the 4. CW will really be on the hot seat to perform or lose minutes.

JR, VO, WS, and JH will all sub for the guard/wing players to keep them fresh and to fill certain roles. I have JR playing more than the others due to his defensive ability, but he may see his time at the 3 instead of the 1. If JR doesn’t cut it, then some of his minutes could shift toward JH, VO, or WS. However, if the lineup goes big instead, then JR’s minutes could go to DE or TP. Like CW, I think JR is on the hot seat for minutes. I hope that CTC will look for and play the hot hand.

BC and MR are situational players and will see limited action against the zone or due to foul trouble.

Wow, I totally just over-analyzed that! I need the season to start so I can just sit back and enjoy the games. But, since we have a long time to wait, anyone with a different perspective?

Hopefully an offseason reflecting on what transpired during this past year (is there a more fitting definition for “sophomore slump” than his 2009-10 campaign?), I hope that he'll have mental maturity. I think the fact that he's doing the physical work to get better would indicate that he's attained a bit more maturity. I don't know if anybody can play every game like a loved one just died, but he sure needs to show more grit than 80% of last season.