(Repost) Best part has to be Verdell and Derek doing impersonations of Guy. The boys are definitely popping the guns, especially Verdell who has gained 14 lbs and Derek looks big too. Bobby is sporting the nipple shirt, but Jordy kind of needs a booster seat, can't really see his guns. Good stuff, makes me really look forward to the season ahead.

These guys are all definitely bigger and you can tell they are just really smart people. Great interview.

By the way, I saw Josh Selby wasn't cleared to play. Good thing he didn't commit to IU.

Stuff like this just makes you proud to be a Hoosier fan. Thanks Alex.

We have to give CTC credit. They say all of the right things and they believe in each other.

This will be it, I believe.

This may be the most likeable IU team in the last 20 years or more. It appears Capo is leaner…. a good thing ………..and Elston working on lower body ………. another good thing.

I think CTC has done a great job of putting together the character guys we need to fully be proud of our team regardless of our record.

I love these guys. They look like ol' fashioned gym rats. I'm getting a Rocky vibe from this team. Can't you just see Capo running the streets of Bloomington in an old hooded sweat suit, Chuck Taylors and cracking his fists on a side of beef.

I also like the strategic roster spots for guys that will help the APR. Jeff Howard is 6'8″, 225 and graduated in the Top 10 of his class at Westfield. Crean is making great moves.

Sean….hearing more and more about Guy leads me to believe he may start with Tom backing him up. I said earlier…from the 5 spot between them both, if they could give12pts 12 rebounds, 8 fouls, and 3-4 blocks IU is in great shape.

IU is looking at a very long starting lineup with 6'5ers at the guard spots, and 6'9, 6'9, 7ft.

Based on these interviews it is clear that it will be difficult before the season to factor in player improvement and Creek's rehab and then project a lineup.

I record all the games I can then rewatch them when I have time . Last night I re-watched the first Michigan game which we won. Overweighting that game and factoring in improvements my comments on your lineup/rotations are:

1. Rivers was the reason we beat Mich and Minn. We also used an offense that posted him both high and low. I doubt we can keep our best guard rebounder and defender on the bench.

2. If #1 is true then Elston does not start but plays earlier and longer than last year

3. Creek may not start early in the year as he works out his health

4. No way Guy would have played much against Mich and chased Syms around the floor as TP, Capo, Elston were forced to do. Jobe got no minutes for example. He might struggle w Juan Johnson and Hummel ( when he helps ) . He is perfect however for Sampson3, Lauderdale and Tisdale near the basket. For Guy to unseat TP he will need to play real good help defense and defend quickness out on the floor when Jones and Hulls get screened.

5. No place for Sheehey ?????

The basic point there is that we have alot of lineup options and styles of play that seem to fit the players on this team. I think we can mix & match to any opponent unless they have 2 very quick guards ie MSU

I echo the comments from everybody regarding the type of kids we've got here. They are really great ambassadors of the program and I'm glad they're Hoosiers.

The comments Bobby C made about GM-M were very, very encouraging. If he can live up to half of what was said about him, GM-M will be a very important player for us. Not only in the numbers he produces (I'll take 4 points, 5 boards and 2 blocks per game in 25 minutes of playing time), but also from the point that Capo made about his presence allowing everybody to slide over to their natural position. That will be a huge boost. Gosh, I hope GM-M can play.

I noticed that too BGlea. I know there is a mystery around Guy and we want to see how Pritch is improved, but a huge question mark surrounds JR, his game, attitude etc. I would be interested to see how his bonding has been with these guys cause it seems they are on the same page on and off the court. JR gives me a D.Dumes vibe from the standpoint we want to cheer for him, we support him, but has he bought into the whole 'indiana' thing?

Exactly. As someone that played in college (not at this level, and I know you did too) and someone that has a lot of experience in sports/basketball PR, it says a lot that CTC didn't pick his lone senior, who also happened to be his starting point guard for a bulk of the previous season, to be one of the four team representatives to speak to the media.

Maybe it's because of his ankle injury, but we haven't heard much about JR all offseason, so I'm guessing it's not that.

Can Indiana only afford three microphones? It would be nice to hear these players a little bit better.

Ram

Is Kelin Zeller related to the former Kellin Blab ?

Maybe , like Prince, you could develop your own symbol with a sound attached.

I like the new name ……… even though at first I thought it was Helen Keller.

You caused me to think that YES we should beat UM, PSU, Iowa,

But we also proved last year we can beat Minn and now we have GuyMM to help out on Sampson3 and Iverson. Maybe we take 2 this year.

We played IL down to the wire 2 times. maybe we steal one this year.

Is there some reason we cannot seem to beat Wisky ? I think we can steal one this year.

NW took us to the cleaners but there is no reason why we cannot beat them at least once.

I feel OSU is vulnerable w/o Turner and PU is a rivalry where anything can happen.

…………. I think I just talked myself into 2nd in the B10…………it must be time to stop the beer

Yep Jerry you just talked up 2nd in the big ten, but in each one of our examples, we were right there without Mo and others.
+ We will beat PU at least once
+ We will at least split with Illinois, Minny, and NW
+ We could sweep Michigan, Iowa, and PSU
+ We may upset OSU once at home
+ Mich St is still Mich state….

Ahh Jerry…you noticed. This is kinda a trial run. I wanted to incorporate two recruits that I really want for 2011, with BJ Young and Cody…also alot of rappers have had success with the name Young something so what the hell.

I hope Cody and BJ see what an honor this is as this name change comes with over 1900 comments. If this doesn’t get them to commit nothing will….unless we go Kentucky style and just pay the $200,000!

After multiple games last year CTC talked about the “street fight” mentality he felt the team lacked, that they just got beaten up or outfought by some teams. You can tell that as much as he hates to lose, he can absolutely not tolerate feeling like his team was outworked and beaten up. That is why I believe in him as a coach. I mean look at these guys, I would go into a fight with these guys on my side, you throw in the largest player in the conference as your new center, and I think it is some of the other teams that will start to be intimidated by OUR size, strenght, and overall athleticism. I don't see us having 14 minute scoring droughts like last year when we have THIS many options waiting on the bench. I think legitamatly, on paper we are better than Northwestern, Penn State, Iowa, and MIchigan. I think we will be right there with Illinois, Minnesota, and WIsconsin, fighting for fourth. Anybody know when the new schedule comes out (I read somewhere the NBA's is August 10th)?

I love these guys! It's exciting to hear them talk, without all the braggadocio that so many athletes use. Their attitude kind of reminds me of the kids in the movie'Hoosiers'. Growing up in a small town in Indiana meant close relationships with the other guys on the team. I like that and believe
it will show up on the court. UNITY is so important! Without that all the talent in the world won't
mix. A Hoosier at heart in the heart of Florida.

So much to say. I think we will see the first 'real' team we have seen in many years at IU next season. You can tell the chemistry is there and they are turning into more of a family. That alone goes such a long way. I got that sense of separation Elston mentioned on the team last year and I don't think we will see that this year. This view is a true reflection of TC as a coach. I can already see the brotherhood they are forming with Crean being the father head. With a healthy Creek this team has a real decent chance of winning a lot more games this year and even making the tournament. Being able to do what Crean is doing will also go a long way into recruiting also. I mean who wouldn't want to play on a team that together works their butts off to get better as a player and as a team and have fun doing so as a family? Not to mention 'it's Indiana'!

Agreed! Well put Fred!

Finally watched the entire videos, some thoughts:

- Anyone else think Bobby C will be a coach someday? Jordy too?
- I want to have dinner at Mama Elston’s house.
- “Gee” may have only needed this stage and these teammates to be a force. Can you hear chants of “Geeeeee” at Assembly Hall?
- Will and Victor will be contributors for sure. They have earned their teammates respect already. That says alot.
- Jeff Howard was only mentioned 1 time (by VJ). I’d like to hear more about how he’s doing. Hopefully the silence isn’t saying something.

I like it. Maybe I should change to Emcee Hanner.

I’ve read this post a few times now and thought about it BGleas and I have to say that, yes, I do agree wholeheartedly. When you stop and think about it there were more new faces who actually played last year than returning players. The only real returning players who actually got time as freshman were Roth, VJ3, and TP. Daniel Moore got some mop up time but that doesn’t really count. Then you bring in JR (transfer), CW, MC, DE, BC, BM (gone), JH, and some walk-ons and you had twice as many newcomers than returning players. Now reverse that. Everyone comes back for at least their second season and the only newcomers are Howard, Sheehey, Olidapo, and Guy. I agree that should really, really make a huge difference when it comes to the intangibles like team chemistry, etc.

Logic says that the more new players than returning players spells doom no matter how much talent you have (unless you fork out a few hundred thousand dollars for 5 NBA 1st round picks ala Calipayoff). Add that to the fact that I have always said the largest improvement an athlete makes is between their freshman and sophomore years and this could be a surprising season. I say this because there’s always a major adjustment to the strength and speed of the game at the next major level and so usually athletes make the most strides in between that first and second year because they recognize these areas and “catch up.”

So, add my freshman to sophomore theory to your more old than new theory and maybe we could be in for more like 20 wins this year instead of 15 or 16, although I’m still sticking with the 15-16 so I don’t look like an idiot at the end of the year . . . but it’s possible!

Excellent Interviews! Thanks Much