Q for those who know this a little better than me.

 

Hypothetically imagine that Tom Izzo was given Indiana's roster as-is to start the season. How do you think they would have done?

 

Maybe slightly better, but not much. You guys had a lot of freshman and freshman make dumb mistakes and are inconsistent. Maybe Izzo stresses getting the ball to Vonleh more, but I'm not sure what else could be done.

It's really just no defense whatsoever.

I wasn't intending that to be a defense, I was actually curious as to whether or not the problems were coaching guys up, scheme on the floor, or a general lack of available talent.

Q for those who know this a little better than me.

 

Hypothetically imagine that Tom Izzo was given Indiana's roster as-is to start the season. How do you think they would have done?

 

Probably won a few more games, but that roster is not talented enough to be in the top 3 of the conference with any coach.

 

The majority of success in college sports comes from recruiting. There are very few Brad Stevens' out there consistently beating more talented teams.

 

Indiana (and Purdue for that matter) have got to shut off the pipeline that is carrying the state's best HS talent out of state. That is priority #1.

 

I wasn't intending that to be a defense, I was actually curious as to whether or not the problems were coaching guys up, scheme on the floor, or a general lack of available talent.

I meant Iowa plays no defense.

 

 

BUt yes, if Izzo was in charge of IU they would probably be better. Crean just isnt a very good coach.

Probably won a few more games, but that roster is not talented enough to be in the top 3 of the conference with any coach.

 

The majority of success in college sports comes from recruiting. There are very few Brad Stevens' out there consistently beating more talented teams.

 

Indiana (and Purdue for that matter) have got to shut off the pipeline that is carrying the state's best HS talent out of state. That is priority #1.

IU has a lottery pick in the post and a second team all conference PG. Thats more than enough talent to be a lot better than 17-15.

Experts seemed to be at odds about Illinois' chances if they beat Michigan today. Lunardi says they still wouldn't be in the conversation, Yahoo's guy says they'd be a rock solid "in" and are already on the bubble.

 

If they win, and it's a big, big if, that's 8 top 100 RPI wins and 4 against the top 50. With other bubble teams losing early in conference tournaments, that would have to be enough, even with a sub .500 conference record.

Experts seemed to be at odds about Illinois' chances if they beat Michigan today. Lunardi says they still wouldn't be in the conversation, Yahoo's guy says they'd be a rock solid "in" and are already on the bubble.

 

If they win, and it's a big, big if, that's 8 top 100 RPI wins and 4 against the top 50. With other bubble teams losing early in conference tournaments, that would have to be enough, even with a sub .500 conference record.

Lunardi is an idiot. We'd have a better resume than "locks" like SMU with a win today. He has Green Bay ahead of us. What? Green Bay with the similar RPI, same amount of sub 100 losses with 3 or 4 (depending where Iowa finishes) less top 50 wins.

 

 

Yahoo has us 3rd our right now. Add a Michigan win and yeah they'd be in there assuming other bubble teams don't pull off something similar.

Experts seemed to be at odds about Illinois' chances if they beat Michigan today. Lunardi says they still wouldn't be in the conversation, Yahoo's guy says they'd be a rock solid "in" and are already on the bubble.

 

If they win, and it's a big, big if, that's 8 top 100 RPI wins and 4 against the top 50. With other bubble teams losing early in conference tournaments, that would have to be enough, even with a sub .500 conference record.

I've seen multiple folks that say a win today has them in, solidly.

Lunardi is an idiot. We'd have a better resume than "locks" like SMU with a win today. He has Green Bay ahead of us. What? Green Bay with the similar RPI, same amount of sub 100 losses with 3 or 4 (depending where Iowa finishes) less top 50 wins.

 

 

Yahoo has us 3rd our right now. Add a Michigan win and yeah they'd be in there assuming other bubble teams don't pull off something similar.

 

Agreed. I still think we probably need to win tomorrow to be safely in but anyone who says a win today doesn't put Illinois in the conversation is an idiot. Lundardi is consistently awful at this until he puts out his final brackets 1 minute before the selections are announced where literally anyone who pays attention will get almost everything right.

Ah, dammit. I just saw today's game is on ESPN, not BTN. Guess I can't watch it at work.

Ah, dammit. I just saw today's game is on ESPN, not BTN. Guess I can't watch it at work.

Espn3.com if you get that

I get espn3, but not espnwatch. Apparently there is a difference?

Well, hopefully this random euro link i found with the game won't infect my work computer. The things we do to watch college basketball.

Where's this awful Bertrand you guys were talking about?

I can see Brian Facepalm after the "Robinson's a pro" comment.

Nunn is really smooth at times.

I can see Brian Facepalm after the "Robinson's a pro" comment.

 

If he plays the way he has the last month, I don't disagree. He's frustrating.

Michigan sets more moving picks than Egwu. No wonder they get open.

Wouldn't Illinois' RPI still be a killer, even after this win? They'd still only have two top 40 RPI wins (three more teams between 40 and 50). I'm not trying to troll. Is it because the bubble is so soft in your guys' opinion?

 

 

Where's this awful Bertrand you guys were talking about?

 

He showed up with a terrible turnover.

 

Illinois hanging around. Need Michigan to stop making all of these threes. Defense has been pretty good so far.

Wouldn't Illinois' RPI still be a killer, even after this win? They'd still only have two top 40 RPI wins (three more teams between 40 and 50). I'm not trying to troll. Is it because the bubble is so soft in your guys' opinion?

Bubble teams have been losing left and right. Their wins against top 100 RPI teams is impressive comparatively.

If he plays the way he has the last month, I don't disagree. He's frustrating.

He's a pro, in Europe.

He's a pro, in Europe.

 

As long as Ann Arbor isn't considered Europe next year.

As long as Ann Arbor isn't considered Europe next year.

Well, same type of personal hygiene issues...

 

 

Wouldn't Illinois' RPI still be a killer, even after this win? They'd still only have two top 40 RPI wins (three more teams between 40 and 50). I'm not trying to troll. Is it because the bubble is so soft in your guys' opinion?

 

Compare them to other bubble teams. Shoot, compare them to Iowa. Not much different, just a couple more bad losses.