WSU VERSUS INDIANA PREDICTIONS AND PREGAME DISCUSSIONS

[tw805]

Indiana has some pretty good wins this year, but it's hard to know what to make of them from game to game. This reads as a 5-12 game moved to the 7-10 line for geographical convenience. I hate those games. If Carter and Morris can stay out of foul trouble, I think we win by 10. If not, look out.

[jdshock]

Because IU can light it up at times, and sometimes my Hoosiers can really suck eggs.

IU has hit 85 in regulation on eight occasions this season.

KenPom average defense of those games is 225.75.

[thefro]

Indiana fan here coming in peace to give you some info on IU. Got a lot of respect for what your program has done, how well-coached your team is and how well your fans travel.

Indiana's biggest strength is their offense. IU starts 3 guards who are all capable of shooting the ball, driving it, and passing it in Yogi Ferrell, James Blackmon Jr, and Robert Johnson. Yogi's an outstanding point guard who was All-Big Ten. He can both pass and score and is very quick with the basketball and crafty with his dribble. He's probably our best defender and certainly our team leader and the matchup between he and VanVleet will be a highlight of the game.

Blackmon and Johnson are likely the keys to the game for Indiana. When they're hitting shots IU is very tough to beat, but as freshmen they've been inconsistent from game to game. Blackmon was a McD's All-American and is a pure scorer who can take over the game at times. Johnson's really solid all-around and an excellent 3-point shooter. If Blackmon is 2 for 13 or so it's a very good sign for the Shockers.

At one forward IU will start 6-7 Troy Williams, who's an athletic freak who's really starting to put it all together. He'll sky for highlight reel dunks and rebounds and is pretty good at finishing around the rim in traffic. Most of us at IU expect he'll be a first round draft pick once his shot improves and he's expanded his offensive game towards the end of the year by hitting some longer shots. He can also handle the ball and drive to the hoop, although he has the tendency to get out of control and turn it over. On D he has the tendency to gamble and make mistakes so that's an area he needs to make improvement in.

Colin Hartman is 6-7 and the other forward likely to start. He's the glue guy on the team and makes everyone better with his basketball IQ. An excellent 3-point shooter. He's just coming back from an injury so he's not quite 100% yet but getting close.

We are unsure if 6-9 Hanner Perea will play on Friday as he was injured in the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. He's an athletic freak at 6-9 with a 7-4 wingspan who is just now putting it together a bit. If healthy, he can score a bit, rebound, and block shots, but he frequently gets lost out there. Emmitt Holt is 6-7 and has been very solid filling in. He's also got a long wingspan, but has more of a nose for the basketball in rebounding and finishing. Max Hoetzel is 6-9 but is more of a spot-up shooter and hasn't had much impact yet as a freshman.

IU has two guards on the bench that will likely play. Nick Zeisloft who I'm sure you know from his Illinois State days. He can shoot the 3 but his D hasn't improved. Stanford Robinson is one of IU's best individual defenders but is very turnover prone on offense and was in an awful shooting slump until the last couple games. Most of us hope he transfers.

If IU is shooting the ball well they are very tough to stop. I know WSU has an excellent defense, but IU had no problems scoring against Butler or in the first half against Louisville who are both higher-rated Ds in Kenpom. They're actually capable of getting nuclear hot from 3 (see the games against Maryland and Minnesota in Bloomington). Big Ten teams did find a blueprint to slow down IU later in the year.

IU's defense is awful although it did get a little better towards the end of the year. Expect to see some different wrinkles that aren't executed that well. Lots of IU fans are frustrated with that side of the ball (amongst a lot of other things). People are surprised we gt into the tournament without having to play in Dayton first given how we ended the year.

Crean is probably going to come into the game with a pretty good gameplan for WSU, but he's not very good at making in-game adjustments, so that'll be an area to watch.

I would expect a very fun game to watch given that IU both scores and gives up a lot of points.

[Shoxfan11]

Tipoff will be at about 1:45 on Friday on CBS

[wufan]

If Indiana gets hot and hits a ton of threes, power to em. They will win.

[isu87]

from all Sycamore fans, PLEASE just beat the crap out of IU! Send them back to Indiana, they shouldn't have even been in the field.

[wufan]

WSU starts 6-7, 245 lb senior forward Darius Carter at the 5. He has a 7-2 wingspan, but he's a true PF. He is athletic, runs the floor well and shoots it out to about 17 foot. He has some quick post moves. He also has trouble defending bigger centers and can get into foul trouble. He can get rushed on the offensive end.

Off the bench is 6-7, 260 lb freshman F/C Shaq Morris. He's incredibly strong with explosive jumping ability, good post moves and nice touch. As a freshman he's been up and down, but a real talent. He has conditioning and fouling issues.

Evan Wessel is a 6-4 junior SF that starts at the 4. He's scrappy, tough as nails, and helps make the offense run. He shoots okay from the perimeter and is definitely out of position.

Off the bench is 6-7, 235 lb freshman forward Rashard Kelly. Very athletic but gets sped up offensively. Likes to dunk offensive rebounds and shoot the three when left alone.

[another shocker]

If Indiana gets hot and hits a ton of threes, power to em. They will win.

maybe wichita state will hit more than their share of threes (not holding my breath, though, after watching ilsu-wsu second half.. probably two outside jumpers the whole second half). we shall see.

[ShockerFever]

The ESPNU panel picks Indiana.

Game over.

[ShockerMas]

Looks like we're on CBS with Marv Albert, Len Elmore, and Chris Webber announcing. Craig Sager as sideline reporter

[ArtVandalay]

2:45 Friday

[wufan]

2:45 Friday

I think that's Eastern Time.

[ArtVandalay]

You're probably right. 1:45

[Onegreatracer]

WICH 79
Indiana 44

Wazzou St esqe

[jdshock]

WSU starts 6-7, 245 lb senior forward Darius Carter at the 5. He has a 7-2 wingspan, but he's a true PF. He is athletic, runs the floor well and shoots it out to about 17 foot. He has some quick post moves. He also has trouble defending bigger centers and can get into foul trouble. He can get rushed on the offensive end.

Off the bench is 6-7, 260 lb freshman F/C Shaq Morris. He's incredibly strong with explosive jumping ability, good post moves and nice touch. As a freshman he's been up and down, but a real talent. He has conditioning and fouling issues.

Evan Wessel is a 6-4 junior SF that starts at the 4. He's scrappy, tough as nails, and helps make the offense run. He shoots okay from the perimeter and is definitely out of position.

Off the bench is 6-7, 235 lb freshman forward Rashard Kelly. Very athletic but gets sped up offensively. Likes to dunk offensive rebounds and shoot the three when left alone.

You forgot that any time you ever introduce your team to an opposing fan base you have to say things like "athletic freak" and "future first round draft pick" and talk about how highly sought after they were in high school.