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I'll give him time to think his favorite Unis in the Big Ten.
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who all done with that and now we got Thomas, we have like a
joke, man. We got nothing to talk about, so
I'll leave you with this. What a, what is your favorite
uni in the big tent? It pains me to say as a guy with
with some Michigan ties, the the Spartan Throwbacks.
The the Magic Johnson ones, those are just really clean.
I've always liked them. I'm always shocked when they
throw out these weird black ones and stuff.
I'm like, stick with those. You got it.
Don't the other thing, they did the sky like a script State via
the basketball on the side. Yeah.
Those those to me are great.
I like the the Illinois ones that you Mentioned as well.
I'm trying to think of some other ones off the top of my
head. But yeah, there have been a
number of fun ones over the last few years.
Yeah, Northwestern had some good looks for a little bit.
I'm trying to think of kind of going through the list right
here on my head. You know, I was got good colors,
it seems to look better and football than in basketball.
I do, I will say, I like Michigan's had a solid look for
a while. I like kind of the, you know,
the look of the, the Fab Five team I will say I mean I'm
Obviously biased for as good as they've been produced kind of
and they have a great color scheme.
I feel like they could be doing more with their with their Unis.
I've never liked the the Purdue were it looks like the front of
a train. And yeah, I'm very biased, but I
appreciate a good UT. When I see it, it seems like,
Purdue could be doing more with what they have.
I'd agree with that front. I'd also agree a little bit on
Iowa, like you said, where they got great colors.
It seems like they would just have killer ones but it seems to
be hit or miss. Yeah, I wish they would go back
in the 80s. They had that fun logo like the
Iowa and like, it was like a box with, like a basketball on top
of the eye or something. Like this is that they should go
back to that, throw back a little.
I mean, this is as an Indiana fan, we have no Throwbacks as
funny when they're like, hey, we're doing.
Yeah, seven Throwbacks here. It's like an astute eye.
You fan can notice that the I, you know, Pitchfork is a little
bit different but it basically looks the same to everybody else
and that's what Penn State football.
I remember when they have Throwbacks like a year or two
ago and I'm like the desexing beautiful.
Aren't these throat but I'm sure you know like you said the
diehards they can notice it. Yeah.
Well. And I've often joked you like
with Washington the football team I guess now the Commander's
like they're one of the few teams that has no Throwbacks
now, because everything they have is like off limits.
So they're just like, they are running their throwback, they
have nothing to go. That's true.
So let's, let's talk. Let's kind of go around the Big
Ten a little bit on. I you, I just did a podcast with
gaalan this morning. This one we're doing today will
probably be Tomorrow Tuesday, little behind the scenes there,
but we were talking and he mentioned something that I've
just kind of didn't notice that Indiana is the only team that
hasn't won a big 10 game in February that sucks.
So what's as somebody watches everything, what do you see
going on with Indiana's? It just a bad schedule stretch
or you know as an outsider. Do you see the red?
The red, you know, flashing lights that we all see?
Yeah, I think it's a little of both Was just talking with
somebody on our staff where, you know, he's going to have a piece
on Indiana. Diving handy, Mike and Joe.
I joked the the old like is it time to hit the panic button?
Behold the great, the great sports radio talk, but yes,
they're not playing great. I think that's obvious.
I think the regression from from the three-point line has been
very frustrating if you're a Hoosier fan, but like you said,
I mean, part of it is they lost, they've lost five straight.
And for the losses are pretty, I don't want to call him
respectable, you know, a loss is never something to be proud of,
but, you know, you lose to Illinois at home.
You lose to MSU on the road, that is never an easy place to
play Wisconsin. Who seems to be?
I think quietly is taking shape at least on the court.
All the craziness elsewhere will get it that don't worry, we'll
get to that. Yes, I'm sure.
And then Ohio State on the road last night, which did Indiana,
blow the game. Absolutely no doubt about it.
They should have won that game last night, but at the same
time, I mean, you're playing against a team that is
legitimately vying for a Big Ten title 4 of those teams I guess.
Michigan state is maybe out of it at this point but at least
three of those losses that are against teams that are right in
the Big Ten hunt. So I think I think they've
regressed but I do think the schedule hasn't done them a lot
of favors. The only ones I look at this.
Obviously that Northwestern loss you can't lose a game like that
if you're trying to, you know, progress as a team and a program
and we'll see this week with Maryland and Minnesota.
It looks like they got some winnable games here.
Coming up to close out things and get a little momentum.
Going to the postseason. Here's yeah, they've got to win
the next three weeks that's just, that's, that's all there
is to it. Here's the question I have for
you is, you know, going against that schedule argument which I
know I brought it up. Up some totally doing a 180 on
you here, but you look at Rutgers, Rutgers seems to be
statistically similar to Indiana.
And that, you know, they are led by their defense, their
offensive numbers are just really not that good.
But yet, you know, they had this run where they, you know, one
atmosphere, you know, against Michigan State at home against
Ohio, State at home at Wisconsin home to Illinois.
And that is a, that's a murderer's row.
They did just lose to Purdue on the road, but they equip
themselves pretty well. I mean, they went for and one in
that stretch. What are you seeing that?
They're doing that Indiana isn't I mean you know looking at the
numbers a little bit just at a very high level.
I mean you know the difference is Rutgers is getting over one
point of possession at all those games in.
Indiana isn't so I guess that's, you know, that's kind of a, you
know, node other scoring more points but their offense is
definitely has definitely stepped up.
Whereas Indiana's has not been, what are you seeing?
Because Rutgers is a little bit like an analogous team to
Indiana. Like very good defensively.
Just, not very good offensively but yet they've been able to
make it It run in a pretty rough schedule stretch here.
I think that's a fair point about Rutgers and the one.
The one thing that I think people should keep in mind about
Rutgers just generally speaking is, I think there's been this
push to anoint them as like you know, the most dangerous team,
the red hot or unbeatable Bubba, they're very, very tough to beat
at home. I mean, I know they blew some
games back in November the, the sort of sleeper into
Thanksgiving games But they are really, really tough at home,
especially when they're hot and they get that place, you know,
firing up with all the fans. If they're, if they only played
at home, I think they might be like a top 15 team but they've
they beat Wisconsin on the road earlier this month.
So I'll give him credit, but otherwise they've been a mess on
the road. So I think Rucker's people are
getting a little ahead of themselves, a little bit.
They have an incredible run here in February probably another
Enough to get them into the tournament if they sort of take
care of business here in the next couple weeks.
But Indiana. I know.
Indiana fans, Pride themselves on a great home court and I'm
not even saying it's a fan thing, I just record seems weird
at home versus the road. They're really Divergent, but I
think it's been like you said, solid defense, they grind these
games out, they make it sloppy, and then they've had role
players step up, I'm already stepped up in a couple games,
obviously, Geo Baker. Harper are great players, that
have really been showing up almost every night, but I think
it's the role player guys for Rutgers that have made a
difference over the last couple of weeks McConnell and Mulk a
they they're making plays and I think that has been the
difference for the Scarlet Knights whereas Indiana.
I'm curious on some of your thoughts as well about.
I still feel like the backcourt. It is kind of upward helping
down and as made some big mistakes here in the last couple
of games. Ames.
But I think to me if I'm trying to you know point to one thing I
think that's been the difference at least in my eyes.
Yeah. I mean we'll come back to the
hit me up that Indiana question. Again, you mentioned something
with the home court, know that I just find it interesting that
you're right, Rutgers is really good at home.
Having just played Ohio State's, you know, they they have only
lost one game at home this year against Iowa, just two days ago.
But they were, you know, they're only lost one game at home.
They were undefeated going in. Game.
But it's weird because I would say that I would put Ohio State,
as maybe one of the most sterile environments in the Big Ten,
like just I've not been to Value City Arena, think it's Value
City Arena or whatever his name now, but not in there.
But just on TV, it looks cavernous.
You know, they have that behind the student section.
They have tarps up, you know, covering seats to.
It's just, it looks like a, it looks an NBA arena where they're
playing college games, doesn't look that good.
Same with Maryland, like those both look like really bad
environment. So I'm just curious your
thoughts on, you know, just, I don't know on that bad question.
But yeah, I mean, I think Ohio State for me for a while has
been, it's a huge Arena. That's one of the things I think
people forget, there's a couple of, there's a big 10 team,
18,000 or something. It's huge.
Michigan's, is somewhat really big arena.
We're probably a little bigger than the historical success of
the program justifies, like both of those programs would probably
be a little better. If Reno's were a tad smaller.
Yeah, but you know, when a higher state was was Rollin, you
know, with Sullinger and and all those guys back in the day.
Yeah, that place gets really loud.
It gets really Rowdy, but they haven't had that in a long time.
And I don't think that place it's tough to win their solely
because Ohio State's a good team and they're well-coached, right?
I don't think it's the home court.
Maryland, I had disagreed with a little bit.
I think this year it's been that way but When they remember what,
you know, the first couple years, when they were in the Big
Ten with, you know, Trimble and Rockin and Rollin, that place
was loud. They had a great home winning
streak. I think for a couple of years
where it seemed like they never lost at home.
So I think they have a lot more potential but I agree on the
Ohio State front, I think that place is not exactly as
intimidating as that, you know, safe Purdue or Wisconsin or MSU,
or something like that. Yeah, real annoy I think a
Illinois quietly. Is it really place for us to a
tough place to play back to Indiana?
You know, I'm curious, I can we get a preview?
I'm curious if you guys are saying we should hit the panic
button, me I here's the thing as an Indiana fan like it's tough
because this is unfortunately been our lot like the last five
or six years. We've just played like garbage
in February and we fall down the stretch and it's you can't you
know it's across different coaches across Ross different
players. So, you know, this is where it's
tough, where, you know, on one hand it's like as a fan, like,
this is what I'm used to, but on the flip side, it's like, you
know, Trace Jackson Davis wasn't here with Romeo Langford but
it's like the same stuff happening, but I don't know if
it's just, like, I don't know how that connects like.
That was different coaching staff.
Like, I don't know why these things seem to persist over
time. But, you know, in the end, I
just think that this is, you know, it's a flawed team like
Tres Jackson Davis, Is unbelievable in the post, I've
had a couple of PODS where I really think he needs.
I wish you would have expanded his game out of it's him or the
coaching staff and just had a little bit more of an outside
shot but he doesn't and so it becomes really tough and end of
game situations. And we've had a lot of these
games. Like I was, you know, if you
look at Indiana, you know, the and again, I know 50, 50 games.
Like I said this before, you know, the Purdue game could have
very easily been a pretty win, but you look at like our season,
you know, the Syracuse game at Wisconsin at Penn State.
I II put Iowa in there. That was a pretty close game for
most the time, you know, the home game against Wisconsin,
this game against Ohio State, we just had those are all games
where we just couldn't execute down low.
And I think it's because you know, it's just really hard to
execute down to execute the other the game when your only
option is a post player who is somewhat limited his ability to
get the ball. But I mean I'm also not
absolving anybody. Like there's been some bizarre
coaching decisions I haven't liked to you know Parker Stewart
is trying his ass off on defense but he's Like always ending up
on my Johnny Davis types. Like why are we doing that?
And then weird sleeping patterns and not calling timeout.
So it's likes me blame goes all around, but I don't know that
that's kind of a scatter shot of where an IU fan looks at this
team. Yeah, I can see that it reminds
me a little bit of Iowa, a few years back where they have this
run. It seemed like three or four
years in a row where they would start out and they'd get to like
15 and 1 or some ridiculous record.
And through January I think one year I want to say it was 2014
but they were like top five or top 10 or something and then
they lost like almost every game the rest of the year and it was
like what on Earth is going on because it's you know you talk
to We'll get stuff for yes, the schedule is always tough but I
don't I don't think it's just the schedule like we were
talking about earlier. I think this particular stretch
here, I think is probably more schedule than it is anything to
do with Indiana just because of the back-to-back games here.
But yeah it seems like they've had some letdowns here and I I
think you could argue maybe that it is a little bit where their
offense is too overly. Reliant on one guy to create
shots. They don't have enough.
You know, a good enough second option, a good enough, third
option, and teams sort of get the Scout on them a little bit.
Especially in the Big Ten where you have as many good coaches as
the league has. I think that's an interesting
argument and I'd like to say that they're going to get it
together here over the next couple weeks and when these,
because if they win the next three like you said I think
they'll be in fine shape. They'll get into the current
tournament comfortably and then we'll see what happens there.
But yeah. Obviously I think if they lose
to Maryland it's hit the hit the old panic button and no one it
and I also I also think that you know quietly and this has been
unfortunately a recurring problem for the last four years.
You know Rob fennessy has just is unable to stay on the course.
I just injury issues and it sucks like I hate it.
I hate to see kids in college, not be able to play based on
injuries and it's kind of just, you know, it's weird stuff.
You kind of heard his plantar fasciitis and his foot and it's
just like he's been out for a while.
And he just kind of has that snake bit unfortunate ability
but it's it really hurts because even though he's not putting up,
always the best numbers and, you know, his offensive rating as,
you know, he's been a frustrating player in that
respect where there's like untapped potential.
And it seems, he's, it seems tentative at times all that
said, like we this is a team that really needs a backup point
guard. And just somebody else who could
take some of that because then you just your kind of
overloading Xavier Johnson, and he kind of it's just a little
bit too much. Load for him.
Not a bad way. It's just he's he's running
tired and he ends up trying to do too much and there's like no
secondary ball-handler and that screws up its kind of just like
The Dominoes fall from there and it's tough when one guy is that
important but I really think that the Rob fennessy injury
really sets a series of dominoes that highlights one of this
team's massive weaknesses which is just ball handling and kind
of you know, good good substitution pattern control
with, you know, who's going to be your secondary and third
ball. Angela, I think that's hilarious
because I think I had two or three years in a row, where my
season preview was all about fantasy and about how it was The
X Factor. And, you know, if you figured it
out Indiana's, going to be awesome.
And I finally got to the point where I'm like, yeah, I think he
just kind of is what he is. It's unfortunate because man,
when he's playing well, he's a really good player in Indiana's
really dangerous. But it's just doesn't seem like,
he, whatever. Like you said, it injury issue
or a rough stretch. It doesn't seem like he has the
Consistency and submitted unfortunate.
Know, it sucks. And if you look at his game log,
like imma pull him up real quick.
There's fantasy, you know, like his first his freshman year he
has that big shot against Butler and you're like, oh here we go.
And then he injured himself the next week in their next game
against Central Arkansas. He doesn't play for three games
then he's kind of, you know, he had a concussion and just didn't
quite come back that year kind of got it back together at the
end of the year. But then, His sophomore year, he
starts off playing pretty good and then, you know, mrs.
Four out of five games in December and never seems to kind
of get his stride last year. He played pretty good, didn't
have any injury, misses but also kind of slow down the stretch.
And then again this year, you know, it's like he starts off
slow and doesn't play for three games.
That kind of gets together then it's like he has the Purdue game
and we're like, all right, that not that, we're expecting that
every game but it's like he might have unlocked a little bit
and then immediately gets injured, two games later doesn't
play, it's like his Here is, unfortunately this like he gets
a high and then immediately like can't can't build off of that
because he gets injured which just it's just sucks.
Like I just I hate seeing that. Yeah, I mean it's been his
often. It really does feel like one of
the great what if careers the last couple years and he still
has time, you know, hopefully he figures it all out, but yeah.
It's been tough. It's been tough.
The last couple years. Yeah.
But, no, you're right. I do think we can get off of IU
here in a sec, but I do think that If we win our next three
games, you know, we're probably not going to win at Purdue.
I think that's enough to get us in the tournament a win in the
Big Ten. Tournament would be nice.
But yeah, I think we're still in good good standing, but we gotta
win. We gotta win those three games.
I will bring you into this question.
We had a podcast last week, with Ryan Phillips from assembly
called where he's been saying all season that if Indiana does
not make the tournament that is, that is catastrophic, I feel
like we have to make the tournament my argument with him
in the podcast, which is kind of a fun argument in the end.
I agreed that you know we probably need to make the
tournament as the most important thing.
But I did say that you know, and I'm not going to go through the
rehash everything here. But my my point was I also think
it's very important that you know, or it's not also not good.
That we're looking pretty much a trace Jackson.
Davis is not going to be drafted in the NBA and that, you know,
Mike Woodson's big pitch coming into.
To college was, you know, he knows the MBA system, he knows
what it takes. And that's exactly what he said,
how he talked race to come back as I'm going to get you to be an
NBA player and basically Trace is playing the same way he did
last year just a little bit better.
I mean a little I don't mean another he's playing better but
he's doing the same things in the post and post defense is
doing them better but it isn't you know, it's not showing it in
be a scouting lists. And, you know, my argument was
you look I know last year, Luca Garza won the MVP of the Big Ten
wasn't drafted super high like I Understand, there's guys in
college who do things that the NBA doesn't want, but it's like
at least, you know, Fran mccaffery can sell it.
Consistent program that I can also get you in the tournament.
Like, Kofi Coburn is not going to be drafted High not because
he's not good. Just because again the NBA game
is different than college. But if your bread under where
it's like, hey man you can play here and you can also compete
for a Big Ten title. My point is I think it's going
to be very tough compete. You know, you're going to get
some pretty bad recruit your recruiting against Indiana by
other teams. Saying look, man, my What's it
is still unproven as a college coach X's and O's.
Indiana is not going to get you to a big year.
I can with the Big Ten title there and oh, by the way, he has
his great talent and he can't get him to the NBA.
And that's what his point is. I'm curious your take, you know,
which do you think is more important, which you think will
be recruited against more, just your thought on kind of that
that debate of, you know, which is the worst of both of which
doors worse for Indiana to go through, not making the
tournament or Trace Jackson, Davis, not even being drafted.
I mean, I don't think the trace Jack And Davis.
I like I think in a broad sense, the NBA development is the
bigger concern because I mean you can look at at the guys like
there's a reason Calipari recruits so well.
I mean he's a likable guy but he gets every one of the NBA.
Like I've always laughed at the people that are like, why do
they keep going there? Why do they keep going there and
like cuz he gets everyone drafted in the first round.
I mean you can criticize his results and all that stuff but
he gets them to the pros and it's a pretty incredible.
Resume in that regard. And so I think that's the bigger
concern. But I mean, to a certain extent,
I think they'll be able to tell people like, look, you know, he
we got him, he was already sort of developed, you know, what we
did, what we could, you know, we're working.
I think for this year, the tournament is the bigger thing.
I've always been a huge believer that the biggest Gap in like
program perception. Is you make the tournament
versus you don't? Just because I mean like when
you get selection Sunday people are Looking for their teams.
That's when the country tunes into March Madness.
And if your if your name is not on there, somewhere in that in
that big bracket, I really think that's detrimental to your
program and for your recruiting and the like.
So I think it's really important this year moving forward.
Obviously I think that MBA thing is going to be huge and he needs
Woodson has to show, you know, he can get guys to the pros
because as you said that's that was his big you know, calling
card was the MBA experience. Hopefully for who's your fans,
you know, partnering. That was some success on the
court. I think they're going to get in
because I do think they're going to be able to finish strong
here. The next couple of weeks, and
we'll see what happens with with Jackson Davis.
It is a weird thing. How you have these guys like
Luka? Garza?
Jackson Davis were just utterly incredible college players that
just can't get any MBA sniffs. But if you watch the NBA, you
understand why, but it is just a bizarre thing to watch.
Ouch and and we'll see. But for this year I think the
tournament is the biggest thing. But I tend to agree over the
next couple of years, it that MBA thing is going to be really
huge. Yeah, let's go around the ground
the big down a little bit. The thing you're kind of a
Michigan guys, we have to just hit, I'm sure your nauseated
talking about the Juwan Howard Wisconsin slap, you know now he
oh he if you haven't seen it first off where you been but
secondly, there it was. You know, Wisconsin called a
late time out Juwan. Howard is not a fan of that in
the post game you know, he tried to walk by guard and guard
wanted to talk to him and then they got a scuffle and then
Howard, you know, slapped, he's trying to slap, I don't know
who, but he slapped an assistant coach and then, you know, Mayhem
ensued, so to speak. He's been suspended, five games.
You know, I went, there's been, you know, a lot of things
floating around on Twitter or like, you know, Juwan Howard
called a late time out when Michigan, was beating the hell
out of Indiana. I think he's done it again as
well. So there is I'm curious your
thoughts on it before I get my, take out your, a Michigan.
You know, you lean toward Michigan, know that you're a big
10 over you. I'm just curious your, your
overall take on the whole situation.
I think they're, I mean, there's been a lot of the litigating in
the media. There's some Michigan sites,
doing the old sub router film treatment, breaking it down
frame by frame. And through all the course, I
mean, at the end of the day, like to me, this is it's simple.
As this. John Howard gets paid seven
figures to be the head coach at the Mercy of Michigan, you can't
be slapping people on a basketball court.
This isn't this isn't a brawl, it's not a boxing match.
Like this is a college basketball game where you're
having a handshake. I get, it's emotional.
I get it's intense. I get, you know, Juwan Howard
wants to win as much as anybody out there, and he doesn't like
his team getting disrespected. You know, blah, blah, blah, at
the end of the day. Number one, if you're getting
blown out and the other team wants to rub it in, that's your
problem. You know, you need, you need to
win the game. I'm then, you know, if you're
behind in mad about being behind, that's your fault.
And then, secondly, again, I don't care what Greg Gard or
these assistants or Wisconsin's players, did you can't respond
with that? I think Wisconsin.
Absolutely has some egg on their face as well.
Like the idea that Greg Gard was just innocently going to, you
know, stop Juwan, Howard to explain to him the rules and
whatnot is laughable to me. I mean, we all we've all seen
this. If you watch college basketball
enough, the blow by handshake, Ron Howard was going to do the
blow by handshake walk past him. And you see sometimes coaches
try to hold them in there to, you know, really rub it in that
they lost and that's clearly what guard was doing the
Wisconsin bench and the assistants were absolutely
instigating after the fact but you can't you can't slap
somebody. I mean, it's not complicated,
you're a professional here, you're making millions of
dollars at you. Mmm, it's a college.
You can't do that. So I think this is suspension
with Justified. I didn't think I thought firing
would have been a little extreme given just the whole situation.
And the fact that I didn't see any evidence that anybody was
actually injured, it seems like it was just a little face slap
or whatever. But I think all the suspensions
are generally Justified. Frankly.
I think they probably could have went harsher on a lot of them.
And we'll see, you know, as far as Michigan as a team, which I
know nobody really has been talking about the team and its
chances and whatnot. They were really setting up well
for, for a big finish to the season, and I think this is
going to do a lot of damage. Not only not having your head
coach, but they're losing two key player rotational players
here on Wednesday against Rutgers, which was kind of a
must-win game. So it's a big blow to their
team's chances moving forward as well.
Yeah, I would I would Echo most of everything that you said
that, you know, I've always been like if I don't love the late
time out stuff but on the flip side it's like you don't like it
then you know when the game it's like this is in the end.
This is this is not, you know, Middle School sports.
Like your yeah you have a scoreboard.
The coaches are being paid a lot of money like you have so many
time out. You can use them all.
Like it's not, you know, the way you get them back as next time
you play them, you'd beat the hell out of a, maybe you call a
timeout. Like I've I've never been a fan
of this like, You know, unspoken rule thing the and again with
you you can't slap. You can't hit you.
Can't do that. It is funny like yeah, Juwan
Howard should not have been fired.
That would have been something Indiana would have done.
We have a holier than a like, oh, we'd end up dismantling our
program for another region to everything in the NCAA would be
like, what? Huh, which again, I think is
awesome when you have been. This is a total other tangent.
It's like you have schools in Arizona and you know, Kansas who
are basically saying F, you the unstable a it's like hey you're
under FBI investigation. Okay.
You know, f Like we're just going to be ranked number two in
the country and, you know, it doesn't matter, and it's just
like, if you don't, pay attention, doesn't matter.
But, you know, the the other kind of the reaction, the
reaction, the reaction thing that this kind of bugging me,
now, is you're seeing some takes of, like, you know, why do we
need a handshake climate? Why do we do this?
You're just, you're putting people in this Peril and the
people talk to the NBA. It's like the NBA does have a
handshake line. It's like this is this is what
to me is like MBA medically wrong with the NCAA, is the MBA
is professional. Like they don't have a handshake
line. That's what you do.
It like again the n-c-double-a cells all of this I'm kind of
conflating a couple arguments here, but the NCAA cells is like
we're molding men. Like, you know, we're these are
young men that were teaching the right values and they do all
that BS. It's like that's what the
handshake line theoretically is about that.
Like, we have this game and then, you know, we're still
Collegiate athletes. We're going to shake hands and
do all that. So I'm going to be very annoyed
at the NCAA or just basketball just gets rid of your college
basketball gets rid of this because again, it's like that's
another step to being professional.
These want to do that. Then like end Bleh could just go
eff off honestly. It's like, they're not gonna do
anything here, but like it's to me, it's infuriating that the
ncaa's cells. All of this, as a game of young,
men teaching young men. And then, if this ends up being
the reason why we stopped having handshake lines like that's
going to bother me more because that is what sets you different
from the pros and like anyway I'm but yeah we'll see where
that goes with that but I agree with you like you had to, this
is why you know, the teams didn't start going.
I'm nuts until Juwan Howard, was the one that slapped and through
something like, that was what instigated all this?
And exactly. He's the adult in the room, he's
the one over 25. He's the one making a salary at
this. He's the one who's getting paid
real money. He has to be the one to make
this, not accountable, but I also think we don't need a
massive overreaction. We don't need to get rid of
handshake lines. We just need better etiquette
during the and I'm with you too. Greg Gard is not off the hook
either. Like he doesn't need to settle.
Someone's hash after the game, too.
But you did the timeout thing, everyone knows that, that's kind
of a dick move. Now, you also don't need to
settle his hash right then and there like, you can call him up
later and like tell him like later.
Maybe you guys meet the Big Ten Tournament.
Something like it just like everyone's a little bit, kobol
hear. But yeah, Juwan Howard shouldn't
have done that, but that's kind of my thoughts on it, but you're
right. This does affect Michigan steam,
which is coming down the stretch here, where they have a bunch of
games in a quick to notice period period of time, although
it's a bunch of home games. Like it's nice to have Rutgers
Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa at home.
That's a, you know, breaks nicely for them and then at Ohio
State. But yeah, I mean, they still
have work to do even though they're kind of projected to win
all the home games and we'll see.
Yeah. That's that's the thing that I
found. Very disappointing about it too.
Is like you were expected to lose at Wisconsin.
I mean I don't you want to win the game, I get it was hard
fought and you know Wisconsin I think generally plays a
frustrating Style. Basketball for opponents.
Not only because they win a lot but they just they play a grind
it out style for the most part, we all know, Brad Davison's
history, 13 meant a lot of people don't like to play for a
lot of reasons and but you know, just take your lumps, head home
and you got four straight like you said, four straight home
games, it's unlikely, you're going to sweep all four, but
it's also not insane to think you could win.
Four straight, you don't have to travel the whole time and You
just one of the four is against Iowa, who you just beat on the
road ones against Rutgers who we just talked about, you know,
Rutgers is vulnerable on the road, great at home, but there
are vulnerable on the road, MSU is in a amid, a big skid to.
So, you had three teams there where wouldn't have been
shocking. If you beat all three and first
off, that's might be enough to get you in the tournament just
right there. And then you get Illinois at
home to which, if you upset Illinois.
Huge Resume Builder. So yeah, it's unfortunate to
watch them. What could very well, you know
submarine their remaining chances for the season we'll
see. They play on Wednesday against
Rutgers Phil martelly. The assistant is going to be the
acting head coach so we'll see how he does and I don't know I'm
sure there's going to be a Michigan's.
Going to be a team to watch the next couple weeks for a lot of
reasons. Yeah, well and this is why, you
know, it's good having you You on because you see kind of
everything we see it from an Indiana bubble but it, you know,
I'm not part of the team like I'm not there.
I don't know what happened in Chicago, but you know, when
Woodson suspended five players for the Northwestern game again,
I don't know what happened. I don't know what's there, but
part of me sees that and it's like, I hope I don't know how to
say this the right way, but it's like that was a very important
game in a five-game stretch, where you really needed that win
and It's just again, I don't know, I'll say it last time I
say, I don't know what happens, I don't know what was the cause
of suspension and it probably is Justified, but like, there's
also a, this this single game could submarine your entire
year. So, I hope this is a, this is
what you want, like, understanding the stakes at play
here. Like maybe you just, you know,
wait a week and have them go, you know, have them, you know,
have them suspended against Michigan State, where you're
probably going to lose it, Michigan state.
But I see the same thing with like the Juwan Howard thing
again. Like, I know it's Heat of the
Moment. I know you're pissed.
First. But this is partially where you
have to understand the stakes of like, you know, this was a game.
You lost, you need to be there for the next couple of weeks and
this is the kind of thing. You just don't see out of, you
know, the Tom izzo's or the Fran mccaffery, these were, you know,
they they understand kind of the situation.
The right times. And it does it seems that almost
be kind of a failure of situational awareness, you know,
to not understand that. But again, II as an Indiana fan,
that's the way I felt about some of those suspensions for the
Northwestern game is and again, they probably were totally
justified. I'm not the coach, I don't know
what they did wrong, but it did seem like damn.
That's that's a huge penalty and you're kind of giving yourself
pretty close to a self-imposed l in a game that you really needed
and it feels like Michigan's done, something very similar
here. And by a again, you know,
younger coach was not a ton of college experience.
I mean more than Woodson, but still still learning his way in
the college game and that's what I was going to say to, you know,
from a Michigan perspective, I know a lot of people were ready
to throw, throw Joanna, under the bus and move on, and I get
it to a certain extent, you know.
If you want to draw the line at like you can't physically strike
someone. I get that.
I don't think it's an unreasonable position at the
same time though. Like I also think people Need to
appreciate. I think this is what John's
third year as a head coach ever. And he's, this is the first year
that they've really had struggles.
The first and expectations. Yeah, well yeah, that and that's
the first year was the covid year but they were going to
enter the tournament as a solid seed.
They want a bunch of big games last year.
They won the Big Ten outright they made the elite eight.
I mean crazy successful season, 11 of, I think they were third
on Ken Palms, so great team. And this year, they enter the
season six or you know, top five somewhere around their top 10
and they have thoroughly under achieved on that billing like
you said, and it's probably very frustrating.
And I think a lot of that blossomed here against Wisconsin
feeling like, oh my gosh, we need to get some of these winds
but he's learning as a head coach.
And he had one of these last year, with marked urgent, in the
Big Ten Tournament, where he had sort of a confrontation with
turgeon And I don't want to say this as inevitable because it
was, this is the second time it's happened.
So it's hard for me to say, oh yeah, you know, this was this
was so predictable, you know, it was coming.
I don't think anybody saw this company after this game on
Sunday. But yeah, he's going to learn
from it. He's going to improve and from a
Michigan perspective, I think the fan base is hoping that he
gets better. Don't do this again.
You do it again. You're probably out the door.
But he needs to learn, you know, you're the head coach, you're
not a player anymore, you're not an assistant, you can't get that
aggressive. You got to keep things a little
cooler. Yeah, I hear everything you're
saying, although it's not like being an assistant.
You don't get to throw punches either.
But yeah, I totally get what you're saying.
You also mentioned just looking around the Big Ten, a little
more, you mentioned. Michigan, State, who is?
You know, they're, they're in a bit of a swoon.
I got a very close, but he was Michigan neighbor.
Who's very close to his mission? State fan who's, like, they do
this every February. They have a three-game losing
streak, which I'm like, okay, yeah, welcome to my world where
we have a one-game in February yet, like, don't don't talk to
me about February spoons, but this is a little bit
uncharacteristic of Michigan State.
They've lost four out of five, a soul win, being a home, kind of
a home drubbing of Indiana at at East Lansing.
Yeah, I'm curious what you see, because you look at the numbers.
It's a pretty typical Michigan State team off the Ken Palm
numbers. I haven't watched them game in
game out, but, you know, they played a very tough
non-conference schedule, as they Do they lost kind of their two
key games at Baylor and Kansas, but they put together a really
nice record. They seem to be, you think to be
a hard team, you know, their turnover numbers aren't great
but they've never been a great team.
Getting turnovers or little high this year on turnover on
offense, but everything else is there pretty good, you know?
But it's do you think this is a problem with Michigan state is
this schedule base because for them.
Also, the schedule doesn't get much easier, you know, they're
there at Iowa and then home to Purdue and then at Michigan at
Ohio State home to Maryland. So So he's up with Maryland but
I'm I'm curious your thoughts on Michigan State and what you're
seeing out of them? Well, the fascinating thing
about Michigan State for the longest time, is they have this
gaudy record, you know, through their first 16 games.
They're 14 and 2 overall, they're 5 and 0 in Big Ten play.
And as you mentioned, the only locks is were Kansas and Baylor
a neutral courts. Not exactly good.
Yeah, not. Not that bad.
You know, mid-January. You're rolling like that.
And they got up in the top. I don't know where the highest
they reached, but eight or nine, or something like that.
And the computer numbers never, really believed that they were
that good. The computers always kind of
thought they were somewhere at late, teens to the 30s somewhere
like that. And so, I think part of this was
the hot start, they got a little ahead of themselves.
They were, they were never quite as good as that that start
indicated. And I think you've seen it.
Like you said, part of it has been the schedule, they lose to
To, to Illinois, both games, they could have won by the way,
very close competitive games, and then they've Rutgers on the
road as we talked about how tough they are, Wisconsin at
home. But the only real game, like the
last couple weeks, I think they've been playing noticeably
worse than they did earlier in the year.
That turnover Thing Remains an issue.
I think another issue is Max Christie.
Who's there? Do It All Star?
Freshman has, I think hit the wall.
A little bit. And I think Tom Izzo talked
about that where he thinks he's pushing them a little bit too
hard and I don't know. I mean, I'm not in practice
every day working out with them but his numbers certainly
suggests, he's hit the wall, a lot more, you know, he had six
points against Illinois on Saturday, he had 10 against Penn
State but very inefficient performance 81 offensive rating
and as his numbers have declined, Michigan state has
struggled. So I think the big part of it
has been They have, they've always had the turnover issues
all year and that's kind of actually persisted a couple
years now where they just haven't had, since Cassius
Winston left. They haven't had that reliable
point guard play and Max Christie as hasn't been as good.
The last couple weeks, which is normal, you know, for a true
freshman to struggle a little bit but they need to get him
playing better work on some of those turnovers and otherwise I
think they'll be fine. I don't think they're the Big
Ten title team and at this This point I think they're two games
out of it so it's unlikely they're going to be able to
close that with just five games left.
But I think there are a nice solid team heading into March.
I do not think there are Final Four tag team barring something
weird happening. Yeah.
It's I would agree with you although me, it's it's tough to
go back because, you know, you have the of the covid year, you
have the year in the last year was just a big ten year.
And then if you go back to like 19 and you know, 18 and 17 or at
least 20 1920 18 like they're just they're an elite team like
their top three, I can pop in 2017, you know.
They're, they're kind of where they're at now, like their 40th
and Ken Palms. They're not quite as good and
that was a team that you No, was it was a nine seed in the
tournament but you know if you go back at like 2015 I'm just
going back and back, you know, that was a team that was 15th
and Ken Palm but kind of, you know, middle to round in the
Big, Ten started the NCAA as a seven seed and that team went to
the final four. So there is a, there is a part,
right? They did.
Yeah, they lost to Duke, you know, that's, that's the thing
with is 0 is there's a part of. I just kind of have
institutional reflex where I'm like I I just always feel like
he's going to figure it out. Ended.
It feels almost like this is all part of a master plan, where he
seems to always get his team's lined up for March, or maybe
it's also just because he's as I go back and look at the stats,
he's had Sometimes the best team.
Yeah, I mean, obviously his track record is great and it's
possible. He's had at least three or four,
where they had no business, making the final four in this
somehow figure out a way to get there.
So yeah, there's a shot I just think from what we've seen so
far To me they strike me more as a solid team.
I think sweet 16 is a realistic goal.
Yeah and we'll see who knows? Maybe they get hot like you said
and maybe Christy gets back rolling again last year, almost
feels like a final four because they lost to UCLA in the play
and then you see Legos the final game just kind of like a, like
yorkist into the final four almost like you're very, like, I
had a chick, like, I know her. I thought I thought it was funny
because I was talking to somebody the other day where it
was a mission. Related and they're like, well,
you know, loose Michigan, you know, wasn't you know, a title
Contender something this year, under the guise that you know,
these suspensions are probably going to kill a lot of their
postseason hopes and I'm like, you know, look at UCLA last
year, you never know. You get in the door, you got a
shot because UCLA was a mess before they got to the
tournament and somehow they're in the final four with in a
bucket of beating guns ago. So, you know, and that and that
is the most. I one last question, I'll get
you out here. Like that is the most
frustrating thing as an Indiana fan.
Is and I think Galen said it this morning to me, it's like
we've made the tournament for years, you know, four times in
the last 23 years or something. I'm a mess this up, but it's
like we haven't made it in you know, six years and we've made
it four or five times in 20 years like that is that's not
good. Just to say the least.
Yeah. But the trouble is like you're
just you're not giving yourself shots at the pie and you know
your point like teams can be a mess.
Hold on real quick. I'll pull up That UCLA run
because I know they obviously went to the like, you know, in,
you know, in the tournament, you know, they played Michigan State
and they played BYU, but they played Abilene Christian.
And then, you know, but like you know, third game in there
playing Abilene Christian like sometimes these things just
break well for you and you see a little bit of luck, but you're
not going to get it if you're not playing in the tournament
and like, yeah, sometimes you end up running into a buzz saw
like when Indiana, you know, the year before they are ranked
number one, the year, they beat Kentucky with the watch shot.
Like I still think that was and March they were playing at they
gave that Kentucky team the best run Kentucky had in the
tournament and that Kentucky team won the title, it just
sucks. They play in the sweet 16 like I
think Indiana was playing at a super Elite level.
I think they would have beaten almost anybody.
If they hadn't played Kentucky, it's like that time.
It sucks. But like, the ear with Mike
Davis, we make the final four. Like, you know, I forget who the
two seed was, but we beat Duke. The one seed we did that, but
then we played Kent State in the elite eight, it's like you got
kind of, I don't say a free. A pass.
I think I'm pretty sure USC, like, we were a five again, do
this all in memory. We are a five seed, like, USC
was the four seed and then they lost the first round.
So we played like UNC Wilmington or something, like the bracket
can break for you in a good way and that happens, sometimes,
it's not, it's not bad, doesn't mean you suck it just like you,
you, you can't do it if you're not in the, in the dance.
And that's been the most frustrating thing for Indiana is
like, we're not even in there, and sometimes you just got to be
there, just have a nice break and and not, not to belabor the
point any further, but, you know, Riggins last run to the
final four. I don't know if people remember
this but they I think the highest seed they played was
like a four or something before the final four because the top
seeds got upset, that was a year.
They had hit that buzzer beater against Houston.
Let me, let me see this. So, oh, I'm sorry, the highest
seed, they played, until the championship game was a set, was
a six in Houston and they were not, they were not a
particularly great, see there were seven seed coming in and
basically, We got to play teams equal to them or lesser all the
way to the final four. And that was just sheer luck.
So, like you said, yeah, you got, you just want to get in the
door, you give yourself the best shot you can with a seed, but
otherwise, who knows what's going to happen there.
But you got to get in the door first.
So we're going to have you on again, right before the Big Ten
Tournament, but where we sit now, I don't want to play who's
in, and who's out of the NCAA tournament, but I'm curious to
get your thoughts just as you see it.
Now. You know, who do you think in
the big? And could make the most noise in
the NCAA tournament and then conversely, who do you?
See? And again, I know we have a
couple weeks for things to round out, so I'm not going to hold
you to this, but who did, who do you also see?
Could be a possible, you know, first round exit.
Allah, Ohio State last year. Oh geez.
Because State we both. We don't like him here either.
So you're more than welcome to. I was a bag on Ohio State.
Yeah, I actually think is as far as first round exit, I think
Wisconsin to me, strikes out a little bit Where I just don't
like that, right? I'd like Wisconsin as a team.
I think there are very solid unit but there's so reliant on
one guy in Johnny Davis and he's a great player, he's more than
capable of going off and pulling them.
But some somebody is going to have the defense to match up
with them. And to me, they're either going
to just let him go off and basically say scored 50 and beat
us or we're just going to shut down everybody else.
Or you know, will shut down you and and let everybody else try
to beat us and they're going to run into a team with with a
defense that that's capable of doing it.
You know, for Badger fans sake, you know, hopefully it's not the
first second round, but I really to me being so relying on one
guy is a concern for me on Wisconsin.
And then as far as teams to go deep, I know you guys won't let
I think Purdue is probably the team most likely to go far.
I do not view them as a national title.
Her because I just think their defense is too problematic to
win six, six straight games but they're going to be they're
going to get high seed. They very much have a shot at a
1 seed or at worst. Well, I guess that were slower
but likely going to be a two and maybe a one if things go right
which is a huge Advantage, you know, for who you're playing and
they're gonna, they're gonna be a tough out for a couple rounds.
So I see them as far as actually hoisting the trophy, when all is
said and done, I think Illinois is probably The strongest bet
just because they seem the most complete to me.
They haven't played at full strength for a lot of the year
and it seems like now that they got it.
Everybody back there. Just throw a really, really
tough team to beat. We'll see.
I think the Big 10 has a number of handful of teams that are
certainly. Final four contenders if you can
convince Rucker's that the game is at home instead of a neutral
n-c-double-a Court, you know, maybe they think they can make a
run but uh yeah. Yeah, I agree with you.
I think to me to answer my own question.
I think Illinois has a real good chance to make a run here.
They're very solid. They seem to be kind of rounding
into shape. Now I hate to agree with you on
Purdue the thing that I'll say with Purdue that would worry me
if I'm a Purdue fan is Zach, Edie is a big dude and I think
he's very hard to to officiate. I think the Big Ten understands
that they've seen it to your point like you know, like the
scouting. In the Big Ten, the officials
know how to officiate it. But we as we talked about last
time, the NCAA is the tournaments officiated
differently. It doesn't normally Benefit Big
Ten teams and he's a guy that you could probably call a travel
on a foul on every play. And I could see a weird game
where suddenly he has like three fouls in you know four minutes
and I and Jane IV is I love I as a Pacers fan.
I want to see Pacers get him and draft him, but he does.
Also I've seen a couple times throughout the year.
Or he can get you can get in his head and he can get kind of
riled up. And so I worry about that.
As a as a if I was a Purdue fan as like that that game where it
all kind of comes together. We're suddenly IV has, you know,
is kind of going a little too much on his own.
Gets a Fowler here to here. And then, you know, Zach ET is
getting weird foul calls and they're just calling them really
tight and all of a sudden you're like what is going on here?
That would be my concern for pretty but I could see them as
much as it pains me making a final four run.
But again My something about the way that team is constructed.
It's a Edie is just a unique player IV plays.
So all out, it feels like a team that the tournament they're
going to. They're going to officiate them
incorrectly. Yeah.
Yeah, I think I think Michigan. I think Michigan, you guys have
so much talent that this, this whole suspension thing, might
actually help. Like there was the one-year,
what you like that and they know it's not even comparable like
that. Yeah, the plane go off the
Runway and then you said won the Big Ten title and the running.
Like there is a, there's a world where this ends up kind of
bringing this team together and they kind of figure it out and,
you know, Juwan Howard is still be coaching the team does not on
the bench. So there's a world where like
they could just get in. I could see them making a run
Allah UCLA last year. Like there's a, I think that's a
team that just needs to get away to punch their ticket and I'll
end with this, like Indiana feels like a team or if we can
just make it it's going to be like you know, if I was running
a marathon like I said earlier, I just if I cross the finish
line, I'm just gonna fall apart at the very end, you'll Indiana
feels like a team that if we can get there it's great.
And then we're probably going to lose in the first round which I
guess is again, it's better to be in the not being, but Indiana
does not feel like it. a team that's going to give a lot of
people, a lot of trouble especially where their seed
lines going to be Probably, yeah, I can see Indiana win a
game when in a game maybe get lucky and you know somebody gets
upset so they can win too. But yeah, as you said that they
have some structural flaws. And the problem for me is that
when I look at teams is like for the tournament is do they have
just a like shocking you know, blaring weakness on their team
and usually those teams because you're going to run into
somebody that can expose it as you go deeper, you know, you
might. You might be able to evade it
for round or two but eventually you're going to run into a team
with a good defense or great offense or good big or whatever
it is and Indiana. As you as I think all who's your
fans know, there are some structural issues with the
roster and the style of play. And yeah, it's not conducive to
it to a deeper on, I'll leave it at that.
Fair enough. Last last question, who's, who's
going at this will get you right before the Big Ten Tournament
who's going to be the one seen the Big Ten Tournament.
Oh, jeez. Well, I haven't I haven't broken
down. Any of the tiebreaker thing.
So, forgive me on that, usually most years.
I have that I'll narrow down by now but I haven't, I think I'm
I'm gonna go with with Illinois Purdue right now.
They're half game up on Illinois, Wisconsin.
And I've the numbers would suggest that they're the best
team in the league. The advanced numbers at least,
but they have a really, really tough schedule.
They only have Three games left. So not not a ton but MSU on the
road on Saturday and they get Wisconsin on the road on Tuesday
and then they conclude with Indiana at home, which will be
out. Obviously a hard-fought rivalry
game, Illinois, Illinois has a pretty manageable.
Closing slate, they get Ohio State at home.
Michigan on the road without their head coach and then Penn
State at home, Iowa home that to me.
It looks like they're probably going to sweep the four games
we've seen. Your things happen.
But so I would say Illinois right now, again, with the
preface of I haven't looked at the tiebreakers and how all that
works out. But I'd say Illinois at the
moment, I would tend to agree. Although I will say when you, if
you look at this, if you play the schedule, game Wisconsin's
got a really easy path compared to even those two in there at
Minnesota at Rutgers, which again, Rutgers that's a
trucker's. It's probably an elf.
That's a quad, it's a quad one, plus one win their home, they
have Purdue at home, which that might be the The game for the
Big Ten title and then they're at home for Nebraska.
So, you know, all things considered.
That's a, that's the easiest of all the three schedules and they
seem to be humming to. So it's gonna be interesting end
and it could come down to a tiebreaker, which sucks, but it
is what it is. Yeah, yeah.
Moe. It seems like more often than
not. It's, you know, it's a shared
title these years and frankly, I wonder if the Big 10 at some
point. We'll revisit the whole no
tiebreakers considered for sharing the title.
Probably not. But I don't know, I think.
Worth a discussion at some point.
Yeah, it is. I yeah, yeah, it's a different
pot. I'm at that's a day.
I would like to see the Heretics, expand the convent of
the conference games, a little bit, but you still have the
tournament like I don't know. There's there's a lot I think I
should they should gobble up the Pac-12 and we should have a
conference of 20. That's again, a totally
different pod will just let's do that in the offseason.
Well, hey Thomas, appreciate you, coming on, will have you on
again before the Big Ten Tournament again, check them
out. Out at BT power house.com part
of the SB Nation and we'll look forward to the Indiana article.
I'll look forward to that. Dropping and see how many, you
know, Red Alarm buttons. We should be pushing Thomas
preciate, you hopping on thanks. As always and forever, they'll
start by listening. Thank you guys for listening.
We'll be back probably after the Maryland game God I hope it's a
win but we shall see. So until next time for all you
guys out there appreciate it. This is Scott for Crimson cast
signing off.