Laley23;1073631 wrote:Yeah, that start for IU was a ****ing joke. Down by 20 when Crean finally decided Sheehey and Watford needed to not play the rest of the half. Elston was great in bringing them back and Hulls and Zeller picked it up. But NO ONE else played well or with fire. Remy Abel was ok, he is a tough defender...but he chucks it too much. I mean, he took 3 awful shots (and hit his other 3, so good with bad I guess).
I was really dissapointed that Crean kept putting Watford in the game. He didnt do anything, would get subbed out, and then would get to go back in and suck some more. I was RELALY glad Sheehey got the pine. Worst game Ive ever seen out of him. He was terrible. I think he played 4 minutes, sat for the rest of the half. Then I think he got a second chance in the 2nd half and was just as bad.
I thought Crean took to long to make the switch to the bench early on, but other than that, his subs were really pretty good (one of my biggest criticisms of him). But in the last 3 minutes...no matter how well he has played...Elston CANNOT NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT be on the floor. He was great in erasing the 20 pt deficit and cutting it to 1. But then he was in with 3 minutes to go. The guy is a great hustle player on defense, but has no clue how to actually play defense (got beat on the lob alley-opp to Hardaway, as help side). We were down 1 and Elston proceeds to get sucked in, turn his back to his man, and not recover. The result? Hardaway corner 3, Novak wing 3. Crean has to know you cant have that type of player on the court at the end. I was sitting with my dad and he said, (after the TO, before the play), "Why is Elston in the game??" and I replied, "We clearly want to have his man get open shots when he helps the air in the lane."
Boom, back to back possessions.
Oh well, life on the road. I think that IU has a good shot in their remaining 3 road games (Purdue will be tough, but I think they are IUs best match-up in the Big Ten, honestly) and then Minny/Iowa. I think they can hold serve at home and be 10-8 in conference. That would put them in the 5/6 seed discussion, and with their wins, probably a 5.
I think watford played with alot of effort when he was put in the second half. He has games where he looks aloof and he did early, but after not starting the second half I thought he played with emotion the rest of the way. Sheehy looked like he was pouting on the bench in the second half. Able did shoot a bit too much with a couple of bad shots, but I think he can contribute if he stays within some constraints but he was good with bringing some athleticism to the court when Watford and Jones werent getting it done. This team needs Watford to play well if they want to compete with any of the better teams. He can create his own shot whereas Zeller isnt quite there.
Crean needs to tell Elston late in games what Norman Dale told that one player in the movie hoosiers that he isnt to shoot the ball! He made a few circus plays early on, but when the game gets close he pisses down his leg.