You're listening to the back home network presented by home field. Apparel, welcome back to Crimson, Cask ale and clavius got Caulfield joining, you here. It is Friday. December 2nd, happy, December to all y'all. It's Definitely, fully basketball season. Now is Indiana with a huge win this week. They take out the North Carolina Tar, Heels in both Sports both men's basketball and women's basketball. And now Indiana fully into the thick of the robust part of the schedule.
We're going to talk about the game, coming up this weekend and just some general thoughts and feelings on men's basketball. Be sure to tune in to the women's basketball podcast here on Crimson cast brought to you by Amanda Foster, that's releasing right now. Every Day and man has got the latest on all the things going on with the women's team and would definitely recommend checking that out Scott. Good to see you. Don't normally talk to you on a Friday. This is an unexpected bonus
treat. How are you doing today? A great to see you too. Yes, treat to talk. Let's go ahead and dive in. But first just a reminder that we are part of the back home network here. Crimson cast in the back home network is brought to you by home-field apparel, your place to go for the finest in college, Fashions and finery the softest fabric. So Hoodies, t-shirts, crewnecks. Whatever.
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For All U IU fans in the audience which I think is everybody in the audience except for the few Purdue fans, who hate listen to us. There's plenty of IU apparel and actually for you pretty hate listeners. There's a parallel for you to pretty much everything out
there. So check it out, home field, apparel.com, and check them out on socials home-field apparel your place to go. For college, fashion Scott, Indiana still undefeated a comprehensive Victory on Wednesday is they take out the North Carolina. Tar Heels, who were number one and have now lost three games in a row. Indiana, just smothering North Carolina in this contest defensively. What you were there, we talked at halftime. Did a normal little meet up on The Concourse.
We were not really concerned at halftime as much as we were just angry at the inconsistency in the officiating. More than anything else. Your overall reaction having watched that game from beginning to end, And that consistency in reffing, the quality of the second habit, wasn't gonna know better than yeah. That didn't. And that was I think you hit on the head of the comprehensive Victory. The defense was awesome. I have to drive home to Westfield.
I ended up watching the first half of the game that night before I went to bed and watch the other half in the morning whether you're gonna see you watched it while you were driving. As I had to don't do that. Please don't do that. It's got but not listen to our friends, the assembly call. I was dragging on on Thursday. Because of all that, no, it was a couple things, you know, the
the atmosphere was awesome. I texted earlier that it didn't, I stand by that the buzz before the Purdue game last year was like that was reminiscent of Kentucky. There was something special in the air, it wasn't quite at that level but it really got there to a fever pitch. They did a great job with like having the band come out on the court and play got a very fired up and then by once the game started that was a pretty raucous atmosphere.
I hope that we can Can continue that it it again goes to show and I feel like we said this once I'll say it again. Doesn't take that long like three years ago we were in the Archie are kind of the malaise called the Jimmy Carter year. It's like the malaise of IU basketball you know a scant 24 months later and assembly Halls rocking like maybe only the last three or four times in the last 20 years and that was a great. Great atmosphere sit with my friend, Tom for the game.
His death will meet her on his on. His watch went off. Like you're at 90. Like, don't do this for over 30 minutes, it could do hearing damage and we're both kind of eventually like you think like oh my gosh like yeah we're really going to Rattle the team and you think like, all right well, North Carolina plays. It Duke like it would probably going to be more against like the, you know, Morehead State's where no one shows up.
But all that said, from a game perspective, the takeaway is the defense was stifling. It was, it was Unreal and in the re watching Jay bilas kept on talking about the defense and just how far out North Carolina took To get their offense going. And you know what's, what's funny is? Well, we don't have the three-point shooting to kind of
put a team away in a weird way. We are defense puts him away, like there's moments in the second half, where, you know, it was like a fight, you'll six or seven point game, it's like, ooh, here's the North Carolina can make the run and then Xavier Johnson just gets in the passing Lane steals, the ball and has a layup. And so I still think that our three-point shooting we can talk about that.
That's that was the only negative in this game in in That, you know, it felt like we could have put North Carolina away 17 times in the second half. We just didn't not able to do it. And again, North Carolina is not a dumpy team, but it felt like we let them hang around because we couldn't have that like nine-point barrage in three. Possessions that said it felt like our defense was never going to let them get within six or seven points. The defense is just is unreal.
I would also say to there's a really nice mix with this team where they Really play some up-tempo as well. Like, they do a lot on turnovers to turn defense into offense and you can see Xavier try and fast break. And the last thing I'll say is just the, you know, we talked a lot about the combo of Xavier Johnson and Jalen Hood, safiye no hood rufina look like you know, all he was advertised for in this game but it was really cool.
Seeing both of them out there kind of switching off of who was going to play full-court defense. And you almost have this weird, you know, Allah not Wait, you know, like 40 minutes of hell, or Kentucky, full-court defense, but you have this moment where it was, like, I'm sorry, North Carolina. Never got to bring the ball up just easily. It's like Hood. Sophina was either guarding full court or Xavier, is doing it or they both were, it's like, we're almost full court pressing and
then we're running. I mean, it's a, it's a really Dynamic team, it's a fun team to watch. And I will just say that the defense, you know, North Carolina scored in that game, you know, under a one-point possession. They haven't done that the entire season. It the defense is really the takeaway from this. It's awesome. And there's really no reason to think you're not going to see that kind of defense for most of the Season. Yeah, he would dig great takeaway that.
I mean, that was the big thing for me is that the way that I you plays defense really travels well and yeah, you know, you look at if you look at adjusted defensive efficiency marks which you know that you can kind of go back and forth between the raw
numbers in the wrong numbers. This was the second best offensive Runs for an opponent in terms of raw numbers, you know, but the, this was adjusted wise, the second-best that Indiana's played defensively like only against Bethune-Cookman who they just absolutely walloped has. And the, all the adjustment. For those of you who aren't aware is you take the raw numbers. Then you essentially filter them through how the opponent
normally plays. And so holding, as you said North Carolina to under a point per possession and holding them, I think most impressively to such a low low effective field goal percentage. That was the thing that got me in that could have actually been better. I mean, on the game North Carolina was fifteen to forty one from to and that included some layups by Armando baked cod at the end. When Indiana was just trying not to foul in North Carolina. Shot 27.8% from three.
Like the only thing frankly that kept North Carolina in this game, was the parade to the free-throw line that they were allowed by the absolute inconsistency of the officiating that We're seeing. So I think, you know, even though those with those three star real quick with those 3s two of them like one was a bad shot that banked in there is another one early in the first half where it was just
phenomenal defense. And I will say that I said to my buddy, Tom, like, multiple times during the game as North Carolina was taking a shot, like, that's great defense. And the ball goes in like this is where there's really not a stat for the probably is I just it's way Advanced, but I would say that you know of North Carolina's 65 points, I would say 20 225 maybe even 30 of those points.
Any less than 24 points came where we were playing excellent defense and North Carolina just made a better play. Which to me is like, that's all you can ask for. Like, I again, there's 13 in that first half where it's like, we just had a hand in the face. Perfect Defense, perfect rotation. It's like, well, some shots you got to live with. Yeah, that's, that's, that's the thing. And that's where the stats don't always shine through the other big stat.
I think that I was impressed by 13 combined blocks and steals for A in this game, North Carolina. I want to manage seven and Indiana with a 7:47 assist to turnover ratio. North Carolina's was 5 to 10 so there just wasn't and you know? And look I do think I don't want them. Not trying to pour cold water on any of this. I do think by the end of the
season. A lot of the initial height for North Carolina's going to die as people realize that this team really isn't as good as everybody assumed that they were now. You know, that's the media's fault. Quite Frankly, because they were the ones that took that short tournament burst and assumed that they were going to extrapolate it over the course of the whole season. There's been a lot of there was
even it was a whole ESPN story. The day after the Indiana Victory about ship, is it time to panic about North Carolina? And the answer is probably. Yes, but they're not completely hopeless. And I mean that neutral Court game, they had against Alabama, over the weekend that went to 4 over X and it's a really good Alabama teen. So, this is not a totally incapable North Carolina team. They're probably about a six, seven, eight seed at At the end
of the day. But I think right now this is a really big win for this IU team because they are perceived as being very good and it's a nice warm up to the actual good teams. That Indiana is going to be playing here over the next few weeks and into the Big Ten season. So, you know, you like it shouldn't. I don't want to get into the officiating, but the thing that Shone through for me with the officiating is this is that there is moments last year.
The Purdue game is a great example, where Trace Jackson Davis does not get, Jackson Davis does not get in foul trouble, but yet in that game he automatically I think got two or three fouls in the first half and then all of a sudden it's you know Logan dunk them time and you need otherworldly game from Rob fennessy to you know get you through in this game. You had traced Jackson Davis with three fouls. We're not going to talk about whether they're real or not but
like he had three fouls. You had Jordan Geronimo with four fouls. You have Malik renew with three. Fouls, you had race Thompson. With three, fouls your basement Our front line was always in foul trouble from like the 10-minute mark on but it never felt like we had that moment where it's like, oh God, we got adjust your grip, the steering wheel with our grip, the steering wheel with our, you know, our reserves to see if we can make it through five
minutes. Like, there was always lineups out there, where it's, like, I'm comfortable with what we have. And to me, that was really nice to see is like, you know, again last year if you had race Thompson? Trace Jackson, Davis, both and foul trouble in the first half. It would be like, oh, this is gonna be a rough second half, but it's like, no, we're able to throw in Geronimo. Renew. They both had some foul trouble and it's a Galloway can take spots.
Like, you really did see that Frontline depth, the ability to rotate and guys, and not lose a lot. Thanks to the rest calling a ton of fouls on our big men. Someone texted me. Pictures. Is my friend Steve texted me about this after the game. And it was it was a good observation that this was the type of officiating at Indiana would likely see in the NCAA tournament, you know? And and this is the I believe
vitiating that is hurt. A lot of Big Ten teams in the NCAA tournament, where it's like, wait, why are we not calling this both ways? Eat / do, Zack ET, right? What? And so the fact that Indiana was able to not just survive this but still win comfortably. I think is a really good sign and part of it is the depth at Indiana is exhibiting. I mean, nine guys, that played at least 11 minutes in this game. Nine guys, that scored at least two points.
Nine guys, that grabbed at least one Rebound that blows my mind like and you think about it. Indiana got very little offensively out of Malik renew. They got very little offensively out of Jordan Geronimo. They get very little offensively at a race Thompson, and I got very little offensively out of Miller cop, you know, all but what 11? So what 60-66 of the 77 points came from four players.
And you know, and you didn't file anybody out, I mean, the most fouls that anybody got for Indiana were for Jordan Geronimo and again going alongside what you just said this is not something Indiana could have sustained against last year or the year before that or the year before that, the team was so top-heavy. The fact that there's nine guys and really want to get down to brass tacks.
You could, if you had to probably bring in either Kayla Banks or Logan, dunk them and survive for five or ten minutes with them playing really solid defense and hopefully not taking anything off the table from an offensive perspective. So I was really pleased to see all of the That, you know, an Indiana comes out of this game, still in the top five in effective field goal percentage. Despite, you know, I mean they
shot fine. But they, you know, I mean, they almost shot 23 percent from three but 228 of 49 from to 57 percent for the team 50 points. I think total in the paint or 56 points total in the paint, it is really a fascinating thing to watch this. Indiana offense, not need the three-point shooting it. As you know, it is something that if they get the wrong opponent, or if they have the wrong kind of game, it will be a problem.
But they've gotten three point shooting in other games and I am, you know, the fact that so much of Indiana's kind of centrifugal force is around these little triangles that they're forming with Tres Jackson Davis and a wing. And either Xavier Johnson, or Jalen Hood Ruffino and their
Swing it back across. If things aren't working their ability to come up with new wrinkles, those are all things that will travel well again to kind of over use that phrase, the fact that plus their defense has already demonstrated now in two different situations where they're playing, you know, add Xavier tough road environment team that caught fire from outside to some degree, North Carolina, team with certainly a lot of talent that really gives me a lot of Hope as far as what
this team ceiling might actually be Yeah, I you know, I I do think that you saw like, you know, Jalen Hood should be no had a much better game shooting from three, you know, Xavier Johnson went 0 for 3. I think most games he hits one, maybe two of those, you know? And then you you just do hope that if they was great about this team. And again, I do think I was telling this to my dad the other day. Like, in the end, the flaw of this team is probably three point shooting.
It's going to catch up with them on some games. Might be what catches up with them in the tournament, but where were in such a different spot than in previous years were three point shooting was also, an issue is like when you go to the Ken Palm page and just look on the left side and it kind of has all of the stats it'll last year. A lot of stuff was even even last year's team. A lot of stuff was in red. You like, you know, bad free-throw, shooting not a lot of Steel's.
They gave up a lot of Steel's, like a lot of red, red indicators here. And there, like for this team, everything's in green. Like it's one of these things where they could just increase three-point shooting by 3 to 4%. Through the year, which is a huge. I don't think it's going to happen, but it's like, then suddenly we're talking about a team that could make a run to a final four. Like everything else is right about this tea, like, everything else is fantastic.
The only thing is really the three-point. Shooting is not where it needs to be, but with the defense, I still think you can have a. I still think this season is going to end where I thought it would, which is first. Second, third, in the Big Ten, probably edging toward first second. The Big Ten and Having a real shot at, you know, making the sweet 16 and making some noise
from there. And I think you can do that without great three-point shooting because this team has Elite level defense, like just Elite level defense. Yeah, and you know, they look it's going to be interesting to see how that interacts with what they're going to see elsewhere in the conference. But, you know, I think you look across the conference right now at who the top teams are and
what they're doing. And it's an interesting group in that speaking of the media, big tents down, you know, every year big tents down big Ten's down, the narratives are just an escape of my new favorite. One is like, you know, and look even Brennan, I you Alum is working inside the hall. He, you know, I have a lot of respect but he wrote a power pole for the athletic and he's at Maryland 10th.
And he's got Maryland 10th because they beat the hell out of Louisville. Who last I checked is a hideous. Hideous basketball program, hard to hard to overcome the narratives right now it's interesting though because like you've got Purdue who is not an elite, three-point shooting team this year, they're shooting 33.3%, which is what Indiana
shot last year. They're taking more 3s significantly more as a overall aspect of their offense than Indiana is, you've got Illinois. Who looks pretty good? That's a fairly good three-point shooting team. At 35 Point, I think eight percent but that's actually worse than what Indiana shooting so far this year from three, you've got Maryland, who's not shooting the three well at all right. Now, 31.8%. So it's like, will this come back to bite?
Indiana, I mean, it could, but Indiana shooting betters from three right now than Iowa. When was the last time that we could say that. So, these are some things to keep in mind. Try not to look at these statistics in a vacuum, I guess would be my message to you folks out there. You know, try to think about how it looks holistically. When you get right down to it, you know, Indiana is playing defensively right now. They're the, they're the second. East team.
If you rank all the Big Ten teams in terms of adjusted defensive efficiency, Illinois, first barely at Ninth in the country, Indiana, 2nd and 11th in the country. Rutgers is third at 12 to in the country Wisconsin's 4th at 16th. In the country, it's a pretty Elite defensive group overall in this conference and then on the offensive side, you know, where you are. If you're an Indiana fan, you
should really get excited. There are more efficient offenses in the conference Iowa's fourth in the nation. So, FR Ohio State seventh in the nation so far produced fifth in the nation so far. But in terms of balance, I'll take Indiana's balance over everybody else as Indiana's 12th in the nation and offensive, efficiency and 11th and defensive efficiency. We'll see how it plays out. Lot more to play and we got some big ten games starting tonight, actually. So we'll get a little, some more
answers. But you don't look at stats in a vacuum. I guess is my point and I think Indiana has gotten more than enough thus far in terms of what they need from the three-point line. That's not Big of a narrative point is, it was made out to be at least so far early on this season. The totally agree and it is, you know, it is fun. Even just talking with some friends, you, you have to pay attention but it's like that win at Xavier is going to hold up.
Well, other people I got you. So Indiana beat one, you know. It's like I would be North Korea. People, some people are like God North Carolina but they were on a rut, you know, on a bender and it's like okay. But like North Carolina may not be the number one team in the
country. They're still gonna be a tournament team, like I'm not a bad team it's like Like Xavier is ranked pretty much the same as North Carolina like the 31st and Ken palm and we beat them on the road, like there's two solid, you know, there's two solid wins there. A lot of teams at Purdue has put a lot of good non-cotton. Oh, sorry, not good. Non-conference your neutral site wins on but there's not a lot of teams that have, you know, Great
Road games out there. So I'm very happy, it is, it's a bummer. We're you've your eye in this North Carolina. Game is a guy we can beat the number one team in the country. They drop to, it's like I but we still Them and it's like, all right. Well by Arizona is going to be awesome. Like is that something like Arizona losses? Like I'm waiting for Kansas to lose. I'm waiting for that top five matchup with Purdue like they're going to lose the week before. It, it seems to be our destiny.
Well, he's not bad thing, but like teams to be like, losing right before we play them. Well, yeah, when Kansas already lost their one game, they lost in that neutral site, the Atlantis championship, and then they got to play at Mizzou this weekend, which that's a rivalry game. That's then they're they're not at home, they're over in Colombia for that. So that'll be an interesting one, but yeah, it's It is you here's the thing. Don't we talked about this at the beginning of the Season?
You know, people were like, oh God, what if we go in for in that stretch of games? And it's like, you know, you just don't know. You really don't know how these things are going to play out in the fact that Indiana thus far, has it burnished their record to the point where they look like a legitimate top-10 team and some of these teams that were ranked above them of kind of falling back a little bit, that's the ebb and flow of the Season. You can't control these things.
These are none of these are going to be games that are any less important For Indiana As you move forward. And I do think that that really contributes to positive feelings for this Indiana Squad. Couple things I wanted to get to with Indiana's roster and some of the statistical things that we've been noticing before we move on to talking about Rutgers, some some notable things.
First of all, Tamar Bates, 40 percent from three, thus far this season and he has taken the second, most threes of anybody. On the roster, he's taken 23s, and he's made a Eight of them, that's a huge thing. I actually don't think enough has been made about that, you know, not as much of that as come against the top competition.
Certainly he's he's carried the load a little bit more and played certainly a lot more against the the minnows only 12 minutes against Xavier didn't score in that game only 12 minutes against North Carolina three points in that game.
But again, a lot of this is like, you know what, the core of this team is the core is Trace Jackson, Davis Xavier Johnson, And Jalen hurd's Ruffino and then you've got the complementary pieces and Tamar Bates being able to come off the bench, shoot 23s, on the season and hit 40 percent of them that really bodes. Well, because if Tamara can straighten out some of the other aspects of his game and get continue to get more game confidence. I that's, that's a piece that Indiana didn't have.
That's kind of the Remy Abell piece from 2013 that you nobody looks back. And says, God with Remy, Abell that, you know, if you know, he had to perform at this immensely high level. Well, you don't need everybody to perform at a high level to be a really high-level team. And so, yes, tomorrow's got some things in his game, he still needs to work on, but thus far through this season through seven games, his offensive rating is 134 and he's shooting
40% from three. Big thumbs up on both of those items. The thing that I would sit statistically you are correct. Numbers are real. The thing with Tamar that I'll say that makes me concerned and it's funny because I feel like he has a very high positive rating in the fan base and then We'll have your I love Xavier Johnson. I love what he brings but it's like you get that that, that old IU fan base that's like, oh
Xavier do this thing. Tamar did something in the North Carolina game that I'm not a huge fan of. I think it just needs to be pointed out. Every time we made a run, he was like pointing to their bench, like, saying that he had to call a timeout. Okay. With that on the bench but then the three that he did hit, he hit the three and then going back on defense. He was in front of the North Carolina bench and was just like barking. I don't know. If it was it, their bench a
player apparently? Was that his dad? Who sits right behind the bench. This was this was actually I saw this. Somebody tweeted about this afterwards so but then if you could tell he was like fired it looking as young as the bench, okay? Maybe it is Dad, that's fine. Still you gotta be like you don't want the North Carolina people anyway but then he gets the exact next play gets the ball and just heads drives right
into a dude. Like you can tell he's amped up and like bulldozes in gets an offensive foul looks annoyed. And all I'm saying is like had Xavier made that play? Everyone would have been going bonkers like Just you hit a three that's great. Like even if you're barking at your dad, like just you got to turn it down, a notch and you if you're in that role, you can't then immediately caused a turnover and maybe you shouldn't be like barking.
Even at your dad, who's in front of the other team's bench who might take it the wrong way? So it's a small thing but again when you're playing a minimum level like you gotta just tone it down. So that's that's all I'm with, you know. And look like I said, tomorrow's got a lot to work on still tomorrow for a five-star.
Recruit has been underwhelming and I know there's, you know, is he's had a lot going on in his life but But look, I'll take positive contributions and guys being able to grow. And I'm sure they'll be some stuff mentioned in film session than, you know, before this Rutgers game about that. And I think if you can get incrementally better tomorrow, Bates, there's you're going to need that tomorrow Bates.
When you get to the Big Ten and I'd rather he went too far with exuberance because that's these IU teams, have been so effing passive over the course. There are places.
I mean, I will take Little bit of jocularity and exuberance, even if it means running headlong into a guy and turning the ball over speaking of turning the ball over, you know, who still hasn't turned the ball over through four games of Play Trey Galloway 0% turnovers and he is not like he's not played minutes, but 23 minutes against North Carolina coming off a knee injury. Still has zero turnovers on the season. He's also got an offensive rating of 165. I mean tray guy.
You want Talk about guys that have improved from last year to this year. You know, this is a guy who I know a lot of this is kind of the also High Q rating within the IU fan base tray Galloway. I've had my questions on him, turn the ball over on almost 23 percent of possessions, both his freshman year and his sophomore year and also was just frankly not a reliable offensive player at and his O rating was under 100. Both his freshman and sophomore
year. Looks like a it does look like a different player but looks like a player. Who took a lot of the negative aspects of his game out. And honestly we're maybe heading to a point where like you can't keep him out of the starting lineup. Like it's like we have to have well hold on. If you think about what he provides especially if he who's also in limited numbers shot 40% from three so far on this season only 245 but still he's a more diverse and dynamic offensive
player right now. The Miller cop and is playing better defense and can handle the ball and isn't turning it over. Over. Like that's where you have to you know even if you're going to play Just Galloway Off the Bench.
Now if he stays healthy, you don't worry about when Trey Galloway, excuse me, when Jalen Hurd sophina or Xavier Johnson come off the floor because you have essentially a player that's maybe a better statistical profile, who can give them, give the team similar output to slot into either of those positions or you can put him as a third guard. As Indiana did essentially in the last It's at North Carolina game and is a yeah. Right. No Trey Galloway has been again defensively.
This is where this team is so awesome that you have you know savior Johnson or Hood Shafi know. Basically picking one of their guys up full court and then you got to try Galloway. Basically once you get over half court is just all, so they're picking up whoever he's got all over the place and he is just all over the place on defense. They were talking about some assembly call that, you know, maybe at some point Galloway should be starting. I do kind of like having Galloway.
Come off the bench. And everything you said is true, or maybe at the end of the year, Galloway will be starting but there is something nice to view your North Carolina. It's like, all right. The you know, we get out of the starters like, oh, we're getting the bench guys and you have this whole other level of Dynamics Dynamics ISM that comes in.
But in the end you know, it's like Miller Cops, playing minutes like a sub, like he's playing 17 minutes, Galloway played 23, Bates Geronimo, renew played 12 and 11 and you know in the end it's like obviously Woodson likes Galloway because like coaches. Always say it's not who starts as who finishes and so, He's finishing the game which is more important than who starts. But I were probably just splitting hairs but I do kind of like at least at this point.
Having him come in with that second unit and just continue the defensive pressure. Whereas if you have you know hooked Ruffino and Xavier Johnson and Galloway, all starting you do kind of drop off that defensive pressure with the
second unit with cop. But again we're splitting hairs probably yeah I mean I'm not necessarily advocating, you know, for one of the other it's Or you know at some point, yes you want to have the players and I think cop also Millions up continuing to start because he's a senior and I do think that that matters a lot to Woodson what I think is interesting though is that you're getting such good statistical contributions and so few mistakes how to train Galloway
the other. There are going to be some games where you're going to want him in early as opposed to only having them in late, because you can't afford to make the mistakes early on the other. The only other one I wanted. Engine here is just how much they've your Johnson has increased his contributions thus far on the saezuri. He's actually taking a step back in terms of assist rate, voluntarily. And I think it's interesting because in the first few games there I had some questions
about. Okay. How's it going to manage this relationship with Jalen Hood Ruffino and yet? Now, it looks like a totally natural relationship out there and they're just trading off possessions and it's almost Most like, well, if I'm Xavier Johnson, he's actually playing fewer minutes not by a huge amount, but he's playing fewer minutes in jail hitch, a fee. No, but he's converting chances that he's got out there.
He's drawing a lot of fouls. He's top 200 in the nation, thus far early on still but top 200 and fouls drawn per 40 minutes. He's top hundred in free-throw rate. He's top 500 in free throw percentage and he's still shooting 53% from three even after missing the threes that he took in the Carolina game. He's really upped his game to a level that I wasn't totally sure was possible as I. Well, I think we may have seen Peak Xavier Johnson last year
and if so, that's great. This is a different level of Xavier Johnson. One that fits more into the team Dynamic than what we saw last year, know him and hoods defeat oats. Like you said, it's just like they've been playing together for years.
I also his ability to draw fouls came in so handy that North Carolina game because in that second half there was moments where he was just like, I'm going to get fouled like I'm going to make it. So that they have to call a foul on North Carolina. There's like three possessions and he's great at the end of games because it's like you're going to foul him and he's gonna get fouled and he's gonna sell it and you know the the two times in the game where the fans
were like doing the kind of like, you know, very fake cheering for. Oh, you finally called a foul. I'm pretty sure his Xavier Johnson was the one that had the ball. I know in the second half, for sure, it was him know his, his statistical numbers are awesome. Move out, his offensive rating as a hundred and twenty five point nine and to your point. I mean, it's Spit you said this last time and it's true. I feel like I've brought this up
as well. Like I bring it up with kind of the how many years guys have left but we played you know, a couple cupcakes here and there but it's like you know a fifth of the seasons already gone. Like we're we have a pretty strong statistical base here with to teach. You know, a home game in a row game against two. Really good teams? No, he's been fantastic. And this team does trace Jackson. Davis is the best player on this team.
He provides so many things, but This this team doesn't work if Xavier Johnson isn't there, because there are still times Hood Chaffee, no looked great against North Carolina, but there have been multiple times especially in the Xavier game, where the team's kind of like, all right, we know we got to get the ball and we're not sure what to do and it's like Xavier is kind of like, all right, click give me the keys. I'll grab the steering wheel and I will take us home.
Let's talk about this Rutgers matchup. That's coming up this weekend. This has been a house of horrors for Indiana. They have not not had success against Rutgers lately. There's a hilarious. Article that you should read out of, I think nj.com about the an old Crimson Corey post that is serving as a proxy for what has been a very one-sided relationship in the Rutgers Indiana competition, and nowhere has indeed agito Baker be in like I'm not scared of them. He's right.
No, I mean though, they shouldn't be scared of Indiana, because Indiana hasn't performed well against Rutgers. I wore away some interest. So this is not the same Rutgers as last year, they've yet to beat a team that is of any quality. The best win thus far in the season is a an eight-point home win against UMass Lowell they lost by 6 on a neutral Court to Temple.
Who's not that great themselves, they lost at Miami that was a closer game and I think they deserve credit because I actually think that Miami teams fairly decent overall as a team. This is a pretty poor offensive unit for Rutgers their 108 in the nation thus far and offensive efficiency. Their 259th and effective field goal percentage. They don't shoot the three. Well there. Shoot the two. Well, what do they do? Well, well, they rebound on offense pretty well.
Their 19th in the country there, they get to the free-throw line quite a bit and they don't really turn the ball over that much. They are a very, very good defensive team. And I think that, you know, this is something that Steve pikul has really hung his hat on with limited resources. And once again, they are actually marginally better than Indiana. In terms of I'm sorry they're they're actually one spot behind Indiana, not one spot in front but there About the same.
It's about the same defensive effort thus far, albeit against weaker competition. The big difference here is that Indiana is actually a really good offensive team in addition to being a really good defensive team whereas thus far Rutgers is looked very one-sided. If you look at this Rutgers team in terms of their overall, performance Clifford all marui has been by far their biggest utiliser of possessions. He is a very good player. Last year was was it was a key
figure for them. You'll probably remember. He had a 13-point 12 rebound effort in that game that Rutgers one at Assembly Hall towards the close of the Season. He has been a really their only regular player. Who's been a standout offensive performer thus far this season? You know, other than I guess maybe cam Spencer who uses far fewer possessions but has also been pretty good. Thus far Spencer, of course is 64 senior.
It's I have inherited the mantle that were left behind by Baker and Ron Harper jr. Elsewhere on this roster. You got a bunch of guys who the testicle kind of look like Indiana's had the last few years. In terms of offense, a lot of players struggling. Particularly from to they do hit free throws very well, Andre Hyatt and Derek Simpson, you know, agar forward in a guard, they're both shooting 8T 80% or better Camp. Spencer's actually 95 percent from the free-throw line thus
far. This is a Rutgers team that is Absolutely capable of beating Indiana at home not just because it's Rutgers and it's in Rutgers I can't believe that we're saying this but they are a team that if they're going to beat you they're going to beat you because they turn you over a
bunch. They're going to beat you because they take you out of your comfort zone in terms of shooting and Rutgers then is able to kind of muscle their way over the finish line by hitting just enough shots and picking up just enough offensive rebounds that they you know, they squeak out a victory. You know, you look at the numbers. Is this is probably not a team. Indiana should be afraid of given the relative strengths and weaknesses of both sides. But you have to take them
seriously. Scott because they have just demonstrated their style of basketball works really well against what Indiana's tried to do the last four or five years. You are obviously correct about them being good defensively. They are second in the country on three-point defense. So jokes on them because we don't shoot every well anyway. So there you go have fun with that because yeah ever and we'll
still win. No, I Rhythm in their 40th and Ken Palm. This is not a garbage t-this is it's like I said, I wanted the other pods like this is a it's a good team but if you are going to compete to win the Big Ten, these are the kinds of games that you really need to win. Like, I was going back and looking, you know, it's weird because covid is popped in there.
But you know last year Illinois won the Big Ten they lost three Road games at. Maryland wasn't great at Purdue's defensible, a trucker's oddly, it wasn't great, you know. The covid ear is bizarre but the year before the 1920 season. Michigan State won the Big Ten before the season ended. They lost you know for road games they lost at Purdue Indiana. Wisconsin and Michigan. All those teams at that time we're ranked higher than this Rutgers team is this year.
All that being said is that if you're if you're assuming that Indiana has a chance to win the Big Ten which I do, these are the kinds of games you have to win because we still have Road games. You know, at Iowa at Maryland. At Purdue at Michigan and there's a lot of road games you can't choke this. This is one of those that Wallet not easy is going to be one of the better Road game wins.
You can get early on because you're probably going to drop two or three in 2023 and that rate just because you're playing some tubby, start played Purdue Michigan State on the road. So all that said, it's like this is a game. I do think that they are going to win. I just I think our defense is really good and I just don't think that Rutgers has the offense to compete with our
defense. I think their defense is going to give us some problems but in the end you know very few teams can stop the efficiency of what Trace Jackson Davis could do it. Honestly at this point, the efficiency Xavier Johnson provides me. Both of them are becoming very efficient scores and I think that you kind of have a nice one-two punch of like art if you're going to stop one of them
outside will go inside. If you're just going to stop, Dave, you're inside will be able to score efficiently outside or by driving in. So you know, I think I think this is a game that, you know, as an IU fan you should be cautiously optimistic going into it as one of these again that if we're going to win the Big Ten, if if we lose this game it's not
all lost. But it's like you're now going to have to it sucks to now have to start looking to make up some ground already in the middle of December for the Big Ten season. So, all that said, I think this is a game that is going to be nip-and-tuck. It'll be close, but I think we win. I think we're only like a three-point, you know, favorite on the road. And I think we can cover that as well.
Well one would hope. I mean you know it's interesting if you go back and you look at where where did Indiana fall down last year when they played against Rutgers and in the game that they played at home against Rutgers, the biggest issue that Indiana ran into frankly was that they did not. Really do a good job of keeping Rutgers from scoring, you know, Indiana. If you look at the statistical profile of that game, probably should have won the game.
You know, that was an Indiana team that on the game, scored? One point per possession. Okay? That's pretty good. They they didn't shoot great from three. The shot 28%, they shot 79 percent from the free-throw line, which that's normally been a big problem for IU. They only turned the ball over nine times and they, you know, they picked up 11 combined. Blocks and steals like that's normally a recipe for success.
But what happened in that game was Rutgers shot, 45 44 percent from the from three Ron Harper went 548 Geo Baker went 347. Fortunately, the night goes. I think I think three or four of those five were in like the last 10 minutes of the game. Yeah, absolutely, you know and for a Rutgers team that as per normal struggled to score, Indiana was not able to assert their defensive will at a time when it Turd.
And, you know, keep in mind that, you know, there was at one point, Indiana LED that game 37 to 28 in the second half. They let Rutgers go on a 10-nothing run, then got control of the game and at, you know, after that ten, I think run Indiana, still had a seven point lead at one point. And you know with with ten minutes to go, it was 52:43 and Indiana ended up losing the game 60 62 63. So it's a combination of things, certainly. But you got to keep in mind that Indiana.
Did not finish the job off fensively or defensively in that contest and ultimately that's the kind of thing where, if you're Indiana, the consistency of effort is the going to be the big question mark for most of the Big Ten season because that is what's eluded them in so many prior games, the last few
seasons. It was certainly a major thing under Archie Miller and you know, you go back and look at the games at Indiana lost to Rutgers the previous year, and it's a similar pattern where Indiana Anna would start off strong. You know, at that 10 minute Mark of the first half of the game, the last game that Indiana played at the rack which was February 24th. The 2021 they let 7:40, and they got outscored 10:33. The rest of the way in that half, go ahead.
Well, as I say, the other thing that is different about this Indiana team compared to last year's. Just looking at the stats that game against Rutgers last year, they played basically six guys, the starters all played 30 plus minutes Fitness, he played 17, Had two points was basically a non-factor and then Jordan Geronimo.
Michael dirr and Tamar Bates, all played under 10 minutes Geronimo had six points, but he was so unimpressive as you have an offensive rating and can bomb for the game. And, you know, during Bates were basically zero. You know, they Club trillion their way to those games. You'll basically, six guys playing that game and nobody else contributing. And and I don't think we're going to see that out of Indiana at any point this season, but like, you know, it gives more Carolina.
Malik renew didn't look great against North Carolina. But others five shots. Like I feel like four of them were bunnies. That just yeah most nights are going to go in. You tomorrow Bates had a good get like I just I have a hard time seeing with this team with the depth with the amount of different types of players. We have real hard time seeing this be in that spot where we're just not able to score and only have six guys playing and not
able to stop a team defensively. So I it just seems like this is a much different Indiana team that lost to Rutgers last year, obviously, I think it is. I mean, it. You go back to the North Carolina game, Indiana, put a 13-2 to run on North Carolina towards the end of the first half and then came out of the gates. And if you take the last basket, they scored in the first half and add it onto the beginning, as had a 12-2 run, those kinds of runs offensively. Have not happened for Indiana.
It feels like since 2016 and and so that's a mentality thing as much as it is an execution thing and I am optimistic the fact that I mean when you look at A lot of those Rutgers games, Rutgers has been able to put runs on Indiana. That Indiana hasn't been able to counter. And you know, what did it last year in the one game they played
against Rutgers was the 10-0. Run that Rutgers put on them at the beginning of the second half, so it's a test for Indiana. Can they get themselves through an opponent putting together a big run or just keep runs from happening either way and keep it as a back-and-forth and then gradually pull out. That's essentially what Indiana did against Xavier were there. Never was a big run for either. Team in that game. And yet Indiana was able to keep
themselves in the game. Long enough to finally do some things in winning time in the second half of the second half. So anyway, that game coming up and then obviously Nebraska coming up afterwards, we'll probably pot about IU, basketball, before that, Nebraska game. That's on Wednesday. As there's a lot coming up. Immediately after that that will want to be talking about but huge game for Indiana. If they win this obviously, it'd be their first road win in the conference, be their first
Conference win. It pushed them to 8 and 0 on the
season. and I think would really fortify their credentials as you know a potential top five team not that I really care about the polls but in realistically speaking you know Indiana right now and Ken pom is a thin the country you know that it I do look at those sorts of things and I say you know if Indiana can put a really good combination offensive and defensive performance together and continue to move up in terms of efficiency and what they're doing in terms of efficiency
margin. That's really what I want to see. I want to see a win first and foremost, I really How that happens and need it needs to be a win, but I'd like to see some style points as well. In terms of, can they defend efficiently, can they defend? You know, consistently throughout the 40 minutes and can they get offensive production on the road? It's just annoying. That Purdue has this, like, great Runway. Like they had a great run, but then it's like, you look at their schedule.
It's like, they're home to Minnesota the play Hofstra there at Nebraska, then Davidson New Orleans, Florida A&M than home to Rutgers. It's like they're going to, they might be the number one team in the country. Come January, just The fact they're not going to lose good until January 5th. But again, like, you priest. It's not about winning November. It's not about winning December.
You know, I'm not, I'm like, you not as worried about the the rankings to me. I think I said this before as well. Like these next two, games to me are more important while I'm going to Vegas. I probably drive him to Kansas like the Arizona, Kansas games, are going to be fun. Those are in the end. Those are really empty calories, whereas Rutgers and Nebraska like if we go two and two in the next for I want to win Rucker.
Nebraska because that's, that's going to get us to a big-time love to go for it. Oh yeah. But that's going to get us closer to a big tent. I'd much rather be that than like, you know, three in one, but having lost to Rutgers, it's like you kind of leave that being like, that's that's gonna that's gonna bug me in February. That's gonna come back to haunt you. I hope Purdue continues to win. I really do. I'm not, I'm actually not that afraid of Purdue.
I think they've, they're playing very well, but I am not well, we'll talk about that. Another time, I hope the kiss, I hope you take this call. It is, I hope they did. There was there was there was that story, you know, the last time that Purdue in Indiana were both ranked in the top 10 at the same time was like 1998? I think it was and the last time they played each other ranked in the top 10 was 1987 and here's the thing and we've and the lat, this is the last thing we'll
talk about. Before we wrap up, I love when Purdue in Indiana are both good at the same time. And I actually think that it is a detriment To college basketball when they're both not good at the same time because we have watched in our lives times. When both of these teams were legit top, 10, top, 15, top 20 teams. And it, it's a rivalry that should be so much bigger than it is. And both schools are to blame because both schools have done a bad job of managing themselves.
As top level programs, historically like long tail, over the last 25 years. I would love nothing more to enter into the next five to seven years. We're both of these teams are consistently top, 20 it Wood. It's when the Big Ten was at its apex was when both of these programs were that good? I do not begrudge Purdue their success, but I'm also not scared of them. Very fair. I, that February 4th game. I'm circling that could be a, it'd be great if we both come
in, you know, top ten. I will just end it. I agree with you. It does suck that, like, we've been both like opposite parabolas. Like when Indiana's good produce Badness, like we can't seem to sync it up. It's nice. I would just end with this story. My buddy, Danny came over today. And he's a Michigan fan. I do he's a friend but I don't begrudge him that. But last year we were talking before, when when st.
Peter's beat Kentucky and I'm just like, God, like produce got a path but they're going to get the final four. It's gonna drive me nuts. He's just like, hey, who's produce coach like that painters? Like there you go? You'll be alright, like they're not going to make it. I'm like I said again that there's some great stuff. Like he's probably a coach, I would have wished, we had her last 20 years but this this morning he comes over or having donuts.
And I'm like, man pretty looks really good and he's like hey who's your coach again looking at factors? Like there you go. I'll be fine. And then I also was like, hey man, I got to talk to you. I watch the end that Virginia game, like Juwan Howard, he sucks the coach. So you should maybe be talking about coaching, Matt. Matt Painter is kind of the Gonzaga of coaches, where sportswriters, just cannot help but Fawn all over him and look rightfully.
So but we'll talk about that. Another time finishing up with something else. Indiana related. I will say that, you know, the one of the fascinating things to me about this. Team right now is if you're watching the videos that the team puts out, there's a Vibe like, personality-wise about this team that just feels so much, Freer and looser. Yeah. And yet more focused than what we've seen in a long time and I think Mike, Woodson deserves a tremendous amount of credit for
that. His, you know, it what he's done, the atmosphere that he's created thus far with this team and we saw some of this at the end of last year. I don't think it's fully shined through because there was all of this emotional and psychological pressure about getting back into the NCAA tournament. And this year's team acts like, that's not even an issue. Like this year's team is they seem to get along well with each other. They seem really fired up when they're doing.
Well, you know, they released a video with the players like essentially kind of making fun of the way Mike, Woodson talks and a good-natured banter. It's like, what could you imagine either Archie Miller or Tom crean allowing that to happen? I'll give I'll give credit to my Of my friend Mark Katie for bringing that up. And it's true. It's like the, the, the level of camaraderie and yet Focus that I sense out of watching this, I
you team. And the way that they approach things, this is the sign of a team that has been not just well constructed from a personality perspective but has been given an atmosphere of. Okay, we can have fun and we also have to be successful. There are expectations that are placed upon you. You and you need to carry
through with those things. And, you know, this isn't to denigrate either of the prior coaches that Indiana's had, but I just, it's been so long since it felt okay to have fun watching, Indiana, basketball and where the players seemed like they had a license to have fun playing Indiana basketball, that I don't think Mike, Woodson has gotten enough credit publicly for being able to instill that in such a short
period of time. I mean, the guy is on the, the eighth game on Saturday of his second year here and do to turn it around that quickly. With the basically the same cast of characters is a tremendous accomplishment thus far. So well taken I agree. I love watching the bench during again but it's just it is true. Like under the arch you are the bench was kind of like. All right, we gotta get up and clap like this bench gets fired up.
I know it's given tomorrow. Bates, crap, Road like he, he's great on the bed, he's so fired up. I love it. There was a moment in the game where Trace Jax I think happened twice but Trace Jackson Davis, got his second foul in the first half and like literally like looked at Wooster was like nah, I'm good. Like thumbs-up, like I'm staying in and it wasn't just like kind of smile. And like I was like, all right, Shimano get it. And it's like, but it's he's a
pro coach. Now, he's treating this like it looked like when I watch the Pacers. Like, there's that understanding like yeah, man. No, you're coming out but we don't make a big thing of it, but it's like Trace felt comfortable kind of be like, no, no, I'm good. I'm good, I'm good. And maybe at the end of the year, he's gonna give him the
chance to be good. But I think what's also realize like no, you're not good because I trust you, I don't trust these rafts but like it's just the way they interact the way you are. So right. And It, you talk about it in football, you know how, like we need to have somebody with experience taking the reins. There is something here with like this is a guy who is coached professionally coached
professional athletes. Not saying all pro coach is going to be great in college, but it definitely is working here. I think it works with this team and especially guys like Xavier Johnson, like I think Xavier Johnson, I'll just end with this. He's so good. But I think he could be very tough to coach and I'm not sure a guy like Archie Miller or Tom crean guys to had a little bit of, you know, they seem to not be comfortable their own skin or having a player kind of talk to
them or act like that. Like, Arch Xavier could be a tough guy to coaches, always say, I think Woodson is whole held handling him, perfectly allowing him to do. What he does, have those little moments and it just, it reminds me very much of NBA coaches because the guy's a pro coach, these treating him like an adult. If you don't see the difference in Xavier Johnson's on-court demeanor, And attitude between last year and this year, then you're not watching closely enough.
It is a, it is a sizable difference in the way that he approaches. I mean, he's had a couple of instances and we saw it in the Xavier game, where he's gone off the handle, but that North Carolina game, he was he was aggressive, but he he was a not the same type of player that we saw in some of the games last year and for the better, the last thing I'll say and last thing I'll say about that, Matter where he plays professionally.
It's like he has Mike Woodson to thank because I know matter, he's gonna play a level above whether it's g-league or Spain or even some MBA time. It's because of what exactly what you said. What's it has done the last year to because last year? Xavier is like, man. He's good. But he's raw, and it's like now there's times I watch them like, he could play in the NBA, let me, he's not going to have a 30-year career in the NBA, but
he could get some g-league time. He could place him in the eighth time. He's gonna have a long, professional career. And I'm not sure I would have said that last year. Yeah, I know the last thing. I'll say real, Is, I haven't seen a lot of complaints about Mike. Woodson substitution patterns thus far this year compared to last year. Maybe he just needed better. Subs will talk about that more when we talk next. But we'll, we'll take a break
now and we'll finish things off. Anyway, Scott is always a great pleasure to and a privilege to talk with you about IU basketball, be sure to tune in to the assembly call, as they will be giving you a recap of what goes on in that Rutgers game as well as the Nebraska game. We don't talk to you before then. Good luck to IU men's soccer as they travel to UNC Greensboro for a berth, in the college cup for Scott, I'm Galen this has been Crimson cast, bring back the Bison so long, everybody.
Good luck to IU men's soccer as they travel to UNC Greensboro for a berth, in the college cup for Scott, I'm Galen this has been Crimson cast, bring back the Bison so long, everybody.