IU Basketball Review, Second Game, 2022: Bethune-Cookman

    I have not been able to (or did not push myself to make the time) to watch a lot of the Indiana Hoosier basketball team this past year. Much of that had to do with time and circumstances. I did not see much of the new guys on the team last year, when the squad qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in years. Some of the players came and went, and I do not miss them. A three-point shooter transfer guard, for example; his name is not coming to me. I did not get a good look at Tamar Bates, an athletic guard, who now is a sophomore. I saw him play some last night.

    First off, the opponent. Predicted by some to be the third best performer in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, an HBCU group, in 2022-23, I thought that they had some good players. They have some athletes, and some shooters, and despite only scoring 49 points against the Hoosiers in Bloomington, I wish them well and I will root for them to win their conference and make the tourney in March. If IU is lucky we could play them again. Second round or something, how cool would that be? 

    Anyway, my best to the Wildcats in Daytona Beach.

    On to the assessment of the Hoosiers. It starts will the potential first-team All American, and even Player of the Year, senior big man Trace Jackson-Davis. He came back as a senior, and maybe NIL (Name Image Likeness) has helped him earn some money while still in college. He is a big force around the rim, and he may bring us some great stuff, like the Big Ten Championship, and even more. He hurt his thumb in practice almost a month ago, but he has it wrapped, and it looks like he will be all right. He is a center and power forward, and can play either. Despite not having much of an outside shot, he can be the difference. Top rated UNC and Kentucky have some great big men, but if our smalls can step up, we may have a shot at putting them down. Plus Duke, Kansas, and maybe Baylor and Houston. I have questions about their big men. Then there are Michigan and Illinois, and Purdue in the Big Ten. We shall see!

    Race Thompson is a 6th year big man, 6"8", athletic and versatile, and is a big part of the front line. Miller Kopp plays on the wing as a starter, and can shoot the lights out. Need him. He shot 4 of 6 treys last night. The starting guard is the highly regarded Jalen Hood-Shifino. He did not make his shots last night, but he passes and rebounds. He, like the frosh off the bench, Malik Reneau, (a big man who can shoot!), "do not play like freshman". This is good. The fifth year senior transfer Xavier Johnson is all we need him to be, we hope. Strong, quick, and hopefully savvy. We need that to win championships. 

    This year is about championships. Big Ten regular season, Big Ten tourney, NCAA March Madness.

    Who else? Trey Galloway, now veteran bench energy and skilled guard/forward. Tamar Bates. Big guard. Jordan Geronimo. 6'6" long athletic guy who can play anywhere, everywhere.

    CJ Gunn and Kaleb Banks, freshman, and Anthony Leal and Logan Duncombe get the garbage minutes, but can contribute in real pinches. They go 12 men deep.

    Jackson-Davis (1), Thompson (2), Kopp (3), Hood-Shifino (4), Johnson (5), Reneau (6), Geronimo (7), Bates (8), Banks (9), Gunn (10), Leal (11), Duncombe (12).