Formerly known as the IDS Basketblog, this section covers the five-time NCAA champion Indiana University men’s basketball team.
No, that score above isn’t the Celtics and the Pacers (plus the Pacers actually just beat the Celtics a week or so ago). We’ll see how the team responds, and surely it is still early in the season. For now, here’s ESPN’s Andy Katz’s take on Twitter:
ESPNAndyKatz: Indiana rebuilding job is a long-term project: Final from PR — Boston U. 71, Indiana 67.
IU will face Boston University at 6 p.m. for a spot in Sunday’s consolation finals (5th place game) at the Puerto Rico Tipoff. The winner will play No. 21 Georgia Tech, who defeated George Mason, 80-72. The Patriots await the loser of the IU-BU game.
I don’t have a good scouting report on the the Terriers, but I do know they are 0-3 but were picked unanimously as the favorite to win the America East Conference. The America East is typically a No. 16 seed-caliber conference, but BU hung tough with Kansas State last night in their 10 point loss.
That being said, BU starts four seniors and has their top three scorers back from a year ago. The Terriers are led in scoring by junior John Holland, who averaged 18.1 points as a sophomore, while he has averaged 20.3 through three games this season.
Most interestingly, Holland — who scored 20 in the loss versus Kansas State last night — has played 37 minutes in each of their three games, yet he has not the started the last two. Senior Valdas Sirutis has two inches on the 6-foot-5 Holland and has started those two games, but the 6-foot-7 Lithuanian has recorded just two points and 10 rebounds thus far.
Below the jump is the projected starting lineups (without Holland… I guess), as well as a game prediction:
Following their 89-71 loss to Ole Miss at the Puerto Rico Tipoff, IU will play Boston University at 6 p.m. tomorrow, after the Terriers fell to Kansas State 80-70. The game will not be televised.
Should IU beat BU, they will play for 5th place on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on ESPNU versus the winner of No. 21 Georgia Tech and George Mason. Georgia Tech lost by four to No. 18 Dayton in the tournament’s first game, while No. 5 Villanova narrowly escaped from George Mason this afternoon, 69-68.
Should the Terriers defeat IU, the Hoosiers would face the loser of Georgia Tech and George Mason for 7th place. That game would be at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, also on ESPNU.
Tomorrow’s front draw matchups are Dayton-Villanova at 3 p.m. and Kansas State-Ole Miss at 8:30 p.m., both on the “U.”
Just for fun, here are some random statistics through three games:
Game one of the Puerto Rico is in the books. No. 18 Dayton knocked off No. 21 Georgia Tech 63-59. Georgia Tech has a lot of young talent, including five-star freshman Derrick Favors, but it was the Flyers who prevailed on the backs of three sophomores, Chris Johnson, Paul Williams and Luke Fabrizius.
Game two just got underway between No. 5 Villanova and George Mason, while Kansas State and Boston University will tip off at 7:30 p.m. Of course, IU will take on the Mississippi Rebels squad at 5 p.m., and that’s why you came to this blog in the first place.
Below the jump is a list of projected starters, plus some content that made it into the idsnews.com preview column, but was excluded from today’s actual paper:
We may not be in San Juan, but IU Athletics is. Check out an update on the Hoosiers from the Puerto Rico Tipoff:
Here’s a release from J.D. Campbell, IU basketball media relations guru:
Sophomore guard Matt Roth suffered a right foot injury in practice Wednesday and was taken for X-Rays. He is back with the team and it is unlikely he will play this weekend in Puerto Rico. He will be evaluated further when he returns to Bloomington.
Now, it’s official.
IU men’s basketball recruit Will Sheehey, No. 131 in the Class of 2010, signed a letter of intent to play hoops for the Hoosiers next year. Sheehey confirmed that information in a text message to IDS reporter Justin Albers just minutes ago.
Sheehey, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Weston, FL, averaged 24.6 points and 10 rebounds per game as a high school junior last year. He and shooting guard Victor Oladipo (No. 133) make up IU coach Tom Crean’s 2010 class.
For more information on Sheehey and his decision to play at IU, pick up Wednesday’s edition of The Indiana Daily Student.
IU took down USC Upstate 69-61 in what turned out to be a closer game than it should have been. Christian Watford and Derek Elston continue to impress, as does Maurice Creek, while some of the others are working harder for their points and minutes.
You’ll hear more about the game in tomorrow’s IDS and on idsnews.com, but here’s a little Gus Johnson “unplugged” for you. Nothing against the guy that normally does play-by-play (whose name has slipped my mind) with John Laskowski, but Johnson just does it so smooth.
IU hosts USC Upstate tonight at Assembly Hall at 8:30 p.m.
The Spartans are 0-1 after a 76-49 defeat at the hands of Nebraska on Saturday night. Josh Chavis, a starter last season, is likely to return to the starting point guard role after sophomore De’Marion Gordon opened Saturday’s game at the point.
The Hoosiers are looking to get off to a 2-0 start before heading to Puerto Rico for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff. They face Mississippi in the opening game, with Kansas State and Boston University awaiting the winner and loser of that game. In their first game, IU’s 23-point win was the largest win of the Tom Crean era.
Gus Johnson and John Laskowski will have the call tonight on the Big Ten Network.
Projected starters below the jump:
Indiana once again has a second recruit for the class of 2010.
Will Sheehey just confirmed via text message that he will be playing his collegiate basketball at IU. Sheehey had offers from George Washington and Stanford and was also receiving interest from Georgia Tech and Michigan.
Stay with idsnews.com and Hoosier Hype for more updates as the day goes on.
