Comments on Off the Tracks: Beatdown

First time commenter, long time reader, you do a g...

2009-02-09T12:23:00.000-05:00

First time commenter, long time reader, you do a great job! I do believe that Kramer deserved some credit for his hustle plays. Keys to the disastrous last 10 minutes: [1] the team looked gassed (your spot sub of Riddell or Smith would help here), [2] they finally figured out how to slow LewJack's penetration and NOBODY stepped up from three--thus half of the Illini sagged on JuJuan. Great job by Frazier on E. Moore, if Kramer isn't defender of year in Big Ten then Frazier must be.

Agree that the Scott Martin transfer is huge. I d...

2009-02-09T11:41:00.000-05:00

Agree that the Scott Martin transfer is huge. I don't think the full impact of his transfer was ever fully appreciated. With Hummel out, it sure does seem important now.
But what has happened to Keaton Grant? With JJ stepping up, and good contributions from Jackson, if Grant, (and to some extent Green and Moore) could consistently play at last year's level, this team would be just fine. He seems to have taken a step back.
This team has lost its focus and personality.
I'd like to see them run more of the offense through Moore. He's a proven scorer. They need to work to get him the ball in a postion where he can be successful.

The Scott Martin transfer - which, minus Keady's s...

2009-02-08T19:48:00.000-05:00

The Scott Martin transfer - which, minus Keady's statement that it isn't worth discussing since he is gone, is never discussed - is absolutely huge at this point. As you said, depth - particularly on the front line - and scoring were two major issues today. Martin could've filled the gap with both. I don't see those issues going away until Hummel is (hopefully) healthy next fall and the next Indiana Four come in.