Rest? Who has time for that on the travel basketball July circuit?
Certainly not Spiece Indy Heat and its coach, Reyardo Bluiett.
Yes, he’s the father of Class of 2014 standout Trevon Bluiett and he understands the demands that come from directing a high-profile team. This is a very high-profile team considering it includes Fort Wayne’s James Blackmon (he’s committed to IU), Trey Lyles (he’s also committed to Indiana), Evansville’s Jaquan Lyle (who’s been offered by IU), Trevon Bluiett (hes also been offered by IU), Indianapolis P.J. Thompson (who’s generating a LOT of interest), and more.
“It gets a little much, but you know you’re doing it for the kids,” Reynardo Bluiett says. “You’re doing it so these guys can go to school and take care of their families one day. You keep that in the back of your mind.
“I miss work and miss my other kid, but I’m working for these guys right now.”
The work can be relentless. For instance, the adidas Invitational ended on Saturday.
That night, the adidas College Coaches Classic began. It included Indiana Elite One and Hoosier commit from the Class of 2012, Ron Patterson. The Classic was held at North Central High School and Northview Middle School, the same location as many of the adidas Invitational games.
Meanwhile, Louisville’s Kentucky Hoopfest has begun. So has the D-1 Elite tourney in Elmhurst, Ill. And don’t forget the IBCA top 100 event at Indianapolis Ben Davis High School. That starts on Monday.
Spiece Indy Heat is in Elmhurt. In a few days it will be at the Fishers Fieldhouse for an event. Then the team will take a week or so off before competing in the St. Louis Classic and a Fort Wayne event to end the month.
“It’s a grind,” Reynardo Bluiett says, “but we know it’s coming every year. There’s no getting around it. It’s just like taxes.”
Only a lot more fun.
****
A reader wondered if a vacated football win counts on the other team’s record. Specifically, does Ohio State vacating all of its victories for the 2010 season, including its win over IU, change the Hoosiers’ record from 5-7 to 6-6.
Technically, IU’s record probably does stay the same. Ohio State vacating its victories doesn’t change the overall official record. It’s likely, however, that the NCAA will mandate that the Buckeyes have to forfeit all of its games for playing ineligible players that its head coach (Jim Tressel) knew had violated NCAA rules, so in the end the Hoosiers’ record will be 6-6.
The NCAA has final say, just as it did when it got Kentucky to acknowledge that basketball coach John Calipari had to give up a bunch of victories because of issues during his days at Massachusetts and Memphis.
All this won’t change anything as new coach Kevin Wilson begins his new Cream ‘n Crimson football adventure. He’s determined to win right away and if the quarterback situation is satisfactorily resolved and the defense is just mediocre, IU has a chance.
Yes, we know. It’s July when all things are possible, even the Pittsburgh Pirates making the playoffs for the first time since Moses parted the Red Sea.
*****
Detroit point guard Derrick Walton looked awfully good during the adidas Invitational. He’s quick, can score and can handle the ball. He’s rated as the No. 88 player in the class of 2013.
IU coaches took a long look at him, but so did Michigan State coaches, including former IPFW head coach and Hoosier standout Dane Fife, who is now a Spartan assistant coach.
Michigan has offered Walton a scholarship. Michigan State has not. Neither has IU. Xaiver, Detroit, Iowa State and Central Michigan also has offered scholarships.
The Hoosiers might be more interested in another point guard, Demetrius Jackson of Mishawaka Marion. He’s rated as the No. 71 player in the class.
For what it’s worth, Walton is 6-foot and 170 pounds to Jackson’s 6-1 and 179.
IU also is looking at Fisher’s point guard Jaylon Brown and Michigan swingman Bo Zeigler.
As Hoosier coach Tom Crean has said, recruiting never stops. Never.
*****
Indiana Elite/Team Indiana just missed a chance to play in a nationally televised game when it lost in Saturday’s adidas Invitational semifinals to New Heights NYC 60-58.
Jeremy Holloway once again led Indiana Elite, this time with 15 points. Yogi Ferrell had 11 points. The other big gun and IU commitment, Hanner Perea, fouled out with just two points.
Hollowell averaged 21.4 points in the event.
In the title game, which was televised by CBS College Sports TV, New Heights NYC lost to the Florida Rams 89-82.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Hollowell Finds His Fire; IU Benefits From Ohio State Football Scandal; More
Has Jeremy Hollowell finally found his fire? Is his passion and intensity finally matching his potential?
His performance at the adidas Invitational suggests yes to both. If that’s true, it bodes very well for Indiana’s basketball future.
Hollowell had a team-leading 28 points in another Indiana Elite/Team Indiana victory, this time 75-65 over the Houston Defenders on Friday. He’s been the team’s dominant scorer, if not dominant player, in every game, averaging 23.2 points. Sure, Hanner Perea has more spectacular dunks and Yogi Ferrell more running-the-show leadership, but the 6-7 Hollowell has been the guy with the big offense this week, which is what you’d expect from a guy rated as the nation’s No. 11 small forward and No. 52 player overall in the Class of 2012.
Hollowell is far from a finished product. He has to play better defense, become a better rebounder, understand what working hard really means and just play with more consistency, but that’s true of every high school player.
The bottom line is it seems that the casual attitude that hindered him earlier has been replaced by a more mature approach. He’s becoming the player IU coach Tom Crean envisioned when he offered him a scholarship. If that continues, look out. He might end up being the best player on what should be a dynamite freshman class.
*****
What does Ohio State forfeiting its entire 2010 football season mean for Indiana?
Not much in the big picture, but it does give the Hoosiers a 6-6 record for the season, 2-6 in the Big Ten, instead of 5-7 and 1-7. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 when they beat IU 38-10 in Columbus last season.
Ironically, if the forfeit had occurred during last season, it would have made the Hoosiers bowl eligible and, perhaps, gotten them a bowl bid and, with an even bigger perhaps, saved former coach Bill Lynch’s job.
Instead, Lynch was fired and Kevin Wilson was hired.
*****
Ohio State is trying to dodge the wrath of the NCAA in the wake of its memorabilia-for-cash-and-tattoos scandal. It forfeited the entire 2010 football season, including its Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas. It stripped its program of a share of the Big Ten title and ended its seven-game winning streak against Michigan. It put the program on a two-year probation, meaning there will be harsher penalties if more violations are discovered.
Oh, yes. It got rid of coach Jim Tressel. Technically, he resigned, although that didn’t fool anyone. Then, in a neat twist, it said he retired rather than resigned and is waiving its $250,000 fine against him for breaking NCAA rules. Tressel has indicated he’ll take responsibility for the NCAA investigation.
Finally, quarterback Terrelle Pryor left school and will try to get into the NFL.
Is that enough to prevent a loss of scholarships and a postseason ban?
Maybe.
Tressel and Ohio State will go before the NCAA Infractions committee next month to give their side of this mess. Tressel didn’t start the problem -- players who sold memorabilia for cash and tattoos did –- but he sure made it a lot worse. He knew about the violations and didn’t tell anyone for almost a year, lying to the NCAA and his own university in the process.
Athletic director Gene Smith said the university will change the way it manages its football players. It will focus on the cars they drive, where they live and what bars and restaurants they visit. It all sounds good, but is it enough to buy NCAA mercy?
Our guess is the NCAA will add additional sanctions, including a postseason ban. Ohio State already has lost a couple of recruits, and when this is over, it will lose a couple more.
IU is only now recovering from its basketball mess. Figure the Buckeyes are about to go through similar struggles in football.
We should know sometime this fall.
*****
So now we know, thanks to Jeff Rabjohns and Peegs.com, that Hamilton Southeastern shooting guard Gary Harris has narrowed his recruiting list to four schools: Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State and Louisville. Much like Cody Zeller last year, he will make his official visits in the fall and then pick a school.
Considering that Harris is the No. 28 ranked player in the Class of 2012, it will be a huge announcement and big news for whichever school lands him.
One thing. He’ll only make official visits to three of those schools and will finalize that by the end of the summer.
If he goes to IU, he would clinch any doubt that it has the best recruiting class in the nation. The Hoosiers already have Yogi Ferrell, Ron Patterson, Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell and Peter Jurkin.
Both of Harris’s parents went to Purdue, and his mother played basketball for the Boilers, but that doesn’t give the Boilers any more of an edge. It will be Gary’s decision based on what’s best for him.
Could that be football given he’s an outstanding prospect in that sport? It’s very unlikely, although the Harris family told Rabjohns that football coaches from Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Florida State and Tennessee have contacted him.
Here’s how much Crean wants Harris. He came to more Hamilton Southeastern football games than any other college basketball coach last season. He also was very visible at the LeBron James Skill Academy in Akron this week where Harris is playing.
Figure Crean will attend every Hamilton Southeastern home football game this season. Don’t be surprised if he has to battle Purdue’s Matt Painter, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Louisville’s Rick Pitino for most visible college basketball coach on the sidelines.
No matter what happens, it’s going to be a very intriguing fall.
*****
IU’s Mitch Ewald is reaping the benefits of a big-time kicking freshman season. He is one of 30 candidates for the Lou Groza Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top kicker. Ewald went 16-for-19 last season. The 16 field goals ties Bill Manolopoulos for third on IU’s single-season list. He also went 33-for-33 on extra points. He earned All-Freshman honors by ESPN.com and Rivals.com.
After kicking the game winning field goal in overtime to beat Purdue, he was named Big Ten freshman of the week and Big Ten special teams player of the week.
The award is named for Lou “The Toe” Groza, a Hall of Fame kicker for the Cleveland Browns and the 1954 NFL player of the year.
His performance at the adidas Invitational suggests yes to both. If that’s true, it bodes very well for Indiana’s basketball future.
Hollowell had a team-leading 28 points in another Indiana Elite/Team Indiana victory, this time 75-65 over the Houston Defenders on Friday. He’s been the team’s dominant scorer, if not dominant player, in every game, averaging 23.2 points. Sure, Hanner Perea has more spectacular dunks and Yogi Ferrell more running-the-show leadership, but the 6-7 Hollowell has been the guy with the big offense this week, which is what you’d expect from a guy rated as the nation’s No. 11 small forward and No. 52 player overall in the Class of 2012.
Hollowell is far from a finished product. He has to play better defense, become a better rebounder, understand what working hard really means and just play with more consistency, but that’s true of every high school player.
The bottom line is it seems that the casual attitude that hindered him earlier has been replaced by a more mature approach. He’s becoming the player IU coach Tom Crean envisioned when he offered him a scholarship. If that continues, look out. He might end up being the best player on what should be a dynamite freshman class.
*****
What does Ohio State forfeiting its entire 2010 football season mean for Indiana?
Not much in the big picture, but it does give the Hoosiers a 6-6 record for the season, 2-6 in the Big Ten, instead of 5-7 and 1-7. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 2 when they beat IU 38-10 in Columbus last season.
Ironically, if the forfeit had occurred during last season, it would have made the Hoosiers bowl eligible and, perhaps, gotten them a bowl bid and, with an even bigger perhaps, saved former coach Bill Lynch’s job.
Instead, Lynch was fired and Kevin Wilson was hired.
*****
Ohio State is trying to dodge the wrath of the NCAA in the wake of its memorabilia-for-cash-and-tattoos scandal. It forfeited the entire 2010 football season, including its Sugar Bowl victory over Arkansas. It stripped its program of a share of the Big Ten title and ended its seven-game winning streak against Michigan. It put the program on a two-year probation, meaning there will be harsher penalties if more violations are discovered.
Oh, yes. It got rid of coach Jim Tressel. Technically, he resigned, although that didn’t fool anyone. Then, in a neat twist, it said he retired rather than resigned and is waiving its $250,000 fine against him for breaking NCAA rules. Tressel has indicated he’ll take responsibility for the NCAA investigation.
Finally, quarterback Terrelle Pryor left school and will try to get into the NFL.
Is that enough to prevent a loss of scholarships and a postseason ban?
Maybe.
Tressel and Ohio State will go before the NCAA Infractions committee next month to give their side of this mess. Tressel didn’t start the problem -- players who sold memorabilia for cash and tattoos did –- but he sure made it a lot worse. He knew about the violations and didn’t tell anyone for almost a year, lying to the NCAA and his own university in the process.
Athletic director Gene Smith said the university will change the way it manages its football players. It will focus on the cars they drive, where they live and what bars and restaurants they visit. It all sounds good, but is it enough to buy NCAA mercy?
Our guess is the NCAA will add additional sanctions, including a postseason ban. Ohio State already has lost a couple of recruits, and when this is over, it will lose a couple more.
IU is only now recovering from its basketball mess. Figure the Buckeyes are about to go through similar struggles in football.
We should know sometime this fall.
*****
So now we know, thanks to Jeff Rabjohns and Peegs.com, that Hamilton Southeastern shooting guard Gary Harris has narrowed his recruiting list to four schools: Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State and Louisville. Much like Cody Zeller last year, he will make his official visits in the fall and then pick a school.
Considering that Harris is the No. 28 ranked player in the Class of 2012, it will be a huge announcement and big news for whichever school lands him.
One thing. He’ll only make official visits to three of those schools and will finalize that by the end of the summer.
If he goes to IU, he would clinch any doubt that it has the best recruiting class in the nation. The Hoosiers already have Yogi Ferrell, Ron Patterson, Hanner Perea, Jeremy Hollowell and Peter Jurkin.
Both of Harris’s parents went to Purdue, and his mother played basketball for the Boilers, but that doesn’t give the Boilers any more of an edge. It will be Gary’s decision based on what’s best for him.
Could that be football given he’s an outstanding prospect in that sport? It’s very unlikely, although the Harris family told Rabjohns that football coaches from Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Florida State and Tennessee have contacted him.
Here’s how much Crean wants Harris. He came to more Hamilton Southeastern football games than any other college basketball coach last season. He also was very visible at the LeBron James Skill Academy in Akron this week where Harris is playing.
Figure Crean will attend every Hamilton Southeastern home football game this season. Don’t be surprised if he has to battle Purdue’s Matt Painter, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Louisville’s Rick Pitino for most visible college basketball coach on the sidelines.
No matter what happens, it’s going to be a very intriguing fall.
*****
IU’s Mitch Ewald is reaping the benefits of a big-time kicking freshman season. He is one of 30 candidates for the Lou Groza Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top kicker. Ewald went 16-for-19 last season. The 16 field goals ties Bill Manolopoulos for third on IU’s single-season list. He also went 33-for-33 on extra points. He earned All-Freshman honors by ESPN.com and Rivals.com.
After kicking the game winning field goal in overtime to beat Purdue, he was named Big Ten freshman of the week and Big Ten special teams player of the week.
The award is named for Lou “The Toe” Groza, a Hall of Fame kicker for the Cleveland Browns and the 1954 NFL player of the year.
IU Recruits Winning Big; Wilson Adds Running Back; And More
In the end with all this Indiana basketball recruiting, it’s about winning. It doesn’t matter where the Hoosiers' Class of 2012 is ranked or how high guys such as Hanner Perea, Yogi Ferrell and Jeremy Hollowell are rated.
Can they win? When they get to Indiana, will they help restore the Cream ‘n Crimson tradition?
We won’t know that until they get to IU, but we can get an indication from their play in high school and travel ball.
At the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis, it looks like they’ve finally gotten a handle on this winning thing.
Much has been made of the fact that their travel team, Indiana Elite/Team Indiana didn’t win a tournament in the spring. There were a lot of factors in that, primarly that the squads they went against were really, really good.
Well, the Super Pool they were in at the adidas Invitational was ridiculously tough. There was Dream Vision with the nation’s No. 1 player, Shabazz Muhammand. There was Connecticut with No. 2 Andre Drummond, a guy so big you can’t believe he’s still a teen ager. There was a talented Atlanta Celtics squad.
Indiana Elite went 2-1 against them after roughing up the Atlanta Celtics 72-60 on Thursday and could have/should have beaten Dream Vision. It blew a 14-point second-half lead, mostly because Muhammad went all Kobe Bryant with 39 points.
Perea totaled 15 points against the Atlanta Celtics. Ferrell added 10 points. Hollowell had a team-high 18 points, which continued his big-scoring efforts in this event.
Indiana Elite/Team Indiana coach Mark Adams added some guards to help take the pressure off Ferrell, and that helped, but this squad will go as far as Ferrell, Perea and Hollowell will lead them. They are doing the job and if the winning continues in Indianapolis and the rest of the month, look out. It will bode very well for when they finally join the Hoosiers.
*****
IU coach Tom Crean continues to cover all recruiting bases. On Thursday he was in Akron for the LeBron James Skill Academy to check out super star recruits Gary Harris and Mitch McGary, among others. Yes, Purdue coach Matt Painter was there, as well, so the recruiting battle continues.
The Hoosiers, meanwhile, continue to check out point guards. They really don’t have a true point guard on the current roster (Jordan Hulls comes the closest, but they’ll run a mix of Hulls, Verdell Jones and combo guard Remy Abell this season). Ferrell will have the role for the Class of 2012, but Crean and his staff are looking for 2013 help.
It could come from Demetrius Jackson out of Mishawaka Marian or Derreck Walton out of Michigan. Jackson scored 21 and 28 points in adidas Invitational games. He’s been offered by Michigan and Xavier, and is rated No. 71 in the class. Walton is from Detroit and had 35 points against Speice Indy Heat. He’s rated No. 88. Michigan has offered Walton, and Michigan State could be next.
*****
Just when you thought IU football coach Kevin Wilson was done adding to his group of 2011 newcomers, here comes a junior college twist.
Stephen Houston, who thrived during his one year as a running back at Independence (Kansas) Community College, has joined the IU football program.
What does it mean?
For starters, it gives the position some depth, crucial given the knee injuries that have staggered the prospects. Darius Willis remains in the uncertain category after last season’s knee surgery, so finding a mature running back was important.
Is Houston that guy?
Well, he’s 6-2 and 220 pounds, so he has good size. At Independence last season he rushed for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 6.6 yards a carry.
As a high school senior in Ohio he rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was a very good hurdler in track. As a two-sport athlete, he has the kind of athleticism you want in a running back.
Still, we won’t know how much he’ll help this season, if he can help at all, until fall camp begins next month.
****
Can Damarlo Belcher be the next Fred Biletnikoff?
Maybe, but first you have to ask yourself, who is Fred Biletnikoff. For those of a certain age, which means you remember when Johnny Quest ruled Saturday morning cartoons, Biletnikoff links back to a hard-hitting past. He was an outstanding receiver for the Oakland Raiders and Florida State, setting a standard the college game still honors.
Belcher is in the running for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top receiver. He had 78 catches last season, second in school history to James Hardy’s 79. He led the Big Ten in receptions. He is the 15th Hoosier to reach 100 career catches and 1,000 career yards. He ranks third in school history with 164 catches and sxith with 1,939 yards.
Hardy has the record with 191 catches for 2,740 yards.
Also, tight end Ted Bolser is on the watch list for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end. He had 27 catches for 407 yards and five touchdowns last season as a freshman.
John Mackey was an All-Pro tight end for the then Baltimore Colts. He died recently after suffering from dementia.
Can they win? When they get to Indiana, will they help restore the Cream ‘n Crimson tradition?
We won’t know that until they get to IU, but we can get an indication from their play in high school and travel ball.
At the adidas Invitational in Indianapolis, it looks like they’ve finally gotten a handle on this winning thing.
Much has been made of the fact that their travel team, Indiana Elite/Team Indiana didn’t win a tournament in the spring. There were a lot of factors in that, primarly that the squads they went against were really, really good.
Well, the Super Pool they were in at the adidas Invitational was ridiculously tough. There was Dream Vision with the nation’s No. 1 player, Shabazz Muhammand. There was Connecticut with No. 2 Andre Drummond, a guy so big you can’t believe he’s still a teen ager. There was a talented Atlanta Celtics squad.
Indiana Elite went 2-1 against them after roughing up the Atlanta Celtics 72-60 on Thursday and could have/should have beaten Dream Vision. It blew a 14-point second-half lead, mostly because Muhammad went all Kobe Bryant with 39 points.
Perea totaled 15 points against the Atlanta Celtics. Ferrell added 10 points. Hollowell had a team-high 18 points, which continued his big-scoring efforts in this event.
Indiana Elite/Team Indiana coach Mark Adams added some guards to help take the pressure off Ferrell, and that helped, but this squad will go as far as Ferrell, Perea and Hollowell will lead them. They are doing the job and if the winning continues in Indianapolis and the rest of the month, look out. It will bode very well for when they finally join the Hoosiers.
*****
IU coach Tom Crean continues to cover all recruiting bases. On Thursday he was in Akron for the LeBron James Skill Academy to check out super star recruits Gary Harris and Mitch McGary, among others. Yes, Purdue coach Matt Painter was there, as well, so the recruiting battle continues.
The Hoosiers, meanwhile, continue to check out point guards. They really don’t have a true point guard on the current roster (Jordan Hulls comes the closest, but they’ll run a mix of Hulls, Verdell Jones and combo guard Remy Abell this season). Ferrell will have the role for the Class of 2012, but Crean and his staff are looking for 2013 help.
It could come from Demetrius Jackson out of Mishawaka Marian or Derreck Walton out of Michigan. Jackson scored 21 and 28 points in adidas Invitational games. He’s been offered by Michigan and Xavier, and is rated No. 71 in the class. Walton is from Detroit and had 35 points against Speice Indy Heat. He’s rated No. 88. Michigan has offered Walton, and Michigan State could be next.
*****
Just when you thought IU football coach Kevin Wilson was done adding to his group of 2011 newcomers, here comes a junior college twist.
Stephen Houston, who thrived during his one year as a running back at Independence (Kansas) Community College, has joined the IU football program.
What does it mean?
For starters, it gives the position some depth, crucial given the knee injuries that have staggered the prospects. Darius Willis remains in the uncertain category after last season’s knee surgery, so finding a mature running back was important.
Is Houston that guy?
Well, he’s 6-2 and 220 pounds, so he has good size. At Independence last season he rushed for 1,082 yards and five touchdowns. He averaged 6.6 yards a carry.
As a high school senior in Ohio he rushed for 887 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was a very good hurdler in track. As a two-sport athlete, he has the kind of athleticism you want in a running back.
Still, we won’t know how much he’ll help this season, if he can help at all, until fall camp begins next month.
****
Can Damarlo Belcher be the next Fred Biletnikoff?
Maybe, but first you have to ask yourself, who is Fred Biletnikoff. For those of a certain age, which means you remember when Johnny Quest ruled Saturday morning cartoons, Biletnikoff links back to a hard-hitting past. He was an outstanding receiver for the Oakland Raiders and Florida State, setting a standard the college game still honors.
Belcher is in the running for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top receiver. He had 78 catches last season, second in school history to James Hardy’s 79. He led the Big Ten in receptions. He is the 15th Hoosier to reach 100 career catches and 1,000 career yards. He ranks third in school history with 164 catches and sxith with 1,939 yards.
Hardy has the record with 191 catches for 2,740 yards.
Also, tight end Ted Bolser is on the watch list for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation’s top tight end. He had 27 catches for 407 yards and five touchdowns last season as a freshman.
John Mackey was an All-Pro tight end for the then Baltimore Colts. He died recently after suffering from dementia.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Crean And Staff All Over Adidas Invitational
Tom Crean hit the adidas Invitational hard, as you knew he would. The Indiana coach took maximum advantage of this annual basketball event, which brings in many of the top players in the nation.
So when IU commitments Yogi Ferrell, Hanner Perea and Jeremy Hollowell went toe-to-toe with powerhouse teams from California and Connecticut on Wednesday at Indianapolis North Central, Crean was there on the front row. Assistant coaches Tim Buckley and Steve McClain also were highly visible spectators.
Crean and his staff weren’t alone in conspicuous observance. High-profile coaches such as Kentucky’s John Calipari, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Duke’s Coach K, Arizona’s Sean Miller, St. John’s Steve Lavin, New Mexico’s Steve Alford and a lot more were on hand to evaluate and, yes, be seen. It’s a big part of the recruiting game, especially since coaches aren’t allowed to contact players during this time.
Crean was there to see more than his three main guys from the Class of 2012. For instance, Collin Hartman scored 22 points to least the Eric Gordon All-Stars over Dream Vision 82-75. Hartman is from Indianapolis Cathedral and is ranked No. 82 in the Class of 2013. He’s also one of two players from that class who have committed to IU. The other is Devin Davis from Warren Central. He’s ranked No. 55.
As far as who else IU is looking at in the classes of 2013 and 2014, there was plenty to choose from.
Point guard options for the 2013 class were Jaylon Brown (he had 11 points in one game) and Demetrius Jackson (he had 21 points in one game), plus small forwards Stephen Domingo (he totaled 31 points in two games) and Brannen Green (more on him in a moment).
The Spiece Indy Heat team had 2014 prospects P.J. Thompson, Trevon Bluiett and Jaquan Lyle. James Blackmon and Trey Lyles also are on that team, but have already committed to IU.
****
Don’t be surprised if Georgia forward Brannen Greene gets an offer from IU. He looked very good for his Atlanta Celtics team and scored 19 points in an 87-77 victory over Urban DFW Elite.
The 6-7 Greene already has offers from Louisville, Memphis, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State and Tennessee. He’s getting long looks from Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and, yes, Indiana.
*****
Indiana Elite/Team Indiana is not the squad everyone expected. Why? Because the team, which was set to be led by five IU committed players, is playing with just three. Center Peter Jurkin is out with a leg injury. Combo guard Ron Patterson bolted after a May Classic defeat and now plays for Indiana Elite One.
That’s part of the reason why Indiana Elite/Team Indiana failed to win a tournament in April and May. Vulnerability seemed to resurface when it blew a big lead and lost to Dream Vision in Wednesday’s opening game of the adidas Invitational. But the team rebounded to handle a strong Connecticut club that included Andre Drummond, the nation’s second-ranked player in the Class of 2012.
Having only three Hoosier commitments doesn’t bother Hanner Perea, in part because he’s one of them.
“I know we won’t be perfect,” he said. “We just need to play through everything. We need to keep playing and keep getting better.”
Teammate Yogi Ferrell ageed.
“Yeah, it’s kind of disappointing (that all five guys aren’t playing), but I wish the best for Ron, and Peter is still hurt and can’t play. I don’t think it will hurt us too much as far as Indiana. We still work with what we have.”
The fact that work comes at an event such as the adidas Invitational, which brings most of the top players and coaches in the country, is an added bonus.
“It’s great,” Ferrell said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing. You don’t get to play against the top players in the country every day. We’ll take each opportunity and try to make the best of it.”
Because it's playing in a Super Pool with three other strong teams, it will advance to pool play no matter what happens in its final pool game today against Atlanta Celtics 17U.
*****
V.J. Beachem put out the word -- he wants an offer from Indiana.
Beachem is a standout guard on the Eric Gordon All-Star squad that includes a couple of Hoosier commitments in the Class of 2013 in Collin Hartman and Devin Davis. He’s a 6-7 guy who is ranked No. 42 nationally. He’s moved to New Haven High School after his old school, Harding, closed because of budget woes in the school corporation.
Purdue and Butler have offered him. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State are among the schools recruiting him.
Another Eric Gordon All-Star teammate, Basil Smotherman, has committed to Purdue and is pushing Beachem to choose the Boilers.
Beachem scored 16 points in a victory over New Heights NYC Wednesday. Painter, Crean, Ohio State’s Thad Matta, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Butler’s Brad Stevens watched.
*****
Spiece Indy Heat seemed outgunned. Blackmon Jr. wasn’t there. Neither was Lyles. That meant the team would be without a pair of IU commitments for the Class of 2014.
So what happened? Trevon Bluiett blew up -- in a good way. He had 29 points in a 59-54 victory over Garner Road Elite. He’s good now and certain to get better. Indiana already has offered him a scholarship. Notre Dame is among the other schools recruiting him.
Blackmon was missing because he was attending the funeral of the Hatch family from Fort Wayne. Lyles was at another basketball event.
So when IU commitments Yogi Ferrell, Hanner Perea and Jeremy Hollowell went toe-to-toe with powerhouse teams from California and Connecticut on Wednesday at Indianapolis North Central, Crean was there on the front row. Assistant coaches Tim Buckley and Steve McClain also were highly visible spectators.
Crean and his staff weren’t alone in conspicuous observance. High-profile coaches such as Kentucky’s John Calipari, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Duke’s Coach K, Arizona’s Sean Miller, St. John’s Steve Lavin, New Mexico’s Steve Alford and a lot more were on hand to evaluate and, yes, be seen. It’s a big part of the recruiting game, especially since coaches aren’t allowed to contact players during this time.
Crean was there to see more than his three main guys from the Class of 2012. For instance, Collin Hartman scored 22 points to least the Eric Gordon All-Stars over Dream Vision 82-75. Hartman is from Indianapolis Cathedral and is ranked No. 82 in the Class of 2013. He’s also one of two players from that class who have committed to IU. The other is Devin Davis from Warren Central. He’s ranked No. 55.
As far as who else IU is looking at in the classes of 2013 and 2014, there was plenty to choose from.
Point guard options for the 2013 class were Jaylon Brown (he had 11 points in one game) and Demetrius Jackson (he had 21 points in one game), plus small forwards Stephen Domingo (he totaled 31 points in two games) and Brannen Green (more on him in a moment).
The Spiece Indy Heat team had 2014 prospects P.J. Thompson, Trevon Bluiett and Jaquan Lyle. James Blackmon and Trey Lyles also are on that team, but have already committed to IU.
****
Don’t be surprised if Georgia forward Brannen Greene gets an offer from IU. He looked very good for his Atlanta Celtics team and scored 19 points in an 87-77 victory over Urban DFW Elite.
The 6-7 Greene already has offers from Louisville, Memphis, Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State and Tennessee. He’s getting long looks from Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and, yes, Indiana.
*****
Indiana Elite/Team Indiana is not the squad everyone expected. Why? Because the team, which was set to be led by five IU committed players, is playing with just three. Center Peter Jurkin is out with a leg injury. Combo guard Ron Patterson bolted after a May Classic defeat and now plays for Indiana Elite One.
That’s part of the reason why Indiana Elite/Team Indiana failed to win a tournament in April and May. Vulnerability seemed to resurface when it blew a big lead and lost to Dream Vision in Wednesday’s opening game of the adidas Invitational. But the team rebounded to handle a strong Connecticut club that included Andre Drummond, the nation’s second-ranked player in the Class of 2012.
Having only three Hoosier commitments doesn’t bother Hanner Perea, in part because he’s one of them.
“I know we won’t be perfect,” he said. “We just need to play through everything. We need to keep playing and keep getting better.”
Teammate Yogi Ferrell ageed.
“Yeah, it’s kind of disappointing (that all five guys aren’t playing), but I wish the best for Ron, and Peter is still hurt and can’t play. I don’t think it will hurt us too much as far as Indiana. We still work with what we have.”
The fact that work comes at an event such as the adidas Invitational, which brings most of the top players and coaches in the country, is an added bonus.
“It’s great,” Ferrell said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing. You don’t get to play against the top players in the country every day. We’ll take each opportunity and try to make the best of it.”
Because it's playing in a Super Pool with three other strong teams, it will advance to pool play no matter what happens in its final pool game today against Atlanta Celtics 17U.
*****
V.J. Beachem put out the word -- he wants an offer from Indiana.
Beachem is a standout guard on the Eric Gordon All-Star squad that includes a couple of Hoosier commitments in the Class of 2013 in Collin Hartman and Devin Davis. He’s a 6-7 guy who is ranked No. 42 nationally. He’s moved to New Haven High School after his old school, Harding, closed because of budget woes in the school corporation.
Purdue and Butler have offered him. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Michigan State are among the schools recruiting him.
Another Eric Gordon All-Star teammate, Basil Smotherman, has committed to Purdue and is pushing Beachem to choose the Boilers.
Beachem scored 16 points in a victory over New Heights NYC Wednesday. Painter, Crean, Ohio State’s Thad Matta, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Butler’s Brad Stevens watched.
*****
Spiece Indy Heat seemed outgunned. Blackmon Jr. wasn’t there. Neither was Lyles. That meant the team would be without a pair of IU commitments for the Class of 2014.
So what happened? Trevon Bluiett blew up -- in a good way. He had 29 points in a 59-54 victory over Garner Road Elite. He’s good now and certain to get better. Indiana already has offered him a scholarship. Notre Dame is among the other schools recruiting him.
Blackmon was missing because he was attending the funeral of the Hatch family from Fort Wayne. Lyles was at another basketball event.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Is Jurkin The Real Deal, Adidas Invite Battle and Overton Thrives
Are you dying to find out if Peter Jurkin is the real basketball deal, a 6-11 stud center who will help solve Indiana’s inside problems for the foreseeable future?
Well, take a deep breath and be patient. It ain’t happening this week in Indianapolis. In fact, nobody will see him in action the entire month of July.
Why? Because Jurkin is still recovering from the stress fracture in his left leg that cost him much of his high school junior season and all of the spring (except for a brief appearance in the ESPN tourney) and early summer travel ball action.
The official word from Indiana Elite, the team Jurkin plays for, is that while his leg is improving, doctors think “it’s best to continue rehab and prepare for his senior season since he’s already committed.”
Jurkin, by the way, started the Tom Crean recruiting juggernaut last summer when he became the first Class of 2012 player to commit.
It’s hard to know how good Jurkin is. Because of the injury, he’s fallen off the recruiting ranking charts. He plays for United Faith Christian Academy in North Carolina.
Jurkin needs to get bigger and stronger. That much is obvious. He’s listed at around 215 pounds, which is fine if you’re, say, 6-1, but not so fine when you’re pushing 7 feet. But he can jump (when healthy) and with a 7-2 wingspan is an imposing shot blocker.
National recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, whose All-Star Report recruiting service is based out of North Carolina, has seen Jurkin play.
“He didn’t get to play a lot down here and he’s still somewhat of a mystery player,” Gibbons said. “He has a lot of talent. A lot of upside. He’s long and can block shots. He’s still a work in progress as far as his offensive game. But with his long arms, towering length and excellent wing span, he will be a force in the middle for Indiana. He’ll be an intimidator. When Tom Crean and his staff teach him some low-post scoring skills, he’ll be a real factor.”
Because of all the time Jurkin has missed, it’s possible he might go to prep school for a year and join the Class of 2013. That would free up a 2012 scholarship for Gary Harris or Mitch McGary.
Possible, but not definite. It's part of the intrigue that follows Indiana recruiting.
*****
We’re about to get an idea of how good Hanner Perea and Jeremy Hollowell really are. The Indiana basketball commits for the Class of 2012 will get a chance to play against the nation’s top two players during the adidas Invitational.
Perea and Hollowell also play for Indiana Elite/Team Indiana. It’s in a tourney pool that includes Dream Vision and Connecticut Basketball Club. Dream Vision is led by 6-6 forward Shabazz Muhammad, who is ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com. Connecticut is led by 6-9 center Andre Drummond, who is ranked No. 2.
Assuming everybody brings the necessary intensity -- and you’d figure they would considering the national reputation stakes plus the fact a ton of high-profile college coaches are likely to be watching –- it will be perfect preparation for what lies ahead in college.
*****
Have you noticed how well former IU golfer Jeff Overton is playing these days?
He just finished tied for third in the AT&T National in Pennsylvania which was worth $322,400. It was his third top-10 finish of the season.
That means Overton has made $1,039,570 this year, which ranks 51st on the PGA list.
Not to give away our age, but there was a time when that six-month total would have made you the PGA CAREER money record holder.
In six years on the PGA Tour, Overton has made just over $8 million. That just happens to be just over $8 million more than we’ve made on golf, not that we’re bitter.
Anyway, last Sunday’s winnings was his biggest paycheck of the season, topping the $184,000 he won at the Honda Classic and the $169,000 he won at HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Overton tied for 63rd at the U.S. Open and 44th at The Masters. He basically won a combined $47,000 for those two majors.
Oh, Overton is dating a gorgeous opera singer (she went to IU) and made the Ryder Cup team.
Yeah, it’s pretty good being Jeff Overton these days.
*****
Yes, we had a brain dead moment in our previous blog. Stud quarterback Gunner Kiel is from Columbus East and not Columbus North. We have a very good excuse for getting those schools confused. Very, very good. And when we think of it, we’ll let you know.
Well, take a deep breath and be patient. It ain’t happening this week in Indianapolis. In fact, nobody will see him in action the entire month of July.
Why? Because Jurkin is still recovering from the stress fracture in his left leg that cost him much of his high school junior season and all of the spring (except for a brief appearance in the ESPN tourney) and early summer travel ball action.
The official word from Indiana Elite, the team Jurkin plays for, is that while his leg is improving, doctors think “it’s best to continue rehab and prepare for his senior season since he’s already committed.”
Jurkin, by the way, started the Tom Crean recruiting juggernaut last summer when he became the first Class of 2012 player to commit.
It’s hard to know how good Jurkin is. Because of the injury, he’s fallen off the recruiting ranking charts. He plays for United Faith Christian Academy in North Carolina.
Jurkin needs to get bigger and stronger. That much is obvious. He’s listed at around 215 pounds, which is fine if you’re, say, 6-1, but not so fine when you’re pushing 7 feet. But he can jump (when healthy) and with a 7-2 wingspan is an imposing shot blocker.
National recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons, whose All-Star Report recruiting service is based out of North Carolina, has seen Jurkin play.
“He didn’t get to play a lot down here and he’s still somewhat of a mystery player,” Gibbons said. “He has a lot of talent. A lot of upside. He’s long and can block shots. He’s still a work in progress as far as his offensive game. But with his long arms, towering length and excellent wing span, he will be a force in the middle for Indiana. He’ll be an intimidator. When Tom Crean and his staff teach him some low-post scoring skills, he’ll be a real factor.”
Because of all the time Jurkin has missed, it’s possible he might go to prep school for a year and join the Class of 2013. That would free up a 2012 scholarship for Gary Harris or Mitch McGary.
Possible, but not definite. It's part of the intrigue that follows Indiana recruiting.
*****
We’re about to get an idea of how good Hanner Perea and Jeremy Hollowell really are. The Indiana basketball commits for the Class of 2012 will get a chance to play against the nation’s top two players during the adidas Invitational.
Perea and Hollowell also play for Indiana Elite/Team Indiana. It’s in a tourney pool that includes Dream Vision and Connecticut Basketball Club. Dream Vision is led by 6-6 forward Shabazz Muhammad, who is ranked No. 1 by Rivals.com. Connecticut is led by 6-9 center Andre Drummond, who is ranked No. 2.
Assuming everybody brings the necessary intensity -- and you’d figure they would considering the national reputation stakes plus the fact a ton of high-profile college coaches are likely to be watching –- it will be perfect preparation for what lies ahead in college.
*****
Have you noticed how well former IU golfer Jeff Overton is playing these days?
He just finished tied for third in the AT&T National in Pennsylvania which was worth $322,400. It was his third top-10 finish of the season.
That means Overton has made $1,039,570 this year, which ranks 51st on the PGA list.
Not to give away our age, but there was a time when that six-month total would have made you the PGA CAREER money record holder.
In six years on the PGA Tour, Overton has made just over $8 million. That just happens to be just over $8 million more than we’ve made on golf, not that we’re bitter.
Anyway, last Sunday’s winnings was his biggest paycheck of the season, topping the $184,000 he won at the Honda Classic and the $169,000 he won at HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Overton tied for 63rd at the U.S. Open and 44th at The Masters. He basically won a combined $47,000 for those two majors.
Oh, Overton is dating a gorgeous opera singer (she went to IU) and made the Ryder Cup team.
Yeah, it’s pretty good being Jeff Overton these days.
*****
Yes, we had a brain dead moment in our previous blog. Stud quarterback Gunner Kiel is from Columbus East and not Columbus North. We have a very good excuse for getting those schools confused. Very, very good. And when we think of it, we’ll let you know.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
IU Football Recruiting – No Superstars? No Problem
By now you’ve probably noticed that IU is not beating out the likes of Ohio State, Alabama and Texas for its football recruiting commitments.
Is this a problem?
Not necessarily.
The Hoosiers have 11 commitments with the latest addition of Indianapolis Cathedral offensive lineman Jacob Bailey in what is basically coach Kevin Wilson’s first class and none of them rock the recruiting world.
No one makes anybody’s top 100 list. Nobody is a four- or five-star prospect.
Bailey, for instance, has no stars next to his name. IU’s recruiting competition was Ball State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and other mid-majors. The other Hoosier commitments received similar mid-major offers.
Six of 11 commitments are three-star recruits according to Rivals.com. Three are ranked nationally at their positions –- linebacker Nick Mangieri is No. 33, offensive lineman Dan Freeney is No. 44 and wide receiver Kevin Davis is No. 75.
If this were say, Oklahoma, this would be a problem. But Indiana is not going to beat out college football heavyweights for top players unless those players are in state and close by.
Say, like, Columbus East’s Gunner Kiel.
Kiel is a four-star guy being recruited by basically the entire civilized football world. He is 6-4 and 220 pounds. He is rated as the nation’s best quarterback and the No. 19 player overall. He is the younger brother of current IU quarterback Dusty Kiel. He comes from a family of quarterbacks.
Kiel plans to graduate from high school in December so he can enroll in college for the second semester, participate in spring practice and get a huge jump on the 2012 college season.
He says he has no strong preference on an offensive system, although you figure the wishbone would be out. Wilson, with his uptempo attack and reputation for explosive offenses, has a shot. But when the competition includes Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA and Oregon, well, it’s not going to be easy.
That gets us back to the original question. Does the fact Wilson is not landing superstars, that he’s basically getting the same caliber of guys that Bill Lynch got, pose a problem?
No. First, Lynch did a solid job with recruiting. He upgraded the talent, both with the starters and backups. Maximizing that talent was a problem, especially on defense. Let’s just say what ultimately got Lynch was the quality of some of his assistant coaches. They were all great guys, but some weren’t quite Big Ten ready. Lynch’s loyalty to them cost him.
Anyway, IU has enough talent on its roster to win. The recruits Wilson is bringing in are good enough to win –- not national championships, not Big Ten titles, but enough to win seven games with a few breaks. It’s all about developing players and getting the most out of them.
Oh, yes, finding a quarterback.
Can Wilson do that?
We’ll start finding that out come this fall.
*****
Bobby Capobianco is heading to Valparaiso. He’ll join a team that went 23-12 last season, although he’ll after to redshirt this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
The 6-9 Capobianco averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in his two-year IU career. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Is this a problem?
Not necessarily.
The Hoosiers have 11 commitments with the latest addition of Indianapolis Cathedral offensive lineman Jacob Bailey in what is basically coach Kevin Wilson’s first class and none of them rock the recruiting world.
No one makes anybody’s top 100 list. Nobody is a four- or five-star prospect.
Bailey, for instance, has no stars next to his name. IU’s recruiting competition was Ball State, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois, Toledo and other mid-majors. The other Hoosier commitments received similar mid-major offers.
Six of 11 commitments are three-star recruits according to Rivals.com. Three are ranked nationally at their positions –- linebacker Nick Mangieri is No. 33, offensive lineman Dan Freeney is No. 44 and wide receiver Kevin Davis is No. 75.
If this were say, Oklahoma, this would be a problem. But Indiana is not going to beat out college football heavyweights for top players unless those players are in state and close by.
Say, like, Columbus East’s Gunner Kiel.
Kiel is a four-star guy being recruited by basically the entire civilized football world. He is 6-4 and 220 pounds. He is rated as the nation’s best quarterback and the No. 19 player overall. He is the younger brother of current IU quarterback Dusty Kiel. He comes from a family of quarterbacks.
Kiel plans to graduate from high school in December so he can enroll in college for the second semester, participate in spring practice and get a huge jump on the 2012 college season.
He says he has no strong preference on an offensive system, although you figure the wishbone would be out. Wilson, with his uptempo attack and reputation for explosive offenses, has a shot. But when the competition includes Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA and Oregon, well, it’s not going to be easy.
That gets us back to the original question. Does the fact Wilson is not landing superstars, that he’s basically getting the same caliber of guys that Bill Lynch got, pose a problem?
No. First, Lynch did a solid job with recruiting. He upgraded the talent, both with the starters and backups. Maximizing that talent was a problem, especially on defense. Let’s just say what ultimately got Lynch was the quality of some of his assistant coaches. They were all great guys, but some weren’t quite Big Ten ready. Lynch’s loyalty to them cost him.
Anyway, IU has enough talent on its roster to win. The recruits Wilson is bringing in are good enough to win –- not national championships, not Big Ten titles, but enough to win seven games with a few breaks. It’s all about developing players and getting the most out of them.
Oh, yes, finding a quarterback.
Can Wilson do that?
We’ll start finding that out come this fall.
*****
Bobby Capobianco is heading to Valparaiso. He’ll join a team that went 23-12 last season, although he’ll after to redshirt this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
The 6-9 Capobianco averaged 1.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in his two-year IU career. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Not Hoosier Ready -- Nebraska In For Big Ten Battles
Nebraska is officially ready to tear up the Big Ten. Or, perhaps, the Big Ten is ready to tear up the Cornhuskers.
So much to contemplate.
The conference’s newest member is bracing for a new challenge and nothing will ever be the same. Preseason publications suggest Nebraska will rough up its football brethren in its debut season.
Is that true?
Perhaps, but here are a few details.
First, Indiana will NOT play Nebraska this season, which is a good thing from a win-loss standpoint, although a trip to Lincoln would be cool because it’s a great college venue.
The Huskers’ first event as an official member is the football media days/Kickoff Luncheon event in Chicago at the end of the month. Their first athletic event will come on Aug. 19 when they host women’s soccer powerhouse North Carolina. The women’s volleyball team gets its shot when it plays at New Mexico State.
That’s fine, but the debut the nation will be interested in comes Sept. 3 when Nebraska hosts Chattanooga in football and …
Hold on! We got carried away. The debut the nation REALLY wants to see will come on Oct. 1 when the Cornhuskers open Big Ten play at Wisconsin, then follow that the next week with a home game against Ohio State on Oct. 8.
Conference schedulemakers did not do the newcomers any favors.
Nebraska also gets to go to Minnesota, Penn State and Michigan. That’s a lot more travel than it was used to during its Big 12 days. It all will come via air rather than by bus. As a result, the Huskers expect to spend an extra $200,000 per season on travel.
So you know, Nebraska is in the Legends Division along with Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern. It is favored to beat up on those teams (well, maybe not beat up MSU, but still win) and qualify for the first Big Ten football championship game on Dec. 3 at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Huskers figure to have the conference’s best running back (Rex Burkhead), best tight end (Kyler Reed), best defensive lineman (Jared Crick), best linebacker (Lavonte David) and one of the best defensive backs (Alfonzo Dennard).
Crick, David and Dennard are All-America prospects, by the way. The 6-6, 285-pound Crick had 9.5 sacks last year. He is a beast.
Quarterback Taylor Martinez is a strong runner (965 yards, 12 touchdowns last year) and an inconsistent passer (10 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 1,631 yards). That was a big reason why Nebraska was so one dimensional. It ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in rushing and last in passing.
That has to change, and with a new offensive coordinator, it likely will.
The defense is very, very, very good. It held opponents to 17.4 points last year, and with seven returning starters, it might be better
In fact, Athlon Magazine’s college preview issue rates the Huskers as having the Big Ten’s best defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.
Coach Bo Pelini is a firery guy, and he boiled over Nebraska’s slow finish (it lost three of its last four games, including a stunning 19-7 bowl upset to a Washington team it had throttled during the regular season). He shook up his staff and has four new assistant coaches, that new offensive coordinator (Tim Beck will run the attack and coach the quarterbacks) and a re-assigned assistant coach.
His defensive coordinator happens to be his brother, Carl.
Overall, there’s plenty of talent returning, and in a recruiting class rated No. 17 in the nation.
Bet the house that Nebraska makes the Big Ten title game. That means IU only has one way to play the Cornhuskers this season -– win the Leaders Division and advance to the championship game.
Yes, we know. Indiana winning a football championship is unlikely. Still, it’s July, the month of football dreams. Go ahead and dream, and don’t let reality start messing things up until September.
*****
To answer a reader question, Van Coleman is very much alive and rating prospects at hot100.hoops.com.
So much to contemplate.
The conference’s newest member is bracing for a new challenge and nothing will ever be the same. Preseason publications suggest Nebraska will rough up its football brethren in its debut season.
Is that true?
Perhaps, but here are a few details.
First, Indiana will NOT play Nebraska this season, which is a good thing from a win-loss standpoint, although a trip to Lincoln would be cool because it’s a great college venue.
The Huskers’ first event as an official member is the football media days/Kickoff Luncheon event in Chicago at the end of the month. Their first athletic event will come on Aug. 19 when they host women’s soccer powerhouse North Carolina. The women’s volleyball team gets its shot when it plays at New Mexico State.
That’s fine, but the debut the nation will be interested in comes Sept. 3 when Nebraska hosts Chattanooga in football and …
Hold on! We got carried away. The debut the nation REALLY wants to see will come on Oct. 1 when the Cornhuskers open Big Ten play at Wisconsin, then follow that the next week with a home game against Ohio State on Oct. 8.
Conference schedulemakers did not do the newcomers any favors.
Nebraska also gets to go to Minnesota, Penn State and Michigan. That’s a lot more travel than it was used to during its Big 12 days. It all will come via air rather than by bus. As a result, the Huskers expect to spend an extra $200,000 per season on travel.
So you know, Nebraska is in the Legends Division along with Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern. It is favored to beat up on those teams (well, maybe not beat up MSU, but still win) and qualify for the first Big Ten football championship game on Dec. 3 at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Huskers figure to have the conference’s best running back (Rex Burkhead), best tight end (Kyler Reed), best defensive lineman (Jared Crick), best linebacker (Lavonte David) and one of the best defensive backs (Alfonzo Dennard).
Crick, David and Dennard are All-America prospects, by the way. The 6-6, 285-pound Crick had 9.5 sacks last year. He is a beast.
Quarterback Taylor Martinez is a strong runner (965 yards, 12 touchdowns last year) and an inconsistent passer (10 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 1,631 yards). That was a big reason why Nebraska was so one dimensional. It ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 in rushing and last in passing.
That has to change, and with a new offensive coordinator, it likely will.
The defense is very, very, very good. It held opponents to 17.4 points last year, and with seven returning starters, it might be better
In fact, Athlon Magazine’s college preview issue rates the Huskers as having the Big Ten’s best defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs.
Coach Bo Pelini is a firery guy, and he boiled over Nebraska’s slow finish (it lost three of its last four games, including a stunning 19-7 bowl upset to a Washington team it had throttled during the regular season). He shook up his staff and has four new assistant coaches, that new offensive coordinator (Tim Beck will run the attack and coach the quarterbacks) and a re-assigned assistant coach.
His defensive coordinator happens to be his brother, Carl.
Overall, there’s plenty of talent returning, and in a recruiting class rated No. 17 in the nation.
Bet the house that Nebraska makes the Big Ten title game. That means IU only has one way to play the Cornhuskers this season -– win the Leaders Division and advance to the championship game.
Yes, we know. Indiana winning a football championship is unlikely. Still, it’s July, the month of football dreams. Go ahead and dream, and don’t let reality start messing things up until September.
*****
To answer a reader question, Van Coleman is very much alive and rating prospects at hot100.hoops.com.
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