Comments on: 2011-12 Player Profile: Derek Elston

By: BGleas

BGleas — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:32:00 +0000

Good point Arsdale. I’m not trying to put too much pressure on Elston or blame him for last season (there were many reasons for last season), but if anyone kind of epitomizes last season, it’s Elston.

He came on so strong late his freshmen year, I remember being someone last season that was expecting Elston to earn a spot as a starter and sort of solidify our inside game.

It just didn’t happen for a variety of reasons. I would love for Elston to make that leap this season.

By: InTheMtns

InTheMtns — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 06:05:00 +0000

In reply to jaywiz.

Officers! Arrest this person. And plagiarism isn’t the only crime he’s committing by making this post.

😉 I kid, I kid . . .

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:09:00 +0000

In reply to 888. I don't think anyone doubts he is a nice guy. Derek needs to become serious about his basketball career very soon. The play he had last year was pretty sloppy, and most believe he is more talented than that. For what it's worth, I think Tipton is one of the better small towns in this state.

By: 888

888 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:49:00 +0000

I am from Tipton andmy wife worked with Derek at Blockbuster. Derek is a very nice and personable young man. I dfont really understand eveyone saying he is immature. In a small town like Tipton star basketball players often get a big head and tend to get a little snobish. Derek never had that attitude. He would always take the time to talk to people who were exited to be around him. Im sure he does things that guys his age do but he is a good person. He also has a very nice family. Just saying maybe try to get to know him a little better.

By: jaywiz

jaywiz — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:43:00 +0000

There is very little doubt that Zeller, Watford and Hulls are the stars of this team. If any one of the three can become a top 5 All-Big 10 player, this will be a good (20+ win) season. Vic and Will are the next best players and have to get 22-25 minutes/game on the floor each. Elston and Pritchard have to do it on the floor, “being 6’9? is no longer good enough. Derek could be great, but can he develop the mental side of his talent? Verdell can show that he is the senior leader that we have desperately needed for the last three years. If he can accept lesser “billing” but play great, then this can be a special season. Austin and Remy have to bring it all and bring it hard every second on the floor. They each have some real talent that Indiana has sorely needed. I hope that Matt Roth hits 50% of his 3?s because if he can’t Danny Moore might. Danny does a lot of good things in short stretches. No more excuses now for Coach Crean, it is win NOW time! We miss and love you Mo Creek and want to see you play again at 100%! GO IU!

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

By: Slehman8

Slehman8 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:33:00 +0000

I really want to see DE do well. I am still concerned with a couple things I saw again at HH. I focused on him quite a bit that night since he was returning from all those injuries last season. I still saw him setting those half-*** moving picks. I wish Pritchard (Or Crean) could teach him how to set a proper pick. He doesn’t even give the ball handler time to get free. It also seemed like he was staying on the perimeter too much looking for the ball. He is going to have to play down low do to our lack of depth there especially since he doesn’t have a high percentage perimeter shot yet. I just always get a bad feeling when he is on the floor that he is a lot more about getting his shot then playing as a team.

By: Bleeding Crimson

Bleeding Crimson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:23:00 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. Didn't realize that. If he can do that night in and out...wow he would be our biggest X-factor.

By: Bleeding Crimson

Bleeding Crimson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:21:00 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. Don't forget about VJIII. His inconsistancy and TO's really hurt us last year. If he can control himself on his drives to the basket and not lose the ball...he can be another x-factor. It seems like this year we have more x-factors than any prior. I think our biggest issue last year was injuries another X-factor.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:50:00 +0000

Seems like every time there is a new player profile most of us, myself included, feel like he is the X factor is some way or another but I think when it comes to DE this label may put on him more justifiably than most if not all of the others. I keep thinking back to the way he finished his freshman season and applying the “man I can’t wait till next year when he comes back and plays all year like he did the these last 3 years or even better” train of thought and maybe that is why I was down on him a little bit more this last year than I should have been especially after hearing about the injury he says he tried to play through last year.

By: stonaroni

stonaroni — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:05:00 +0000

I would really like to see this kid get about 10 ppg and 6 rpg and be on the floor with CZ, CW, JH, and VO.

I think DE has the most to gain from a guy like CZ who demands attention and is a good passer.

Maybe DE can be the Josh Harrelson (UK) of the team this year and be the benefactor of the dribble drive or collapse on higher profile players.

By: stonaroni

stonaroni — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:02:00 +0000

In reply to Anonymous. If you have been to Tipton you would understand that proper English "ain't" spoken there.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:32:00 +0000

I just now re-read last year’s ITH Player Profile for Elston. He played so poorly last year that I forgot about how effective he was over the last several games of his freshman year and how we all thought (or hoped) he would continue to make progress as a sophomore. Last year’s profile stated that “Elston was arguably Indiana’s best player down the stretch as he delivered 40 points and 24 rebounds in the team’s final three games” and that he was efficient in doing so. Who knew? Here’s hoping that he can build on this and we can forget about last year.

By: IUfanPurduePhD

IUfanPurduePhD — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:16:00 +0000

Less tripping. More doing. That’s the power of Derek Elston.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:14:00 +0000

Totally agree about the way some of these guys talk. It may have been cool in HS to act foolish and cut up, but you are a 20 year old man. He is from TIpton, so the urban slang throws me off. It is time for this guy, and a few others on this team, to man up.

By: JerryCT

JerryCT — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Considering the potential for CW to have a nagging injury over the season the development of DE is crucial . I really hope he comes on strong this season . He is one of the few guys with an obvious nasty attitude that can be channeled in a good way

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Other guys could become x-factors if they take a giant step forward (WS, VO, even Hulls if he improves defensively) but no one has a larger range of possibility than Elston. It would surprise no IU fan if he ended up playing 2 minutes a game or 30. I’ll be curious to see how he does but I’m going to keep expectations low just to be safe.

By: MillaRed

MillaRed — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:31:00 +0000

If there really is any chance whatsoever this Hoosier squad can make the dance, I would argue that Elston’s play is more important than anyone’s. If he can raise his defensive play to TP’s level, and maintain the ability to score, he’s a force inside.

If not, Hanner Perea has big shoes to fill as a FR for us to reach the same goal.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:25:00 +0000

I think the big thing here is maturity and toughness.

He needs to play smart on the floor and WANT to get down within 10 feet and bang on the offensive end for rebounds, etc. With Zeller and Watford he should be able to clean up on the offensive glass with his athleticism and height. Couple that with what is a good 10-15 ft stroke and he should be successful. But should is the operative word. He must mature, focus and get tough.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:45:00 +0000

The injuries were news to most people..so I guess the kid deserves some slack for a really terrible season last year. DE can shoot the ball and he should be able to board..but if he hasn’t learned to move his feet and quit slapping down on defense..his minutes will come only when the team is in foul trouble. Anxious to see if and how he has improved on the defensive side of the ball…cause with this team “if you don’t play D..your head should be resting on your knee (on the bench)”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:28:00 +0000

X-factor is correct.

His ability to return to form, and beyond, this year will be a big determining factor in how program-changing Zeller can be in his freshman campaign.

It was strange they waited so long to tell us about Elston’s injuries last year as everyone was wondering how he took a step back instead of a leap forward from his freshman to sophomore year.

If he plays big, he could work his way into regular starting line-up.