Why’s it all or nothing?  If we keep making progress, we get there.  Otherwise — otherwise it’s just a lot of huffing and puffing.  We’ve had a few super-rough years, and we’re all sick of it.   But it’s not like we’re going to suddenly win the B1G either.  We’ll be better this year.  That’s a good thing, no?  Demanding more than that — doing it while going all negative over Cody and what he brings to this program — seems… I’m searching for words… well, a little over-the-top.

Other than Base, I don’t think anyone thinks we’ll be over .500 just because CZ is here. CZ will part of it, but it’s also because we now have experience for the first time, because Hulls will hopefully be the PG, because VO and Sheehey have reportedly improved a lot, because Watford should be one of the best players in the conference, because Elston should be healthy. 

There’s a lot more going on than just Cody Zeller. He’ll be a big part of it, but not the entire thing. 

Huge difference here. The ’09 class joined a bunch walk-ons and a weak ’08 class. One class doesn’t make a team, never has and never will. Even UK in ’09 wouldn’t have been nearly as good without Patrick Patterson as an upperclassmen. 

CZ, and the rest of his class, are joining a team. They’re joining an experienced ’08 class, a junior Watford-Hulls-Elston who have been around the block and the ’10 class which seems to be “diamond in the rough”. 

That’s the difference, we now have a TEAM, not just one class. 

Not to be last in the B10 every year. How much less do you want?

No way we are sub-500 this year.

I think CZ ends up in Mike Davis territory this season at around 7 rpg. 

CW led the team in rebounds last season, it’s a statistic, it happened. He rebounded as a freshman, too, he might have even led the team. I already stated that VO and WS need to, and can, help on the boards as it will take a team effort. Thus far, at the collegiate level, CW is the only player on the roster that has shown the ability to rebound consistently.

I would be very happy with 8 boards a game. Hope you are right.

Pritch did a lot of that when the game was already over in the first half.  You guys need to reel in your expectations of Tom Pritchard.  Good player, not great.  He is a role player.

I get what you’re saying, but he had 9 rpg last year.

Really?!?!  You think that CW deserves credit for being our best and most consistent rebounder…I have to say I disagree with that.  Looking at rpg and positioning I can’t stop thinking about VO, especially with the work in the off season I wouldn’t be surprised to see him tally up several double doubles this year and averaging 6-8 rpg.  Then throw WS in there as well and I think he could snag 5-7 rpg for us as well.  Just not quite sure I would praise CWat for his rebounding prowess…No doubt we NEED him to lead this team with Jordy this year through actions and vocally on the court.  I read a comment a day or two ago about how we are developing “ranks” within our program now and I truly believe that.  Our younger guys will be looking to Cwat, JH, VJ, and Pritch for leadership and we need to have ENERGY this year on the floor and get excited about basketball again…

I agree that he’ll be fine, for a Freshman, but he won’t get more than eight boards a game. The IU frontline is weak/thin, CZ is going to help but he’s going to need some help of his own, too.

If Cody does nothing otherwise, he is going to help this team rebound. He is near 7 feet and can move and that we haven’t had in decades. All will benefit. Pushing around etc it happens. But I expect Cody to get Mickey D all-american respect from time to time. I think this “oh my Cody is going to get shoved into the stands” mentality is a bit too much. He will be just fine.

Neither TP or CW averaged 6 boards a game last year. TP didn’t even average 4! The good teams in the B10 rebound as a team and that’s where I think CZ is going to have difficulty as guys push him, go over his back, etc. as he’s the one left manning the boards for IU. He’s going to need some support. Now, maybe WS, VO, RA and VJIII come into this season and decide they are also going to crash the boards hard…..if that happens then I think you’ll see CZ averaging over 8rpg easy but so far none of those guys have shown the willingness to rebound and it might cause CZ to wear down as the season progresses.

Um, yes. Lots of those execs ARE foolish, and they and their accountants get sued for fraud

Have you been watching the news about the financial industry the last few years? Pretty easy to say that yes, those accountants and financial analysts are pretty dumb…

Pritchard was 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds his frosh year at 29 minutes a game. I sense that Zeller is better than Da Pritch,,,,, at least five points and three rebounds better.

You’re referring to the ’09 class — the one whose gem suffered through 3 potential career-ending injuries in 22 months?  Elston was injured last yr, too.  Capo and Bawa were way overrated, obv.  Hulls and Watford have shone and will be even better surrounded by better players.  We were better last yr than the year prior, will be far better this year than last.  And next year, the sky’s the limit.  Seriously — what more do you want? 

You left out Oladipo’s name in rebounding. Pritchard and Victor both averaged around 18 minutes a game and their rebound totals were virtually even at 3.7 and 3.8.

What Freshman year?  Tyler scored 18 pts in his first game (he started), was injured in the second, and didn’t come back until mid-February, playing behind Hansborough.  Given playing time his sophomore yr, avg’ed 9 pts/5 rebounds.  This isn’t UNC — not as it was then, not as it is now.  There is no Tyler Hansborough on this team.  I expect Cody around 12 pts/6 rebounds per game…