Nick Hall Wins Great Indiana Mic Off

Reds: It's a Done Deal!

Reds Participate in One of Offseason's Biggest Trades so Far; Acquire Shin-Soo Choo

By Ryan Bramwell

It is official. 

The Cincinnati Reds now have their leadoff hitter and their center fielder, and they obtain both from just one ballplayer: Shin-Soo Choo.  The Reds also received 28-year-old utility infielder Jason Donald in the deal.  Donald may prove to be an important bench piece now that Miguel Cairo and Willy Taveras are gone. 

How was it done?

The trade winded up involving three teams and is actually being called a "blockbuster" over at ESPN.com.  The Reds, Indians and Diamondbacks all got something needed in this three-way transaction.

• Reds receive:
• Shin-Soo Choo (CF/OF), Jason Donald (IF), and cold, hard Cash (est. $3.5M)
• Indians receive:
• Trevor Bauer (RHP, top prospect), Drew Stubbs (CF), Matt Albers (RHP), Brian Shaw(RHP)
• Diamondbacks receive:
• Tony Sipp (LHP), Lars Anderson (1B), Didi Gregorious (SS)

So, the Reds have their leadoff hitter and they have parted ways with Drew Stubbs.  They also have a backup infielder, which they needed.  ALSO, they have an extra $3.5 million to spend!  And that is just splendid seeing as the Reds still need some major bench help.  Let's spend it wisely, shall we?


Grading Walt Jocketty's move

A- 

          +/- Prospects: Really hurts to lose Gregorious in my opinion.  But in Cozart we trust, right?
          +   Team needs: Adding Choo and taking care of two major necessities is a huge deal.
          -    Control time: Stubbs is under contract until 2016; Choo will be a FA at season's end.
          +   We got a decent utility infielder in Jason Donald; we really needed the bench help.
          +   We received a lot of money in the deal that we can use to significantly improve this team.
          +   I am happy, therefore you should be too.



Link

ESPN Story

Reds Trading for Shin-Soo Choo?

All-Ohio Trade in the Works; Best Possible Deal For Both Teams

By Ryan Bramwell

Reports are surfacing today that the Reds and Indians are "deep in talks" regarding a trade that would send Drew Stubbs and Didi Gregorious to Cleveland in exchange for Shin-Soo Choo and possibly a player to be named later. 

In my opinion, of all the names and deals that have been thrown out there the past couple of weeks, this one is the best for Cincinnati.  Let's take a look and see exactly why:

Drew Stubbs

The Bad

• Declining the past couple of seasons (Drops in Avg, OPB, SLG, OPS)
• Striking out consistently (Last 3 seasons: 168, 205, 166)
• Not reaching base (Last 3 Seasons: OBP .329, .321, .277)

The Good

• Young (time to fix his mistakes and reroute his current path)
• Under team control (is signed at reasonable price until 2016)
• Plus fielder (can cover a lot of ground in any ballpark)

Shin-Soo Choo

The Good

• Gets on base (Career OBP of .381; : 394, .401, .373)
• Knows how to leadoff; Has patience (Last 3 Full Seasons: 78 BB, 83 BB, 73 BB)
• Can steal bases on occasion (Last 3 Full Seasons: 21 SB, 22 SB, 21 SB)
• Can slug a bit too (Last 3 Full Seasons: 38 2B/20 HR, 31 2B/ 22 HR, 43 2B/16 HR)
• Bill James like him (Last 3 Full Seasons: Offensive WAR; 5.0, 5.1, 4.5) 

The Bad

• Isn't quite the defender Stubbs is (Last 3 Full Seasons: Defensive WAR; -0.5, -0.1, -1.5)
• Under control for just one season (Free agent at end of 2013; has Scott Boras as an agent)
• We lose Gregorious in the deal (Saddest part of deal; Didi will really be something)

*Last full three seasons: 2009, 2010, 2012



Compared to the other trade talks the Reds were said to have been in?
-We didn't lose a single pitcher.  Homer Bailey is still locked in.  Mike Leake will still be the 6th starter when necessary.  And Robert Stephenson, Tony Cingrani and company are still prospects in the Reds organization.
-We didn't lose Mesoraco.  One of the latest rumors had the Reds sending Mezzi to Tampa Bay in a three-way deal that would have brough Dexter Fowler to Cincinnati.  Losing Mesoraco would have hurt substantially due to the lack of MLB-ready catchers in our system.
-We only lost one prospect. 
-We parted ways with Drew Stubbs.

*Also, for the Indians, they get the shortstop they wanted so they can trade Asdrubal Cabrera. 

Reds: Another Way to Obtain Fowler?

ESPN Writer Brings Up Possibility of 3-Team Trade

By Ryan Bramwell

Jason Churchill wrote last night that the Rays, Reds and Rockies could all help each other out via a mutual three-team trade. 

Here is the breakdown:
1. Tampa Bay is looking for catching help.
2. Colorado is seeking pitching help.
3. Cincinnati is looking for a center-fielder/leadoff hitter.

Here is the proposed idea:
1. Tampa Bay receives catcher Devin Mesoraco from the Reds
2. Colorado obtains either pitcher James Shields or Jeremy Hellickson from the Rays.
3. Cincinnati gets centerfielder Dexter Fowler from the Rockies.

My only issue with this theoretical deal?
REDS CATCHING - Obviously, this is the area of concern. 

• Ryan Hanigan is one of my favorite Redlegs and for good reason.  Hanigan is a heck of a defensive catcher and one of the absolute best game-callers in the league.  Therefore, he throws guys out, blocks the plate well, and knows his rotation so definitively that they rarely need to think for themselves when it comes to choosing pitches.  Moreover, offensively Hanigan is no slouch either.  He rarely strikes out and hits for average very well for a catcher.  Hanigan is extremely underrated, and, although it is unjust, I like it that way. 
• The Reds have a shortage of catchers at the moment.  Grandal was traded for Mat Latos before the 2012 season.  Dioner Navarro signed with the Cubs this offseason.  Lastly, Corky Miller is older than dirt, albeit fun to look at still.
• Long-term-wise, the Reds have Indiana prospect Tucker Barnhart.  Barnhart split time between Single-A and Double-A ball last season and is expected to be a shoo-in as a major league catcher in the not-so-distant future.  Scouts say the Tucker is a patient hitter that draws many walks at the plate and defensively he has a great arm.  Here is his MILB page.
• All this means that really, the Reds only have one MLB catcher and no one in the wings if they trade away the 24-year-old Mesoraco.  And remember, we don't have much cash to throw around at various free agents either.  This rumor might just have to go by the wayside for now.

Links to this trade rumor:
ESPN Insider
MLBTradeRumors.com

Reds: Interesting Developments

Fowler and Bourn Still in the Mix for the Reds

By Ryan Bramwell

Dexter Fowler
According to several reports released today, the Rockies and the Reds are still discussing a trade involving Dexter Fowler.  Apparently the Rockies brass is looking for Mike Leake and two prospects in exchange for the switch-hitting center fielder.  Some beleive that the Reds may deal Leake and Drew Stubbs rather than prospects.  Leake and Fowler both are coming up on arbitration years and neither will be a free agent until after the 2015 season. 

Here is some proof to this story:
CBS Sports
SB Nation
MLB Trade Rumors


Michael Bourn
A few new stories across the internet say that Michael Bourn and the Reds are good match for each other now that the market has dwindled.  With Upton, Victorino, Span, Revere, and Pagan all obtaining deals or being traded, Bourn is one of the last big name outfielders on the market.  According to Jason Churchill only three teams have a chance at Bourn and they are the Mariners, Rangers and Reds.  He goes on to state that the Mariners have bigger concerns and holes to fill than an outfield position and that the Rangers are strongly focused on Josh Hamilton leaving the Reds as the most logical choice.  Unlike Fowler, Bourn is a free agent (represented by Scott Boras) and would make $8-10 million in a one-year deal.

Here are some articles:
Bleacher Report
ESPN


Candidate Comparison

Dexter Fowler in 2012
.300 BA, 13 HR, 53 RBI, .389 OBP, 11 3B, 12 SB

Michael Bourn in 2012
.274 BA, 9 HR, 57 RBI, .348 OBP, 10 3B, 42 SB



Let us not forget...

Ryan Ludwick
Ludwick has an offer on the table from Jocketty and company but has yet to sign anything.  Sources say that Ludwick is mulling things over at the moment.  Best guesses say that the deal Ludwick has been offered is for two years and probably around $6 million.  It's true that Ludwick might get a three year deal somewhere else or even a two year deal with better money, but it's unlikely he would stray from Reds Country for a minimal difference in price.

Reds: Jacoby Ellsbury, Anyone?

Latest Rumors Uncover Tantalizing Opportunity (If the Price is Right)

By Ryan Bramwell

Jacoby Ellsbury

Boston Red Sox
Center Field
5 yrs Experience - 29 yrs old
Bats: L/Throws: L

Positives:
+Rarely strikes out
+Steals a ton of bases
+Tremendous fielder
+MVP-Caliber when healthy (i.e. 2011 season)

Negatives:
-Has been injury prone
-Doesn't take many walks
-Could be costly for a one-year rental

Best season: 2011
AVG .321        R: 119        HR: 32
OBP: .376        H: 212        RBI: 105
SLG: .552        2B: 46         SB: 39
OPS: .928        3B: 5           SO/BB: 98/52


What's He Going to Cost us?
-Pitching (either prospects and/or a back-end starter)
-Possibly a position player (Stubbs, Cozart/Gregorious, or prospect)


Links:
+ESPN - Hot Button: Trade Him vs. Keep Him
+ESPN - Trade Fits For Ellsbury
+Cincinnati.com - Could Reds Trade For Ellsbury
+Bleacher Report - Ellsbury Trade Rumors; 3 Teams

Cincinnati Reds: A Closer Look at our Targets

By Ryan Bramwell


What Would You be Willing to Give Up for One of These Guys?

Available Via Trade

Alex Gordon

LF/3B/1B - Kansas City Royals
Bats: L/Throws: R
2013 Age: 29 years
Contract: $37.5M (2012-2015, '16 Team Option)
2013 Salary: $9M
       
           2011     2012  
AVG: .303      .294
OBP:  .376      .368 
SLG:  .502      .455
OPS:  .879      .822
2Bs:    45         51

What it would take to land Gordon according to RijoSaboCaseyWKRP at RedReporter:
-Homer Bailey
-Tony Cingrani
-Robert Stephenson


Justin Upton

RF/OF - Arizona Diamondbacks
Bats:R/Throws: R
2013 Age: 25 years
Contract: $50M (2010-2015)
2013 Salary: $9.75M

            2011    2012
AVG:  .289     .280 
OBP:   .369     .355
SLG:   .529     .480
OPS:   .898     .785
HRs:    31        17

What it would take to land Upton according to RijoSaboCaseyWKRP at RedReporter:
-Didi Gregorious
-Daniel Corcino
-Tony Cingrani


Dexter Fowler

 

CF - Colorado Rockies
Bats: S/Throws: R
2013 Age: 27 years
Contract: 2012 - $2.35M
2013 Salary: 2nd year Arbitration Eligible (Super 2)

             2011     2012
AVG:   .266      .300
OBP:    .363      .389
SLG:    .432      .474
OPS:    .796      .863
3Bs:      15         11 

What it would take to land Fowler according to RijoSaboCaseyWKRP at RedReporter:
-Drew Stubbs
-Daniel Corcino
-Tony Cingrani


Shin-Soo Choo














RF/OF - Cleveland Indians
Bats: L/Throws: L
2013 Age: 30 years
Contract: 2012 - $4.9M
2013 Salary: 3rd year Arbitration Eligible

            2010*   2012  (2011/85 Games)
AVG:  .300      .283         
OBP:   .401      .373      
SLG:   .484      .441          
OPS:   .885      .815
HRs:    22         16                
SBs:     22        21

What it would take to land the Choo-Choo Train according to RijoSaboCaseyWKRP at RedReporter:
-Mike Leake
-Daniel Corcino
-Tony Cingrani


Gerardo Parra




















OF - Arizona Diamondbacks
Bats: L/Throws: L
2013 Age: 26 years
Contract: 2012 - $502K
2013 Salary: Arbitration Eligible

            2011    2012
AVG:  .292     .273
OBP:   .357     .335
SLG:   .427     .392
OPS:   .784     .727

What it would take to land Parra according to RijoSaboCaseyWKRP at RedReporter:
-Chris Heisey
-Didi Gregorious
-Ismael Gullion


Or We Could Spend Some Scratch in Free Agency...

Available Via Free Agency

Angel Pagan
















OF - San Francisco Giants
2013 Age: 31 years
Bats: S/Throws: R
Contract: 2012 - $4.85M
2013 Salary: Free Agent

           2011   2012
AVG: .262    .288     
OBP:  .322    .338
SLG:  .372    .440
OPS:  .694    .778
SBs:    32       29


Shane Victorino
















CF/OF - Los Angeles Dodgers
2013 Age: 32 years
Bats: S/Throws: R
Contract: 2012 - $9.5M
2013 Salary: Free Agent

           2011   2012
AVG: .279    .255
OBP:  .355    .321
SLG:  .491    .383
OPS:  .847    .704
SBs:    19       39


Michael Bourn



















CF - Atlanta Braves
2013 Age: 30 years
Bats: L/Throws: R
Contract: 2012 - $6.84M
2013 Salary: Free Agent

            2011   2012
AVG:  .294    .274
OBP:  .349    .348
SLG:  .386    .391
OPS:  .734    .739
SBs:    61       42


Cody Ross
















OF - Boston Red Sox
2013 Age: 32 years
Bats: R/Throws: L
Contract: 2012 - $3M
2013 Salary: Free Agent

           2011    2012
AVG: .240    .267
OBP:  .325    .326
SLG:  .405    .481
OPS:  .730    .807
2Bs:    25       34


Who are the Reds Prospects Listed Above that Could be Used to Complete a Deal?

Robert Stephenson - Ranked #2 in Reds organization - RHP/19 yrs
     -Reds Minor Leagues
     -Minor League Baseball

Daniel Corcino - Ranked #3 in Reds organization - RHP/21 yrs
     -Reds Minor Leagues
     -Minor League Baseball

Tony Cingrani - Ranked #6 in Reds organization - LHP/23 yrs
      -Reds Minor Leagues
      -Minor League Baseball 
      -Major League Baseball

Didi Gregorious - Ranked #7 in Reds organization - SS/22 yrs
      -Reds Minor Leagues
      -Minor League Baseball
      -Major League Baseball

Ismael Guillon - Ranked #14 in Reds organization - LHP/20 yrs
      -Reds Minor Leagues
      -Minor League Baseball

Cincinnati Reds: Offseason Update

By Ryan Bramwell

Baseball's 2012 season concluded well over a month ago and teams all throughout the league have been signing, trading, arbitrating and negotiating deals to improve their rosters and/or create salary cap room.  So what has been going on out in Cincinnati this offseason?  General Manager Walt Jocketty has been with the team for several seasons now and most Reds fans know that he has a tremendous poker face and reveals nothing during these high-transaction periods.  We will read several stories about how the club is almost certainly going to make a deal for 'player x' or 'player y', but then suddenly the Reds have made a completely unforeseen trade/signing for 'player a/b/or c'.  This is Walt Jocketty for you.  Sometimes we are left disappointed that we didn't swing a deal for the marquee player or the anticipated big name guy.  On the other hand, we often find ourselves pleasantly surprised with the move(s) Uncle Walt has pulled off.  Rarely do we find ourselves cringing with anguish and utter disbelief after Team Jocketty has played its hand.  The only exception to this would be when the Reds pick up OBP-challenged players like Wilson Valdez, Willy Taveras, Corey Patterson, etc, etc.  But I digress.  So, again, what is organizational brain trust up to this offseason?  Well, that's hard to know exactly.  What I do know is that the Reds are certainly part of a fair share of rumors.  Let's go over some of those rumors, shall we?

• The Reds are moving Aroldis Chapman to the rotation - What does this do?
• Rotation changes to something like this: Cueto, Latos, Chapman, Bailey, Arroyo
• The closer role is left unmanned...
• Reds sign Jonathan Broxton to a 3-year/$21 million contract as the team's closer
• Mike Leake? 
• Most likely used as long relief and spot starter/possible trade bait
• Tony Cingrani?
• Cingrani proved he was a solid LHP this September and could fill in as a spot starter or take over in the rotation if the Chapman situation doesn't work out
• The Reds are currently seeking a starting left fielder - What about Ryan Ludwick?
• Ludwick turned down his mutual option of $5M and rightfully so.  Unfortunately for us, he has earned a better deal than that.  Ludwick most likely wants 3 years, which is too many.  The Reds are attempting to shore up Ludwick with a 2-year deal worth $13-14M
• The Reds still have a guy by the name of Chris Heisey on this club.  He is a solid bat with a good glove.  However, Heisey is a better fit as the Reds fourth outfielder and not as an everyday starter.
• The Reds are vigorously searching for a leadoff hitter - What about Drew Stubbs?
• Well, the Drew Stubbs era/experiment is probably all but finished if the Reds can find what they are looking for in a leadoff hitter.  Most likely the leadoff hitter will be a center fielder.  Several available possibilities on the market also swing a left-handed bat or switch hit.  These are all attributes the Reds are seeking and, in turn, they are bad omens for Drew Stubbs.
• Who are these available leadoff hitters/center fielders?
• B.J. Upton - Signed by the Braves, 5yrs/$75M
• Denard Span - Traded to Nationals for P-Alex Meyer (prospect)
• Michael Bourn
• Shane Victorino
• Angel Pagan
• Cody Ross
• Grady Sizemore
• Chris Young
• Delmon Young
• There are also some high quality outfielders that can come via trade.  Who are they?
• Dexter Fowler
• Alex Gordon
• Wil Myers (KCR #1 prospect)
• Jacoby Ellsbury
• Adam Eaton
• Juan Pierre
• Nick Swisher
• Shin-soo Choo
• Justin Upton
• Gerardo Parra
• Coco Crisp
• What happens if the Reds can't find a replacement for Ludwick?  Well, if the Reds move Todd Frazier to left field then there are some third base possibilities floating around the league as well.  These could come via free agent signing or trade.
• Mike Moustakas
• Kevin Youkilis, Link 2
• Eric Chavez
• And finally, here are some other names being thrown around at the moment.
• Jeff Keppinger - Pinch hitter/Utility Infielder
• Lance Berkman - Pinch hitter/1st Base
• Austin Kearns - Pinch hitter/Outfielder
• Scott Podsednik - Pinch hitter/Outfielder

**Here is a great article that took some effort that gives us another look at what is possible this offseason

Game 7: Indiana vs. North Carolina (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)

Hoosiers Send Statement After Destroying Tar Heels in Raucous Assembly Hall

By Ryan Bramwell

#14 North Carolina   37  22   59  (5-2)
#1   Indiana             46  37   83  (7-0)

Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana


Individual Performances:

• Jordan Hulls:  13 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 0 turnovers.  Lordy, Lordy, how 'bout Jordy!?  Seriously, what a leader!  I know it is hard to pick a favorite Hoosier on this team, but this kid has got to be near the top of every IU fan's list.
• Cody Zeller: 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks (career high), 1 steal, 1 assist.  Cody came prepared to annihilate UNC...and mission accomplished.
• Will Sheehey: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assists.  A second-straight game of 19 points for The Thrill on 8-of-12 shooting including 3-of-4 from downtown.
• Victor Oladipo: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist.  He had a couple of terrific plays including one along the baseline where he juked three Heels on his way to two points.
• Yogi Ferrell: 2 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds.  He wasn't successful from the floor (0-for-6) but Yogi continues to be a major factor with his ability to push the ball up the court, play terrific defense, and execute stellar passing with limited turnovers.

Team Effort:

• Magical:  That is the word I would use to describe the Hoosiers' team play on Tuesday night against the Tar Heels.
• Indiana didn't shoot the lights out like they have done in previous games (i.e. 60% vs. BSU). However the lights did literally go out in Assembly Hall at one point and I would attribute that to the crowd energy and volume that was in effect due to the overall dominating performance put forth by your Hoosiers.
• The Hoosiers essentially did everything right on the basketball court on Tuesday night.
• They passed the ball and found the open man every time and were nearly unselfish to a fault. 
• They rebounded on both ends of the court and delivered big time on their second chance opportunities. 
• They played smothering defense that stymied the Tar Heels so much that they began the second half shooting a dismal 1-for-20 from the field.  I believe the experts were telling us that IU's downfall would be their defense...more on that later.
• Field Goals: FG - IU 33-of-74, UNC 26-of-69; FG% - IU 44.6%, UNC 37.7
• 3-Point Shooting: 3FG - IU 8-of-20, UNC 1-of-8; 3FG% - IU 40.0%, UNC 12.5%
• Rebounding: Total Reb. - IU 44, UNC 34; Off Reb. - IU 13, UNC 9
• Assists: IU 21, UNC 8 

Thoughts:

• Thoughts?  Well, surely I am thinking about how the Indiana Hoosiers are a legitimate number one team.  I am thinking about how that performance would undoubtedly overmatch any school in the country.  I am thinking about how glorious and magnificent it feels to be a Hoosier basketball fan.  I feel loved by the basketball gods.  I feel warm inside.
• Really, people, how amazing was that game?  Outside of last year's victory over Kentucky and our performance in the tournament, I can't think of a more important result for this team since the beginning of last season.  Even the upset over second-ranked Ohio State will have to take a back-seat to this game against UNC.  Beating the Buckeyes was intrigal in establishing that the Hoosier program wasn't just fooling the nation when they beat UK.  It was a huge win and will not be taken lightly whatsoever.  However, this victory over UNC was the first game as the nation's top team where we went up against an NCAA crown jewel.  Sure, Georgetown is a better team and they are indeed a quasi-perennial basketball school.  But the Tar Heels are in that elite class...UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, Indiana, and North Carolina.  And the display that the Hoosiers put on was flat-out astounding.  Moreover, it was nationally televised, significantly hyped, and reviewed and analyzed more than any game thus far in the 2012-13 season. 
• How much better can we get?  This whole team still emphasized without hesitation that they can get better and mustn't rest on their laurels. 
• I think the original 'Hurryin' Hoosiers' from the Branch McCracken era have been outclassed by Tom Crean's team of superhuman squad of stellar athletes.  
• Defense?  Didn't the analysts expect that Indiana's offense was unquestionably the best in the country but that their defense would be suspect?  Well, Ken Pomeroy (ratings guru) has Indiana listed as the 6th best defensive team in the land.  Oh, and they 1st in offense if you can imagine that. 

Game 6: Indiana vs. Ball State

Hoosiers Post a 48-Point Victory, Thoroughly Kicking the Cardinals in the Balls   (Pun!)

By Ryan Bramwell

      Ball State   19  34   53    (2-2)
#1  Indiana       50  51   101  (6-0)

Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana


Individual Performances:

• Will Sheehey: The master of the mid-range jumper.  8-for-9 overall on the night for 19 points which led all Hoosiers.  Will the Thrill added 6 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal as well.  *Coach Crean took Sheehey out of the game for a moment after Big Willy Style attempted some And-One-ish crossover moves that resulted in a turnover.
• Jordan Hulls: Familiar story here; 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting including 3-for-6 from three-point land.  Jordy added 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal as well.
• Cody Zeller: 15 points (5-for-7 FG/5-for-7 FT), 8 rebounds (3 OREB), 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.  Good, solid performance in only 20 minutes of action.
• Christian Watford: C-Wat put up another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.  Good to see Christian stepping it up on the boards this season.  He's now averaging 13.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.  He also notched 3 assists in the contest against Ball State.
• Victor Oladipo:  Vic put up one of his typical efforts where he did a little bit of everything; 13 points, 3 steals, 2 offensive rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block.  We will see him listed on the Big Ten's All Defensive Team at year's end. Stats: 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals, 1.5 assists.

Team Effot:

• The Hoosiers had their most dominant performance to date in nearly every head-to-head category against their opponents in this one.
• Rebounding: Total Reb. - IU 41, BSU 23; Off. Reb - IU 9, BSU 9
• Steals/Blocks: Steals - IU 9, BSU 7; Blocks - IU 4, BSU 2
• Assists/Turnovers: Assists - IU 15, BSU 6; Turnovers - IU 11, BSU 17
• 3-Point Shooting: 3FG - IU 7-for-17, BSU 2-for-16; 3FG% - IU 41.2%, BSU 12.5%
• Field Goals: FG - IU 38-for-63, BSU 17-for-55; FG% - IU 60.3%, BSU 30.9%

Thoughts:

• Well, it didn't look super promising at the start as Indiana was tied with Ball State after nearly five minutes of game time with a score of 4-to-4. 
• Something happened after that TV timeout as the Hoosiers outscored the Cardinals 46-to-15 from that point until the first half came to end.  It seemed as though the boys didn't miss a shot the rest of the evening.  Seriously, it is difficult to recall any missed shots.
• It was nice to see these guys get some big minutes: Hollowell-16, Creek-14, Etherington-13, Howard-4.
• That was fun.  My alma mater sure took a beating...and I enjoyed the heck out of it.
• Next up: North Carolina comes to town for the Big Ten-ACC Challenge!!

Game 5: Indiana vs. Georgetown (Legends Classic Championship)

Hoyas Go Pound-For-Pound With Hoosiers, Lose in Overtime; Hulls Named MVP of Tournament.

By Ryan Bramwell

#1  Indiana          36  28  (18)   82   (5-0)
      Georgetown   32  32  (8)     72  (3-1)   F/OT


Barlcay's Center in Brooklyn, New York


Individual Performances:

• Jordan Hulls: 17 points, 4 steals, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 3-for-6 3PT.  Jordy came up huge when it was needed the most for the second consecutive night, and for that, he was named the MVP of the Progressive Legends Classic tournament.
• Cody Zeller: 17 points, 8 rebounds/4 offensive, 2 assists, 9-for-13 from the line. Much better performance from Big Handsome than he had against the Bulldogs.  4-for-11 from the field is an atrocity for Cody, but overall he got the job done.  Although he missed four free throws, he did shoot thirteen of them which is a good stat in itself.
• Yogi Ferrell: 14 points, 4 assists, 1 steal, 9-for-11 FT.  Yogi set his career high in points despite only making two shots on six attempts.  However he reached fourteen points by getting to the line in overtime and helped the Hoosiers lock up a tough game.
• Christian Watford:  10 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 3-for-4 3PT.  C-Wat hit a few big three pointers in transition and grabbed double-digit rebounds to be a big part of the win Tuesday night.

Team Effort:

• Free throw shooting:  Indiana held it's own tonight from the line as they managed to reach the charity stripe 36 times while making 26 in the overtime affair.  Although the 72% is still a tad lower than what we want to see from the team as a whole, we cannot be dissatisfied with the job they did at getting to the line.  Consider this: Georgetown shot 90% from the stripe but only managed to get a total ten opportunities.  Indiana freshman Yogi Ferrell shot more free throws (9-for-11) than the entire Hoyas roster did in 45 minutes of basketball.
• 3-Point Shooting:  The Hoosiers were lighting it up from behind the arc much to the liking of Dick Vitale, who, all night long, was announcing that three pointers were "Indiana basketball".  They went 10-for-17 in all for 59%.  The Hoyas made 11 threes themselves, however they took 26 of them.  The game total of 21 three-point field goals can be attributed to the often-used zone defenses both coaches were utilizing in this one.
• The Hoosiers out-rebounded the Hoyas 30-to-21 including an 8-to-5 edge on the offensive glass.
• Non-statistically:  Indiana fought hard and battled all night with the Hoyas as the final score proves.  However they could have easily lost this game if they didn't play as a team.  Zeller has been ill and the Hoosiers do not have any depth for the post positions.  Yet Indiana was able to out-rebound the Hoyas (who start four players over 6'8"), get them into major fould trouble (including fouling out three Hoyas), and stay out of foul trouble themselves. 

Thoughts:

• Indiana just got tested, folks.  First by the Bulldogs of Georgia and then by Georgetown.  And guess what?  They won all three games (in case you forgot, the first game was against North Dakota State) and this little tournament. 
• Georgia wasn't and isn't very good, yet they provided a bit of a pre-test, if you will.  Indiana decided to get its act together in the second half of that one and finished it up still looking like a top team.  In that game they overcame poor shooting and star play amongst other things.  Georgetown, on the other hand, was and is very good.  They will undoubtedly be ranked in the top 25 come Monday.  They defeated a good UCLA team and nearly put it to our Hoosiers as well.  Indiana shot the ball well and got decent perfomances from most everybody, but it takes more than that to beat a good team.  Indiana has what it takes.
• How about Jordy Hulls?  He certainly is not taking a back seat to any other guards in his senior season.  It is hard to imagine him not starting any games this season despite the backcourt size of him and Yogi.
• Remy Abell was 2-for-2 from downtown and was a solid contributor once again. He's important, people.
• Jeremy Hollowell had some good ideas last night but got ahead of himself a couple times and finished with zero points and four turnovers.  He'll be better than that. 
• Five Hoosiers finished in double figures last night for second straight game.  That, folks, will almost always provide you with a win.

ESPN Game Recap

Game 4: Indiana vs. Georgia (Legends Classic - Semifinal)

Hulls Leads Hoosiers Over Determined Bulldogs in Legends Classic Semi-Final

By Ryan Bramwell

#1  Indiana   29  37   66  (4-0) 
      Georgia  30  23   53  (1-3)

Braclays Center in Brooklyn, New York

Individual Performances:

• Jordan Hulls was the star of this one as he tallied 14 points, four rebounds and four assists.  He had several key plays in the game that were crucial to Indiana's rallies including several three-pointers, an alley-oop pass, and a running floater that came off a beautiful pump-fake, spin move. 
• Victor Oladipo had 15 points and eight rebounds and several amazing dunks.  He's definitely an X-factor on this squad.
• Christian Watford scored 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting.  Not terrific, but it's good on a not-so-good night.
• Remy Abell finished with eight points, four rebounds and a steal and didn't miss a shot or free throw attempt.  This kid is crucial to the success of this team.

Team Effort:

• Tonight the boys were able to overcome a bad first half and a not-so-hot performance from Cody Zeller.  Not to mention they started off 1-for-12 from the 3-point line before making their final four from downtown.
• The Hoosiers out-rebounded the Bulldogs by 14 (35-to-21).
• Free throw shooting was a bit better at 17-for-24.  It looked even better before they missed their last four attempts on the night.
• Despite a mostly-subpar shooting night the Hoosiers were still able to muster a 45% FG mark on 22-of-49 shooting.  Subpar for this Hoosier team, yes.  Still a very attractive stat?  Yes.

Thoughts:

• Well, there it was: Indiana's first game where there was a time of uncertainty.  We've seen mini-lulls and small errors so far but not an entire half of basketball where we wondered what was going on with this team.  Well now it's happened and it is behind us.
• The first half against Georgia was just one of those things, ya know?  Nothing went as planned and yet we still were down only one point going into the locker room.  First, Cody Zeller apparently hadn't slept or was jet-lagged or something, because he was not himself.  He committed four turnovers and probably could have been called for even more travels than he already was.  Second, Indiana was working for open shots and got quite a few, especially from long range.   However, the Hoosiers were unable to convert and started out 1-for-12 from beyond the arc.  Finally, we were getting called for ticky-tacky blocking fouls when we applied any kind of defensive pressure.  It was just one of those games.
• Nevertheless, Indiana remembered that they were, in fact, Indiana when the second half rolled around.  Maybe Coach Crean gave them a little "we're Indiana!" talk before they came back out on the floor. 
• Jordy Hulls was the player of the game on the ESPNU network and color-commentator Bob Knight even praised Hulls before tip-off and named him the player to watch.  This Knight character seems to know a thing or two about basketball.
• What to take from this game:  Indiana was down at the half to an inferior opponent.  They were not getting any support from their star player and major post presence.  They missed a ton of three point shots and were called for some questionable fouls early on that led to bench time for some key players.  Yet, Indiana was able to overcome all this and win the game easily in the end.  That is what great teams do. 

Game 3: Indiana vs. Sam Houston State

Hoosiers Destroy Bearkats as Five Players Score Double Figures

By Ryan Bramwell

     SHSU    25  20   45  (1-2)
#1 Indiana  52  47   99  (3-0)

Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana


Individual Performances:

• Christian Watford had his best offensive performance of the season so far scoring 23 points on 5-for-8 shooting as well as going perfect from the stripe (10-for-10) and the 3-point line (3-for-3).
• Will Sheehey was next on the scoring list with 18 points for his best outing yet.  Will also grabbed five rebounds, dished out a pair of assists and came up with a steal.  Will's performance can be attributed to not getting into foul trouble like he did in the previous two games.  He was able to play 26 minutes and lead all Hoosiers in playing time for this one.
• Victor had a terrific game as he scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting.  Not to mention he had seven boards to go along with four steals and an assist as well.
• Big Handsome did a little bit of everything as he scored 13, had seven rebounds including five on the offensive end, four assists, two steals and two blocks.  This is known as 'stuffing the stat sheet', ladies and gentlemen.
• Jordy Hulls hit a trio of treys and scored ten points.  He also filled it up by adding five assists and five rebounds.
• The Frosh: Yogi Ferrell had three points and seven assists while Jeremy Hollowell scored four and added six rebounds (four offensive).

Team Effort:

• Indiana held Sam Houston State to 30.2% field goal shooting (16-for-53) and 19.2% 3-point shooting (5-for-26).  Those are atrocious percentages if you weren't sure. 
• The Hoosiers themselves shot a splendid 56.6% from the field (30-for-53) and 43% from the arc (9-for-21).  Those are great numbers if you weren't sure.
• The Bearkats got to the charity stripe 12 times and made eight.  The Hoosiers, on the other hand, got there 44 times and made 30.
• IU more than doubled SHSU in rebounding 41-to-20 and also ripped down 16 offensive boards.
• Indiana had an amazing 24 assists on the night!  What is more astonishing is that they 30 field goals, and only six of them were not tied to assists.  30 field goals.  24 assists.  Wow.
• In some other categories, Indiana out-stole the Bearkats 11-to-4, out-blocked them 3-to-0, and committed 19 fewer personal fouls (31-to-12).

Thoughts:

• This was an absolute pounding. 
• Austin Etherington received an alley-oop pass from Maurice Creek which he threw down for the slam in the waning moments of the game.  There was much rejoicing in Assembly Hall when this occurred. 
• Jordan Hulls had 997 points before he knocked down a 22-foot three pointer to become the 44th member of Indiana's 1,000 point club.  Coach Crean was seen holding Jordy's arm up in the air with his own on center court during the subsequent time out.  It was a warm, fuzzy feeling for all of us.
• Christian Watford did not start.  It was only the second time in his career at IU that he hasn't been in the starting lineup.  He responded to this situation by having a terrific game.
• The Hoosiers rebounded over half of their missed shots!  23 missed shots.  16 offensive rebounds.  That's just crazy good.
• What is not good is the team's free throw shooting.  They have been getting to the line at an amazing clip but not converting at the rate in which we should expect and hold this team to.
• Indiana played a pair of good games to start the season, but this one was just out of hand.  The Hoosiers played good basketball from start to finish on both ends of the floor.

Game 2: Indiana vs. North Dakota State (Legends Classic - 1st Round)

Zeller, Abell and Company Roll Right on Past the Bison
By Ryan Bramwell

     NDSU     29   32     61   (1-1)
#1 Indiana  42   45     87   (2-0)

 Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana


Individual Performances:

• Surprise, surprise, Cody Zeller led all scorers with 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting.  He also snatched down nine rebounds (three offensive) and blocked two shots
• Remy Abell was outstanding as he drilled all five of his shots including three 3-pointers to finish with 14 points.  He also had three offensive boards and five rebounds all in all. 
• Jeremy Hollowell aslo scored 14 points while nabbing two boards as well as getting a block
• Victor Oladipo was the 'Mr. Everything' player in this affair.  He finished with seven points, eight rebounds, five assists and four steals
• Jordy Hulls hit a few three's (3-for-6) and scored 11 points to go alongside his four assists and two steals

Team Effort:

• IU shot 28-for-58, good for 48.3%, while they held the Bison to 41% on 23-for-56 shooting
• The Hoosiers continued to get to the line at an efficient clip as they were 22-for-30.  Although the FT percentage is lower than we'd like, they did manage to get to the line 21 more times leading them to outscore NDSU 22 to 7 from the stripe
• The Cream and Crimson managed to commit only 10 turnovers on the night, while the Bison had 16
• Indiana outperformed North Dakota State in FGM, FG%, FTM, 3PM, rebounds, assists and steals

Thoughts:

• Although I don't necessarily think Indiana played any better, or even as good as they did in their first outing of the year, I do believe we saw some progress and solid consistency.
• My biggest concern was the defense.  This is the area where Indiana absolutely must improve if they want to be NCAA champions.  I would certainly like to see the Hoosiers hold a team like NDSU to a lower field goal percentage especially when you consider the caliber of the schools in the B1G conference this year.  Giving up eight 3-pointers against the lowly Bison still proves that the Hoosiers have some work to do on perimeter defense, positioning and recovery.  We know they're going to be more athletic than ninety percent of the teams they meet, so there's no reason for them to allow as many outside open shots as last season.  On a good note, Indiana did force plenty of turnovers, deflected balls all night, and just flat-out caused disruption on the defensive end.  Good work overall.
• Cody Zeller is good.  
• Remy Abell is quickly showing Hoosier Nation that he may be the most important player on this team.  He can handle the rock, makes terrific decisions, and so far, has yet to miss a shot in the early going. Most importantly though, Abell at the point allows for Hulls to stay in the game as the two-guard which allows for more spot-up shots for Jordy.
• Next game is against a Sam Houston State squad that is very small with the exception of the starting center.  I am expecting a huge point differential.

A Little Bit of Reds News

By Ryan Bramwell

 

 

 

 

Awards?  Nope, We Got Hosed.

Cy Young Award - Johnny Cueto was amazing all season long for the Reds.  He led the NL in a few categories including ERA+ which takes into account the ballparks you pitch in.  Here's a good story from ESPN about how Cueto got 'jobbed'.  I can understand if he was not the deemed the winner, but to not even make the final cut??

Manager of the Year - Well, I'm not too upset about this one.  Davey Johnson, a one-time Reds skipper, won the award and deservedly so.  It was down to him and Dusty in the end.  Baker had a more troubling year seeing as he had to deal with the stroke he suffered which, in turn, caused him to miss highlights like Homer Bailey's no-hitter and the Reds' clinching of the Central.  I think Baker should have got this one for pity's sake at least. 

Rookie of the Year - Todd Frazier is a hero.  He put up tremendous numbers all season despite being listed as the backup third baseman.  Frazier is my hero.  He played third and first base as though they were both his natural positions, not to mention he played a couple outfield spots too.  Todd Frazier should be a hero for all of us...but instead the award went to that overhyped, wretched little punk Bryce Harper. That's a clown decision, bro.  

Gold Gloves - Brandon Phillips?  Zack Cozart? Ryan Hanigan?  Anybody?  No.  None. 

Silver Sluggers - Jay Bruce!  Hey, we got one.  Jables snagged the only 'major' award for the Reds after their 97-win season.  What about the NL Silver Slugger for Pitchers?  Mike Leake you say?  No, Stephen Strasburg won that.  Mike Leake batted .295/.306/.443 with two homers and three RBIs. Strasburg batted .277/.333/.426 with one homer and seven RBIs.  Dumb. 

Needless to say, the baseball writers and folks who make the decisions for whom these awards are given were very much aroused by the team out in D.C.  I didn't mention that two other Washington Nationals also received Silver Slugger awards (LaRoche and Desmond).  They were one game better than the Reds and lost in the same round of the playoffs, right?  Ah, whatever.  I guess it's just one of those media driven love affairs for a bad team gone good.

In the end, I am most distraught over the NL Rookie of the Year.  I think I made that clear a couple paragraphs ago.  Although, Mike Leake not winning an award for the best hitting pitcher is absurd...it's the only thing he did better than the other four guys in the rotation.  Moreover, Johnny Cueto not making the final cut for the CYA is ridiculous.  Oh well, I'm over it.


What's Brewing?

Jocketty and the Reds are looking to make some moves this offseason, and I have to say that I feel these moves will be significant.  I'm not talking earth-shattering transactions here, but I am saying that the team is willing to do whatever it takes to get better once again.  Jocketty has already stated a couple of things: One, he is willing to trade Zack Cozart or Didi Gregorious if the return is solid.  Two, Aroldis Chapman will be getting a for-sure shot at cracking the rotation for 2013.  Three, the Reds will obtain a leadoff hitter (spelling the end of the Drew Stubbs era almost certainly).  Four, they will find a solid replacement for Ryan Ludwick if they cannot reach an agreement with him during the signing period.  And five, Jocketty is looking for a closer now that Chapman will be making the major transition to starter.  The Reds already have a couple of options for closer on the team now as it stands...but that's depends on how much cash money GM Jocketty is willing to throw around.

-Reds Needs-

• Leadoff hitter/new center fielder
• Replacement for Ryan Ludwick/new left fielder
• Closer

-Possible Targets-

Outfielders/Leadoff Hitters

• Michael Bourn - Link, Link 
• Shane Victorino - Link, Link, Link 
• Nyjer Morgan - Link, Link
• Grady Sizemore - Link, Link 
• Torii Hunter - Link  (signed with Tigers)
• Juan Pierre - Link, Link 
• Angel Pagan - Link, Link 
• Nick Swisher - Link 
• Melky Cabrera - Link 
• Adam Eaton - Link 
• Jacoby Ellsbury - Link

Closers

• Jonathan Broxton - Link, Link, Link 
• Ryan Madson - Link, Link, Link 
• Joakim Soria - Link, Link 
• Jose Valverde - Link, Link

Re-Signable Position Players

• Ryan Ludwick - Link
• Scott Rolen - Link

No Thanks

• Kevin Youkilis - Link

-Articles-

• Reds Offseason Issues to Shore Up
• Reds Contract Breakdown for 2013

The Ever Brightening Future of Indiana

Things Just Keep Getting Better For Hoosier Fans


Coach Crean Nabs Two Huge Recruits in Just a Matter of Weeks

Up until the end of October the top recruit Coach Crean had landed was Stanford Robinson, a 6'4" two-guard from Virginia who committed back in May of this year.  Robinson is a four-star recruit ranked 58th overall in ESPN's 2013 database.  So Robinson is certainly a significant signing and will play an important role in the coming years for the Hoosiers.  But Tom Crean wasn't finished...

On October 28, Indiana added more talent as Troy Williams, a 6'7" small forward from Virginia.  Williams was much sought after and is listed as ESPN's 33rd best recruit and 9th best at his position.  Troy picked IU over some major competition: Ohio State, Louisville, and North Carolina.  Beating out the Tar Heels was probably the biggest surprise in this development as Williams was expected to pick an ACC school and Norrth Carolina was the most likely suitor.  In the end, Troy decided to become a Hoosier which pleased us all.

So, now Indiana has went from having a trio of three-star recruits (Luke Fischer, Collin Hartman, Devin Davis) to being loaded with five committments including two four-star, Top 50 listed athletes.  This has led to ESPN ranking Indiana as having the 10th best recruiting class of 2013.  But wait, there's more....

On November 10, Tom Crean's efforts paid off in full as the 8th ranked prospect in the land, Noah Vonleh, committed to Indiana.  Vonleh was the cherry on top for the Hoosiers already stellar 2013 class.  Noah reclassified himself and joined the '13 class not quite two months ago.  The Massachusetts high school standout is 6'8" and weighs in at 220 pounds.  ESPN lists him as a five-star recruit and the third ranked power forward in the country.  Vonleh made his decision immediately after his visit to Bloomington where fans began chanting "We want Noah!" when he was spotted at Assembly Hall.  Picking up Vonleh caused a leap in the team recruiting standings for the Hoosiers as they are now listed as having the 4th best class in 2013.  How about that?

So there you have it.  The roster won't be dwindling any time soon.

Noah Vonleh
6'8" 220
Haverhill, MA
***** 5 Star
#8 Overall
#3 Power Forward



 

    Troy Williams
    6'7" 190
    Hampton, VA
    **** 4 Star
    #33 Overall
    #9 Small Forward



Stanford Robinson
6'4" 175
Fairfax, VA
**** 4 Star
#58 Overall
#15 Shooting Guard



Fred Glass Announces Two-Year Contract Extension For Coach Crean

And there was much rejoicing.

Just before tip-off of Monday's game against North Dakota State, Fred Glass was on Branch McCracken Court to deliver a bit of good news to the fans; a contract extension for Coach Crean.  The extension will keep Crean as the coach of the Hoosiers at least until the year 2020.  So the good times just keep rollin' along in Hoosier Nation. 


Hoo - Hoo - Hoo ! Hoosiers!

Game 1: Indiana vs. Bryant Bulldogs

Hoosiers Rout Bryant University in First Game of the Season

By Ryan Bramwell

     Bryant    28 26    54  (0-1)
#1 Indiana   48 49    97  (1-0)

Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana


Individual Performances:

• Cody Zeller finished with 18 points (8-10 FG) and 10 rebounds
• Christian Watford scored 15 points and grabbed a career high 15 rebounds
• Yogi Ferrell finished with 10 points, seven assists and five rebounds
• Remy Abell was a force off the bench, scoring 12 points on perfect FG and FT shooting
• Jeremy Hollowell racked up a dozen points, two offensive boards, a block and a steal
• Will Sheehey scored 10 points in only 12 minutes of action due to fouling out
• Jordy Hulls knocked down three 3-pointers and dished out five assists
• Mo Creek was finally back in action and hit a pair of threes in his anticipated return

Team Effort:

• Zeller and Watford combined for 33 points and 25 rebounds
• Indiana did a great job gettting Bryant's big men into foul trouble; Both Scocca and Kondratyev fouled out
• The Hoosiers got to the line often and made the most of their opportunities (29-of-34)
• Indiana outperformed the Bulldogs in rebounding (46 to 27), assists (16 to 10), steals (12 to 8), blocks (6 to 1), as well as FG%, 3PT%, and FT%
• The most impressive team stat may be Indiana's 55.6% FG shooting (30-of-54) while holding their opponents to 32.3% (20-62) shooting

Thoughts:

• It was a solid performance by the Hoosiers in their first regular season game.  There is a lot of pressure to blow out opponents like Bryant coming into the season because of all the hype and expectations.  Like the exhibition game against Wesleyan, the team started slow and wasn't hitting shots right out of the gate.  With veterans and freshmen both expected to make significant contributions, it will take some time for them to mesh and form a smooth all-around game. 
• The turnovers were high (17), but that is to be expected with a fast-paced, offensive squad like th Hoosiers.  Although we shouldn't be satisfied with this many turnovers against a subpar opponent no matter up-temo we play.  But I do assume a couple more games into the season the team won't be committing as many turnovers as they did in this one. 
• Overall, the Hoosiers looked quite good and did exactly what they were supposed to do, which was to win handily.  I am, however, afraid that having only three 'big' men (Zeller, Watford, Hollowell) will pose a problem at some point in the first third of this season.  Let's hope we win the appeal and get our freshmen big men back on the court ASAP.  

ESPN Recap

Big Ten Team Preview: Ohio State Buckeyes

By Ryan Bramwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakdown:

• 2011-2012: 31-8 (13-5)
• Postseason: Final Four (Loss vs. Kansas, 64-62)
• Coach: Thad Matta (9^th year)

Situation:

• Gone: Jared Sullinger, William Buford, Jordan Siebert, J.D. Weatherspoon
• Back: Aaron Craft, Deshaun Thomas, Lenzell Smith, Jr., Sam Thompson, Amir Williams, Evan Ravenel
• New:  Amedeo Della Valle

Returning Numbers:

• MIN – 52.5%
• PTS – 46.7% 
• 3PM – 46.7%
• REB – 42.6%
• AST – 30.6%

Returning Leaders:

• MPG – Craft (32.2), Thomas (31.4), Sullinger (30.4), Smith, Jr. (25.4)
• PPG – Thomas (15.9), Craft (8.8), Smith, Jr. (6.8)  
• RPG – Thomas (5.4), Smith, Jr. (4.6), Craft (3.2)

Key Players:

• Deshaun Thomas
• Aaron Craft
• Lenzelle Smith, Jr.
• LaQuinton Ross

Keys to Success:

• The leadership of Aaron Craft and the development of his offensive game
• Deshaun Thomas’s ability to be the Jared Sullinger of 2012-13
• The all-around growth and post-defense of Amir Williams
• The offensive progress of wingman LaQuinton Ross
• Lenzelle Smith’s capability to add to his offense and 3-point shot
• The team’s progress and status after their merciless nonconference schedule

Projected Starting Lineup

• PG – Aaron Craft
• SG – Lenzelle Smith, Jr.
• SF – Sam Thompson
• PF – Deshaun Thomas
• C – Amir Williams

Blue Ribbon Grades:

• Backcourt: B
• Frontcourt: B+
• Bench/Depth: B-
• Intangibles: B+  

 

Preview Links:

• Inside the Hall 
• Blue Ribbon at ESPN 
• Bleacher Report 
• Rant Sports 

 

ESPN Team Page:

• Buckeyes Basketball

My Prediction:

• 14-4, tied for 2nd place