Valparaiso - 01/21/2023 - 6:00 PM - ESPN3

[redbirds2000]

We are 2025 /2026 away from anything.

Yeah. That's not good enough.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

I know my attitude sucks tonight, but the Belmont game Sissoko played 0 minutes, Sandage 5. Lewis falling off a cliff has nothing to do with health. In the MSU game Sandage and Sissoko combined for 5 pts and 3 rebounds. We miss Sandage the last 3 games, but our 2 biggest wins weren’t built at all on them

Sissoko and Sandy speak more to the depth issues showing up lately. Our regular rotation is gassed.

 

[Redbirdmike]

Rant is fine but we must remember that Muller absolutely tanked the program. The period between 1998 and now is not Pedon’s fault. I have full faith he’ll turn it around. It doesn’t make this season any easier, but let’s keep perspective on this current staff.

Hey I agree. Not saying it’s Pedon’s fault. The first thing I said was that he has his “work cut out for him.” I have perfect perspective on this - as someone that has seen every game since 1986. The cupboard is completely bare, you have an older, dwindling fan base that is starving for a winner and several younger generations that have never even seen a consistent winning ISU program or an NCAA TOURNAMENT BERTH. This has bred the worst outcome you can possible have in a sports program - INDIFFERENCE. Maybe a little premature to break out the slogan, “Time To Get Our Swagger Back.” I agree, it is! Go Coach Pedon Go! We are all so tired of losing and seeing an inferior product being rolled out! “This is ISU basketball”. We are sick of losing!

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

That team was healthy. Sandy is out, Sissoko is banged up. McChesney hasn’t been the same since he got hurt and then sick. Lewis fell off a cliff.

Sandage played 5 minutes in that game, Sissoko did not play at all. McChesney does not look unhealthy, he looks lost. Neither him nor Lewis are playing as good as they did six weeks ago.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

If you can’t see that the talent isn’t there right now I’m not sure what to tell you.

Probably think the Sox had a great offseason, too.

It’s the same talent that beat Belmont and Missouri State.

 

[SlackBooDom]

The excuse making and faux-optimism makes very little sense to me. It’s health. Guys are lost. Pedon didn’t have time to recruit. Muller’s fault. Rotation is gassed. The freshmen coming in are going to be above-average role players. They’ll hit the portal. This staff had time to evaluate players - they ran off who they didn’t want and kept who they did. All of the “holdovers” are those who Pedon wanted. All the recruits too. They had time to build this how they wanted this year. It’s past bad. We are below D1 average in every single stat outside of FT shooting. It’s okay to critically say the coaching is a question mark just as much as the roster next year without it being critical.

 

[Hamdonger]

It’s all a head game now!

This is 100% where we currently reside. And not just the players!

God bless the kid and you can praise Darius all you want, he had a 'good' game - I guess - but what I look for is this: In the 2nd half (we were still in the game) he made a terrible pass, interceptor winds his way through for a dunk...and Darius DOES NOT HUSTLE BACK WHATSOEVER on the play. Whatsoever!! Kid dunks, we call timeout, completely change momentum.

DB is happy when he's playing well. Actually...when he's scoring. That's not enough. Sorry to pick on you DB but it's an illustration of our current mental state.

CUbird completely said it.

 

[Hamdonger]

It's too bad because for the current times, we had pretty good (ie: engaged) crowd tonight with good student turnout - and they're rewarded with this. We missed an opportunity.

 

[Hamdonger]

Regarding Liam...he is really trying right now. He's trying. The problem is...he has ZERO confidence and because of it, nothing is going right for him. NOTHING. And in case you havent noticed Ryan has little to no confidence in him right now either (deserved, but the constant shuffling is exponentiating the problem), and it is dogpiling on the Canadian. These Redbirds aren't boys...they're young men. Liam, dammit, FACE your adversity. FIGHT THE FREAK BACK, fellas! If Pedon didn't chew their asses up and down that locker room, it's past due.

 

[cubird]

As it has been said many times this season. P has to find room for another guard and a true post player for next season. The freshman are not going to be physically ready to play heavy minutes... unless you think u have a Dan M in the group. 2 starters through the portal can make this team much better. Slide some guys into their true positions. But 2 guys will have to go. I am keeping my guesses to myself. Unlike when
P got hired, he will ample time after the season to secure 2 players to elevate us out of the MVC gutter.

 

[Loyl2u]

Birds have had lots of bad starts but tonight was the first home game where it felt like the players just didn’t compete beyond going through the motions. while I appreciate that Birds’ points are coming largely from backcourt, they shot 26% from 3 this game and our scoring guards allowed Green to get a lot of open 3 pointers at the other end, so I’m not so sure that we can throw all the blame on the front court.

 

[Redbirdfan06]

The excuse making and faux-optimism makes very little sense to me. It’s health. Guys are lost. Pedon didn’t have time to recruit. Muller’s fault. Rotation is gassed. The freshmen coming in are going to be above-average role players. They’ll hit the portal. This staff had time to evaluate players - they ran off who they didn’t want and kept who they did. All of the “holdovers” are those who Pedon wanted. All the recruits too. They had time to build this how they wanted this year. It’s past bad. We are below D1 average in every single stat outside of FT shooting. It’s okay to critically say the coaching is a question mark just as much as the roster next year without it being critical.

So you know for a fact that the “holdovers” were guys Pedon wanted? Or had to take on to fill the roster. Even with the transfer portal, it isn’t easy to just clean house and bring in an entirely new roster. You think Pedon wanted Reeves to leave in order to keep Kotov or Johnson?

 

[BirdGrad2011]

So you know for a fact that the “holdovers” were guys Pedon wanted? Or had to take on to fill the roster. Even with the transfer portal, it isn’t easy to just clean house and bring in an entirely new roster. You think Pedon wanted Reeves to leave in order to keep Kotov or Johnson?

Pedon has spoken on it. He welcomed guys back that bought in. Doesn’t mean they were talented enough just that they bought in to Pedon early. He didn’t want to replace an entire roster. He wanted to establish a culture. He wants to build a winner not a flash in the pan and bolt.

 

[Popsto4]

I do, too. Most of the players that need to go are from the previous regime.

The four best players on the team were all on different campuses last year.

It’s hard to be patient and games like this suck, but that’s the reality.

I’m sure Kinziger sees immediate playing time as he watched the game in person tonight.

Rant is fine but we must remember that Muller absolutely tanked the program. The period between 1998 and now is not Pedon’s fault. I have full faith he’ll turn it around. It doesn’t make this season any easier, but let’s keep perspective on this current staff.

Honestly I dont know of many coaches that could have a great season being the head man here this year. You have to have more talent on this level to compete game in and game out. Every great team bench is overlooked. This team have a few pieces that can really work around more talent. Kinziger will have a leaning curve no doubt. He will be better suited at the 1 because it’s his natural position. I think we need to add 2 bigs.

 

[Buffett1]

Almost all, get in the weight room.

 

[Birdswin]

Wearing Black uniforms at home - Bad Karma - worked so well in the Fall - all teams lost. Wear white at home - period.

 

[Popsto4]

Pedon has spoken on it. He welcomed guys back that bought in. Doesn’t mean they were talented enough just that they bought in to Pedon early. He didn’t want to replace an entire roster. He wanted to establish a culture. He wants to build a winner not a flash in the pan and bolt.

All I can say is I just looked at the stat line from last night’s game. Mal probably played his best game to date. That doesn’t show up in overall shooting % going 3/10 from the field but man to finish with 10 pts, 2 Rebs, 3 assists and 2 blocks is a pretty good performance from the 1 spot. Although 2 or 3 turnovers weren’t great I thought he played hard on both ends. Darius is a baller straight up. Idk what’s going on with Kendal and Lewis. I’m never to bash a kid ever but man they have to step it up in a big way to continue down the stretch.

 

[Popsto4]

All I can say is I just looked at the stat line from last night’s game. Mal probably played his best game to date. That doesn’t show up in overall shooting % going 3/10 from the field but man to finish with 10 pts, 2 Rebs, 3 assists and 2 blocks is a pretty good performance from the 1 spot. Although 2 or 3 turnovers weren’t great I thought he played hard on both ends. Darius is a baller straight up. Idk what’s going on with Kendal and Lewis. I’m never to bash a kid ever but man they have to step it up in a big way to continue down the stretch.

Liam I mean.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

Liam I mean.

All I can say is I just looked at the stat line from last night’s game. Mal probably played his best game to date. That doesn’t show up in overall shooting % going 3/10 from the field but man to finish with 10 pts, 2 Rebs, 3 assists and 2 blocks is a pretty good performance from the 1 spot. Although 2 or 3 turnovers weren’t great I thought he played hard on both ends. Darius is a baller straight up. Idk what’s going on with Kendal and Lewis. I’m never to bash a kid ever but man they have to step it up in a big way to continue down the stretch.

I keep messing up Kendall Lewis’ name because it’s almost a combination of Kellen Thornton - who he reminds me of when he’s hitting shots - and Tony Lewis, whose game he mirrors when he’s not.

 

[Birdfriend72]

We are 2025 /2026 away from anything.

Not necessarily. it depends on what Pedon does with this roster. It needs to be restructured. He can’t maintain dead weight scholarships. The good news for him is he didn’t recruit the bulk of them. He will need 2 front court players. He can’t wait for the Walker kid to develop. He is at least 2 years of development before his contribution will mean anything. Looks like a great kid- but needs to develop.