@Belmont (3-1) - Wed 1/10/24 - 6:30 pm - ESPN+

[SgtHulka]

It felt like we played differently in the 2nd half. I don't feel like we got the ball in a good position on the blocks. The officials did let them play the last 5-7 minutes. Do our guards know what a bounce pass is? It's so much easier to get the ball in the paint without someone poking it away on the bounce. The defender has to reach over top to get the ball- which results in a foul a lot more. I feel we spent more time dribbling in the 2nd half than looking into the paint. We went back to what hadn't worked.

Love a good bounce pass. Its a forgotten skill. Unfortunately, when we do do it comes in at their ankles.

Chase is in the mold of Foster only bulkier. Shot his charity tosses nicely. Strange to see the RS come off now. But given we probably banked on Lieb being a contributor, and Walker being hurt to start the year I'm not surprised we took that shot. We aren't getting anyone but end of bench guys to stay 4 years in this age, so I'm good with the move.

Davis is an enigma. Barely plays, but when he does he's been mostly coming through. Madbird was spot on.

Want more Pence, less Kazooski.

 

[SgtHulka]

Carry on.

Wayward Son

 

[Phantom]

I could see us winning 4 of our next 5.

Valpo - winnable
Drake - loss
@MSU - seem to be falling apart
Belmont - played them tight at their place without our best scoring threat
@E-ville - winnable

I hope so. Possible, yes. 2 weeks ago I was kind of glad to get thrown to the wolves for 4 straight starting with Kentucky. But going 0-4 in that stretch when we clearly had 2-2 in our grasp is disheartening. These next 5 will be interesting for sure. Sink or swim time.

 

[MadBird]

Got a few folks on here with short memories.

Walker's redshirt - do you remember him walking around in a boot at the beginning of the year? After the boot came off, Pedon talked about him practicing but working on his conditioning? The young man was not ready to play much earlier than this. Injured, working on conditioning. Now he's ready.

Jordan Davis - do you remember how terrible Davis was in the beginning of the year? How, just as he did at Wisconsin, he played his way out of the rotation? Later, Pedon commenting on how mature he was to get after it in practice after sitting a few games? 0-5 from the field vs Wright St. 0-1 v. High Point. 0-2 v. EIU. 1-4 v. Norfolk. 1-8 vs Ky.

Now some of the geniuses on here are concerned about "blowing" Walker's RS. Prolly the same one's griping he shouldn't RS because in the Portal era you can't do that. You know, how we play in conference is everything in this point - Walker could've got some experience in the pre-season, but if he can come in a give a boost down the stretch, that might have more to do with the season's outcome - if you believe making the NCAA is the true measure of the season (I don't particularly hold that view, but I know a lot of you do).

Pedon's played this one about as well as he could, IMHO. Let Walker get healthy, get in shape, now that he's needed, put him in. Davis wasn't getting it done, sit him down for a few games, get him back in there and hope for renewed production.

 

[DaveBird10]

Pedon's played this one about as well as he could, IMHO. Let Walker get healthy, get in shape, now that he's needed, put him in. Davis wasn't getting it done, sit him down for a few games, get him back in there and hope for renewed production.

I agree with this 100%. Pedon mentioned Monday on the coaches show that in a lot of ways Chase is learning to play in his new body/weight. Imo play Chase, Kinziger and Pence and let them learn/develop for the future. They are still young, learning and will make mistakes but they looked good.

Happy that Davis knocked down a few shots, need a wing to step up and hit a few shots otherwise teams will pack in a zone vs us and force us to shoot.

 

[TIMMY]

I agree with this 100%. Pedon mentioned Monday on the coaches show that in a lot of ways Chase is learning to play in his new body/weight. Imo play Chase, Kinziger and Pence and let them learn/develop for the future. They are still young, learning and will make mistakes but they looked good.

Happy that Davis knocked down a few shots, need a wing to step up and hit a few shots otherwise teams will pack in a zone vs us and force us to shoot.

Amen. Play the kids. Forget the redshirt. You don't get better watching and practicing, while important, isn't full speed. This group ain't going anywhere. If I were an opposing coach I would be packing the lane and daring this team to take 3's. Also, the earlier point about better scouting the portal...huge!

 

[redbirds2000]

Agreed, had him sit this long, go the distance for his Redshirt .... play Schmidt

Walker may have thought he needed some film for the portal? We shall see.

 

[isuquinndog]

Got a few folks on here with short memories.

Walker's redshirt - do you remember him walking around in a boot at the beginning of the year? After the boot came off, Pedon talked about him practicing but working on his conditioning? The young man was not ready to play much earlier than this. Injured, working on conditioning. Now he's ready.

But that's not what we were told. We were told that he and Chase decided he would sit for the season with a medical redshirt. We don't know how long ago he could have started playing. If no matter what he couldn't have played until now, fine. But that isn't what he told the public and peole don't like the look of being lied to.

I just hope he hasn't been sitting there for 5 games, able to play and NOW we decide to put him in. Probably could have used him against SIU.

 

[Adunk33]

The Walker situation seems pretty obvious to me. The plan was to RS him the whole year, UNTILL Lieb got hurt. I believe Lieb's injury is more serious than we think. I get that sense from the statement that he has a lower leg injury and his timetable to return is TBD. Clearly, Pedon doesn't have faith in Schmitt to be a viable back up for Lewis or Foster so, enter Walker. I'm sure they had conversations and Pedon feels better about playing him now versus the start of the year. That said, I hope he makes it worth it and gets Chase around 15 mpg. I loved seeing the three freshmen on the court together. They didn't look too bad and the thought of those three being the foundation and adding in Norris and Daughtry at the 2 and 4 , respectively, is a plan I could get behind.

 

[Chicagobirdfan]

This

As long as he’s playing, burn away. In this day and age, I’d love to see someone stay 4-5 years, but that’s the exception rather than the norm.

Yep my thought as well. Why have him sit here a year taking away resources when a vast majority of players end of transferring.

 

[Chicagobirdfan]

The Walker situation seems pretty obvious to me. The plan was to RS him the whole year, UNTILL Lieb got hurt. I believe Lieb's injury is more serious than we think. I get that sense from the statement that he has a lower leg injury and his timetable to return is TBD. Clearly, Pedon doesn't have faith in Schmitt to be a viable back up for Lewis or Foster so, enter Walker. I'm sure they had conversations and Pedon feels better about playing him now versus the start of the year. That said, I hope he makes it worth it and gets Chase around 15 mpg. I loved seeing the three freshmen on the court together. They didn't look too bad and the thought of those three being the foundation and adding in Norris and Daughtry at the 2 and 4 , respectively, is a plan I could get behind.

I wonder if a piece of this is also Pedon thinking Lieb would be much more productive and would eventually get up to game speed and turn it around. At this point, I don’t think anyone expects much from Lieb more than a few minutes when folks are in foul trouble.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I wonder if a piece of this is also Pedon thinking Lieb would be much more productive and would eventually get up to game speed and turn it around. At this point, I don’t think anyone expects much from Lieb more than a few minutes when folks are in foul trouble.

Lieb's rebounding numbers are pretty good. I think he could be a big piece for this team. This is a pretty good rebounding team.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

That said, I hope he makes it worth it and gets Chase around 15 mpg.

15 mpg is a fine goal for my Chevelle, but I think Chase can give us more mileage than that.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

Clearly we have to be more discerning when bringing in transfer portal players. We have a few that are marginal contributors at best.

Good luck with that.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

I will say that I am reenergized to watch this team going forward with Chase Walker replacing Lieb. I think that could potentially help us a lot. Walker can give us offense in the post and some passing ability when double teams show up. It will just take some time adjusting to playing in real games.

This whole Walker thing stymies me. I’m glad he’s suiting up, but why play him now (and lose the redshirt) and not just sit him so we get him for all four years?

 

[MadBird]

This whole Walker thing stymies me. I’m glad he’s suiting up, but why play him now (and lose the redshirt) and not just sit him so we get him for all four years?

Who knows? Because he might help us win some games this year? He might benefit from the game experience and do better in the future, next year and the year after? We might not get him for 4 years thanks to the goddam portal, so let's start the clock ticking ASAP? I'm stumped that so many people seem stumped about this.

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Love a good bounce pass. Its a forgotten skill. Unfortunately, when we do do it comes in at their ankles.

Chase is in the mold of Foster only bulkier. Shot his charity tosses nicely. Strange to see the RS come off now. But given we probably banked on Lieb being a contributor, and Walker being hurt to start the year I'm not surprised we took that shot. We aren't getting anyone but end of bench guys to stay 4 years in this age, so I'm good with the move.

Davis is an enigma. Barely plays, but when he does he's been mostly coming through. Madbird was spot on.

Want more Pence, less Kazooski.

When the guards are mostly parked outside it is hard to make a bounce pass from beyond the 3 point line down into the post…it would be like trying to skip rocks on a wavey lake

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

Who knows? Because he might help us win some games this year? He might benefit from the game experience and do better in the future, next year and the year after? We might not get him for 4 years thanks to the goddam portal, so let's start the clock ticking ASAP? I'm stumped that so many people seem stumped about this.

I am still stumped from the fact that he redshirted in the first place. Hear all summer about what a game changer and how effective he is and suddenly chase was redshirting.

 

[MadBird]

I am still stumped from the fact that he redshirted in the first place. Hear all summer about what a game changer and how effective he is and suddenly chase was redshirting.

He was injured, in a boot at the beginning of the year. Must've thought he wouldn't get healed and get in shape and Lieb would be a star and Chase wouldn't be needed. Things changed.

 

[SlackBooDom]

Am I missing something? Walker was 0/3 against Wesleyan. He was 1/3 against Belmont with 2 rebounds. There was so much undue optimism that people are acting like if he played this season would be drastically different. We don’t even know if he’s good yet.