Indiana State - 01/04/2023 - 7:00 PM - ESPN+

[Reggie Redbird]

Pedon was establishing the coaching staff during the first month or 2 after his hire. They are huge part of recruiting and evaluating the talent that was on the team. He was also dealing with his OSU responsibilities for about 2 weeks. I dont think he hit the ground running on recruiting.

While he may not have had a huge disadvantage in the portal, he clearly would have a disadvantage in recruiting Freshman and JUCOs. He missed the early signing period and could not spend years/months developing relationships and selling them on ISU prior to his arrival Also, some coaches are able to take current players with them or recruits. Look at Indiana St, Northwestern St, and LSU and the players the coach took with them. It helps fill roster places but also helps jump start the program when players understand the system already.
Pedon didn't have the luxury of taking any Ohio St players to ISU.

I will offer my opinion on the 2 to 4 players that should potentially go
Andrews
Kotov
Schmidt
Petrakis
Sissoko

We all could point out something those 5 do well but the reality is all 5 have signifant areas they need to improve. These are not freshman. This is Schmidt's second year at D1 (with 2 at JUCO) and the others have played at least 3 years (includes this year) at D1 even if just sparingly. Kotov also has 2 years at JUCO. I am not saying all 5 will or should go but they are strong candidates. If Petrakis or someone turns it around between now and the end of the season that would be awesome. If not a change should seriously be considered by both sides.

I don't want to see continuous roster turnover but given the talent on the team and where we want to go, I think next year it will be warranted. In the meantime I will root whole heartedly for each of them when they are playing and I hope they prove me wrong.

Isn’t Petrakis a 1-year player here? He has played 4 prior seasons (1 at JUCO, 2 at K-State, 1 at WCU), so this is his 5th year.

I thought that was the reason we brought him in: height, could potentially provide post minutes, would not tie up a scholarship past this season.

Ultimately both parties need to make a decision. Each player with any potential eligibility will decide to continue playing, and Coach Pedom will decide if ISU offers that player a scholarship next year. Our roster didn’t allow for removing too many players because we weren’t going to get that many new players and the staff needed time to evaluate players with multiple years.

We could easily see over half our roster depart to eligibility exhaustion, graduation, or transfer. Whatever post(s) we need to lead Coach‘s offense is likely coming in as a transfer, giving Walker a chance to develop.

Specifically to this game, we did not quit. We could have easily packed up and lost by 30-40. If this team could solve getting down early and play like we did in the last 15 min all game, this team could win a lot more.

 

[Redbird222]

Isn’t Petrakis a 1-year player here? He has played 4 prior seasons (1 at JUCO, 2 at K-State, 1 at WCU), so this is his 5th year.

I thought that was the reason we brought him in: height, could potentially provide post minutes, would not tie up a scholarship past this season.

Ultimately both parties need to make a decision. Each player with any potential eligibility will decide to continue playing, and Coach Pedom will decide if ISU offers that player a scholarship next year. Our roster didn’t allow for removing too many players because we weren’t going to get that many new players and the staff needed time to evaluate players with multiple years.

We could easily see over half our roster depart to eligibility exhaustion, graduation, or transfer. Whatever post(s) we need to lead Coach‘s offense is likely coming in as a transfer, giving Walker a chance to develop.

Specifically to this game, we did not quit. We could have easily packed up and lost by 30-40. If this team could solve getting down early and play like we did in the last 15 min all game, this team could win a lot more.

Petrakis resdshirted 2019-20 year at Kansas St. The next year was COVID which doesn't count. He has one more year eligibility after this season.

The only 2 players out of eligibility after this season are Sandage and Knight. Everyone else technically has one or more seasons of eligibility after this year.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Petrakis resdshirted 2019-20 year at Kansas St. The next year was COVID which doesn't count. He has one more year eligibility after this season.

The only 2 players out of eligibility after this season are Sandage and Knight. Everyone else technically has one or more seasons of eligibility after this year.

I appreciate the correction. Our bio doesn’t list one was sitting out.

I can’t see all of the players who could have one year left being back. In the age of NIL, transfers, etc, players need to realize that their scholarships are one year deals. If the school and player want to agree on more, fine. If not, the school is well within its rights to non-renew and offer the opportunity to someone else. Like it or not, for all sides, it’s now a business.

 

[Redbirdfan76]

As for the game...man it was bad. Pedon mentioned pregame that Indy State would be a team that scores in the paint...to a casual fan with nowhere near the basketball knowledge of someone who has been in the industry for 25 years... It would've made sense to me to start out in a zone. Cut out some of the lanes and eliminate switching 1 through 5. Too many times Burford, Sandage, and Poindexter were put in bad situations getting bodied down low. The help side guy would come over (usually too late) and his guy cuts to the basket for an easy lay up.

Glad to see they had fight in the second half but being at the game, it felt a little more like Indy State backing off versus the Birds playing completely better, though they were more competitive. The slow starts are maddening but Pedon has shown the ability to make adjustments at halftime. Noticeably, they stopped switching on every screen and eliminated Burford having to go 1v1 against guys 7-10 inches taller and 80lbs heavier.

I'll keep saying it, this team can win games. The fight is there, effort is for about 75% of the time. A key to success is going to be at the foul line. They don't have anyone on the team that is a consistent scorer. A player which they can give the ball and just say go. Create your own opportunities and do not shy away from the contact at the bucket. Once again, last night they would get in solid position by driving to the hole and then too many times would either kick out, or jump stop, turn and shoot a post fadeaway. Go up strong and get to the foul line. 8-11 last night.

The bad news is, the losses keep coming and getting down double digits and trying to come back isn't a sustainable way to win games. The good news is they don't just lay down. Teams of the past 5 years probably lose by 20 last night because they'd be so dejected and hang their heads. I think getting away from RBA this weekend will help take some pressure off, similarly to going to NW State and EIU. Another very winnable game in a couple days.

Any superstitious people out there...the Birds "traditional" home whites and red road uni's have been bad for this year. Throw em in the trash and go with the "retro white" at home, black on the road, and gray as the alt.

To tag on to Adunk’s thoughts, a quick look at our team stats reveal that when we shoot 20 or more free throws we are 4-1. Only loss was to WIU where we shot 25 free throws. As has been stated in other posts, given our 79% at the FT line we need to keep driving into the lane and getting fouled as much as we can.
Of course I also found that when we score more points than the other team we are undefeated.

 

[Popsto4]

I appreciate the correction. Our bio doesn’t list one was sitting out.

I can’t see all of the players who could have one year left being back. In the age of NIL, transfers, etc, players need to realize that their scholarships are one year deals. If the school and player want to agree on more, fine. If not, the school is well within its rights to non-renew and offer the opportunity to someone else. Like it or not, for all sides, it’s now a business.

That’s as true as it get. The kids that have eligibility left better be careful. No one really talks about the transfer players that leave a program and never play again. That’s a possibility as well honestly.

 

[TIMMY]

That’s as true as it get. The kids that have eligibility left better be careful. No one really talks about the transfer players that leave a program and never play again. That’s a possibility as well honestly.

This is so true. And do they end up with a degree? Once upon a time that was the point of the exercise.

 

[Popsto4]

Neese started his career at Butler, but the point lands, nonetheless. Look over at Bradley, they've got dudes that have been there multiple years (Ville, Hannah, Mast), Drake's starting 5 (I know not all started their careers there but they are finishing them-most in their third year), Borne leads UNI in his third year. Lance Jones at SIU. And the list goes on.

Inversely, you've got Dana over at MoST that has 85% roster turnover each year and this one he's competing.

As they say, "There is more than one way to skin a cat," there's more than one way to build a successful basketball team. I for one, am naïve and hopeful that Pedon can build the Birds into what UNI is from a retention stand point. It's too early to tell.

As far as the 2022-23 Redbirds- "young" is a term that unfortunately, cannot be applied. "Inexperienced" is more accurate. I'm not making excuses, just laying out the facts of the matter. Two of the top 6 in Luke and Malachi are really experiencing their first D1 seasons. Games and practices are a lot different. This is the most game time Kotov has seen since high school and Liam is being told he is THE GUY for the first time since he was in HS. Everyone is still trying to get used to their roles and understanding. It seems like the willingness to buy-in is there but it needs to be executed.

That said, you need more from the guys that have a lot of in-game experience. That's Sandage, Knight, Burford, Lewis and Petrakis. Those guys have played too much ball to be making "rookie mistakes." I'd love to see Joe adjust his game be more willing to go down in the post and draw some contact. He's mobile and could create some mismatches. He shot 61% from the line last year but only took 31. Work on doing things to help the team win. Unfortunately, his 21% 3pt % isn't going to be the thing to get him on the court.

From your point of view which makes all the sense in the world, next year some of these players should make a leap from experiencing this season. That my friend is called progress and Pedon knows it as well. Mal say he know his body is building off these major minutes he’s getting this year and is so thankful for the opportunity he’s received. It depends on how much of an impact incoming players can make next year from the jump. This team can be really good going forward.