February 16th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
Sure, why not!
He's a joy to watch. Love his enthusiasm and effort - he's absolutely maximized his talent.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:19 PM ^
Just an unbelievable transformation! He was mainly used for his fouls last year, but this year his post moves have been tremendous!
February 16th, 2020 at 3:21 PM ^
And yet, he seems to still be improving, on both ends of the floor.
Earlier in the season, though he was already showing great improvement on offense, he was still a liability defensively. Now, not so much anymore.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:44 PM ^
He's still a pretty big liability on defense, especially when it comes to pick and roll defense. Juwan is doing his best to hide him on defense by flipping to that zone periodically when Davis is in. Don't get me wrong, I love what Davis has done, but unfortunately he can't do much about his lack of lateral quickness.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:25 PM ^
Not sure I agree with this take. Under JB and through the beginning part of this year Davis certainly had his limitations on D - and O for that matter. But working with Coach and changing the offense for the bigs to back down their guys and play on the block looks to have elevated Davis' game. In turn, his defense seems better when he is switching on the pick and roll and when he is blocking out under the boards. The last few games have shown how things have changed under Juwan's coaching. It has contributed to a new level of play by Davis, Johns and DeJulius.
Total agreement that Davis is limited on his lateral quickness. It just seems that he is starting to overcome that through better offense, more minutes and playing like a dog on D.
February 16th, 2020 at 11:55 PM ^
Whatever JH is doing to Davis, he should try it on Teske as well. He is struggling.
February 17th, 2020 at 1:22 AM ^
It's precisely what he's done to Davis that isn't working with Teske: having him post up. Not Teske's strength but it is Davis'.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:25 PM ^
Custard is the man!
February 16th, 2020 at 3:34 PM ^
I'll tell you, if you had told me about 5 months ago, I'd be saying what I'm about to say, I'd advise you to check me into a home but.....
Even with what we have coming in, do we consider offering Davis a 5th year? I think you almost have to. Gives Dickinson and/or Todd time to get used to the college game. I know it likely requires a transfer or two but I'd much prefer him staying over certain sophomore guards and centers....
February 16th, 2020 at 4:00 PM ^
I'd prioritize keeping Davis over Nunez because I just don't see Nunez's ceiling being high enough to be worth keeping around but I think Castleton and Bajema have too much potential to give up on.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:02 PM ^
Yeah but you’d have to force Nunez out whereas Davis can get a fifth year handshake. It would obviously be great to keep him but he isn’t good enough defensively to anchor an elite team and you can’t trade the upside of any of our recruits for 10 minutes a game
February 16th, 2020 at 6:40 PM ^
I agree with you that it's not the end of the world if Davis leaves, and if that's the only option so be it, but I imagine there's a good chance Nunez sees the writing on the wall and doesn't take much cajoling.
February 17th, 2020 at 1:27 AM ^
The problem is, unless Castleton makes a big leap or Dickinson does the improbable, you need more than 10 min a game from Davis next year. You might need him to start and play 20 min.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:37 PM ^
Jeff Meyer appreciation post. He single-handedly wrecked IU's program -- and Tom Crean's career apparently. Hopefully they never recover.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:40 PM ^
Austin Davis has given us a Maize and Blue boner
February 16th, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
We've had consecutive conference victories by 25 and 24 points—I wonder how long it's been since the last time we pulled that off.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:35 PM ^
The last time we had back to back Big Ten victories that magnitude was in January 2013, against Iowa and Northwestern—back to back 28 point wins.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:55 PM ^
Hmmmm... march madness 2013 was a pretty good time.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:43 PM ^
I find myself telling Howard to take Teske out and put Davis in the game quite often anymore.
Teske played a bit better today but he still plays too soft and his shots seem rushed and short and he doesn't box out as well as he looks like he should, I dunno what the problem is but he has certainly regressed.
Davis has been a real bright spot when we needed him rhe most, I say bring him back and let Nunez walk because Bajema just looks like a guy who can shoot it and is a natural, i want to see way more of Cole.
I hope Livers is okay too.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:45 PM ^
I remember Beilein describing Austin’s redshirt year - no one could stop him from scoring. Quote from Beilein in February 2017:
’Guys just throw him the ball, and he puts it in. There's no drama, there's no Kardashians. The ball is in.’
Now we are seeing it - just a few years later. Attaboy big country!
February 16th, 2020 at 3:54 PM ^
I actually look forward to him getting the rock when he's in. Something good usually happens lately. Dude's crafty around the cup.
I'll never understand how he got more hate than Donnal.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:07 PM ^
I don't remember Davis getting hate. I remember him getting ignored.
February 16th, 2020 at 3:57 PM ^
Thumbs up for the Davi's appreciation thread.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:21 PM ^
Well, I see that someone was so excited that they added an apostrophe.
In all seriousness though, it has been fun to watch Davis turn into the player that he is now.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:39 PM ^
I believe it was a reference to the Johns appreciation thread, which was spelled “John’s.”
February 16th, 2020 at 4:30 PM ^
O'K for Davi's.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:13 PM ^
If Davis is playing heavy minutes take the over. When he is on the floor him and the other center DO NOT MISS. Im being serious look at his shooting and the other teams center while he is in. Its crazy.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:42 PM ^
Totally agree. He’s not quick enough to recover from a hedge or a screen and gives up easier layup angles. But he has excellent finishing ability, so he gets and gives.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:07 PM ^
He has an uncanny knack for the reverse layup.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
Hate to see Teske struggle, but you have to wonder if that’s just because his game is not well suited for what Juwan wants to do at that position. I don’t know enough about the game to say that definitively. Just curious.
Meanwhile, maybe the opposite with Davis. Maybe he’s just better suited to what Juwan wants to do.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:24 PM ^
Teske is getting the looks and you see the guards trying to feed him, but he’s just not hitting the shots down low anymore. He’s just lacking confidence at this point. Hopefully he gets the mojo back before the tourney.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:53 PM ^
He’s also lacking touch and a low post, back to the basket repertoire.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:39 PM ^
teske doesn't work hard enough to get better position nearer the basket. he is bad when those hook shots are 6+ feet from the basket.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
And as a grad of both semesters of Costume History & Design in a previous century, I'd like to give a shout-out to that asymmetrical black off-the-shoulder accessory. A good look, to say nothing of its potential healing benefits.
February 17th, 2020 at 1:38 AM ^
Don’t get me wrong, I like Davis, but he always reminds me of one of the extras in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
Davi’s. There. Fixed it for you.
February 16th, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
Actually, you should have just named this thread, 'The Davis's appreciation thread' as De'ron Davis - wait for it - had the highest scoring game of his career. That dude knocked down some difficult shots; I was wondering if he was going to have his highest scoring game.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:40 PM ^
just add the IU davis to the list this year
February 16th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
I appreciate him a lot. His minutes should keep increasing.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:08 PM ^
I think Howard needs to try playing Davis and Teske together. Why not it can’t hurt having to big guys on the floor.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:17 PM ^
I wanted to see Teske and Mo out there together but wouldn’t advocate for Teske and Davis.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:42 PM ^
He has done it a few times this year for defensive reasons. Offensively it’s pretty bad. No spacing with those guys on the floor together. Teske is not nearly enough of an outside threat for it to be viable other than in very short stretches.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:19 PM ^
He was barely used before and comes in with such energy and poise. I know we had to use a bunch of dudes that we never used before and they have grown and stepped up. Great to see!
February 16th, 2020 at 5:28 PM ^
Shout out to Brad (MF'ing) Maska too. BD in the house.
February 16th, 2020 at 5:29 PM ^
I thought it was a forgone conclusion that Big Country would get the 5th year handshake but he will be needed next year....especially if Todd goes overseas.
February 16th, 2020 at 6:03 PM ^
February 16th, 2020 at 7:27 PM ^
I agree with you that it would appear that something is amiss with Teske. He didn’t appear to even try on the jump ball today. I literally did an eye roll after the GD jump ball.
If I had to guess, he has seen legit NBA aspirations crashing and burning this year and he is in a funk over it. I think that fans and pundits thought quite a bit too highly of him coming into the season and he wasn’t capable of delivering. He likely feels a bit like he has been “outed” and his career prospects are far more limited that he was starting to believe.
February 16th, 2020 at 7:45 PM ^
my guess is that it's something off the court. but who knows. it's just weird to see the effort and effectiveness on both ends of the court diminish in just a matter of a couple months.
February 16th, 2020 at 9:04 PM ^
Teske never had a chance in the NBA. He's everything the NBA isn't looking for at center. He's just not very good offensively. He needs to go back to focusing on defense, rebounding, and finishing on the pick and roll. If anyone wants to switch or we need post offense, Davis can check in.