Final -- We Think -- Basketball Thoughts

As we wrap up this Indiana basketball season, we find ourselves still in Sacramento because of the uniqueness of air travel in which in would cost $173 to return Monday and $1,400 to return Sunday.

It's still sunny and warm, which is a far cry from Indiana, not that we want to rub it in.

Anyway, as we take a last look at Kelvin Sampson's debut season, consider this thought: if IU had scored at least 60 points in each of its 11 losses, it would have won six of them. If it had scored at least 55 points, it would have won three of them.

Thus, with just a little more offense, the Hoosiers would have been a top-4 seed in the NCAA tourney and, perhaps, still be playing.

We'll never know, of course. What we do know is IU will defend the heck out of you and that won't change. If it can develop a few more consistent scorers, who knows what could happen next season.

Hey, the Hoosiers might even play closer to home in the NCAA tourney, and that would be a big change. They haven't had a drive-able first-round site since 1993, when they played in Indianapolis.