Pete DiPrimio, sports columnist and college beat writer for The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind., takes his best shots on the world of Hoosier basketball.

Saturday, December 8

Bassett Won't Play Vs. Kentucky

Yes, more bad news on the Indiana basketball front. Sophomore gurad Armon Bassett will not play against Kentucky today, and if you want to know why, you'll have to wait until coach Kelvin Sampson talks after the game.

IU officials scrambled for cover with latest glitch to hit the program in the wake of A.J. Ratliff's academic suspension and Jordan Crawford's undisclosed disciplinary suspension. Oh, yes, there's that annoying NCAA violation matter that has yet to be resolved.

Add Eric Gordon unlikely to play (he didn't participagte in warmups, although he did dress) and you have a lot of negative for Kentucky's return to Assembly Hall after a long absence.

Will all this affect IU's victory prospects?

We're about to find out.