Hoosier Hoops

Bassett Won't Play Vs. Kentucky

2007-12-08T15:55:00.000-05:00

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.

Another Sign Gordon is One and Done

2007-11-14T21:15:00.000-05:00

For those of you living in fantasy land and believing that IU freshman guard Eric Gordon will return next year, we offer this bit of enlightenment.

While announcing this year’s recruiting class, coach Kelvin Sampson mentioned how well the four new players would blend in with returning players. Here’s what he said:

“When you look at the kids we will have returning – DeAndre Thomas, Eli Holman, Brandon McGee, Jordan Crawford, Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis – and when you add this class to them, we think we have a chance to remain a contender to play at the top of this league and play for a Big Ten championship. That is our goal.”

Yes, Sampson might have forgotten to mention Gordon. In truth, nobody forgets a guy who has a college debut of 33 points plus defensive dominance in an impressive display Monday night against Chattanooga.

Barring an injury or unexpected glitch, Gordon is one and done. He'll enter the NBA draft in the spring. But given the talent Sampson has on campus and the fact a top-15 class is coming, given the fact Gordon just might lead the Hoosiers to a spectacular March, well, that’s a trade-off a lot of people can live with.

So enjoy Gordon while he's here. It won't be for long.

Case Against Indiana

2007-10-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

I'm going to address this in an upcoming column, but in regard to what the NCAA will look at in deciding what to do with Indiana, here are the key elements:

First, pattern of behavior. Kelvin Sampson violated the phone call rule at Oklahoma. The same thing happened at Indiana. Granted, it was his assistants who made excessive calls, but he's responsible for them. Plus, he admittedly broke a condition of his Oklahoma-caused sanctions by participating in a three-way call.

Second, atmosphere of compliance. The absolute No. 1 priority had to be following all the rules and sanctions. No exceptions. The NCAA criticized Sampson for fostering an atmosphere of non-compliance at Oklahoma. I'm sure Sampson talked about following the rules. Obviously, he didn't stress it enough.

Third, the possibility of willfully breaking the rules. Coaches are required to log all their phone calls. They are required to sign those logs, thus taking responsibility if there’s a mistake. If you don’t record all the calls, if some go undocumented, that can be regarded as willful. At some schools, that’s reason for termination.

At least one assistant, Rob Senderoff, did that. But don’t blame this all on him. Maybe he was overzealous. Maybe he didn’t know the rules. Or maybe he was trying to please a demanding head coach who didn’t emphasize the rules enough. And certainly the university should have had a system in place to catch this sooner.

This is why IU imposed the sanctions it did. It’s trying to avoid a bigger crackdown by the NCAA. Will it succeed? You'd better believe Hoosier fans hope so.

Time To Let Mackey Go

2007-10-01T13:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, there’s no way to sugarcoat this. Bud Mackey’s recent arrest in Kentucky on two felony drug charges for trafficking cocaine and for trafficking within 1,000 yards of a school is a big blow for Indiana recruiting.

Forget Mackey’s obvious skills as a player (he was the 2007 Kentucky state basketball tourney MVP after leading Scott County to the state title; he was expected to be a top contender for Mr. Basketball this season). This hurts the perception that the Hoosiers seek quality people as well as quality players.

And it will hurt their ability to land standout recruit Tyler Zeller.

That’s not fair, of course. Coach Kelvin Sampson is committed to having the nation’s top program in all areas -– basketball, academics, high-character people.

And by all accounts, this was a shock. Mackey, who verbally committed to IU a year ago, seemed personable and charming and mature as well as talented.

Maybe this was a good kid who made one bad mistake. Or maybe this is just the first time he got caught. Or, for those who believe in conspiracies, maybe this was a setup. That’s for the courts to decide.

But the Hoosiers can’t be involved with this. Yes, Sampson is big on helping kids who come from tough situations. In fact, that’s one of his strengths. It’s among the reasons why he’s such an outstanding recruiter and coach. His combination of discipline and compassion brings out the best in players.

But the risk here is too great and, in truth, there are too many outstanding players who would come to Indiana and who don’t get in trouble with the law.

Freshman Eric Gordon is an obvious example.

If Mackey is lucky, he’ll avoid career-destroying consequences (the penalties if convicted are five to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000). He’ll get a chance at college opportunity.

But it shouldn’t be at Indiana.

Zeller Set To Visit IU

2007-09-20T16:05:00.000-04:00

Unless you’re too caught up in the latest O.J. Simpson soap opera to care, you know Tyler Zeller is coming to Indiana this weekend for an official basketball visit. That’s the same 6-11 Zeller who is considered a top-20 player and who would cap a second straight outstanding class for coach Kelvin Sampson.

Of course the competition is formidable. That’s the price you pay for going after outstanding players. Zeller’s other finalists are Purdue, North Carolina and Notre Dame.

Zeller visited North Carolina last weekend. He’ll visit Notre Dame for its Midnight Madness on Oct. 12, then head to Purdue on Oct. 19. He’s expected to make a final decision by the end of October.

You might think Notre Dame has the edge because older brother Luke goes there and because it has Tyler for its Midnight Madness. In fact, you would be wrong. The edge usually goes to the last school visited.

All indications are that Zeller will wind up a Boilermaker. Coach Matt Painter has recruited him longer and has shown he can land the state’s top talent. However, when it comes to recruiting, nothing is etched in stone. Sampson and his staff have an outstanding recruiting record in the short time they’ve been at IU. And Sampson’s national recruiting reputation has been solid for years.

No matter what happens, Sampson already has locked up a strong class with 6-8 forward Devin Ebanks, 6-4 guard Bud Mackey, 6-3 guard Matt Roth and 6-8 power forward Tom Pritchard. Pritchard committed earlier this week. He passes well and rebounds well and plays rugged inside defense.

Ebanks and Mackey are two of the top prep players in the country. Roth is a good shooter and a good friend of Zeller.

Yes, it’s possible Zeller could fall in love with the Hoosier program and commit this weekend. But don’t count on it.

IU Gets Oral Commitment

2007-09-10T08:38:00.000-04:00

Indiana got a head start on its recruiting for the Class of 2009 with the oral commitment of 6-7 forward Derek Elston from Tipton High School in Indiana.

Elston is an aggressive rebounder and defender, which should make him a good fit for coach Kelvin Sampson, who emphasizes both aspects in his program.

Elston averaged 15 points and 12 rebounds last year for a 12-10 team. He can’t sign until November of 2008.

Speaking of 2008, Sampson and his staff are still making a big push for 6-11 forward Tyler Zeller of Washington, Ind. Also in the picture are Purdue, North Carolina and Notre Dame. Zeller is expected to make a decision by the November signing period.

Allen To Visit St. Mary's

2007-08-26T21:59:00.000-04:00

Contrary to what you might have read on another blog, Ben Allen’s interest in St. Mary’s of California is not a rumor. The former Indiana forward (IU announced he was transferring on Thursday) is set to visit St. Mary’s on Tuesday. If everything goes well, he will receive a scholarship and join Australian national team teammates Carlin Hughes and Lucas Walker, who already play for St. Mary’s. He will have to redshirt a season, but then, he was looking at having to redshirt at IU anyway.

Of course, the visit might not go well and Allen will have to go elsewhere, but at this stage, that doesn’t look likely. Figure he’s California bound.

Academics Cost Ratliff First Semester

2007-08-25T14:29:00.000-04:00

The rumors are true. Indiana senior guard A.J. Ratliff will miss the first semester –- nine games in all –- because of academic ineligibility.

Ratliff also had right wrist surgery over the summer (he broke it during a pickup game), but that has healed to the point where he participated in today’s first practice in preparation for next weekend’s trip to the Bahamas. He can work out with the team during this semester, but he can't play in any games.

Coach Kelvin Sampson said that he has stressed to Ratliff the importance of graduating.

"I told him if he graduates from IU, he has a chance to have a productive life," Sampson said. "That's our goal for him. That's his goal."

If Ratliff meets his academic requirements, he’ll be eligible to play starting with the Dec. 15 Western Carolina game. Games missed include Georgia Tech, Southern Illinois and Kentucky.

Ratliff's problems stemmed from the second semester. He passed a pair of summer classes.

Ratliff, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball, has averaged 6.3 points and 2.3 rebounds during his career.

Also, senior forward Lance Stemler is fully recovered from last spring’s ankle surgery. He and D.J. White are co-captains.

Finally, the Hoosiers have added a walk-on. He is sophomore guard Brett Finkelmeier from Carmel. He tried out as a wak-on last year. He didn't make it, but impressed the coaches enough to get an opportunity this season.

It's Official -- Ben Allen Is Transferring

2007-08-23T13:42:00.000-04:00

It’s now official. Ben Allen is transferring.

Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson made the announcement this afternoon in a brief university statement:

“We appreciate Ben’s efforts at Indiana and we wish him nothing but the best in the future,” Sampson said.

The 6-11 Allen played in 24 games last season. He averaged 0.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. As a freshman, he played in all 31 games and averaged 3.2 points and 1.7 rebounds.

Allen, a native of Australia, recently returned from playing for the Australian national team in the Universiade Games in Thailand. The Australian team finished 3-3.

Allen is likely to transfer to St. Mary’s in California. If so, he would join Australian teammates Carlin Hughes and Lucas Walker. Both play for St. Mary’s. Allen will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Allen To Transfer?, Part II

2007-08-23T05:42:00.000-04:00

Well, it’s good to know that some people are reading my blog, even though I haven’t exactly been Mr. Regular in posting lately.

If you want more insight into the Ben Allen will-he-or-won’t-he-transfer saga, brace yourself because I’m about to reveal more, once I get over the shock -- because somebody left the TV on while I'm writing this -- of hearing Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas” song twisted into some sick, evil rendition to promote Viagra.

Sorry. Sometimes, I get distracted. Back to Ben Allen.

First, if you want etched-in-stone certainty, turn to Tom Brady’s fatherhood status (yes, he and his ex girlfriend, actress Bridget Moynahan, are the proud parents of a boy!). This is Indiana basketball, which means intrigue is everywhere and the only sure thing is that you want to know more.

Allen is set to arrive in Bloomington today (Thursday) where, in all likelihood, he’ll gather his belongings, say his goodbyes and leave by the end of the weekend for a California future that will include more three-pointers and less dunks.

Of course, along the way Allen will talk to his Indiana teammates and coaches, including coach Kelvin Sampson. And by the end of those discussions, it’s possible everybody will agree he will stay.

Just don’t bet the house on it. Sampson prefers his 6-11 guys to be inside factors. Allen's perimeter preference is not a good fit, although he's tried to change his game.

In the meantime, consider all the possibilities of a D.J. White-Eric Gordon inside-outside combination.

Allen To Transfer?

2007-08-22T14:34:00.001-04:00

It looks like Ben Allen has played his last basketball game for Indiana.

All signs point that Allen, a native of Australia, will not return and join the Hoosiers. Instead, he's expected to transfer, perhaps to St. Mary's in California.

Allen, who had spent part of the summer playing for the Australian national team, was set to return to Bloomington later this week. Classes will begin on Monday.

Allen, who has two years of eligibility remaining, seemed headed for a redshirt season considering the depth IU has inside, including seniors D.J. White, Mike White and Lance Stemler, plus newcomers DeAndre Thomas, Brandon McGee and Eli Holman.

Allen averaged less than one point and two rebounds a game last season while adapting to coach Kelvin Sampson's system. The 6-11 Allen was more of a perimeter player. Sampson wanted him to be more of a strong inside presence.

There has been no official IU announcement.

Ratliff In Sling; Gordon-Led All-Stars Win

2007-06-14T06:11:00.000-04:00

Don’t look now, but the injury jinx has hit Indiana guard A.J. Ratliff again.

The senior showed up at Edgewood High School Wednesday night with a sling and a cast on his right arm to watch future teammate Eric Gordon in action with the Indiana All-Stars against the state’s junior all-stars.

Gordon later said that Ratliff had surgery for a broken right wrist and is expected to be out eight to nine weeks. There has been no official word from IU officials.

Ratliff, as you might recall, hurt his left wrist last season. He didn’t have surgery on that as team doctors elected for rehabilitation.

Ratliff also battled a broken thumb as a sophomore.

What will his latest injury mean? He should be back by the time the Hoosiers take their exhibition trip to the Bahamas in August, and certainly will be ready for the season. Still, it hinders him from developing his game and strength in the off-season.

Also watching Gordon was incoming freshman center Eli Holman from California. Holman was in Bloomington just visiting because he has yet to qualify academically. He’s hoping to do that by the fall.

Gordon has already enrolled in summer school and will start classes on Friday. He will juggle school work with his basketball obligations as Mr. Basketball for the Indiana All-Stars. They play their Kentucky counterparts on Saturday in Bowling Green, Ky., and on June 23 at Conseco Fieldhouse. They also have a pair of games with the junior all-stars next week –- Tuesday at Purdue and Thursday at New Castle. Gordon scored 23 points Wednesday night, most on free throws, as the senior all-stars won 114-99.

Finally, former North Side standout Eshaunte Jones had four points. He plans to go to Indiana in 2008 after spending next season at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.

OK, one more finally. Former South Side standout plays on the girls’ Indiana All-Stars. She had for points Wednesday night as the senior all-stars beat the junior all-stars 83-75 at Edgewood.

Is Dan Dakich Returning To IU?

2007-06-07T09:30:00.001-04:00

Life sure has thrown Dan Dakich a few curves. It wasn’t all that long ago that the former Indiana player and assistant coach was considered one of the hot young coaches in America. He’d led Bowling Green to one Mid-American Conference title and NIT opportunity and was hired by West Virginia.

But then he changed his mind about West Virginia a few days later and returned to Bowling Green. John Beilein took the Mountaineers job, achieved NCAA tourney success and is now at Michigan.

Dakich’s Bowling Green teams struggled after his return, with losing records in four of his last five years. After going 13-18 last season and receiving a reprimand by the Mid-American Conference commissioner for a tirade over officiating, Dakich stepped down in March. His 10-year record -– 156-140.

Now, it seems, he’s poised to return to Indiana. This time it would be as director of basketball operations under coach Kelvin Sampson. Jerry Green has apparently retired after one year in that job.

What does the director of basketball operations do? Basically, it’s administrative stuff such as budget planning, scheduling and behind-the-scenes details. There’s no coaching involved, so it would be a big comedown for Dakich, but at least it’s a job in the sport he loves until he’s able to bounce back to a coaching position.

And in case you’ve forgotten, it was Dakich’s defensive effort against Michael Jordan that helped IU upset No. 1 North Carolina in the 1984 NCAA tourney.

But that was a long time ago. In this what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, returning to your roots could be the best possible move.

Sampson Recruiting Sanctions End

2007-05-25T06:43:00.000-04:00

So now Kelvin Sampson is back in good NCAA graces when it comes to recruiting. He can call who he wants and go where he wants just like any other college basketball coach.

Of course, the IU coach can’t go anywhere to recruit right now until July, when the next off-campus period begins.

Still, his year of penance for making 577 illegal phone calls (he made 233 of them, his staff made the rest) to recruits while at Oklahoma is over as of Thursday. No longer does he have to wait for recruits to come to him. He can go and see them -- at high schools, in tournaments, at their homes.

To show you how good a recruiter he is, and how good a staff he has, Sampson still landed a class that ranks in the top 10 nationally. The class is highlighted by Indianapolis’ Eric Gordon, Indiana’s Mr. Basketball who rates as the nation’s top shooting guard.

Gordon and the rest of the newcomers (six in all) will get an early jump on their college careers because Sampson has lined up an exhibition tour (as many as five games) to the Bahamas around the Labor Day weekend. That will enable the Hoosiers to practice and bond well before official practice begins in mid October.

It’s a big jump in what looms as a huge season for IU. Given what Ohio State did with its group of highly touted freshmen (in case you forgot, the Buckeyes won the Big Ten title and finished second in the NCAA tourney to defending champ Florida), given the impact freshmen continue to make nationally, Hoosier prospects are very, very good.

Good enough to match, or even surpass, what Ohio State did? Hey, it’s still May, still spring and all things are possible. We’ll wait for the fall to deal with reality.

Is Shaw Moving On?

2007-05-16T13:37:00.000-04:00

So it looks like all those transfer rumors about Joey Shaw are about to become reality. Shaw, the 6-6 freshman guard who liked to shoot but never quite learned to appreciate Kelvin Sampson-style defense, is reportedly set to join the College of Southern Idaho. He would play at the junior college school for one year before transferring to another four-year school and would have two season of eligibility remaining.

Shaw was a reserve who averaged 4.5 points and shot 40 percent from three-point range last season. He had some impressive moments -- such as the 19 off-the-bench points he had against Purdue, the 16 points he had against Ohio State and the 14 points he had against Western Illinois.

Still, his erratic defense led to erratic playing time. He was basically a non-factor the last half of the Big Ten season and with a strong recruiting class coming in, led by guard Eric Gordon, that time could have diminished even more next season.

So, this Mike Davis recruit is moving on.

Shaw is the second Hoosier to transfer. Forward Xavier Keeling left earlier in the spring. Sampson used that scholarship to sign 6-8 forward DeAndre Thomas. The good news -- Thomas could be a real offensive load. The bad news -- Thomas seems far heavier than his listed 295 pounds. He's on campus now and will really have to buy into Sampson's conditioning program to get fit enough to play the kind of full-throttle defense Sampson demands.

Big Recruiting Weekend

2007-05-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

Hey, if you love basketball recruiting intrigue and drama -- and if you don’t, why not? -- you need to consider the May Classic, an AAU event hitting the Bloomington hardcourts this weekend.

Here you’ll find high school standouts such as DeShaun Thomas of Bishop Luers, who is being recruited by every program of note in America.

Okay, that’s not totally true, but schools such as Indiana and Purdue are interested, and when you’re big and strong and draw comparisons with LeBron James (hey, excessive over-hype is part of the deal), the potential is obvious. So is the fact Thomas averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds last season and became the first freshman since James Hardy (now a standout wide receiver at Indiana) to make the all-Summit Athlete Conference team.

Thomas plays for the Indiana Elite Fort Wayne Flames (15 and under) and one of his teammates, at least in the May Classic, happens to be Ray McCallum. No, not the former Ball State superstar and head coach (he’s now an IU assistant), but the elder McCallum’s son, who is a 6-foot guard with Division I potential.

Both will be sophomores next season, which means they won’t graduate until 2010, so there’s plenty of time to discuss and speculate.

Of more immediate recruiting concern for IU is Devin Banks, a 6-8 stud forward from New York City who also will play in the May Classic. Banks will use this event to make an unofficial visit, yet another way coach Kelvin Sampson can get around those NCAA recruiting sanctions that won’t expire until July.

Anyway, Banks is a top-10 player nationally who has cut his list to IU, Texas and Miami. Miami is apparent the favorite, but that can change by the time he makes his decision, which is expected to be sometime this summer.

Banks is the highest profile player in a tourney loaded with them. Others include 7-foot Tyler Zeller of Washington, Indiana (IU REALLY wants him), 6-10 Angel Garcia of East Chicago, 6-11 Jason Washburn of Michigan and 6-9 Michael Dunigan of Chicago.

Games will be played at a variety of Bloomington locations, including Assembly Hall. Yes, that’s the same Assembly Hall that Sampson would like replaced in favor of a facility that is fan and recruit friendly. All that's needed is will, planning and, say, $160 million.

But that’s a topic for another day.

Look For White To Stay a Hoosier

2007-04-17T08:33:00.000-04:00

If you believe coach Kelvin Sampson, and why wouldn’t you, D.J. White likely will be back with the Hoosiers next season.

Yes, that would be very, very good news for Indiana. Remember, the 6-9 White averaged 13.8 points last season without the benefit of another inside threat or the kind of perimeter playmaking IU expects to get from super recruit Eric Gordon.

According to the Indianapolis Star and ESPN, Sampson said that White has been at every workout and that he confirmed on Monday that he’s staying.

For those worried about a change of heart, White has until April 29 to declare for the NBA draft.

Sampson is also looking at taking the team on a foreign tour to the Bahamas in early September. That would give them 10 practice games, plus those games, a great way to help build team chemistry and cohesiveness given the fact six newcomers will be on the roster.

That’s not etched in stone yet, but the NCAA allows teams to take such foreign trips once every four years.

Finally, IU will host Georgia Tech in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Nov. 27. The Hoosiers also will host Kentucky and Connecticut.

What does all that mean? It’s looking more and more like the Hoosiers will be a preseason top-10 team.

Figure Thomas To Be a Hoosier Soon

2007-04-04T07:59:00.000-04:00

So it looks like junior college forward DeAndre Thomas –- all 6-8 and 270 pounds of him -– will be a Hoosier starting next Wednesday. That’s when he can sign a national letter of intent had he figures to now that a scholarship has become available.

Freshman forward Xavier Keeling is set to transfer, which is not surprising considering much of the postseason speculation suggested as much (also on Joey Shaw, but nothing definitive on him yet). Keeling averaged 1.8 points and 8.2 minutes this past season.

It’s uncertain where he could end up, but he was recruited by Mike Davis, who is now the coach at Alabama-Birmingham.

Thomas will provide size and strength inside, attributes coach Kelvin Sampson likes in his inside players. Thomas averaged 15.2 points and 5.7 rebounds for Chipola College in Florida this past season. He’s the teammate of another incoming IU recruit, Jamarcus Ellis.

Thomas should ensure the Hoosiers have the inside muscle to complement their outside firepower. Other than D.J. White, they lacked that kind of balance last season.

Stemler Has Surgery

2007-03-23T15:50:00.000-04:00

We’re about to tell you Lance Stemler’s status after ankle surgery -– if this surprises you then you missed today’s column –- but first we have to tell you about some good news.

Another perfect stranger, this time from Somalia, emailed us offering a deal to share in his stash of diamonds. Can you believe the luck? All we have to do is, well, we’re not sure what we have to do, because we deleted it to avoid one of those nasty scams or computer viruses.

Anyway, back to Stemler, the junior college transfer who started out shooting so well, but who struggled the second part of the season, had surgery today (Friday) to correct a chronic left ankle injury.

It had been bothering him for a while, but he reinjured it prior to the Feb. 15 game at Purdue. Still, he played the last eight games and averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds.

How long will he be out. The word from IU is indefinitely. The good news is he has the off-season to get healthy. And if that health includes getting his shooting touch back, all the better.

Final -- We Think -- Basketball Thoughts

2007-03-19T13:10:00.000-04:00

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.

IU Looks For Upset

2007-03-17T15:26:00.000-04:00

Are you like me? Did you pick No. 1 Ohio State to need overtime to get past Xavier today?

Sorry. Of course I didn’t see that coming. What I did see, in the hours leading up to Indiana’s second-round battle with UCLA, in a gorgeously warm morning (not to rub it in) was my first redwood tree and giant sequoia. They soared into a cloudless sky from Capitol Park in downtown Sacramento.

You bet they were impressive, but not so impressive as to make me lose sight of what is really important to IU fans -- a victory over UCLA.

To beat the second-seeded Bruins, the Hoosiers have to hit their three-pointers. They also need a big game from forward D.J. White. He’s the one IU inside player UCLA worries about. He can make a game-altering difference.

Of course the Bruins know that, which is why they will double team him hard and fast. That’s nothing White hasn’t seen before. They key, though, is how hard and fast the Bruins are able to swarm him, and White’s reaction to it.

If he does it well, who knows? Maybe IU, unlike Xavier, will close the upset deal.

Earthquakes and UCLA

2007-03-16T14:42:00.000-04:00

Is it me, or is it a problem when you look in the newspaper and see a graphic box titled, EARTHQUAKE WEEK?

Okay, it's probably me, but just so you know, there were 84 earthquakes in the general area of San Francisco this week, and being in Sacramento, which isn't that far away, I am taking notice. Also so you know, there were no significant quakes along the San Andreas Fault, but there was a 2.8 quake near The Geysers. Where's The Geysers? I have no clue, but if it's close enough to mention in a paper, it's too close for me.

Anyway, on the basketball front, the Indiana Hoosiers are practicing as I write this in preparation for Saturday's West Regional second-round game with UCLA. The Bruins were dominant in their victory over out-gunned Weber State that snapped a two-game losing streak to the have-nots of the Pac-10. Figure they'll be in prime-time form against the Hoosiers.

They defend as well as any team in America, which suggests that this could be a very ugly game for the IU offense. Of course, even if the Hoosiers win 6-5, as long as they win, no Cream 'n Crimson fan will care.

By the way -- they won't win 6-5, but they might win 60-55.

Put Up Or Shut Up

2007-03-14T22:11:00.000-04:00

OK, so Gonzaga showed up for Wednesday’s press conference about an hour late, the result of getting stuck in Sacramento traffic. It delayed their interview session and public workout.

Will it affect their performance Thursday night against Indiana?

Not likely.

No, the Hoosiers will have to play well. They’ll have to contain the Zags’ guards and get some inside production from D.J. White and, hopefully, somebody, anybody else. Mike White, Ben Allen, Xavier Keeling. It doesn’t matter. White needs some inside help.

White didn’t play last year against Gonzaga because of his foot injury. He’s healthy now. He’s ready now. Beyond that, this is a different team under Kelvin Sampson than it was under Mike Davis. It’s tougher, more focused, more committed.

“We’re playing defense a lot better,” guard Earl Calloway said. “Our focus is on defense mainly. The emphasis is on playing hard and competing harder. We’ll still go inside to D.J., but the main thing is playing defense.”

If they do, the Hoosiers win. It’s as simple as that.

IU Looking At Middle Seed

2007-03-10T14:39:00.000-05:00

So now that Indiana’s Big Ten tourney is over, it’s time to focus on what’s really important -- the NCAA Tournament.

That means trying to guess what the seed the Hoosiers will get. We could also try to guess the site, but that’s too complicated. IU didn’t play well enough to merit the kind of seed that would guarantee a nearby site.

CBS Sportsline projects the Hoosiers as a No. 9 seed. It puts Purdue at No. 10.

A No. 9 seed would mean a first-round matchup with a No. 8 seed. In this case, Sportsline lists Arizona, Villanova, Duke and Butler in that category.

ESPN.com puts IU as a No. 10 seed and projects a matchup with Marquette in Winston-Salem.

Of course, all this is just speculation. There’s no way they know what’s going to happen unless they have a secret source in the NCAA Selection Committee, and they don’t. In fact, the Selection Committee hasn’t finalized everything because there are still conference tourney games to finish and, more than likely, upsets to occur that will mess up even the best-intentioned plans.

In the meantime, consider this -- with a few breaks, IU could make the Sweet 16. That would mean NOT being a No. 8 or No. 9 seed because that would mean playing a No. 1 seed in the second round. Anyway, we’ll know soon enough.

Fearless Big Ten Tourney Prediction

2007-03-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

Today we're going onto a limb and tell you exactly how the Big Ten tourney will play out.

How can we do this? First, because we have analyzed all the data, all the trends, all the history.

Second, because we're idiots.

Anyway, why bad mouth ourselves when we can bad mouth Michigan, which will again lose to Ohio State and again show why it is the most under-achieving team in the Big Ten.

But that's not our main point. Bet the house that Michigan, Michigan State and Illinois will advance to Friday's quarterfinals.

Yes, a sharp reader will note that Michigan and Michigan State have already won as we write this, but let's not get distracted. Anyway, in the quarterfinals, Ohio State will beat Michigan, Purdue will beat Iowa, Wisconsin will beat Michigan State and Indiana will beat Illinois.

In the semifinals, Ohio State will roll over Purdue while Indiana will edge a Badger team weakened by Friday's war with Michigan State and still hindered by the loss of Brian Butch.

Ohio State will win it all. The Hoosiers will take consolation in getting a much better NCAA Tournament seed. And if all this doesn't happen as predicted? Well, let's just hope you didn't bet the house.

A Memorable Finale

2007-03-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

There were plenty of pre-game hugs and handshakes to go around, an early game tongue lashing (sometimes Rod Wilmont needs a kick in the you-know-what) and the kind of grand finale you hope for on Senior Night.

In the end Indiana was way too much for under-achieving Penn State. So the Hoosiers ended the regular season with a 94-63 victory, a two-game winning streak and the third seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament.

Not a bad debut season for coach Kelvin Sampson.

Of course, fair or not, you’re remembered most for what you do in the postseason, which means doing well in the NCAA Tournament.

IU is almost certainly assured of an at-large bid no matter what happens later this week in Chicago. It received a first-round bye and will play the winner of Illinois-Penn State on Friday night.

The Hoosiers (21-9) are playing for a better NCAA seed and, perhaps, a first-round site close to home -– Chicago, Columbus, Ohio, and Lexington offer the best possibilities.

Until then, let’s remember the seniors and how they went out in style at Assembly Hall -– Wilmont rallying for 21 points and 11 rebounds after Sampson had to chew him out for some early lackluster defense.

How about Earl Calloway ignoring the soreness from a shoulder injury to total 15 points and 11 assists? Finally, there was Errek Suhr playing steady as ever in his fan favorite role.

“I’ve been about to live my dream,” Suhr told the Assembly Hall crowd after the Penn State victory. “I’ve been living it for four years.”

Added Wilmont about his height-challenged teammate: “Errek gives everything he has -– for being 4-2.”

For the record, Suhr is listed at 5-9.

Sampson called Suhr a “rock for this program.” He said Calloway “is a great ambassador for our program.” He praised Wilmont’s toughness and energy and passion.

Wilmont is a fifth-year senior from Florida who once was so unhappy about the Hoosier winters, he wanted to leave. Now, he basks in the glory of IU basketball.

“I’m going to miss this,” he said, “but I’ve been here way too long.”

Stay Out Of Rod's Way

2007-03-01T08:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's important to have a well-organized, well-analyzed, well-executed offensive game plan.

And then sometimes, as when Rod Wilmont is shooting as if he's made a deal with the devil, it's best to stay out of his way.

So Wilmont got red hot at Northwestern. Specifically, he was record-hot from three-point range. He did what Steve Alford couldn't, what Jay Edwards and A.J. Guyton couldn't. He hit nine three-pointers and the Hoosiers needed every one of them in their 69-65 victory. He also set a career high with 31 points. He also grabbed 12 rebounds.

Can you say monster game?

All that led IU (19-9) to a much needed road victory. Now it returns to friendly Assembly Hall and a regular season finale with Penn State. The Hoosiers will roll. They will finish the season unbeaten at home -- 15-0. They will extend their home winning streak to 17 games.

How do we know this? It's our job to know. So bet the house on it.

IU Faces Must-Wins This Week

2007-02-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

So here's what we know heading into Wednesday's game at Northwestern. For starters, it's the Hoosiers' last Big Ten road game and given the way they've stumbled away from Assembly Hall, it's a good thing. Call it a relief, call it a challenge, but IU must find a way to win. If so, they will certainly cruise on Saturday against last-place Penn State and thus clinch third in the Big Ten.

Of course, they could blow it with another road loss, which is why the coaches called a rare Sunday meeting with the players. The gist of it was to emphasize that IU has to beat Northwestern, and if it's ugly or lucky, nobody will care. Just win baby.

It should be easier with senior point guard Earl Calloway back after a shoulder injury. He could have played Saturday at Michigan State, but he was apparently held out as a precaution. In fact, if you have a bad anything, the rugged Spartans are the last team you want to face. Look for Calloway to play Wednesday and, health permitting, the rest of the way. IU will need him if it is to make some March noise.

And, yes, despite the recent slide of four losses in six games, the Hoosiers can have a successful noise. But they need forward D.J. White playing like a guy with NBA potential and not a guy who succumbs to adversity and frustration. They need freshman guard Armon Bassett (pictured) to continue playing beyond his years.

We've seen plenty of March flameouts in recent years. We don't need to see anymore. Figure, we won't.

IU Not Quite Tough Enough Against Michigan State

2007-02-24T23:19:00.000-05:00

If you're an Indiana fan (and you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't), the Michigan State loss hurt. The Hoosiers had a 10-point halftime lead, a 13-point edge early in the second half.

They were forcing turnovers and hitting threes. They weren't getting anything from D.J. White, but freshman guard Armon Bassett was playing like he didn't know he was a freshman. If senior point guard Earl Calloway was still out with a shoulder injury, Bassett would make it irrelevant.

Then it all slipped away. Rod Wilmont (pictured) and A.J. Ratliff became non-factors. Drew Neitzel broke free for three three-pointers. Raymar Morgan and Travis Walton broke loose for big plays. The Spartans surged and the Izzone fans roared and when it was over, IU was done, a 66-58 loser.

So once again the Hoosiers fought the good fight. They were tough minded and competitive and tenacious. They just weren't that way long enough. Once again the second-half road was their nemesis.

That's the bad news. The good news is that they will win their last two regular season games -- at Northwestern on Wednesday and against Penn State next Saturday. They will finish 20-9 overall and 10-6 in the Big Ten and if that's not Ohio State good, it will be good enough for a NCAA Tournament berth. And doesn't that matter the most?

Tough Task For IU

2007-02-23T10:26:00.000-05:00

How tough is it going to be for Indiana to win at Michigan State Saturday night?

Well, for starters, IU has struggled on the road, which puts it on part with every Big Ten team except Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Hoosiers are 1-5 on the road in the Big Ten, 2-7 overall.

Then there’s the fact the Spartans have surged since returning home following a four-game winning streak. They’ve won three straight, including an upset of No. 1 Wisconsin.

Finally, IU has lost 12 straight at the Breslin Center. It hasn’t won there since 1991, when Calbert Cheaney was leading the Hoosier charge.

Still, IU has won the last two meetings, and three of the last four. If Earl Calloway can play and play well, the Hoosiers have a chance. If not, maybe freshman Armon Bassett (pictured) is up to the challenge. If not, it’s going to be a long trip back from East Lansing.

IU Looks To Roll Against Minnesota

2007-02-20T17:10:00.000-05:00

Kelvin Sampson was a little grumpy today (let's just say he's not a fan of the TV show "24"), but hey, when you've got a slump to fix and Big Ten opportunity to achieve, maybe grumpiness comes with the coaching territory.

Anyway, IU hosts Minnesota tomorrow night and the Hoosiers absolutely have to win to control their conference destiny. They will. They had a good practice Monday (D.J. White was especially sharp) and will be ready to run their home record to 14-0 this season.

The Gophers seem unlikely to do anything about it. They are 9-18 for a reason, and it's not because they have all-world talent. They are directed by interim coach Jim Molinari, a veteran guy who really has no chance for success. Not this season. Not with this group. So look for IU to roll.

IU Must Play Tough At Michigan

2007-02-17T09:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, sure it looks a little grim, with IU heading to Michigan with less than ideal preparation, injuries to two key players (Earl Calloway and Lance Stemler) and the confidence-jolting loss at Purdue to deal with.

Still, this is a game the Hoosiers can win if they have the right mindset and approach. Michigan is not the second coming of Florida. It is an emotionally fragile team that consistently lacks the toughness to play to its potential.

Yes, the Wolverines play better at home. Yes, they are desperate to turn around a slide that will seemingly keep them out of the NCAA Tournament yet again. Still, IU has the talent and motivation to win this game. It likely will come down to will. And in this area, the Hoosiers should have the biggest edge of all. That should be the deciding factor.

Hard-Working Sampson Can't Prevent Loss

2007-02-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

Kelvin Sampson might not be the hardest working sideline coach in the Big Ten, but he takes a back seat to nobody.

You should have seen his leaping pirouette during the closing minutes against Purdue. We'll give him a 10 for effort, an 8 for elevation.

Sampson couldn't believe guard Joey Shaw was called for a charge and shouted at the officials in general, Sid Rodeheffer in particular. It didn't matter. The call stood.

And have you noticed that Sampson doesn't fool around when he feels the need to call a timeout, such as when Purdue guard David Teague began burying three-pointers.

In the end, it wasn't enough. Teague scored a career-high 32 and Purdue won 81-68 to avenge last month's loss in Assembly Hall.

Now IU gets to do it again Saturday at Michigan. Maybe this time it will get it right.

Delay Puts IU In A Bind

2007-02-14T11:21:00.000-05:00

While we wait for IU and Purdue to get it on, it's time to consider what the short-term implications will be.

For the Boilers, it's minimal. They don't play again until traveling to Iowa next Wednesday.

For the Hoosiers, however, it causes a problem. They are set to play at Michigan on Saturday afternoon, so the weather delay cuts a day off their preparation. They get Friday to prepare. That also will be a travel day.

Michigan, meanwhile, got its Tuesday game at Michigan State in (it lost 59-44). The Wolverines will have more than enough preparation time, plus they're at home.

Yes, this puts IU in a bind, but then, life is full of unexpected glitches. The Hoosiers are fully capable of winning this game. The Wolverines are known for not playing to their experience and potential, although they certainly are more formidable at home. No matter. This is a game IU can win.

First, of course, it has the Boilers to deal with. The Black & Gold will be ready, and Target No. 1 will be Hoosier guard Earl Calloway (pictured). Yes, he'll hear it from fans, but then, there's the old cliche that they don't boo nobodies.

So he should take it as a compliment.

IU-Purdue Game Moved To Thursday

2007-02-13T17:43:00.000-05:00

Okay, hold off on your Indiana-Purdue anticipation. The game has been rescheduled to Thursday because of the winter storm.

Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke, in consultation with Big Ten and IU officials, plus state and county officials, decided to push the game back a day. It is set for 7 p.m.

"We spent a majority of the day gathering facts," Burke said. "The decision comes down to safety. We decided to move the game to Thursday to allow for more time to make the roadways safe for travel."

The game could be postponed again if the situation warrants it.

"We'll take a look at the situation again tomorrow," Burke said, "but we think we can play the game on Thursday."

Could IU-Purdue Game Be Postponed?

2007-02-13T15:54:00.000-05:00

Whatever happened to global warming?

Maybe it missed Indiana because the weather just might cause the postponement of Wednesday's IU-Purdue game.

Purdue officials are consulting with Indiana, the Big Ten and state police to decide what to do. The Lafayette area is under blizzard conditions -- lots of snow, high winds, major drifting. As soon as the plows clear a road, it gets covered again.

Conditions are bad enough for IU to change its travel plans. It was supposed to leave today after practice. Now, it will wait until 8:30 Wednesday morning to bus to Purdue.

If the state police shut down I-65 and keep it closed for much of tomorrow, it wouldn't make much sense to play the game.

Figure if the game is postponed, it will be rescheduled for Thursday. We'll let you know as soon as we know something.

Purdue Fired Up For IU

2007-02-13T08:26:00.000-05:00

The big snowstorm of 2007 is here, which can make you wonder what affect it will have on the Indiana-Purdue game. More than likely, nothing. The Big Ten requires teams to arrive at the game location the night before, so the Hoosiers should get to Mackey Arena fine. The crowd might be a different story, although you'd like to think the roads will be fine by Wednesday afternoon.

In the meantime, the Boilers are firing themselves up about the game. They'd love to pay the Hoosiers back for last month's blowout loss. IU coach Kelvin Sampson understands that. Figure the Hoosiers will be ready for Purdue's early intensity. What they might not be ready for is continued hot shooting by guard David Teague. He killed Michigan State a week ago with some outrageous shooting. If he's that hot again, it could be a long night for the Hoosiers.

Indiana counters with its own hot-shooting guard, Rod Wilmont (pictured), and the kind of defense that can ruin even the best offense.

This game has NCAA tourney implications for both teams, more for Purdue, and we haven't been able to say that in several years. Snow or not, it should be a hot time at Mackey, and that's a welcome change for this rivalry, which IU has dominated lately.

Indiana Rallies Past Illinois

2007-02-10T15:33:00.001-05:00

Defense is a wonderful thing and if you don’t believe it, you should have seen what Indiana did to Illinois in the final 3 ½ minutes of today’s nail biter.

The Illini were lucky to get off a shot in that stretch, during which IU closed with a 7-0 run for a 65-61 victory.

Just when it looked like Illinois was poised for a dramatic victory, the Hoosiers ratcheted up the heat. Besides the tough-as-you-don’t-want-to-face defense, they got a couple of big D.J White free throws, a huge driving shot from Armon Bassett and more free throws from A.J. Ratliff and Earl Calloway.

This culminated an intense atmosphere in which Illini coach Bruce Weber faced constant student section verbal assault. Whether it was chants of “Eric Gordon!” or “Shut Up Weber!”, the crowd added the kind of home court advantage you need to win such a thriller.

And when that wasn’t enough, there was IU coach Kelvin Sampson urging his team on with a fist shake and “Let’s Go!” exhortations.

So Indiana heads into Wednesday’s showdown at Purdue with a 17-6 record, 7-3 in the Big Ten. Illinois is 18-9 and 6-6.

IU Fans Prepare For Weber

2007-02-10T11:53:00.000-05:00

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, whatever that means. For IU fans today, it will be a chance to show Illinois coach Bruce Weber what they think of him. Sure, they'll boo, but student groups want to go beyond that.

One group wants students to dress like babies and taunt Weber, a reference to what they feel was his whining when recruit Eric Gordon rejected the Illini for Indiana. Another group wants to bring baby rattles, bibs, pacifiers, bonnets and other baby ware.

Meanwhile, IU students plan to dress like coach Kelvin Sampson, which means a blue shirt and red tie and kakhi pants.

Will it work? The Hoosiers, after all, lost at Illinois last month. One thing is sure, it certainly won't hurt.

Indiana Misses Big Chance

2007-02-03T20:22:00.000-05:00

Indiana missed a big chance to put the heat on Wisconsin and Ohio State in the Big Ten race. It also cost itself a ranking opportunity.

Funny, isn’t it, how fast things can chance.

All the Hoosiers had to do was win at Iowa, a team it had already handled at Assembly Hall. But then, as North Carolina found out against North Carolina State, nothing comes easy in conference play.

IU (16-6 overall, 6-3 in the conference) lost to the Hawkeyes 81-75, which was tough to take considering its upset victory over No. 2 Wisconsin a few days earlier. What was even more disappointing was the fact the Hoosiers were hammered on the boards, which is certain to be a point of emphasis in practice.

Coach Kelvin Sampson demands that his teams rebound. IU was crushed 42-15 on the boards and gave up 15 offensive rebounds.

Now the Hoosiers are two games behind Wisconsin and Ohio State in the league standings with seven games to play. That will be difficult to overcome.

IU gets a week off before hosting Illinois next Saturday. Then it plays four road games in the ensuing two weeks. To stay in Big Ten title contention, it will likely have to sweep those games. Given that the opponents are Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern, well, a sweep seems unlikely.

But then, you could have said the same thing a few weeks ago about the Colts making the Super Bowl.

IU Basks In Upset's Thrill

2007-01-31T23:56:00.000-05:00

Did you see the celebration? Did you live vicariously with the students rushing the Assembly Hall floor in the aftermath of IU’s tough-as-nails 71-66 victory over No. 2 Wisconsin?

Of course you did. Just don’t expect Badgers coach Bo Ryan to join you.

“We’d rather not have that happen,” he said about the thousands of students that rushed the court in the aftermath, “but since we took it on the chin, we have to take what comes with it.”

What Wisconsin took was the end of its 17-game winning streak and Big Ten lead. Now it shares first with Ohio State, with IU just a game behind.

The Hoosiers won the way you’d expect them to win -- with offense-wrecking defense, with rebounding, with tough-minded play and some big-time shot making from A.J. Ratliff and D.J. White. They beat the Big Ten’s toughest team at their own game and now we’ll see if they are disciplined enough and focused enough to follow this up by winning at Iowa on Saturday.

“We’ll move on from here,” Sampson said, “but that just wasn’t a No. 2 team. Wisconsin is hard to beat. They’re just a monster to play against.”

IU slayed that monster. For the moment, that’s enough.

Here Comes A BIG Game

2007-01-30T23:09:00.000-05:00

Don’t tell Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers this is a big game, an epic game, the kind of game that could have Big Ten-altering consequences.

They’re locked in treat-every-game-the-same mode, which might be fine if you’re preparing to play, say, No. 2 Wisconsin, but is really boring if you’re trying to write about it.

Besides, does anybody REALLY believe you treat the Badgers the same as you do, say, Northwestern. Deep down where the competitor burns, you want to face the best, you want to beat the best because that is the true test.

Besides, beating Northwestern won’t impress the NCAA selection committee. Beating Wisconsin will.

Anyway, that’s just us rambling. Here’s what senior guard Rod Wilmont has to say.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to play another good team,” he says, “but it’s the same routine we’ve had all year. The only difference is they’re ranked No. 2. They’re coming to our house, so we have to play our game and we’ll be fine.”

Because of the Big Ten scheduling quirks inherent when you have 11 league teams and just 16 regular season games, IU will face Wisconsin only once. With the Badgers having a two-game lead in the conference race (Wisconsin is 7-0 to Indiana's 5-2), a win is crucial if the Hoosiers are to have any hope for a Big Ten title.

That Wilmont is willing to concede.

“We have to win this game,” he says. “We want to compete for a Big Ten championship and this is a huge game we have to get.”

And yet, he insists, they won’t get it if they make it bigger than it really is.

“We’re looking at this as business. We have to take care of business on our home court. We’ve got to find a way to win.”

Of course, the newcomers to the program, guys like freshmen Armon Bassett and Joey Shaw, or even junior college transfers Lance Stemler and Mike White, might not be able to sustain the business approach.

“For them this is huge because they’ve never had an opportunity to play a ranked team like this,” Wilmont says. “They’ll be hyped and a little giddy. They’ll be a little anxious. I was the first time I played in a game like this. But you just have to play. Calm down and play and we’ll be fine.”

Perhaps, but the Badgers are one of just two teams (the other is Virginia Commonwealth) to be undefeated on the road. They hold teams to 21.8 three-point shooting on the road, which means something has to give because IU leads the Big Ten in three-point shooting percentage (38 percent) and is second in three-point baskets made (7.95).

So what does all this mean? Easy. It’s not just another game. It’s a BIG game.

IU Eyes Season Changing Opportunity

2007-01-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

Has it sunk in yet that Indiana could be overwhelmed on the free throw line, as it was against Michigan with a 29-10 disparity, yet still win in convincing fashion? Has it sunk in that these Hoosiers (15-5) could be building to a grand finale?

No, this isn't a national title team, but it is one that might slip into a Big Ten championship if Wisconsin and Ohio State falter.

IU gets its shot at Wisconsin on Wednesday in Assembly Hall and you'd better believe the Hoosiers have a chance to do something special. Why? Because they play great defense and because it's at Assembly Hall, where they have been most impressive.

Yes, the Badgers are one of only two teams in all of college basketball that are unbeaten in true road games (the other, in case you didn't know, is Virginia Commonwealth). Yes, they have the likely Big Ten MVP in Alando Tucker, a good point guard in Kammron Taylor, and plenty of size and experience.

And did we mention the 17-game winning streak and 7-0 conference record?

Still, IU has dominated at home, and while it almost certainly won't dominate the Badgers, don't be surprised if by the end of Wednesday night there will be no unbeaten conference teams remaining.

Amazing, isn't it, what one year, and a new coach, can do for the program.

Recruit Needs What IU Provides

2007-01-24T22:22:00.000-05:00

Eli Holman can't get to Indiana soon enough.

Who's Eli Holman? He's the 6-10 shot-blocking whiz out of Richmond, Calif, who seems to really need the kind of guidance Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers can provide.

Holman was wounded during a weekend drive-by shooting in Richmond and was lucky to escape serious injury. A bullet grazed his upper back.

Holman was with three friends in a Mercedes Benz. They had just pulled into a Quality Inn for a birthday party when the shooting began. Holman apparently didn't know the shooters, who have reportedly been arrested. This seems to be part of a crime epidemic that has plagued Contra Costa County's second-largest city.

Holman hasn't played all season while fighting a suspension over pushing an official during his junior year. He met a number of criteria in order to get reinstated, including taking anger management classes and dramatically improving his school performance.

However, one consequence of the shooting is that Holman will be home schooled the rest of the year and won't play basketball.

When Holman gets to IU this summer he will receive the kind of guidance (academic as well as athletic) and discipline he needs to maximize his potential. A cynic could say that Holman represents an unnecessary risk, but sometimes kids just need the right kind of environment to thrive. IU can be that kind of environment. It will be up to Holman to take advantage of it.

Start Making Maui Plans

2007-01-24T12:14:00.000-05:00

Start making your Maui plans, but don’t rush them. Indiana will play in the Maui Invitational , but not until November of 2008. Also in the field will be North Carolina, Notre Dame, Alabama, Oregon, Saint Jospeh’s, Texas and Chaminade. The event will run Nov. 24-26.

The Hoosiers could have a heck of a team if forward D.J. White (pictured) and guard Eric Gordon are around for it, although given the ever-present NBA lure, who knows. Yes, we know it's early to be talking NBA and Gordon, who is still a high school senior, but then, when you're dealing with elite prep players, is the NBA ever far from the mind.

Anyway, IU won the Maui title in 2002 behind freshman Bracey Wright’s MVP performance. The Hoosiers have an 8-4 record in the event. North Carolina has won the Maui Invitational twice (1999 and ’04) and has a 10-2 record.

If you like your plans a little more timely, consider that IU’s game at Northwestern has been set for Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. It will be televised by ESPN2.

Finally, if you just can’t wait to see the Hoosiers, they will play again Saturday at noon against Michigan. Even with a victory, their stay in the rankings is likely to end next week, courtesy of Tuesday’s loss at Illinois.

But don’t sweat it. They are a victory over No. 2 Wisconsin away from returning to the polls. Those teams play next week Assembly Hall.

Illinois Too Much For IU

2007-01-23T21:16:00.000-05:00

Kelvin Sampson got plenty of grief from Illinois fans (you bet they remembered Eric Gordon), although not as much as students had hoped. All signs were confiscated before the game by school officials, prompting chants of “Traitor! Traitor!”

No matter. Students resorted to the time-honored tradition of chants (“Call me Kelvin!” and “Read Your By-laws,” references to the phone call infraction that earned Sampson NCAA sanctions, was a big favorite) and boos and holding up cell phones. Getting an earful was Sampson’s wife, Karen, as well as the IU official contingent. They all were seated next to the Orange Krush section at courtside near the IU bench.

Right in the middle of all that was ESPN sideline reporter Erin Andrews. She generated her own attention, but that’s a story for another day.

Illinois didn’t have a monopoly on crowd passion. A small group of IU students -- okay, two guys wearing red wigs -- did something to earn a first-half lecture from Illinois security officials. It wasn’t enough to get them kicked out.

Sampson’s arrival generated plenty of anticipation, but Illinois coach Bruce Weber came out first at the one-minute mark Sampson came out 30 seconds later. Sampson and Weber briefly shook hands and went to their respective teams.

Did it all this affect the game? Not even close.

Illinois’ defense and intensity, however, did affect it.

The result was a 51-43 Indiana loss that almost certainly will knock it out of the rankings just a day after it made the polls for the first time all season (No. 23 in AP, No. 24 in the coaches’ poll).

That, too, is another discussion for another day.

Look For IU To Rise In Rankings

2007-01-23T08:37:00.000-05:00

Hey, it only took half a season, but Indiana is now ranked among the elite teams in America.

Yes, that sounds a bit dramatic, but then when it comes to the Hoosiers, don't we all love drama?

IU cracked the top-25 for the first time this season. It is No. 23 in the AP poll and No. 24 in the coaches' poll.

How big a deal is this?

"With this team, it does matter," coach Kelvin Sampson said. "It gives the kids confidence."

This could be the start of a long stay in the rankings or just a brief acclaim. That depends on tonight's game at Illinois.

The Hoosiers should win for a number of reasons -- they're a better team; they're playing better; Illinois is all beat up; Sampson can take Bruce Weber in a three-point shooting contest.

Sorry. We don't know if Sampson can beat Weber, although having seen Sampson shoot, let's just say Weber would have his hands full. Weber, of course, still smarting over the Eric Gordon recruiting, is struggling with the idea of shaking hands with Sampson before and after the game, let alone shoot baskets with him.

Anyway, the Illini could be without two starters -- Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt -- because of injuries.

Expect a rowdy atmosphere at the start, but IU should quiet things down by the end. It will win tonight and win against Michigan on Saturday so that it will enter next week's epic showdown against No. 2 Wisconsin with Big Ten supremacy at stake.

How do we know this? Hey, we haven't been wrong since 2007 started. Just ask the wife.

Look For IU-Illinois Intrigue

2007-01-22T14:18:00.000-05:00

Yes, there’s certain to be plenty of intrigue when Indiana plays at Illinois in yet another Big Ten showdown.

Sure, much of it will involve super recruit Eric Gordon, who signed with IU after orally committing to Illinois.

But in the big picture it’s about winning, and right now the Hoosiers (14-4) are doing more of it than any Big Ten team other than Wisconsin. They have won five straight and nine of 10. They have won two straight on the road, including an impressive performance at Connecticut.

Now they go to an arena (Illinois’ Assembly Hall) where they haven’t won since 1999. They’ve lost their last five games there, mostly because the Illini had powerhouse teams.

This season, however, Illinois is vulnerable. Injuries to key players have contributed to a 14-7 record and five losses in their last seven games.

The biggest injury has been to forward Brian Randle, who has missed a number of games because of a foot injury. He’s played the last two games, but coach Bruce Weber isn’t optimistic he’ll play against Indiana.

Also questionable is 6-10 forward Shaun Pruitt, who averages 11.3 points.

“The hex that we’ve had continues,” Weber said. “Now we’re going against a good Indiana team that is playing as well as anybody in the league right now. They’re very good defensively, they shoot threes very well and they have a good post presence with D.J. White.”

White, in fact, won his first Big Ten player of the week honors. He averaged 22.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in wins over Iowa and Connecticut last week.

This doesn’t mean Illinois lacks talent. While it has lost three home games this year, it remains a formidable team to beat at Assembly Hall.

“They’ve had a lot of bad luck this year,” IU coach Kelvin Sampson said. “Injuries have kept them from being where they’d like to be right now.”

Still, the Illini can’t be overlooked. They lost at Michigan State by six points and at Wisconsin by seven points. They led Wisconsin 62-61 with two minutes remaining.

“Look at the games they’ve played recently,” Sampson said. “Their first half against Michigan State was as good I’ve seen a team play for 20 minutes. They could have won the Wisconsin game. They’re a good team.”

Add the intrigue and it should make for a heck of a game.

Red-Hot Hoosiers Handle UCONN

2007-01-20T18:14:00.000-05:00

This was the tough-minded approach Kelvin Sampson has brought. This was why he preaches not just playing hard, but competing, which means showing the resolve to handle any situation.

It means, in fact, the kind of victory Indiana produced in holding off Connecticut in a nationally televised victory.

The Hoosiers (14-4) were on the road and didn’t flinch, not when the Huskies rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit, not when Connecticut continued to hammer them on the offensive boards, not when the pressure mounted a lesser team would have buckled.

IU made the plays it had to make –- bombing three-pointers, getting inside success from D.J. White (pictured) and Mike White, benefiting from the tough-as-nails play of Rod Wilmont.

So now the Hoosiers have won five straight, two on the road, and are looking more and more like a threat to Wisconsin’s early Big Ten dominance.

They don’t have long to enjoy this. They go to Illinois on Tuesday, but these are not the Illini of recent vintage. They are young and vulnerable and, it seems, capable of breaking under IU’s relentless pressure.

Yes, Indiana will bring the pressure. It will batter with defense and tenacity. Maybe this time it will result in its first ranking of the season. If not, don't blame me. I voted for them last week.

Hey, this is why Sampson was hired. This is why the Hoosiers are thriving. And they’re not done yet.

IU Is Looking Good

2007-01-16T22:45:00.000-05:00

Political correctness didn’t concern IU students against Iowa. They shouted “Stand up old people!” to get the mature crowd behind the north basket to rise and shout during Hawkeye guard Adam Haluska’s free throw attempts.

The crowd did and the students cheered. It didn’t faze Haluska, an 89.5 percent free throw shooter who hit both attempts, but it showed the crowd, as well as the Hoosiers, meant business.

The result was a 71-64 victory, IU’s fourth straight. It gave coach Kelvin Sampson a 4-1 Big Ten start, which is the best by a first-year Hoosier coach since Branch McCracken went 9-1 in his debut season of 1938-39.

“Our team was really, really good in most phases,” Sampson said.

Good enough to suggest that IU might be ready to show first-place Wisconsin how good it can be when the teams meet Jan. 31 at Assembly Hall.

Wilmont For MVP?

2007-01-14T11:57:00.000-05:00

What's up with Rod Wilmont? Have you ever seen a guy who can rebound like he does and yet still be a three-point shooting threat?

Let's qualify threat. The guy is a three-point beast at times, which was very, very apparent at Penn State. He kept the Hoosiers in the game in the first half with his perimeter shooting, and finished with seven three-point baskets, one off the school record. He also took 17 three-pointers, which is a school record.

Usually, when a guy is firing away from the outside like that, he has no time or inclination or positioning for rebounding. Wilmont, however, finished with a career-high 12 rebounds along with his career-high 25 points as Indiana took charge in the second half during its first road win of the season.

Coach Kelvin Sampson called Wilmont "unique" and said he'd never had a player who could shoot so many threes and still rebound like that.

Wilmont never did anything like that when Mike Davis was coaching. But coach Kelvin Sampson's emphasis on defense and rebounding and becoming a complete player is really paying off.

Oh, yes, it's also paying off for IU, which is 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten.

Hard To Ignore IU's Potential

2007-01-11T00:35:00.000-05:00

You look at what Indiana has done to its last two opponents -- blow out victories over Purdue and Michigan State -- and it's hard to ignore the potential. Yes, they came at Assembly Hall, where the Hoosiers are unbeaten. Yes, IU stilll hasn't won on the road, which puts it on par with about 99 percent of the teams in America.

Yet, if the Hoosiers can sustain this level of play, third place in the Big Ten is a strong possiblity. There's only one team left on the schedule that could beat them at Assembly Hall -- Wisconsin, which comes to town later this month. Other than that, IU will cruise.

There's no reason why it can't win at least three conference road games, and perhaps more. Only Wisconsin and Ohio State seem capable of doing better.

Now the Hoosiers have to prove it -- starting Saturday at Penn State.

Look For A.J., Defense

2007-01-10T15:33:00.000-05:00

Expect to see A.J. Ratliff tonight when Indiana rumbles with Purdue at Assembly Hall. Yes, the Hoosiers junior guard will have his wrist wrapped to protect it. He has torn ligaments that might require off-season surgery. For now, though, he expects to play the rest of the season.

Ratliff, who missed Sunday's Michigan State game, has been practicing this week. His injury didn't prevent coach Kelvin Sampson from getting on him about his defense and effort.

Sampson, you see, isn't the coddling kind of coach.

"I haven't done anything to pep up his spirits," Sampson said. "It pepped up my spirits when he played harder, though."

It would pep up his spirits more if IU won tonight in what looms as a defensive slugfest. Both teams play aggressive defense, especially on the perimeter. Figure the team that handles that best will win.

Also figure to see the kind of intensity that makes rivalry games so compelling. And now that both programs are good again, it should be just the beginning.

Indiana Basketball Is Fun Again

2007-01-07T22:11:00.000-05:00

Have you been spending your recent hours shaking your head in amazement over the huge news in college basketball circles -- Caltech finally ended its 207-game losing streak?

Of course not. You’ve been too busy basking in the glow from Indiana’s 73-51 dismantling of Michigan State.

Points figured to come grudgingly, if at all. Instead, IU played its best half of the season -- 38 points, 51.7 percent shooting, just five turnovers -- against the Big Ten’s best defense. Michigan State, meanwhile, shot 61 percent from the field, but struggled with 12 turnovers and ended the half down by 11.

Indiana opened the second half looking for a knockout. A couple of blocked shots, a couple of easy baskets and the Spartans were down 15 and reeling.

And then it was over.

So what does this mean? Well, IU (10-4) avoided an 0-2 Big Ten start, maintained its home court edge (8-0) and ensured it would have momentum going into Wednesday’s rivalry game with Purdue (12-4).

Yes, basketball in the Hoosier state is fun again.

Look For A Rugged Game

2007-01-07T09:13:00.000-05:00

You'd better believe today's game between Indiana and Michigan State is huge. At stake is last place in the Big Ten and nobody wants that.

Check that. A lot of people from, say, Purdue or Michigan might want it, but that's not important. What is important is that the Hoosiers maintain their home court edge. They are 7-0 at home and need that first Big Ten win to get some momentum and show they can be a conference factor.

Michigan State has the same idea. It lost 62-60 at Iowa. The loss stung coach Tom Izzo enough for him to say some of his players had their worst games ever. It stung enough to bet the house that these Spartans, while lacking the talent of previous Izzo clubs, will come ready for war.

It's going to be physical. It won't be pretty. The winning team might be lucky to get 40 points. Yeah, it's going to be that rugged.

So brace yourself.

Ratliff Out For Michigan State

2007-01-05T16:52:00.000-05:00

Don't expect to see A.J. Ratliff Sunday against Michigan State. In fact, a wrist injury could keep the junior guard out for a while.

How long? Not even coach Kelvin Sampson knows for sure.

“It’s a pretty bad injury,” Sampson said. “It’s not a sprained wrist. When you tear a ligament, it would be better if you’d break a bone. A ligament is a tough injury to overcome.”

Ratliff didn’t play in Tuesday’s loss to Ohio State. Freshman Joey Shaw did and while he scored a career-high 16 points, he also had some costly defensive breakdowns.

"Joey certainly helped us offensively," Sampson said, "but defensively is where we miss AJ. He was starting to understand how we play defense…maybe we don’t score 67 (against Ohio State), but maybe they don’t score 74.

"The area Ohio State exposed us the most was on the defensive end. When Earl (Calloway) and AJ are on the floor together, perimeter wise we’re a pretty good defensive team. When AJ isn’t in there, you have Joey and Armon (Bassett), and we’re not as strong defensively.”

No Choking -- IU Handles Ball State

2006-12-30T22:57:00.000-05:00

For a while, the Indiana Hoosiers fell in love with the three-point shot against Ball State, and could you blame them?

The Cardinals went with what was basically a five-guard lineup, then packed the interior to prevent IU from getting the ball inside to D.J. White.

So the Hoosiers started jacking up three-pointers (14 in the first half) until coach Kelvin Sampson tapped into his inner Bob Knight.

He threatened to choke them if they didn’t stop shooting three-pointers (yes, he was joking -- sort of). The biggest culprits were Rod Wilmont, A.J. Ratliff and Armon Bassett, who were a combined 2-for-9 from behind the arc in the first half.

“Rod is a streak shooter,” Sampson said. “A.J. is a streak shooter. They were open. It’s hard to tell kids that, at some point, you have to balance that inside.

“If you give Rod a three, guess what, he’ll probably shoot it. He’ll say, ‘Coach, I’m open.’ It’s hard to argue with him. Basically it’s shoot it as long as you make them. If you miss some, throw it inside to D.J.”

IU (9-3) did that well enough to see White finish with 16 points in its 71-57 victory. Next up is Ohio State in Tuesday’s Big Ten opening debut, and with 7-foot Greg Oden prowling the paint, don’t be surprised if the Hoosiers resort to a lot of three-pointers.

Unless, of course, Sampson carries out his threat.

On Knight, IU And The Record

2006-12-29T19:11:00.000-05:00

Wouldn’t it be the irony of ironies if Bob Knight, who so has grumpily reiterated his disdain for the coaching career victory record and for the questions regarding it, would be stuck on 879 for the rest of the season?

Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if a Higher Power, having observed from on high the many twists and turns of BK Theater, decided to have a little fun and see that Knight would have a year of enduring press conference questions regarding a record he could never break.

Yes, I know, some might find that mean or cruel or, well, vindictive. They might not appreciate the humor, but then, they probably never experienced Knight at his most difficult, which is to say, during his 29-year, doing-it-his-way-by-gosh run at Indiana.

Anyway, the Red Raiders’ loss to UNLV meant Rebels coach Lon Kruger continues to own Knight (8-2 in head-to-head meetings) and means Knight’s next chance to break a tie with Dean Smith will come Monday against New Mexico.

IU coach Kelvin Sampson, who has Knight’s former job, remembered his experiences with the General, which included their Big 12 rivalry while Sampson was the Oklahoma coach.

“There was a huge curiosity factor with all the (Big 12) schools when he came to the league,” Sampson said. “When he showed up it was a different Texas Tech. Before we wouldn’t sell out the Texas Tech game. When Coach Knight came, it was a sellout. I think he sold out every (Big 12) arena because of his persona. He has that presence about him.”

Sampson remembered the first time he met Knight while he was a grad assistant at Michigan State in 1979.

“He just had an incredible presence.”

That presence was evident during games.

“When you coach a game, sometimes you can feel that guy on the end, sometimes you can’t, but you always know when Coach Knight was there because of his presence.

“He’ll win as many games as he wants to win. He’ll put the mark wherever he wants it.”

Unless, of course, a Higher Power has another idea.

Hoosiers Find Their Shooting Eyes

2006-12-28T09:27:00.000-05:00

Remember when Indiana's offense was a series of missed opportunities, when no shot was too short or too open not to miss?

Well, the Hoosiers will enter Saturday's game against Ball State very much in a hot-shooting groove. They are shooting around 54 percent for their last 60 minutes of action. Not surprisingly, they've won two straight games over Western Michigan and IUPUI.

The reason for the improvement? Simple coach Kelvin Sampson says. Taking advantage of more fast-break opportunities, faster play and less half-court situations.

"It's a sign we're running more," Sampson says. "We're getting more comfortable with each other. Your offense is as good as your point guard. Earl Calloway is a much better point guard today than he was against Butler or Duke."

The point guard is the offensive catalyst in any system, and that's especially true for Sampson's approach. Calloway struggled to reign in his full-speed nature, much like a running back too impatient to wait on his blockers. Calloway has found that patience, and the good decision making that follows. So look for the senior and the rest of the Hoosiers to roll against Ball State. After that it's Big Ten thrills, with a trip to Ohio State up first on Tuesday. Then we'll really see how far this team has come.

A Good Start To Christmas Break

2006-12-22T23:20:00.000-05:00

Yes, Indiana guard Earl Calloway had a big-time game against IUPUI with 21 points. But it was one of his two turnovers in the 86-57 victory that had coach Kelvin Sampson joking.

“One of those turnovers was the worst pass I’ve ever seen,” Sampson said. “You talk about wide right. It was a curve ball that didn’t break.”

Meanwhile, nothing came easy for the Jaguars, which wasn’t a surprise considering the Hoosiers’ season-long defensive ferocity. IUPUI’s only hope was that IU continued its season-long poor shooting. Instead, the Hoosiers duplicated their 58-percent second half effort against Western Michigan with a 58-percent first half performance against IUPUI. The result was a 48-28 halftime lead.

IU (8-3) finished with a season-best 51.8 percent shooting.

If you want a Christmas break worry, consider forward D.J. White managed just eight points on 3 of 10 shooting, which is not want you’d expect from your best player in 27 minutes of a lopsided game.

That’s just nitpicking. White had eight rebounds, three blocks and a career-high five assists while taking what the defense gave him.

Anyway, the Hoosiers have a week to address it before their next game (Dec. 30 against Ball State), and if some of that time will be spent on a holiday break, they’ll still figure it out.

Allen Close To Returning

2006-12-20T22:27:00.000-05:00

More good news for Indiana in the wake of its 77-69 victory over Western Michigan -- forward Ben Allen is close to returning after a bout with mononucleosis.

Allen, who has missed the last three games, did some practicing on Tuesday, although he still isn't allowed to have any contact. Coach Kelvin Sampson said Allen did some shooting and working out on his own, and if he's able to practice Thursday, he might get to play in Friday night's game against IUPUI at Conseco Fieldhouse.

If Allen does play, he'll be leaner, if not meaner. Sampson said the 6-11 Australian native has lost some weight.

The Hoosiers (7-3) don't need Allen for IUPUI or for Ball State next week. They will need him for their Big Ten opener, which is Jan. 2 at No. 3 Ohio State. The sooner he gets some action, the better for the Hoosiers.

For Calloway, Ratliff, It's All About Effort

2006-12-17T23:15:00.000-05:00

The numbers suggest Earl Calloway had a sub-par game in Indiana’s 57-47 victory over Southern Illinois.

The numbers are wrong.

Calloway’s fierce defense against super-quick guard Jamaal Tatum was huge. Tatum finished with 17 points, but had just four in the second half.

So what that Calloway finished with just five points and fouled out. He had three assists and no turnovers to go along with that relentless, in-your-face defense. It was a follow-up to what coach Kelvin Sampson said was a strong effort at Kentucky.

“Earl had his best back to back games,” Sampsonn said. “He was really good (against SIU). That’s what I’ve been looking for, some consistency. How hard is he competing?”

Sampson had the same question about A.J. Ratliff, who came off the bench for 14 points, plus added three steals.

“This was the hardest AJ has played,” Sampson said. “His challenge will be putting back to back good performances together.

“Can Earl do it a third time? Can A.J. do it twice?

“A.J.’s M.O is he’s good one night; he’s in the witness protection program the next night. Does he step up or do we to get the hounds after him?”

We’ll find out Wednesday, when IU hosts Western Michigan.

Allen Out; IU Eyes SIU

2006-12-14T12:29:00.000-05:00

Don't expect to see Ben Allen playing for a while. The IU sophomore forward is out indefinitely with mononucleosis. He missed last Saturday's Kentucky game and coach Kelvin Sampson said he doesn't know when Allen will return.

Sampson, meanwhile, is optimistic about the Hoosiers' progress. Yes, the 5-3 record might have you worrying, but Sampson doesn't spend much time thinking about you. IU is defending well and hustling well and rebounding well. It went on the road and took Duke and Kentucky down to the wire.

Shooting was a problem at Kentucky (30.5 percent, just 54 points), but at least the Hoosiers got plenty of good looks. Eventually, Sampson suggested, those looks will translate into made baskets. Eventually, the end-of-game struggles will become end-of-game successes.

"The toughest thing to control in basketball is made shots," he said. "But if you look at everything else we did in that game, what didn't we do good? Don't ever confuse playing good with shooting good."

Of course, if shooting good and playing good happen at the same time, say Sunday night against Southern Illinois, all the better.

IU Works On Offense

2006-12-13T08:09:00.000-05:00

As you can imagine following Indiana's abysmal shooting performance from the Kentucky game, the Hoosiers have worked hard on offense in general, shooting in particular. They can't win many games shooting just 30 percent from the field. UK's defense certainly was a factor, but IU still missed far too many open shots.

That's why the early part of this week was spent emphasizing more consistency in this area. That is, when players weren't studying for finals.

"Coach (Kelvin Sampson) wants us focusing on grades now," guard Joey Shaw said.

IU had Sunday off, then spent Monday in individual sessions. Practice resumed Tuesday with specific preparations for Sunday's game against Southern Illinois expected to start Thursday.

"We worked on a lot of shooting, a lot of shooting drills, a lot of dribbling drills and coming off screens," Shaw said.

If the Hoosiers can get their offense down, they should win out the rest of the month considering how strong and consistent their defense and rebounding have been. But as anyone who has seen them knows, that's a big offensive "if."

Kentucky Edges Indiana

2006-12-09T15:12:00.000-05:00

So who stole Lance Stemler's three-point shot? How can Stemler, Armon Bassett, A.J. Ratliff and Earl Calloway combine for 0-for-14 behind the arc and Indiana still almost pulled out a victory at Kentucky?

The easy answer is rebounding and defense. The Hoosiers out-rebounded the Wildcats 42-39 and grabbed 22 offensive boards, a big reason why they had 23 more shots. IU also forced 17 turnovers and harrassed Kentucky shooters all day.

But a season-low 30.6 percent shooting, including a miserable 4-for-25 from the three-point line, was too much to overcome.

The result was a 59-54 loss that represented another missed opportunity. IU's three losses have come by a total of 13 points. Someday the Hoosiers might get to the point where they can win the close games. For now, we'll see if they can learn from them.

Finals And IU-UK Rivalry

2006-12-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

You might be focused on Saturday’s Indiana-Kentucky basketball rivalry, but the Hoosiers have another priority -– finals.

While next week is officially IU’s finals week, some professors held theirs on Thursday and Friday, and yes, that affected several Hoosier players.

That’s why several players met with their tutors shortly after Wednesday night’s victory over Western Illinois.

“We live in a basketball world,” coach Kelvin Sampson said, “but these kids still have school.”

If they don’t do well in school, they won’t be eligible to play, which is why you might see a few distracted Hoosiers on Saturday.

“(Freshman guard) Armon Bassett passing that final,” Sampson said, “is a lot more important than attacking a matchup zone.”

In an ideal Cream ‘n Crimson world, IU players ace their finals and then whip the Wildcats. We’ll have to see how close to ideal they get.

Suhr Makes Impact

2006-12-07T09:19:00.000-05:00

If you look at the numbers from Indiana's 92-40 throttling of Western Illinois, you'd think guard Errek Suhr made minimal impact. He had just three points and one assist in 12 minutes. But numbers don't reflect the effect this 5-9 (that's being generous) hustler has on the game. He understands Sampson's offense. He gets the ball where it needs to be. He swarms on defense and chases on missed shots, which is why he grabbed four rebounds, which is three more than 6-11 Ben Allen.

Suhr actually could have had at least five, and maybe six points, but he lost a spectacular basket when coach Kelvin Sampson called a timeout seconds before.

Fellow Hoosier Lance Stemler had just taken an elbow to the jaw. Given Stemler's recent concussion (it was bad enough that his jaw had swelled) and the fact Stemler was asking to come out, Sampson immediately called timeout. It was at that moment Suhr drove to the basket and was fouled hard enough to floor a lesser player, yet still managed to toss in a basket.

Officials ruled the timeout came before the basket. Sampson joked about it afterward.

With IU set to play at Kentucky Saturday, joking didn't last. It's time to get serious, which means veterans such as Rod Wilmont (pictured) have to step up.

If the Hoosiers win this game, they'll roll through the rest of December, getting a lot of steam entering their intriguing Big Ten opener at Ohio State.

Of course, when it comes to Indiana basketball, you can't get enough intrigue.

Searching For IU Answers

2006-12-06T12:28:00.000-05:00

If you can’t wait to see if Indiana is building toward Big Ten title contention, you won’t find an answer tonight from a mediocre Western Illinois team. The Hoosiers should roll by 20 or more.

Playing at Kentucky on Saturday will be a good test, but remember, these are not the power Wildcats of old. They have plenty of vulnerability for IU to exploit.

After that, Southern Illinois is the only real challenge left on the non-conference schedule until Big Ten play begins. IU does play at Connecticut, but that’s not until Jan. 20.

In the meantime, if you’re worried about why the Hoosiers aren’t dominating, at least on offense, relax. There’s plenty of time for improvement.

“We’re improving,” coach Kelvin Sampson says. “It’s important to be better Jan. 2 than we are today and I think we will as long as these kids come to practice and work and compete.

“This is not a destination for us. We’re learning how to compete. We’re a work in progress. Defensively we’re better. Rebounding we’re better. Offensively we’ll get better.”

Of course, you’d expect Sampson to say that, but that’s not just coach-speak. IU might not win the Big Ten, but it certainly should be a factor.

Learning From Duke Loss

2006-11-29T07:25:00.000-05:00

Kelvin Sampson isn't messing around with this Indiana basketball team. He's coached too long. He's won too many games. He wants guys who will run his stuff, who will take care of the ball, who are mentally tough enough to do what needs to be done.

He wants guys, it seems, such as Errek Suhr and Armon Bassett and Joey Shaw. What they might lack in size (Suhr) and experience (Bassett and Shaw) they make up for in effort and smarts and toughness. Case in point -- IU's 54-51 loss at No. 11 Duke.

Duke coach Mike Kryzyzewski sought out Suhr after the game for some special praise.

So when it came down to crunch time at Duke, and when you fall behind by 15 at Cameron Indoor Arena, it doesn't get much more crunching, those are the guys who played. Veterans A.J. Ratliff, Rod Wilmont and Earl Calloway sat and watched. Did they learn? We'll find that out in future games.

This was not a super Duke team, at least not yet. It is too inexperienced, too careless with the ball. The Blue Devils were beatable. If IU had played the whole game the way it played the second half (outscoring Duke 30-21) it would have won. If it had gotten the ball more to D.J. White (pictured), it might have won. If it had had a better assist to turnover ratio (8 to 16), it might have won.

If it learns from this, if it grows from this, the Hoosiers (3-2) might yet become Big Ten factors.

No matter what happens, Suhr, Bassett and Shaw will play big roles. And if that continues to put Ratliff, Wilmont and Calloway on the bench, well, this isn't about seniority. It's about production.

Duke Squeezes IU Early

2006-11-28T22:08:00.000-05:00

So here we are at halftime of the Indiana-Duke game, and if you don't think the Hoosiers are missing Lance Stemler, then you don't know the Hoosiers.

Stemler is the sharp-shooting junior college transfer who has made an instant impact this season. How much of an impact? The guy is shooting 50 percent from three-point range and plays with a fearlessness coach Kelvin Sampson loves. That isn't helping tonight. Stemler is out with a concussion. IU could use his spark against a typically ferocious Duke defense.

Still, point guard Earl Calloway's running basket just before the halftime buzzer meant IU trailed 33-21 and got a little momentum entering the second half.

Will it be enough?

Only if the Hoosiers can solve the Blue Devils' pressure.

Maybe IU Loss Wasn't So Bad

2006-11-25T19:03:00.000-05:00

Hey, if you're an IU fan, you have to feel a little better now that Butler won the Preseason NIT, doing to Tennessee and Gonzaga what it did to the Hoosiers.

Maybe that loss wasn't so bad. Maybe it was more a matter of Bulldog excellence, as opposed to IU struggles.

Yes, it cost the Hoosiers a couple of games, but they can make up for that with a win at Duke on Tuesday. And even if that doesn't happen, look for a better IU team to show up, one that is more fluid on offense, more tenacious on defensive, more resilient in the second half.

IU-Duke reflects the kind of game you'd expect a college superpower to play. And, yes, the Hoosiers are a traditional superpower, and likely will return to that status now that Kelvin Sampson is running the show. If you don't see that at Duke, or even this season, you'll likely
see it before long.

Good Lines in IU Win

2006-11-19T20:42:00.000-05:00

Listen to Kelvin Sampson talk and you can't help but be impressed with some of his one-liners. Even in the heat of battle, and believe me, the IU coach battles, doesn't lose his sense of humor.

For instance, in the aftermath of Indiana's 90-69 victory over Chicago State, Sampson was talking about the difference between guards Armon Bassett and Rod Wilmont.

Bassett, a rapidly improving freshman, totaled 10 points, nine assists and four rebounds in his first career start.

Wilmont, coming off the bench for the first time this season, had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Sampson was talking about the decision making ability of both players.

"When Armon has the ball in the middle of the floor," he said, "I get the feeling something good is going to happen."

That feeling disappears when Wilmont gets the ball.

"When Rod has the ball in the middle of the floor, I look for a bunker," Sampson said. "He's the only guard I've ever had who I think, give it to a guard."

That's a pretty good line. And you know what? Wilmont has become a pretty good guard, regardless of his middle-of-the-floor skills.

IU Survives a Scare

2006-11-17T22:25:00.000-05:00

Somewhere, you figure, Mike Davis is chuckling.

The specter of Indiana losing to Butler and Indiana State in the span of four days would have made for a most miserable Thanksgiving week, and Davis, the former IU coach now at Alabama-Birmingham, knows all about miserable weeks.

The Hoosiers (2-1) survived it by surviving Indiana State, 73-66, in a performance certain to give coach Kelvin Sampson plenty of practice fuel.

IU built a 20-point lead early in the second half, then weathered a furious Indiana State rally that cut the margin to two points. Lance Stemler’s three-pointer finally put the Hoosiers over the top, but this much is certain -– if they don’t start playing better, they’ll get killed at Duke.

Indiana has over a week to prepare for that Cameron Arena encounter, and you figure Sampson, who has a period of newcomer grace Davis never really had, will maximize his opportunity. Still, the offense is a concern, especially in the second half.

Let’s face it. Butler and Indiana State can’t defend like Duke. And that’s no joke.

IU Wraps Up Recruiting Class

2006-11-15T23:31:00.000-05:00

It looks like Indiana has wrapped up its fall basketball recruiting with the commitments of 6-4 guard Jordan Crawford of Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia and 6-4 guard Eshaunte Jones of North Side.

Crawford will be part of the five-man class for 2007 that also includes Indianapolis North Central's Eric Gordon. The others are guard Jamarcus Ellis, center Eli Holman and forward Brandon McGee.

Jones will attend prep school next year and be part of the 2008 class.

Will Practice Make Perfect?

2006-11-15T14:37:00.000-05:00

Can you believe the Indiana Hoosiers are undefeated and coming off an impressive victory and looking to add more...

Oops. That's the women's team. The men's team, the one that was so close to earning a trip to New York City next week, those guys are in for a long week of practice.

Blowing a late 12-point lead and losing to mid-major Butler isn't shock-the-world huge, but it is a big disappointment for a program looking to make an early statement under new coach Kelvin Sampson.

Losing in the second round of the Preseason NIT means the Hoosiers won't advance to next week's Final Four at Madison Square Garden. Instead of getting to test themselves against Tennessee and, most likely, North Carolina, they get a week of practice. Instead of getting a little sightseeing in around Times Square, they get a week of practice.

In the long run, D.J. White (pictured) and the gang might be better off. In the short run, well, we'll get back to you after Friday's Indiana State game.

Teams Show Up, Fans Don't

2006-11-14T08:35:00.000-05:00

You might have figured the debut of the Kelvin Sampson era would have made for must-see live viewing for Indiana basketball fans. You might have figured a four-team grouping that also included Notre Dame and Butler would have left Conseco Fieldhouse bursting at the seams.

You'd have figured wrong.

Monday night's doubleheader -- which had IU beating Lafayette and Butler surprising Notre Dame -- drew just 8,037. That's less than half the capacity of Conseco Fieldhouse.

Price might have had something to do with it. Courtside tickets for a two-night package were $100 each. It was $30 for the balcony.

Prices cost half as much tonight, when Notre Dame plays Lafayette in the consolation game (does anybody really care) and Indiana plays Butler for the right to advance to New York's Madison Square Garden.

Maybe fans had a premonition about the season opener. The IU-Lafayette game featured 52 fouls, 42 free throws and 44 turnovers. That's tough to take, even for the biggest fan.

Closer Than You Might Think

2006-11-14T00:34:00.000-05:00

If you missed the game and saw the score, you’d think Indiana rolled over Lafayette in the Preseason NIT.

You couldn’t be more wrong.

The Leopards (1-1) pushed the Hoosiers (1-0) to the limit before losing 91-66. Only a closing 28-6 run made the score so lopsided.

“They’re a big, physical team and we’re not,” Lafayette coach Fran O’Hanlon said. “Physically and mentally we were spent at the end. We kind of lost our poise.”

The Hoosiers did not and you can credit the play of Rod Wilmont (24 points, five steals), Earl Calloway (22 points, nine assists), Lance Stemler (10 points) and Mike White (10 points).

With forward D.J. White in foul trouble (he played only eight minutes), Wilmont took over the offense. He was 6-for-11 from three-point range, 9-for-14 overall.

“Rod is going to shoot it regardless,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “If he ever hurts his left wrist or hurt his fingers and couldn’t shoot, he’d have to quit.”

Wilmont won’t quit and neither, it seems, will the Hoosiers. They place Butler tonight with the winner advancing to next week’s Preseason NIT Final Four.

Win A Trip To Hawaii -- Sort Of

2006-11-13T08:12:00.000-05:00

Hey, how would you like to win a trip to Hawaii or a new Ferrari or the next spot on Dancing With The Stars? All you have to do is correctly predict Indiana's Big Ten basketball finish, number of victories and average elapsed time in which Kelvin Sampson first takes off his blue suit coat and the News-Sentinel will award you with...

Sorry. Got carried away. The News-Sentinel WILL NOT have any awards at this time, although we can always hope. Still, the Sampson era is set to begin tonight with Lafayette (1-0) in the Preseason NIT and all things are possible. Really.

The Hoosiers have talent with plays such as D.J. White, Earl Calloway (pictured) and Rod Wilmont. They have focus and determination and a coach who knows how to maximize potential. Wisconsin, with four returning starters, is the Big Ten favorite. Ohio State, if Greg Oden recovers in time from wrist surgery, will be a major factor. After that, it's anybody's race unless you're, say, Northwestern.

But this isn't about the struggling Wildcats. It's about IU's prospects for the season. Tell us what you think (victories and Big Ten finish) and we'll tabulate it all and let you know the results. It might not lead to Hawaii, but then, do you really want to go to Hawaii when there are so many reasons to enjoy a Hoosier winter?

Okay, don't answer that.

IU's Exhibition Win Gets A Guy Thinking

2006-11-10T23:14:00.000-05:00

Some random thoughts in the aftermath of Indiana’s 83-46 exhibition victory over Indianapolis.

First, junior college transfer Lance Stemler is going to be good. No, not change the program good, but he buys into coach Kelvin Sampson’s sacrifice-your-body approach. He’ll make a difference.

Oh, yes. He’s a heck of an outside shooter (16 points, 4-for-7 from three-point range).

Second, D.J. White has to improve his passing out of a double team (Sampson nearly collapsed onto the padded scorer’s table after watching one botched attempt). That will come (or Sampson will have to go heavy on the antacids).

White finished with one assist and six turnovers. He played 31 minutes because Sampson wanted to get him more court time to overcome the rust from missing most of last season because of injury.

Third, Sampson means it when he emphasizes defense. Early in the first half, A.J. Ratliff and Rod Wilmont didn’t quite meet Sampson’s expectations. When they combined to give up a three-pointer to Indianapolis’ Tyke Cockerham, he had enough.

“Sit down!” he told them.

Okay, it was a little stronger than that, but you get the drift. Out they came. In came Joey Shaw and Armon Bassett.

Ratliff and Wilmont eventually returned. Yes, their defense improved. Bassett looked good for the second straight exhibition (10 assists).

Finally, Sampson isn’t interested in walking the ball up the court. He constantly shouted at Earl Calloway and Bassett to push the pace and when they didn’t, well, he wasn’t shy about expressing his displeasure. When they did, he didn’t hesitate to praise.

Are you seeking the deeper meaning about what all this means? Forget it. Exhibitions are for experimentation. Starting Monday, when the games count, experimentation ends. And then we’ll really have some random thoughts.

Looking For Basketball Answers

2006-11-10T10:44:00.000-05:00

Admit it. You're busting at the seams to see what this Indiana basketball team can do against some real competition. Is Kelvin Sampson the answer to championship prayers? Will D.J. White play like an All-American? Can A.J. Ratliff tap into his inner beast and start playing to his potential?

So many questions, so few answers. Tonight the Hoosiers host Indianapolis in an exhibition and that will offer a hint of what is to come. But we won't really get a taste of Sampson ball until IU opens against Lafayette on Monday for the Preseason NIT. It's a new format with four sites around the country. This site is at Conseco Fieldhouse and will also feature Notre Dame and Butler.

Everybody plays Monday night. The winners play Tuesday night. The losers play Tuesday night. Everybody is guaranteed two games. And if you win both games, you get to go to New York City and Madison Square Garden for a pair of games.

Bet the house that the Hoosiers make the trip to New York. How do we know? How else do you think we got this blog.

First headline!

2006-09-06T11:22:00.000-04:00

first post!