DISQUS

Who cares. Yet another blog entry on a former Hoosier the isn't worth the space or print. He's gone. Been gone, yet we still have this fascination about these former players. I don't care where he ends up. He screwed up a nice gig at IU and blew it. I said good riddance to him a long time ago. Stop this former player madness. It's crazy, unless it's a former player that actually represented IU well, graduated and didn't transfer, get kicked out or whatever.

No.

So we got an 8 seed. So what? All the doom and gloom we've been talking about lately and the NCAA must have been reading it and feeling it too. Our program is in disarray right now and has been since Sanctions left and will be until a new coach comes in to restore order. So let it be. Let's go lace them up and take 'em down 1 by 1. Let's show our guys support. Maybe DD will get them to play with the "us versus them" mentality and use it as motivation and see if the players accept it. DD can sell it as an opportunity to show the NCAA and world we were screwed. Tell the players to go prove everyone wrong. Tell the players not to look too far ahead, but beat Ark. and we get to play the #1 team in the land and what a better way to prove we are worthy than taking down the overrated Hansbrough and show them who the best big man in the country really is: DJ White. The players can react to this in 2 ways: pissed off motivation and ready to kill, or crawl in a hole and cry how they were dissed, similar to how they reacted with losing their coach. If they chose the latter, we're in trouble. If they chose the former, who knows how far we can go. As I said in earlier posts, anything we win this season from here on out is a bonus with this team. So let's sit back and enjoy it from here on out. I know it will be tough to do if they play like the way they played against Minn., but realize it is going to get better and when it does we will have plenty to cheer about.

6 seed somewhere in the west. Will win 1 and lose 1. Dakich is to blame as much as the players, but I agree that the players came because of Sanctions boy and don't know much about Dakich and IU tradition. This season basically ended with the firing of Sanctions. So, what ever we do from here on out as far as winning is gravy. Our program is in a world of hurt and will be until the next coach gets his players in here and playing for IU. Next season I don't expect much and just want to know we are on the way to rebuilding our reputation. Right now, Jamie Dixon is in my top 2 to come in. Just get a coach that respects IU and one we fans can respect. I support IU fully and want the team to do well. Who knows, if Gordon gets out of his slump along w/ Bassett and Crawford, we may make a run. I won't hold my breath, but I'll keep hoping they want to play to win.

Why isn't McGee getting any pt? Is he that bad? Could we use him to spell someone for a few minutes? We are real thin since Rat left and Holman is hurt. Can McGee come in and contribute in some way, such as defense or rebounding or something?

My prediction for new coach: Jamie Dixon. Other prediction is Eric will stay. Call me crazy, but I don't think he wants to leave IU without proving something and he hasn't played well at all lately and it doesn't look like we will do well in the NCAA. If we go to Final Four, he leave, less than Elite 8, he'll stay. Besides, he likes being a college student right? As for DJ, I feel terrible for the kid. He's leaving it on the floor every night. He knows he has to as his immediate future depends on it. Gordon's star is not burning as bright right now, but I wouldn't want him on any other team. His shot has to come back soon, right?

I don't mind him being loyal to Sampson, but why take it out on the team and interim coach? DD was put in that unenviable position by Greenspan and Greenspan fired Sampson. If Ellis is so hurt he should take his frustrations out elsewhere and not penalize his teammates for it. He's only hurting himself and the team. If he doesn't care, then go live with Sampson for all I care. It's past time to move on. Either you want to play or you don't. Don't like DD because you wanted McCallum, tough. That's the way it is. Life is rough sometimes. Suck it up and play. If you don't want to stay, leave. Stop coddling these guys. It appears others have gotten over it and if they haven't, they are acting as if they have. Maybe we'll see mass defections after the season, but again, if you're not here to play for IU and the new coach, then it probably is best to leave. As much as I would love to have him on the floor, discipline has to be instilled. I would guess there wasn't any w/ Sampson or he wouldn't be acting this way. So I say this, get it together Ellis or enjoy an extended summer vacation. Put guys on the floor that want to play. Go Hoosiers!

This is the type of kid I want. Someone who wants to be at IU for the right reasons and most likely a 4 year player. Go IU!! We look forward to seeing you in cream and crimson next season Matt!!

No loss.

We're going nowhere quick. Whatever we win from here on out is a plus. DD can't coach this team, because he is not that good and the players don't care and aren't listening. Ellis is a detriment to the team and he can stay away, transfer for all I care. The sooner this season ends, the sooner we get a coach. Then we take the NCAA hit and begin the dismantling and rebuilding process.

There is going to be more of the same over the next few games. We'll lose in the 1st round of Big 10 tourney, get a six seed and go 1-1 in NCAA's. The upside of that is we will get a new coach sooner. The down side, DJ doesn't deserve all the crap.

San Antonio, how fitting. It's the only way he will get close to the final four.

Good win, but we need a coach. This game shouldn't have been this close. Thanks DJ for all the great memories. DJ is the man!!

I think you are right when you say we are more upset than the players. That's the problem I think. The players need to get upset and act as though they fully understand what it means to wear an IU uniform. It's not to just show up at a game on the road, it's to play hard all the time. I support IU and have for 30 years, but I have a right to complain when I see no adjustments in game, players playing 1/1 ball, not getting back on D, worried about personal stats, putting a cheater's initials on shoes I helped buy with my donations, play with a lack of emotion and basically phone it in because they can't get over their coach leaving. Dakich wasn't their choice and they are sending a message they don't/won't play for him and it appears McCallum isn't going out on a limb to help DD. So, I will continue to fanup as you say, but let's get real, we sucked today and I don't see them doing anything to improve upon this for the rest of the season. Get me a coach, dismantle and rebuild the team, and continue to honor the tradition of IU basketball by playing hard, clean and for the glory of old IU, not for themselves.

We'll be one and done in the B10 if we play like we are now and most likely we will because we have no one playing like a team. We will win Wed., lose to PSU, lose 1st round of B10 tourney and go 1-1 in NCAA out west to finish the season at 26-8. We will then have defections and the new coach will begin the rebuilding process. 09-10 will be a good year for us. Forget the 08-09 season as whatever we do as far as wins go will just be building for the next season.

The depth is hurting us now with no Rat, no Holman, Thomas not doing anything. We basically have 71/2 players for our rotation.

Wow. My worst fears came true. We totally fell apart and I did not see anyone other than DJ playing with the passion needed to win the B10. This Sampson thing has taken its toll and we will only be ok the rest of the season. I think we are going through the motions now. It's just wait and see now who stays, who leaves, who decides to still come and who the new coach will be. Dakich is not in control. He needs to assert himself with this team. The time for coddling is over. Either they want to play or not. If not, play the ones that do. Stop trying to not piss them off being afraid they will walk. Start coaching your way, if not the season will end after 4 more games.

63-60 IU over MSU

Let him go if he wants to after he sees who our new coach is. He signed with Sampson and now he's gone. Forget what the letter says, he signed with a coach. Give me some solid 4 year players that stay and win. I'd love to have Ebanks, but won't miss him if he doesn't come. Any kid that would turn down a chance to play at IU, with the greatest fan support and athlete adoration, is nuts.

I agree. We look like the team that was playing a few weeks ago, not the team we were against OSU the first game, MSU, and PU. This transition has affected us some and I hope Dakich can pull it together and get them playing like they were the few games before Sanctions left. Sunday will be a long day if we don't come up with a better offensive output. One thing that bothered me was the refs seemed to be calling the game as if we were the visiting team and not the home team. Because of that, we did not have the home court advantage.

Agree on the officiating.

Ellis has the lowest basketball IQ on the team. I call him "rock boy" for the stupid things he does during a game. Rock refers to his IQ is about the same as a box of rocks. He needs to sit and let the bench talk to his butt, butt talk to his brain and then figure out he can contribute by distributing and playing within the offense. He gave up at least 7 points last night due to bonehead things. 2 on the technical, 3 by leaving Coble wide open because he was out of position in the zone and another two by leaving another player open because he was out of position. When he's on, great, but he needs to stop trying to do it all. Leave the 3 point shooting to Basset and Gordon. I also think Dakich should have benched him right after the T and not left him in the game when about a minute later he fouled someone. But I'll take the win and let's get OSU on Tuesday!

De-vin E-banks, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.

I just heard McCallum quit out of loyalty to Sampson and he won't be going to NU tomorrow.

McGee is foolish. Here's his chance to get some pt if the others don't show up. Mike White should be happy as well since he should see some quality playing time. Congrats to the ones that are not selfish and playing for the team. Will Holman suit up tomorrow?