DISQUS

The Hoosiers went with a four guard lineup for most of the the second half against Illinois. They had DJ, Eric, Armon, Jamarcus, and AJ out there for a long time (and made the comeback happen) until Ellis went down with fouls.

Great job getting an interview with the best college sports writer in the country guys. Very nice and interesting read.

Thanks Pat Forde and the ITH guys.

I think you guys do a fine job. My only comment is, DON'T do this:

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/

I look at this game and I see Kentucky all over again. Illinois also has a good big (Pruitt-Patterson), a very overrated player (Randle-Crawford), is terrible this year, and can't even win at home. IU destroyed Kentucky by 19 without Gordon. My imagination is running wild trying to predict the margin of victory for Sunday's game. The sweet taste of that UK pounding was great and lasted a long time. But that game was a month ago and I'm ready for a new flavor, namely a delicious chief stew.

The best shooter I've seen for Indiana is AJ Guyton, and Gordon is every bit as good as he was. While other aspects of their games are easy to break apart, Guyton was a better defender and passer while Gordon is a much better penetrator and creator, I'm not sure how to separate the two of them on shooting alone. Both extremely talented shooters.

I don't know when it happened. I didn't used to hate Illinois, despite growing up just 10 miles east of the Wabash. I remember not hating them as recently as five years ago. Sure they were a Big Ten opponent and I sure didn't aim any goodwill toward them, but hate? Nah, best saved for others like Purdue or Kentucky. Seriously, this is Illinois week? Since when does Illinois get a week? But things have changed.

Like a festering pile of manure, they slowly started to irritate me. The stench got worse and worse and needled into my mind until nowadays I can smell them coming before we're about to play them. It's an awful smell too, gets in your head so that you can't focus straight and all you want to do is destroy whatever is causing the reeking odor.

The Hoosiers need to clear the air and send the reeking pile of crap that is Illinois back with a buttkicking to be remembered.

Forget double-double, DJ is going for 20-20 tonight!

It's a good thing IU is shooting pretty well and UM is not, because except for DJ the Hoosiers are playing pretty sloppy. Bad shots, dumb fouls, poor passes, excessive dribbling by just about everyone, especially Crawford.

I think EJ is pissed that Johnson stole some of the thunder from his Big Ten debut, and he is determined to hit more threes than anybody tonight. He hasn't hit the rim on an outside shot yet.

Dammit! I hate, HATE watching flippin 1-3-1 zone defense. Now two teams in the Big Ten use it. Christ, I'm going to need to watch this game with a friend to make sure I don't hit myself in the head from the idiocy.

IU rolls 73-58

The Hoosiers own UM and that sure isn't changing tonight.

Thanks for linking the DJ interview, I doubt I would have ever seen it otherwise.

If I was an NBA gm I would take Rose first overall, because I can count on one hand the number of really good point guards in the league (Nash, Kidd, Billips, Paul, Williams). A true point guard is so valuable in the NBA it trumps a lot of other qualities. Then I would take Beasley second because he looks like the next Garnett, Stoudamire, D Howard of the NBA. After those two, EJ might be the best player, though it would depend on if the team wanted a guard or a big guy like Hibbert, Hansbrough, or Jordan.

Best wishes to Dickie V.

Although the site is great already, I have a suggestion for some site content. You guys may already be planning to do this, but I would like to see a breakdown of the Big Ten so far before conference play starts. You know, who has everyone played, beaten, lost to, have they looked good or bad, and what could happen once Big Ten plays starts. It will likely take some time, so I would very much appreciate your effort and insight if you take up the task.

Google his name and see what pops up....it's this blog! Obviously, ITH has more influence than I previously gave you credit for. Even more, apparently, than the largest newspaper in Idaho.

I'm going to preface this by saying that I know it is a stereotype and maybe even racist remark.

But is Atlanta really the place for a kid to go to turn his life around? I mean, if he can find trouble in Georgetown, Kentucky, what is he going to do in his spare time in Atlanta? On the trouble rankings, Atlanta, GA > Georgetown, KY by an immeasurable distance.

I hope it's not so, and it would be a good story if Mackey got his act together. But I wouldn't be surprised if the next time you mention Bud Mackey, it will be because of another felony.

I can't believe I'm going to be critical after the Hoosiers destroyed Kentucky by 19. Damn I hate them. But I totally disagree with you about Crawford. Of the five guards on this team, only Ratliff would seem to be a worse point guard. I have numerous complaints about Crawford's play, but most of all he just doesn't see the floor and misses passing opportunities to open teammates. His whole focus when he has the ball is on the defender immediately in front of him. He had only two assists against UK after playing the point the entire game. Nevertheless, he is a freshman, he is a good outside shooter and has amazing ability to finish when he penetrates into the lane, but he is behind where Bassett was last year.

Overall the basketball played yesterday was pretty crappy, but IU still ended up with a 19 point win so that's good. But still too many turnovers, I hate turnovers. They really need to work on cutting down on turnovers before Big Ten play starts.

He probabaly knows what he is talking about. If any fanbase should be able to smell a cheater, its Kentucky's. They've had crap swirling under the noses for close to three-quarters of a century. Most likely because those damn hicks never take a bath.

First off, its a white out. You guys are the only ones I've ever heard this stipe out thing from, and face it, you aren't that influential. IUHoosiers.com is promoting a white out. It's not going to happen, but I would much rather have a Crimson Out, especially against Kentucky. We've already had three white outs the past two years, and they are apparently planning two more for later this season. Why not crimson?

Additionally, I think Coach Sampson should not wear a blue shirt on Saturday like he always does. Most of you are going to say, "Who cares?" But, well, I do. It's stupid for him to be wearing a shirt the color of one of our biggest rivals every game, and more so when we play them. He's at a school where the colors are cream and crimson. I guarantee you won't see Billy wearing a red shirt on Saturday.

Here is some good advice to keep you from getting worked up about the ruminations of moronic tv announcers:

MUTE BUTTON

Then you can put Fish on the radio.

Who gives a crap?

If you want to see Bobby arguing on camera, watch a Texas Tech game, it's two straight hours of him arguing with three guys.

Is it really this hard to hang a net? I've done it a few times before, never taken me more than two minutes.

You have Bassett in the probably starters. Do you know something, or is it hopeful guessing?

Also, for everyone who wasn't at the game, I want to explain what turned the game around. At the second tv timeout of the first half, IU was still down by about 5 or 6. But during the stop, Tracy Porter and Josiah Sears brought out the Old Oaken Bucket to a standing ovation. From that point on it was just about all Hoosiers. More than a coincidence, I would say. That Bucket has supernatural powers.

I agree that Stemler came in with some intensity, especially on defense. But it was Armon Bassett that turned the game around. He just willed himself into the lane and drew a foul three straight times until he gave Indiana the lead with a three-point play. He may have the smallest shoulders of any Hoosier, but those shoulders carried the whole team when they were down in the first half. Once Bassett had gotten the Hoosiers the lead, Gordon took it from there and what a sight he always is.

But I was freaked out when I looked down to see Bassett sitting all alone on the bench during a time out in the second half with a trainer standing over him. What happened? I didn't see anything occur during the game. Please tell me it was nothing serious. I can't take the stress!

Barring any further action from the NCAA, I actually think Sampson will get another JC big guy in the spring with the last scholarship.