No cure for Davis's winter time blues

If Mike Davis were the president of Indiana University, I have a feeling that he would be compelled to cancel winter break. That's because every year, the darndest things seem to happen to the Hoosiers while students are resting themselves for the holidays. Like Davis saying or doing something that stirs a controversy. Or IU playing flat, uninspired basketball.\nLet's take a look at the ghosts of Hoosiers past. In Davis' first year, the Kentucky game made Davis wonder out loud in a press conference whether or not he was the right coach for IU.\nLast year, he came out and said he hated Kentucky, a statement he later had to retract. Of course we all knew it was true -- who doesn't hate Kentucky? But Davis is far too polite to stand behind such a statement. He also got himself a $10,000 fine for criticizing referees after the Butler game. In addition, the Hoosiers lost three games over the course of the break.\nThis year, things got even worse. IU entered the winter break undefeated, poised to take over the number one ranking in the nation. And then came Kentucky. This year, Davis didn't wait until the end of the game to criticize the officiating -- or for that matter, the end of the play. He simply charged onto the floor and went after the official to argue what turned out to be a good call and got two technicals that cost the game.\nIn turn, this prompted the Big Ten to suggest a ludicrous six-game suspension for Davis, which IU pared down to one game. Would two games have been more appropriate? Maybe -- but I don't think so because the effect that the Kentucky game has had on this team lasted much longer than one game.\nThe next game was against one of the weakest Temple teams in recent memory and turned into a 71-64 loss. Davis took the blame for the loss, saying the team was too focused on his issues rather than playing.\nIU won their next three games by double digits, but let Ball State, Charlotte and Penn State stick around for much too long. Then, against Ohio State, everything looked broken.\nThe Buckeyes out-hustled, out-rebounded and out-played IU in every possible facet of the game. So what's the problem? Why can't IU ever play well during winter break? Do they need to bring back the Hoosier Classic? And can they fix these problems? \nNo, they don't need to bring back the Hoosier Classic. Eastern Washington and Western Illinois do little to prepare you for the Big Ten season. And if the previous two seasons are any indicator, as much as Davis and the Hoosiers struggle over winter break, they excel once the spring semester gets into full swing.\nI'm not saying that they will just get better at the turn of the calendar. They'll have to start doing things differently. For instance, they shot an abysmal nine for 34 behind the three-point line against Ohio State. If you are shooting that bad, there is no excuse for taking 34 three-pointers. It's called pushing the ball inside. Bracey Wright can drive. Jeff Newton can score. Let them do it.\nAlso, Tom Coverdale needs to get more involved in the offense. He is the heart and soul of the team, so let him do the work. Coverdale is averaging 13.1 points per game. He should be over 15 a game.\nAnd Kyle Hornsby needs to get out of his funk -- or get out of the starting lineup. Hornsby was 0 for 9 against Ohio State and is shooting 36.5 percent from the field on the season. I have the confidence that Hornsby can get his stroke back, but sometimes I wonder if he does.\nAt any rate, with Illinois coming into town next week, IU will have to be ready to get out of their traditional winter blues. We shall see if they can.