Unhappy with IU loss

Ugh.\nThat was the most appropriate way I could think of beginning this column. Probably because I didn't anticipate having to write anything of this nature all season.\nOther possibilities included beginning it with a humorous quip, such as "Purdue students celebrated Saturday's victory with a wild night of picking up girls on the Internet." But IU was simply too embarrassed for such an insult to hold water.\nI could have started the column by berating a player. But there are too many players to berate.\nI could have picked some minute part of the game that highlighted the Hoosiers general incompetence. But the entire 40-minute nightmare that unfolded at Mackey Arena on Saturday would fit that description.\nSo I'll just stick with "ugh."\nIt was an atrocious performance, to say the least. Quite simply, it was more horrific than being trapped in an elevator with Carrot Top. \nIn Thursday's column, I said the Hoosiers would need to bring their "A-game" if they wanted to win at Purdue. They proceeded to bring their "F-game" in what was the worst loss of the Mike Davis Era. And if things don't get better, the four-game road swing that they are currently embarked on will provide a lot of L's for IU. \nAmong the frontrunners in leading the disappointment was Tom Coverdale. While he led IU in scoring -- with 13 points -- he played what may have been his worst game ever. While Purdue fans gleefully taunted him, Coverdale produced only three assists and committed seven turnovers to go along with four fouls.\nThen there are George Leach and Jeff Newton. The big men dominated Purdue at the RCA Dome in December, with Newton scoring 16 points and Leach grabbing 14 boards. Not so much on Saturday. Leach scored as many points as I did -- zero -- while Newton contributed seven points. They combined for 13 rebounds.\nIn the words of Mike Davis, they played "like high school players." But only because Davis is too nice to say "they played like middle schoolers."\nKyle Hornsby added two points in 20 minutes. Grab some bench.\nAs a team, IU shot a brain-defying 3-of-20 behind the 3-point arc.\nBut enough of focusing on the past. It hurts my head too much. The real question has become, "Will IU win a road game this year?"\nAs long as Northwestern and Penn State are still in the conference, the answer to that question is "Yes." But for IU to prove that they are still legitimate contenders for the Big Ten title, tonight's trip to Michigan State will be vital.\nThe reeling Spartans have lost six of their past eight games. They just lost to Michigan for the first time in eight games. (Much like IU losing to Purdue for the first time in five games).\nComing off a humiliating loss will not make things easy for the Hoosiers. Nor will the fact that they have not won at the Breslin Center since 1991.\nHopefully, Davis's 20-minute tirade in the locker room Saturday will light a fire under the team, or they'll make their next appearance at Assembly Hall as an unranked team.