Bring your 'A' game

Having a bad football team is expected. At IU, it is almost a rite of passage. But throwing in a bad basketball team to boot? For once in my life, I can legitimately say, "Egad!"\nI have a theory that football and basketball programs should be able to balance each other out. For instance, if you are as bad as Duke at football, you make up for it in basketball. At Nebraska, you do it the other way around. Or you could make like Wisconsin and put together a competitive team in both sports each year, but dominate neither.\nThen there's the other extreme -- you could make like Baylor and completely suck at both. Unfortunately, that's the direction IU appears to be headed this season.\nIt is too early to panic, of course. We're only four games into the season. There is plenty of time to improve. Heck, the whole Big Ten is looking pretty miserable at this point (with the most unfortunate exception of Purdue).\nBut there is also plenty of improvement to be done. Right now, it looks like it would take a minor miracle for IU to keep its streak of 17 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament alive.\nThe offense is in shambles. No one is moving off of the ball. If someone throws a pass, it is either to Bracey Wright or the other team. That problem is way too complicated for me to fix, so I'll leave it to Mike Davis.\nDefense has always been the hallmark of IU basketball. But Wake Forest was able to light the scoreboard up against the Hoosiers like the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. The reason the Demon Deacons, and a lot of others, will be able to do this is because of their ability to dominate a game inside the paint.\nThis is where the absence of George Leach will really hurt IU. Before the season began, I felt that Leach would have to have a career year for IU to compete. But his knee injury is another problem that is way too complicated for me to fix, so I will leave it to the doctors.\nIn the meantime, IU will have to rely on Sean Kline, Patrick Ewing Jr. and Mike Roberts to pick up the slack and more. Please stop grimacing. It could happen. And at the very least, the experience will make Ewing Jr. a dominant player when next season comes around.\nAt any rate, Saturday's game against No. 4 Missouri is huge. IU doesn't figure to win a lot of road games this year (a trip to north Texas might be its best chance for any road win), so it will have to defend the home court at Assembly Hall in nearly flawless fashion.\nThat's where you, Joe Fan (or Jo Fan), can help out. Forget that the Wake Forest game ever happened. Well, forget about any of the games that have been played this year; they've all been ugly. Just file into Assembly Hall before 4 p.m. Saturday and be as loud as you can possibly be.\nFor some, this may require the use of libations throughout the morning and early afternoon. That's ok, just as long as you are still able to stand up for the whole game. And yes, you should stand up for the whole game. That includes the older folks in the good seats. Lean on to somebody else if you have to. (Also, make sure to bring a water bottle to keep your voice intact.)\nThe Hoosiers know that they will have to bring their 'A' game in order to beat a team led by stars Arthur Johnson and Rickey Paulding. Fans will have to do the same. If both of these things happen, then maybe -- just maybe -- Mizzou will learn that Assembly Hall is still one of the toughest places to visit in college basketball.