LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- IU coach Mike Davis had to.\nHe had no choice but to play freshman and Fort Wayne native James Hardy.\n"James Hardy -- I had to play him," Davis said. "You just kind of wait for the game where you can put him in, but I can't wait for Oral Roberts or Furman. I mean at some point he has to experience (game situations). Unfortunately, it was against a very good basketball team. I think James did well. There are still some things he doesn't understand out there." \nHardy played 12 minutes and didn't score, but said he has been studying the playbook, which led to his time on the court. \nThe prep basketball phenom joined the basketball team when the football season ended.\nHe said he had no prior knowledge that he was going to see the court against Kentucky. Hardy knew for the first time when Davis called his name.
Ratliff scores 6\nReigning Indiana Mr. Basketball A.J. Ratliff also received his first significant amount of playing time Saturday.\n"I'm patient, I'm just a freshman, but you have to grow up fast in this game," Ratliff said. "I try to make myself and my team better."\nRatliff came off the bench for 12 minutes, scoring the only points for the Hoosiers' reserves. He hit two three-pointers in the second half. \n"We got an opportunity to play 13 players today, and A.J. Ratliff was one of those guys off the bench and I thought he showed some signs that he deserved some minutes," Davis said.
Hoosiers without Steijn\nAthletics department spokesman Pete Rhoda said freshman Lucas Steijn stayed in Bloomington Saturday to study for his finals, which are coming up this week. Steijn didn't dress for the Notre Dame game Wednesday as well. Rhoda said because Steijn enrolled a week late in classes, he needed the extra time to catch up.\n-- Contact \nsenior writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
