'Growing Pains' 2004: A Hoosier tale

I searched the crowd long and hard. Checked the Hoosier bench, sifted through the numerous crowd shots, but was unable to spot those I suspected were in attendance.\nDid my eyes deceive me? For Alan Thicke, Kirk Cameron and Tracey Gold would have been proud; someone had finally found a viable updated version of everyone's favorite 1980s family sitcom, "Growing Pains," (OK, maybe second favorite behind "Family Ties." Cameron is no Michael J. Fox).\nSaturday afternoon, the Hoosiers did their best imitation of the Seaver family. Mike Davis filled the role of Dr. Jason Seaver, the stay-at-home dad responsible for molding his children as they experience -- wait for it -- growing pains! \nIU's script saw the Hoosiers build a 13-point advantage in the second half before allowing the defending national champion Connecticut retake the lead in the midst of a 17-1 run midway through the second half. \nNow while many might expect me to jump on the pile and criticize the Hoosiers' effort against UConn, I really can't. I'll forgive a young Hoosier team, who led by a baker's dozen in the second half in hostile territory against the defending national champions. With two freshmen and a sophomore in the starting lineup, the young Hoosier squad will go through their share of growing pains. I'd rather them go through them in games nobody expects the team to win, like versus North Carolina and UConn, instead of against Northwestern and Ohio State later in the year. \nLet's look at the positives. Undermanned with the Hoosiers two starting big men, D.J. White and Pat Ewing Jr., on the bench with foul trouble, IU went from being able to hang with the defending champs to building a double-digit lead. Not bad with the likes of Sean Kline and Mike Roberts battling against a talented and deep UConn frontline. The Hoosiers had an intensity about them and played like a cohesive unit. A few more shots drop here and there, and the Hoosiers score a monumental upset early in the season.\nLast week saw two games against top national competition, two national television audiences and two losses. The ingredients for another disappointing season are in place; however, the recipe remains unfinished. Even though the Hoosiers dropped a pair against top competition, look to last year's debacles against Wake Forest -- losing by 33 -- and Kentucky -- a 39-point drubbing. Just a year later, the Hoosiers have closed the gap, falling by seven and five points, respectively. \nNow the Hoosiers' learning is far from over. Match-ups against two more ranked opponents await IU this week as the cream and crimson welcome Notre Dame to Assembly Hall Wednesday and then travel to Freedom Hall Saturday for the annual border war against Kentucky. \nAs the season wages on, Hoosier fans might look to this past week as a possible IU turning point. UNC has pounded everyone recently, including Kentucky this weekend, yet the Hoosiers hung with them. UConn, no matter graduation, is still the top dog in the NCAA, and IU had its chances. With growing pains expected early, these losses will serve as a learning experience for the neophyte Hoosiers. Remember it looked as if Mike (Seaver of course, not Davis) was a hopeless young teen with no direction and he turned out just fine.\nMy eyes glued to the TV, the game wound down, the seconds ticked off slowly. Then there it was. The Husky mascot removed his furry head from that lovable frame. Ah, Kirk Cameron, that's where you've been.