Now that's what I'm talking about

Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.\nIn my column Friday, I declared that the Hoosiers needed to make a statement and show their true identity against Kentucky if they wanted to regain my full support. Done and done. I didn't quite jump off the bandwagon, but the Hoosiers looked flat after nearly upsetting Duke on Nov. 30. That changed Saturday. \nOur boys jumped out to a 25-12 lead and never looked back as they cruised to a 26 point win. They dominated the Wildcats in every facet of the game despite a seven-minute scoreless stretch early in the second half. They made this match-up look less like a rivalry and more like a geographical coincidence, as they ran away with Mike Davis' first win in the series. \nHonestly, I haven't seen a thorough beating like that since Apollo Creed battled Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV" ... and Creed died as a result of that fight. \nThe Hoosiers used smothering defense to hold Kentucky to 19 points in the first half and forced 19 turnovers for the game. Kentucky couldn't handle IU's pressure defense and continually made stupid passes and took contested shots. There were at least three times I looked at the sidelines and thought Tubby Smith's head was going to explode. I swear at some point this year, Rajon Rondo will launch another contested three-pointer and it'll happen, like a scene out of "Evil Dead." \nSaturday's performance in Indianapolis showcased the IU team we fell in love with several weeks ago. It was the type of game fans should expect from the Hoosiers this year. Marco Killingsworth was dominant at times, as he finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. But Killingsworth's biggest contribution was the way he passed out of double teams quickly, getting open shots for his teammates. With frontcourt buddy D.J. White still out with a foot injury and relegated to acting as the world's tallest cheerleader, Killingsworth made adjustments to his game and once again proved that he's one of the best in the country. \nThe team used great spacing on offense to spread the wealth, as four players scored in double figures. \nKillingsworth was great, but my player of the game was sophomore guard A.J. Ratliff. Ratliff returned to his hometown and logged his first start of the season. All he did after that was pour in 21 points in 21 minutes and basically dominate the last 10 minutes of the game. If he continues to play with the same offensive aggressiveness and defensive intensity, it will give a huge boost to the Hoosier backcourt -- one that has struggled a bit since the Duke game. \nWith a week off because of finals, the Hoosiers will have time to rest and recoup from a 5-2 start to the season. Their next game will be their first real road trip of the season at Charlotte on Dec. 19. Though they're only 5-4 to start the season, the 49ers are a solid team that can't be overlooked -- not that the Hoosiers would do anything like that.\n"Cough -- Indiana State -- cough."\nSo what do I think about our match-up on Dec. 19? Well, I'm never one to break a streak, so here goes: The Hoosiers need to come out and make a statement at Charlotte ...