Davis: White might play this season

Sophomore forward D.J. White could return to action this season, IU coach Mike Davis said on his radio show Monday night. \nDavis said White is healing at a faster pace than expected and is currently out of his boot, which protected the injury and kept him from running or playing. \n"There may be a chance, we are not sure," Davis said. "I would say a 50-50 chance that he may have a n opportunity to come back." \nDavis cited White's current physical condition as the main factor keeping the sophomore from returning. White, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, has been confined to riding exercise bikes and shooting free throws during practice. \nDavis said recently White's presence has been most missed on the defensive end because without him, the Hoosiers lack a shot blocker capable of playing above the rim. \nSince White's injury early last month against Ohio State, the Hoosiers have given up 29.2 points in the paint per game. In that time period, IU has only outscored Michigan State in the lane, despite getting 18 points per game from senior forward Marco Killingsworth. \nDavis told the press after last week's loss to Penn State that he thought IU needed 17 wins to make the NCAA Tournament. \n"If we could get D.J. White back, that would be a big-time boost," Davis said. "That would be like Willis Reed coming back for the Knicks. We'll see where he is next week." \nDavis said the decision to return is ultimately up to White and his family. \n"(White's) father called me at my home tonight while I was up here and I am going to call him when I get home tonight," Davis said. "I guess we ought to sit down and talk and see where he is." \nDavis also told listeners in a serious tone that he had a surprise planned for Sunday's game against Michigan State, but the remark was not made during the discussion of White's potential return. Davis offered no hint as to what might be in store. \n"On senior day, I am going to have a special surprise for everyone," he said. \nDavis addresses player transfers during radio show\nAt Davis' resignation press conference Thursday, White and IU forward Robert Vaden made it obvious they didn't intend to return to a Davis-less Hoosier basketball program. \nDuring his weekly radio show Monday night, Davis addressed his players' emotional claims that they would find it difficult to play for a different coach at IU.\n"Those guys, they came here to play for me, but Indiana to me is the most important thing," Davis said. "I think it was a poor thing to ask 19- and 20-year-old players during an emotional time. What you have to understand is they feel very strongly about me and I think the way that I have handled things shows them that sometimes you have to do the right thing and what is best for you. To ask them those kind of questions was really unfair to them. They both have parents and I think it is important for them to sit down with their parents and talk about it and see who the next head coach is here at Indiana. That is why I stayed six years ago here. If I would have left six years ago, none of those guys were going to stay. \n"I think the program is headed in the right direction," Davis added. "We have enough talent here to get it done but to ask those guys that question was definitely unfair. Who would have stood there and not said that? Hopefully they can make the right decision about what they want to do. I'll support them in their decision but I think Indiana is definitely a great basketball school. What they need to feel is the love and support of the people. I can say this as an older person but I have never been around a program that loved a school as much as Indiana fans love their school. It is not just basketball." \nAlford stays on message\nDuring a Friday teleconference, Iowa coach Steve Alford was asked a total of seven times about filling the soon-to-be vacant IU coaching job. \nHe responded the same each time: \n"My entire focus and energy is helping my team win a Big Ten championship and get ready for the NCAA Tournament," he said. "This is my only concern, and you can underline entire and only." \nAlford eventually grew tired of answering the same question in different forms. \n"You really don't want me to repeat the thing again, do you?" he said. "I've had to repeat it seven times"