Bassett finding his way

Armon Bassett knows how to control the point of attack. Problem is, the freshman guard doesn't always show it.\n"In those two games in Indianapolis, Armon didn't know whether he was on foot or horseback," said IU coach Kelvin Sampson, referring to last Monday's game against Lafayette College and last Tuesday's against Butler. "He looked over there and saw Dick Vitale and ESPN, and he didn't know whether he was pitching or catching. He's a freshman. But he's getting better. Look at him (Sunday)."\nAnd so it goes for a freshman adjusting to the level of collegiate play. At times this season, Bassett has been fantastic, running the show for the Hoosiers. And at other times, he's looked a bit confused. \nOn Sunday, in IU's 90-69 win against Chicago State University in Assembly Hall, Bassett was all brilliance. \nAt one instance in the first half, he went up for a 15-foot jumper and decided mid-air to dish it off to a wide-open D.J. White in the lane. D.J. threw down a thunderous two-handed slam.\nThe two were at it again in the second half. Bassett streaked down the lane and dished it to an open White with a little more than five minutes to go in the game. And what was the result? Why, it was another two-handed monster slam. \nOn the next Hoosier possession, Bassett slashed down the lane once more. This time, he opted for a keeper, made a layup and drew a foul. He hit the and-one attempt to complete the three-point play. \nBassett wasn't just feeding it to IU's big man. With just over two and a half minutes left in the game, he took it from one end of the court to the other and dished it with one hand to IU's little man, Errek Suhr, who was coming down the wing on his right. The senior drew a goaltending call on his layup attempt. It was another two points for IU, courtesy of Bassett's brilliance. \nThe Terre Haute native nearly achieved a double-double, scoring 10 points and tallying nine assists for the game.\nLance Stemler, who is quickly becoming the Marshall Strickland of this year's squad for his ability to hit the open shot (he even has Strickland's old No. 22 jersey to boot), described Bassett's play this way: "He's solid with the ball, and he makes smart plays. He finds the open guys and runs the team. He does it in practice. He's just solid."\nBassett started in lieu of senior point guard Earl Calloway and played 29 minutes to Calloway's 12. Sampson said he saw more confidence out of his lineup by starting Bassett and freshman Joey Shaw, who started in place of Rod Wilmont.\nIf Samspon thought nerves hindered Bassett's play in Indianapolis, the first-year coach should start Calloway in IU's next game of the season, a Nov. 28 tilt with Duke University in Cameron Indoor Stadium. I'm thinking the atmosphere there might be a little more intense than a barely half-full Conseco Fieldhouse composed of mostly IU fans. \nBut for now, Sampson knows Bassett's got some swagger after Sunday's win. \n"Armon will have a little more bounce in his step (Monday)," Sampson said.\nOnly today, coach? With a performance like Sunday's, Bassett has the right to strut all the way up to the Thanksgiving dinner table.