Win or lose Tuesday, there's something to gain

Seventy and three.\nThat is Duke University's home record in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 2002.\nGiven this daunting statistic, a win at Duke Tuesday night is possible for IU but (obviously) not very probable.\nIf anything -- much like last year's tilt in Assembly Hall against the Blue Devils -- Tuesday night's game against Duke will serve as a measuring stick for where IU is at this early-season juncture. \nCan the Hoosiers keep the game close? Can they compete with a quality, talented and ranked opponent? Can they perform in a hostile fan environment, or will they crumble under the pressure?\nIt will give a squad still finding its way some valuable experience and another 40 minutes to figure things out on the court.\nEven with last year's loss to the then-No. 1 Blue Devils, there still seemed to exist some sort of eternal optimism from Hoosier Nation that IU was headed in the right direction.\nAfter falling behind by as much as 14 early in the first half, IU clawed back. Once Marco Killingsworth grabbed a rebound with just under eight minutes left in the second half, drove down the court, passed to Rod Wilmont, who then kicked it back to him for perhaps the dunk of last season, IU took the lead 59-58. \nThe Hoosiers eventually lost 75-67. Still, Hoosier Nation learned on Nov. 30 of last year that IU at its best -- stress on "at its best," not the team with a sluggish Killingsworth or faltering from constant speculation on the status of its coach -- really could compete against one of the nation's top teams.\nIf IU shows up Tuesday night against Duke and plays well, even in a losing effort, IU fans just might feel the same way about this year's Hoosier squad.\nAnd for as much as everyone is hyping this matchup as a big game, it's certainly not the end all, be all for this team at such an early point in the season.\n"You've just got to play. It's just like another road game," junior forward D.J. White said during a press conference last Wednesday afternoon. "I know everyone talks about how big this game is, how tough it is playing Duke. We've got to go in focused just like we're playing here and put the crowd behind us and go with the game plan."\nBut the problem for these Hoosiers is they haven't gotten to play. After losing 60-55 to Butler on Nov. 14, IU missed out on the opportunity to advance to the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament and with it, the possibility of getting another two games under its belt this past week in New York.\n"This (past) week I would much rather (have been) in New York. No question," IU coach Kelvin Sampson said. "This team needs to play games. We need to play a lot of games. We need to play games against people where we can build our confidence up."\nBecause of the Butler loss, IU will have sat idle for nine days before its matchup with Duke Tuesday night.\nSampson said during the break from games, the Hoosiers have worked in practice on staying focused, executing on offense and guarding the ball better. \nThey are also coming off their most complete performance of the season, a 90-69 win against Chicago State University.\n"The thing about Duke is that they're going to get everybody's best shot, whoever they play," Sampson said.\nIU's best shot might not be enough for a victory, but it will be enough to keep the team moving in the right direction.