Hoosiers under national spotlight against Georgia Tech in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

The IU men’s basketball team will look to rebound from last Saturday’s loss when the Hoosiers host Georgia Tech in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge at 7 p.m. today on ESPN.\nThe team experienced some growing pains in last weekend’s Chicago Invitational Challenge by pulling out a win against Illinois State and falling to Xavier in the final, something IU coach Kelvin Sampson said to expect with a young, inexperienced team.\nWhen asked about the development of freshman guard Jordan Crawford early in the preseason, Sampson said that Crawford, like many young players, had the attributes of a successful player, but he needed to tighten some bolts to become a complete player.\nAfter Saturday, Sampson could use the analogy for more than his first-year guard. The No. 15 Hoosiers entered the season with high expectations from the media and fans. These expectations were founded on the arrival of six newcomers, headlined by high school All-American Eric Gordon.\nFew deny the team is rich in talent, but Saturday’s loss showed the Hoosiers must improve if the team is to live up to its Top 10 billing.\nWhile fans may be panicking after the early season loss, Sampson has continued to say that IU has a ways to go before becoming a complete team.\n“They have a better team than we do right now,” he said. “But it is November 24th. Games like this can only help you. One thing you learn over the years in coaching is you just don’t overreact to stuff.”\nIn his 25 years as a head coach, Sampson said he has learned not to overreact to bumps in the road, especially when trying to teach new players his system.\n“The thing about young kids is that they are going to make mistakes,” Sampson said. “We will get back and break this tape down and hopefully get better from it.”\nThe Hoosiers (4-1) will look to improve on its 2-4 all-time record and four game losing streak in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge when the Yellow Jackets swarm Assembly Hall.\nIU has had close games in the last three Challenge games, falling to teams ranked in the Top 10 each time. Last season, sophomore guard Armon Bassett’s 16 points were not enough as the Hoosiers lost to Duke at Cameron Indoor \nArena, 54-51.\nGeorgia Tech could have been highly ranked this season if not for the departures of Thaddeus Young and Javaris Crittenton to the NBA Draft just one season into their respective collegiate careers.\nThe Yellow Jackets, much like Xavier, rely on veteran leadership – the team’s top three leading scorers are one junior and two seniors – instead of young stars. If the Xavier game is any indication, the Hoosiers will have to learn how to play against experienced teams as the \nseason progresses.\n“This is a learning experience for the young guys and us older guys, also,” senior forward D.J. White said.