Let the healing begin

Since the beginning of the fall semester, headlines involving IU men’s basketball have involved transfers, academic ineligibility, the arrest of a high profile recruit on drug trafficking, a phone scandal and the resignation of an assistant coach. \nIf you think your semester is going bad, take a look at Kelvin Sampson’s graying hair.\nAll that negativity will turn into an afterthought, however, when the Hoosiers take the court Sunday afternoon to play an actual game. Though the North Alabama contest is only an exhibition, after a month of three-way phone calls and Ice Miller reports, it feels like a breath of fresh air.\nSampson made clear during a Thursday press conference that his team is chomping at the bit for outside competition after grinding through close to 30 practices since late August.\n“We’re getting to the point where we need to play a game – especially our freshmen,” Sampson said. “They’re doing the same things every day, and need to play a game so they find out exactly how this stuff works.”\nEric Gordon and the rest of the freshman class should prove quick learners. Sampson already considers Gordon the best on-ball defender on the team and continues to lavish praise on Eli Holman and Jordan Crawford.\n“Eli is so raw,” Sampson said. “He’s just not a finished product, but boy is he going to be good.”\nSampson might as well have thrown himself into the “eager-beaver pool” along with his players. Not since the Mike Davis “blackout” game (which, come to think of it, wasn’t that long ago) has a coach so desperately needed some positive on-court results to bolster his image as much as Sampson does now. Hoosier nation won’t be able to completely move on from “phonegate” until after the NCAA announces their verdict (God only knows when that will be). However, nothing will stem the tide of anti-Sampson chatter and “Bring back Bobby” Facebook groups quicker than winning. \nCoaching has been the easy part for Sampson thus far at IU. Last season’s Hoosiers displayed vast improvements on defense and a physicality they lacked under Davis. The change in attitude produced a 21-win season and returned a true home-court advantage to Assembly Hall.\nCombine last year’s defensive intensity and add shooting, depth and athleticism. Bottle it up, and you have the most potent concoction this side of the AMF.\nAs IU takes on the Lions, the one question mark is who will complement D.J. White in the post. Lance Stemler is expected to hold down the role while Holman and DeAndre Thomas continue to develop.\nOf Thomas, Sampson said, “DeAndre is a good passer, but while he is on the court, he may turn the ball over more than anybody. He wants to make every pass a home run.”\nIf there is one thing coaches and fans alike can’t stand, it’s turnovers. Thomas will have to save the And 1 passes for the blacktop if he doesn’t want to squeeze into Sampson’s doghouse to start the season.\nThe doghouse is also where Sampson starts the season in the minds of many Hoosier faithful. But how far in the polls will IU have to climb before all is forgiven? The path to a full pardon begins Sunday.