D.J. White carries IU

What kind of team do the Hoosiers have without Eric Gordon? What’s a body without a soul? What’s an army without a general? What’s a keg without beer?\nAfter the star freshman took a hard spill on the court and came out of the game with about six minutes remaining in the first half, the Hoosiers’ silky-smooth game turned into molasses. \nWithout the reigning Indiana Mr. Basketball, IU was outscored by Tennessee State 55-48. The Hoosiers escaped with 84-72 win, however, with the help of a career-high 29 points from D.J. White. \nIU was hitting on all cylinders to begin the game, jumping out to a 17-4 lead and showing none of the wear and tear that seven games in 15 days bring. White looked especially impressive in the first half, scoring 20 points and showing off the full range of his game.\nD.J. has always been dangerous around the basket, but tonight he appeared comfortable on the wing as well. He knocked down a of couple jumpers early and even attempted to take his man off the dribble on one occasion. \nAfter a slow start to the season, White has showed signs of being the All-Big Ten player everyone expected him to be in the preseason. He has recorded double-doubles in his last four games.\n“I think D.J. is starting to take pride in his double-double,” Sampson said. “He is a senior, and he has gotten better every game he has played.”\nGordon’s absence, however, seriously affected the flow of the Hoosier offense (I guess losing a player that is averaging nearly 27 points per game will do that).\nAlready thin at guard due to the suspension of Jordan Crawford and the ineligibility of A.J. Ratliff, IU lacked the quickness and ball-handling to crack the Tigers’ full court press. \nArmon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis were forced to play 39 minutes apiece, and the Hoosiers were forced into 10 second-half turnovers, most of them occurring behind the half-court line.\nA guy like Crawford would have had a huge effect on the second half of last night’s game with his ball- handling skills alone. Fortunately, the freshman will be available Saturday against Kentucky after serving his three-game suspension.\nOh, and Gordon? He’ll be back, too. It was just a bruised tailbone. And if you’ve ever stumbled upon an empty keg, you know just how uplifting that news is.