Men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson confirmed internet rumors that senior guard A.J. Ratliff will miss the first eight games of this season due to academics. The former Indiana Mr. Basketball can still play later this season assuming his academics allow.
With Ratliff out, the Hoosiers will be without seven players from last years squad -- at least for the first eight games. How big of an impact is this? Do you think A.J. would have started? He has always been an explosive player off the bench, so how do you think this changes Sampson's bench play? Obviously, this will impact the depth of the Hoosier lineup. But a relatively easy non-conference schedule, barring home games vs. Georgia Tech and Kentucky and a trip to Carbondale, Ill., to play Southern Illinois, could soften the blow of Ratliff's absence.
