IU coach Kelvin Sampson had members of the media at Assembly Hall today to talk about the Coaches vs. Cancer breakfast he is hosting the morning of Hoosier Hysteria (I know as a reporter I am not suppossed to share my opinion, but if you can afford the $100 ticket, go. Cancer has killed a lot of people and this is a way to help fight the disease. I'm going to put together a story previewing sometime soon). But during the small press conference Sampson talked a little bit about the basketball team.
A relatively new (within the past few years) NCAA rule has allowed the coaching staff to workout with the team for two hours a week starting September 15 (last Saturday). "That's been a good rule," Sampson said. "We try to take advantage of that." Sampson said he has split up the practices into two, 30-minute practices with the team divided into groups of four and one full-hour practices where he works out the entire team.
He's appreciated the effort out of Armon Bassett, especially, and Eric Gordon, D.J. White and DeAndre Thomas. "These kids have some pride in them," Sampson said. He added it was a blessing in disguise when he couldn't leave campus for recruiting last season because he could conduct all the individual workouts, and he thought the players gave better effort with him there.
About Eli Holman, Sampson said the only things he has heard are positive. "I'm like everybody else, I would have been glad to get this done yesterday," he said. "But you have to let the process run its course." He does not know when the NCAA Clearinghouse will issue its ruling on Holman.
About recruiting, Sampson said his philosophy is to recruit only the athletes he needs. "I've never recruited and signed 13 players," Sampson said. "I give as many scholarships as we need." When asked how many players he needs for this next class he responded, "However many we sign. ... I don't want 13 kids on scholarship. Kids today are 'If I'm not playing I want to be somewhere I will.'"
Sampson said the team's APR (Academic Progress Rate) will "be close," not because of players he coached, but because of players who transferred before he arrived. Underacheiving teams could be penalized by the NCAA.
