Verdell Jones is tired of hearing the phrase, "rebuilding."
The IU senior guard is one of five Hoosiers that has been with IU Coach Tom Crean since Day 1. For Jones, the thought of watching Purdue, Butler and Notre Dame play in the NCAA Tournament while IU is sitting at home is one he can't stomach anymore.
"I'm sick and tired of watching other Indiana schools play in the tournament," Jones said. "I want to be able to taste how going through the tournament feels. I want to know what it feels like to be that Sunday night and seeing what seed you are and who you're playing and where you're traveling to. I want to experience that and I want to taste that."
Jones, who was joined by Jordan Hulls and Will Sheehey this afternoon at Big Ten Media Day, said in order for the Hoosiers to take that next step, it starts on the defensive end.
"One of our assistant coaches sent us film over the summer when we were home about our individual mistakes and our team mistakes," Jones said. "Watching that just brought to light how bad we were on defense. It left a bad taste in our mouth and it makes us really want to get after it now."
Jones enters his fourth season starting in the IU backcourt looking to improve on a 1-26 Big Ten road record in the Tom Crean era. But don't think Jones is going to lower his expectations because of that.
"Indiana never has and never will be considered to have a good season if it goes to the NIT or to the College Basketball Invitational or whatever that is," Jones said. "NCAA Tournament---that's what the fact and goal is."
The IU fans will get their first chance to see the Hoosiers in action on Nov. 5 when they take on the University of Indianapolis in an exhibition game at Assembly Hall.
"We've seen how Hoosier Nation has been when we're losing," Jones said. "I want to see how they are when we're winning. I want to see how crazy it gets and how crazy the fans are. That's a big driving factor for us"
