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(11/06/09 5:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This was the chance to make everything right. The chance for Bob Knight and IU to finally put an end to nine years of bitter posturing. The chance to put pettiness aside and forgive and forget one another. The chance for Bob Knight to be a Hoosier again. Instead, Texas Tech’s former coach – a title he likely prefers – declined IU’s olive branch last week, choosing to skip his own IU Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame induction in fear of causing a media commotion and stealing the spotlight from this year’s other inductees. What a gesture. How considerate. Could Knight possibly think that Hoosier fans – mind you, the same Hoosier fans he won three national championships and 661 games for – would prefer to sit through a halftime ceremony in which Joe Schmoe gets his 15 seconds instead of finally making amends with the winningest coach in Division I history who left nine years ago and hasn’t uttered IU’s name since? Really? Call him stubborn, call him petty, call him whatever you want (I hear he likes “Coach Knight” and “Mr. Knight”). The sad reality, as an IU administrator or two could tell you, is that Knight is going to get what he wants. The man gave his retirement speech with Sinatra’s “My Way” playing in the background. Do you think he is going to come back to the University that wronged him on someone else’s terms? Unlikely. The recent passing of Knight’s most despised rival – the one who exiled him to Lubbock – could not even bring The General back to his old company. IU Athletics Director Fred Glass’ efforts were valiant, but in vain. Unfortunately, most deep-seeded disputes such as this one typically are not resolved until all parties are set to be buried six-feet under. Why humans choose to hold grudges for so long is beside my minimal wisdom, but if there was one I could ever end, it would be this one. It is a shame Bob Knight is not coming back to Bloomington, and not just because IU Athletics would love to sell some tickets to Saturday’s game. Indiana needs Knight. We can no longer compete in this never-ending staring contest. Imagine John Wooden disowning UCLA or Joe Paterno turning his back to Penn State. It would be devastating, as was Knight’s departure. While IU Basketball is back on track aboard the Tom Crean Machine, it will never be whole without the man who invented it. The court is named after Branch McCracken, but everything from the popcorn to the banners in Assembly Hall should be named after Knight. Indiana will forever be synonymous with Bob Knight, but if the coach has his way, they will likely also remain anonymous for the foreseeable future. His $75,000 no-thank-you last week is plenty indication his anger toward the University is still as red as the sweater he once coached in. But there isn’t much more IU can do. Myles Brand is no longer on campus, nor are Ron Felling, Murray Sperber, Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson or a handful of other people he wished abroad. The University messed up when it made details of his settlement with the school public, but that’s a fairly minor misstep in the spectrum of his wrongdoings. There’s a difference between no one winning and everyone losing, and this one is clearly the latter. This Saturday, IU is set to induct Knight into its Hall of Fame without him present. To borrow the coach’s favorite word, it is a “travesty” that the chance to make everything right once again eludes Knight and the University. What a shame.
(05/08/09 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Some call it a victory lap, but Kyle Taber’s fifth year was anything but. Despite a tumultuous first four years for the Hoosier basketball team’s lone graduating senior, nothing could have prepared Taber for what he was going to be asked to do his fifth and final year. But the first four years certainly did try. Taber battled just about every obstacle one could imagine: four coaching changes, a slew of knee surgeries and having to watch almost every single teammate get up and leave the program. At one point during the summer before his senior year, Taber was one of only two players on the team’s entire roster. The player who had resided in anonymity most of his first four years wasn’t just going to be asked to contribute his senior year – he was going to be asked to lead. With 28 returning points scattered across 247 minutes the year before, Taber found himself as the team’s top returning scorer. He had never envisioned being the leader of the team, let alone asking for it. But when the roster is made almost entirely of newcomers, including a baseball player and a team manager named Santa, the choice on whether to be a leader no longer exists.IU coach Tom Crean said two months ago that a lot of Taber’s leadership this year was, in fact, “force fed.” “I don’t think that was ever a part of his role or makeup,” he said. Taber embraced the role even though it wasn’t always easy. On the floor, Taber was still limited. He was forced to guard the opponent’s best big man most nights, and the wear-and-tear on his knees didn’t make it any easier.But the scrappy forward found ways to contribute. He emerged as the team’s most reliable post defender and finished second on the team in rebounding with 5.2 rebounds per game. He never looked lost on the floor, as many of his new teammates occasionally appeared, and he did all of the little things Crean needed him to do: set screens, dive for loose balls, make the extra pass, even hit a couple three-pointers. He became a staple of pre- and post-game press conferences, answering countless questions about the team’s historically bad year and the program’s historically huge makeover. And he served as a big brother to the team’s seven freshmen and tried to communicate, as best as he could, exactly what being a Hoosier was all about. For a program so rich in tradition and history, Taber was the only player on the team who could tell a story about something that happened in Bloomington more than a year ago. “He brought us experience because we were all new to the whole situation,” freshman guard Verdell Jones said after Taber’s senior night. “He wasn’t a real vocal leader but he was quiet leader. We really couldn’t have made it through this year without him. His vocal leadership has gotten much better throughout the year, both on and off the floor. Now he is relaying messages to us from coach and giving us more of that senior leadership that we needed.” Looking back, Crean said Taber was the “epitome” of an IU basketball player and will be remembered as someone who helped lay the foundation for the future. Taber’s father, Steve Taber, said he thinks fans will remember him as a hard-working walk-on who lived out his dream. Taber wasn’t sure on senior night exactly how Hoosier fans would remember him. His father said his son was a bit relieved to have such a trying season over with, but knew he was also sad to be playing his final game inside Assembly Hall. The walk-on turned scholarship player who witnessed Mike Davis, Crean and everything in-between will likely remember his senior year much like greeks remember pledging their sorority or fraternity: It was a year he will never forget, and maybe never want to repeat.
(05/01/09 4:09am)
Out of the loop? Here’s what IU coach Tom Crean had to say at Thursday’s press conference.
(05/01/09 4:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just got 2 press conference. Haven’t seen Tom Crean in like 6 weeks. He’s gonna chat with the media about Twitter and the Hoosiers. I’ll keep tweetin.about 4 hours ago from txtI’m tweeting as Crean tweets while being photographed for a story about tweeting. Tweet, tweet.about 4 hours ago from txt Coach Calipari sent Crean a tweet at 7:15 this morning. Can the coach of IU and Kentucky really be friends? At least its not Purdont.about 4 hours ago from txtCrean said he doesn’t respond to Twitter msgs because they count as texts. Good thinking. Also, try and avoid a blue shirt and red tie. And Caller ID.about 4 hours ago from txtNo Villanueva here. Coach says if a player comes out in street clothes for the 2nd half, he’s being benched for twittering at halftime.about 3 hours ago from txtCTC is a huge reality TV buff. He said he doesn’t want his Twitter to become like reality TV and be too dramatized and staged. Think Rock of Love.about 3 hours ago from txt@tomcrean Hey Coach, you catch “The Real Housewives of Orange County” last week? I got it taped if u wanna roll ova.about 3 hours ago from txt“Absolutely (twitter) will get legislated at some point” by the NCAA – Crean. Enjoy it before it becomes illegal, friends.about 3 hours ago from txtCrean’s bud Izzo is about to shave his head since his team won the B10 title. “He doesn’t have time for Twitter, he needs counseling.” - CTCabout 3 hours ago from txtThe Twitter rules: Don’t tweet about recruits, don’t tweet about where you’re recruiting and don’t tweet workout times. Compliance made sure Crean knew.about 3 hours ago from txtIU monitors it, but Crean said he punches the buttons himself when he tweets. About 3,000 followers Thursday ... 10,000 Friday?about 3 hours ago from txtGot a test in 2 hrs. Crean just said he expects ppl to pick the Hoosiers to finish last in the conference again. Oooooo.about 3 hours ago from txtPresser done. Playas have the week off for exams. Crean off to watch recruiting video. 6 months till hoosier hysteria. peace.about 3 hours ago from
(04/30/09 9:18pm)
Making up for his six-week press conference drought, Tom Crean covered a lot Thursday. With players off for the week thanks to exams, IU's second-year coach came up for air during today's presser and sat down with reporters:
(04/30/09 3:37pm)
IU coach Tom Crean will hold his first press conference of the off-season this afternoon. Among the topics I expect we'll discuss: Twitter, Nick Williams and Malik Story's departure, off-season workouts and maybe thoughts on Kellen Lewis.
(03/31/09 6:50pm)
If a true college atmosphere wasn't enough reason, IU Athletics will begin to reward students who regularly attend sporting events on campus this fall with prizes.
(03/28/09 2:29pm)
A little Kentucky basketball news for your weekend enjoyment.
(03/27/09 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Looking to continue his basketball career closer to his Los Angeles home, freshman guard Malik Story has decided to transfer at the end of the semester.With the Hoosiers in possession of one too many scholarship players for the 2009 season, it was clear someone from this year’s team wouldn’t be around next season.It just wasn’t clear who.But the mystery was solved Thursday night in a press release when IU coach Tom Crean confirmed the move, announcing he supported the freshman’s decision.“As a parent, I understand the need to be close to family,” Crean said. “We have encouraged Malik to continue to take advantage of getting his individual workouts in with our team and to utilize the academic support system he has here at Indiana until the end of the semester.”The 6-foot-5 swingman played in all 31 games for the Hoosiers this season, averaging 5.9 points per game in just less than 18 minutes. Story played a versatile role in the team’s offense, often providing a boost off the bench and logging minutes, playing everything from point guard to power forward.In the release, Story said he is “very grateful to have had the opportunity” to play at IU.“I have a tremendous amount of love and admiration for Coach Crean, the assistant coaches and my teammates,” Story said. “This was a very emotional decision for me, but I am blessed to have a tremendous support system in my family at home and I want to be able to share my collegiate experiences with them.”Story’s decision to transfer is the latest chapter to a nomadic basketball career. In high school, Story attended two high schools in California and Oak Hill Academy, a prep school in Virginia. After originally committing to the University of Southern California during his sophomore year, Story later re-opened his recruitment, ultimately selecting IU.The freshman struggled to find his niche in IU’s offense this season at times and would have faced heavy competition for playing time with the arrival of a deep recruiting class.His most public struggle came in the Jan. 17 game against Penn State. Story played only three minutes and was benched in favor of freshman walk-on Broderick Lewis after Crean said he felt Story lacked “a sense of urgency.”“We’re not in a position to play guys through things right now,” Crean said after the game. “We’re trying to be desperate ... I want these guys to understand the train stops for no one.”Story responded the next game to tie his season-high of 14 points against Minnesota, one of his six double-digit performances of the season.
(03/24/09 4:44am)
Sixteen teams are left in March Madness and only three teams the Hoosiers faced this season.
(03/21/09 12:05am)
I apologize to all who are experiencing basketblog withdrawal. We're on spring break right now and haven't had anything worth posting since the Hoosiers' season ended.
(03/13/09 4:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Seconds before the final game of the Hoosiers’ season tipped off, IU strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson instructed his bench.“They’ve gotta hear you on the court,” he told the players not starting.All season, players on the bench have applauded every hustle play and worn out their hands from clapping. Most of the time, the coaches don’t need to remind those on the pine to stay loud and offer encouragement.On game night, “Coach Wat” sensed his team would need a boost. “Get away from me.”– Tom Crean at a referee, voicing his discontent after being whistled for a technical, Penn State 17, IU 8 – 13:02 remaining (first half)It was his first “T” of the season, and Crean wanted nothing to do with the zebra that just called him out.Desperation was beginning to set in.“We’re doing what we don’t do.”– Crean knelt down and told his players, Penn State 21, IU 8 – 11:52 remaining (first half) Turnovers, shot selection and lack of defensive intensity were killing his team.“We’re playing Penn State, for Christ’s sake! Let’s go!”– A fan begged behind IU’s bench, Penn State 42, IU 28 – 17:13 remaining (second half)The Nittany Lions, who were a combined 53-94 in their last five seasons headed into this one, were depriving Hoosiers of even a glimmer of hope in the second half.IU fans piled into Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12 and stood by their team as they have all season.After the game, the fans’ biggest fan praised those who had stood by the Hoosiers one final time. “We may not understand how great this is right now, but there will be a time and day when we look at it and know our fan support was beyond anything anybody could have asked for or imagined,” Crean said.“Let’s go, red”– RoShown McLeod ordered the huddle, Penn State 47, IU 28 – 15:45 remaining (second half) The assistant coach attempted to rally his fading team during a time out. The Nittany Lions opened the half on an 11-3 run and weren’t going to let a second- half meltdown deprive them of advancing to the next round.“Ky-le Ta-ber”– The fans chanted as IU’s lone senior walked off the floor one last time, Penn State 63, Indiana 49 – 2:28 remaining (second half) Taber glanced up into the stands one last time as his collegiate career came to an end.His coach admitted he “asked him to do more things than he could of ever dreamed of.”From late May until now, Crean said the most impressive part of this season might be No. 44’s improvement.But there would be no celebration tonight. There was no relief that the season was over.Only “disappointment,” Taber said. “This team got along really well together, we had a lot of fun. We came in and competed every day. And especially for me, I’m sad to see it end.”“Way to play it out, fellas”– A Hoosier fan congratulated the team, Penn State 66, Indiana 49 – 1:33 remaining (second half)IU held the Nittany Lions scoreless for nearly seven minutes in the second half when it could have rolled over without objection. “I want you to take this all in”– Crean whispered as he gathered his players on the bench, Penn State 66 – Indiana 51 – closing seconds (second half)The walk-ons and manager were in the game, and Crean wanted his players to remember just what a 6-25 season felt like.In April, Crean said he inherited “the disaster known as IU basketball.”Eleven months later, Crean said he thinks this team will be remembered for how hard his players fought and how loudly IU’s fans supported them.“There wasn’t winning streaks to bring them to the gym, there wasn’t any 30-point scorers or high wire dunks,” Crean said. “We didn’t run an alley-oop play all year ... but yet everyone supported it. And I think, to me, that’s where the memories will be.”
(03/13/09 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Seconds before the final game of the Hoosiers’ season tipped off, IU strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson instructed his bench.“They’ve gotta hear you on the court,” he told the players not starting.All season, players on the bench have applauded every hustle play and worn out their hands from clapping. Most of the time, the coaches don’t need to remind those on the pine to stay loud and offer encouragement.On game night, “Coach Wat” sensed his team would need a boost. “Get away from me.”– Tom Crean at a referee, voicing his discontent after being whistled for a technical, Penn State 17, IU 8 – 13:02 remaining (first half)It was his first “T” of the season, and Crean wanted nothing to do with the zebra that just called him out.Desperation was beginning to set in.“We’re doing what we don’t do.”– Crean knelt down and told his players, Penn State 21, IU 8 – 11:52 remaining (first half) Turnovers, shot selection and lack of defensive intensity were killing his team.“We’re playing Penn State, for Christ’s sake! Let’s go!”– A fan begged behind IU’s bench, Penn State 42, IU 28 – 17:13 remaining (second half) The Nittany Lions, who were a combined 53-94 in their last five seasons headed into this one, were depriving Hoosiers of even a glimmer of hope in the second half.IU fans piled into Conseco Fieldhouse on March 12 and stood by their team as they have all season.After the game, the fans’ biggest fan praised those who had stood by the Hoosiers one final time. “We may not understand how great this is right now, but there will be a time and day when we look at it and know our fan support was beyond anything anybody could have asked for or imagined,” Crean said.“Let’s go, red”– RoShown McLeod ordered the huddle, Penn State 47, IU 28 – 15:45 remaining (second half) The assistant coach attempted to rally his fading team during a time out. The Nittany Lions opened the half on an 11-3 run and weren’t going to let a second- half meltdown deprive them of advancing to the next round.“Ky-le Ta-ber”– The fans chanted as IU’s lone senior walked off the floor one last time, Penn State 63, Indiana 49 – 2:28 remaining (second half) Taber glanced up into the stands one last time as his collegiate career came to an end.His coach admitted he “asked him to do more things than he could of ever dreamed of.”From late May until now, Crean said the most impressive part of this season might be No. 44’s improvement.But there would be no celebration tonight. There was no relief that the season was over.Only “disappointment,” Taber said. “This team got along really well together, we had a lot of fun. We came in and competed every day. And especially for me, I’m sad to see it end.”“Way to play it out, fellas”– A Hoosier fan congratulated the team, Penn State 66,Indiana 49 – 1:33 remaining (second half)IU held the Nittany Lions scoreless for nearly seven minutes in the second half when it could have rolled over without objection. “I want you to take this all in”– Crean whispered as he gathered his players on the bench, Penn State 66 – Indiana 51 – closing seconds (second half)The walk-ons and manager were in the game, and Crean wanted his players to remember just what a 6-25 season felt like.In April, Crean said he inherited “the disaster known as IU basketball.”Eleven months later, Crean said he thinks this team will be remembered for how hard his players fought and how loudly IU’s fans supported them.“There wasn’t winning streaks to bring them to the gym, there wasn’t any 30-point scorers or high wire dunks,” Crean said. “We didn’t run an alley-oop play all year ... but yet everyone supported it. And I think, to me, that’s where the memories will be.”
(03/12/09 6:08pm)
One of the longest, strangest seasons in IU men's basketball history came to an end Thursday night.
(03/12/09 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last year it was Eric Gordon’s wrist; this year it’s Devan Dumes’ ankle. For the second straight season, an injury to IU’s leading scorer has come during one of the most crucial parts of the year.And like Gordon’s wrist last season, the severity of Dumes’ injury and the availability of the team’s top offensive threat remain in question. “He is still being evaluated and treated by our doctors. And certainly Tim (Garl) continues to rehabilitate him,” IU coach Tom Crean said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. “I am not overly hopeful, but at the same time we are not ruling him out, and we just have to continue to see how he heals up over the next few days and see what happens,” he said. The junior guard originally injured his right ankle on Jan. 10 at Illinois but re-aggravated it last week against No. 6 Michigan State. Crean was careful not to give any “misleading hopes” that Dumes would play Thursday against Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Dumes, the team’s top scorer, has averaged 12.7 ppg this season (12th in the conference) and scored 17.5 ppg in IU’s six victories. But since returning from a two-game suspension last month, the junior college transfer has struggled to find his rhythm, averaging just 9.5 ppg and 31 percent shooting in four games before re-aggravating his ankle. Crean thought Dumes was poised for a “great game against Michigan State,” but the guard only played three minutes before limping off the court. More than anything, Crean said the Hoosiers miss Dumes’ presence. In addition to his range and ability to score off the dribble, Crean said he is typically “locked-in defensively (and) doesn’t need a lot of help.” BACKYARD ADVANTAGEWithout any road victories this season, the Hoosiers will take anything resembling a home game. IU is 1-3 in games at neutral sites this season, which is what Conseco Fieldhouse will technically be Thursday when the Hoosiers face the Nittany Lions. But with the site of the conference tournament just 50 miles away from Assembly Hall, the Hoosiers are taking some comfort in the fact that they’ll be playing close to home. “It’s in our backyard, and we play Penn State, who is a little further away, so it will basically be like another home game for us,” freshman guard Verdell Jones said. “Hopefully the crowd will be able to lead us to victory.” In his weekly teleconference Monday, Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said the Hoosiers will likely be the “Cinderella team” of the tournament and expects the school’s fan base to make the short drive up Highway 37. Crean said he wasn’t sure if playing in Indianapolis would be an advantage, but is looking forward to playing in “a great venue” nonetheless. “I had never seen a college basketball game in there until I saw the (IU) ladies play Michigan in there the other day,” he said. “It will be great for our fans, and hopefully over a period of time it will be something that is really good.” NO LOVE FROM BIG TEN Despite the team’s improvement throughout the season, Crean noted last week there are few “positive results” to show for it. The drought continued Monday when the Hoosiers were absent from the Big Ten’s season awards, which are voted upon by the conference coaches and media. IU took home two of the top awards last season, with D.J. White winning Big Ten Player of the Year and Gordon winning Freshman of the Year. This season, however, the Hoosiers didn’t receive any awards.Crean said he was a bit surprised by the results, admitting he voted for his own players and thought several of them were worthy, particularly Jones on the conference’s All-Freshmen Team. “I guess it goes to show there are a lot of really good players in this league,” he said.
(03/09/09 4:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>MADISON, Wis. – The clock ran out on the Hoosiers’ 1-17 conference season Sunday.There would be a fairytale ending neither to IU’s Big Ten season nor for IU coach Tom Crean’s sideline return to the state in which he coached for nine years.IU (6-24, 1-17) lost 85-61 to the Badgers on Sunday, marking the team’s 20th loss in 21 games and its ninth straight heading into the Big Ten Tournament.Crean said his team battled hard and continued to show improvement, but lamented that, “We just don’t have a lot of positive results to show for it.”The loss also means the Hoosiers failed to win a road game over the course of a season for the first time since 1900, the program’s inaugural year in which they played only five games.For the fifth time this season, IU was forced to play most of the game without its leading scorer, junior guard Devan Dumes, who sat out after re-aggravating a knee injury Tuesday.In his absence, freshman guards Verdell Jones (23) and Nick Williams (19) both finished with career-high point totals in the losing effort. The two guards did most of the scoring for the Hoosiers, including 24 of the team’s 28 points to open the game.“With Devan being out, Coach put the ball in our hands today,” Williams said. “We were the first two options to score with Tommy (Pritchard) down in the post. And Tommy got in early foul trouble, so we knew we had to score.”The Hoosiers played the Badgers tight in the first 10 minutes of the game, but trailed at halftime for the ninth game in a row. Wisconsin built a 17-point lead at the half despite the Hoosiers shooting 60 percent in the period.Turnovers continued to doom the Hoosiers, who ranked 325th in the nation in the category headed into the game. The Badgers scored 15 points off IU’s 12 first-half turnovers (16 for the game), while Wisconsin only turned the ball over five times the entire game.Despite the loss, Crean said he is pleased with several individual improvements he’s seen this season, including Jones and Williams, who he said are becoming “bona-fide, both ends of the court type of guys.”“You can look at the glass half full; you can look at it half empty,” he said. “I choose to look at it half full as much as possible ... though it doesn’t make it any easier as you go through.”In a post-game press conference, Crean said many of his players are gaining “invaluable” experience that will benefit them next season. Among the experiences he listed were sophomore walk-on guard Brett Finkelmeier’s first start of his career Sunday, Matt Roth’s 29-point explosion against Ohio State and Pritchard’s presence in the post “since the very beginning.”“(The experience) is going to help us a lot, just having a year under our belts,” Williams said. “We know we’re freshmen, we know we’re young, but we shouldn’t be playing like this. We’ll have a whole season to work with coaches and get in there ... and some of the things we’re doing this year that are mistakes we won’t be doing next year.”The Hoosiers will need to upset Penn State (21-10, 10-8) in the opening round of the Big Ten Tournament if they want to extend their season. IU has already lost to the Nittany Lions twice this season, including a 61-58 defeat less than two weeks ago in State College, Pa.
(03/09/09 3:05am)
Let the madness that is March begin.
(03/08/09 10:34pm)
MADISON, Wis. - The clock ran out on the Hoosiers' 1-17 conference season Sunday.
(03/06/09 5:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When he took over last April, Tom Crean knew “a very challenging situation” lay ahead. But no amount of preparation could have readied him for a season like this. “It’s been far harder than anything we could have expected,” Crean said on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption on Wednesday.Tuesday’s five-point loss to No. 8 Michigan State was just the latest challenge the Hoosiers (6-23, 1-16) have had to overcome this season.The other trials and tribulations the team has survived over the last 11 months include a roster overhaul, an NCAA investigation, a new athletics director, the youngest team in the country, 782 minutes played by walk-ons, blowouts on the road, losses at home to Northeastern and Lipscomb, a washout in Maui, overcoming turnovers, countless heartbreaking losses, suspending its leading scorer and battling insanely high expectations, to name a few.On Monday, Crean stopped a reporter who called the week ahead “formidable,” with the Hoosiers facing No. 8 Michigan State and Wisconsin within six days.“When hasn’t it been?” Crean asked. “You want to throw me a week?”The Badgers (18-11, 9-8) represent the second-to-last speed bump on the long and winding road that has been the Hoosiers’ season, with next week’s Big Ten Tournament serving as the last.With victories at a premium this year, Crean told Pardon the Interruption the most important lesson he’s learned this season is to savor the wins.“To never take winning for granted,” Crean said. “To never make it a ho-hum type of deal. When you win and you put that time and effort and energy into it, it really means something.”But the losses have meant something to Crean, too.Following his team’s 68-51 loss to Wisconsin on Feb. 19, Crean was as solemn as he’d been all season in his post-game press conference.“I don’t want them to forget what it feels like (to lose) in any of these games, because I’m not forgetting,” Crean said. “The foundation of this program is being set forth. I don’t want this to be what the foundation is going for.”IU’s first-year head coach will likely remind his players of that feeling before Sunday’s game.After the Feb. 19 loss in Assembly Hall, Crean said the Badgers had “exposed” the Hoosiers.“Our defense really let us down, and there is really nothing in the second half that we can hang our hat on,” he said after the game. “We were much different than the first half and they exposed that.”But the games haven’t always told the whole story for IU this season. The fact that they were even able to compete in the first half is impressive to some, including Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.“I told him before the game, I told him he’s done a heck of a job,” Ryan said. “He’s done a heck of a job, what he’s got these guys doing and how they are playing.“That’s obvious. Sometimes you have to state the obvious. He knows the respect I have. There are no secrets out there in our profession,” he said.
(03/05/09 3:27pm)
The men are off until Sunday, but you can catch the women's basketball team playing this afternoon.