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(11/15/07 5:17am)
Four recruits signed to play for IU coach Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers on Wednesday, National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Forwards Devin Ebanks and Tom Pritchard and guards Terrell Holloway and Matt Roth comprise Sampson’s second IU recruiting class.\n“We are excited about this whole recruiting class,” Sampson said. “When you have the kids we have returning, you add this class to them and we think we have a chance to remain a contender to play in the top of this league (and) compete for Big Ten Championships.”\nIU’s class, ranked No. 15 by recruiting service www.rivals.com, is headlined by five-star forward Ebanks from New York. Ebanks, ranked No. 13 by Rivals, is expected to fill the scoring void if freshman guard Eric Gordon leaves for the NBA, as most people believe, including Sampson. Sampson did not list Gordon when talking about returning players for next season in his weekly press conference Wednesday.\n“The Hoosiers have a star coming to Bloomington in Devin Ebanks,” according to www.rivals.com in its breakdown of the top recruiting classes. “In lieu of an Eric Gordon departure in the spring, Ebanks gives coach Kelvin Sampson another outstanding offensive weapon.”\nSampson said although Ebanks is 6-foot-8, he can play the shooting guard position as well as either forward position.\n“He can really score, make threes and make plays off the dribble,” Sampson said in a statement. “He just has a knack for scoring. He has a demeanor on the court, where he just plays with unbelievable confidence. When he has the ball in his hands, you can tell that he thinks he can go score.”\nRoth will come to Bloomington as one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation. Although he is not highly ranked, the Illinois native made a splash on the AAU circuit this summer for his 3-point shooting in a tournament in Las Vegas.\nSampson said the team, with its many playmakers, will have no problem getting Roth shots. In addition, Roth is good at creating his own shot, Sampson said.\n“A lot of guys can make (three-point shots) when they set their feet,” Sampson said. “He makes a lot of contested threes. He has a great moxie about him, a swagger on the court. A prolific, prolific shooter.”\nPritchard will add size and strength to the IU frontcourt. Sophomore guard Armon Bassett said Pritchard had an impressive open gym when he came to Bloomington for his official visit.\nSampson discovered the West Lake, Ohio native when he was recruiting another player last summer. Pritchard’s skill and size impressed Sampson.\n“He will play for us at around 250 (pounds),” Sampson said. “You can play him inside or outside – very, versatile. Kids like Tom Pritchard, you cannot have enough kids like him in your program.”\nFour-star guard Holloway, ranked No. 100 by Rivals, rounds out the recruiting class for the Hoosiers. Holloway, who hails from Hempstead, N.Y., was a late addition to the Hoosiers, most likely coming after former recruit Bud Mackey’s arrest for drug possession earlier this fall.\n“We didn’t want just another guard, we wanted a point guard,” Sampson said. “I think with the guards we have, they are all adjusting to playing point guard. The thing I liked about Terrell, watching him play, that is who he is – he’s a point guard. He’s extremely fast with the ball.”\nA notable exclusion from the list is forward Kevin Jones from New York. Jones, ranked No. 77 by Rivals, signed with West Virginia coach Bob Huggins to play for the Mountaineers.
(11/15/07 12:06am)
With the headlines concerning freshman guard Eric Gordon’s recruitment all over the media, the last-minute commitment of freshman guard Jordan Crawford likely did not register on the radar of most Hoosier fans last November.\nThe buzz surrounding Gordon’s decision to de-commit from Illinois and join IU coach Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers was well deserved. Gordon’s services –\nhe was the No. 2-ranked player in the class of 2007 by recruiting service www.rivals.com –\nwere coveted by many of the top basketball programs nationwide. This was particularly true for the Hoosier faithful, who had seen several native sons leave the state to find success at other programs in the recent years.\nIn comparison, Crawford was an unranked, three-star prospect out of Detroit. It is easy to see how Sampson’s final fall signee garnered little attention.\nHowever, during fall workouts and the season’s early practices, players and coaches alike said Crawford would surprise people this year. After Crawford’s first two performances in an IU uniform, Hoosier fans likely would share the same sentiment.\nCrawford wowed the fans at Hoosier Hysteria by showcasing three quality dunks en route to capturing the dunk contest title. Crawford saved his best dunk for last, bouncing the ball off the floor and catching it while jumping over a rack of basketballs to complete the dunk.\nSampson was impressed by the athleticism displayed by Crawford and his \nfellow teammates.\n“Last year, we almost had to cancel the dunk contest halfway through,” Sampson said. “This year, it was pretty good. That dunk contest would be good against anyone’s team.”\nCrawford showed his skills are not limited to dunking in the first exhibition game against the University of North Alabama, as he poured in a team-high 30 points on 10-11 shooting, \nincluding a perfect 6-6 from beyond the arc.\nHis performance drew praise from Sampson.\n“Jordan has just gotten better and better as he goes along,” Sampson said. “I don’t know if I’ve had a freshman have 30 out of the gate in an exhibition game.”\nCrawford gave credit for his teammates for making the transition to the college game.\n“I was nervous at first, but I knew I had some veteran guys who would take care of me,” Crawford said. “I got a lot of open shots because of D.J. and Armon (Bassett) penetrating, kicking it to me. It wasn’t just me; it was them helping me out.”\nCrawford said coming to IU has caused him to take his game to a new level to adjust to the college game.\n“It was different, because in high school, practice is not as intense,” Crawford said. “Now we go a lot, and it’s always intense.”\nEarly success for Crawford has not made him immune to some good-natured ribbing from Sampson. Sampson said he has to tell Crawford to better use his athleticism and skills within the framework of the team.\n“I just remind him, he’s playing for Indiana, not the And 1 All-Stars,” Sampson said. “But, Jordan has that in him. He’s a very, very talented young man.”\nThough Sampson said he is pleased with Crawford’s play, he said the freshman has a lot to learn, especially when it comes to defense. However, Sampson said the fans are starting to see that Crawford has the ability to be a special player for IU.\n“A lot of people saw (in the first game) what we’ve been seeing,” Sampson said. “He has a chance to be really good.”
(11/15/07 12:04am)
The expectations have been set high for sophomore guard Armon Bassett.\nWith the graduation of last year’s starting point guard, Earl Calloway, the responsibility as the floor general will rest on Bassett’s shoulders – a responsibility the Terre Haute native said he is ready to embrace.\n“I had a pretty good freshman year, but I am looking to have an even bigger sophomore year,” Bassett said. “I am a point guard on the team this year, so I have to be a leader on the team, because everyone is going to look up at you no matter what. I am going to embrace that role.”\nThankfully for Bassett, he will be leading a team with two prime-time scorers in senior forward D.J. White and freshman guard Eric Gordon. The Hoosiers also have plenty of complementary players who can put up points.\nThe presence of several scorers on this team may reduce the offensive opportunities for Bassett compared to last season, but Bassett said he wants to do whatever he can to make his team successful.\n“I don’t know if I can have the ball in my hand that long on this team,” he said. “What I am going to try to do is be one of the best defensive guards in the country and knock down my open shots, because I am a pretty good jump-shooter.”\nBassett’s play will be crucial for IU coach Kelvin Sampson this season, as Sampson said he wants his team to run the floor more this year.\n“When we play teams that want to run, we’ll run with them,” Sampson said. “I think that this team can play that way and win.”\nLast season, Bassett served as a backup point guard to Calloway and played some shooting guard for the Hoosiers. He had several noteworthy performances last season to build upon heading into his sophomore campaign. \nFacing No. 10 Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the Big 10/ACC Challenge, Bassett had possibly his best game of the season. In one of the most hostile road environments in the country, Bassett led the Hoosiers with 16 points, going 4-5 from behind the 3-point line in a 54-51 defeat.\nWhile Bassett was one of the few Hoosiers last season to drive to the basket on a consistent basis, he said this season, the team is full of players who aim to get to the hole.\n“Last year, I thought teams would key on me when I was going to the hole, because nobody else was going to the hole,” Bassett said. “This year, we have Jamarcus (Ellis) who can go to the hole, Jordan (Crawford), Eric (Gordon) and A.J. (Ratliff) when he gets back. They are not going to be able to sit back on me; they are going to have to pick their poison.”\nThis season, he will shift to the point guard position full-time, something Bassett said he is comfortable with.\n“I’ve been playing point guard all my life, so it won’t be that hard for me,” he said.\nBassett has the support of his teammates, who also feel comfortable with Bassett assuming the full-time point guard role.\n“His role has changed this year,” White said. “Last year at the start of the year, he was behind Earl (Calloway). This year, he is our vocal leader on the court. He is our point guard, and he’s ready to accept that role. He’s a year in, a year better.”\nWhite and Bassett worked out together frequently this summer to prepare for this season. \nWhen asked if he tried to persuade Bassett to feed him the ball more during the one-on-one workouts, \nWhite laughed.\n“Not necessarily,” White said, smiling. “It’s his job to spread the joy around to everybody.”
(11/15/07 12:01am)
Four recruits signed to play for IU coach Kelvin Sampson and the Hoosiers Wednesday on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.\n“We are excited about this whole recruiting class,” Sampson said. “When you have the kids we have returning, you add this class to them and we think we have a chance to remain a contender to play in the top of this league, (and) compete for Big Ten Championships.”\nIU’s class, ranked No. 15 by recruiting service www.rivals.com, is headlined by five-star forward Devin Ebanks from New York. Ebanks, ranked No. 13 by Rivals, is expected to fill the scoring void if freshman guard Eric Gordon leaves for the NBA, as most people believe, including Sampson. Sampson did not list Gordon when talking about returning players for next season in his weekly press conference yesterday.\n“The Hoosiers have a star coming to Bloomington in Devin Ebanks,” according to www.rivals.com in its breakdown of the top recruiting classes. “In lieu of an Eric Gordon departure in the spring, Ebanks gives coach Kelvin Sampson another outstanding offensive weapon.”\nSampson said although Ebanks is 6-foot-8, he can play the shooting guard position as well as either forward position.\n“He can really score, make three’s and make plays off the dribble,” Sampson said in a statement. “He just has knack for scoring. He has a demeanor on the court, where he just plays with unbelievable confidence. When he has the ball in his hands, you can tell that he thinks he can go score.”\nGuard Matt Roth will come to Bloomington as one of the best 3-point shooters in the nation. Although not highly ranked, the Illinois native made a splash on the AAU circuit this summer for his 3-point shooting in a tournament in Las Vegas.\nSampson said the team, with its many playmakers, will have no problem getting Roth shots. In addition, Roth is good at creating his own shot, Sampson said.\n“A lot of guys can make them (3-point shots) when they set their feet,” Sampson said. “He makes a lot of contested threes. He has a great moxie about him, a swagger on the court. A prolific, prolific shooter.”\nForward Tom Pritchard will add size and strength to the IU frontcourt. Sophomore guard Armon Bassett said Pritchard had an impressive open gym when he came to Bloomington for his official visit.\nSampson discovered Pritchard when he was recruiting another player last summer. Pritchard’s skill and size impressed Sampson.\n“He will play for us at around 250 (pounds),” Sampson said. “You can play him inside or outside – very versatile. Kids like Tom Pritchard, you cannot have enough kids like him in your program.”\nFour-star guard Terrell Holloway, ranked No. 100 by Rivals, rounds out the recruiting class for the Hoosiers. Holloway was a late addition to the Hoosiers, most likely stemming from former recruit Bud Mackey’s arrest for drug possession earlier this fall.\n“We didn’t want just another guard, we wanted a point guard. I think with the guards we have, they are all adjusting to playing point guard. The thing I liked about Terrell, watching him play, that is who he is – he’s a point guard. He’s extremely fast with the ball.”\nA notable exclusion from the list is forward Kevin Jones from New York. Jones, ranked No. 77 by Rivals, signed with West Virginia coach Bob Huggins to play for the Mountaineers.
(11/13/07 6:19am)
The IU men’s basketball team defeated Tennessee-Chattanooga 99-79 to score a win in its first game of the season. The victory, however, did not come without a scare.\nWith six minutes remaining in the second half, senior forward D.J. White attempted to block a shot when he tripped over a Mocs player and hit the floor hard. White stayed motionless for a few seconds before being helped up by IU trainer Tim Garl. Silenced by the fall, the crowd at Assembly Hall erupted in cheer once the Hoosiers’ senior was helped into the locker room.\nWhite, who scored 17 points and grabbed four rebounds, returned to the bench with five minutes remaining in the game, but saw no further action as the Hoosiers extended their home-court-winning streak to 18 games.\nCoach Kelvin Sampson said White seemed fine after the game, but he did not know the extent of White’s injury.\n“He just got stitches, I don’t know how many,” Sampson said. “He just bounced his head off the floor.”\nWhite’s fall was not the only thing that scared the Hoosier faithful, as IU trailed heading into halftime 50-46. Chattanooga’s surge was led by senior guard Kevin Bridgewaters, who scored 14 first-half points on 6-6 shooting from the field. \nIU didn’t help its own cause by committing 10 first-half turnovers and allowing the Mocs to connect on 56.8 percent of their shots before intermission.\nSampson said at halftime the team needed to focus on defensive intensity and committing fewer turnovers.\n“Coach told us to pick up our intensity, and that’s what we needed to do,” freshman guard Eric Gordon said. “You could just tell by the way we played in the second half that was good for us.”\nTo contain Bridgewaters in the second half, Sampson had a simple plan – switch Gordon to guard him.\nWhile Gordon led all scorers with 33 points, his defense played a big role in the Hoosiers’ second-half turnaround. Gordon shutout Bridgewaters in the second half as the Hoosiers outscored the Mocs by 24 points in the final 20 minutes of action.\n“I think they defended the ball screen a whole lot better to slow me down,” Bridgewaters said. “I think they doubled a couple of times. They defended the guy who was trying to get me the ball.”\nSampson said he was proud of the way his team responded to a sloppy first half, saying his team got better in “almost every phase.”\n“The story of this game is the second half,” Sampson said. “Hold them to 29 points and 33 percent, so defense was great. It was great to see us respond like that in the second half.”\nThe slow first half was not a huge surprise to Sampson, who said he knew Chattanooga would present a challenge to his squad coming into the game.\n“I thought tonight was a perfect game for this team,” he said. “I couldn’t have scripted it any better. That team is really good, we knew that coming in.”\nJunior guard/forward Jamarcus Ellis did a little bit of everything Monday night for the Hoosiers, tallying five points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. His ball handling was also important, as Chattanooga threw several different defenses at IU, including some trap defense at different points in the game.\n“You can see the value in a kid like him,” Sampson said. “He can pass, he rebounds the ball really well for his size and he’s a winner. He’s pretty good a lot of different things.”\nIn the end, Sampson was proud that his team did not get down on itself at halftime and came back to win the game. \n“There are a lot of teams that could have lost that game,” Sampson said. “It’s just good to see our kids battle back in the second half.”
(11/12/07 5:13am)
Junior guard/forward Jamarcus Ellis had a simple answer when asked what the IU men’s basketball team had to do to prepare for the first game of the season with just one day off.\n“You just have to get some rest,” Ellis said. “Like coach said, he wants us to come in and play with intensity. If you be out all night, you’re not going to come in that way the next day.”\nEllis’ comments drew laughter from the media, as IU coach Kelvin Sampson playfully put a piece of paper in front of his face after hearing his player’s comments.\n“He’s on curfew by the way,” Sampson interjected.\nJoking aside, Sampson and his No. 9-ranked Hoosiers tip off the regular season today against Tennessee-Chattanooga. The Hoosiers will look to continue their 17-game winning streak at Assembly Hall against the Mocs.\nIU completed its exhibition season undefeated Saturday, defeating UNC-Pembroke 111-62. Though the play of the Hoosiers’ freshmen has been promising, Sampson said there is a lot of room for improvement heading into the season.\n“We’ve got a bunch of guys who are just performing,” Sampson said. “You know, we’re not the Bee Gees, or the Temptations or the Doobie Brothers. Every coach that is playing a bunch of freshmen (is) going to have to be patient with them. They are what they are.”\nSampson has not been caught up in the high expectations for this season and the incoming freshman class, instead choosing to focus on fundamentals such as intensity at practice. Freshman forward Brandon McGee tallied 18 points in Saturday’s victory, but did not play in the first half because his intensity in practice did not meet Sampson’s standards. \nMcGee echoed previous comments from the team’s other freshmen when he said practice at the collegiate level is much different than at the high school level.\n“It’s been kind of tough, but coach has helped me more and more, and I’m learning a lot more, so it’s becoming a little easier for me, but I have to pick up my intensity level,” McGee said.\nThe effort is there, Sampson noted, but having consistency and intensity on every possession is something that requires an adjustment period for freshmen. He added that he is not concerned about such adjustments at this point in the season.\n“Just learn how to compete every possession,” Sampson said. “Another thing with freshmen is getting them out of their comfort zone. They are comfortable at the level they are playing, but they need to compete harder. I don’t deny that they are playing hard, but I want our teams to play harder. I want them to compete harder, I want them to be tougher.”\nThe Mocs come into Assembly Hall after winning their first game of the season, defeating Covenant 120-59 Friday. Coach John Shulman and the Mocs compiled a 15-18 record last season and are led by junior forward Nicchaeus Doaks, who averaged 10.2 points per game last season.\nToday’s game will likely not hinge on the performance of four Hoosier freshmen. But if the team wants to meet the high expectations set for this season, the freshmen will have to carry their fair share of the load, something their coach said won’t be done until they learn how to practice. \n“None of these kids are going to be as good as they think they want to be until they learn to practice the right way,” Sampson said.
(11/06/07 5:58am)
After months of speculation, IU recruiting target Tyler Zeller has made the decision to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina. Zeller announced his decision Monday at a press conference in his hometown of Washington, Ind.\nZeller, a 6-foot-11 center, is ranked No. 22 in the nation for the 2008 recruiting class, according to recruiting service www.rivals.com. UNC coach Roy Williams adds another five-star prospect to his team, beating out IU, Purdue and Notre Dame.\n“North Carolina was the best fit for me,” Zeller told www.CarolinaBlue.com, part of the Rivals recruiting network. “I felt more comfortable with the Carolina staff and players than any of the other schools.”\nZeller said the other three schools all tied for second place after UNC.\nAt the beginning of the summer, Zeller was a three-star prospect (out of five stars) on Rivals. However, after a couple of outstanding AAU tournaments this summer with the Indiana Elite team, Zeller shot up in the recruiting rankings to a five-star prospect.\nZeller’s size and skill made him one of the hottest commodities on the recruiting circuit this summer. Early in the process, Zeller decided to visit only four schools.\nWhile Zeller said throughout the recruiting process he had no clear leader, in the end, Zeller became the third notable big man to choose the Tar Heels over the Hoosiers. Former Lawrence North center Eric Montross and Bloomington North forward Sean May both left Indiana to help lead UNC to national championships in 1993 and 2005, respectively.\nZeller told recruiting expert Mike Pegram of www.peegs.com that the self-imposed sanctions IU placed on coach Kelvin Sampson did play a factor in his final decision.\nZeller becomes the second IU recruiting target to make a decision after the sanctions were made public. Point guard Terrell Holloway committed to the Hoosiers on Oct. 29.\nForward Kevin Jones, ranked No. 79 nationally by Rivals, is the Hoosiers’ sole remaining prospect for the class of 2008. Jones is expected to make his decision between IU, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Ohio State and Massachusetts in the coming weeks.\nThe Hoosiers have three commits, in addition to Holloway, headlined by forward Devin Ebanks, ranked No. 13 by Rivals. Three-star prospects Tom Pritchard and Matt Roth round out the current crop of recruits for the Hoosiers.
(11/05/07 7:14pm)
After months of speculation, IU recruiting target Tyler Zeller made his decision to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina. Zeller announced his decision Monday at a press conference from his hometown of Washington, Ind. \nZeller, a 6-foot-11 center, is ranked No. 22 according to recruiting service www.rivals.com. UNC coach Roy Williams adds another five-star prospect to his team, beating out IU, Purdue and Notre Dame for Zeller’s services.
(11/05/07 4:32am)
The results of the first two possessions for IU men’s basketball team against North Alabama should not have come as a surprise to the Hoosier faithful.\nAfter securing the tip-off, senior forward D.J. White went to work in the post, easily scoring over the outstretched arms of the North Alabama defender.\nOn the Hoosiers’ next possession, freshman guard Eric Gordon slashed into the lane for a lay up – Gordon’s first two points as a Hoosier.\nThe expectations for White and Gordon have been set high, as the duo captured most of the preseason headlines and accolades entering into the 2007-2008 edition of IU men’s basketball.\nWhite and Gordon did not disappoint, as they contributed 13 and 24 points respectively, and the Hoosiers cruised to a 121-76 victory over the Division II Lions. \nHowever, it was the play of freshman guard Jordan Crawford that stole the show. Crawford scored 30 points by going 10-11 from the field, including 6-6 from behind the 3-point line. He added five rebounds, three assists and a steal in the winning effort.\nIn his first game as a Hoosier, Crawford said his teammates helped him get accustomed to the college game, even if the basket seemed “pretty big” to Crawford.\n“I was nervous at first, but I knew I had some veteran guys who would take care of me,” Crawford said. “I got a lot of open shots because of D.J. and Armon (Bassett) penetrating, kicking it to me. It wasn’t just me; it was them helping me out.”\nCoaches and players had been praising Crawford during the fall and the beginning of practice, saying he would surprise people this season. Put on the big stage for the first time, Crawford lived up to the hype.\n“Jordan has just gotten better and better as he goes along,” Sampson said. “I don’t know if I’ve had a freshman have 30 out of the gate in an exhibition game.”\nOne member of the media asked if Crawford would become the next Rod Wilmont, who last year during his senior season averaged 12.6 points per game. With a little good-natured ribbing, Sampson shot down any comparison between Crawford and Wilmont.\n“There will never be another Rod Wilmont,” Sampson said. “Jordan can pass and dribble.”\nAlong with Crawford and Gordon, Sampson was impressed with the play of the other two freshmen on the team, center Eli Holman and forward Brandon McGee.\n“There are a lot of very good freshmen in this league, but all of those (IU freshmen) kids can do things that can contribute,” Sampson said. “I think they have a chance to be really good once they embrace the vision of the program.”\nOne notable absence from the court was senior forward Mike White. Sampson said the team is considering redshirting White. \nIf White played in the game, he would have been ineligible to redshirt for the season. Sampson said a decision should be made within a week to 10 days.\n“We haven’t decided yet,” Sampson said. “Ultimately, it will be his decision. We will do what’s best for Mike and what’s best for the team.”
(11/02/07 4:34am)
After weeks of off-the-court distractions stemming from self-reported NCAA violations, the 108th season of Indiana basketball tips off Sunday afternoon with an exhibition game against the North Alabama Lions.\nThe game will cap off a hectic week for the Hoosiers. In the past five days the University released the report filed to the NCAA outlining the self-reported violations and sanctions put in place for the coming year, former assistant coach Rob Senderoff resigned and has been replaced by Director of Basketball Operations Dan Dakich and the Hoosiers had its fourth commitment to the recruiting class of 2008, point guard Terrell Holloway.\nSenior forward D.J. White said all the events surrounding the program will not affect the team’s preparations for the season.\n“I have been through changes in coaches,” White said. “Went through the sanctions thing when Coach Sampson first came here. I don’t think it is a problem right now. We have a game and I think we are just getting ready for that. We are trying to put whatever is going on behind us and get focused on North Alabama Sunday.”\nThe Lions, who compete in Division II during the regular season, come to Bloomington with 10 returning lettermen and two starters from a team that finished third in the Gulf South Conference East Division last season with a 15-14 record.\nNorth Alabama is coached by Bobby Champagne, a former assistant coach for IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson at Washington State and Oklahoma from 1991-1997.\n“He will bring a good team in here,” Sampson said. “I told him to do whatever you want to do. I think our kids will be hungry to play.”\nSampson said after scrimmaging against each other for about 20 practices, the team is ready to get on the court and face some new competition. In particular, Sampson said the game will be an important teaching tool for the team’s four freshmen.\n“I think we are at the point where we need to play a game, especially our freshmen Eli (Holman), Brandon (McGee), Eric (Gordon) and Jordan (Crawford),” Sampson said. “Those four guys are doing the same thing every day, so they need to play a game to know exactly how this stuff works. They need to make some mistakes so we can correct them.”\nWhile the high school All-American Gordon is expected to make the biggest impact as a freshman, Holman could become the answer to the biggest question facing the Hoosiers heading into the season.\n“I think the biggest question or concern for our team is how we are going to manage the four spot,” Sampson said. “I don’t know that the answer to that will come until we start playing games.”\nSampson said he has been pleased with Holman’s progression during practice so far this season.\n“I don’t want to get ahead of myself on him, but he’s starting to do some things instead of thinking so much or going slow to make sure he does things right,” Sampson said. “He is not a finished product, but boy he is going to be good.”
(11/01/07 4:22am)
Former men’s basketball assistant coach Rob Senderoff will receive about $66,000 from the University as part of his severance agreement released to the public Tuesday. \nSenderoff, along with other members of the coaching staff, committed several secondary NCAA violations outlined in a report compiled by Indianapolis law firm Ice Miller, which is representing the University for these violations.\nThe news of Senderoff’s resignation became public Tuesday during a teleconference with IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan, Associate Director of Athletics Grace Calhoun and representatives from Ice Miller. According to the agreement, Senderoff’s resignation became effective Monday.\nSenderoff and the University agreed to a confidentially clause, keeping the terms and conditions of the agreement between the parties unless requested through the Indiana Access to Public Records Act.\nFollowing an Indiana Open Records request filed by the Indiana Daily Student, the department released the severance agreement reached by Senderoff and the University.\nContrary to media reports saying the University forced Senderoff to resign, Greenspan said in the teleconference that Senderoff left the program of his own accord and not because of pressure from IU.\n“Rob has decided that it is in his interest and in the University’s best interest that he resign from the University and made it effective immediately,” he said.\nThe agreement echoes Greenspan’s comments, saying “the University will state only that employee (Senderoff) voluntarily resigned from the University because he decided it was in his and the University’s best interests.”\nAccording to the report filed by Ice Miller, Senderoff conducted 10 to 12 impermissible three-way calls, connecting phone calls from recruits to head coach Kelvin Sampson. The discrepancy with the number of calls is because two calls were likely dropped calls. Additionally, Senderoff made 101 impermissible phone calls, 99 of which violated the terms of the previous sanctions set in place because of impermissible phone calls by Sampson and his staff at Oklahoma. Thirty-four of the 101 impermissible phone calls also violated NCAA guidelines.\nIn addition, the agreement stated Senderoff’s resignation was not the result of the NCAA violations.\nAs part of the severance package, the University will pay Senderoff $46,000 for his “resignation and surrender of all rights Employee might have that stem from employment or its discontinuance” and an additional $19,915.13 in compensation for an outstanding leave of absence time balance of 368.6 hours and eight hours of unused holiday hours.
(10/31/07 4:33am)
The University confirmed Tuesday that IU men’s basketball assistant coach Rob Senderoff resigned. \nAn IU Athletics Department Media Relations statement released Tuesday contradicted media reports saying Senderoff was told last Friday by the University he had three days to resign. \nIU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan continually asserted in a teleconference Tuesday that Senderoff resigned on his own, without pressure from the University.\n“Rob has decided that it is in his interest and in the University’s best interest that he resign from the University and made it effective immediately,” Greenspan said when asked about the nature of the resignation.\nThe announcement came on the same day as the release of a report from Indianapolis law firm Ice Miller outlining NCAA violations committed by Senderoff and other members of the men’s basketball staff.\nSenderoff did not return calls asking for comment by press time.\nAccording to the report, Senderoff conducted 10 to 12 impermissible three-way calls, connecting phone calls from recruits to Sampson. The discrepancy with the number of calls is because two calls were likely dropped calls. Additionally, Senderoff made 101 impermissible phone calls, 99 of which violated the terms of the previous sanctions set in place because of impermissible phone calls by Sampson and his staff at Oklahoma. Thirty-four of the 101 impermissible phone calls also violated NCAA guidelines.\nSenderoff’s likely replacement will be current Director of Basketball Operations Dan Dakich, who spent the last 10 years as head coach for Bowling Green State University after serving 12 seasons as an assistant coach at IU for former coach Bob Knight.\n“It is my expectation that Dan will fill that role with the self-imposed sanctions that will be carried over from Senderoff,” Greenspan said. “We would not put one of our other assistant coaches into that position and then have Dan have the recruiting opportunities.”\nSampson hired Senderoff on May 1, 2006, just after taking the head coaching position from Mike Davis. Sampson said he hired Senderoff for his recruiting ability and his potential to be a successful head coach down the road.\n“When I took the position, I wanted to hire a young guy who had great energy and impeccable character, but someone who also knew this area,” Sampson said in a press release announcing Senderoff’s hiring. “I think Rob is going to be a great addition to our staff. He’s young, energetic and really good with people. He is going to be an outstanding head coach one of these days.”\nBefore joining the Hoosiers, Senderoff spent four years as an assistant coach for Kent State after jobs with Towson, Yale, Fordham and Miami University of Ohio. Senderoff was popular during his time at Kent State, Alan Ashby, the university’s director of Athletic Communications, said.\n“That (he would resign) would be unfortunate,” Ashby said Monday. “He was very well-liked here.”\nSenderoff helped coach front-court players during the season, but Sampson heavily relied on Senderoff’s ability to recruit. Senderoff was influential in making contact on the East Coast with several high-profile recruits. Most notably, Senderoff helped secure the commitment of Devin Ebanks, the No. 13 player for the class of 2008, according to recruiting service www.rivals.com. \nJustin Young, Rivals.com national basketball recruiting analyst, said Senderoff played a pivotal role in getting a foothold in the fertile East Coast recruiting ground.\n“He was influential, in that he laid the groundwork for Devin Ebanks, Kevin Jones and some of the top players in 2009 like (Lance) Stephenson,” Young said. “He helped start a pipeline from New York to Indiana.”\nYoung added, however, that in the big picture, the head coach will have to close the deal on any potential recruits.\n“Senderoff opened the door to the recruits,” he said. “They had a chance to walk in the house and sit on the couch to see how things are at IU. Now that the recruits are familiar with IU, Sampson will have to convince them to come to IU.”\nThough recruits developed a relationship with Senderoff, Young said as a program, IU has a lot to offer a potential recruit.\n“IU is a Top 5 program in terms of tradition,” Young said. “When you think college basketball, you think Indiana. That’s the type of thing that ultimately speaks more volume to a recruit than an assistant coach. It does, however, make parents and other adults advising the players wonder how this affects the future.”\n-Staff writer Michael Sanserino contributed to this report.
(10/30/07 5:19am)
CHICAGO – During his first press conference of the season in August, IU coach Kelvin Sampson said he would only be concerned for Hoosier fans if the Big Ten Network failed to reach an agreement with major cable companies by November.\nWith the start of November just one day away, the network and major cable companies have yet to reach an agreement for distribution, leaving only seven million homes in the eight Big Ten states with the Big Ten Network.\nSampson said Sunday at the annual Big Ten Media Day that the short-term stalemate in negotiations is disappointing, but for the long-term, he thinks the network will be beneficial for IU and the conference.\n“That is concerning, because our fan base grew up watching games,” Sampson said. “However, we met with Jim Delany and Mark Silverman this morning about the future of the Big Ten Network. When you sit and hear about where we are headed – we are headed for the right direction with this.”\nThe Big Ten Network will broadcast 17 IU games \nthis season.\nThe network already reached more than 150 agreements with different television providers, most notably DirectTV, said Delany, the Big Ten’s commissioner. The problem is the network’s failure to strike an agreement with the major cable companies, including Insight Communications, which will continue to serve Bloomington for 2007, and Comcast, which will take over service starting in 2008.\nThe Big Ten Network and the cable companies are debating the $1.10-per-month fee the Big Ten Network wants to charge. Saying this price is too expensive, the cable companies do not want to offer the channel as part of a basic cable package, and instead want to place the network on a $5-per-month digital sports tier.\nDelaney indicated there have been no recent advances in the negotiations with the cable companies, saying the network will reach out to the fans of the Big Ten for support.\n“If we conclude that we are not going to make progress, we need to communicate clearly to our fans and consumers,” \nhe said.\nSince its Aug. 30 launch, the network feels that it has strengthened its position in the negotiations by providing many games and quality productions, Big Ten Network President Mark Silverman said.\n“I think the network has exceeded expectations on several fronts,” Silverman said. “The quality, for a network only two months old, has been better than what people have typically seen out of networks that have only been on the air for a couple of months.”\nAfter two months of being on air, Delany said all Big Ten fans would enjoy having the Big Ten Network.\n“I don’t know how you can be a Big Ten fan without having the Big Ten Network once the season starts,” Delany said.\nWhile getting a deal done before the start of the season was a concern for Sampson, he maintains that the network will be beneficial.\n“We’d like for the thing to be done, but there are more people who will be able to watch all of our universities’ teams. I think this is a great thing for the Big Ten,” Sampson said. “Obviously, there is some ironing out to do.”
(10/19/07 3:16am)
When IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson addressed the media Thursday, he wanted to shift the focus from the pending NCAA investigation to this year’s squad.\n“This manner that’s been discussed is still under review by the University and the NCAA,” he said. “Until it’s been completed, I will have no comment about it.”\nAlthough he made his intensions clear in the beginning, Sampson did comment on a few issues surrounding the situation.\nThere was a team meeting held Sunday to inform the players about the violations. According to Sampson, both he and assistant coach Rob Senderoff spoke to the team during that time.\n“I addressed the team about it early before it was reported,” he said. “After that was over, I said ‘This is what we are going to do. We are going to coach this basketball team. We have an exhibition game on Nov. 4. I expect us to play well. It’s important that we play well in that game.’”\nNow that the news is out, Sampson said he expects his team to work hard every day in practice and not allow outside news to hinder the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.\n“There are no distractions,” Sampson said. “We practice every day. Our practices, if anything, are probably a little tougher this year.”\nSenior forward D.J. White said nothing has changed around the team since the sanctions were announced.\n“I think it is still the same,” White said. “Whatever happens, happens. We need to focus on this team and get ready for the upcoming games in November. Our focus is fine. Coach is still the same at practice, he still gets on us.”\nHowever, White acknowledged that he has heard a lot about the situation from classmates and from the media.\n“I read the IDS every day; it’s just something I do,” he said. “I mean, I read it every day before class. I see what’s in there, but like I said, there is nothing I can do about that.”\nSampson said he does not think about the situation too much as he would rather focus on other things.\n“I have a great wife, I have two wonderful kids and I have a great team to coach,” he said. “That’s what I am doing.” \nBoth Sampson and White gave some insight into the first week of practice and how the team is developing in the early stages of the season. \nSampson said the main difference between this year and last year is that there are players with experience in his system, which makes demonstrating things in practice much easier. He is pleased with the progress so far, but said the players have a ways to go to become a successful team.\n“We are not a good team yet – we have a pretty good collection of talent,” Sampson said.\nFor White, he is excited for the different combinations of players who can play in the post with him. Having bigger bodies like freshman center Eli Holman and junior forward DeAndre Thomas gives the team flexibility.\n“If I am playing with DeAndre or Eli, I am more around the free throw area setting more ball screens, pick and roll type things. I like it a lot. I think it will be more difficult for teams to guard me when its not as easy to double me on the block.”
(10/18/07 10:18pm)
When IU men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson addressed the media yesterday, he wanted to shift the focus from the pending NCAA investigation to this year’s squad.\n“This manner that’s been discussed is still under review by the university and the NCAA,” he said. “Until it’s been completed, I will have no comment about it.”\nAlthough he made his intensions clear in the beginning, Sampson did comment on a few issues surrounding the situation.\nThere was a team meeting held Sunday to inform the players about the violations. According to Sampson, both he and assistant coach Rob Senderoff spoke to the team during that time.\n“I addressed the team about it early before it was reported,” he said. “After that was over, I said ‘This is what we are going to do. We are going to coach this basketball team. We have an exhibition game on Nov. 4. I expect us to play well. It‘s important that we play well in that game.’”\nNow that the news is out, Sampson said he expects his team to work hard everyday in practice and not allow outside news hinder the team’s preparations for the upcoming season.\n“There are no distractions,” Sampson said. “We practice every day. Our practices if anything are probably a little tougher this year.”\nSenior forward D.J. White said nothing has changed around the team since the sanctions were announced.\n“I think it is still the same,” White said. “Whatever happens, happens. We need to focus on this team and get ready for the upcoming games in November. Our focus is fine. Coach is still the same at practice, he still gets on us.”\nHowever, White acknowledged that he has heard a lot about the situation from classmates and from the media.\n“I read the IDS everyday; it’s just something I do,” he said. “I mean, I read it everyday before class. I see what’s in there, but like I said, there is nothing I can do about that.”\nSampson said he does not think about the situation too much as he would rather focus on other things.\n“I have a great wife, I have two wonderful kids and I have a great team to coach,” he said. “That’s what I am doing.” \nsh: Practice update\nBoth Sampson and White gave some insight into the first week of practice and how the team is developing in the early stages of the season. \nSampson said the main difference between this year and last year is that there are players with experience in his system, which makes demonstrating things in practice much easier. He is pleased with the progress so far, but said the players have a ways to go to become a successful team.\n“We are not a good team yet – we have a pretty good collection of talent,” Sampson said.\nFor White, he is excited for the different combinations of players who can play in the post with him. Having bigger bodies like freshman center Eli Holman and junior forward DeAndre Thomas gives the team flexibility.\n“If I am playing with DeAndre or Eli, I am more around the free throw area setting more ball screens, pick and roll type things. I like it a lot. I think it will be more difficult for teams to guard me when its not as easy to double me on the block.”
(10/15/07 7:45pm)
Clank. \nThat’s how freshman guard Eric Gordon made his debut in an IU uniform Friday night at Assembly Hall.\nAfter his controversial de-commitment from Illinois and a year of anticipation from the IU faithful, Gordon’s first play as a Hoosier in Assembly Hall was a missed slam dunk during warm-up drills at last Friday’s Hoosier Hysteria.\nCoach Kelvin Sampson laughed when asked about the dunk, saying he thought Gordon did well “for a low-pressure event.”\n“I looked at him and said ‘Dude, you aren’t nervous, are you?’” Sampson said.\nDespite that small mistake, for the second year in a row, Gordon was the main focus of fans attending the annual kickoff to the basketball season. \nBefore the introductions, members of the team began jumping up and down in the entrance to the court chanting “Er-ic Gor-don.” The chant quickly spread around Assembly Hall, as fans followed the players’ lead.\nAfter a quick warm-up period, the players were split into two teams and scrimmaged for 10 minutes. Gordon and sophomore guard Armon Bassett led the cream team to a 24-15 victory over the crimson team featuring senior forwards D.J. White and Lance Stemler. Gordon scored eight points on two 3-pointers and a massive dunk while adding two assists.
(10/11/07 4:25am)
Kelvin Sampson would have given the Hoosiers a freebie. \nThe fans, that is. Not his team. \nThe date: Nov. 19, 2006. The opponent: Chicago State. The place: Assembly Hall. Here was the IU men’s basketball team playing one of the worst teams on its schedule the Sunday before Thanksgiving. \nHeading out of the locker room before tip-off, Sampson, in his first season as coach of the Hoosiers, didn’t expect much fan support, considering the most important thing to win the game was to just show up.\nWhat he got, though, was 17,000 screaming fans showing their love for the cream \nand crimson. \nHe calls it his “Indiana moment.”\n“I walked out, looked around and that place was almost packed,” he told the Indiana Daily Student in a sit-down interview Sept. 26. “It told me that these people are really passionate about this program.”\nNow, a year into his tenure at one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time, Sampson has a good idea of what to expect from the fans and the men on his basketball team. \nThe Transition\nWhen he accepted the IU job in March 2006, Sampson inherited a program in tumult. In two out of the three seasons before his hire, the Hoosiers did not make the NCAA tournament – a no-no for any major \nbasketball program. \nBut Sampson came to win championships. \nThe biggest difference he notices between his new job and his former one \nat Oklahoma?\n“The five banners,” he said of the championship relics hanging above the south bleachers in Assembly Hall. \n“When he came here, his objective was to win championships, and everything he’s done is geared toward that,” said Pete DiPrimio, author of “Hoop Tales: Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball” and college sports columnist for the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. \nHowever, the second-year coach hasn’t changed much since accepting the gig in Bloomington – even the school colors are identical.\nDiPrimio said Sampson never really had to adapt to his new job. \n“He’s had a system that’s worked for him,” DiPrimio said. “He knows how to win. He’s won everywhere \nhe’s been.”\nSampson has done his best to embrace the tradition. His basement is decked with IU gear from decorative blankets to framed photos of each senior on the team. He even has a small replica court of Assembly Hall. \n“You are fortunate to be at a school that really supports and loves their program,” Sampson said. “All coaches want to be somewhere where people are as passionate about what they do. And Indiana is.” \nHigh hopes\nBefore he coached a single game at IU, Sampson endeared himself to IU fans in a way former coach Mike Davis was unable to do in six years: He captured an All-American \nin-state recruit.\nFreshman Eric Gordon’s verbal commitment to IU gave fans a reason to cheer for Sampson on the night of Hoosier Hysteria last year. \nPeople widely criticized Sampson for the way he nabbed Gordon. The Indianapolis-native committed, then de-committed from Illinois. Sampson later admitted he never, but should have, called Illinois coach Bruce Weber to talk about the situation. \n“I never spend two seconds worrying about that, and I doubt he does either,” \nSampson said.\nThat didn’t stop him from becoming public enemy No. 1 for folks living directly west of the Wabash River.\nBut to Hoosiers, Sampson was a hero.\nWhen he took the floor that night at Hoosier Hysteria, thousands of crimson-clad fans greeted Sampson by chanting his name.\nHe was a little embarrassed. \n“I’d prefer not to be singled out, but I am a little old school here,” Sampson said. \nWith Gordon and star senior forward D.J. White on the roster, many fans have inquired about flights to San Antonio – site of the 2008 Final Four.\n“Indiana, this year could have, (and) should have, a really good season,” DiPrimio said. “There is no reason why they shouldn’t.”\nIn just one year, Sampson has inked one of the top recruiting classes in the nation and catapulted the Hoosiers into the national Top 10.\nBut his greatest accomplishment might be yet to come.
(10/10/07 4:29am)
Students who purchased IU men’s basketball season tickets will soon have $30 of additional spending money courtesy of the IU Athletics Department. The department will refund part of the cost of student season ticket packages because it received a record number of applications – about 9,200 – for an 18-game ticket package. However, with only 8,000 seats allocated for students, each package will contain about 16 games this season, said Frank Cuervo, IU assistant athletic director for external operations.\nIU has the second highest number of allocated student seats in the nation, but Cuervo said the high expectations for this season’s team attracted more students than ever. The team is ranked in the Top 10 or 15 by many major media outlets. He said the athletic department was excited to see the students take such a large interest in the basketball team.\n“I think everyone is excited for the season,” Cuervo said. “It’s a testament to our students.”\nThe system will continue to rotate seats, giving students opportunities to sit behind the basket, in the main section and in the balcony, Cuervo said. He added that there is no specific way the games are assigned.\nThe issue of student seating, including a more coherent student section, has been a major issue over the past several years. In an interview with the Indiana Daily Student on Sept. 26, IU coach Kelvin Sampson addressed the student section situation.\n“There is no easy solution,” Sampson said. “Am I happy with what we have? No. I wish we could have 8,000 students on one side, screaming and going crazy. I think Mr. (Athletic Director Rick) Greenspan is doing the best he can because he has his hands tied behind his back.”\nWhile there are no plans to create an 8,000-student block this season, Cuervo said the athletic department will soon be announcing plans to “beef up the student section” for the coming season to help improve the atmosphere.
(09/19/07 4:59am)
Much to the chagrin of senior Hunter Marks, he will have to pay more to get season tickets for the IU men’s basketball team this year.\nThe Los Angeles native has become a Hoosier basketball fan during his first three years in Bloomington, so he will pay the extra $53 for the ticket package. Marks expressed concern when told the price would be $278, up from the $225 price tag last year.\n“I am not happy that the prices went up again,” he said. “But I love IU basketball, so I guess I will have to pay more.”\nTickets are on sale now at the IU ticket office on the north side of Assembly Hall. Currently, students will get 16 regular season games and two exhibition games, four more regular season games than were on last year’s package. However, if demand is over the 7,000 allotted seats, students will get fewer games. The money for the missed games would be refunded. Groups of up to eight students can sit together by turning in a form to the ticket office.\nWhile there is a $53 dollar increase in the cost of season tickets, it is not as large as the $99 dollar increase last year. The cost per game remains relatively the same as last year. \nAnd students are not the only constituency of IU fans who are helping the athletics department’s budget. General admission tickets will also increase in price, and starting this season, faculty will get seats from a priority points system.\nIU Student Association President W.T. Wright said he expected tickets would cost more this season.\n“The increase is not a surprise to me, but I hope students will still find (buying tickets) feasible,” he said.\nWith the athletic department undertaking two big construction projects along with the normal operating expenses, Wright said the decision was likely made for the bottom line.\n“I realize it is a financial issue and that money does not grow on trees,” Wright said.\nThe fact that the money will go toward the athletic department does not take the sting away from Marks.\n“I wish it was so, but they didn’t ask me how to come up with a solution,” Marks said.\nOther students share Marks’ feelings, but are too focused on the high expectations for the team this season. Senior Clayton Glover said having a top-ranked team makes him willing to pay more money this season for tickets.\n“The tickets are expensive, but I am a huge IU basketball fan,” Glover said. “We have a Top 10 team, so the games should be even more fun this year.”\nEach ticket group will get to experience the different seating options at Assembly Hall, sitting behind the basket, in the main concourse and in the balcony. There has long been desire for a student section around the basket, something Wright and his IUSA administration would like to accomplish.\n“I’ve met with the Athletic Council and I am trying to set up a meeting with (IU Athletics Director) Rick Greenspan to see what is possible this year,” Wright said.
(09/18/07 10:00pm)
Much to the chagrin of senior Hunter Marks, he will have to pay more to get season tickets for the IU men’s basketball team this year.\nThe Los Angeles native has become a Hoosier basketball fan during his first three years in Bloomington, so he will pay the increased $53 price of the ticket package. Marks expressed concern when told the price would be $278, up from the $225 price tag last year.\n“I am not happy that the prices went up again,” he said. “But I love IU basketball, so I guess I will have to pay more.”\nTickets are on sale now at the IU ticket office on the north side of Assembly Hall. Currently, students would get 16 regular season games and two exhibition games, four more regular season games than were on last year’s package. However, if demand is over the 7,000 allotted seats, students will get fewer games. The money for the missed games would be refunded. Ticket groups of up to eight students can sit together by turning in a form to the ticket office.\nWhile there is a $53 dollar increase in the cost of season tickets, it is not as large as the $99 dollar increase last year. The cost per game remains relatively the same as last year. \nStudents are not the only constituency of IU fans who are helping the athletics department’s budget. General admission tickets will also increase in price and starting this season, faculty will get seats from a priority points system.\nIUSA President W.T. Wright said he expected tickets would cost more this season.\n“The increase is not a surprise to me, but I hope students will still find (buying tickets) feasible,” he said.\nWith the athletic department undertaking two big construction projects along with the normal operating expenses, Wright said the decision was likely made for the bottom line.\n“I realize it is a financial issue and that money does not grow on trees,” Wright said.\nThe fact that the money will go towards the athletic department does not take the sting away from Marks.\n“I wish it was so, but they didn’t ask me how to come up with a solution,” Marks said.\nOther students share Mark’s feelings, but are too focused on the high expectations for the team this season. Senior Clayton Glover said having a top-ranked team makes him willing to pay more money this season for tickets.\n“The tickets are expensive, but I am a huge IU basketball fan,” Glover said. “We have a top-10 team so the games should be even more fun this year.”\nEach ticket group will get to experience the different seating options at Assembly Hall, sitting behind the basket, in the main concourse and in the balcony. There has long been desire for a student section around the basket, something Wright and his IUSA administration would like to accomplish.\n“I’ve met with the Athletic Council and I am trying to set up a meeting with (IU Athletics Director) Rick Greenspan to see what is possible this year,” Wright said.