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(12/11/09 5:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If the IU men’s basketball team thought Ole Miss was good, wait until it sees Kentucky. The Hoosiers appear to be a different team than the group that competed in Puerto Rico, but it’s hard to forget their 18-point loss to the Rebels.No. 25 Ole Miss, IU’s toughest opponent to date, will probably be booking a trip to the NCAA Tournament in March and is likely the fourth-best team coming out of the Southeastern Conference. On the other hand, IU’s Saturday opponent, Kentucky, is the No. 4 team in the country. Although John Calipari’s Wildcats probably should have lost to both Miami (Ohio) and Stanford last month, the Big Blue are 9-0 and coming off impressive wins versus North Carolina and Connecticut. The biggest reason for UK’s success, of course, is freshman John Wall. North Carolina head coach Roy Williams called Wall “the best point-guard prospect I’ve seen since Jason Kidd.” Last night, UConn’s Jim Calhoun said the talented guard is “at least as good as Derrick Rose.” Already being projected as the No. 1 pick in June’s 2010 NBA Draft, Wall looks to have a bright future in the pros. For now, however, he is too busy hitting clutch shots, dishing the rock to his teammates, grabbing boards and recording more thefts at Kentucky basketball games than former Wildcat and recent ticket scammer Edward Davender. In plain English, the North Carolina native is averaging an astounding 19 points, 7 assists, nearly 4 rebounds and 3 steals per game. IU guard Maurice Creek and forward Christian Watford might be two of the best freshmen in the Big Ten, but Kentucky’s star freshman is probably the best player in all of college basketball. Sure, Wall averages 4.8 turnovers per game and turned it over a combined 14 times in the past two games, but the kid can flat out ball. Kentucky was at its weakest versus both North Carolina and UConn when Wall was not in the game. He is a game changer and has late-game composure unlike any other freshman at the collegiate level.“We’ve got to get him from the start and be aggressive with him,” sophomore guard Verdell Jones said. “We can’t back down and we won’t back down. I think our guards are ready for this matchup.”While I question what the Wildcats might be capable of doing in a big game without Wall, the future pro is one of several talented players on Calipari’s team. It starts with 6-foot-9 big man Patrick Patterson, easily one of the most underappreciated players in the game. In his senior year of high school, the five-star recruit was overshadowed by transfer O.J. Mayo. At UK, it was Joe Crawford and then Jodie Meeks who received most of the hype during Patterson’s first and second seasons. Patterson is again flying a bit under the radar because of Wall, despite posting 16.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Patterson has plenty of help in the post from another extremely talented freshman, DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins, Rivals.com’s second-ranked 2009 recruit behind only Wall, has averaged 14.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks through nine games this year. “DeMarcus Cousins is a work horse down low, so we have to really guard him down there and just rebound,” Jones said of the former McDonald’s All-American. “He’s a great offensive rebounder.”On the wing, Darius Miller can pass, shoot and drive for the Wildcats, assuming more of a role-playing position on this year’s squad. Not to be forgotten is Eric Bledsoe, Wall’s partner in crime in the backcourt. Bledsoe, also a point guard, was a top-25 recruit last season and could be the starting point man on almost any team in the country. Four-star junior college transfer Darnell Dodson is the team’s top-scoring option off the bench, while freshman Daniel Orton and senior Ramon Harris have also been solid contributors for the deep Wildcats. In terms of quality team basketball, the Big Ten will present IU with a lot of challenges this winter. But as far as pure talent goes, Kentucky will be the Hoosiers’ most difficult test. IU made a statement in New York on Tuesday, but Saturday’s game against a loaded Wildcats squad will ultimately prove if they can hang with the big boys.Prediction:UK 81 - IU 72
(12/09/09 6:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It might have been something in the water up in New York. Perhaps it was Jim Harbaugh’s halftime speech. Whatever it was, things were simply clicking for IU on Tuesday.Pitt has earned a reputation in recent years of bullying its opponents at Madison Square Garden, but it was the Hoosiers who socked the Panthers in the mouth and took their lunch money. A late spurt by the Panthers quickly brought things to within six, but it was too little too late. IU put together such a large lead, that even a late game Panther run could not have stolen the Hoosiers’ biggest win of the Tom Crean era.For the first time under Crean, IU truly looked like and played like a veteran team – perhaps a glimpse into the future of Hoosier basketball.IU went in to the Madison Square Garden locker room at the half with a four-point lead, but for once their best basketball was ahead of them.Despite a pinched nerve and being banged up on virtually every part of his body, junior Jeremiah Rivers’ first half play was a big reason the Hoosiers were positioned to win. The Hoosiers outscored Pitt 32-23 in the first half with the 6-foot-5 guard out on the floor. When he was on the bench, however, IU struggled to penetrate – his bread and butter on offense – and was outscored 6-0 by the Panthers.Freshman Christian Watford did an excellent job of getting to the free throw line, especially early in the game, even when his shot wasn’t falling. Even when fellow freshman Maurice Creek had struggles of his own, it never set the team back. Verdell Jones’ 22 points almost speaks for itself, as the sophomore quietly, yet consistently hurt the Pitt defense.While this wasn’t the Pitt Panthers we have grown accustomed to seeing under Jamie Dixon, nothing should be taken away from the Hoosiers. Forget that Kentucky comes to Assembly Hall on Saturday, they deserve every moment before their next practice to soak in this win.ESPN analyst Jay Bilas called this a “program building win,” and it certainly is one that will help the Hoosiers go forward.Madison Square Garden can be a scary place to play for such young players, but they handled every minute of it. So perhaps it was Alicia Keys’ words, “Big lights will inspire you,” from Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” that motivated the Hoosiers on this night.Let’s hear it for New York. Let’s hear it for IU.
(12/08/09 2:45am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Having lost four of its last five games, the IU men’s basketball team wants nothing more than to win today at Madison Square Garden. “We need a win bad right now,” freshman forward Christian Watford said. In talking to Watford, fellow freshman Jordan Hulls and IU coach Tom Crean on Sunday, it was clear that the Hoosiers are hungry for a victory. But when IU makes its way out onto the floor of the Garden, it should be more than just about winning or losing. It should be more than just a game. This is the Jimmy V Men’s Basketball Classic. The images of Jim Valvano running frantically across the court after winning the 1983 NCAA Championship on a last-second dunk against “Phi Slama Jama,” still reigns as one of the greatest moments in college basketball history. Valvano just wanted a hug. But nine years later, the beloved former North Carolina State coach was diagnosed with bone cancer and, before long, it was spreading. The following year, on March 3, 1993, Valvano gave both sports fans and non-fans alike a lasting image by which to remember him. At the inaugural ESPY Awards, Valvano, the recipient of the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage Award, gave an inspirational 10-minute speech. During his speech, Valvano announced the creation of the V Foundation for Cancer Research and then spoke of its motto: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” Valvano never gave up, living by the words he famously proclaimed, but on April 28, Jimmy V succumbed to cancer and passed away at the age of 47. Since the Maryland game, IU has been set on accomplishing two things: getting better and beating Pitt. Though the players are in the Big Apple and playing at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” hopefully they take something else away from today’s 9 p.m. showdown. Aside from junior guard Jeremiah Rivers, none of IU’s other starters were more than three years old when Valvano died. In fact, Watford was celebrating his second birthday that very day. While none of the players were old enough, or in some cases alive, to watch Valvano coach, it is vital to carry on his legacy. That means more than just flying to New York and playing 40 minutes of ball on national TV and then coming back to prepare for Kentucky. Crean has been donating to The V Foundation the last few years and is “very supportive of it,” he said. The second-year IU coach added that he became a fan of Valvano in his days as a young coach himself and is looking forward to playing in the annual doubleheader. Yet most of his excitement on Sunday seemed centered around the opportunity for the Hoosiers to play on the national stage and to still be valued as one of the elite programs. Certainly, this is important in terms of IU basketball moving forward. But for a team that, a year ago, went by the motto “Passion for the past ... excitement for the future,” it should not just be about the great moments in IU basketball history and the prospect of returning to the glory days. This “Next Generation” should be developing an appreciation for all of the college basketball greats that played and coached before them, whether at IU or anywhere else in the nation. Crean is not just a coach, but rather an educator and an ambassador to the game of basketball. That’s why before tonight’s game, since he has yet to do so, he truly should speak with his young team about what it means to play in a game honoring the memory of “Jimmy V.” For one or two minutes at practice or in the locker room, he should forget about winning and correcting the team’s past mistakes. Instead, he should teach his players about the strength and the courage Valvano possessed. Hulls, who said he has watched Jimmy V Classic games “forever,” is one player who understands the meaning of tonight’s game. “What they’ve been doing with (the foundation) and how big it’s become, it’s awesome,” the point guard said. “Jimmy V was a great coach and a great guy, and a lot of people looked up to him. It’s just an honor to be able to play in this tournament.” But Hulls is just one player, and like Watford, he said Crean never really mentioned anything to the team about the late Valvano.All day and in the two hours of the actual game tonight, the Hoosiers should be focused purely on winning. But for just a moment or two, they should realize why they are in New York City in the first place. And perhaps, if the Hoosiers find themselves down late in the game, they just might recall Valvano’s motto: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” IU may be looking for a “W” tonight, but it should also not overlook “V” – Jimmy V.
(12/02/09 5:16am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Maryland coach Gary Williams and IU coach Tom Crean sat down for their postgame press conferences, the coaches told two different stories. Sure, Maryland won, but the current states of their two programs are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Williams praised his senior leadership but talked about the difficulties of playing two freshmen in the post. “They’re doing a good job for us,” Williams said, referring to 6-foot-10 starter Jordan Williams and 6-foot-8 reserve James Padgett, “but they’re learning in tough situations like tonight and over in Maui.” Crean, meanwhile, does not have the problem of playing a couple freshmen to complement three senior starters and other more experienced talent. Instead, he has to worry playing all freshmen and sophomores to accompany just a few veterans. “I keep saying it, and I promise you I don’t want it to sound like I’m making excuses,” Crean said. “But when you don’t have veterans that hand it down from year to year in the program, then it becomes a problem. That’s what we have to deal with.” The Hoosiers played tough for most of the game, but not tough enough. The Terrapins, meanwhile, “never got rattled,” Crean said, no matter how difficult the fans might have made it.IU held a seven-point lead late in the first half, but Maryland closed the gap and eventually hit the intermission with a 35-33 lead. During that 14-5 run, senior guard Greivis Vasquez hit two 3-pointers, fellow senior guard Eric Hayes hit one and forward Landon Milbourne, another four-year player, converted on an old-fashioned three-point play – an “and one.” The Hoosiers battled for much of the second half, but they just could not withstand the tougher and more experienced Maryland squad. They simply were not strong enough defensively, as Crean said. IU also did not have likes of Vasquez, Hayes and Milbourne on their side. Maryland’s senior trio combined for 56 points, including 23 from Vasquez. Vasquez struggled from the floor again, but he hit 13 of 14 free throws, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out eight assists. Milbourne, meanwhile, scored 19 on 8-of-11 shooting, and added seven rebounds to his stat line. Lastly, Hayes finished with 14, including a pair of big 3-pointers. Vasquez, in particular, brings something to the table IU can’t match. “Greivis is a very experienced player, not just at Maryland but internationally,” Williams said. “Down the stretch, that’s where he’s at his best, I think, when we do have the lead and we have to protect the lead because he's a very good free-throw shooter and he’s very confident with the ball. He’s not going to make too many mistakes in those situations.” But more than what he does on the court, specifically, he is a leader off the court. Williams spoke about his leadership abilities, in huddles and at halftime. Crean, on the other hand, is still looking for that leadership from the players. He mentioned accountability needs to come not only on the floor, but also in those similar huddles and in their own locker room. “A player-led team is far better than a coach led team,” Crean said. “We’re not anywhere near that.” Though the team wasn’t expected to win on Tuesday, and Maryland simply outclassed them late in the game especially, Crean knows the Hoosiers could have hit the showers with the “W.” “Maybe I shouldn’t come in here and say that, two years in with all the freshmen and sophomores that we have and with all the lack of experience that we have,” he said. Yet he probably should. The Hoosiers proved they can compete at a high level, but they have a long way to go. They will win some of these games later in the season, but visiting crowds will not be as generous as the Creaniacs, The Hall Monitors, Crean’s Army or whatever they are called in Assembly Hall. IU didn’t exactly pass their first test in Puerto Rico, but they are looking better. Defense wins games, though, and they simply must get better in that department, among others. Another loss, but another lesson learned. Practice won’t be fun for the team this week, but they’ll need a kick in the butt to get better.
(12/01/09 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Watching the fans file down the ramps and head out the south end of Assembly Hall, cheering, chanting and celebrating the victory, it was clear that the IU fans had just been a part of something special. No, the team did not clinch a Big Ten title. No, the Hoosiers did not upend a ranked opponent. In fact, it was just IU’s first win in 12 games – and what turned out to be their last of the season – and it took the team to a meager 6-15 record. When IU defeated Iowa 68-60 in February, it sent the crowd into a frenzy and placed many of those in attendance on what appeared to be cloud nine. The atmosphere was intense that night, especially in the second half, and it mirrored a crowd that in years past had helped IU win much bigger games. Today should be no different. With Maryland as the opponent and the game being broadcast on ESPN2, the IU players are expecting a lot out of the crowd.“I’m looking forward to it,” junior guard Jeremiah Rivers said. “The students are going to be jacked up, it’s going to be loud and it’s going to be fun and real energetic.” Whether or not we ask for it, not a press conference goes by in which IU coach Tom Crean fails to mention the home crowd. At times it might look like a pitch to get more butts in the Assembly Hall seats, but looking at many of IU’s home contests from a year ago, it’s easy to see why he loves what the fans bring to each game – the students especially. Last November, it was clear the crowd factored into IU squeaking past IUPUI for the team’s second win. Seven games later, it was the fans that helped set the tone for the Hoosiers as they built the lead up to 21 at one point versus TCU. And of course the crowd was a factor in pushing IU past Iowa for its lone Big Ten victory. Even in the losses, the student presence – or lack thereof – was quite evident. During winter break, in games not part of the student ticket packages, IU captured a 21-point first half lead versus Lipscomb and held a 20-point advantage against Michigan. Both games went into the loss column, as the typical noisy crowd was anything but. The games are no doubt decided on the court, but there’s no denying what a deafening crowd has the possibility of doing for a home team. “Tremendous” and “paramount” were two words Crean used to describe the potential student impact during today’s Big Ten/Atlantic Coast Conference Challenge battle with the Terrapins. “They create the atmosphere,” Crean said. “It’s not the team that creates all the energy. The crowd creates the energy and the team feeds off that and hopefully they can keep it going. You can’t have success without great student support.” Crean continues to preach that students must get to the games early – after all, the non-students in attendance for the Northwestern State game on Saturday filled the south end zone seats well ahead of game time, he said. Either way, once the referee’s whistles blow, and the ESPN cameras start rolling, the fans can show Maryland that great college basketball environments do not just reside in the ACC. The crowd made its presence known for the Georgia Tech game two years ago, and the atmosphere was electric when No. 1 Duke came into Assembly Hall for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge four years ago. “I’ve seen the Duke film when Duke played Indiana a few years back,” Crean said on Saturday following the Northwestern State game. “I’ve heard people tell me about that among many of the other memories that they have. We’ve got to start building memories like that with crowds like that and a game like that. “If the Big Ten and ESPN are going to put us in situations like they did last year, with us playing Wake Forest with a team that is picked to finish 11th, and playing Maryland with a team that is picked to finish 10th, we’ve got to have the crowd help us in every possible way.” And with a “White Out” in the forecast, the fans also can show that IU does not in fact “Fear the Turtle.” “We have got to get this crowd as great as it can possibly be, as nuts as it can possibly be,” Crean said Saturday. “Tell the fire marshal to stay home that night. We’ll give him tickets right behind the bench. We will let him come, the police chief too. We just need them all in here; we need everybody in here to make this place nuts.”
(11/30/09 4:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As freshman Derek Elston went to the bench with 8:06 left in the second half, the 11,128 fans in attendance Saturday gave the 6-foot-9 forward more than just a polite golf clap for his efforts. Rather, IU fans applauded and cheered as the hardworking Elston made his way down to the bench and high-fived his teammates. Elston had just 10 points at that moment, and his dunk just a minute earlier did far from bring down the house – in fact, it was almost the exact opposite of the Marco Killingsworth dunk versus Duke in 2005.Instead, the Hoosier fans were simply recognizing what they had just witnessed from Elston: good, smart basketball. Several minutes earlier, when Elston checked into the game for the first time in the second half, it took him just three seconds to record a field goal. A few minutes later, a Northwestern State opponent tried backing him down, but the freshman responded by holding his ground and forcing a jump ball that ultimately sparked an 8-2 run following a media timeout. That run was capped off by a play in which Elston read the defense and deflected a pass near the top of the key. Upon grabbing the ball and collecting one of his four steals of the day, Elston slowed things down and dished the ball to junior guard Jeremiah Rivers, who in turn found sophomore Verdell Jones for a momentum-sparking 3-point basket. Two offensive plays later, Elston flushed home the aforementioned dunk, which takes us back to the 8:06 mark. Despite struggling in Puerto Rico, Elston has put together three stellar performances this year at Assembly Hall, all as a reserve coming off the bench. Elston, who is now averaging 7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals on the year in just 16.0 minutes per game, compiled a stat line that included 12 points, six rebounds and four steals in 18 minutes. “I just played me,” Elston said after the team defeated Northwestern State. “I rebounded well today, something Coach has been harping on me about. (I) finished well – I mean, I missed a couple layups, but otherwise I shot the ball well.” While he admits he hasn’t been perfect, Elston continues to be the spark plug off the bench for the Hoosiers on their home court. In the three home games, the Tipton, Ind., native has recorded 12 points per game on 15-of-20 shooting, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals.Elston is also tied with freshman forward Christian Watford for a team-high 12 offensive rebounds – despite playing 64 fewer minutes – with seven of those coming in the team’s three wins. Aside from Watford and freshman guard Maurice Creek, Elston has been the top freshman on the team thus far in the season. Despite that, and the fact that the team has not been its strongest at the center, Elston has yet to find his way into the starting lineup. “Right now, I’m not really caring that I’m (not) starting,” Elston said. “I’m the sixth, seventh man, exactly what I wanted to be coming in here.” Elston probably should not care, either. If IU can get better production from sophomore forward Tom Pritchard or whoever might be playing the five, it won’t do the Hoosiers any harm having Elston bringing the team energy off the bench. Elston is a smart player, and as he gets better on the glass and continues to improve the other aspects of his game, he will unquestionably be a very solid player. This is evident even now, as he seems to make the right decisions and do all the little things when he is out on the court. On Saturday, with the Hoosiers leading 32-20 in the first half, Elston hit a 3-pointer immediately followed by a 3-point shot from the Demons’ Logan McConathy, a shot from 3 by IU senior Devan Dumes and then another by McConathy. On the ensuing possession, Elston caught a pass from behind the arc, but forwent the opportunity for the game’s fifth consecutive 3-pointer. Instead, Elston shot-faked and drove from the side of the basket, banking a 2-pointer. Elston also displayed good chemistry with Rivers. Twice in the second half, Elston saw opportunities to score from the low block, and he inched his way toward the basket with his hands ready to catch the ball. When he got the rock, he finished with the dunk and a layup, respectively. If Elston can continue this stellar play, especially with bigger and more physical opponents coming up in Maryland, Pittsburgh and Kentucky, he will be a tremendous asset to this team. After Saturday’s game, Creek spoke about the production of the entire team, saying every player must bring both offensive and defensive intensity, grab rebounds and force steals every game. Elston did all of those versus Northwestern State. For this team to succeed, it needs solid minutes from everyone else coming off the bench, too. Senior center Tijan Jobe had one of his best outings Saturday, while sophomore guard Daniel Moore was also efficient in his six minutes. Dumes, meanwhile, put together his best game of the season and will need to get back to where he was a year ago in order to supplement what Creek is already providing at the two-guard position. This team continues to get better, though its three wins have come against its weakest opponents. Nevertheless, it is players like Elston who can make the difference this year.
(11/23/09 2:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If there was ever any doubt, IU’s eighth-place finish in Puerto Rico pretty much confirmed it – restoring IU basketball will be a long-term project for IU coach Tom Crean. It was inevitable from the start, but IU’s most recent losses, against Boston University and George Mason in particular, proved that the rebuilding process will not be without its share of significant bumps and bruises. The Hoosiers are headed in the right direction, and there is no question about that. The process of returning to national prominence – and, frankly, relevance – is going to take some time, however. This year was never expected to be a 20-win season, and perhaps next year might not be either, but certainly three losses in Puerto Rico have brought IU back down to reality. Perhaps expectations were set too high, considering this is a team rebounding from a 6-25 season, but perhaps they were not. It’s only five games into the season. You know that, they know that and I know that. The Hoosiers have plenty of time to right this ship and have a great year. But there is a ton of work to be done. This team has several young players that should eventually complete their eligibility as excellent four-year players, but as a collective unit the team has a long way to go. There will be brighter days, probably a couple of months from now when things truly click, and only then will IU score some quality wins and avoid the bad losses. For now, however, the team has to take it day by day and game by game. It’s an extremely overused and annoying sports cliche, but it’s the truth. Every loss will be frustrating – likely some more than others – and maybe some of the wins will be, too. But this is a basketball program, not just a basketball team. The work the players are putting in now will go a long way in determining the future of IU basketball while also restoring its recently tarnished image. This year’s win-loss total will be in the record books forever, but it will also mark another step in the right direction for the Hoosiers. IU basketball will continue to improve, and though it may not look like it at the time, it is getting better now. Virtually every coach talks about reaching mid-season form. IU is not there yet, but it will be. Crean and the coaches are working hard, as are the players, and that’s just something fans must understand. Building a program back up from essentially rock bottom is always going to be a gradual progression. The wins won’t necessarily come in bunches, but they will come more frequently over time. IU probably should have beaten both Boston and George Mason, but they didn’t. It’s time for the fans to move forward as IU moves ahead. Though there are some differences, the Hoosiers are experiencing something not entirely different from the progress another program, Cincinnati, has been making. Like IU, the 2006-07 Bearcats returned just one role-playing scholarship player and lost its star freshman guard. They, too, finished at the very bottom of their conference.In year two, Cincinnati also had just one third-year player. He, too, was a walk-on. That season the Bearcats began 4-7, including bad losses against Belmont, Bowling Green and Illinois State. Although they finished just 13-17 in the regular season, they had January wins against Louisville, Syracuse, Villanova, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. A year ago, their third rebuilding season, the Bearcats finished with 18 wins and were a bubble team as late as the first of March. Now, coach Mick Cronin feels the program is finally back on its feet, and the team is poised to finally make a return to the NCAA Tournament. Long story short, it might take Crean and the Hoosiers a couple more years before they seriously push for a tournament berth and stand among the Big Ten elite again. But they are on their way. IU basketball was never going to be a short-term fix, and anyone who thought it would be never fully understood the difficulty of basically restarting an entire program. This year is still young, and fans must not get worked up about a few games. Eventually, the wins will come. Crean has most of the tools he needs to repair this program, but it is going to take some time and a lot of patience.
(11/19/09 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After IU began last season 1-0, the team survived a scare from IUPUI, who had them on the brink of defeat before the Hoosiers prevailed 60-57. Like last season, the Hoosiers coasted in their season opener, but again things weren’t as easy in their second game. While IU defeated USC Upstate by a more comfortable eight points, the team’s win on Monday should have served as another wake-up call. The 2-0 Hoosiers of last year traveled to Hawaii for the EA Sports Maui Invitational, where they were pasted by Notre Dame and then less-than-stellar St. Joseph’s, by 38 and 26 points, respectively. IU had its back against the wall in the tournament’s seventh-place game, and escaped from Division II Chaminade 81-79. Although this isn’t your 2008-09 Hoosiers, the 2009 O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff field will still make wins very hard to come by this week. Ole Miss, the team’s opening-round opponent, is not ranked but could be the sleeper coming out of the SEC. On Friday, IU will face either Kansas State, a likely NCAA Tournament team, or Boston University, the America East Conference’s unanimous preseason favorite. Add in No. 5 Villanova, No. 18 Dayton and No. 21 Georgia Tech, as well as George Mason on the other side of the bracket, and there are really no guaranteed victories. Not to take anything away from the Hoosiers, but Ole Miss is very talented and seems to be flying under the radar. The Rebels are among the nation’s 50 best teams based on poll votes and will unquestionably be a solid test for IU. After Monday’s game, IU coach Tom Crean said there is “no way” IU is presently as strong or physical as Ole Miss. “If we don’t match up and play with that will and that fire, even though we’re not as physical as them, we’ll get embarrassed,” he said. The Rebels, picked to finish second in the SEC West, have what many consider the SEC’s top back court, and maybe one of the nation’s best. Sophomore Terrico White, a preseason first-team all-SEC selection and candidate for the Naismith and Wooden Awards, is joined by preseason second-team all-SEC junior guard Chris Warren and sophomore Eniel Polynice. Warren played in 11 games last year, while Polynice and sophomore Trevor Gaskins were both redshirted a year ago because of knee injuries. In 2007-08, Gaskins was an all-SEC freshman. In the front court, sophomore forward Murphy Holloway has the potential to go for a double-double on any night, while senior DeAundre Cranston could give IU trouble with his 6-foot-9, 260-pound frame.Not to be forgotten is freshman Reginald Buckner, Tennessee’s all-time high school leader in blocks. Buckner, who Rivals.com rated the No. 29 recruit in the nation a year ago, blocked nine shots in the team’s first two games while coming off the bench. Even with such a talented back court, the Rebels could wreak some havoc in the post if they can find a way to limit IU freshman Christian Watford’s production. This could be a great win for the Hoosiers, but a loss, meanwhile, would be a reality check. Three key questions: 1. Who will start?Tom Crean insists on playing the five best players. Derek Elston and Devan Dumes started the second half last game instead of Tom Pritchard and Maurice Creek. Elston seems like a legitimate option as the second forward in the front court, but with the big DeAundre Cranston starting for Ole Miss, they might need Pritchard’s size. Creek, meanwhile, is tied with Christian Watford as the team’s leading scorer and it will be hard to keep him out of the starting five. 2. Which Jeremiah Rivers will come to play?Will IU fans see the Jeremiah Rivers who posted 15 points and a 5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the team’s second exhibition game, or the sloppy Rivers who is averaging four turnovers and 17 percent shooting in the two regular season games? The Hoosiers will struggle this year if Rivers can’t find his rhythm and doesn’t play quality minutes. 3. Can the Hoosiers contain the Rebels’ back court?Rivers has a 7-inch height advantage on Ole Miss’ Chris Warren. It will be an interesting battle between the lockdown defender and the speedy Warren. IU has struggled some with transition defense and they might be a bit overmatched on the perimeter. For IU to have a solid chance to win, they will need to contain the Rebels’ back court, which won’t be easy. The Ole Miss trio is averaging about 14 points per game each. Prediction:Earlier this year, ESPN’s Andy Katz said this tournament will give Crean a “good barometer on where his team stands.” The first game, in particular, will likely reveal whether IU is capable of competing with top-level talent. Ole Miss should have the edge in the back court and is definitely more experienced. This is certainly a winnable game for the Hoosiers, but it might be premature to expect them to come away with this one. Maybe they will prove me wrong. That’s why they play the game. IU 64, Ole Miss 77
(11/17/09 5:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>There was some good – more solid efforts from freshmen Christian Watford, Maurice Creek and Derek Elston, among others. There was bad – IU was outrebounded in the first half and wasn’t physical enough. And then there was definitely some ugly – 18 turnovers and a 16-of-30 showing from the free throw line.IU won, and that’s probably what matters most, but it wasn’t pretty. The Hoosiers are young, they aren’t extremely experienced and they are still looking for leaders to emerge in practice. But now that the season has begun, it’s time to hold them accountable. No more pats on the back, no moral victories and no excuses.“Excuses are a sign of weakness,” IU coach Tom Crean said after the game. IU’s record might be 2-0, but they’ll need a stronger, full 40-minute effort. Scoring 69 points got the job done versus USC Upstate, but it likely won’t beat Ole’ Miss, Maryland, Pittsburgh or Kentucky. It might earn them some victories in the Big Ten, but the effort tonight won’t net anywhere near 70 points versus most of their conference foes. It is early and they are still learning, but wins will not be easy to come by when they play three games in Puerto Rico later this week.“We’re getting to play some high level guys,” Crean said. The Hoosiers have started slow in both games, but have used late first half spurts to gain momentum going into halftime. On this night it was an 8-2 run in the final four minutes that sent them into the locker room up by seven. Like the Howard contest, the Hoosiers opened it up, going up by 18 points within the first seven minutes of the second half and extended it to 20 just past the midway point. Though the Spartans did not bring it within three possessions at any point in the second half after sophomore guard Verdell Jones’ half-opening layup, they did end the game on a 21-9 run. Crean and last year’s Hoosiers know all too well what happened a season ago when they failed to shut the door on the likes of Lipscomb and Michigan. “That’s a weakness that we had last year and something we definitely need to work on,” Jones said. “When we play better teams, they’ll come back and beat us. We just have to learn to close out games better.” Jones added that they cannot blame the late second half showing on youth. More than anything, this was a “great learning experience,” as Crean said. They didn’t play poorly, and there were indeed a number of positives. IU is just lucky that they are learning this early, because no team is going to take it easy on them. As Crean said, no one cares what type of numbers IU’s young stars put up in high school. Even Watford, who has been arguably the team’s best player through the two games, is not getting too much credit from Crean. “He’s not scratching the surface,” Crean said. “He is so talented, and he’s not even close to consistent yet. I’m not here to pat him on the back. We’re here to drive him, because that’s a special young man. He can get really good.”The lesson is not that IU was bad or did not deserve to win this game. In fact, they played hard – just not hard enough from open to close. There is a lot to expect from the Hoosiers in the next 29 games, and there is reason to believe the team will be a lot better this year. That’s why it only makes sense to demand the best from this team now and not wait until they really find themselves in trouble.
(11/16/09 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>One game is in the books, and another will be after today. Then IU men’s basketball team will travel to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, where they will play three games in four days. At the end of the Puerto Rico Tip-off on Sunday, the Hoosiers will have played a total of five games in 10 days. For that reason, staying fresh will be critical for IU coach Tom Crean’s squad as they dive deeper into this grueling week. “We’ve got a game Monday, then we travel to Puerto Rico Tuesday,” freshman forward Christian Watford said after the team’s 83-60 win on Friday. “If people can come in and relieve others and we don’t really lose nothing, I feel like that’s what we need to do.” They’re off to a good start, as Crean used many combinations in Friday’s game, with no player seeing the floor for more than 26 minutes. In fact, all 12 scholarship players had entered the game by the 8:18 mark of the first half when senior center Tijan Jobe checked in for the first time. “I thought the game started to look like if we could really stay fresh, we could start to wear people down as the game went on,” Crean said after the game. And they did. Though IU went without a field goal for more than seven minutes at one point during the first half, they finished the half on a 23-9 run from that point on. IU remained fresh after halftime, as they came out of the locker room and outscored Howard 18-6 in the first six minutes of the second half. Crean wrote the word “pace” on the locker room board at halftime, he said, and he talked about how that word has taken on a new meaning this year. “We didn’t have numbers, we didn’t have a deep bench, we couldn’t play fast, so it was easy to pace yourself some. This year, that’s gone,” Crean said. “We’re going to play at a fast pace. To that, what I want them to understand is that it’s the quality of the minutes, not the quantity.” Several of the freshmen in particular exemplified that. Derek Elston played just 14 minutes, but he finished with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting, three rebounds and zero turnovers.Jordan Hulls scored two points and dished out five assists without committing a turnover in his 17 minutes of game action. In 24 minutes, Watford recorded a double-double, scoring 14 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. The forward shot 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free-throw line and made his lone 3-point attempt. Maurice Creek, meanwhile, went for 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to go along with two rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal. He said he understands the way things worked out on Friday. “You have other people on the floor that can get the job done just as well,” he said. “Time really don’t matter to me. It only matters about a win. As long as you be getting the ‘W’ in some sort, in some way, I’m perfect with that.” Playing another lower-tier Division I school today against USC Upstate, another “W” should not be hard to come by here in Game 2. But considering the team flies to Puerto Rico on Tuesday to play a talented yet underrated Mississippi squad on Thursday, each player must continue to play that quality basketball with their given minutes. Just as he has said many times before, Crean spoke about the players continuing to get used to playing at a “high level for a long time.” “If you max it out when you’re in there, you get another chance,” he said. “If you don’t, it may be a while. I want that to be the way this team is built right now.” Monday might not be much of a test in terms of playing a strong team, but by the end of the week, we will start to see what this season’s Hoosiers are really made of.
(11/13/09 4:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Nov. 12, 2008, was a special day all around – for IU coach Tom Crean, for the five freshmen who signed their national letters of intent and IU basketball as a whole. Forward Bobby Capobianco, the first recruit to commit to play for Crean at IU, had his paper work by 7 a.m. Forward Derek Elston, originally committed to play for Kelvin Sampson, soon followed and officially became a Hoosier after more than two long years of being an oral commit to IU. Forward Christian Watford and guards Maurice Creek and Jordan Hulls also signed their letters that day, while center Bawa Muniru finalized his the following afternoon. One year to the day that Muniru officially became the final member of Crean’s 2009 recruiting class, all six will finally make their Hoosier debut Friday.For Elston – a Sampson holdover – and Capobianco, who has displayed endless passion for IU basketball since the day he verbally committed in April 2008, Friday is extra special to them. The wait is over for the 6-foot-9-inch forwards, and their IU playing careers will officially begin. “It’s been a journey,” said Capobianco, who averaged 2.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11 minutes in two exhibition games. “It’s been a lot of hard work, just growing every single day, getting used to the demands of playing at such a high D-I school – especially at a school with so much tradition and trying to bring that back. “Every day has been a lot of work, but we’re really excited for the point to be here when the games are starting for real, and we can show off the work that we’ve put in.” Elston, who averaged 9 points and 7.5 rebounds in the preseason, admitted that the wait since his original September 2007 verbal commitment was difficult. He said he doesn’t spend much time reflecting on the past but is instead looking ahead for things to come and is eager to get out and play. In reflecting on his short time as a member of the IU basketball team, however, he said it has been “all I ever really wanted it to be.” “I knew it was going to be hard and I knew it was going to take a lot out of me,” Elston said. “But there’s nothing better than putting on either the practice jerseys or the actual uniforms and candy stripes and going out there ... It’s the best feeling in the world to me.” Despite all that college basketball has given Elston and Capobianco so far, both admitted that being a student-athlete – that is a student and then an athlete – has been a challenge. Yet both are handling it well. “Sometimes it does get hard,” Elston said. “I remember after the Grace game (Nov. 4) Wednesday, the next day I had two exams at 8 o’clock in the morning, so that was kind of hard. I was actually in the library until three in the morning. Times like that you just want to throw the books aside and get some rest, but you can’t because it’s books first and then basketball.” Friday, however, is about basketball as the team begins the regular season. Although Elston said the realization that he is actually playing Division I basketball – that first “moment” – came when the team took the court for the Grace exhibition game, Capobianco said it will likely really hit him Friday. “It’ll probably be (Friday) night with a packed house, with the wins and losses going for real,” he said. It’s been a long time coming for these freshmen, both of whom anxiously waited out their time as prospective IU basketball players. At last they get to play. They realize that all their hard work as recruits, and now Hoosiers, is more than about just them and about the team. “It’s a game for the whole state of Indiana,” Elston said. Game on. Prediction: Unlike Maurice Creek’s journey to IU from the Washington, D.C., area, this won’t be a pleasant trip for the Howard Bison. They are young, athletic and quick, and they have some talent, including preseason second team all-MEAC selection center Paul Kirkpatrick and guard Kyle Riley – one of two Indianapolis Pike High School graduates on the squad. But they will simply be overmatched by the Hoosiers. Indiana 83, Howard 59
(11/12/09 7:01pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tom Pritchard started every game last season. Verdell Jones averaged 15.5 points in the team’s last 10 games. And in one game in particular, Matt Roth dropped 29 points on Ohio State in just 27 minutes. “One thing that Coach (Tom Crean) said last year was freshmen halfway through the season were already sophomores, since we were already playing so much and we had to take big roles,” Pritchard said. In 31 games last season, the five freshmen from Crean’s 2008 recruiting class accounted for 60 percent of the team’s total minutes played and 68 percent of the Hoosiers’ scoring. Following the season, however, Nick Williams and Malik Story opted to transfer. But IU returns its leading scorer in senior Devan Dumes, and former Georgetown transfer Jeremiah Rivers is now eligible. Crean also brought in a talented group of freshmen. The addition of Rivers and the six freshmen make this team significantly better, and naturally, most of the hype in the offseason was about those seven players. In that regard, there isn’t as much pressure on Jones, Pritchard and Roth as one might expect. Yet playing on what is still one of Division I basketball’s youngest teams, none of those three can afford a sophomore slump. In fact, with just a few returning upperclassmen, the play of this sophomore trio is crucial to IU’s success this year. Here’s a look at what Jones, Pritchard and Roth will bring to the court: Verdell JonesOf all the sophomores, Jones had the biggest season in 2008-09. He filled the stat sheet with 18 points, five assists, four rebounds, three steals and three blocks in his first regular-season career game, and he finished the year with 11.0 points, 3.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. Perhaps more significant, the lanky guard averaged 15.5 points on a 51.5 percent shooting clip during the last 10 games and scored 23 in each of the last two contests. “He improved in a big way,” Crean said. “When you’re going through a season like we had last year, to improve like that, to have numbers like that, from Feb. 1 on, that’s a big deal.” In addition to his stellar shooting, Jones was also 10th in the Big Ten in assists and was very aggressive with the ball, getting to the foul line more than any other Hoosier except for Pritchard. Yet Jones’ aggression also led to many mistakes. Despite 100 assists, his team-high 99 turnovers came at a rate of 3.5 per game. While he admitted he prefers the point and two guard positions, Jones could see significant minutes at the wing. No matter where he plays, however, he will benefit from the depth at the guard position, especially with Rivers joining him in the backcourt. “I’ll be able to take pressure off of him, and he’ll be able to go out there and do his thing out there,” Rivers said.At a preseason press conference, Crean said Jones has significantly improved since last season, and part of that relates to his added strength. The skinny Jones has gained more than 20 pounds during his time at IU. Rivers even likened Jones’ frame to that of eight-year NBA veteran Tayshaun Prince. “You can’t tell me that guy’s not strong,” Rivers said of Prince. “I think that’s the type of body Verdell has. “He might not appearance-wise, look like he put on 30, 40 pounds like we wanted him to, but when he’s got you on the post you’re going to feel it.”Keys for Jones: Being smart with the ball, not forcing too many shots, finding a way to effectively play off the ball. Tom Pritchard Not only was Pritchard the only Hoosier to start in all 31 games last year, he also became the first freshman in IU history to record double-doubles in the first two regular season games of his career. Pritchard handled his role well last year as the big bruiser down in the post, despite only being a freshman with hardly a supporting cast to help lighten the load. Overall his numbers were solid – 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, the latter ranking eighth in the conference – but he wore down as the season progressed. Despite recording 10 or more points 13 times in the first 18 games of the year, he hit double figures just twice in the last 13 games. Meanwhile, he was held to five rebounds or fewer in 13 of the 18 Big Ten games. Still, if there was one player hit the hardest by lack of depth and size on the team, it was him. “Last year it was just me and Tijan (Jobe) fighting down there,” Pritchard said. But among the six freshmen, three are 6-foot-9 forwards and one is a 6-foot-11 center. Add in an improved Jobe, as well as the help of assistant coach Roshown McLeod in practice, and Pritchard’s job is significantly easier. “With our new offense, he’s getting a lot of dump downs, he’s dunking, and I think he’s getting his points a lot easier (in practice) than last year,” Jones said of Pritchard. Pritchard has also improved his mid-range jump shot, but Crean said the sophomore is not getting as many opportunities to score. But he has been “more efficient when he gets the ball,” Crean said. The big man’s conditioning is also “the best it’s been in my whole life,” he said, while Pritchard has added some muscle and should be able to move bigger guys around. “I’ve been able to do things that I wasn’t able to do last year,” Pritchard said. “Being 6’8”, there’s a lot of 7-footers out there, a lot of bigger guys, and I’ve got to use my lower body and get them out of the way.” Keys for Pritchard: Staying strong the entire year, staying out of foul trouble, improving free throw percentage. Matt Roth While Pritchard and Jones started a combined 56 games last year – and will likely start this year – Roth played just 21 minutes per game and started just seven times a year ago. His role still remains a bit unseen, as the depth at the guard position does not guarantee him any playing time. But this is the guy who scored 7.8 points per game in Big Ten play last year, including a 29-point outburst versus Ohio State in which he hit 9 of 11 3-pointers.Roth hit 37 percent of his threes in 2008-09, but he was often a liability and struggled defensively. He has become stronger and quicker, he said, and he has been taking steps to expand his game. “Matt’s trying to do more than just shoot threes,” Crean said. “We’re actually trying to get him to move his range in, so that he has a quicker release and at points in time can break you down off a shot fake. He’s trying to get to the offensive boards.” Last season, just 21 of Roth’s 153 field goal attempts came from inside the arc. He also shot a team-high 80 percent from the free-throw line, but on only 25 attempts. Bringing in his range will certainly help him get to the foul line, while it should make him an even greater 3-point threat than before. With a number of scoring threats at the guard position, as well as versatile forwards in freshmen Christian Watford, Derek Elston and Bobby Capobianco, it will be harder for opposing defenses to key on Roth as they once did.“If those guys get in the lane and people have to collapse on him, Matt Roth is always out there for the open shot,” Pritchard said. “His shot is looking better than ever. He’s been knocking down things in practice, and especially in that Hoosier Hysteria 3-point contest, he was really hitting those shots.” While Roth said he needs to do “all the little things” – grab rebounds and loose balls and take charges – he knows his greatest weapon is still his outside shot. “I’ve just got to keep doing what I did last year, keep shooting the ball, keep making shots,” he said. “That’s something that the coaches look for me to do, and that’s what my teammates expect me to do.” Keys for Roth: Utilizing other players to get open, getting to the free throw line, becoming more versatile by stepping inside the arc.
(11/10/09 4:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Jim Cramer had his turn. On April 4, 2007, the CNBC “infotainer” brought “Mad Money” to IU, where he taped an episode at Assembly Hall. He speculated about the stock market, he gave advice on where to invest money – the whole nine yards. As a journalism major, that kind of talk isn’t my forte. But I do know a general strategy for playing the stock market, and that is “Buy Low, Sell High.” After taking in Monday’s exhibition game, that’s my advice from Assembly Hall. Invest in the Hoosiers now. They might still be a bit down, but they’re definitely on the way up.Following its national runner-up finish in 2002, IU had its share of fluctuations under then-coach Mike Davis. In 2002-03, IU went 21-13 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Then came a 14-15 campaign in 2003-04 and a 15-14 season in 2004-05 that culminated with an opening round loss to Vanderbilt in the NIT. Davis managed to right the ship and return to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005-06, as did Kelvin Sampson in his first season. IU stood at 20-3 in 2007-08, but then, of course, the wheels started to come lose and the Sampson fallout pretty much speaks for itself at this point. After getting a second look at IU on Monday, it should have been encouraging for IU fans to see the way the team played from start to finish. Looking at the big picture, there is a tremendous upside for this program over the course of the next few years. That’s why, if you haven’t completely bought into IU coach Tom Crean and the team he is running, now is a great time. Buy them now that they are low, because they are quickly getting better. From a statistical standpoint, which certainly does not tell the full story, 16 points from freshman guard Maurice Creek, 15 a piece for junior guard Jeremiah Rivers and sophomore guard Verdell Jones and 13 from freshman forward Christian Watford immediately jump out.Creek played a rather strong game Monday, Watford continues to impress and has shot 16 of 17 from the free throw line in two games and Rivers has really been a spark plug for the team. Jones seems to have picked up right where he left off last season, as well. Most noticeably, the team was very impressive from the start in pushing the ball up the court and playing an effective, fast-paced game. Crean has brought an exciting brand of basketball to IU, and it will only get better as the team matures and also brings in the right players. “When Jeremiah Rivers is playing at that speed, when these guys are getting out playing that way, it’s showing a sign of things to come,” Crean said after the game. “I want recruits to be able to see that.” Former Hoosier guard Errek Suhr, who played on the 14-15 and 15-14 Mike Davis squads while also going to the NCAA Tournament twice, sees the upside of what is being built now with Crean. “When I played at Indiana, we weren’t always young. We were up and down, but we weren’t young,” said Suhr, who was the color commentator for the Big Ten Network’s broadcasts of the two exhibition games. “We (now) have young guys that are really good and they’re the ones that are making good first impressions. In my opinion, as they get older, we’re going to see nothing but improvement.” Yes, the Hoosiers will have their ups and their downs this season, but a long-term upward trend is in the works. Forget Wall Street. What’s starting to go down over on 17th Street will have a lot of folks saying, in the borrowed words of Cramer, ‘boo-yah.’
(11/09/09 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you thought IU coach Tom Crean would take it a bit easy on the players the day before a game, you would be wrong. Not with so few veterans and leadership yet to truly emerge. “There’s no easy practice,” sophomore guard Verdell Jones said. “We come in and work every day.” Last Tuesday, the day before IU outlasted Grace College 96-73 in an exhibition game, the team practiced and then lifted weights.This weekend was more of the same. On Friday, the team had a tough player-driven practice, Crean said. They played after the IU football game Saturday, and Sunday morning they were at it again. “I think we’ve had a good weekend,” Crean said Sunday. “They’re fatigued. They’re tired. They’re being pushed through many things. I think guys are starting to really awaken to the fact that there’s real competition for minutes and spots.” In the grand scheme of things, the final score of today’s exhibition contest with St. Joseph’s College, a Division II school, won’t matter. Instead, it is about the team having pushed through rough practices and translating their hard work to the game. A player may have busted his butt all week, but if he does not come to play tonight, he’ll have a chair waiting for him on the sideline. There’s no time for “three o’clock All-Americans.” Being a star in practice is worthless if one falls flat during games. On Sunday, Crean rattled off a laundry list of things the team touched on practice: transition defense, half-court defense, help side and weak side defense, the running game, rebounding and preparation for St. Joe. They hardly had time to run sets and work on their half-court offense, and Crean admittedly is a bit concerned about that. “We needed a lot of work on that, but there’s just not enough time in the day if you really want to get better at all those other things,” he said. That’s the reality of it, though. The Hoosiers don’t have all the time in the world to practice, and that’s what makes every day at Assembly Hall crucial. Game or no game, the players need to bring it every day. It’s where leadership is formed, and it’s where chemistry is formed. Besides, there is plenty of playing time and even some positions up for grabs. A game requires consistent play for 40 minutes, and it is essential that practices are no different. “The moment that they think it’s just about over is when we’ve got to keep going,” Crean said. Prediction: Grace deserves a lot of credit for the way they pushed IU last week, but there’s no reason for IU to get pushed around again this week against yet another smaller team. If they eliminate their mistakes, get back on defense, penetrate and continue to work the ball around, they should have no issues today. The Pumas could cause some fits for IU’s defense out on the perimeter, but it should be another big win. IU 98, St. Joseph’s 71
(11/05/09 5:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In a word, one could easily say IU played “sloppily.” They struggled with their transition defense. They missed several shots from point-blank range. They dropped a lot of passes. They turned the ball over 17 times. But IU coach Tom Crean was rather upbeat at the press conference, and rightfully so. “I love their mind-set, I love their attitude, I love their desire to get better,” Crean said. It’s not an excuse that this team is very young – it’s a reality. Eight players saw 15 or more minutes of floor time. Five were freshmen, two were sophomores and one, junior guard Jeremiah Rivers, hasn’t played in an actual game since March 2008 while at Georgetown. Though senior guard Devan Dumes sat out with a knee injury, most of this team’s rotation will be made up of freshmen and sophomores. So they’ll have their growing pains, as Crean once said. Grace College’s coach Jim Kessler might have said it best. Having been around the game long enough, he knows what a young team has to do more than practice and watch game film.“Youth has to mature, youth has to grow,” he said. “And you don’t grow until you get on the court.” After beating up on each other for almost three weeks now – and quite literally, at that – Wednesday gave IU a chance to beat up on another opponent. While that maybe didn’t go as planned, especially considering Grace held a lead as late as 12 minutes into the game and IU didn’t really pull away until mid-second half, it was a learning experience. Freshman forward Christian Watford, who had 19 points, 11 rebounds and three steals – and yes, a handful of missed layups – said the attitude in the locker room was “very positive,” but he knows there is work to be done. “We’re happy about the win, but of course we’re not overjoyed,” he said. “It went well, but it didn’t go as well as we would have liked, so we’ve just got to come in here tomorrow ready to work.”But there are plenty of things that can be placed in the positive category. IU had 21 assists on 35 field goals. Six players scored in double figures, including three freshmen. And the team shot a much-improved 22-of-29 from the free throw line, or 76 percent. Freshman guard Jordan Hulls was very impressive. Watford was too, for the most part. Rivers had his moments and appears ready to carry the team on both ends of the court. And sophomore guard Verdell Jones filled the stat sheet as always. The Hoosiers will get better, no doubt about that. But it will come with time. They have just a little more than two weeks before they open play in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tipoff against a tough Mississippi squad, and that should be their first real 40-minute test. For now, they just have to get back to practice and buy into Crean’s system, something they have already been doing. Up next is Saint Joseph’s on Monday to close out the exhibition slate, then regular season contests with Howard and USC-Upstate. IU probably will look bad at times, good at others. But this is a process. We’ve called it rebuilding, the game notes dubbed it “the restoration.” It’s just year two for Crean and the Hoosiers, a program that has already come a long way back in such a short time. It might not be all that pretty here in 2009-10, but it’s only up from here.
(11/04/09 3:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Believe the hype. There might not be any true “diaper dandy,” leave-early-for-the-NBA-type talents among IU’s highly touted freshman class, but these guys are darn good. Though center Bawa Muniru will be forced to watch from the sidelines, still awaiting his clearance from the NCAA, the other five freshmen will suit up in full uniform for the first time as Hoosiers today. While each of them has been on display at Hoosier Hysteria, the open practices and the Haunted Hall of Hoops, for many fans this will be their first look at IU’s young talent. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect from the freshmen tonight and throughout the year: No. 1 Jordan Hulls, GuardDespite averaging 17.5 turnovers per game a year ago, IU shouldn’t be as worried about sloppy play with Jordan Hulls in the game. Hulls, the 25th Indiana Mr. Basketball to play for IU, is a great leader, handles pressure well and has an extremely high basketball IQ. Offensively, he has great court vision and distributes the ball well but is also a strong shooter coming around screens and off the dribble. More than anything, he’s a winner, and after watching him play, it’s no surprise he was such a highly rated point guard prospect. No. 2 Christian Watford, Forward Christian Watford brings the Hoosiers length and versatility, two things they lacked in 2008-09. IU coach Tom Crean has called him a “match-up nightmare” as he has the ability to take smaller guys down low and can beat bigger defenders to the rim. Watford has that long, athletic, almost NBA-type body, and he likes to get to the rack on offense. He also has good range and is tough defensively. Watford was a consensus top-50 recruit, and he chose IU instead of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisville and Memphis. No. 3 Maurice Creek, GuardMaurice Creek is a threat to score any time he has the ball in his hands, so it’s no wonder Crean has referred to him as a “prolific shooter.” Though Creek has carried that reputation with him throughout high school and also on the AAU circuit, the Washington-area native is also a solid ball handler and very underrated defensive player. Last year, the four-star recruit averaged 18.4 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks for prep power Hargrave Military Academy. No. 15 Bawa Muniru, Center As expected, Bawa Muniru is raw but has lots of potential. After joining the team late this summer, Muniru has some catching up to do. His hands aren’t terrible, but he also isn’t the most intimidating shot blocker. Despite what he might have shown at Hoosier Hysteria, Muniru is a big dunker when he gets the ball in the open court. Should Muniru be cleared to play for the Hoosiers, he should be a fun player to watch develop during his four years with Crean. No. 23 Bobby Capobianco, Forward Bobby Capobianco might look like just another big body, but as seen these last few weeks, this kid’s got some range. His ability to step outside and run the floor, while also playing tough inside, should earn him minutes. He is by no means extremely athletic, but he has a remarkable attitude and work ethic. Above all, Capobianco has displayed his passion for being a Hoosier and he will likely be a fan favorite. The real question is how the students will chant his seven-syllable name. No. 32 Derek Elston, Forward Though Derek Elston hasn’t received as much hype as some of the other IU freshmen, he could arguably be the top player in the class. While Watford is known for his versatility, Elston is athletic in his own right and can essentially play any position on the floor. Elston can score inside, outside and from mid-range, and he handles the ball very well for a 6-foot-9-inch forward. As a senior, Elston averaged 19.7 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. His father, Darrell, played at North Carolina and briefly professionally. Prediction: There’s really no knowing what to expect from the young Hoosiers tonight, especially with some of the injuries recently sustained in practice. But even last year, IU opened its exhibition slate with a 32-point win versus lesser competition. The Lancers are an NAIA squad with just four players taller than 6 feet, 4 inches and, like IU, have just five upperclassmen. Grace will need more than a prayer to hang with IU.Indiana 95, Grace 60
(10/19/09 4:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the 6-foot-5 sophomore received his introduction from Don Fischer, he skipped onto Branch McCracken court, turned and threw a T-shirt into the stands and did a 360-degree turn just inside the three-point line.And as he jogged out to join seven of his teammates past mid-court, Verdell Jones couldn’t hold back his famous smile. It was going to be a fun night.Friday night’s Hoosier Hysteria had it all, from the traditional 3-point and dunk contests and scrimmage to the return of the famed “Mop Lady” – albeit a new one – and the team scrimmaging and singing with a cappella group Straight No Chaser.Even Jared “The Subway Guy” Fogle got in on the action.Following the night’s events, as the remaining fans gathered on the court to get autographs and meet their favorite Hoosiers, IU coach Tom Crean spoke with the media and made it clear that the fun and games were coming to end.“You want to have fun with it, but tomorrow we’re back at it – heavily,” Crean said. “It won’t be a dunk contest tomorrow. It will be, ‘Don’t let guys get layups, put him on the ground and make him shoot foul shots.” It also wouldn’t be Bobby Capobianco getting off easy after failing to box out Tom Pritchard, who grabbed a rebound and easily scored. Devan Dumes wouldn’t be able to airball a 3-pointer without hearing from the coaches. And there certainly wouldn’t be any collective laughter if Bawa Muniru were to dribble another ball off his foot.Saturday marked the first official practices for the Hoosiers. The team held an open practice at 4 p.m., not long after finishing their first one that began in the morning. On Sunday, it was another set of two-a-days.The NCAA permits all teams to practice up to 20 hours per week. But since Sept. 15, the Hoosiers had been allowed just two hours of official court time with Crean and the coaching staff per week.As excited as the team is to get back on the court, they now have less than three weeks before their Nov. 4 exhibition game with Grace College. That means just 25 days until their season opener against Howard on Nov. 13.“This is the biggest part of the season right here, right before we start games and go into practice,” Pritchard said Friday at Hoosier Hysteria. “(We’ve) got to listen to Coach (Crean) and find out what we’re doing because he’s the head, he knows what to do and he’s going to lead us to some wins.”Pritchard added that it will be “really crucial” as they enter practice to “work hard and do what’s right.”While this year’s IU squad is taller, more athletic and simply more talented than in 2008-09, they are still very young by all standards.Though they return last year’s leading scorer in Dumes and Georgetown transfer Jeremiah Rivers, a junior, it will be primarily freshmen and sophomores who make up the rest of the rotation.And among the most difficult tasks in rebuilding a program is getting everyone to mesh together and play as a team. That’s not easy when there isn’t a core of juniors and seniors who have played together for two or three years.In other words, the team has a lot of work to do in the next few weeks, and as Pritchard suggested, these first weeks of practice are critical.“We’ll have growing pains, we’ll have tough days, but I can promise you there will not be days where we do not work and compete to get better,” Crean said, while addressing the fans during Hoosier Hysteria. “That’s a guarantee.”While nothing else is guaranteed this year – not even wins against November opponents such as Howard, USC Upstate or Northwestern State – working hard now will pay off later. So while practice might not make perfect this season, it should go a long way for these young Hoosiers.
(10/16/09 3:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Hall of Fame football coach Vince Lombardi has often been credited with coining the quote, “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” He makes a good point, and it’s one that many teams take to heart. But when it comes to building an entire program – or in this case, rebuilding it – winning isn’t necessarily the “only thing.” After all, NCAA attendance figures from the 2008-09 season show IU averaged 14,331 fans per home game at Assembly Hall despite an overall 6-25 record. NCAA runner-up Michigan State, meanwhile, averaged 14,759 at the Breslin Center, only 428 more fans per game. These days, maybe more than ever, it isn’t always about winning the most games. For programs looking to return to national prominence such as IU, what may be most important is attracting the players who ultimately can lead to that winning. Sure, the teams with the best records and recent NCAA Tournament success have an inherent advantage, but for guys like IU freshmen Maurice Creek and Christian Watford – former four-star recruits with plenty of options – there was clearly more to it. They surely had some idea of the uphill battle their future team would face in 2008-09. But recruiting is a cyclical process. Programs recruit players, build up their teams and ultimately reach some level of success, all the while recruiting younger talent to replace outgoing players. And this goes on and on. IU coach Tom Crean, who is actively recruiting while simultaneously coaching a young team, is going to have to rely on more than just his team’s win-loss record in order to draw major talent – at least for the next year or two. As much as Hoosier Hysteria is about getting fans excited for IU basketball, it’s equally a major recruiting tool. So tonight, Hoosier fans – students especially – have an opportunity to make an impact on the numerous prospects in attendance.“When you bring recruits in for this, they’re not looking to come to a half- to three-quarter-filled building that has moderate energy,” Crean said at a press conference last week. “They’re looking at the people we’re recruiting against right now. They can go to their environment and see something fantastic, too. We want this to be top of the line, a major league event, and that’s what we’re looking forward to.” Last season, an estimated 10,000 fans made it out to Hoosier Hysteria – almost nothing compared to some other marquee programs.Kentucky’s Big Blue Madness – which sold out its 23,500 tickets in a mere 45 minutes – and Kansas’ Late Night in the Phog events have recently become two of the nation’s premier “Midnight Madness” events. But that’s not just because Kentucky and Kansas will contend for the national title this year. Instead, it’s because they will be bringing out the stars. Four- and five-star recruits, that is. And when considering the full list of prospects that will be at both Rupp Arena and Allen Fieldhouse tonight, together these perennial powers will essentially be hosting more future NBA talent than a Los Angeles Clippers exhibition game. This doesn’t even include the potential pros on their current rosters. Just two years ago, Devin Ebanks, Lance Stephenson and Dexter Strickland were all in attendance for Hoosier Hysteria. That’s one potential 2010 NBA Draft lottery pick and two recent McDonald’s All-Americans with NBA aspirations of their own.If IU wants to once again pull in those types of recruits, Assembly Hall needs to be packed with 17,000 fans every night this season, showing that IU isn’t simply a has-been program feeding off its past successes. For now, that means showing up, being rowdy and making a big impression on every guest who steps inside the building tonight. We know “It’s Indiana,” but for Crean, it’s going to take more than five hanging banners to communicate to these high school athletes what IU is about. And it starts with the students. “At these events, we need the students to be there in full force because they bring an energy that is unmatched,” said Pat Kraft, IU’s senior assistant athletics director for marketing. “We’re proud of our student body and our student athletes, and we want to show that. There’s no better way than to have a ruckus crowd, people fired up.”
(09/24/09 3:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In 31 games as the IU men’s basketball coach, Tom Crean has just six wins to his name. What his 6-25 record doesn’t capture is the number of fans and the amount of support he has won in the process off the court.Outside of his coaching duties and the hours he spends recruiting, Crean has been a fixture in front of the microphone, speaking to various groups at different events.Name any region of Indiana, and he’s ‘been there, done that.’ He was in Indianapolis on Tuesday speaking to the Rotary Club. He’ll man the microphone in Lexington, Ky., on Friday for another event.But from Evansville to Ft. Wayne, New Albany to Merrillville and everything in between and beyond state boundaries, that only matters so much at this point. Crean already has the commitment from those people.The IU fans who have made it through the “Mike Davis Era,” weathered the storm that was, and still is, Hurricane Kelvin and are still supporting the team after year one of the rebuilding process are still believers.Believers in the Hoosiers. Believers in Crean.And while there is certainly support from the students, it isn’t what it used to be, at least when you look at it from a ticket sales perspective.That’s just the nature of where things stand right now with IU basketball.So, as Crean stood behind the lectern Wednesday night, it was arguably bigger and more important than any of his other speaking engagements this year.But he didn’t need to stand up there and tell students to buy tickets. In fact, he didn’t do that at all.Crean spent more time delivering life lessons to the students in attendance than he did actually talking about filling the stands, but he was very clear about the significance of students packing Assembly Hall.“People are energized by what the students do,” he said. “They might not admit it, but the fans get energized by what the students do.”Though last year’s attendance figures were certainly down, students previously were responsible for 45 percent of the total attendance at Assembly Hall, Crean said.That 45 percent will be reached when students fully believe in the job Crean is doing.Sophomore Brice Willey is one student who already does, and by the end of night he developed an even greater respect for Crean.“I feel even more confident after going to that, that we have the right man for the job,” Willey said. “He’s passionate, his work ethic is obviously out of this world, and that’s what we need in this situation. I got a lot out of what I just went to.”Freshman Cory Snider said he believes in Crean “100 percent.” “He’s just an awesome guy,” Snider said. “It’s awesome to listen to him. He’s so inspirational.”Though the team is coming off its worst season in school history, Snider didn’t stop to think about buying student tickets this year. But he knows that there will be others who won’t.“It’s definitely a mistake,” he said. “Coming to watch IU basketball is going to be fun this year. This team’s starting to get better ... Hopefully, no one has second thoughts about getting tickets.”The second-year coach won’t win the hearts of the entire student body, and student support might still be a bit down this year, but for those who ever doubted Crean, it would be hard to walk away from last night’s address not wanting to believe in the Hoosiers.Crean can speak all he wants – around the state and around the country – but there’s no question last night’s event was the biggest for Crean, and the biggest for the program, as they move ahead toward rebuilding IU basketball.Though there’s still a zero in the wins column for this season, at least Wednesday, he delivered.
(08/06/09 12:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You don’t have to remind IU fans of some of the local talent that has gotten away in recent years. But don’t expect that to continue with Tom Crean running the IU program. In fact, the second-year IU coach reeled in his second in-state commit for 2011 when Cicero, Ind., native Austin Etherington gave his pledge to the Hoosiers on Monday.Etherington, a four-star recruit and the No. 57 player in his class according to Scout.com, confirmed his commitment that afternoon.“I decided a couple a days ago that I was going to go to IU,” the 6-foot-6 Hamilton Heights junior said in a phone interview. “I talked to my family, and they felt like it was the right place for me, too. Today, I called Coach Crean and told him that I was coming to IU, and he was really excited.”With his commitment, Etherington became the second Indiana prospect to choose IU for 2011, following the lead of Arizona native Matt Carlino, whose family moved to Bloomington earlier this summer.The 17-year-old said he knew choosing IU would allow his family to watch him play, something he said was very important to them.“They said they would support me wherever I went, but I know that they really wanted me to be close so they could watch whenever they wanted to,” he said.While Etherington said he has been to only “a couple of IU games,” the fans made a big impression on him last season, even though the Hoosiers won only one Big Ten game.“I can’t imagine how crazy it would be once they finally start getting a lot better,” he said.Of course, IU is expected to be much better when Etherington is set to join the team in 2011, something that Crean has been telling recruits.“Yeah, that’s what, always, Coach Crean kept preaching to me,” Etherington said, “saying that with the guys they have coming in, we’ll be the real deal (and) that we’ll hopefully have a chance at a national championship.”At the It Takes 5ive AAU event in Cincinnati in early July, Etherington told the IDS he had scholarships offers from IU, Xavier, Butler and Oklahoma State. Since then, Etherington said both Notre Dame and Florida told him they would offer if he visited the respective campuses. But he didn’t need to visit either school, as he realized IU was the right fit for him.Though Etherington knew that waiting on IU too long could hurt his chances of a position still being available, he said it was not why he committed early.Though highly rated by Scout.com, Etherington only somewhat recently burst onto the recruiting scene, as microfracture surgery on his knee kept him off the court for well more than a year.“I had it two years ago, but I had to sit out a year, and so I only played half the season in high school this year,” he said.Etherington’s father, Brett, who played at Butler from 1987 to 1991, said they were told by the surgeon that his son “shouldn’t have any more problems” with the knee.“It was similar to what Greg Oden had gone through,” Brett Etherington said. “He just needed to have it repaired and they repaired it and he has not had problems with it. No pain, no swelling since he was released. I don’t see any reason it would be an issue for him.” The younger Etherington said his father is 6 feet 7, so he hopes he might grow a bit more. Should he get any taller, it might validate what he has been told about his potential to be like 6-foot-10 NBA forward and Crean’s former sharpshooter at Marquette Steve Novak.When asked about shooting 3-pointers, perhaps the biggest strength of his game, Austin Etherington confirmed his love for the trey.“Oh yeah, that’s my favorite thing to do,” he said.In Cincinnati, it was clear Austin Etherington not only loved to shoot, but also was athletic, saw the court well and could finish around the basket. He then called himself “a two guard who can shoot,” but he said he knows he might play the small forward position in college.“I think that I’ll be playing a little bit of both,” he said Monday. “I do need to work on my ball handling a bit more to play the two as much as I can, but I know that I will get better at that and so I will be able to play both.”Austin Etherington also mentioned defense as something he hoped to improve upon in the next two years, and he is already showing progress.“He’s worked very hard on defense,” Brett Etherington said. “He proved that when we were out in Vegas. He guarded a lot of quick, smaller twos that he did just fine on. I was pleased with the way he performed out there.”Though Austin Etherington just committed, it didn’t take long for the 6-foot-6 guard/forward to try to talk AAU teammate Jeremiah Davis into choosing IU.Davis, a 6-foot-4 guard and four-star recruit from Muncie, has received an offer from the Hoosiers and was frequently watched by IU coaches throughout the AAU season. “I actually talked to him today quite a bit about him coming and playing too, and just telling him how much fun we could have at college and being teammates would be awesome,” Austin Etherington said.But even without Davis, Austin Etherington is happy to be a Hoosier.“He’s really excited,” his father said.