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(01/19/07 4:39am)
Let's call this season a rebirth -- a renaissance, if you will. \nGone are the days of IU not competing on the road, looking sluggish on defense and certain individuals playing awful, lazy and sloppy but staying in the game regardless. (See: Robert Vaden, Marco Killingsworth.)\nIt's been nice for Hoosier Nation.\nBut this next stretch of games will really -- I mean really -- test this team. It starts late Saturday afternoon against Connecticut on the road. The game is certainly winnable. The Huskies have been floundering of late, losing three of their last four games. But they're still a team full of talent. Having 7-foot-3 shot-blocker Hasheem Thabeet on their side could neutralize D.J. White. And if IU isn't hitting from beyond the arc, it could spell t-r-o-u-b-l-e for the Hoosiers.\nTuesday, IU travels to Champaign, Ill. to take on the Fighting Illini. The matchup will be the toughest road game for the Hoosiers this season, no question about it. Remember that whole Eric Gordon thing? You know, the kid who verbally committed to Illinois because Mike Davis was here, then gave IU another look when Kelvin Sampson was hired and eventually decided to sign with the Hoosiers? Um, I'm thinking the Orange Krush student section hasn't forgotten that. Expect a chorus of boos all game. It's going to be a voyage into the belly of the beast.\nAgain, as is the case with Connecticut, IU has an excellent chance to beat the Illini. Most of their studs are gone to the NBA. Because of it, they're searching for their rhythm, starting out at a rather pedestrian 2-3 so far in Big Ten play. And the Illini have lost twice at home this season, something they rarely -- if ever -- do.\nA home bout with Michigan comes Saturday, the most winnable of the lot. \nThen another home game, which, with IU's perfect record at home, the Hoosiers should be fine with. Problem is, it's the Wisconsin Badgers coming to town Jan. 31. They are good -- real good. The Badgers sport an 18-1 record, senior talent and leadership and solid play on the wings and the blocks. It's all there.\n "It's a tough stretch, but I think we're up to the challenge," White said of the next few games. "Like I said before, that Penn State road game helped us out a lot with our confidence. I think we have the confidence that we can play anywhere and with anybody."\nAs I noted earlier this week, in Davis' last three seasons at the helm, the Hoosiers started out 4-1 in conference play just as Kelvin Sampson's Hoosiers have this season. Then mediocrity set in. Losing streaks occurred with frequency. The Hoosiers looked battered and beaten, incapable of rising up to the challenge at times.\nThe ball is now in Sampson's hands. Davis clanged it off the backboard. \nWill the new coach do the same? Or will he softly swish it through the hoop?\nExpect a sound a little more pleasant to the ears.
(01/17/07 5:07am)
Be honest. You're out there somewhere. \nYou're the one who didn't like IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan's decision to hire Kelvin Sampson back in March.\nYou're the one who wanted a big splash name, a John Calipari, a Mark Few or, gulp, maybe even a Steve Alford. You spent much of that first day of Sampson's hire ranting and raving on the message board or blog of your choice.\nDo you still feel like it was a huge mistake? Well, if you do, um, you're wrong. \nSure, there are going to be bumps along the way. No one person or team is perfect. They'll be seasons down the line when IU struggles. Heck, that might even happen later this season. And yes, Sampson certainly doesn't have a national or Big Ten title to boast about, yet.\nBut for the here and now, Tuesday night's 71-64 win against Iowa marks the Hoosiers' fourth straight Big Ten win. Save for somewhat of a defensive lapse during the last eight minutes of Tuesday's tilt -- these were convincing, both-end-of-the-court victories.\nIn the Hoosiers' three home Big Ten wins, they've led by 20 points or more in each. At Penn State on Saturday, they finally got over their road woes and battled back against a Nittany Lions team firing on all cylinders.\nThis year's Hoosiers squad is fun to watch. They've shown they can win in myriad ways, whether it be a combination of their defense or rebounding and hot 3-point shooting or strong inside play by junior forward D.J. White. \nAt this point, the Hoosiers seem well on their way to amassing 20 wins this season, something IU hasn't done since the 2002-03 when it won 21 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.\nAnd how about this one: With IU's 4-1 start in the Big Ten so far, Sampson is the first first-year IU coach since Branch McCracken in the 1938-39 season to start out winning four of his first five Big Ten games.\nIt's still somewhat early in conference play. There's plenty of time for IU to take a dive. Don't forget that during Mike Davis' last three years at the helm, the Hoosiers started 4-1 in the Big Ten. \nBut for now, the season looks bright. And you have Mr. Kelvin Sampson to thank for that.
(01/12/07 4:59am)
If you've been following this column at any sort of frequency this season (thanks, all three of you), you've surely noticed I've shone particular praise upon IU's defense.\nI've called it stifling, hard-nosed and blah, blah, blah, yadda, yadda, yadda. \nThere's really not much more I can say.\nThis team can defend. It can rebound. Get used to it. This is Kelvin Sampson Basketball. This is now IU Basketball. \nIn addition, the home blowout wins this week against Michigan State and Purdue showed the Hoosiers' offensive versatility.\nOn Sunday against the Spartans it was junior forward D.J. White leading the charge with 21 points, as the Hoosiers' wingmen floundered from beyond the arc, going 3-of-17 for the game.\nOn Wednesday night the Boilers' defense swarmed White all night long. He only had six shot attempts all night.\nNo worries, though. There was junior guard A.J. Ratliff and freshman guard Joey Shaw, who combined for a perfect 6-of-6 from 3-point land.\nIU has so many players right around the same talent level that when a few struggle one night, another group of them shines. It's someone different showing up every night and getting it done. This certainly isn't a one- or two-man team. \nAt this current juncture, there's no reason for Hoosier Nation to believe IU won't keep chugging along and grab one of the top spots in the Big Ten. As I said earlier this week, after Ohio State and Wisconsin, there's a bulk of teams all vying for the third spot in the Big Ten, and IU appears to be emerging as the best team out of the lot.\nSo, as of now, things seem to be falling into place quite well for the Hoosiers and their first-year coach. \nExcept for one thing. \nIU hasn't won on the road this season. If they're going to rise up from that Big Ten middle crop, they're certainly going to have to snatch a few victories away from Assembly Hall.\nNow, save for perhaps the Butler game up in Indianapolis on Nov. 14, the Hoosiers went into hostile environments and competed quite well. But at Duke, Kentucky and Ohio State they became stagnant in the final minutes of close games and eventually lost. \nThey've shown particular resolve and lack of fear on the road, something Mike Davis squads lacked at times.\nPenn State provides the perfect opportunity for IU to notch its first road win Saturday afternoon.\nIt's a far less intimidating environment inside the Bryce Jordan Center than, say, Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium or Kentucky's Rupp Arena. And Penn State certainly isn't at the same talent level as Duke, Kentucky or Ohio State.\nWhen Sampson first came to IU back in March, White told his new coach one of his goals was to win on the road -- something that wasn't done with much frequency under Davis.\nSaturday's game might finally give White what he's been hoping for.
(01/08/07 5:05am)
This isn't your normal Michigan State squad. \nSaddled with injuries in the ever-important early fall months of the season, the Spartans were forced to use assistant coaches to fill in for players during practice sessions.\n"It's probably the worst year I've had as far as practices," said Spartan coach Tom Izzo, who is in his 12th season as coach at Michigan State. "Everyone thinks I've enjoyed this team -- I haven't enjoyed them at all. It's not their fault, we just don't practice. We can't practice. There's not enough players to compete against ... Everyone loses some players, but no one was as slim as us to start with."\nIzzo now has sophomore guard Maurice Joseph and freshman forward Raymar Morgan back. Both missed a number of games in December. Morgan also missed the Spartans' Big Ten opener, a loss at Iowa on Thursday night.\nIt's going to be a trying year for the Spartans, who are now 0-2 in Big Ten play, as they look to find some semblance of cohesiveness as a squad while conference play drags on. \nLate Sunday afternoon, the Hoosiers simply out-mustered, out-played and out-hustled the Spartans at every turn during their 73-51 victory in \nAssembly Hall.\nFor one of the few times all season, IU looked like the far superior athletic squad on \nthe hardwood.\nThe Hoosiers were a terror on the boards, racking up 12 on the offensive end, which aided in its 17 second-chance points for the game.\nSenior guard Errek Suhr was up to his old tricks again, drawing offensive fouls and playing tough, pressure defense against larger and more athletic opponents.\nAt one instance after a missed 3-point attempt by junior forward Lance Stemler in the first half, Errek "Mr. Scrappy" Suhr dove out of bounds for the errant rebound on the sideline, tipped it back to Stemler, who himself dove on the floor to gain possession. Soon after, the ball was into the big man, D.J. White, and it was another easy two-point bucket for the junior forward.\nThat's been the Hoosiers' calling card this season. \nThey don't have the most athletic squad in the conference or a game-changing standout player. Although if White continues to improve at this clip, that's certainly up for debate.\nBut they'll outwork you. They just seem to want it more than their opponents. \nAnd they've finally figured out coach Kelvin Sampson's offensive structure and are scoring in their sets with far more frequency. That's key for the Hoosiers, who have struggled at times on the offensive end. They've shown more discipline with the ball the last few games and have significantly lowered their turnover rate from the start of the season.\nAfter Big Ten powers Ohio State and Wisconsin, the \nconference is wide open. There's a logjam of talent and skill between IU, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Michigan State.\nIt's going to come down to hustle, smarts and heart if IU is going to emerge from that middle pack and grab the third -- or perhaps a higher spot -- in conference.\n"We don't have a large margin of error," Sampson said. "We don't have a lot of size. We just have to make up for it in different areas. For us, we just have to scrap and claw and fight and find ways to win."\nThat style should suit the Hoosiers well as the Big Ten season rages on.
(12/11/06 3:40pm)
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- There the Hoosiers were, at it again. Down five points with 2:01 to play, freshman Joey Shaw stripped the ball from the University of Kentucky's Ramel Bradley near IU's basket. Shaw hit a layup. The Hoosiers were now down three.\nOn the ensuing UK possession, senior Earl Calloway picked Derrick Jasper's pocket near half court. Calloway sped down the court and attempted a layup. Jasper, however, was there for a block, and he knocked the ball out of bounds.\nStill IU's ball. Still a chance to tie the game or trail by one. \nBut after two Shaw misses under the basket and an errant three-pointer by senior Rod Wilmont, IU never scored again. \nSo it went for the Hoosiers in their 59-54 loss to UK on Saturday afternoon in Rupp Arena. Fantastic offensive rebounding for second- and third-chance opportunities. Relentless defense. Hustling for loose balls. Terrible shooting.\nJust how terrible?\nTry 50 missed shots.\n"You have to make shots," IU coach Kelvin Sampson said after the game.\nThe Hoosiers have out-rebounded all eight squads they've played this season. I think they've out-defended all of them as well.\nBut the offense continues to be the one question mark for this team. \nAfter struggling to establish himself in the post all season, D.J. White played like the D.J. White Hoosiers fans remember from his freshman year. He was hitting shots over double teams. He played under control and looked fluid. White finished the afternoon with 23 points on 10-of-19 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds.\nDespite his effort, what IU has relied on in lieu of White all season -- hitting three-pointers and outside buckets -- was nonexistent Saturday afternoon. IU had its looks. They just didn't fall.\nThe always-on Lance Stemler had his worst shooting game of the season. He was 0-of-7 from the floor, including six missed threes. Calloway finished 2-of-10 for the game.\nCouple White's play with IU's usual outside-shooting performance, and come Big Ten season, this team will be tough to beat -- \nwhether at home or on the road.\nMuch like IU's performance against Duke earlier in the season, Saturday's game again proved this Hoosier squad can compete to win in a hostile environment on the road.\nThey were unafraid and aggressive.\nYou couldn't always say that about a Mike Davis team. (Anyone remember that 61-42 loss at Minnesota last season? Geez.)\nLet's flip that 50-missed-shots statistic around. IU missed 50 shots -- 50 shots! -- but still had a chance to win the game Saturday. The team was in a stadium known for its intimidating environment, filled to capacity with 24,253 fans. \nThat's a plus. \nAs Sampson addressed the media after the game, White sat next to him perusing the stat sheet.\nAt one point, his eyes lit up.\nPerhaps he had just run across IU's field-goal shooting for the game: 22-of-72.\nDid we really miss 50 shots?\nYes, D.J., the Hoosiers did.\nIt probably won't happen again all season. But because of it, Kentucky squeaked by with a victory. \nThe Big Ten teams won't be so lucky.
(12/08/06 5:39pm)
Hey, want to hear an obnoxiously corny and unfunny rivalry joke? \nGreat, me too.\nSo there's a Hoosier fan sitting quietly in a chair. He's fishing out of a bucket. A gap-toothed and barefoot Wildcats fan asks the Hoosier fan what he's doing. \nHe responds: "I'm fishing for suckers." \nThe Wildcat fan asks: "How many have you caught?"\n"You're my eighth one today," replies the Hoosiers fan.\nPresumably, at some point, this lame joke was shared between an IU supporter and a Kentucky one in either Indianapolis or Louisville -- the neutral sites this match-up has rotated between each year since 1991. \nThe stadiums were split 50-50. There was a sea of red on one side, a sea of blue on the other. \nVisceral shouts and screams rang from the rafters to each opposing side.\nThis year, the Hoosiers will find themselves in a sea of blue. On Saturday, IU plays the Wildcats in Lexington, Ky., at Rupp Arena.\nIs it for the better or worse? \nWell, I think part of the luster of this series has always been the polarizing fan bases cooped up in such a small area of the country. Although the state lines don't quite determine your loyalties (Hoosier fans come from Kentucky, too, you know), it's a special thing having that sort of crowd atmosphere due to each game's close proximity to each fan base.\nThat's gone this year.\nIt's still a tough pre-conference season game for each team, but it takes a bit out of it for the fans. \nIU coach Kelvin Sampson isn't worried about too much of that, though. \nHe's more concerned with using this tough non-conference game as a stepping stone for his team's continued improvement. He also wants to see how senior guards Earl Calloway and Rod Wilmont and junior guard A.J. Ratliff look on the road after not seeing much time in the second half against Duke University earlier in the season.\n"The thing about this game is, those three guys that didn't play the second half, they got to prove they can play on the road," said Sampson.\nBoth Kentucky and IU have traveled similar roads and sport similar squads this season. Kentucky is a modest 5-3 with losses against three ranked squads -- the University of North Carolina, the University of Memphis and UCLA. IU boasts a 5-2 record with loses to two ranked teams, Butler and Duke.\nThe Hoosiers have their big man in junior forward D.J. White, who averages averages 7.7 rebounds a game. Center Randolph Morris, Kentucky's low-post presence, averages 7.8.\nThe Wildcats sport the high-scoring guard duo of Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley, while IU has its own guard tandem of buckets in Wilmont and Ratliff.\nEach offense hinges on one standout low-post presence backed by solid guard play.\n"The Kentucky game is a rival game, it's a huge game," Wilmont said. "We played probably one of our best games last year against them. They're gonna come out and they're gonna remember that game from last year and what we did."\nFor those of you who don't remember, IU smacked Kentucky 79-53.\nAnd Hoosier fans -- whether in attendance or not -- would like Rod and crew to lay that smack down once again.
(12/04/06 1:32pm)
Earl Calloway, Rod Wilmont and A.J. Ratliff sat on IU's bench for much of the second half during the Hoosiers' 54-51 loss to Duke University Tuesday night.\nCertainly, you'd expect at least some combination of these three to see the floor during crunch time in such a tough nonconference affair.\nSo was IU coach Kelvin Sampson sending a message to the trio?\n"Oh, there was a message," Sampson said Thursday afternoon.\n"I threw five guys out there to start the game, they didn't play very well," Sampson said. "You know, I just didn't see a lot of confidence with that group. ... We competed the second half. You look out there and you've got a walk-on and you've got two freshmen on your perimeter, but it doesn't matter. Those guys played good. That's what matters."\nSampson was referring to the likes of senior Errek Suhr and freshmen Joey Shaw and Armon Bassett. Each played in lieu of Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff while they rode the pine in Sampson's proverbial doghouse.\nWhat does this all mean for the Hoosiers?\nFirst, let's get a few things straight: This team needs Earl Calloway on the floor. It needs Wilmont out there, too. And Ratliff's defense is essential to Hoosiers' success. \nDuring the NCAA Tournament last season, Calloway was nothing short of spectacular. Same goes for IU's Nov. 13 win against Lafayette College earlier this year. The senior guard scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and had nine assists as well.\nHe's a scorer and leader. His quickness helps, too.\nWilmont is this team's spark plug. He's instant energy any time he's on the court. Rod is IU's Red Bull if you will. He's also a great three-point shooter and the team's most prolific scorer.\nRatliff's offensive prowess isn't quite that of Rod's or Earl's (although the potential seems to be there), but his wingspan gives him an advantage over most opponents he guards.\nAll three need to be an integral part of this team if the Hoosiers expect to be successful this season.\nSome have raised concerns on the Basketblog (by the way, thanks to all that made the live blog a success during the IU-Duke game) that Sampson's philosophy of pulling his players out of a game when they commit mistakes is detrimental to the team. If a player is constantly worrying about screwing up and getting yanked from the game, he'll be too preoccupied with looking over his shoulder at Sampson to play relaxed.\nThe first-year coach seemed to quell that notion Thursday afternoon during a press conference.\n"Making mistakes isn't a crime. It's OK to make mistakes," Sampson said. "But don't repeat it. That's the message you send these kids. And don't get mad at them because they didn't play good. I can't do that. That doesn't help anybody. I spent most of the day yesterday ... Earl came by, Rod came by. They wanna know, 'Coach, what can I do?' You know that's their attitude. They wanna help the team."\nSampson said that all three of them (Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff) are kids of high character and will respond to his "message."\nSampson also said he expects Calloway to play a lot better in IU's Saturday night matchup with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte at Assembly Hall. \nOnce Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff start to minimize these mistakes and get back to where they need to be -- and Suhr, Shaw and Bassett continue to impress -- Sampson will have a lot more depth at the guard position. \nThat's a good thing. Options are nice.\nBut first, the trio must respond to their coach's message. Will it happen Saturday night against Charlotte?\nMaybe, maybe not.\nWhenever it does happen, this team will be a lot better for it.
(12/04/06 5:09am)
Everybody loves Errek Suhr. \nI do, you do (if you don't, you really should) and, upon meeting him, your grandmother would probably pinch his cheeks and call him a nice young man.\nHeck, with the holiday season looming, I'd bet the Grinch and Scrooge would have a hard time not liking him.\nHe's a Hoosier in the truest sense. Suhr is the hard-working hometown kid with veteran moxie and a heart bigger than Assembly Hall. \nAnd as a reward for his invaluable second-half play against Duke University on Tuesday night, IU coach Kelvin Sampson gave Suhr the starting nod in Saturday's 75-57 win against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. \nHe played the first nine minutes of the game. He turned the ball over. He was underwhelming.\nNow, don't get me wrong. I really do think Suhr deserved the start. In typical Sampson fashion, Suhr's inspired play got him into the starting five. He earned it -- for one game.\nSampson talked a lot about this team's "identity" and finding its "roles" this season. \nSuhr's play probably helped speed along the process of Sampson figuring out the identity of the point guard position -- the most perplexing challenge for the new coach this season.\nThe former walk-on's role is being an instant spark off the bench. Come in, draw a charge, nail a three, get a steal. He can bring the crowd to its feet. He's great at it. It's where he fits in on this team. And it's exactly what he did in the Duke game. He came off the bench and provided instant energy.\nSo that leaves Sampson with senior Earl Calloway or freshman Armon Bassett getting minutes as the floor leader. \nProblem is, neither seems to possess the mentality Sampson desires out of his point guard. He wants his floor leader to set up shop in the half-court offense and feed other IU players for a score. So far, each seems to own more of a scorer's mentality.\n"Earl's not a half-court, run-your-team point guard. That's not what he is," Sampson said. "Let him attack, let scoring be who he is. Because I think he can score. The more he attacks, the better Earl is as your point guard."\nBassett saw time almost exclusively at shooting guard against Charlotte.\nThere were numerous times in both halves when Calloway played faster than the team, quickly dribbling the ball ahead and finding himself in the face of four 49er defenders. He had to wait for the Hoosiers to get back down the court to get anything going. This type of play seems to have irked Sampson a bit this season.\nBut when IU followed with the senior in transition, the 49ers were thoroughly outclassed.\nWhen the combination of Bassett, Calloway, D.J. White, A.J. Ratliff and either Lance Stemler or Ben Allen was on the floor, IU's offense looked the best it has all season.\nThe Hoosiers were athletic and strong. They were intimidating and fluid. Their half-court play was solid, too.\nA mix of quick transition \nbasketball and half-court sets seems to fit this team the best.\nI'm not quite sure if that's exactly how Sampson wants this team to look, but he might have to concede to this play a bit if he wants IU to compete with the likes of an athletic, talented Ohio State squad once Big Ten season rolls around. \nIt seems as if Sampson is starting to understand Calloway isn't his ideal point guard, but that's going to be OK.\n"That's part of learning with these guys," Sampson said. "I didn't see Earl play in high school or junior college. I didn't see him play last year here. What I've seen of Earl Calloway has been in the last two months. As you get to know him, you realize that Earl's not gonna go out there and run your team. That's not his deal."\nSaturday night in his post-game address, Sampson said his Hoosiers are "a lot closer" to figuring out their identity.\nThat identity just might not be exactly what he envisioned.
(12/01/06 6:31pm)
Earl Calloway, Rod Wilmont and A.J. Ratliff sat on IU's bench for much of the second half during the Hoosiers' 54-51 loss to Duke University Tuesday night.\nCertainly, you'd expect at least some combination of these three to see the floor during crunch time in such a tough nonconference affair.\nSo was IU coach Kelvin Sampson sending a message to the trio?\n"Oh, there was a message," Sampson said Thursday afternoon.\n"I threw five guys out there to start the game, they didn't play very well," Sampson said. "You know, I just didn't see a lot of confidence with that group. ... We competed the second half. You look out there and you've got a walk-on and you've got two freshmen on your perimeter, but it doesn't matter. Those guys played good. That's what matters."\nSampson was referring to the likes of senior Errek Suhr and freshmen Joey Shaw and Armon Bassett. Each played in lieu of Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff while they rode the pine in Sampson's proverbial doghouse.\nWhat does this all mean for the Hoosiers?\nFirst, let's get a few things straight: This team needs Earl Calloway on the floor. It needs Wilmont out there, too. And Ratliff's defense is essential to Hoosiers' success. \nDuring the NCAA Tournament last season, Calloway was nothing short of spectacular. Same goes for IU's Nov. 13 win against Lafayette College earlier this year. The senior guard scored 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting and had nine assists as well.\nHe's a scorer and leader. His quickness helps, too.\nWilmont is this team's spark plug. He's instant energy any time he's on the court. Rod is IU's Red Bull if you will. He's also a great three-point shooter and the team's most prolific scorer.\nRatliff's offensive prowess isn't quite that of Rod's or Earl's (although the potential seems to be there), but his wingspan gives him an advantage over most opponents he guards.\nAll three need to be an integral part of this team if the Hoosiers expect to be successful this season.\nSome have raised concerns on the Basketblog (by the way, thanks to all that made the live blog a success during the IU-Duke game) that Sampson's philosophy of pulling his players out of a game when they commit mistakes is detrimental to the team. If a player is constantly worrying about screwing up and getting yanked from the game, he'll be too preoccupied with looking over his shoulder at Sampson to play relaxed.\nThe first-year coach seemed to quell that notion Thursday afternoon during a press conference.\n"Making mistakes isn't a crime. It's OK to make mistakes," Sampson said. "But don't repeat it. That's the message you send these kids. And don't get mad at them because they didn't play good. I can't do that. That doesn't help anybody. I spent most of the day yesterday ... Earl came by, Rod came by. They wanna know, 'Coach, what can I do?' You know that's their attitude. They wanna help the team."\nSampson said that all three of them (Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff) are kids of high character and will respond to his "message."\nSampson also said he expects Calloway to play a lot better in IU's Saturday night matchup with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte at Assembly Hall. \nOnce Calloway, Wilmont and Ratliff start to minimize these mistakes and get back to where they need to be -- and Suhr, Shaw and Bassett continue to impress -- Sampson will have a lot more depth at the guard position. \nThat's a good thing. Options are nice.\nBut first, the trio must respond to their coach's message. Will it happen Saturday night against Charlotte?\nMaybe, maybe not.\nWhenever it does happen, this team will be a lot better for it.
(11/28/06 4:12am)
As you might have noticed, the 2006 IDS basketball guide dropped today. IU is also playing Duke University tonight. The game is at 9 p.m. on ESPN. Lots of men's basketball going on today. \nSo presumably, it's quite the exciting time around campus if you're a fan of the basketballing Hoosiers.\nWe also have a little Internet endeavor located on the IDS Web site. It's a men's basketball blog, conveniently found on the Internet at www.idsnews.com/basketblog. Since I'll be doing my best Jay Mariotti-Bill Simmons impersonation and I won't actually be in Durham, N.C., tonight (grumble, grumble), I've decided to give you the unique opportunity to become my Internet friend.\nAnd just how do you do that?\nWell, I'll be live-blogging the affair tonight on the Basketblog. If you're unfamiliar with the concept of a live blog, let me explain: Essentially, I'll be analyzing and commenting on the game up-to-minute all night long about anything and everything. Mostly, it will be on the actual game play. But I'll also throw in some observations on the telecast and commercials. Maybe I'll even keep a tally of how many times Dick Vitale mentions "Robert Montgomery Knight" during the broadcast. \nSo if you're stuck in the library and looking for some details about the game tonight, head to the Basketblog.\nHeck, you could even sit on your couch all game, laptop on your, well, lap and read along all game. It will be quite the experience, trust me.\nAlso, leave me some comments under the post. Because if you don't, I'll be alone. \nAnd you wouldn't want me to be all alone, would you?\nHope to see you out there on the Wacky Wild Web tonight.
(11/27/06 8:03pm)
Before a Big Ten game, an NCAA Tournament appearance or a full season under his belt, Hoosier Nation has embraced IU coach Kelvin Sampson.\nIt wasn't always such a loving squeeze, though.\nWhen IU announced Sampson's hiring March 29, it was more of a cold shoulder. Hoosier fans were underwhelmed. Message boards were on fire with angry outcries. He wasn't John Calipari, Tom Crean or Mark Few, all rumored to be possible suitors to the Hoosier crown. Nor was he Steve Alford or Randy Wittman, "IU guys" who -- in lieu of the man himself -- could at least bring some of The General's spirit back to Assembly Hall.\nHe was, well, Kelvin Sampson. And there wasn't anything inherently exciting about that. \nBut since the initial reaction, the fans calmed down. There's always going to be a preliminary backlash when change occurs. Especially at IU, a place expecting excellence but reeling from a few straight years of substandard play under former coach Mike Davis. \nAnd Sampson has done a lot to quell the doubters himself.\nHe blazed a trail around the state of Indiana this summer, giving speeches and meeting Hoosier supporters. He's reached out to former players to gauge their input.\nThat, coupled with fans knowing his resume -- one that includes Sampson winning 20-plus games at Oklahoma in each of the past nine seasons -- made the doubters begin to realize just how good of a coach he is.\nAnd when Sampson wrenched prized recruit Eric Gordon from the grips of Illinois coach Bruce Weber and the Illini, his support grew again.\nAt Hoosier Hysteria on Oct. 13, the same day Gordon announced he would attend IU, Sampson received a raucous ovation from those in attendance. He's also been getting the loudest applause during pre-game introductions at Assembly Hall.\nStill, there are those who might never embrace Sampson. They feel his NCAA sanctions for recruiting law infractions are unacceptable, no matter how minor his penalty is.\nBut victories and championships will make some of them forget that stuff.\nSure, Sampson's been successful at every stop along the way and sports an impressive resume. And sure, he can win 20-plus games each year at IU, just as he did his last nine years at Oklahoma. He can be awarded The Associated Press' Coach of the Year as coach of the Hoosiers, just as he did when he headed the Sooners. \nBut unless Sampson wins a national title during his tenure here, he'll be known as a great coach who never quite put it all together, who never reached the top of the mountain, who never fully returned the team to where Hoosier Nation expects it to be.\nSampson's teams look and play rather similar to those of Bob Knight. They love to teach the game of basketball. They play inside-out and emphasize defense. Make a bad play out on the court? Sampson will yank you right out of the game no matter who you are, just like Knight. Can you imagine if Mike Davis would have pulled his players out of the game every time they made a mistake? Some games Marco Killingsworth and Robert Vaden would have played a combined five minutes.\nBut Sampson's been quick to point out that he's looking toward the future with his team and not into the past. He understands the IU basketball tradition, but he's anxious to leave his own mark. He is not Robert Montgomery Knight, nor should he try to be. But either way, the similarities exist.\nSo here Kelvin Sampson stands. Thirty years removed from IU's perfect 32-0 season and nearly 20 years from its last national title. Will he be the one to return IU to glory, or is he just another coach to forever live in Bob Knight's shadow?\nThis season should give us our first indication.
(11/27/06 4:29am)
Seventy and three.\nThat is Duke University's home record in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 2002.\nGiven this daunting statistic, a win at Duke Tuesday night is possible for IU but (obviously) not very probable.\nIf anything -- much like last year's tilt in Assembly Hall against the Blue Devils -- Tuesday night's game against Duke will serve as a measuring stick for where IU is at this early-season juncture. \nCan the Hoosiers keep the game close? Can they compete with a quality, talented and ranked opponent? Can they perform in a hostile fan environment, or will they crumble under the pressure?\nIt will give a squad still finding its way some valuable experience and another 40 minutes to figure things out on the court.\nEven with last year's loss to the then-No. 1 Blue Devils, there still seemed to exist some sort of eternal optimism from Hoosier Nation that IU was headed in the right direction.\nAfter falling behind by as much as 14 early in the first half, IU clawed back. Once Marco Killingsworth grabbed a rebound with just under eight minutes left in the second half, drove down the court, passed to Rod Wilmont, who then kicked it back to him for perhaps the dunk of last season, IU took the lead 59-58. \nThe Hoosiers eventually lost 75-67. Still, Hoosier Nation learned on Nov. 30 of last year that IU at its best -- stress on "at its best," not the team with a sluggish Killingsworth or faltering from constant speculation on the status of its coach -- really could compete against one of the nation's top teams.\nIf IU shows up Tuesday night against Duke and plays well, even in a losing effort, IU fans just might feel the same way about this year's Hoosier squad.\nAnd for as much as everyone is hyping this matchup as a big game, it's certainly not the end all, be all for this team at such an early point in the season.\n"You've just got to play. It's just like another road game," junior forward D.J. White said during a press conference last Wednesday afternoon. "I know everyone talks about how big this game is, how tough it is playing Duke. We've got to go in focused just like we're playing here and put the crowd behind us and go with the game plan."\nBut the problem for these Hoosiers is they haven't gotten to play. After losing 60-55 to Butler on Nov. 14, IU missed out on the opportunity to advance to the finals of the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament and with it, the possibility of getting another two games under its belt this past week in New York.\n"This (past) week I would much rather (have been) in New York. No question," IU coach Kelvin Sampson said. "This team needs to play games. We need to play a lot of games. We need to play games against people where we can build our confidence up."\nBecause of the Butler loss, IU will have sat idle for nine days before its matchup with Duke Tuesday night.\nSampson said during the break from games, the Hoosiers have worked in practice on staying focused, executing on offense and guarding the ball better. \nThey are also coming off their most complete performance of the season, a 90-69 win against Chicago State University.\n"The thing about Duke is that they're going to get everybody's best shot, whoever they play," Sampson said.\nIU's best shot might not be enough for a victory, but it will be enough to keep the team moving in the right direction.
(11/20/06 5:16am)
Armon Bassett knows how to control the point of attack. Problem is, the freshman guard doesn't always show it.\n"In those two games in Indianapolis, Armon didn't know whether he was on foot or horseback," said IU coach Kelvin Sampson, referring to last Monday's game against Lafayette College and last Tuesday's against Butler. "He looked over there and saw Dick Vitale and ESPN, and he didn't know whether he was pitching or catching. He's a freshman. But he's getting better. Look at him (Sunday)."\nAnd so it goes for a freshman adjusting to the level of collegiate play. At times this season, Bassett has been fantastic, running the show for the Hoosiers. And at other times, he's looked a bit confused. \nOn Sunday, in IU's 90-69 win against Chicago State University in Assembly Hall, Bassett was all brilliance. \nAt one instance in the first half, he went up for a 15-foot jumper and decided mid-air to dish it off to a wide-open D.J. White in the lane. D.J. threw down a thunderous two-handed slam.\nThe two were at it again in the second half. Bassett streaked down the lane and dished it to an open White with a little more than five minutes to go in the game. And what was the result? Why, it was another two-handed monster slam. \nOn the next Hoosier possession, Bassett slashed down the lane once more. This time, he opted for a keeper, made a layup and drew a foul. He hit the and-one attempt to complete the three-point play. \nBassett wasn't just feeding it to IU's big man. With just over two and a half minutes left in the game, he took it from one end of the court to the other and dished it with one hand to IU's little man, Errek Suhr, who was coming down the wing on his right. The senior drew a goaltending call on his layup attempt. It was another two points for IU, courtesy of Bassett's brilliance. \nThe Terre Haute native nearly achieved a double-double, scoring 10 points and tallying nine assists for the game.\nLance Stemler, who is quickly becoming the Marshall Strickland of this year's squad for his ability to hit the open shot (he even has Strickland's old No. 22 jersey to boot), described Bassett's play this way: "He's solid with the ball, and he makes smart plays. He finds the open guys and runs the team. He does it in practice. He's just solid."\nBassett started in lieu of senior point guard Earl Calloway and played 29 minutes to Calloway's 12. Sampson said he saw more confidence out of his lineup by starting Bassett and freshman Joey Shaw, who started in place of Rod Wilmont.\nIf Samspon thought nerves hindered Bassett's play in Indianapolis, the first-year coach should start Calloway in IU's next game of the season, a Nov. 28 tilt with Duke University in Cameron Indoor Stadium. I'm thinking the atmosphere there might be a little more intense than a barely half-full Conseco Fieldhouse composed of mostly IU fans. \nBut for now, Sampson knows Bassett's got some swagger after Sunday's win. \n"Armon will have a little more bounce in his step (Monday)," Sampson said.\nOnly today, coach? With a performance like Sunday's, Bassett has the right to strut all the way up to the Thanksgiving dinner table.
(11/17/06 4:54pm)
Hey, are you ready for this one? IU has played the Indiana State Sycamores four times since 1999. The Hoosiers lost three of them and emerged victorious just once.\nThere was the 72-67 fiasco in Terre Haute last year in which former IU player Marco Killingsworth had almost as many turnovers (seven) as points (10). IU squeaked by ISU two years ago with a 56-52 win Assembly Hall. In 1999 and 2000, IU dropped back-to-back games against Indiana State.\nDisheartening? Sure. Pathetic? Maybe a bit.\nFor the players of Indiana State (and Butler as well) that grew up in Indiana and never got so much as a sniff from the coaching staff at IU, playing against the Hoosiers is a big deal. They want to beat the cream and crimson. They want to prove to IU they're worth something.\n'You want to not recruit us? We're going to try and make you pay.'\nIt's perhaps their biggest game of the season.\nButler has six players from Indiana. Indiana State has seven.\nA.J. Graves of Butler proved a threat Monday and Tuesday night in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament. Graves hails from Switz City, Ind. and played high school ball for White River Valley High School. He had dreams of playing for the cream and crimson, but, as he was an undersized guard, IU never came calling.\nThe junior poured in 28 points against another big-name in-state school, Notre Dame, Monday.\nTuesday, although IU limited Graves to 4-of-18 shooting during the Hoosiers' 60-55 loss to the Bulldogs, he still found a way to take it to them. Graves tallied 20 points. He was 10-of-10 from the foul line and added the biggest dagger to the Hoosiers' hearts late in the game. As the shot clock buzzed with five seconds to go in the second half, Graves heaved up a desperation 3-pointer. It bounced off the backboard and into the net. 60-55 Butler. IU had no chance for any late-game heroics after that.\nSo how do the Hoosiers go about combating this sort of inspired play tonight?\nWell, they should start with their heads.\n"We just didn't play smart enough. We got to play smarter with the lead," IU coach Kelvin Sampson said after the Butler loss.\nIU's lead spiked to 12 with 11:45 left in the second half. Six turnovers, a few fouls and some rushed shots later, the Hoosiers were down 50-49. They never led again.\nTalent-wise, Butler is not better than IU and neither is Indiana State, however they can both beat the Hoosiers if IU makes mistakes, D.J. White is held in check and their players compete as if beating IU is like winning a national championship.\n"I don't care what I shoot as long as we get the W," Graves said after Tuesday's game against IU.\nPerhaps that's the anthem for every Indiana kid the Hoosiers have ever overlooked.
(11/13/06 5:12am)
Both IU men's basketball exhibition games are in the books. Both were blowouts. Both featured a work-in-progress D.J. White and a surprisingly solid Armon Bassett, the backup/counterpart to Earl Calloway. Both displayed the sharp-shooting of junior college transfer Lance Stemler.\nBut what stood out above all else at this early-season juncture was the stifling, hard-nosed defense. \nJust ask University of Indianapolis coach Todd Sturgeon.\n"Their defensive pressure kind of wore us down. The fact is (IU) coach (Kelvin) Sampson's really got them defending hard," Sturgeon said during his media address following IU's 83-46 shellacking of the Greyhounds Friday night. "For crying out loud, they picked us up all over the floor the whole game." \nHe's right.\nWith IU up by more than 30 points during the second half Friday night, Calloway (who nursed a flu-induced, 102-degree fever most of last week, by the way) pressured the Greyhounds' point guard full-court on numerous occasions, as did Bassett when he took over defensive duties on Indianapolis' pointman.\nThat sort of defense is what IU basketball was known for under direction of former coach Bob Knight. The Hoosiers might not be the favorite to win the conference this year (Wisconsin) or have the most talent (Ohio State), but pressuring the opponent at every juncture is going to give IU a chance to succeed each year.\nThat's not to say the Mike Davis era didn't feature good defense. It just seems like early on under Sampson, the level of defensive play been raised a few notches -- perhaps back to Knight level.\nFor as much praise as Sampson gave his defense -- "There was a spurt in the second half defensively that I thought we were outstanding," Sampson said following the Indianapolis game -- he was also quick to point out its lapses.\n"I probably never am (happy with the defense)," Sampson said. "The toughest thing for a freshman to do is defend a screen. ... We had a chance at a five-count and Armon runs right into the middle of a screen. If Armon was in the forest, he'd run into the trees. That's a freshman. He'll get better at that as he goes."\nAs impressive as the Hoosier defense has been, the offense has struggled. It's been sloppy, out-of-synch and confused at points during the exhibition matches.\nBut that's OK.\nAs Sampson continues to stress, this is a group of men learning an entirely new offense under a new coach, and it's going to take some time for the Hoosiers to work as a unit.\n"When you've got a group like this and we're trying to figure things out, you're going to have some head-scratching possessions occasionally," Sampson said. \nThe Hoosiers start their regular season tonight against Lafayette College at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. They will take on either Notre Dame or Butler on Tuesday. During both games, there are going to be some hiccups on offense. \nAgain, that's OK.\nBut in 15 days, the Hoosiers take on Duke University in Cameron Indoor Stadium. If the offense isn't figured out by then, IU could be in big, big trouble.
(11/06/06 5:07am)
D.J. White knows he'll get better. Kelvin Sampson knows it, too. But White's reaction to the IU coach as he addressed his power forward's lack of defensive aggresiveness in the first half against the University of North Dakota wouldn't tell you that.\nHe fidgeted with a towel as he sat to his coach's right, and after Sampson dropped this bomb, you'd think he was about to bury his head in it for good.\n"(His) defense in the first half was nonexistent," Sampson said sternly. "No. 54 (North Dakota forward Mike Gutter) I'm sure thought he was playing skeleton offense because there was nobody guarding him the first three possessions."\nDespite Sampson calling out his junior, the general tone from both White and his coach after Sunday's 95-50 whack-job against the Fighting Sioux was that they aren't worried. And they shouldn't be. After all, it's the junior's first game since Jan. 7 when he broke a bone in his foot against Ohio State in Bloomington. Sampson stressed that it's been two seasons since D.J. started out the year free of injury.\nIt's going to take time for White to get back into game form, where he's used to making moves in the post and hitting short jumpers or being an intimidating shot blocker under the rim. \nAnd Sunday's matchup was an exhibition. The early games are all about finding your stride and getting back into game form. They're about figuring out your spot within the team's offense (and in this case, a completely different offense from last year's under a new coach). White's return to form isn't going to happen overnight. But it will happen.\n"You can tell he's rusty," Sampson said. "I told him, 'Don't worry about any of this.' These exhibition games are what they are. You're supposed to develop some rhythm, get some chemistry on the court and just work to get better."\nD.J. had his looks; he just didn't hit many shots. At one particular instance, you could see his frustration after a close jumper he took rattled off the rim. He clapped his hands together and let out a yell as he headed back down the court on defense.\n"It's an off-night," said White. "They're shots I usually hit. Coach knows that. My players know that. I know that. I just didn't hit them. It's something I got to do to help my team."\nIt's not that D.J. played particularly badly -- he just didn't play up to the level he knows he can or that Hoosier Nation expects from him. He showed flashes of his former self with a perfectly executed pick-and-roll alley-oop slam from Earl Calloway for the game's first two points. He had a powerful block on the aforementioned Gutter early in the second half.\nAt times it looked as if he was almost trying too hard, flying around the court and trying to block every shot from the Fighting Sioux.\nWhen asked what he thought about his coach's assessment of him, White agreed.\n"He's right," the junior said. "Like he said, I was a little rusty. That comes along with it. I feel like as the games go on, I'll get my familiarity out there on the court and I should be fine. It's no worries."\nNo worries here either.
(11/02/06 5:00am)
My Chemical Romance's newest effort, The Black Parade, oozes with theatrics. From its loose concept theme about a cancer patient -- effectively named "The Patient" -- in a hospital to its rock opera-esque sound reminiscent of Queen and David Bowie, lead singer Gerard Way directs his band mates through the 14-track disc like a modern day Music Man.\nAlthough some cuts such as "The Sharpest Lives" and "House of Wolves" harken back to MCR's in-your-face screamo roots prevalent on 2004's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, or 2002's I Brought You Bullets My Bullets You Brought Me Your Love, The Black Parade jumps around the musical spectrum, splicing in different styles and genres. Sometimes, it's acoustic guitar and piano. Other times, its vaudeville, with the aforementioned hint of Queen and Bowie.\nIn the album's lead track, incongruously titled "The End," Way welcomes you into his theater. "Come one come all to this tragic affair," he sings. The single, "Welcome to the Black Parade," starts out subtly with a hint of piano and a marching band tom drum beat. MCR has the listener at this parade -- with Way twirling his microphone as a baton stick -- before we get into its rather melodic chorus and Mark Hoppus/Tom Delonge-ish outro.\nIf there's one thing MCR does well on The Black Parade and on their previous efforts, it's the ability to write some insane hooks. "Teenagers" sounds like a bit like T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get it On)" with its muted guitar and its gentle -- dare I say sexy - singing style. Some are heralding MCR's lastest disc as the "Sgt. Pepper's" of screamo, with its grandiose thematic elements and new, dynamic, adventurous sounds.\nThough that's probably a bit presumptuous (it is the freakin' Beatles, after all) MCR deserves applause for stepping out of the whiney, scream-y bounds of their emo counterparts and building something of universal substance.
(11/02/06 3:56am)
My Chemical Romance's newest effort, The Black Parade, oozes with theatrics. From its loose concept theme about a cancer patient -- effectively named "The Patient" -- in a hospital to its rock opera-esque sound reminiscent of Queen and David Bowie, lead singer Gerard Way directs his band mates through the 14-track disc like a modern day Music Man.\nAlthough some cuts such as "The Sharpest Lives" and "House of Wolves" harken back to MCR's in-your-face screamo roots prevalent on 2004's Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, or 2002's I Brought You Bullets My Bullets You Brought Me Your Love, The Black Parade jumps around the musical spectrum, splicing in different styles and genres. Sometimes, it's acoustic guitar and piano. Other times, its vaudeville, with the aforementioned hint of Queen and Bowie.\nIn the album's lead track, incongruously titled "The End," Way welcomes you into his theater. "Come one come all to this tragic affair," he sings. The single, "Welcome to the Black Parade," starts out subtly with a hint of piano and a marching band tom drum beat. MCR has the listener at this parade -- with Way twirling his microphone as a baton stick -- before we get into its rather melodic chorus and Mark Hoppus/Tom Delonge-ish outro.\nIf there's one thing MCR does well on The Black Parade and on their previous efforts, it's the ability to write some insane hooks. "Teenagers" sounds like a bit like T. Rex's "Bang a Gong (Get it On)" with its muted guitar and its gentle -- dare I say sexy - singing style. Some are heralding MCR's lastest disc as the "Sgt. Pepper's" of screamo, with its grandiose thematic elements and new, dynamic, adventurous sounds.\nThough that's probably a bit presumptuous (it is the freakin' Beatles, after all) MCR deserves applause for stepping out of the whiney, scream-y bounds of their emo counterparts and building something of universal substance.
(10/31/06 4:41pm)
Ask Kelvin Sampson how IU's first few weeks of practice have gone, and he'll talk at length about his team still adjusting to him and his coaching style. The first-year coach will expound upon how even though point guard Earl Calloway is a senior, he's really just a freshman in Sampson's new system. But mention the words "recruiting," "Bruce Weber," "Illinois" or (gulp) "Eric Gordon," and Sampson's demeanor changes. His answers are short and cold. He'll ask you to ask the question again, though he likely understood you and your intentions the first time. Then he'll say he can't comment about it.\nWhich, in essence, is true. \nBylaw 13.10.2 of the NCAA Division I Manual -- aptly titled "Comments Before Signing" -- says a school can't comment publicly about a recruit's skills or what he could add to the team before the recruit signs a national letter of intent. An institution can only confirm "its recruitment of the prospect" and may not comment in any manner "as to the likelihood of the prospect's signing with that institution." \nSo Sampson can't spew his thoughts about Gordon's explosive game or how he'll fit in next year until Gordon signs with IU during the fall window of Nov. 8-15, which the North Central High School star is expected to do.\nHowever, Sampson can talk about whether or not he's chatted with Illinois coach Bruce Weber recently, what he thinks about the perceived fervor the situation has created or his reactions to what some other coaches in the Big Ten and fans see as unethical. He can speak in generalities about his recruiting philosophies. He can chat about his ideology on verbal commitments. \nHe's chosen not to. He's deflected those types of questions, throwing them in the "I can't talk about that stuff" pile. Which, again, is his prerogative. If he doesn't want to talk about Illinois, he certainly doesn't have to -- even though it appears he certainly can.\nPerhaps if Gordon signs with IU during the November signing period, Sampson will finally open up and explain his rationale. He'll tell us it was a unique situation and he didn't think he was in the wrong. This is a man, after all, who said during his introductory press conference March 29 that the first thing he was going to try to do was get the best players in Indiana to come to IU.\nHe's certainly followed through on that promise with Gordon. \nThe longer Sampson holds out, the more Weber, who has been rather open and forthcoming about the situation, looks like the good guy.\nAt this point, Weber has nothing to lose by speaking so candidly about the situation, and Sampson has nothing to gain. Gordon is no longer Weber's recruit. He's Kelvin Sampson's. \nWhen asked whether Sampson had given him a phone call when the Gordons first entertained the idea of committing to IU, Weber indicated that he never received one -- a supposed ethical no-no among coaches. Purdue coach Matt Painter and revered Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said a coach-to-coach call is standard operating procedure.\n"Obviously some of the controversy would have not happened (if Sampson had called)," Weber said. "That would have been a better situation."\nThe Big Ten's sharks seem to be circling around coach Sampson. Maybe it's time to open the lines of communication.
(10/16/06 3:22pm)
During Hoosier Hysteria's dunk contest Friday night, IU coach Kelvin Sampson hopped up off the bench, ran to center court and said into the mic: "This is the worst dunk contest I've ever seen in my life."\nMaybe he made this bold statement because it was, in fact, the worst he'd ever seen, with contestants Mike White, Rod Wilmont, Xavier Keeling and Joey Shaw missing an unhealthy amount of dunks during the competition. (And isn't that the case with most dunk contests nowadays -- 10 misses for every make?)\nOr perhaps it was a statement that underlined what Sampson was getting at all last week when asked about Hoosier Hysteria -- that he's ready to be done with all the peripheral mumbo-jumbo and just get down to the business of coaching his basketball team.\n"I'm anxious to start practice tomorrow," Sampson said Friday night before he and his team took the floor. "When your season ends the previous year, you are at such a loss because you don't have a game to get ready for...I'm anxious to get started. (I'm) really excited about this team. I'm pleased with the way they've attacked preseason conditioning. These kids have worked hard, and they are going to work a whole lot harder starting tomorrow."\nSince his hiring in March, Sampson's been around the entire Hoosier state, giving speeches to organizations and allowing fans and supporters to get face time with him. He's met alumni, important group leaders and common folk. He's talked, he's courted, he's tried to make his best impression on individuals who will be watching his team intently all season. He's run his team through intense conditioning drills and weightlifting sessions. And, finally, amidst a storm of message board banter and blog posts, he's landed top recruit Eric Gordon Jr. after a see-saw battle with Illinois coach Bruce Weber.\nFrankly, he's done a lot.\nBut he hasn't done what he's wanted to do the most -- coach his Hoosier team.\n"I don't mind public speaking, I love basketball camps, I enjoy recruiting, but I love to coach," Sampson said. "There's nothing I enjoy more than coaching."\nAfter all his players stormed out on the court one-by-one and his coaching staff was introduced, the 14,000 plus in attendance Friday night started their 'Kel-vin Samp-son' chant even before the man graced the floor. Once he ran out of tunnel and onto the court, the Hoosier faithful inside Assembly Hall were loud -- the loudest they were all Friday night, in fact. He tried to speak a few times, but the cheers still hadn't quite died down yet. When the fans finally let him talk, he touched on wanting all his players to graduate, running a clean program and he and his team "competing their butts off every single night." \nWith each point he made, Assembly Hall erupted in cheers. But Sampson's not interested in the sounds of thousands of screaming fans inside his stadium.\nNot yet, anyway. \nHe's too excited about other sounds. Those of whistle blows, basketball dribbles and his players huffing and puffing in the quiet comfort of an Assembly Hall practice.
