While the immediate future of Indiana basketball sits on a limestone precipice in Bloomington, for the second time in two weeks the Hoosiers succumbed to the discipline and chemistry of Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin Badgers (20-4). Despite possessing two NBA lottery picks, through 24 games Indiana has thus far been incapable of beating a worthy opponent. They get another chance on Saturday night when the Spartans come to Bloomington.
Swing Poetry
Mental toughness is required to survive a battle in a packed Assembly Hall. Much as it did in Madison on January 31, the Badgers have an elemental belief in their coach and their system that has instilled the requisite fortitude. Despite the best efforts Eric Gordon to transcend the firestorm of NCAA violations with his incredible talent, IU simply couldn’t shake Wisconsin. The Badgers kept coming, from all angles and positions, eventually earning the win 68-66 on Brian Butch’s three pointer.
While the bank shot provided the margin of victory, it was Wisconsin’s swing offense that created endless opportunities for the entire team as IU fecklessly alternated its defense. Wisconsin won the game by posting up Michael Flowers and Trevon Hughes and bringing Marcus Landry and Butch to the perimeter where DeAndre Thomas was too slow to defend and DJ White choose not to. Despite Assembly Hall roar of a day’s frustration, the precision of the Swing Offense and IU’s inability to defend it resulted in the decisive baskets in the game’s final minutes.
Decent Regrets
In a season of mind numbing losses, Bruce Weber has somehow been able to push his team to compete. Illinois (11-14) arrived in Williams Arena on Wednesday in the wake of one of the most emotionally charged games in recent Illini memory as Eric Gordon and Kelvin Sampson’s visited to Assembly Hall (IL) and exited with a double overtime win gifted by more Illini failures at the free throw line and, like Brian Butch, an Eric Gordon banked three pointer.
Still, the Illini withstood the IU loss and responded against the Golden Gophers with a passionate effort. In an 84-60 wins, Illinois displayed how beautifully effective Weber’s Motion Offense can be when the players maintain spacing, make the extra pass and ultimately make open shots.
Winter Cornfields
As Illinois’ season unfolds into the remnants of what once was promise, Weber has decided to sow the seeds for next year’s campaign. While no tents have been packed in Champaign, Weber has wisely turned over greater responsibility and minutes to Demetri McCamey, Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis. While all three are playing well now, McCamey is showing the leadership, confidence and ability to become one of the Big Ten’s best point guards next season. And Mike Tisdale, after an off-season filled with protein shakes and red meat, has the innate fire and shooting touch to become a major offensive contributor.
Whether the Illini can build upon the success of the Minnesota shellacking will be revealed this Saturday when they travel to Penn State. Depending on the outcome of that game, it will become more certain than ever that if there’s one team in the Conference capable of playing their way into the NCAA tournament through Conseco Fieldhouse, it’s Illinois.
On the B Side
The Chicago Tribune’s Skip Myslenski has distilled the 14 pages of allegations against Kelvin Sampson and IU to its essence: the NCAA thinks Sampson is a “liar and a cheat.” Sadly, Indiana’s season has now become the unsettling realization that its honor as a pillar of college basketball excellence is tarnished on account of the hubris of Kelvin Sampson. A proud IU fan base is incensed and justifiably so. The Hooiser Report speaks for most IU fans when it demands Sampson’s termination.
These Things First
No doubt, IU is damaged. Committed IU recruits, including Devin Ebanks, are concerned and prepared to request the retraction of their commitments as IU enters the abyss of major NCAA violations and incumbent penalties. Potential IU recruits, including Stephan Van Tresse, are equally concerned. The impact of Sampson’s conduct has the potential to be endured for years.
Unless IU acts decisively, as is its prerogative, the damage will become far worse. Presumably, IU is working diligently to mitigate the damage done. At 3:00 pm today, IU will announce its intention to discuss where it goes from here. While judging the weather can be difficult from the eye of a hurricane, any clear eyed observer can certainly see the unlikelihood of Sampson being on the IU sideline past this weekend.
Senderoff Again
The college basketball community fraternity can certainly be an incestuous one, if not unseemly. Look no further than the ESPN report published by terminated IU assistant coach Rob Senderoff where he opines on IU recruit Devin Ebanks. Recall Senderoff was cut loose by IU as a sacrificial lamb in October 2007 for, among other things, alleged NCAA violations related to his recruitment of Ebanks. That he’s now “reporting” with the consent of ESPN on Ebanks is more than ironic.
In the interest of full disclosure, I am an OSU fan, grew up in a town adjacent to Knight’s Orrville, Ohio roots and have the type of personality that would have me driven (assuming talent which I lack) to play for Coach Knight. Much can be said, and rightfully so, that is critical of instances of poor judgment and borish behavior by “The General”. I can say one thing with certainty, he was not a cheat or a liar. He ran clean programs and for that he deserves respect. Indiana is being punished for a willingness to take on the baggage of a known NCAA rule violater - who promptly entered the Big Ten coaching fraternity and poached a verbally commited recruit from a conference team. It is a shame for the kids, but I feel no sympathy for the leadership of the institution. IU is not a borderline program that needs to take risks to obtain a quality coach. Can you understand a “second tier” program giving a coach with a checkered history a second chance (insert Texas Tech here)? Yes, and in the one example of Coach Knight they were rewarded with quality, competetive teams, a clean program and little of his historical problems.
As an aside, IU has learned from the missteps of OSU in dealing with Jim O’Brien. The 7 day window is protection of percieved good faith/due diligence obligations implied within ay employment contract. While OSU should not be criticised from a moral position for its rapid termination of O’Brien, it made poor business sense and left them exposed to damages for breach of contract. IU’s response, including the 7 day “invsetigation” is rational and should be viewed by the NCAA to constitute as an immediate and definitive response timed to provide financial protection to an institution that has been betrayed by one of their own, their bad judgment in embracing him not withsanding.
Left by blongbrake on February 16th, 2008