IU Hoosier41

OK, this one surprised me.
 
I expected the penalty to be harsh for Emmitt Holt in particular after he was cited a little over a week ago for possession of alcohol along with freshman teammate Thomas Bryant.
 
Given the incident with Devin Davis less than a year ago where Holt was driving the vehicle that struck his teammate in the road way, you knew that IU coach Tom Crean was going to have to do something that would really get Holt’s attention this time.
 
The original incident didn’t do it. And seeing Davis and Hanner Mosquera-Perea dismissed on May 15 after Davis was cited for having marijuana in his dorm room apparently didn’t do it either.
 
So it had to be something major and significant. He got four games last time – two regular season and two preseason. So I was expecting 10 games this time. Perhaps a non-conference penalty that would have him playing by the time the Big Ten season rolled around.
 
But I had really never given a lot of thought to the possibility that Crean might just dismiss Holt from the Indiana University basketball team.
 
And yet that’s exactly what happened Monday afternoon.
 
In a simple, yet straight to the point two-paragraph press release from IU Media Relations, IU announced that Holt had been dismissed and that Bryant would face internal discipline.
 
The statement read: “Sophomore Emmitt Holt has been dismissed from the men’s basketball program effective immediately for demonstrating exceptionally poor judgment in the circumstances surrounding his recent citation, particularly coming after his involvement in the Devin Davis accident which should have motivated him to make better decisions.
 
Freshman Thomas Bryant, as a result of his citation, is receiving internal team discipline and is subject to additional discipline for any future failure to live up to his responsibilities to the program.’’
 
So here’s my take: If this doesn’t completely get everyone’s attention within the Indiana basketball program then nothing ever will.
 
If there is another drug or alcohol related incident involving a member of this basketball team moving forward then they should simply have their bags packed the next day.
 
The hammer came down hard Monday afternoon.
 
For those that want to argue that it was just possession of alcohol and that a “normal college student” would have barely been reprimanded if at all, I will continue to argue that these kids are not normal college students in any way, shape or form.
 
And considering the fish bowl like existence they currently occupy where their every move is being analyzed and re-analyzed what happened with Holt and Bryant simply cannot happen.
 
The sad thing for me is I find myself feeling bad for Holt. He’s a kid after all and yes he was at the wrong place at the wrong time but he’s still just a college sophomore. I’m guessing he’ll get a chance to pursue his dream someplace else and I’m sure he’ll flourish there but his Indiana dream has come to a screeching halt.
 
The big question is did he learn anything? Had he learned anything in the last week or so as we all awaited Crean to hand down his punishment? And will he learn anything moving forward.
 
I had an interesting discussion with someone within the IU athletic program last week who told me that they have noticed that anyone born after 1996 is a different breed. Some of it is a sense of entitlement but another part is just the attitude that these kinds of things happen to everyone else but they’ll never happen to me.
 
Well, guess what … it just happened to you.
 
For those of you scoring at home, that’s three IU basketball players dismissed from the program in a little over four months.
 
I remember thinking last fall that Indiana basketball couldn’t survive too many more of these types of incidents. I completely feel that way today.
 
Will today’s actions be enough to stop these guys from having something like this happen again in the future?
 
Only time will tell. I wish I could be more optimistic.

There was a shroud of mystery surrounding this year's Indiana team. With so many new faces populating the roster, no one was quite sure what to expect. Here's what we now know after 10 games:
The Good
Free throws and rebounding...that's what Indiana does.

(photo credit: btn.com)
Indiana is fourth in the country in made free throws and seventh in free throw attempts. Not only are they finding ways to get to the line, but they are knocking down shots once they get there. Since seven of the first 10 games have been played at home, it will be interesting to see if the free throw attempts go down away from Assembly Hall. Is IU really that good at drawing fouls, or do officials really give them that many calls at home?
The super-athletic Hoosiers rank in the top 10 of the country in virtually every rebounding category. They are third in total rebounds, second in rebounds per game, and second in rebounding percentage (essentially the rate at which a team comes up with a rebound when one is available). The only team with a higher rebounding percentage? The number one overall Arizona Wildcats.
The Bad

(photo credit: Inside the Hall)
Hopefully Evan Gordon's 26 point outburst was a coming out party and not a fluke. Heaven knows Indiana needs a shooter to emerge alongside Yogi Ferrell. They rank 74th in points scored per possession, 114th in field goal percentage, 173rd in effective field goal percentage, and a deplorable 284th in three point field goal percentage.
They've also struggled generating turnovers as they rank 183rd in steals per game. That doesn't appear to be from a lack of aggressiveness however as they rank 195th in fouls committed per game.
The Ugly
Indiana's worst statistical category (other than three point shooting) centers around it's ability to pass the basketball. They rank 278th in assists per game, 319th in assist percentage, and their assist-to-turnover ratio ranks 320th. They are also ranked second to last in the B1G in each of those categories in front of only Nebraska.
I will say that I don't think point guard Yogi Ferrell is to be blamed for this. As in last night's game, he has found his teammates for plenty of open shots; teammates just miss the shots. Poor shooting plus excellent rebounding indicates that Indiana relies more on missed shots than passes to generate points.
What to make of the 8-2 start
Not much. Indiana has dropped two games thus far, and both were played outside of Assembly Hall against top 10 teams with Final Four experience. Nothing for a young team to get down about. However, while it's true that Indiana doesn't have any "bad" losses, they also don't have any good wins.
The Washington win initially looked impressive, but the Huskies are now 4-4 and rank 201 in the RPI. In fact, the Hoosiers have yet to beat a team ranking in the top 100 of the RPI rankings, and the biggest chunk of their wins (five) have come against teams ranked 200 or worse. The Hoosiers won't have a chance to "prove it" any time soon either. Indiana won't play a top 50 RPI team until January 4 when Michigan State visits Bloomington.
Yes the youthful Hoosiers were one play away from upsetting the ninth ranked team in the country. Yes they played the second ranked team close for a half. And yes, they have blown out the teams that they should be blowing out. Still, they haven't proven their legitimacy with a big win.
If they win the games they are supposed to, they should be 12-2 when Michigan State comes to town. Win that game and...

(photo credit: inkonindy.com)
Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Players and fans may be excited, but Tom Crean knows better. Ten games down. Many more to go.
Go Hoosiers.

It's always okay to make fun of Purdue, but it's especially encouraged during Bucket Week.
This Saturday, our Indiana Hoosiers take on Purdue for another showdown inside of Memorial Stadium...and I thought we could use a little entertainment to hold us over until we win the game.
So we've all seen Purdue's latest attempt at creating a music video called "You Oughta Be Proud" right?
To celebrate how much better we are and always will be than Purdue, here's a little video to enjoy and spread around throughout the week.
Have fun dishing on PU every day leading up to the game--and GO HOOSIERS!

In the championship game of the 2k Sports Classic, the Indiana Hoosiers will square off against 18th ranked UCONN Huskies, who just came off a two point win over Boston College.
Led by the talented backcourt of Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright, UCONN will easily be Indiana’s toughest test to date.
Napier, who ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla dubbed the second best point guard in the nation, leads the Huskies in scoring, rebounding, and assists per game. His counterpart Boatright is second in each category. Altogether, the combo averages 26.3 ppg, 13.3 rpg, and 12.1 apg. Napier is shooting a stellar 85.7% from three, while Boatright is shooting 53.8%. Simply put, there aren’t many guard combos better than Napier and Boatright, and the Hoosiers will need their size advantage to hold the two in check.
As will likely be the case all year, Indiana should dominate the glass. UCONN, who is 156th in the nation in rebounding, averages 38 per game - a far cry from IU’s 52.3 per game. The Huskies distribute the ball much better than the Hoosiers, however, averaging 16.3 per game to IU’s 9.3. While UCONN has a higher shooting percentage than Indiana, the Huskies average eight points less per game, and have only scored more than 80 just once. The Hoosiers, on the other hand, have scored less than 90 just once.
Other than 7-foot freshmen center Amida Brimah, the Huskies don’t feature a real defensive presence down low. Noah Vonleh, who is averaging 14.8 points and 12.5 rebounds per game, should have a field day on offense and defense against the guard reliant Huskies. For the Hoosiers to come out with a win, however, sophomore Yogi Ferrell needs to slow down Napier, while also leading the young Hoosier offense.
UCONN is ranked 9th in the KenPom rankings, 22 spots ahead of Indiana. The Huskies are 8th in adjusted offense, and the Hoosiers are 45th. Coming in just six spots behind UCONN on adjusted defense, the Hoosiers are currently 35th.
Bright lights and the big stage may distract these young Hoosiers, but Tom Crean has routinely showcased his knack for getting the best from his underdog squads. If the Huskies make this game a track meet, the Hoosiers can win and assert themselves as a team to be reckoned with. To win this game, Indiana will need to control the glass, push the pace, and knock down their free throws.
The Indiana Hoosiers have a great opportunity to grow up in New York. Will they seize it?
Score Prediction: Hoosiers 83, Huskies 76
*Stats and rankings accurate as of Thursday night

Coach Crean met with the media last night and talked about the challenges that Washington presents the Hoosiers in the opening round in New York.
Coach Crean:

Transcribed via IUHoosiers.com

I think we can all agree on one thing: we did not expect this game to be nearly as close as it was. But in the end, a win is a win, right? It goes on the résumé as a W and we are 2-0 once again. It’s safe to say that with every basket that went in en route to our comeback, Assembly Hall got louder. Will Sheehey and Troy Williams both hit big shots down the stretch when the team needed them most. Noah Vonleh kept the team in the game throughout the first half, banging down low and grabbing rebounds left and right. Vonleh ended with his second straight double-double. The ultimate takeaway from this game and the atmosphere surrounding it is that the fans had something huge to cheer about. A dunk is a dunk, a blocked shot is a blocked shot, and so on. But for the first time this year, there was tension. Whether you like it or not, human beings enjoy tension. Even though it was our Indiana Hoosiers, there was still a sense of tension that just proved, once and for all, that college basketball is back. We love college basketball because of upsets like the one we averted last night. This is a learning experience. We can all get better from this. Fans don’t need to overreact; the team didn’t. Look where they ended up. They all kept their cool and came back from an early deficit.
Now it's time for some Player Analysis:
Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell – Yogi was able to score last night like we know he is able to this season. He knocked down 3 three-pointers which helped him end with a solid 17 points. He is one of our leaders and many scrutinized his actions after taking out his frustration on the bench. Personally, I like to see the fire within him come out like that. Last year, he knew it would be easy to run a team with four 1,000 point scorers. This season, it will be challenging. He knows that, and I think he’s willing to take the challenge.
Will Sheehey – Will stepped up when we needed him the most. He scored a game-high 19 points, with 15 coming in the second half. Will stuffed the stat sheet with a total of 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. He struggled mightily in the first half, not making a single shot from the field. After last night, I can say that Will is going to be the senior leader that we need. He knew when to “take over” and hit huge shots down the stretch, especially from long range.
Jeremy Hollowell – Jeremy, after a career-high 16 points in game one against Chicago State, looked a little lost in this game. He finished with 6 points and 6 boards. He was in foul trouble for most of the night, which didn’t help his performance whatsoever. He will bounce back. It wasn’t just a tough night for him, it was a tough night for everybody.
Noah Vonleh – This man is a beast on the boards. I think I can keep opening his analysis with that sentence. He kept us in the game in the first half when everybody else looked as if they had no idea how to play basketball. He was willing to put the team on his shoulders and go down on the block and bang with the big men from LIU-Brooklyn. He tallied another double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. I cannot wait to see where he can take this team and how he grows throughout the rest of the year.
Troy Williams – No one expected Troy Williams to hit a three to keep us in the game, but he did it. When he put that shot up, everyone was yelling “NO!” But it went in. Troy’s athleticism becomes a problem at times because he wants to make the highlight play, rather than the simple play. I expect that to be tamed a little from now on, but I still love his upside. He is extremely athletic and long. Although I think he could have a bigger impact on defense, he still played a great game (second half).
Stanford Robinson – Once again, I’m not really sure where Stan was last night. He did make two of his three shots and got to the line for two free throws, but other than that he didn’t look great. His one turnover was awful; he just let the defender take the ball. I know Stan can have an enormous impact on this team and I expect it to come soon.
Devin Davis – Devin had a huge rebound with 4.8 seconds left to give us a one and one at the free throw line at the other end. Although he missed it, at least he was able to get the ball down to our side of the court with that rebound. He didn’t score this game after having double-digits in the opener, but his defensive prowess made an impact late. He played big minutes in the big parts of the game, which is key for a freshman like him. I’m excited to see where he goes.
Hanner Mosquera-Perea – I would love to talk about how much I love his athleticism once again, but he just wasn’t active last night. I don’t know what was up with him. He grabbed a couple rebounds, but it really didn’t matter. I just want him to try to make a difference in the game, but he just doesn’t seem to want to.
Evan Gordon – He does a really good job of taking care of the ball when asked to do so. He didn’t score and looked bad in the first half. He still hasn’t hit a three for us, which we really need. But he is a leader, albeit a quiet leader. He looks like he has the poise and confidence that it takes to win games like last night’s.
Luke Fischer – We need to work on Luke’s hands. He missed a couple passes that were simple catches. He didn’t play until late in the second half and came in with a protective mask on his face. Although I don’t know why he had the mask, he ended up throwing it off after a few seconds of play anyway. We could use Luke’s big body down low, but he still hasn’t looked like the great player we thought we were getting.
Austin Etherington – He played early in the game and never saw the floor again. I don’t think he’s that great and while he was out there, he didn’t make an impact. Here’s to wishing he can make an impact in limited minutes from here on out. Otherwise, he may end up transferring, a la Mo Creek (who had 19 points last night for GW).
All in all, this can be used for growth. I love the upside of the team and multiple players, so cut them a little slack. This season is not completely over. Not even close.

For his third stop on his "Preseason Practice Tour," ESPN's Jeff Goodman took a visit to Bloomington.
Later that night, he tweeted his thoughts on the young Hoosier squad, beginning with injuries.
As we all know, the freshmen class has suffered from injuries recently. Troy Williams injured his shooting hand, Luke Fischer sprained his shoulder in practice shortly thereafter, Noah Vonleh suffered a minor ankle injury, and Stanford Robinson went down with a knee injury during Hoosier Hysteria.
Goodman tweeted that Crean told him hat Vonleh should be a "full-go" next practice and that Williams would return "in a few days." Crean also told Goodman that Fischer is "a couple weeks away," while Robinson should be back in "7-10 days." All fell in line to what Crean tweeted this morning.
Goodman went on to describe a concern many in Hoosier Nation share: inside scoring. He tweeted that Hanner Perea "has made improvement," but is "still raw" on the offensive end.
Later, Goodman tweeted about another concern: guard depth, specifically point guard depth.
"Yogi Ferrell will have a ton on his plate," Goodman tweeted. "He'll have to become team's go-to scorer, also distribute -- as well as also try to be a leader."
He went on to point out that Stan Robinson and senior transfer Evan Gordon may be back-up options, but said neither are "ideal." He also said sophomore Jeremy Hollowell "got a look" at point guard and made quality decisions.
Goodman thinks Gordon may start at the two because of his experience, but doesn't like a Yogi/Gordon back court combo because of the lack of height.
Goodman says to "pencil in" Yogi, Sheehey, and Vonleh for the starting line-up, leaving the other two spots "up in the air." He also indicated that Vonleh may see time at the five spot this year.
As stated earlier, Goodman is not a fan of the "small, small guards" combo of Yogi and Gordon. He thinks Gordon should come off the bench for scoring, giving the Hoosiers a bigger starting five.
His thoughts on the line-up: "Yogi, Sheehey, Vonleh, Williams/Hollowell and Perea/Fischer."
Goodman mentioned that an NBA scout at practice was "blown away" by freshmen Noah Vonleh's "NBA-ready body," a big plus for the Hoosiers' season outlook.
Goodman later responded to two big questions during his Indiana tweets.
One asked if Goodman thought Sheehey would be the go-to guy. Goodman replied, "Nope. Can't create the same way Yogi is able able to."
The other question asked if Goodman thinks the Hoosiers will make the NCAA Tournament. He responded, "I think so, but probably should not be ranked to start the season."
There's a lot of positives, and some concerns for Indiana basketball this year, but it's shaping up to be a good year.
Follow Goodman: @GoodmanESPN
Follow Jeff Ranger: @All_Hoosiers
(Photo: AP/Al Behrman)

Hello all, my name is Justin (Jaybob), and I am one of two new Administrators here for BtownBanners and its forums! We are so excited for this opportunity, and our commitment is to make this the best forum on the web. By doing so, we will work endlessly for you! We know that the keys to a successful and active forum is by taking care of it's members. We promise to do that, and ask that you come and check out what we are doing. You will see some changes soon, and some changes that have already happened.
We hope you are as excited as we are. Here is our team as of right now:
Administrators - NaturalHoosier and myself
Head Moderator - Mdn
Head Recruiter - Ccgeneral
We may add a few more in the very near future, but that is our team as of right now.
My experience with Moderating is this: Moderator on Scout starting during the Kelvin Sampson years. A few of us decided to start a new site dedicated to start our own site, and created the best IU Fan Forum in HoosierSportsNation. After over a year of being there, we merged with 247Sports to try and create the best force in terms of coverage and forums. Unfortunately, a few of us didn't agree with how 247 went about things.
After talking with BtownBanners, we knew this would be the best decision. We left 247 to come make this site the premier site for anything IU.
So please, come join us in this amazing new transition! We will be on the boards a lot, so let's get to chatting!!! :)
Register for BtownBanners at http://BtownBanners.com/register

There are still a couple lose ends to tie up, but expect our official announcement at halftime of the Penn State game tomorrow afternoon!
If you haven't already, this is a GREAT time to sign up for BtownBanners. SIGN UP TODAY, IT'S QUICK AND FREE!
You won't want to be left on the outside looking in...
Go HOOSIERS!

In the past decade, Indiana football has only a single season (2007) in which they had a record of over .500 (7-6). As I'm sure you're aware, it is a rare occasion to witness a winning IUFB squad. However, I believe this 2013 season has a winning record in store. Here are my Top 5 reasons why I believe this year will be one for the books:
#1- A Great Recruiting Class
If you haven't heard already, this year's recruiting class alone is wonderful. Highlighted by 4-star recruits like Darius Latham, David Kenney, Antonio Allen, Taj Williams, and Rashard Fant; the 2013 recruiting class was ranked 38th in the country by Yahoo, as well as 44th by ESPN. A top-50 recruiting class brought in by a team that has gone a combined 17-43 in the past five years is a very respectable feat in itself.
#2- A Large Amount of Returning Starters
Heading into the 2013 season, IU football will be returning a Big-Ten best of 19 starters. And not just any starters, either- three talented quarterbacks (all of which experienced playing time last year), a very talented group of explosive running backs, and what could possibly be one of the best receiving corps in the Big Ten. In addition to a solid returning group of defensive players, the Hoosiers also return what may be one of the best kickers in the nation in Mitch Ewald. Such a great group of returning starters combined with the skilled youth of this year's incoming class makes for a bright future, folks.
#3- Home, Sweet Home
By taking a quick glance at this year's football schedule, it would look like any old Big Ten agenda. However, upon closer examination, you may notice something different. This year's IUFB schedule contains 12 games, in which 8 are at home. EIGHT home games, including the first five of the season, all right here in Bloomington. That's a lot of tailgating. As most of you know, a team must have six wins to be eligible for a bowl game. Having eight of the twelve being in your own backyard, in front of tens of thousands of cheering fans, suddenly makes that goal seem much more achievable.
#4- Coach Wilson, 'nuff Said
You may be reading reason number four and thinking, "what's so good about a coach whose team went a total of 5-19 in his first two years?" Here's why: when Coach Kevin Wilson first arrived as head coach of the Hoosiers, he realized something needed to be done. Coming from a very, very successful job as offensive coordinator of the Oklahoma Sooners, Wilson knew how to win. In order to win, he realized that he needed to clean house and bring in a whole new group of talented players, just as Tom Crean had previously done with IUBB. And he did just that. It may have taken a couple years of tough losses, but Coach Wilson has successfully put together a team filled with both young talent and experience. And it's about time that hard work pays off.
#5- A New Era
It is quite obvious that Coach Wilson and AD Fred Glass are trying to usher in a new era for Indiana football. Some sleek new helmets, new pre-game traditions, and even a new flag pole that's (almost) bigger than a Purdue fan's ego. The recently added collection of spiffy new helmets feature designs like chrome and crimson stripes and the Indiana state flag design (to be worn in the season opener vs. Indiana State). New traditions, such as the players walking to the stadium with the students, were planned in order to persuade as many Hoosiers as possible to help pack Memorial Stadium. The new 154-foot flag pole that now towers over Memorial Stadium is billed as the largest in all of college football, and will fly the official "victory flag" after every Hoosier win. Also, Bryce Fox and Daniel Weber (the masterminds behind "This Is Indiana") are producing a new song and video over IU football. As I said before, there is no doubt that Wilson and Glass are doing everything possible to make IUFB the next big thing in B-town.
To Like, Comment, Post and participate in #IUFBPickem, Join BtownBanners.com for Free!
More on BtownBanners.com
(Fake) Coach Wilson's Empowering Pep Talk
VIDEO: Victor Oladipo vs Kevin Durant
#IUFBPickem and Big Ten Pick'em


Follow me on Twitter!




@IUWonka

IUFB is on the rise--haven't you heard?
The hype around a promising 2013 IUFB squad is no secret to a true fan ...but if you’re just now finding out that we also have the most inspirational, brutally honest, but most importantly, SUPPORTIVE fake football coach—well you’re late to the party.
Our very own, “Not Really Kevin Wilson, the Head Football Coach for the Indiana University Hoosiers” had every ACTUAL Hoosier fan and beyond talking on Wednesday night.

(Fake) Coach Wilson earned the respect and following of hundreds of people with his inspirational pre-game twitter speech directed to the student body the night before the 2013 season opener.

Thousands of Hoosiers followed along FCW’s pep talk, while I personally camped out on his Twitter page waiting for the words “1 new Tweet” to drop from his timeline.
Click. Laugh. RT. Repeat

It was as if the mighty Hoosier Hero himself, @ChronicHoosier, was watching over FCW’s timeline.
I’m not linking the two accounts together; FCW is anonymous. I’m just saying the only other account on Twitter I have never secretly wanted to unfollow is CH.
The series of tweets were an embarrassingly true, yet outrageously funny way to make a strong message clear to many people. It’s truly one of the few ways to effectively communicate with people these days. FCW executed it flawlessly.

So what is FCW’s bottom line? I asked Fake Coach over some Twitter DM.
“Just tell the folks don’t be afraid to believe in #IUFB.”
Simple as that.

@FakeCoachWilson may not be a real person. But he made a bunch of real people feel real things, like support for their own football team.
And I bet you anything he indirectly encouraged a bunch of real people to attend Thursday’s game.

So kudos to fake coach.
In the words of @FakeCoachWilson, “Pack the Fing Rock!” See you there, Hoosier Nation.
(PS: I’m actually only writing this article for a #helmetsticker from @FakeCoachWilson)

At the National Soccer Festival this past weekend, the Hoosiers battled two top-fifteen squads in Marquette and North Carolina. Ranked 12th and 4th respectively, the two opponents were able to test what most people saw as the chief cause for concern for the Cream and Crimson: how would the defense hold up after losing goalkeeper Luis Soffner and central defender Caleb Konstanski?
Turns out, the team is proving many of the doubters wrong. Even with the results not coming in the form of W's, the needs that the team needed to address were met, and the players will be holding onto the edge of having to work for another title.
In Thursday's matchup against Marquette, the effective attack of the Hoosiers showed when they took a 3-1 lead into the half behind goals from A.J. Corrado, Jacob Bushue, and freshman forward Tommy Thompson. They also held a 17-3 shot advantage over the Golden Eagles in that half.
Coming back into the second half, they switched out Michael Soderlund for Colin Webb, along with a completely new set of field players, and ended up conceding 2 more goals before the full 90, and the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
Saturday's game was a much different story than the goal-fest a few days prior. The shot tally at the end of the first 45 was 8-5 with the Hoosiers leading the Tar Heels, and Indiana not allowing a shot on goal until 8 minutes left to play in the first half.
While UNC ended up with the game winner just moments after the clock began running for the second time, it is very telling that Soderlund, who played the entirety of the match, only had one save.
What did these two matches teach? They showed that even without goal-scoring machine Eriq Zavaleta, this Hoosier side can still net enough goals to win matches. It showed that a defense that lost its vocal leader can still wrap up a skilled offensive attack. It even showcased how Soderlund can be effective moving forward as the starter in front of goal. All of these things, combined with the continued progression of the chemistry in the midfield, will ultimately be the deciding factor as to how far this team can go.
With a such a small sample size, it is hard to tell where the team will go from here. But as far as addressing the questions brought before them, it is clear this team has what it takes to have a successful season.
Photo Credit goes to Chad Ryan/The Journal Gazette

News this morning spread quickly that Indiana University had tragically lost one of their own. As many of you are aware, Indiana Freshman Rachael Fiege, 19 Zionsville, was taken off life support this morning after falling down a basement staircase at a party early Friday morning.
Fiege was rushed to the hospital approximately 6 hours after her fall, but it was unfortunately too late. This tragic situation was made worse by the reluctance to seek medical attention. Nobody knows if the outcome could have been different if the authorities were called immediately, but they certaintly couldn't have turned out worse.
This leads to the reason for this article. Indiana has a unique law called the LifeLine Law. The Lifeline Law provides immunity for the crimes of public intoxication, minor possession, minor consumption, and minor transportation of alcohol to persons who reveal themselves to law enforcement while seeking medical assistance for a person suffering from an alcohol-related health emergency.
Translation: If you and your friends are out drinking, and somebody gets seriously hurt, call 911 or get them to the hospital. As long as you follow the following conditions, you WILL NOT be in trouble for your underage drinking.
In order to receive immunity, the person must demonstrate that they are acting in good faith by completing ALL of the following:
- Providing their full name any other relevant information requested by law enforcement officers
- Remaining on the scene until law enforcement and emergency medical assistance arrives
- Cooperating with authorities on the scene
Translation: Be a good friend and do everything you can to help them. The three "conditions" listed above are common sense and a no-brainer for helping your injured friend. This law is there to help you make the RIGHT decision and avoid a potentially tragic situation like this.
Please share this message to all Hoosiers and hopefully prevent future tragedies like this one.
R.I.P Rachael Fiege.

Take a look at some highlights from Indiana Freshman Troy Williams this past season. As you can tell, the rims in Assembly Hall will be rocking!
Register and Sign Up for BtownBanners.com for FREE!

As the season nears, the quarterback competition remains very tight. Tre Roberson, Cam Coffman, and Nate Sudfeld are neck-and-neck, as head coach Kevin Wilson awaits for a dynamic QB to separate from the group. Let's take a look at each QB.
Tre Roberson: About halfway through his freshman season, former Indiana Mr. Football Tre Roberson claimed the starting role. In his first year, he passed for 937 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions, along with a 57.0 completion percentage. The dangerous dual-threat quarterback also ran for 426 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2012, Roberson won the starting job and seemed poised for a big year. His passing looked much better, as his completion percentage raised to 66.0% compared to 57.0% in his freshman year. He seemed much more comfortable with the offense. Unfortunately, as Roberson was rushing in the redzone, he broke his leg in the second game of the year against UMASS. This derailed his season, forcing Cam Coffman and Nate Sudfeld had to fill-in during his absence.
In less than two complete games played in 2012, Roberson compiled 501 yards of total offense and five touchdowns.
Roberson may have the most upside and athleticism of the three vying for the starting role. Some even argue he's the most talented of the bunch. He's also won a starting job before, and thrives off the pressure and competition. If he's improved since last year, Roberson could be the dynamic quarterback Wilson wants.
Kevin Wilson has noticed Roberson's dual-threat ability: "The best athlete of the crowd is probably Tre Roberson."
Cam Coffman: After Roberson went down last year, Cam Coffman stepped in and played relatively well. He had his struggles, forcing Nate Sudfeld to play some QB in relief at times, but ultimately was the best quarterback for Indiana.
In 11 games last year, Coffman passed for 2,743 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, along with a 60.7 completion percentage. He also rushed for one touchdown. He passed for over 300 yards in three of the last four games and threw for under 230 yards just three times.
Coffman may have the most experience of Indiana quarterbacks. He may also be the most polished passer. Coffman can sling the ball all over the field and post huge numbers any given game. Wilson says Coffman has great anticipation, vision, and is a little daredevil in him.
One would assume that the QB competition will likely come down between him and Roberson.
Nate Sudfeld: Sudfeld was originally redshirted last year, but Roberson's injury forced him to play.
The highly-touted quarterback appeared in seven games as a freshman last season, mostly playing a relief-type role for Cam Coffman. His best performance came against Illinois when he went 10-15, threw for 107 yards, and two touchdowns, ultimately leading the Hoosiers to victory.
Overall for the season, Sudfeld passed for 632 yards, seven touchdowns, and one interception, along with a 62.2 completion percentage. While he had a numerous chances, he never took the starting job from Coffman.
Wilson says Sudfeld has the strongest arm of the three and is a "very smart, young player, very good." Sudfeld, the youngest of the group, is a true sophomore this year, and can still be redshirted, but Wilson has said that won't happen.
Indiana had the top passing attack in the Big Ten last year, and Wilson is looking to improve even more. Knowing that, all seem capable of starting, but who do you think will be the starter when the season kicks-off? Comment and tell us why.
Follow Jeff on Twitter: @All_Hoosiers
Follow BtownBanners on Twitter: @BtownBanners

Here is a quick peek at super Freshman Noah Vonleh. The Five Star forward is sure to bring some intensity and fire to this young Hoosier squad.
Coach Crean and Indiana Assistant coach Kenny Johnson have both been singing praise for Vonleh's early hard work in Cook Hall. Coach Crean tweeted Noah is likely to be Indiana's newest 365 day worker.
That kind of work ethic is what us Hoosier fans like to see!
Highlights:

What do you like best about Noah's game?

Transcribed via IUHoosiers.com
On replacing the leadership lost from last season's team:
Austin Etherington: "As you all know, we lost quite a few guys --we have seven new guys here so it's been a lot of work for everybody to come in, learn their roles, and get better. You know, we're working out every morning and afternoon, so everyone is putting that work in and getting better."
On his rehabilitation from his knee injury:
ETHERINGTON: "I'm not 100 percent yet, but I'm doing everything that I can. I can't do 5-on-5 or full contact yet, but I'm doing 1-on-1 and 2-on-2. Other than that I'm feeling pretty good--my knee his feeling really good."
On how close he is to being able to go full-go:
ETHERINGTON: "I'd say I probably won't do 5-on-5 for the next couple of weeks because we get to go home for a little bit. So, during that time I'll continue to rehab and keep improving my strength and when we get back I'll probably go full-go then."
On how this off-season has been different than others that you've been a part of:
ETHERINGTON: "Well I'd say the leadership has definitely changed a lot--losing all those older guys, losing Cody and Vic to the NBA. Then having the seven new guys, and with me and Jeremy being two of the older guys here right now and then Evan coming in and taking a leadership role right away. Definitely the leadership has changed--it's also helped out a lot having me, Evan, and Jeremy be the leaders with Yogi and Will being gone. I think it's definitely helped us out a lot. I'm not saying it's good that Will and Yogi are there, but it's helped us become better leaders ourselves."
On how you (Hanner) have progressed this summer:
Hanner Mosquera-Perea: "I feel that I have made a lot of improvements. I've been working out with the coaches, doing new things, because I'm going to have to step up and do a lot of new things for our team this year. So, I've been working really hard and getting a lot better."
On certain areas that you have improved in:
MOSQUERA-PEREA: "My timing and my shooting."
On your time here so far:
NOAH VONLEH: "I came up here May 29, before a couple of the other freshman. I've been working really hard in the weight room; it's real intense. I'm getting a lot stronger--I've put on like 20 pounds since I've been here. I'm working hard on the court. We're all working hard and getting better with different things -- ball-handling, footwork on shooting, different things like that. I'm just going to keep getting better as the year goes on."
On your work ethic and what you've been doing this summer:
VONLEH: "I just like to be in the gym all the time getting better. I'm going to be playing against a lot of guys who are a lot older than me next year, so I need to get physically ready, mentally ready, and just keep getting better."
On your experience at the LeBron James Skills Academy:
VONLEH: "I was the youngest guy at the camp. I was talking a lot--a lot of guys there weren't talking--and Jay Bilas came up to me and said, `Your leadership and talking can become a great strength if you keep working on it.' So I remembered that, and I just competed, rebounded--because that's one of my biggest strengths--and scored really well in the post."
On your other conversations you had with Jay Bilas:
VONLEH: "He said leadership would be a great strength. He said continue to stay low when I'm in the post. He said to make my moves quick, and sometimes I was indecisive, but I have to keep working on that."
On Evan's impressions of the program so far:
EVAN GORDON: "As a whole, the atmosphere, the expectations are a lot higher. That's what I expected when I chose to come here. I've been to two different institutions, but me being here at home, I can go home. And the expectations in the weight room are a lot different than I ever expected."
On what you expect to bring to the team and how your experience helps that:
GORDON: "Me playing, you know, starting out college, when some of these guys were in eighth grade, there is a little bit of an advantage, you know just leadership , knowing how to handle situations and push through things that some of these guys aren't used to in some of these work outs."
On how you (Jeremy) have been a leader on the court so far this summer:
Jeremy Hollowell: "One of the big things that we emphasize is talk, trying to get out of the young guys talk. That's the biggest thing, getting them through the workouts, knowing what to expect, knowing what is hard as a freshman and try to get through. We try to be there and help them through the workouts."
On how you see your role increasing this year after finishing last season strong:
HOLLOWELL: "I see my role growing a lot. I mean we lost a lot of good players but we have a lot of good players coming in, but knowing what to expect. Going through it already one year, I see a big opportunity for me to make a big jump from last year, improvement wise, and just helping the team any way I can."
On your leadership role and how it has manifested itself this summer:
HOLLOWELL: "I mean I think I am taking it well, Will and Yogi have been out, they are two big leaders on our team, with our young team, so with them being out, me being one of the returning players, I know someone has to step up, take the group, get them to talk, get them through workouts, get them ready, get them stretched. That's what me and Austin have been trying to do."
On Hanner Masquera-Perea:
ETHERINGTON: "One thing I have noticed is he is putting a lot more time in. He is working on his shot, working on everything he needs he knows to work on. After going through a year, you start to realize the things that you need to improve so you can get on the court. I think Hanner has learned a lot and has been working on everything that he knows he needs to work on. One thing I have noticed is he has been shooting the ball really well and that's one thing that has proven from how hard he has been working in the gym."
On how your game has developed, and what has improved since last year:
HOLLOWELL: "I think one-on-one scoring, my shooting, my ball-handling has come on a lot, I have been in the gym quite a bit this summer, definitely more than last year, like I said I know what to expect. Last season was a blur; it went by pretty fast. So day in and day out I have been working hard just trying to improve every aspect of my game."
On competing at the rim, and how that has shown itself this summer:
VONLEH: "They just push us and tell us to play hard and we take that into our minds and we just go out there and play hard."
On the biggest challenge for you:
ETHERINGTON: "I'd say the biggest thing is just the mindset, I have been through an injury before and the big thing is just the mind set and being able to go out there and not worry about your knee. That is something I have been better with, the first time I took a charge in workouts it was the first step in knowing I do it again and not worry about my knee, and so I would say the biggest thing is the mindset, because the physical part with my knee and my strength is coming on pretty well."
On going through a previous injury, and the rehab this time being faster:
ETHRINGTON: "Yeah, I would say it has. It has made me push myself knowing I can come back from an injury. It defiantly is a factor, I have been through it before and I can do it again, so it's not that bad"
On your day-to-day approach, teaching the younger guys:
PEREA: "Yeah I feel like I have been bringing that experience to work because I learned a lot from those two players (Cody and Derek), and just having players like Noah and Luke coming in and being big strong players, that allows me to keep getting better and work on those things."
On the freshman so far this summer:
ETHRINGTON: "Well I would just say that they are very athletic, we have very athletic freshman. Already we had an athletic team and I think just them coming in just adds so much more athleticism to our team. Coach always wants us to be a fastbreak team and pushing the ball and there are no better recruits that we have coming in to do that."
On the keys for Evan this summer:
GORDON: "Basically get better each day, get stronger and adapt to this program and learn as much as I can while I am here. Also, help lead some of the younger guys to progress faster."
On your leadership role this summer, with you being new to the program:
GORDON: "Me coming here I was like `wow, I have to adapt, again.' These guys are a totally different group than I have ever experienced. There are no egos on this team, and I am able to just come in and everyone sometimes is looking for advice and sometime I can take advice from the older guys like Yogi, Austin, Will, and Jeremy. We go back and forth and bounce ideas off of each other."
On what Jeremy has to do to make a jump and earn more playing time this season:
HOLLOWELL: "What I need to do to make a jump is stay in the gym and get after it. Outside of the team stuff my individual stuff I need to push myself to get better with my ball handling, get better with my shot, and post moves. I feel like I have the ball in my hands a lot more and looking to score and rebound, and be an offensive factor for us to score points."
On the biggest surprise for you about this program thus far:
VONLEH: "The weight lifting, like I said is very intense and I was not used to that at prep school so that was a big adjustment, but I put on a lot of weight and am getting stronger. On the court one of the main reasons I came here was because of Coach Crean and his skill development, I like that a lot. I feel like we are all getting better each and every day."
On putting on more weight and how your game has changed because of that:
VONLEH: "I think it has helped me a lot. I can bump guys off better and I can finish stronger."
On the pressure that you, Peter, and Luke feel to be a presence in the front court again:
PEREA: "We have a huge responsibility because I know how Cody and Derek took care of us last year. So I feel like I have to step up with the new guys like Noah and Luke because they are going to be doing the same thing we had been doing. It's a huge responsibility."
On Noah Vonleh:
HOLLOWELL: "He is a real good player. The biggest thing that I have seen is that he is willing to learn, always willing to improve his game, he is very coachable, and works hard day in and day out. He is always going to go hard and give you his best."