Five Prime

The saga on Sampson is an interesting case study on implicit bias. A group of Indiana basketball fans, comprised of largely middle aged caucasian males, latches onto the main reason for the program's implosion in 2008 to be due to an African American coach's inability to control a roster of largely young African American players because of "drug dealers and pimps". It feels kind of gross saying it like this.

And for reference, IU is #5 in revenue from men's basketball and #23 in revenue from all sports. It's not a money issue, it's a competence issue.

You don't need more time in the current landscape of college sports. You either win or you don't. Heck, in his singular year at Indiana, Sampson was able to peice together the most talented roster we've seen in the last 2 decades.

Ironically, Indiana fell into a hire that may have put them at the forefront of a lot of the "under the table" stuff that is now widely acceptable. A la Saban at Bama. Coincidence he retired shortly after NIL and free transfers?

Self righteous Fandom is pretty funny in a time of pay to play, NIL, unlimited transfers, fake classes (no classes?), one and done, FBI investigations, etc, etc, etc. There is one rule in college sports right now whether we like it or not - winning.

Let me put it this way... What is the one thing you would change about IU basketball in the last 30 years? For me it's firing Sampson.

This is another perspective with some merit. RMK certainly became the face of the university. The decisions made behind closed doors to "correct" it have long been discussed. Davis was fine, the guy after The Guy is not an enviable position. But the decision to fire Sampson was a choice, nobody forced IUs hand. It further escalated the program's self destruction. So for me, that was the harbinger. Everything before then was both understandable and amendable, to some extent.

Spot on. I remember the narrative very well. I followed the program closely at the time, was a bigger fan then than I am now. More astute fans may have seen it as a harbinger of things to come, and in hindsight it certainly feels that way.

I love seeing Houston's continued success remembering we once fired their coach.

Indiana doesn't play modern basketball. Poor shooting and poor guard play, pretty much the opposite of a formula for success.

Find another hobby, you'll be happier.

IU hasn't been serious about basketball since the 90s. It's not worth the emotional, monetary, and time investments. I can honestly say I haven't watched a full game this year after being a diehard fan for most of the last 2 decades. Sad really, but I've found other ways to spend those hours that don't end in disappointment.

College basketball is and forever will be a guard's game. High level guard play has been desperately needed from this program since Yogi. You just don't win big time in college hoops without great guards.

I'm getting ahead of myself but this region is not daunting

Those might be the most impressive consecutive 3 offensive plays I've seen from a Hoosier! TJD

The seas are parting. I'm feeling good about the Hoosiers region!

So Houston would have to basically play an away game against a 9 seed? Ok

It sounds like a home game

As much as I hate Iowa, how the heck does the committee justify putting Auburn in Birmingham as a 9 seed?

JHS will decide how far we advance. He is the type of player that can light up a tournament like this. Our front court can matchup with anyone. Kopp and Bates get hot. Who knows...

Why can't we win this whole thing?

Listening to Sirius XM 84 earlier. They did a segment on each region with Coach K. During the Midwest segment Indiana was not mentioned once. They talked about Houston, Texas, Xavier, and Miami. They discussed TAMU vs Penn St for awhile and how both teams were underseeded. Not one mention of the Hoosiers...

A road loss...shocker. If Kopps minutes went to someone else this team would be better off.

Great win. Am I the only one that doesn't understand why Kopp still plays?

There are always excuses for this program being a shell of itself.