BottomLine

Gut check time! Don't like that this is on the road, actually IUs first road game of the year. Don't like that it is almost always a rock fight out there. But, nobody cares what I like or don't like. Nebraska is probably a small favorite here, but I'm starting to see some improvement from the Hoosiers, and I think we might be able to get over the hump here. I'm still in the glass is half full mode. Last bucket wins. Indiana 76 Nebraska 75

Interesting stat. While it is easy to look at the IU schedule and think that the Hoosiers have played mostly a bunch of chumps, that in reality might not be the truth. Of the 10 schools that IU has played, only Eastern Illinois has a losing record. Their combined record is 49-33 and subtracting IUs 7-2 record they are 47-24. Not too shabby and something to consider. For the record Minnesota is 6-4, so no matter what happens tonight the streak will continue. Minnesota is Minnesota and this game will be in Bloomington. I don't expect it to be pretty but IU should be better. Hoosiers 75 Minny 65

Not going to offer any suggestions on how Woody should coach his team. Took my suggestions almost word for word in our last and look what happened. Hope we stick to the same plan in this one. Miami, O has faced one power conference team and lost to Michigan 94-67. Indiana 3P% 37.0 2P%55.3 FT%77.7 And Ast Rate 59.7. Should be good enough to take this one. I could be a tad low on the IU points tonight but Miami,O should be better than Sam Houston. Indiana 82 Miami,O 65

Time to start putting the pieces together because time is running out. This is one of our last "practice games" so that puts Woody in a tough spot. Stay the course or start looking for a different path before it is too late. With his playing time limit lifted, Galloway needs to start. We need someone to make sure the ball goes to the right place and we run our offense. Galloway can do that and score a,little too. Either Rice or Carlyle needs to sit. I'd start Rice but on a short leash. Like Carlyle's defense but not so much his offense. Reneau and Ballo probably need to alternate in the post because they are getting in each others way inside and Reneau doesn't handle the ball well enough outside to play the 3 or 4. With the middle not so crowded, Tucker would need to play more because he would be free to drive the middle and pop that mid-range shot. Can't see how one in and four out can hurt Mbako's game. Goode also needs to have a chance outside where we spread the other teams defense. Gonna happen? I'm thinking probably not but those are the moves I'll be looking for. Hard not to second guess when we are playing poorly. As to the game. Well it is Sam Houston State. Indiana 83 SH State 67

Indiana isn't very good right now. They lack focus and cohesion. I'm seeing bad chemistry. Hard to be a good team when almost every player on the team seems to think they are the best player on the team. Win or lose this should be an interesting game just to see what Woody is going to do. He could stick to his starting lineup and try to get the guys to work through their problems. Or, he could start assigning pine time. Throw the ball away, take wild shots, miss the open man, not box out, forget to play defense, or whatever else that hurts the team means that you sit and think about what you have done. On a team that is supposed to be deep, I'd go with the second approach. Nothing is guaranteed and you earn your minutes. No guarantees this morning. Should we beat Providence? Yes. If not this could be a very long season and we are back in the hunt for a coach. Indiana 72 Providence 67

Talent isn't enough. Yesterday we played a team that could put a team on the floor that had a definite idea of what they wanted to do and how to accomplish that goal. Indiana played like a pickup team at the local Y. It is going to be hard to change that over night. I don't care what coach promised to get players to come to IU. It is time to start looking for five players that want to play together and build from there. All of that said I don't think we are together enough now to take on Gonzaga. I hope I am wrong but we could see a repeat of the Louisville game if we can't get our act together. If you want to blame our performance on the coaching, fine. On the other hand sometimes a performance like the Louisville game is exactly what a coach needs to get the attention of his team. Everything is up in the air today. Indiana 78 Zags 93

I really want to see our guys stomp on those bugs from Purdon't. Nothing fancy - just an old time beat down. Come on Hoosier bring the Bucket home. Indiana 57 Those guys 7

This shouldn't be a piece of cake. IU has the talent but we aren't much of a team. Guys still need to learn their roles. We need to get rid of the "I've got to get mine now" state of mind. They need to learn that there is no I in TEAM. Hoosiers 77 Cardinals 73

What a homer page! To this point only 7 here have picked OSU. Forget the Vegas line. People are just betting the brand name team. I'm not buying that. Still I need to have a reason to pick IU and I think it is there for those who look hard enough. Ohio State is going into this one with a patched up offensive line. Most importantly, look at the three games that are against common opponents. IU did better against all three. OSU's brand name isn't going to win this game. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like we do. IU 4 TDs + 2 FG = 34 OSU 3 TDs = 21

Chump of the week game. We are still looking to come together as a team. Indiana 81 Greensboro 65

Knew a guy who played for South Carolina. Knew several guys that played for IU. There is strength in numbers. At this point in the season what are you going to do? Team is still looking to come together. IU 74 SC 69

Basketball and football at the same time is going to drive me crazy. The football season is supposed to be over by now. Indiana 92 Eastern Illinois 65

FIFTEEN AND OH, HERE WE GO! Let's see. We win out and that is 3 games. The Big10 championship is 1. A bye in the playoff and 2 more games. That is a total of 6 more games. Or, We beat Mich and Purd but lose to OSU and that is 3 games. We miss the Big10 championship because OSU has the edge over PennSt and IU. We are an at large in the national championship and play 3 games. That is a total of 6 more games. Or, we lose to mich and OSU and beat purdue to finish 10-2 and go to a bowl game. That would be 4 more games. I really want to kick Michigan's A** and play 6. Sure the guys feel the same! Indiana 6 TDs = 42 Michigan 2 TDs and 1 FG = 17

Indiana - 93 The other guys - 59

Figure we get our quarterback back. Though MSU is at home and IU is playing a rare road game, the Spartans are only 4-4. The games seem to be getting a bit harder every week but this doesn't look like the game where the streak ends. The Hoosier offense gets back on track and the defense is just as mean as ever. IU 6 TDS = 42 MSU 3 TDS = 21