BottomLine

We aren't as bad as the team that lost to Penn State (Hard to overcome 18 3's). We aren't as good as the team that beat Wisconsin (Down year and best player out). We aren't as good as we were earlier in the year when we were ranked. So how do we stack up against Illinois? The team that Woody built is a wreck right now. Thompson and Johnson are out and the bench has been stripped to plug in the holes in the starting lineup. That leaves us with a weaker starting lineup and a bench that isn't going to contribute much. We have two senior leaders on the bench. We are down to only one consistent rebounder. It is not a good place to be. As for the "Next man up" philosophy, that doesn't work very well when the bench hasn't shown much growth since the start of the season. Sometimes s*** just happens and there isn't much you can do about it. So Indiana, a poor road team, goes off to Illinois to face a team that is still intact. This is a game the November Hoosiers would have won, but this is January. The good news is I think we might win our next three despite everything. Hoosiers 68 Illini 75

King of the Hill! King of the Hill! Come and get me guys!

I go back a long long way (IU class of 69). I can still remember the days when you marked your season schedule with four wins right off the bat - 2 v. NW and 2 V. Wisconsin.

Slowly the season is starting to slip away from us. Forget the big show. We may not be able to get to the NIT with the way the season is going. That makes this HOME (we are 9-1) GAME a must win. I know this is Wisconsin and Wisconsin has owned us for the last two decades, but this is a back to the wall win or go back home and crawl under your bed game and cry game. I hope home cooking, friendly rims, a loud crowd, and good officials all help. Though I'm not sure about the officials. At least Wisconsin is having a down year too and they don't score bunches. IU - 70 Wisconsin - 66

Looking over your shoulder? Don't. You might get nervous.

Should have had that game at home against NW. Scored plenty of points - much more than I expected. The same can be said about the Iowa game. We lost because we made a ton of crazy turnovers and mostly because our defense is a shambles. Everybody seems to be able to drive the basket on us. Reminds me of the Tom Crean years. We also can not get out quick enough to stop the outside shooters. I thought this year was supposed to be about defense but that plan has crashed and burned. With our shorter bench the players are wearing down in the second half. I bring all of this up because it has an impact on my predictions. We aren't the team we were earlier in the year and adjustment is needed. We need ball handling but I'm not sure where that is going to come from. We need to slow the other team up when we are on defense. Did like to see the 3/4 court press dropping back into the 2-3. Know coach is a man-to-man guy but he need to do something to keep Jackson-Davis closer to the basket on defense (who else do we have that can rebound in a crowd?). Hope to see more changing defense here and a deeper bench. With Leal a ghost and Johnson and Thompson gone, we are down to 10 scholarship players. It may to be time to throw Banks and Duncomb into the fray for short periods and see what they can do. They can't play defense that much worse that what I am seeing. Sorry for the rant. We are all ranting. I was thinking 73-69 PSU for this game but because of the above I'm going to push those numbers up a bit and see what happens. PSU -79 IU - 75

Hello guys! After four games I was in 39th position and 33 out of first. It has been a long climb out of that hole. Now in 3rd and only down by 16. Bit early for the leaders to be counting their chickens. Hear those steps coming right behind you?

This season is starting to give me a headache. Remember almost beating these guys up there last year with half of the team suspended. Should be able to beat them at home with half of the team injured or banged up. But, who knows? IU 69 NW 64

What a mess! On the road! Been off for almost two weeks. Our point guard only has one leg and will be in civilian clothes until who know when. Our center and backup point guard have bad backs. Like Bates in the starting lineup but our bench is going to suffer and the bench is going to get shorter. The starters are going to play more - not good in the long run. Who is going to score our points in the clutch final minutes? Then how will Iowa adapt to having their coach step aside for a "rest". What must be going through their heads? Whatever the final score it won't be a surprise. Anything might happen here. Hoosiers 73 Iowa 77

Hoosiers 81 Owls 61 Everything seems a bit low - but who is going to play?

How is the prediction league impacted if the slaughter rule kicks in at half time? Do we just double the scores. Wait! What am I thinking. This is "big boy" NCAA basketball and not the Saturday morning pee wee league at the local YMCA. Though 2-10 Elon may have trouble winning at the Y also. Hard to pick the score here. This one could get away and IU could score 110, or it could become a glorified practice and IU decides to work on "things" that need work. How long will our "good guys" play? Pop a bowl of popcorn, turn on the tube, and let the slaughter begin. IU - 85 Elon - 54

Don't want to think much about this game. We are good team without H-S and a very good, bordering on elite with him in the lineup. It isn't that he is so good but what his presence allows coach to do with the other players. Hoosiers 67 Jayhawks 77

Wasn't this suppose to be the Miller v Miller game. My how the times change. I HATE to pick against the Hoosiers because that means I'll be rooting against my pick during the game. Still there are two big reasons to pick against the good guys. I'm not sure if Hood-Schfino will play or if he does what condition he will be in. He does make a difference and I might go the other way if he were 100%. Also we can't count on Galloway and Bates to go for 39 again. In fact this team has still to prove that they can hit the 3 on the road. That killed us in the game with Rutgers. On the other hand, defense travels and we have only given up 70+ once this year. That was 79 to Xavier on the road. Gulp I'm picking Arizona to score 80. My heart says IU but my brain says Arizona. Them guys from out yonder 80 The guys from good old Boomington 78

We lose at home to Nebraska and we could be looking at a very long year. Can Hood-Schfino really be that important? Picked Rutgers last time and then switched at the very last moment because IU was undefeated. That is no longer a problem. I've promised myself no more second guessing - I think - maybe. Hoosiers 75 Huskers 63

IU has lost to Rutgers FIVE times in a row. That is worse than losing to Wisconsin at Wisconsin 55 times in a row, or whatever the stupid number is. For GOD'S sake this is RUTGERS! Time to return proper balance to the Big10. Rutgers has defeated Columbia, Sacred Heart, Mass Lowell, Rider, and Central Conn. In other words they have beat up on a bunch of "chumps of the week". They lost to Temple and Miami (Fla). I think IU beats either of those two. Edge to the Hoosiers it what may turn out to be a rock fight. Hoosiers 65 Those guys from Piss-The-Cat-Got-Away 64

Everyone knows this is a big game and the pressure is on. Glad the game is at home. NC just played a couple of pressure games and came up on the wrong end in both. Previous games were not impressive either. Think we will be fighting against a wounded team that has their back to the wall so this one won't be easy. I'm sticking with the Hoosiers until they lose but I'm praying that nobody shows up with big eyes. The atmosphere should be special. Hope we can feed off that. Hoosiers - 75 Them Tar Guys - 72

Lock it when they toss the ball, or scheduled tip off. Doesn't make any difference as long as everyone knows the rule.

Hoosiers 85 The 3rd Turkey Week Turkey 56

IU 91 2nd turkey of turkey week 50 No presidential pardon for these guys.

We WILL win this. At what point does coach call off the dogs? Going with the earlier trend for games like this. Hoosiers 92 - 64

So so tempted to pick Xavier. Could jump way out in front of every one or drop to the bottom of the pack and play catch up the whole season. Bit too early to go out on a limb. Guess I'll stick with the Hoosiers until they lose. Last basket made kind of game. IU 74 X 73

Concerned about the points allowed number. If IU wants to push the ball and score quickly, we will be giving the ball back to the other team a lot of times. Thus more scoring opportunities and more points scored. In other words a NBA scoring model. The Hurryin Hoosiers are back. Oh well! Never was a fan of 45-36 scores. Hurryin Hoosiers 85 That hyphenated other school 54

Egg on face! I got lost. Shame on me.

Wrong opponent buddy. Or, do you think Morehead State wants a second dose of a** kicking.

Concerned about the points allowed number. If IU wants to push the ball and score quickly, we will be giving the ball back to the other team a lot of times. Thus more scoring opportunities and more points scored. In other words a NBA scoring model. The Hurryin Hoosiers are back. Oh well! Never was a fan of 45-36 scores. Hurryin Hoosiers 85 That hyphenated other school 54