Old Friend

We're not talking about responsibility necessarily. I hear all the time we want a winner, etc. Well...then do your part. The students have a very important role. Hi Josh.

If we're talking about printer ink or business shirts, you're right, and it IS that simple. It's not that simple in this case. The problem is, we're talking about a lot of things that are intangible, and crowd affects the on-court product. More complicated business concept, here. Our crowd and our environment can have a direct affect on recruits' opinions of our program and whether or not they would like to play at Indiana, and all you have to do is look through quotes of some kids who have been through a visit during a "big game" and those who saw us play....Rutgers. A kid's experience and perception affects his decision, which ultimately affects the talent level that affects the product on the floor down the road. Crowd involvement and participation also directly affects a team's performance.....it creates home court advantage and it can alleviate it if the crowd is sterile; and you know that as well as I do. Buildings don't create that home court advantage; crowds do. Students fuel the rest of the crowd because of the energy they bring. So to say it's not the consumers' "fault" (wrong word) they don't want to consume the product has more layers to it than you suggest. A deeper dive into the concept provides some additional thoughts. The consumer - in a unique situation compared to general business - can have a direct affect on the product they choose to consume. Kinda' like when consumers generally said they hated the "new Coke." The old one came back. The "back in my day" formula. A direct result of consumer involvement.

The crowd fuels the team. The crowd has always been part of the reason we have been consistently good. Regardless of the age of students and their knowledge of the history and culture of this program; Indiana is simply not "everyone else." No more than Kansas is or Duke or North Carolina. Indiana is a historical college basketball blue blood. We have the largest (non modern) on campus basketball arena in the country - only the new, sterile arenas are larger. Students get more tickets than any student body in the country, and they're generally apathetic unless a "big game" is in town. Students are part of the reason either way. They either help the program or they hurt it; and by leaving tons of empty seats, they're sure not helping.

Maybe, but if you don't give a damn about something and just let the world pass you by; you'll lead a "whatever" kind of life, and I have no interest in that. Passion has built every great thing in this country; and this is something about which I have passion. I'm not you and you're not me. I chill out when I don't care about the result or outcome, as do most people. What's your message?

You are so full of BS, I barely know how to respond. Except to call complete bull sh*t on you, which this is. Watch a game at Duke. Go to a game at Butler. Smaller arenas yes. MUCH smaller student bodies, too. Go to ANY football game at Ohio State. Notre Dame. Michigan. Clemson. Penn State even when they were bad a few years ago. Alabama. A basketball game at Kentucky (with an off campus arena that seats 24,000 people). Kansas has the same problem we do, and alums are furious. Why should we be any different?? All blue blood programs in their sport, which means fair weather fans have no place. Big games at ANY university will sell out and be loud. WE ARE NOT JUST ANY BASKETBALL SCHOOL!! Know where you are. This statement is as wrong as it is ignorant.And yes. That is an excuse.

"This is the toughest place to play in the league." - Matt Painter after Purdue v IU 1.28.18 And he gets the full student section in every game PU plays here. He gets the passion and what MAKES Assembly Hall the toughest place to play. Students, you don't think you matter? You don't think you make a difference? Get off your butts and go to EVERY conference game. It matters. A lot. No more excuses.

1) Performances like this are why performances like Wednesday against Illinois are unacceptable. 2) Students if you don't get it after today - why it's important you be there for ALL conference games and not just "big" ones, I have no idea why you go at all. 3) Johnson, for the great game he had really let us down with that BS shot late. We need a bucket and he throws that runner crap up there? God that frustrates me. 4) Green may be done after the season. And I don't care. Indiana will get there quickly if they defend that way and get in transition opportunistically like they did today. A lot to like, but "close" isn't good enough.

There are 37 known instances of sexual assault (ASSAULT, not even misconduct. Assault is a huge word) within the men's basketball and football programs since 2010. The president of MSU apparently knew, the AD apparently knew, and Mark Emmert apparently knew. Does anyone thing Izzo's clean in all of this? At some point, this has to break. Between this, the gymnastics mess, U of Louisville; the FBI investigation from late last year.... I think Mark Emmert will be done. I think the NCAA will see the beginning of its end as the governing body of D1 sports; and college athletics as we know them will never be the same. Paying coaches what universities do, and getting in bed with shoe companies was a bad idea from the start; let alone put so much focus on AAU teams and coaches; many sponsored by the shoe companies. The NCAA is in as big a mess as MSU is; and yeah...I think Izzo takes part of the fall eventually.

This is laughable. You do realize Butler's enrollment is about 1/8th (17%) of IU's Bloomington campus, right? Absurd? Hardly. A takeaway that is very off point. You clearly have no recollection or knowledge that IU's student section used to be packed every conference game and student tickets not only sold out, but to the point of cutting allotment to 4 games from 6 for 2 years. Sorry, Aaron. Your comparison is absurd. If you're on the "I'll come when they win" train, please give your tickets to someone who gives a damn.

"Winless (in the Big East) St. John's comes to Hinkle Fieldhouse, and Butler fans completely fill it. This is what a serious basketball school looks like." Gregg Doyel And you know what? He's absolutely right. Get your butts to the games, students. No excuses and no entitlement.

I've been on that train of thinking for a while. And I don't have much of a filter (I know...shocker to the long termers!). You very well may have!

For giggles... https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-65-power-five-schools-slideshow-wp-191443165/photo-p-strong-41-indiana-strong-photo-191443047.html Better than we were, but still not very good. Not sure what Glass' directive is, but I continue to blame IU's presidents. Myles Brand made a decision Indiana was not going to be defined as a basketball school; Adam Herbert forced us to hire a minority to replace Mike Davis; and Michael McRobbie cares about money far more than sports, and there are a ton of examples. I know a ton of people blame Fred Glass, however I think the problem is way deeper than him. We had similar problems before he was hired, and I don't think he gets to make decisions on what his mission truly is.

Illinois is not Indiana. If we (and the students) want to be a winner and claim we're still a basketball school; the seats need to be filled regardless of record or opponent (although I completely get empty seats for Bull Sh*t State in December). See your point, however don't ever want to compare Indiana w Illinois

I agree with all of this. What I don't agree with is a coach spending that much time on defense with a team that has 5 seniors on it. This season, our only chance - even WITH Davis - was to play solid defense but score in transition. The whole roster save the freshmen had been taught that way; and to completely change it when really only one of the freshmen was going to play much, was counter-productive to THIS team. I would have been on board with a younger team all or most of whom would be returning; but he has another off season with them. Our offense is clearly behind our defense (and both have been terrible on occasion); and it's cost us a couple of games, now. I am also no fan of force feeding one way of doing things. The pack line defense, much like Knight's man to man, is limited in some ways by personnel; and will eventually be solved. I am more a fan of being flexible and sound at a few things.

A completely disgusting performance by a disgustingly rudderless on-floor ship. Good God. Our seniors (save Johnson sometimes) are abysmal. Hartman was absolutely awful tonight. McSwain holds the world record for having his shots blocked. Newkirk is a walking turnover. We are forced to play, in Durham, Newkirk, and McSwain, 3 horrible basketball players. Our focus is just awful. How does a team from INDIANA miss 13 of 29 free throws? Seriously. How? How does Juwon Morgan improve as much as he has, yet miss key free throw after key free throw? (But my God, he was terrific again....we are AWFUL without him on the floor) How on God's Earth does Hartman shoot 1-4 and 0-3 from the 3 point line? Isn't he a senior?? How do Johnson and McRoberts each equal the total rebounds of Hartman and McSwain combined?? (Hartman was just terrible tonight) How in the holy hell do we shoot 50.8% and allow 41.5% FG's; make 3 more FG's than our opponent and still manage to get beat? Against an 0-8 team in conference? Our senior leadership sucks. There. I said it. Yes. It sucks. Looking at you, Hartman. Johnson. Newkirk. Why does Justin Smith play just 20 minutes? He's only shooting 54% from the field this season, and is one of the only guys who was able to get in position to defend that stupid 4th grade elbow hand off. This team is maddening. That felt good. Thank you for reading.

I think Romeo is a 2 year guy, so I will officially say 'both" and completely cop out. Phinisee will start next season and be a 4 year point guard. As valuable to this program as Yogi was. Romeo would prove to recruits that Indiana is a great place to go, and we'd win next season with him. Both are program changers for different reasons, and although I am very much on the Phinisee train, I think 'both" changes this program for the better and for the long term. If pressed and forced to choose, I have no idea what I'd say. Good question for different reasons.

Whew. I know many were frustrated early. Still....he shouldn't be able to hear anyone who's not right behind him. Hoping time will cure it.

Just shaking my head. I want that guy to see the honey of this job....not the bull crap of it. I hate that. New system, not a bunch of talent.... No wonder he seemed frustrated early on. I really hope he's patient. I also believe winning will cure all; but I also believe this is a special place and fair weather fans are a problem.

Agreed. Last couple of minutes were "normal." Big Ten games, no matter the opponent, should be loud. Duke is loud no matter who they play. So is Purdue these days. So is Michigan State. We're making excuses now (not you....collective), and it's not a good recipe. If we all want recruits and we all want a winner; this "eh" attitude cannot be the way of the Indiana Basketball world.

I liked some of your other points; disagreed with others; however I've only been to one game this season so can't comment or verify, but if this comment is true, I find it even more sad. The building was sterile last night.

Oh yeah. =)

Fair weather students have no business having tickets. Know where you are. It is absolutely the students'' job to go to the games.

Then they are spoiled, entitled brats who don't deserve the seats. Been that way for decades and they have been full for as long as I can remember. A poor excuse.

Whether we won or lost is completely immaterial most of the time, as is how a kid would fit on this team. He will never play on this team. Recruits want to know how THEY will fit. How THEY will be used. What THEIR role is. This team has 5 seniors on it, 4 of whom play major minutes. Winning or losing a game this season matters almost zero to a kid who's getting even decent advice. Recruitment of Romeo Langford is how he will be utilized within an offense and defense; and how he will help himself grow as a player.

That completely depends on what recruits are watching and what games they've seen.