LamarCheeks

1 possession. 1 turnover. Here we go again.

Got a crock put full of chili that's been brewing all day. Got me a couple ice-cold beers. Am ready for some Hoosiers hoops. (Don't have a very good feeling about this one, though. Not only are we short-handed, but we are because a player, essentially, got booted from the team. This can bring the lads together or further their spiral. Based on what I've seen this season, my bet's on the latter. Hope I'm wrong, though ...)

Basket's good. No time left. Why is that so difficult to figure out?

I've been waiting for several games for something to spark this group. I thought playing at the No. 1 team in the country after playing two so-so games might do it. It didn't. We got our a$$ kicked. I thought playing a very beatable team in front of a good home crowd after losing two straight conference games might do it. It didn't. We got our a$$ kicked -- and by squirrelly Tim Miles I thought after losing by 15 points at home to a team we should beat, and heading into our top rival might do it. It didn't. We got our a$$ kicked. I don't think losing a teammate who apparently likes to hit the hooch pipe will do it either. This team just lacks heart -- and an on-court leader. I'm to the point where I'm just expecting more of the dame -- we will get squished tonight.

If there is an introductory news conference, I would love for someone to ask if he knows much about math and understands that when you have third and 8, a 6- or 7-yard pass isn't gonna be enough. Then again, if he's worth his salt, we hopefully won't be facing many third and 8s. (BTW, for those who've lost focus here: I'm referring to Kalen DeBoer -- not Archie Miller or Tom Crean).

I remember way, way, way back in the day -- when there was one class -- watching the sectional draws on local TV. It was a HUGE time of year for high school hoops. My school was awful in basketball (we were a football school), but I would go to the sectionals (Valpo) every night and the one-day regional (Michigan City) every year with my dad. Really miss those days. After the sectional round, you had one-day regionals, one-day semi-states and a one-day state final. In the latter three, you had to win twice in a day to advance. I haven't lived in Indiana in 25-plus years. Does anybody have to play twice in a day anymore?

My heart tells me otherwise, but until we win and start scoring more, I gotta go with my head ... Kitties 66, Hoosiers 61

From what I gather here, some folks think Kalen DeBoer will lead us to the NCAA tournament, while others don't.

We missed 11 free throws and 16 3-pointers. If we just go 13 for 18 from the line (instead of 7-18) and make 9 of 20 3s (instead of 4-20), that's 21 points right there -- and those aren't crazy-good percentages anyway. I'm not gonna say we'd have won by 5, because you never know exactly how things will shake out, but that's a lot of points to leave out there. I only was able to watch about 16 minutes of the first half because I had to work, but when I was watching, we missed some really wide-open 3s. That's just something you cannot do. Archie had better find a Zeisloft or a Roth in his next recruiting class. We just cannot go another year without any 3-point shooters. It's too big of a part of the game.

I know patience isn't necessarily our virtue (I know it isn't mine), especially since we've been pretty mediocre for most of this century, but here's a reminder ... At Virginia, Tony Bennett went 15-16 and 16-15 in his first two years. He's averaged 26 wins a season in the seven years since. They're 16-0 now.

So he can learn to do those things and gain experience.

Damezi should've gotten minutes before today -- just to help get his feet wet. Throwing him out there today with very little PT was asking for trouble. It was a failure waiting to happen.

Typical Justin -- bad pass, then lollygags his way down the court. Did he not learn ANYTHING from the Nebraska game!

Phinisee did a great job there -- using his body to shield the defender on his way to the hoop. Now, that was a smart play!

Yikes. I think Durham got away with one there.

With all our injuries and Romeo with 2 fouls, Justin is gonna have to play big today. Can't afford to have him pouting if he makes a bad play. He just needs to forget it and get after it. So far, he's looking pretty good.

Man, we just can't afford to miss wide-open 3s.

It was a charge. Phinisee initiated the contact.

Why don't our guys have the ability to stop the drive before getting called for a charge? When you're 6-1 and plow into a 7-2 guy, you're not gonna get that call. That's just not smart. When the defender seals off the drive, stop! Either turn around or pass it back out.

If we can't get inside, we really, really, really need to hit some 3s. And if we can't, we'll lose by 25.

If Duke were to beat U.Va. later today, that would be the last of the unbeatens. Leaving these guys as the last undefeated team (though to be honest, I'd rather see someone other than Duke beat U.Va.) ...

This has Romeo as the very last lottery pick. It also has Garland going 17th, which is interesting considering he's been out most of the season (although Michael Porter went 14th last year after missing just about all of his only college season). ... Oddly enough, I didn't see McRoberts' name on this list ... https://www.nbadraft.net/2019mock_draft

Also, I'm guessing this means Forrester will be available? I'm not sure he was against Nebraska. ... Would love to see Anderson come in and knock down a few 3s ... Man, I've got a feeling we're gonna get squished tomorrow. Hoping the boys can rally, but not holding my breath ...

Not looking good for Durham tomorrow, but maybe that ship hasn't sailed just yet ...