LamarCheeks

RUTGERS WINS!!!!!

Left the Toiletmakers too much time.

Next four games should be interesting ... We should win all four comfortably. Maybe we get pressed a little by ND a little in Indy, but really, we should take all by double digits heading into the B1G play for good. I'm curious to see Lander's role in these. I think it's a good opportunity for the staff to get him some PT, evaluate him further and hopefully, build some confidence in him. Because with the way things went last night, we need somebody to take over when X has foul trouble or just sucks -- and right now, there isn't anyone. Bates, maybe? Phin isn't providing much relief. Lander looks lost on defense at times and inexplicably dribbled out 8 of the final 10 seconds of the first OT at Syracuse. But I think at times, he's played some quality minutes. Phin dribbled out the last 10 seconds of the first half last night. Maybe what Lander is/isn't doing at practice is telling the staff what it needs to know? Regardless, if he doesn't get some floor time over these next four games, I think it will give us a good idea if he has a future at IU. Maybe that's too dramatic, considering he's in what should be his true freshman season, but still ... I didn't see him play in high school, like many of you have. I'm still scratching my head at how he was once the 11th-ranked prospect in his class ...

IU 75 Merry Mack 52

C'mon -- this is just foolish. Do you really honestly think we would lose fans to -- Purdue? I could see fans possibly becoming disinterested, but to jump to -- Purdue? If any IU fan EVER jumps to Purdue, they weren't an IU fan in the first place.

I think Woody needs to find a way to instill some confidence in Lander. He hasn't played since Syracuse. And we need him. We need somebody. I love Rob, but at this point, he's a lost cause. And when X sucks or is in foul trouble -- we got nobody to step in. X shouldn't have been out there for those final 3-4 minutes.

X reminded me of Al Durham with those crazy second-half drives. He wasn't even shooting. He was just going to the bucket and flinging it up there. Really pathetic effort in the final 20 minutes.

If Johnson were just a bit smarter, he could've blocked that without the foul.

Why do we keep driving when the play clearly is not available?

They'll give it to Bucky.

Jeezus -- someone put a lid on our bucket.

Sure looked like Davis traveled to me -- but that's probably just the illusion of that damn Euro step.

How did that not go in???

I realize Race has had some decent run-outs this year, but that time, I was screaming, "SLOW DOWN RACE! PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, SLOW DOWN!"

We in trouble ...

Jeezus, Rob -- why waste so much damn time? Reminded me of the last 10 seconds of OT at Syracuse.

Ah. I hadn't seen that. Any reason? A fourth-year player doesn't normally redshirt -- if that's what they're doing ...

Saw that Loyola and DePaul had renewed their Chicago rivalry the other day -- and I've noticed Loyola on TV a time or two -- so I got curious as to how our old friend Damezi Anderson was doing. He hasn't played at all this year. Not a single minute. Haven't seen anything about an injury, and he's still listed on the roster, so it's not like he quit or transferred again. They've had some major blowouts in which you'd expect most on the roster to get some garbage time -- but not a second for Damezi. Amazing how far he has fallen. He was rated in the top 100 as a senior and the No. 2 senior in Indiana behind Romeo. Obviously, he was overrated, but he did seem to have a little bit of game. But when he came to IU, he'd go in and just freeze up. He'd be wide-open from the wing or the top for a 3-pointer and either not hit a thing or nearly break the backboard with a horribly errant shot. Archie always said he was a hard worker and if I recall correctly, said he was the strongest player on the team. Still can't figure out what happened to him. Feel bad, because he seemed like a really nice kid. Never expected him to be a star, but thought he could give us 10-15 minutes a game off the bench.

Madison wins 52-49. Franklin misses a 40-footer at the buzzer to tie.

JMU 50, U.Va. 49 -- 35 seconds left. Dukes have the ball (16 seconds on shot clock)

Jeez. Armaan Franklin was wide-open for a straight-on 3 -- nobody within 5 feet of him -- and didn't hit a thing. Total airball.

Providence doubling up Vermont on FoxSports1 -- 20-10 just past midway through first half.

Mr. Whipple (who's old enough to remember him?) is leaving Pitt. Perhaps he was squeezed out ... Although I've seen that he might be on the way to Nebraska to become OC there. Wonder if he taught the Pitt QB that bush league fake slide he employed against Wake in the ACC title game.

Bucky 68 Hoosiers 63

He played for the 'Canes back when they were the sh-t. Won two nattys. Also was an assistant under Butch Davis when they were building what some consider to be the best team in college football history. Wants to help them reclaim the glory. Sorta like Woody. Except for Clemson, the ACC isn't exactly a powerhouse league -- so with the right dude in place, Miami could be a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode again.