LamarCheeks

Hate to say it, but I think that missed 3 was our last gasp. We just can't score now.

Analyst: I thought they were gonna call a travel there. That's because she did travel.

We don't get a stop here -- it's ballgame.

Why, why, why are we not sticking with their shooters???

No more help down low. Stick with the shooters.

Can't keep losing shooters in transition.

The bad news: We're playing like crap. The good news: We're only down 2. Would be really, really nice to make a bucket from beyond 2 feet to loosen things up -- maybe even 3.

Gotta secure the ball!

Hope that cheap shot by Baptiste ignites a spark. We need something to get us going. A couple 3s would be nice, too.

Gotta give it up to a dude who coaches in overalls (and I'm talking basketball; not hog tyin')

I remember L&M. In the mid-80s, they had two great high school players in the same class. One went to Purdue (Tony Patterson) and the other to IU (Jeff Oliphant). They're the same age as me. Ollie probably played with those guys. Reminds me of Andrean (a high school very near where I grew up) five years earlier. They had Jim Bullock and the lovable Dan Dakich in the same class. Bullock went to Purdue and of course, we all know where DD went. I don't think I'd be ruffling any feathers if I said that in both cases, Purdue probably ended up with the better player. I wonder if there were any other times throughout the years where one kid played at IU while a high school teammate played at PU?

So, this is funny. After schlepping all these years for his buddy Alford to get the job and calling everyone an idiot for not agreeing with him, DD says that he just learned that Buckner has a HUGE problem with Alford. And then ... silence. So apparently Bucker's not an idiot for thinking the same thing that many, many IU fans did who are idiots? Okey doke.

Live in Virginia, so I tried to stream Dakich so I could hear the Woody interview. Unfortunately, I was a tad late and missed it. And after about 30 seconds, I had had enough. DD didn't trash the Matta hire, but deemed it unnecessary. MIKE DON'T NEED NOTHIN'. HE DON'T NEED ANY HELP. HE DON'T NEED NO ADVISOR. Um, If we're to believe Dolson, Woody asked for the resources to help and guide him through learning the ropes of coaching NCAA basketball. And by that, I don't mean Xs and Os -- or anything like that. There's a lotta sh-t you gotta know at this level. Matta knows it. Woody doesn't. Is he anti-Matta just because he's not an "IU guy?" ... Hell, he wants to be here, so why should that matter. Jesus Dan -- just chill.

VJIII is on board!

I think you're right. Lots of upside. But I also got the feeling that mom wants him closer to home -- I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him end up at Rutgers or Seton Hall.

Hypotheticals are unavoidable, so here's one ... I think I recall reading that Chris Reynolds said he wasn't necessarily a fan of the Archie hire. I wonder -- had he gotten the AD job instead of Dolson, who would he have picked?

I'm still not sold on this hire, but I'm slowly buying in. Not a big fan of making a splash at a press conference. It's working with kids in practice and during games that matter. But now I'm starting to wonder: Why didn't we take a longer, harder look at Woody during any of our past vacancies? (I know Glass shot him down).

Charlie Brown's teacher is asking a question. LOL!

A bison?

Matta was a fantastic coach and recruiter at OSU -- until his health problems. But he won't be recruiting at IU. He's an administrator -- not a coach.

I saw that tweet. What does DA mean by "P6 hoops?"

Watching Southern Cal dismantle Oregon got me to thinking ... Pete Carroll only had college coaching stints as an assistant -- never was a head coach. But USC took a flyer on him after a few meh NFL seasons as a head coach. And after the hire, fans were saying, "What the f--k!" But it worked out pretty damn well (except, of course, for the part where a booster buys Reggie Bush's family a house). Maybe this will have a similar outcome. We're kinda like USC -- a blueblood that's fallen on some hard times. C'mon, MIke -- be our Pete Carroll. But keep an eye on those boosters!

A little off-topic, but if Mike Woodson can recruit some Ali Patbergs, he'll be in great shape. Damn, I take all of this you got!

It's funny. I sorta feel like IU is sort of a family member. Not in a weird, touchy-feely way, but from this standpoint. I can make fun of my school/family and in this case, express mild displeasure with the selection of our new coach, and it doesn't bother me if anybody here does, either. Because we're all hard-core fans. That's why we're here. And as much as I question this hire, it really pisses me off when these mo-fo outsiders do!!! I know -- that probably makes me a hypocrite. But I can't help it.

Shoulda held out for Mick Cronin!!!