LamarCheeks

Hoosiers 88 'Hounds 66

Bucky 33 IU 24

Just a few days ago, there were posts here saying Garland could announce his decision to go to IU by Nov. 1. And once Nov. 1 rolls round, many are expecting him to announce soon that he will go to Vandy. For one, the only ones who really know what's gonna happen (and they might not even yet) are the Garlands. For two, who knows what will be the scuttlebutt in 4-5 more days? It might be as dramatic a change as has been in the past 24-48 hours.

Here's my prediction ... Winston Garland played at Gary Roosevelt with Renaldo Thomas. To help counsel Darius, Winston asks Renaldo to sit and speak with the lad. Renaldo didn't have much of a college career, but was on those Phi Slamma Jamma teams at Houston. He asks Darius if he's thought about the Cougars and encourages him to check them out. "Why not," Darius thinks and heads to Texas for a visit. He's very taken with the Houston coach and loves what he has to say. So on Nov. 9, he goes on ESPN and announces his commitment to Houston. The greatest recruiting coup in the history of the American Athletic Conference becomes known as "Sampson's Revenge."

What's wrong with losing a player to Vandy? ... I don't want to lose a recruit that we're really after. But if it has to happen, I'd almost rather lose a recruit to a really decent dude like Bryce Drew than a sleazeball like Calipari or a rat like Coach K. Besides, as far as I know, neither has made a decision yet.

I will not be certain of the plans of Garland and Langford until I learn that Mrs. Donovan has bought a house in Bloomington.

I grew up in Indiana, and have a half-IU, half-PU family. So for me, PU-IU trumps all other rivalries. But that's just me.

ESPN.com did a profile on Archie this morning. Not much we didn't already know, but probably worth a read nonetheless. http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/21227170/archie-miller-becomes-guardian-indiana-hoosiers-hoops-dreams

Yep. You don't always have to go far from home. The 1991-92 Final Four team had nine players from Indiana, three from Illinois and one from Michigan. And the Michigan kid (Lindeman) was a freshman who played about seven minutes a game.

I remember very late in that game, a Duke player (Grant Hill, I think) was going to the basket and Damon went to challenge him. Damon is a very smart player, and went in at the right angle so as to not get the Dookie with the body. And also because Damon is a very smart player, I think he realized at the last second that he had four fouls and thought better of going for the block -- so he very obviously pulled his arm back and made no contact. The zebra didn't see it that way. He anticipated the contact, rather than seeing it -- because there was none. Right after the foul was called, I screamed at my TV: "THAT'S NOT A F---ING FOUL, YOU IDIOT! HE PULLED OFF!" ... But unfortunately, Damon was gone.

Archie needs to be careful, in my opinion. I'm hoping he has a plan in mind if we do happen to get Garland and Langford. Obviously, if you can get those two talents, you don't pass it up. But one of the things the Indianapolis Monthly article mentioned that soured Indiana parents and coaches on Crean was his oversigning. I think folks gave Archie a pass on Gelon because for one, that wasn't his recruit, and for two, I think most realize the kid just wasn't a B1G-caliber player (no offense). He doesn't want to run the risk of pissing off coaches or parents -- because once you get stuck with that reputation, it can take a long time to get it unstuck.

Even without Montross, we would've had UNC's title had Henderson not got hurt. And had the officials not decided to foul out just about everybody wearing crimson in that 1992 national semifinal, we may have had Duke's as well.

Fourth and 10 and you throw a 6-yard pass. WTF!

Why are you catching a punt inside the 10? This team has no sense of fundamental football -- especially on special teams play!

I think the snapper forgot that in addition to getting the ball to the holder, he needs to block.

Michigan and Michigan State struggled to score against us, and yet the Twerps are rolling up and down the field today. So much for that defensive improvement.

Did No. 1 push off, or was that my imagination?

Or Tre Robersons ...

My favorite Gus Johnson/IU moment: Purdue is at IU hoops in the 2011-12 season. Matt Roth already had nailed a couple 3s. Matt Painter obviously implores his dudes to keep an eye on him. Cody gets the ball and gets triple-teamed. Roth sneaks around the perimeter and gets wide open right in front of the PU bench, beyond the 3-point line. Cody finds him. Roth hasn't even shot yet and Painter throws up his arms in disgust and Johnson yells: "Layup." ... And of course, Roth finds nothing but net. I kept that game on my DVR just for that play. Unfortunately, my cable box fried and I lost it.

Could've been two flags -- one for offsides and the other for Cobbs getting molested down the sideline.

I voted that these exhibitions don't count in this league, but in case they do ... IU 77 Marian 56

Indiana 23 Maryland 14

I haven't seen this many people this excited and so sure about something since Billy Donovan became our coach. LOL!

This is somewhat off this topic, but it is regarding uniforms, so here goes: I understand the original reasoning for uniform numbers ending with a 5 or lower and not going above 55 -- to make it easier for the ref to call fouls. But in this day and age, isn't that thinking a bit archaic? Why not let a kid wear No. 7 or No. 18 or No. 26 or or whatever? I hardly think refs would find this switch all that troublesome. They've been doing it in international ball and in the NBA for years.

Having grown up in The Region, I watched Darius' pop play high school ball a few times ... I remember being a kid and watching this game -- an absolute classic in the annals of Indiana high school basketball. Gary Roosevelt, with Renaldo Thomas (who ended up being a bench warmer on the Phi Slamma Jamma teams at Houston) and Winston Garland, played Plymouth, with future Michigan State and NBA star and coach Scott Skiles. This was back when there was one Indiana champion. Ah, the days ... I also recall one of the times we needed a coach -- either after Davis left or Sampson left -- Skiles' name was being bandied about. He had just left the Bulls and apparently, lived in Bloomington. I remember reading that some NBA gurus considered his offensive sets some of the best in the game, but he struggled to last in jobs because his personality tended to wear on guys after 3-4 years. I almost wondered if that might make him a perfect fit for the college game, since you change personnel every 3-4 years anyway. Then again, if you have a difficult personality, that might not lend itself to successful recruiting.