Sampson scoffs at question about schedule

by Alex Bozich in Schedule | December 29th, 2007

Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson seemed a bit irritated in the Chicago State post game press conference when asked about the strength of Indiana’s non-conference schedule. Here’s a transcript of that exchange:

Reporter: Kelvin, you haven’t played a winning team, a team with a winning record in a while, do you really feel the schedule is readying your team for what’s coming ahead here?

Sampson: Yes, do you?

Reporter: Seriously, I’m wondering.

Sampson: What do you wonder?

Reporter: Well, it’s a whole different league. I just don’t think these teams are the caliber you’re going to face in the next couple of weeks.

Sampson: Well um (pauses), is that unusual from the other teams in the country?

Reporter: Sometimes you get a holiday tournament that’s a little bit more competitive.

Sampson: When we set the schedule up, we looked and said we’re playing Kentucky at home, Georgia Tech, at Southern Illinois, Xavier, Illinois State. Maybe you should give us a little credit.

You already know my take on this topic, but apparently Kelvin doesn’t agree the schedule has been a bit on the soft side.

Tags: Kelvin Sampson, Non conference schedule

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PostmanE

God forbid someone wonder about the schedule. I really like Sampson as a coach, but when he gets irritated in pressers, he's really no fun.

Luke

I listened to the audio and he sounded really pissed when asked about the schedule. Kinda made me laugh a little.

Bleeding Crimson

Time will tell...
bc

Brad

Quit beating a dead horse. Is the schedule soft? Yes. Did it look anywhere near this soft when the schedule was made? No. As Sampson said KU, GT, Xavier, SIU on the road. Those are normally good to great tests. How could he and the IU staff predict they would all be down??

Would you feel better if Sampson said, "Yes, our schedule has been horribly easy. Every team we have played sucks and I knew they would when we set the schedule a year ago. In fact, its been so easy that we probably won't even go 9-9 in the Big Ten."

David

Eh, so what? He bristles re: stupid questions - who wouldn't? Does anyone know who was the reporter?

You play the teams you play. We ended up 11-1 before Big Ten play kicks off - could be 12-1 pending the game against UConn. I think most people would have predicted one, maybe two losses heading into Big Ten play.

But god knows we'll hear about this so-called 'soft schedule' again if/when Indiana falls against someone they 'should've beaten.'

Looks like this scenario will be beaten again and again like a dead horse - much the same way the whole Lance Stemler playing time/situation has been blown out of proportion as well.

Phillip

Ditto, Brad. This was a tough looking schedule going into the season. Get off of Sampson's butt about it.

Sherron Wilkerson

Well at least we wont have to read about it on here anymore, the horse has been gone awhile now.

Sherron Wilkerson

and postman, who takes the side of di**head reporters anyway? They all pretty much blow.

TimEOBrien

"PostmanE says:

God forbid someone wonder about the schedule. I really like Sampson as a coach, but when he gets irritated in pressers, he’s really no fun."

I think the IU beat reporters can take it, most of them dealt with Bob Knight for years... and we all know his undying love for the profession "one step above prostitution"

Tom

I will repeat a previous post--"some people are not happy unless their unhappy". To many whiners instead of enjoying the moment. Short memories of Davis when we were complaining of to tough a schedule. I think reporters and some fanbase are spoiled. You whiners need to focus on the positives or go root for UK.

Schultz

Like I've said before, IU should get a pass for a weak non-league schedule this year considering that over the past five seasons, they have played one of the toughest non-league schedules in the country. Last year, they played true road games at Duke, at Kentucky and at UConn - that's brutal.

That being said, the 2001-02 team went 7-5 in non-conference play and went to the championship game. Think that was a coincidence?

TD

I suppose the idea of a fun interview for some would be Bill Belichick or the "Tuna." Throw in a Bob Knight and a certain former coach of the Colts and one would have a real fun time. Give Sampson some credit, he doesn't or certainly hasn't done anything that would allow him to join this "peer group" when it comes to interviews.

IUFan

It is a pretty easy schedule but IU is a young team. They needed an easy schedule to get used to playing with each other. Maybe next year it will be a little more vigorous.

Big A

I thought it was a fair question. Anyone know who asked the question? I couldn't make out the voice.

Steve O

I agree with Brad. On paper, before the season started, this looked like another solid schedule. But some teams just happen to be down, and it's not like anybody could have called that before the season. So stop whining. At least we won 11 of 12 and already have 11 wins going into the Big Ten season.

Gus

IU played a game last night and this is all you could find to write about? Disappointing article today; now, you can call me a whiner also...

ray

iu has played one of the toughest pre-conference schedules nearly every one of my 30-some years of watching iu sports. this is why everyone is making such a big deal about it being soft...it's unusual for iu, but not for many teams across the country. most teams schedule a couple of tough games and the rest of the schedule is filled with "cupcakes". it seems that iu would have a softer schedule than usual regardless of the downward turn for this year's "tests", but i think it was a wise decision for sampson. these players will go into the conference with confidence, and continue to build that confidence by beating up on some of the weaker big-ten foe to start the season. by the time iu plays at wisconsin they could potentially be 18-1, and i doubt too many people will be complaining. with an 18-1 record, they should be recognized as a contender no matter who they are playing...it's not easy to start a season 18-1.

Big A

I'm really not sure how you can defend this schedule as being tough. It's ranked No. 219 nationally, which is exactly why people are wondering how it will prepare IU for the Big Ten.

Sure, there are some solid name opponents in the mix, but my bigger issue is that the Hoosiers will go 24 days between legitimate opponents (Kentucky and Iowa). I'm not really sure what purpose scheduling Western Carolina, Coppin State and Chicago State serves in the final three games leading to the Big Ten. It's dropped the RPI about 20 spots and I don't think you improve much blowing out horrible teams. Just my take and I'm glad to see it's generating some interesting discussion. Good stuff. Hope you all had a nice Holiday.

ronb

BIG A, Now we know your opinion for the 80TH time. Please pick
a new topic and start talking about the team,its players,the games
and the Big Ten. I am starting to worry that you can't report on
anything productive. Maybe you really don't know anything about
basketball so you keep repeating the same old tired stuff. Show
me some good reporting about these things. We believe you can!

David

Normally IU doesn't schedule tough games prior to the Big Ten season opener. Last year they played - Western Michigan, Ball State and IUPUI. 2005 was a little tougher with Charlotte and Butler but we've finished out our schedule with those two schools - I think they were both two year commitments, maybe 4 year commitments (although I could be wrong).

If only IU would bring back the Hoosier Classic!

PostmanE

Ron:

Your stunning confusion at the purpose of this site aside, what do you think the above post is? It's Sampson speaking about the schedule. It's an item of interest. I really don't understand your quarrel here at all, but that's beside the point; the point is that you questioning A's basketball knowledge is hilarious.

Everyone else:

It's just a discussion. It's not blasphemy to suggest that IU's schedule is weak, just as it's not IU's fault the schedule is weak. It's just discussion. Have fun with it.

kelin

Schedules...what are we talking about schedules....schedules....we talkin' about schedules man'

Sincerely AI

Seriously....you will know more about the schedule come the Iowa game then our first big test in the Big Ten whomever that may be...

Also...looking at the big ten this year...some of the teams have a high sugar content if you know what I mean....(Iowa, N'Western, etc.) I would take Xavier over OSU, PU, and Illinois right now which are all up echelon Big Ten teams this year...and GT is comparible to those teams.

I am keeping my lines open if KS calls me about the Hoosier Classic....

Play it at Conseco...
IU vs.IUPUI
Butler vs. ND

All Indiana schools, large amount of Indiana kids, and strong support of the all the schools in the Indy area with at least 3 of them but ND would still show up. Conselation game and a championship game. Sell out each night.

Zak

Lynn Houser of the Bloomington Herald-Times posed the question to Sampson and yes, for those of you wondering, he wasn't too happy with another criticism of his team's pre-Big Ten schedule.

Big A

Thanks for the clarification, Zak. I had a hard time figuring out who it was since most of the beat writers are out in Tempe for the Insight Bowl.

Mark

Soft schedule and Sampson doesn't want to admit it. I'd be angry if I was asked that and looked at other schools in the B-10 that played tougher foes. Fair question and poor answer in my opinion. This schedule will do nothing for preparing us for the B-10.

ronb

Postman, I know it is just a post but Big A at the bottom refers
to "My Take" so it is not just a post. It is his opinion on the schedule and all I want is more topics. He has beat this horse
enough as others have said. As for basketball knowledge I would
put my 46 years of coaching and playing up against anyone. I have thought that Big A has knowledge about the game. That is why I want him to move on to other topics and have fun. This is a great IU team and coach thinks they are ready for the big ten so lets support them and have fun we can't change a thing about the past. I am sorry if i hurt anyones feelings that was not my intent. Go Hoosiers!

ray

every game a team plays, regardless of the opposition, is always preparation for the conference. i think there are a lot of teams around the country capable of performing at a high major level on any given day. the big ten has some good competition as always, but iu won't struggle anymore this year than years past when they "prepared" with a difficult schedule. the tough schedule is good for ratings, rankings, and seedings, but it doesn't make a bad team good nor does it make a good team bad to play weaker teams. what's the difference between iu playing tough competition now versus later in the season anyway? not much in my opinion. they'll have a tough time on the road in the big ten like every team every year whether it's at michigan or at michigan state. but i will agree, it would have made for a more exciting season to schedule more "tests" or to be invited to more tournaments.

Steve O

To those who are questioning the toughness of IU's schedule, did you ever stop to think that the schedule wasn't made this year, and teams like Kentucky, Georiga Tech, UConn, Southern Illinois, and Xavier are usually top 25 calibur teams??.. I mean how can you expect anyone to read into the future and know if these teams will be good or not? The schedule might look bad because these teams happen to be down, but you can't blame Sampson. Why not blame Gillespie and the coaches for the other schools we played who were supposed to be top 25 this year? And I mean we did do what we were supposed to do by blowing out the cupcakes. The schedule is what it is.

If anything, the games we played will help the team's chemistry and confidence. Why be upset about that? Some people don't understand college basketball, I guess that's why they're pissed even though we're 11-1 and #13 in the country.

Sampson scoffs at question about schedule

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