let the six eligible and healthy players play against northwestern. let the remainder of the team know that it doesn't matter what the situation is, if you have a scholarship to play for iu then you have a commitment to the university and its fans to show up for practice.

LET THE SIX-MAN-ROSTER TAKE A SHOT AT NORTHWESTERN IN EVANSTON!

IF THEY WIN WITH ONLY SIX PLAYERS, THEN ESPN IN MY OPINION HAS TO MOVE THEM UP IN BRACKETOLOGY AT LEAST TO A NUMBER THREE SEED IN THE TOURNEY.

taber and white could beat northwestern down low…i really think so…the question is can the guards keep up with the defensive stops from the perimeter. i think they can, honestly.

if i were dakich i would keep the starters out as long as possible tomorrow night and let those that showed up for practice play the game.

this is iu basketball, and it's time dakich shows them what it's all about. you don't skip practice and not play…PERIOD!!!! i don't care what the excuse is…give credit to those who did show up (including gordon and stemler who i am probably most proud of).

by the way, i've been a softie for bassett and white all year…but i must say, i am all about seeing lance stemler, mike white, and eric gordon do well now…and that isn't meant to leave out taber, ahfield, finklemeijer, and the rest of the gang who i hope do extremely well too…i'm all for those kids like the “tom coverdales” who will play for the sake of the university and the state of indiana regardless of the coach!

…go TRUE hoosiers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if dj white doesn't show up for tomorrow night's game he has completely lost my excitement for a big ten p.o.y. coming from indiana unless it happens to be kyle taber or eric gordon. i have no tolerance for crybabies regardless of the situation…………….

……….okay, if you have a brother, sister, mother, or father overseas at war then i understand…but if you are crying over a coach then i don't have any sympathy. if you want to give sympathy where sympathy is due then give it to those of us who never gave up, stuck it out, and earned a college diploma (regardless of the odds) and (without the taxpayers from the state of indiana giving us a scholarship) to PLAY A GAME WE LOVE.

i'll probably be hated on again for voicing my opinion. let me say right here and right now….i want these players to finish out the season because i see the potential for a surprise to the tournament's committee as well as other teams invited to march madness. iu has a shot at a final four spot…i truly believe with the right attitude they will make it. AND I WOULD WANT NOTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE DJ WHITE LEAD HIS TEAM TO A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP but if players don't show up tomorrow night then i say let those who did show up at practice finish off the season…it's only fair. dj white has his chance to continue to be one of my all-time favorite hoosiers (right up there with tom coverdale and aj moye of semi-recent) if he chooses to try. if he doesn't, then he's quickly knocked down to a “jay edwards type-of-player”…and i mean that.

no, these kids don't deserve what happened to them, but they should deal with it. i sure wish my college education was payed for. if it were, then i wouldn't be paying on it for what seems the rest of my life.

This is all me just being an optimist. Man, I hope I'm right on this!!!