« Dan Dakich audio from Big Ten teleconference | Home | Devin Ebanks’ high school career now over; Memphis talk picks up steam »

Which Hoosier team will show up?

By Alex | March 5, 2008

whitedak.jpgWe’ll have a lot better grasp on whether Sunday’s debacle against Michigan State was an aberration when the Hoosiers take the floor tonight in Assembly Hall opposite the Minnesota Gophers. Tubby Smith’s club is 18-10 and is coming off a 71-57 home win over Ohio State.

Back to the Hoosiers. Let’s face it, Sunday’s game left a bad taste in everybody’s mouth. The performance was a major cause for concern because once Indiana got down big, things seemed to snowball. The defensive effort was pathetic and some of the jawing that was going on seemed to suggest that Dan Dakich might not have control of certain players. Despite their 2-1 record under Dakich, this group hasn’t played well since their win over Purdue.

If Indiana turns in a solid performance tonight, all of the sudden there will be hope once again for where the season is headed. If we see another uninspired effort, especially on a night where seniors D.J. White, Lance Stemler, Mike White and Adam Ahlfeld will be honored, it’s time to throw up a red flag. This is the time of year where teams should be putting it all together and improving. Another poor effort would be a sign that a collapse is imminent.

With that said, what are your expectations for tonight’s game? Will we see the Indiana team that crushed Michigan State at home a couple of weeks ago? Or will we see the club that struggled with Northwestern, Ohio State and was throttled by the Spartans at the Breslin Center? Also, in terms of senior night, how will you remember the seniors? And one final thought: How do you rate Dakich’s performance after three games?

Your thoughts are welcome in the comments.

Tags: ,

Posted in Commentary | Subscribe to Inside the Hall Subscribe to RSS |





Viewing 44 Comments

    • ^
    • v
    I think DJ will show up huge in his last game. I will be out ot watch it at the bar . As for Stemler I really do not know. His shot really is not very good so I hope he can put a few in tonight. I think he has shot like 32 percent from three this year. I guess I never really understood why they claimed he was this great shooter. He never lived up to it in two years except for a few big ones.

    I just want to watch DJ go out with a win but I am not sure right now. I really wonder if this team can get it done.For DJ I sure hope so as he really should have it that way.

    As for DD I am not impressed at all after three games with him.I think there was a reason he did not last at Bowling Green. Plus I do not think this team wants to play for him. Ray should have gotten the job given the time he put in with these kids and under Kelvin. Dan was not even on the staff until October when Rob got fired. Once again a great move by Greenspan.

    I just hope we win tonight. However, I am not very hopefull in the tourney with DD as the coach.
    • ^
    • v
    damn fellas...you act like you've never seen a loss before. Hoosiers by 17 tonight. Minnesota can't play on the road and the emotion of that we saw for the better part of the last two weeks will return tonight as DJ, EJ, Armon, and (thank God) Stemler play their last games in the Hall. You'll see a Hoosier team that's found it's shooting touch and was "talked to" about their slightly less-than-best defense. I think by now, the "KS" will have been removed from their shoes and permanently attatched to their jocks and socks where it will be out of sight...out of mind.
    • ^
    • v
    MN is well coached...they just aren't on the same talent plane with IU. But compare WI and IU and tell me that talent is all that matters. I look for MN to give an unfocused IU team a decent game. I think IU pulls it out on senior night, but with the way they've played the last three, I can't see it being a blow-out. Love the optimism though...severely lacking on this site all year.
    • ^
    • v
    I agree, I dont want to see any KS tonight. Move on. guys, I know 18-21 yr olds are fragile, but time to grow up, they may never get another chance at a 4 seed in tourney again. DD time has come & gone, these guys are not playing for him. We had better have a coach in place by final four. This program needs direction... Quick!..
    • ^
    • v
    Not sure a coach will happen before end of season unless the coach in mind won't make it to the NCAA tournament. The coach's mind set should be focused on the team he's currently coaching and not the team he will be coaching down the road.
    • ^
    • v
    A coach in place by the final four? What?
    • ^
    • v
    I wish I could say we'll come out and play as inspired as MSU did on its senior night, but where's the evidence to suggest this team is willing to put it all together? There's no title to play for anymore and we're praying that Wisconsin slips up for us to get a share of the title.

    I expect much of the same from the Hoosiers in the "Dakich Era." The Hoosiers look sluggish and lackadaisical on offense and defense, but win on sheer talent by about 5 points.

    DJ plays hard but it's lost in our ugly idea of an offense and Armon hits clutch shots to keep our heads afloat before EJ finishes the game with FTs.
    • ^
    • v
    I think Indiana's defense should consist of fouling Tollackson every time Minnesota comes down the court.
    • ^
    • v
    so you're saying that Mike White, D. Thomas, and Stemler actually have a reason to play tonight? Good call to make use of their 15 personal fouls!
    • ^
    • v
    Stemler's going to foul Tollackson on every defensive rebound he gets. Might as well use them smartly.
    • ^
    • v
    I look for another struggle tonight. We're footslow and have no defensive stopper. They'll use the same gameplan Mich. St. did in that they will try to beat us up and down the floor, go directly at DJ if we play man to man, lock down Bassett, and keep Gordon in the 17-22 pt. range. Offensively, we play 3 on 5 and it has become clear how teams want to play us. Dakich can't teach size or speed and we lack both. We are now beginning to see just how good of a job KS was doing. He wasn't working with as much as we thought and they're going into season's end weaker rather than stronger. Unfortunately, he lacked other things necessary to be a great coach. Hopefully, we'll get a fresh start with a new coach and the NCAA will not deal us an unreasonable penalty. I fear this season will not end well.
    • ^
    • v
    Hoosiers struggle early,. win by 14. Ellis gets unselfish on senior night, and makes the team go in the second half.
    • ^
    • v
    So we know Armon is gone now? Also, we aren't footslow (not even close) just lazy. Either way we end up in the same place but the quickness and overall athleticism certainly isn't lacking. If they can't play for Dakich these players should at least be able to play for D.J.
    • ^
    • v
    Where would our program be right now without DJ white? He did his best to hold this team together 2 years ago when Davis left and then, he rallied the troops under Sampson and had us moving in the right direction.

    DJ White represents what an IU basketball player should be. It has been a lot of fun watching him mature over the years and become an outstanding young man and basketball player.

    In the next chapter of IU basketball that is ahead of us I hope that we will work to bring more young men like DJ to Bloomington.
    • ^
    • v
    I completely agree with you about DJ. He's had one of the rougher tenures I've ever heard of any big man in college bball history. Injuries, new coaches, mediocre teams couldn't even disway DJ in trying to bring a championship to the hoosiers. He is in my select class of my favorite IU players of all time. I think with all of this mentioned, the ahll is going to be crazy for DJ tonight, and all of the players will play inspired ball for him. He deserves going out a winner. IU wins by 15.
    • ^
    • v
    Armon gone? What?
    • ^
    • v
    In my humble opinion, after listening to Armon's interview on ESPN All Night radio about 10 days ago, he's not coming back. He's a young kid that, it appears to me, holds a grudge and makes decisions based on emotion. Just my gut feeling. If I recall, it was after his huge night vs Northwestern.
    • ^
    • v
    I sensed that too, and I'm more concerned about this than any potential recruit changing his mind. The new coaches first job should be to make sure Armon stays.

    After DJ, I think it's clear that Armon is the leader of this team and is one of those players that's not good enough for the NBA but perfect as a 4-year college player that can be all-league his last two years.

    IU plays it's best when Bassett is on and directing everything.
    • ^
    • v
    whew...thanks B...I was starting to worry that I was going to have to go into witness relocation program or something!

    DO I want him to leave...HELL NO...what I want and what I get are completely different...just ask my wife!
    • ^
    • v
    I'm hoping that the same buzzsaw that hit Indiana on Michigan State's senior night will hit Minnesota tonight. Anything less than a 20-point win will be a disappointment in my eyes. Minnesota is not a good team. They have a good coach, but the lack of development under Munson has caused this team to be mired in mediocrity. Indiana's talent is far superior, and if it isn't put on parade tonight, then it's time to throw up lots of red flags, not red banners.

    I'll remember the signature moves of the seniors most:
    DJs monster one-handed rebounds that would give the offense a little extra momentum and his long, lean body going up for powerful dunks. So much better than the kid who showed up four years ago.
    Mike White's proficiency in fouling in bad situations.
    Stemler's lack of offensive ability. Or defensive ability. Or ability to rebound the basketball, but I think I'll remember him most for coming flying in after the other team has rebounded the ball and giving a really stupid foul.
    Ahlfeld I've never seen play.

    The past three games, I think Dakich has shown that he's the man for the job...er, I mean, he's said he's the man for the job. His inability to control the players, take control of the team, make adjustments, or defeat far inferior teams has shown that Indiana needs to look elsewhere.
    • ^
    • v
    everyone needs to cheer up just a little but.....the week will end great....Purdue lost and we will win! HOO HOO HOO HOOSIERS!

    ill be at the game and i cant wait to watch DJ go out at assembly with a bang.

    i had a dream :
    DJ came back after applying for a medical red shirt.
    EJ wanted to play under new head coach Bruce Pearl.
    Ebanks, Prichard, Roth, and Holloway came
    Taber grew 4 inches in his final season
    Ellis and Crawford came back smarter than ever
    Bassett returns and will become my all time favorite Hoosier after his season year.

    I woke up before the tip off of the NCAA Championship game and we were playing Duke. Vitale was their starting point guard.
    • ^
    • v
    What's this about Bassett Leaving? I think I missed something. When did this turn up? I think tonight will give us our first sign as to how we will do in the tournament. We have the speed and we aren't that bad on size and we have the talent, but none have wanted to step up and make a serious drive.
    • ^
    • v