Together at last: Armon Bassett and Mike Davis

by Alex Bozich in Former Hoosiers | July 8th, 2008

Armon Bassett will finally suit up for the coach responsible for bringing him to Bloomington – Mike Davis – as the former IU guard announced his intentions to transfer to UAB in today’s Birmingham News.

“I’m good friends with Robert (Vaden). Coach Davis put Robert in a good situation and he’ll probably be a top 20 pick next year. Seeing that put me over the edge (toward UAB).”

Bassett was one of two players dismissed from Indiana’s team by former interim head coach Dan Dakich in April for missing an appointment and refusing to run laps as punishment. Current Indiana head coach Tom Crean upheld the dismissal after taking over.

“Its tough, man, but going through that makes you stronger. Things happen for a reason. When God closes one door, he opens another.”

Most people I’ve talked to insist that Bassett isn’t a bad guy — but his extracurricular activities weren’t going to fly under the new coaching staff. And they shouldn’t have. Solid pickup for Davis, as he’ll be able to pair Bassett with 2009 recruit DeMarcus Cousins. Whether or not that turns into on the court success remains to be seen.

Tags: Armon Bassett, Mike Davis, UAB Blazers

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msdiu81

I liked Armon when he was with IU. Now that he's made his choice, I hope I don't have to read about him anymore. Another flunky from the Sampson era. Vaden a top 20 pick? That remains to be seen. Later dude. Enjoy Alabama.

deedubbadoo

I am happy for Armon, I am glad that he is in a place he feels comfortable. I think that all in all, he is a good kid and maybe was corrupted by the cancer that is Jamarcus Ellis. I think in the right environment, he can mature into a really good player. I am wondering though does he have to sit out a year?

RobertSchell

Yep, just like Vaden had to.

JerryCT

I looked at Vaden's NBA stats in the Orlando camp. The stats were very poor across the board, He is slow, not agile, shorter than listed, not strong compared to guards in the last class yet manages to play farily well for college. I doubt top 20 however.

I hope Basset does well.

CoveyDale

it's too bad Bassett loved weed so much (reportedly), or else he could've been a really good player here.

i wish him luck at UAB. i really don't harbor any ill-will towards Davis and i hope he does a good job with that program.

hoosier07

so he's going from a cheating coach to an idiot coach -- for all those who never held a grudge against MD, i do because he ruined 3 of my 4 years of IU bball while in btown ... a coach that lets his players call him "mike" instead of "coach" is no coach id want at my school ... but that's just me ..

following up on coveydale: good luck to you armon! maybe you'll find a new drug dealer in alabama and have the same issues down there ...

TomCoverdaleIUHero

Adding Armon to the mix at UAB makes them a very good team for the Conference USA watch out Memphis..............I am happy for Armon and wish him the best he seemed like the best one out of the players that were dismissed and i was hoping he would come back...........Good Luck Armon

PMK

I can see the conversation now:

MD: "Uhhh duhhhh ughhh uhhhhh"
AB: "Duuuuuuu Uhhhhhhh Duhhhhhhhh"

GO BLAZERS!

tberry

Maybe Davis will go for Bud Mackey and they can start there own little distribution company.

HoosierSmitty

Armon just wanted to play for a team called the "Blazers"

(too obvious to resist using)

HoosierSmitty

In all seriousness, Armon was one of my favorite players to watch on the court, but apparently he just couldn't keep things in perspective off the court. Maybe he'll turn it around at UAB, but I highly doubt Mike Davis is going to make a difference.

chriscrew

What a perfect match. I can guarantee right now that Robert Vaden will not be a top 20 pick in next years NBA draft.

Together at last: Armon Bassett and Mike Davis

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