Thanks to the scurrilous Big Ten Network situation and the inability for RCN cable in Chicago to set up my cable within two hours of my calling to install service — the nerve!* — I was pushed out into the Second City’s soggy streets last night, landing at the Kirkwood with a few friends, more than a few beers, and some $2 burgers. Delicious.

Thanks to the crowded bar, though, I wasn’t able to take my usual semi-diligent in-game notes. Instead, the following is randomly culled from notes written to myself on my phone, text messages to friends, and memory:

*First, a brief note on RCN: They’re coming to my apartment at 5 today to install service. That’s a really fast turnaround from my mid-afternoon call yesterday, and a very friendly customer service woman gave us an unbeatable deal on cable, HBO, and an HD-DVR component. For what it’s worth, consider this my tenuous approval of RCN, to be revised as necessary. And now back to your regularly scheduled basketball talk.

– Eric Gordon is an incredible offensive player. (No kidding, right?) This is probably the easiest, least surprising thing about last night’s game; what was surprising was just how quickly Gordon seemed to integrate himself into the flow of the game. Rarely was a shot forced, and when shots were forced, natural talent took over. Everything he does is tinged with talent: No one has talked about his passing ability, but the downcourt pass he flicked, ever so easily, into Jordan Crawford’s hands in the first half was the most sublime measure yet of how much better he is than everyone else on the floor. And there was that dunk; that wasn’t so bad either, was it?

That said … Gordon still has a long way to go defensively. His ball defense is stellar thanks to his athletic ability; he can recover and stretch offensive players simply thanks to his superior physical structure. The problem is when the ball is in another player’s hands. Right now, Gordon looks lost in his rotations. I’m sure that area of his game will develop with strong tutelage and time, but for now, it’s a glaring issue with his game. But yeah: He’s freaking good.

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Opponent: Chattanooga

Date: Monday, November 12, 2007 | 7:00 EST

Arena: Assembly Hall (17,456) – Bloomington, Indiana

TV: Big Ten Network; Radio: IU Radio Network

Finally, what we’ve all been waiting for. A game that actually counts. It’s the official debut of Eric Gordon. It’s the first game of D.J. White’s senior season. And hopefully, it’ll be a grand opening to the season for the No. 8 Hoosiers. And by grand opening I mean exactly the opposite of what happened to Kentucky (in their second game) and Southern Cal.

Once again, I’ll be looking for a better effort on the defensive end of the floor. (Hopefully this doesn’t become the case before each game.) The Hoosiers must step up their intensity in that facet of the game. My main critique from the first two games is the perimeter defense (sans Eric Gordon who has shown us excellent on the ball defense).

There have been too many open looks from the outside and too many easy drives into the lane. It’s time to get a hand up in the face on the three-point shot and not let your man drive around you. Chattanooga is a step up from North Alabama and UNC-Pembroke, fellas. Let’s treat them as such.

As will be the case all season on the road to San Antonio, your comments are welcome here in the game thread. I’ll post periodic updates, just follow the link below, for those of you left in the dark due to the Big Ten Network fiasco.

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The Hoosiers open the season Monday evening at Assembly Hall against the Chattanooga Mocs. Led by fourth-year coach John Shulman, the Mocs return two starters from last season’s 15-18 team.

Chattanooga is a member of the Southern Conference and they’re picked to finish fourth in the North division of that conference. Western Carolina, another IU non-conference opponent, was picked as the third place team in the North division.

Nicchaeus Doaks averaged 10.2 points per game a season ago and figures to be the go-to-guy for Chattanooga. Their other returning starter is Khalil Hartwell, a 6-8 forward who averaged 4.8 points and 4.5 rebounds last season.

Stephen McDowell, a 5-11 point guard transfer from South Carolina, is their top newcomer. McDowell is an Indianapolis native who started his prep career at Lawrence North before transferring to Cedar Grove in Georgia for his final two seasons. McDowell then attended the IMG Basketball Academy prep school before attending South Carolina.

Other notable newcomers to keep an eye on: swingman Kevin Goffney, point guard Keyron Sheard and center Qavotstaraj Waddell.

Chattanooga’s last NCAA Tournament appearance was in 2005. The 15th-seeded Mocs fell 70-54 to Wake Forest in the first round. Chattanooga is 3-9 all-time in the Big Dance.