Hoosier Headlines for December 10, 2009: more Pitt coverage.

by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Dec 10, 2009 8:39 AM EST

I have to say that I can't quite go along with this "signature win" consensus emerging. As I said yesterday, it was one of the most rewarding regular season wins I can recall, but that's because of where we've been in the last two years. As fun as it was, Pitt is a rebuilding team that will have a tough time going .500 in the Big East. It was cathartic, it was the best win of the Crean era so far, and it was an important step, but signature win? Kentucky would be a signature win. Purdue or Michigan State would be a signature win. A rebuilding Pitt team? Given the state of the program, the venue, and the national TV exposure, it was a big deal. But not that big.

Finally, Crean's team gets big win (South Bend Tribune)
"More than anything else, they needed something to really go right for them," Crean said. "They needed a signature win for themselves. Like I said to our coaches, it's going to be a lot more fun to have some teachable moments after a win. They needed to see why they practiced twice on Thanksgiving, why they do individual instruction, and why the demands are the way that they are.
Hoosiers worked hard to earn signature win (The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
"Leadership really came into it," sophomore guard Verdell Jones III said. "Devan (Dumes) did a great job, behind the scenes, of calming us down. It was a big game, nationally televised game, we knew that, and we really wanted to win. Our hunger really showed."
Win over Pitt gives IU's confidence a boost (Evansville Courier & Press)
"There was nothing new with the effort Tom Crean saw from his Indiana University basketball team on Tuesday night. What was different in one of basketball's most storied arenas was the result: IU built a lead that it didn't relinquish, defeating Big East bully Pittsburgh 74-64 at Madison Square Garden in New York."
Rick Teverbaugh: Hoosiers showing promise (The Herald Bulletin)
"I would really like Tom Crean to succeed as the Indiana University men’s basketball coach. I found good reason to want it to be him who brings the Hoosiers back to national prominence when he visited Hoosier Park and I heard him speak and got to meet him. I found good reason to think it might happen by watching IU win a big game Tuesday night against Pittsburgh in the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden. "

Not Exactly Vintage (Pitt Blather)

Scenes from the Jimmy V Classic (Searching for Billy Edelin)

A closer look at the four factors and Pittsburgh (Inside the Hall)
"Since we did an in-depth analysis of the four factors prior to the IU-Pittsburgh game, it's only appropriate to look at how each of the factors played out."

Is Knight warming up? (The Hoosier Scoop)

Indiana Hoosiers season recap (ESPN)
Come on. You know you want to relive it in all its glory.

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Comments

Congratulations

Excellent win against Pitt.

I would wish you luck on Saturday, but I bleed Blue.

I will admit though that despite the rankings, I have been more worried about the game on Saturday than I was of either UNC or UConn. I have always deeply respected Indiana and feel that anyone that takes the Hoosiers lightly is just asking to be disappointed.

Again, congratulations on the win.

by Strangeite on Dec 10, 2009 11:24 AM EST reply actions

Well, Kentucky will be heavily favored, but Tuesday’s game gives is a tiny bit of hope.

The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog

by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Dec 10, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. Big win, but not a signature win.

Beating last year’s Pitt team would have been a signature win. However, it may prove to be a turning point for the program. With young players, it is so important for their confidence level to beat teams that they are not supposed to beat.

by acelion on Dec 10, 2009 1:37 PM EST reply actions