Indiana 81, Minnesota 78: resilient overtime performance by Hoosiers overshadows second half collapse.
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 17, 2010 7:30 PM EST
Email
PrintI knew we had it all along. Heh. IU, as in many games over the last two seasons, most infamously in last Saturday's Illinois game and last season's Michigan game, blew a huge lead, but with Tom Pritchard and Bobby Capobianco on the bench, fouled out, the Hoosiers overcame a five point overtime deficit and took the lead for good on a Verdell Jones jumper with 32 second remaining. They were guttier as players than I was as a fan, but that doesn't take much.
I'll have much more on that later tonight, and the last 10 minutes of regulation were brutal. Still, for the first time in the Crean era, IU withstood a rally from a good team. Hopefully the Hoosiers will remember how they played when they were down in overtime, when they had nothing to lose, and play that way when they have a lead. With 13 games plus the Big Ten Tournament remaining, the Hoosiers are two wins beyond last year's total and they have now exceeded last year's Big Ten win total (doubled it, wow!). This is painful to watch, but IU is making progress, and now has two winnable games directly ahead on the schedule.
I could have lived without seeing the students on the court. It's been a long two seasons, but it's Indiana, guys. No big deal. I'm not advocating explusion for the students who were on the court. I'm sure a semester suspension will suffice.
8 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Some of the student actions at games recently
Has really upset me. From these giant heads that have no IU ties (let’s face it, it’d be MUCH cooler to see a giant head of Mark Cuban than Cartman) to rushing the floor after a home win against an unranked opponent. I like where we’re heading as a program, but I wish we’d keep the focus on IU and realize that history overrides the excitement of one game. As you said, we’ve been there before, we need to act like it. We need to be reminded of that and get a student section at games that reflects the Indiana tradition.
I love Crean, but I’d love him even more if he’d take a stronger stance on things that don’t reflect on us as one of the best programs in the nation. There’s absolutely no reason to ever rush the floor if you’re watching a men’s basketball game at Assembly Hall. We should never ever celebrate a regular season win over Minnesota like it is number six.
Yeah, it’s something that should be addressed. Every student section has its ups and downs, but this season is the first time that I remember the chants from the IU student section becoming a big part of the media coverage. I thinking some sort of priority seating that rewards the most devoted and knowledgeable fans might be in order.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 17, 2010 9:07 PM EST up reply actions
That would be nice
To find students who think of Bobby Knight as more than just an “old dude.” I mean, speaking of Knight, can you imagine the reign of terror that would come down on these kids if he were still involved with the program? Wooo…inexcusable.
But I hate to take away from the win, which was a game we had to win. I was going to rip into this team so hard if they blew this game, because there was absolutely no excuses to lose after the lead they had built up and they way they were playing. So I’m done on the student section topic for now…until they do something stupid and belittling again.
I understand all of the points (and I’m not a fan of the big head thing), but let’s put these in perspective, as I really think the argument is meaningless babble in the context of today’s college basketball environment.
First, storming the court has no effect on the outcome of the game. Games are not won or lost because a bunch of 18-23 year olds (most of whom are probably slightly intoxicated, if not more) run onto a court at the end of the game. I’d rather focus our efforts on actual basketball, i.e. Pritch and Capo not fouling out. If we want to discontinue it for safety reasons, then so be it. But please don’t think that students running onto a court “shames” our program. Sampson did enough of that for one lifetime, it’s not like it can get much worse.
Secondly, storming the court has jumped the shark so long ago. Michigan’s students stormed the court today already after beating Jim “I don’t know any seedy agents” Calhoun and his merry band of 5 star recruits that some of us IU fans would give their right arm for. Point being, it’s just students being fun/drunk and this isn’t just an IU thing. Unless the NCAA does something drastic for all schools, storming the court for wins over unranked teams will continue. It’s not just an IU thing.
Finally, I’m fine with the idea that some students are more knowledgeable and should get priority seating. At the same time, these students were in grade school the last time we were in a final four and most weren’t alive when IU last won a national title. Let the kids have some fun (as long as no one is hurt and we don’t maim players/coaches).
Most importantly, we got a win and VJ3 is starting to really mature before our eyes. Here’s hoping we take the next two to keep this streak going.
by bobbybeingmanny on Jan 17, 2010 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
It’s not the end of the world, by any stretch. There are things I don’t like about our current student section, but the students are to be commended for showing up considering the product right now (and it’s worth noting that student football attendance was at its best since the early 1990s this season). Yes, I try to remind myself that the current students, if they are sophomores, now have seen whopping 5 Big Ten wins, in both sports combined, in their first two years. Given the swing of emotion, I understand the impulse. I half expected it, while hoping it didn’t happen.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 18, 2010 12:11 PM EST up reply actions
You people are ridiculous.
I hate to argue with fellow IU fans but some of the statements listed here are more than absurd. I am an IU student and I’m going to set you old people straight. The big head thing is NOT a student phenomenon. We did not come up with that and I don’t like it either. Complain to the Athletic Department. Don’t talk crap about students on some board. Do I think we should have rushed the court after this game? No. I was in the balcony so I couldn’t anyways. It’s easy to say we shouldn’t have rushed now, but in the heat of the moment it was ok. I’m guessing you guys weren’t at the game. It was electric in Assembly Hall and everyone was ecstatic ( a feeling not felt by Hosier fans in some time). It was a “heat of the moment” type thing so just because you didn’t like watching the rush on tv doesn’t mean you have a right to call out the students. Lastly, as for the Bobby Knight comment and students considering him “some old guy,” I haven’t heard a bigger load of bs in a long time. Most students know who he is and respect the hell out of him and just want him to come back to the IU community. At the football game last year when he was inducted, almost the entire student section gave him a standing ovation when his name was called. Stop being bitter, old fans. This is COLLEGE basketball and COLLEGES have STUDENTS. These players that you worship and criticize are students as well. When you support IU you support its students so instead of us needing to show respect, maybe you people need to take a look at your comments and realize you owe us a little respect!
I don’t see anyone blaming the students for the big heads. I realize that the big head are from the athletic department and consider it one of many ways in which the AD is doing a bad job running the student section.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Jan 21, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
“Some of the student actions at games recently as really upset me. From these giant heads that have no IU ties…”
Which was said in the context of everyone bashing the students so it sounds like we are being blamed to me. I just think it’s so crazy for Hoosier fans to bash the student section for something as pointless as rushing the court. Watch the NBA if you dislike the students so much.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on The Crimson Quarry
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
