Sunday, January 28, 2007
Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball
The Clarion got through one follow-up college basketball note yesterday, time for another one today. Traditionally, we don’t pay attention to college basketball here at the Clarion until after January 1st, when the NFL season has gotten far enough along that we can tear ourselves away from Mel Kiper Jr., John Clayton, Len Pasquerelli et al. for a few moments.
The most fascinating thing about college basketball is how, even though we get a year older it seems like every six months or so, the kids playing college basketball remain the same age. It is remarkable to see 18, 19, 20 and 21 year olds go out on the court in these huge arenas, in front of national television audiences and execute at the level they do. Remember being 18? A nice consistent form on a keg stand in front of about 50 cheering people was the limits of what most of us could accomplish. These kids continue to amaze. The older we get here around the office, the more obvious the old injunction, these are kids not robots out there. Having said that first year, Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson is duing a remarkable job.
As you may recall in last year's post the Clarion agitated for a successor in the highest tradition of Bob Knight, an ethical standout. Coach Sampson who had been squeaky clean at the time of his selection looked like a good choice. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter it was revealed that his assistant coaches at Oklahoma had been up to certain shennanigans that included making extra, illicit phone calls to perspective recruits. Despite not being personally tainted, this was a blow to Sampson and therefore to Indiana and its long held reputation for tip-top integrity.
Sampson has accepted his punishment, assured the university and the alumni that he will move forward with the highest of standards, and has thus far appeared to do so. Surely, it has helped to placate the fan base that the team has had tremendous on court success, including big wins over UConn and Michigan State. While his predcessor, Mike Davis and UAB have struggled to an 11-9 mark in the very soft Conference USA, Sampson has the Hoosiers at 15-5 and #24 in the country, coming off yesterday’s win over Michigan.
Ah, Michigan which is known throughout the land as the antithesis of Indiana basketball. The University of Michigan where booster, Ed Martin, allegedly paid Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor, Louis Bullock, among others over $600 GRAND in cash to play for pay. Poor Duke alum Tommy Ammaker still hasn’t been able to sweep away the stench left by nearly two decades of Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher.
***The official Michigan Men’s College Basketball history site reads in part...Due to NCAA sanctions, the University of Michigan has vacated the records from the 1992 Final Four, the 1992/93, 95/96, 96/97, 97/98 and 98/99 seasons. 170 total games. It also reflects vacating the 1992 Final Four appearance; the 1997 NIT Championship; 1993, 1996 and 1998 NCAA tournament appearances; and the 1998 Big Ten Tournament championship.
Indiana on the other as noted by the Associated Press yesterday has a rather glorious recent history against Michigan. This history includes eleven straight wins over the Wolverines. As satisifying as that is, my how times have changed in Bloomington. Yesterday, at Assembly Hall, Michigan made more free throws than Indiana attempted. Just the opposite used to be the hallmark of Coach Knight’s teams. Instead, yesterday, Coach Sampson's team won with three point shot, not a Knight fave. Indiana’s fans will adapt so long as the Hoosiers continue to win and Sampson runs a clean program.
Knight on the 3 pointer after Texas Tech’s win Wednesday over then #6 Texas A&M... “That doesn't make me feel any better about 3-point shots," Knight said. "I don't like it, didn't like it, not going to like it. It was good tonight, though." (courtesy of the AP)
Yesterday, was the Hoosier’s 13th consecutive win at home. This is their longest home winning streak since 1991-95 when they won an extraordinary fifty-six in a row at home. Of course, you know who was coaching then. Unfortunately, the villianous Myles Brand was already sharpening his knife for Coach’s back. Brand a power hungry, networker moved from defiling Indiana University as it’s 16th president to a much dirtier organization, when he became president of the money laundering operation known as the NCAA.
The Clarion promises an expose of Brand and the NCAA in a future column.
While the jury is still out on Kelvin Sampson, the Clarion was satisified with his hiring and is comfortable with his tenure thus far. Already a remarkable difference in the team’s discipline and execution can be observed on the floor game to game.
The most fascinating thing about college basketball is how, even though we get a year older it seems like every six months or so, the kids playing college basketball remain the same age. It is remarkable to see 18, 19, 20 and 21 year olds go out on the court in these huge arenas, in front of national television audiences and execute at the level they do. Remember being 18? A nice consistent form on a keg stand in front of about 50 cheering people was the limits of what most of us could accomplish. These kids continue to amaze. The older we get here around the office, the more obvious the old injunction, these are kids not robots out there. Having said that first year, Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson is duing a remarkable job.
As you may recall in last year's post the Clarion agitated for a successor in the highest tradition of Bob Knight, an ethical standout. Coach Sampson who had been squeaky clean at the time of his selection looked like a good choice. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter it was revealed that his assistant coaches at Oklahoma had been up to certain shennanigans that included making extra, illicit phone calls to perspective recruits. Despite not being personally tainted, this was a blow to Sampson and therefore to Indiana and its long held reputation for tip-top integrity.
Sampson has accepted his punishment, assured the university and the alumni that he will move forward with the highest of standards, and has thus far appeared to do so. Surely, it has helped to placate the fan base that the team has had tremendous on court success, including big wins over UConn and Michigan State. While his predcessor, Mike Davis and UAB have struggled to an 11-9 mark in the very soft Conference USA, Sampson has the Hoosiers at 15-5 and #24 in the country, coming off yesterday’s win over Michigan.
Ah, Michigan which is known throughout the land as the antithesis of Indiana basketball. The University of Michigan where booster, Ed Martin, allegedly paid Chris Webber, Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor, Louis Bullock, among others over $600 GRAND in cash to play for pay. Poor Duke alum Tommy Ammaker still hasn’t been able to sweep away the stench left by nearly two decades of Bill Frieder and Steve Fisher.
***The official Michigan Men’s College Basketball history site reads in part...Due to NCAA sanctions, the University of Michigan has vacated the records from the 1992 Final Four, the 1992/93, 95/96, 96/97, 97/98 and 98/99 seasons. 170 total games. It also reflects vacating the 1992 Final Four appearance; the 1997 NIT Championship; 1993, 1996 and 1998 NCAA tournament appearances; and the 1998 Big Ten Tournament championship.
Indiana on the other as noted by the Associated Press yesterday has a rather glorious recent history against Michigan. This history includes eleven straight wins over the Wolverines. As satisifying as that is, my how times have changed in Bloomington. Yesterday, at Assembly Hall, Michigan made more free throws than Indiana attempted. Just the opposite used to be the hallmark of Coach Knight’s teams. Instead, yesterday, Coach Sampson's team won with three point shot, not a Knight fave. Indiana’s fans will adapt so long as the Hoosiers continue to win and Sampson runs a clean program.
Knight on the 3 pointer after Texas Tech’s win Wednesday over then #6 Texas A&M... “That doesn't make me feel any better about 3-point shots," Knight said. "I don't like it, didn't like it, not going to like it. It was good tonight, though." (courtesy of the AP)
Yesterday, was the Hoosier’s 13th consecutive win at home. This is their longest home winning streak since 1991-95 when they won an extraordinary fifty-six in a row at home. Of course, you know who was coaching then. Unfortunately, the villianous Myles Brand was already sharpening his knife for Coach’s back. Brand a power hungry, networker moved from defiling Indiana University as it’s 16th president to a much dirtier organization, when he became president of the money laundering operation known as the NCAA.
The Clarion promises an expose of Brand and the NCAA in a future column.
While the jury is still out on Kelvin Sampson, the Clarion was satisified with his hiring and is comfortable with his tenure thus far. Already a remarkable difference in the team’s discipline and execution can be observed on the floor game to game.
Labels: college basketball, sports
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