IU - ISU the day after...

I just love the media that preach. I use the term 'media' loosely, because I have a hard time believing Ken Bikoff is truly media, but he is the Editor-in-Chief of Inside Indiana magazine, so technically his pieces are from the media.

Lay off the panic button for the time being - Ken Bickoff Inside Indiana Magazine

The point is, ladies and gentlemen, relax. It's just one game. To be fair, not every fan was planning on committing hari-kari just because IU lost one road game in early December. Some held on to their perspective, which was nice. But what all Indiana fans should realize is that this still is a team feeling its way along. Ben Allen, Earl Calloway, Marco Killingsworth and Lewis Monroe all are new to the rotation. Allen is still getting his feet wet. Killingsworth has shown flashes of brilliance. Monroe had six assists last night. Calloway was key off the bench in both halves.

You are right, it is just one game and for those of us that can see more than just Wins and Losses, we realize that nothing has changed over the last 6 years. The man on the bench has no clue as to what to do during a game. And talent can only take you so far.

Indiana didn't play a great game vs. the Sycamores, and the team and coaches will be the first to tell you that. I didn't expect IU to lose, but keep in mind the Sycamores are off to their best start in 20 years. But the game wasn't a complete disaster. IU wasn't blown out of the gym. I know there are some who will say that Indiana should never have problems with lesser opponents, and they dream of the old days when the Hoosiers easily dispatched of the mid-majors en route to their annual trip to the Big Dance.

"the Sycamores are off to their best start in 20 years." Yes they are 4-0, but they also were picked to finish 8th in the Valley and play a bunch of Freshmen. I thought IU had 4 Seniors and the most talent Davis has ever had at Indiana.
"Wasn't blown out of the gym..." and we should take solace in that?
"annual trip to the Big Dance." You had to bring that up didn't you... I guess we should get used to NOT making an annual trip to the Big Dance.

Again, to be fair, Indiana's wins over Nicholls State, Florida A&M, Western Illinois and Eastern Michigan aren't exactly like beating the best teams in the country, but even those programs are a step above the patsies Kentucky has played. In other words, there's no reason to believe Kentucky is going to simply dominate the Hoosiers. In fact, if you take into account that, save for the first 2:30 of the game, Indiana actually beat Duke the rest of the way, there is reason to believe IU will be the one dominating.

"...the patsies Kentucky has played" Wow... North Carolina, Iowa and West Virginia... patsies?
"...Indiana actually beat Duke the rest of the way." I was just waiting to see this in print... beautiful. I think there was a reason Dr. Naismith chose 40 minutes and not 37:30.
"there is reason to believe IU will be the one dominating." Now that's just plain ridiculous. What is IU's record against UK? Dominating? I think just being in the game would be a big step up from the last 2 years.

I know there are a lot of fans who will support the Hoosiers no matter what. These are the true fans. The fans who are willing to jump off the bandwagon at every loss or because they don't like the head coach need to relax and realize that nobody has been duped. No promises were broken. Losses are frustrating for everyone, but this is a team that will win far more than it loses. Complaints are natural, but panic isn't. It isn't time to freak out about a loss. It isn't time to start up with the Davis bashing. It is far too early in the season for anything like that.

"...true fans." Yep... poor blind bastards. They get excited over the talent and Davis lets them down again and again. I feel for the "true fans."
"jump off the bandwagon at every loss" I don't think there are that many bandwagon fans. Most now realize that there isn't a bandwagon to jump on at IU with Davis in charge.
"nobody has been duped" Well, I would say that those 'true fans' have been duped if they believed Davis' hype this year.

Saturday will be interesting... Kentucky is down and IU has all the talent in the world. It should be an IU victory. But then again Tubby is on one sideline and Davis is on the other.