Sampson is doing all the right things

Thank you Rick Bozich. While everyone else is throwing Sampson under the bus for not getting the Indiana kids from this years class due to all the recruiting mistakes Davis committed that set IU back light years, Bozich actually highlights what Sampson is doing.

Sampson learning (to text message) from his mistakes - courier-journal.com

He's worked to arrange support for a basketball practice facility he would love to see Indiana start building north of Assembly Hall before winter arrives.

Anyone else think a Cuban Center next to the Mellencamp Pavillion sounds good?

He's networked with former IU players estranged from the program in the Davis Era.

This is HUGE with a capital H. Former IU players are the lifeblood of a program and Davis alienated them. Next to networking with Indiana HS coaches, this may be the most important thing Sampson could do.

And Sampson has apologized -- repeatedly -- for his poor judgment.

Everyone deserves a second chance and I have no doubt that this will only make Sampson more committed to coaching.

Sampson predicts Indiana will sign five solid players, one of the best classes in the Big Ten. But there is evidence the recruiting restrictions, combined with the turmoil of the Davis Era and the catch-up path of a first-year staff, has damaged Indiana's recruiting.

Four top in-state players have delivered commitments. None has picked IU. Three guys, each ranked in the top 100 nationally, have picked Purdue, which stumbled to the worst Big Ten record (3-13) last season.

I'll happily take 5 solid players with a coach that will turn them into a team, over the top classes Davis brought in, which constantly underperformed due to a lack of coaching leadership. I said it from day 1 of the Painter era... Coach Painter will have Purdue in the top half of the B10 every year and he will do it with Indiana kids. I expect Sampson will do the same and it will be a very enjoyable thing watching the IU-Purdue rivalry back at the top of the B10.