Before I begin, let me just say that I've seen every Hoosier game thus far and I know what we are.
We're young, inexperienced, and undisciplined.
We're the same team today that lost to Loyola in December.
We're also the same team that played with Kentucky for 3/4 of the game, Maryland for 7/8 of the game, and beat Pitt and Michigan.
What I saw in the recent overtime victory against Minnesota, however, proved to me that we have all the components it takes to pull one of the biggest upsets of the year.
Spoiler up!
Yes, I am ACTUALLY naive enough to think that this young Hoosier team that has done more to blow leads than Lindsay Lohan has done to blow celebrities has a chance to upset a nationally ranked Boilers team that is projected to dance late into March.
Why so confident?
Because this team has played with every team they've played bar Ohio State. They've shut down next year's #1 draft pick and they've neutralized numerous big name players. The one thing separating them from an NCAA bid this season is the fact that they are yet to play 40 minutes of basketball. If they played the last five minutes like they played the first 35 versus Maryland, they would've won. If they played the last ten minutes like they played the first 30 versus Kentucky, they would've won. If this team would've played 40 minutes in every game they've played this season, we'd be looking at a nationally ranked team at this point.
Unfortunately, they haven't, but last Sunday they were forced to do more than that... Play 45.
Granted, they did blow a huge lead in the last six or seven minutes, but they made up for it in overtime. They were lucky enough to save themselves this time. So call me naive, call me shortsighted, call me optimistic, I think that when Purdue comes into Assembly Hall, they're in for a surprise.
Maybe we get 35 competitive minutes, maybe we get a win. Regardless, these Hoosiers will not go down quietly.
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What did you think of storming the court after the game?
ReplyDeleteIt's uncharacteristic for Hoosier fans. Winning should be expected of this program and so, in theory, we shouldn't be celebrating a Big Ten victory at home against an unranked opponent. The reason for the jubilation, however, is the fact that this young team has hit a turning point. This campus is rallying around Tom Crean and this young team, and that attachment to Hoosiers Basketball is the reason that I'm glad the students rushed the court. It sends a message to this young team that if you play 40 minutes, Hoosier Nation will respond.
ReplyDeleteAny progress this soon after all the scandal and turnover is pretty amazing. Maybe next year the Hoosiers will amount to something. This year its gonna be a Purdue Big 10 repeat and hopefully, at minimum, Final Four finish
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