Purdue Game and More

I didn't even know it until this morning, but the IU Hoops blog has sources with information on what is happening with the IU investigation. The source comes from one of our own blog readers who rarely comments, but the source indicates that someone on the Athletics Oversight Committee at IU has said that Greenspan has already made the decision to recommend the firing of Sampson and that the week-long investigation is just to try to avoid losing any lawsuits. I think this is probably what we all would have guessed and it looks like that it will be the case. Of course, there are other details as to whether they give Sampson the 10 days to appeal or not and a whole bunch of other stuff that I don't want to get into right now. Saturday night sure was interesting. You had IU blowing out the #9 team in the country (at that time), you had a spattering of boos when Sampson was announced but overall just a cold and quiet reaction, then you had Sampson fist-pumping and player/Sampson hugs at the end of the game, and even a "Kel-vin Samp-son" chant near the end of the game. And of course, you had your best player go down with an injury and likely out for the biggest game of the year. I thought we had some great comments on the blog from Outlaw, Tom, and Ben (and now Chris just minutes ago) following the game. I had a very weird feeling once IU was in blow-out mode and the players and Sampson were hugging. I guess I would describe the whole thing as unfortunate. I would love it if somehow this whole thing could just go away as if it never happened and we could go on cheering this team AND Kelvin Sampson. But unfortunately, we are way beyond that and only because Kelvin couldn't keep it in his pants (most men carry their cell phone in their pants pocket). And then what is really unfortunate is that this is going to be a big set-back for the program. And it's coming at a time when the program looked like it might be making its way back into the elite group that it once led. Even if Sampson gets fired this week, IU won't know its fate until late summer. And even if IU avoids major sanctions, such as postseason bans, IU will still lose this year's off-season recruiting no matter what. I think the best case scenario is that Derek Elston sticks with his verbal commitment and somehow IU is able to supplement with some other decent recruits for the '09-'10 class. As for next year's recruits, you really hope Devin Ebanks sticks with his commitment. And then you even have to worry about the current players and whether or not they will stay or not. If Robert Vaden left IU for UAB just to stick with Mike Davis, then anything is possible when Sampson goes. What if Armon Bassett and Jordan Crawford don't like the new coach? The whole thing is just troubling. As for tomorrow night's game, it really bothers me that DJ is doubtful for this game. Yes, the Hoosiers played very well on Saturday night, even after DJ went down. However, Purdue is playing the best ball in the conference and they are as hot as anybody in the country. They are playing very solid on both ends of the floor. However, the two areas where I thought IU held the advantage was DJ White down low and rebounding. Obviously, without DJ, it will be hard to realize the advantage of DJ down low. And without DJ, it will be hard to win the rebounding battle. And finally, I just have one additional thought on Purdue and many of heard me say this a thousand times before....F*@# Purdue! So, if the Hoosiers are going to win this one, they will need to do what they did Saturday night. I see the three main things as Gordon needs to come up big again, the role players need to all contribute, and the defense needs to play inspired. I think it is going to be extremely tough on Gordon. Every time Gordon gets loose with the ball, that annoying pest Kramer is going to be right there to pick it up. And when its not Kramer on Gordon, Purdue has other athletes they can throw at him. Gordon can't let Kramer get to him or it could be a long night for Gordon and IU. Hopefully, the refs whistle some quick fouls on Kramer when he's playing that tight and tough defense that looks like he is having a seizure. As for the role players, do they have another great effort in them with DJ out? Will this be another rallying cry by the players for what could be Sampson's last game? I have my doubts, but then again, I didn't see Saturday night's performance coming either. As for the defense, let's just say that they damn well better play some inspired defense. Recently, PU went into Illinois and put up 80-something and also scored 42 points in the 1st half at Wisconsin (reminder: we scored 49 for the entire game at WI). All I know is that if the Hoosiers pull it off, they are right back in the Big Ten title race. But if they lose, then you have pretty much handed your arch-rival an unexpected Big Ten title. And not to mention, all this Sampson BS is a hell of a lot more difficult to handle. So, what do you think Hoosier fans? Do you think IU can pull off the victory? Do you think there is any doubt that Sampson will be fired by week's end? Jeff's prediction: IU 70 PU 69 GO HOOSIERS!