Fast Break Sports: No love for the SEC
In this Fast Break Sports segment, Lucas Corley (@TheLucasCorley) interviews Teran Johnson (@TeranJ_VLZ) of 1180 WVLZ in Knoxville about undervalued SEC basketball teams.
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In this Fast Break Sports segment, Lucas Corley (@TheLucasCorley) interviews Teran Johnson (@TeranJ_VLZ) of 1180 WVLZ in Knoxville about undervalued SEC basketball teams.
Lucas Corley (@TheLucasCorley) interviews Jack Satzinger, men's basketball beat writer for the Minnesota Daily.
Indiana shot an impressive 55 percent on its way to an 85-58 route of Illinois. The Hoosiers, who also dished out 23 assists, improved their record to 14-10 and 4-9 in Big Ten play. “We were waiting to have a night like this. It feels good for our whole group to come out and play both ends the way we did tonight,” Coach Teri Moren said. Amanda Cahill recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, her sixth of the year. Cahill also managed three assists, five blocks and three steals. “Amanda has been one of those kids who has stuck with the process and she continues to be consistent,” Moren said. Larryn Brooks added 14 points and Karlee McBride added 13 to their ledgers as well. Indiana is known for its mass volume in 3-point attempts, but on the season have shot only 28 percent coming into this game. Tonight the Cream and Crimson were able to hit 56.5 percent of their triples on 13-23 shooting. Indiana, who has struggled this season in Big Ten play, came out hot in the first half. At halftime the Hoosiers lead the Illini by a score of 44-31. Sophomore guard Larryn Brooks started off 4-of-4 shooting and wouldn’t miss until the 16:26 mark of the second half. She finished the night 5-of-13 from the floor and had four turnovers. “I was trying to force a lot of things, trying to make that pass especially to Jenn [Anderson] in the post,” Brooks said. “Everybody at halftime was saying ‘you’re ok’ and that kept me in it.” As a team the Hoosiers shot 65.4 percent in the half. The Illini shot decently in their own right at 43.3 percent in the first half, but came out slow in the second half not scoring a field goal until the 11:32 mark. Coach Moren looked at this win as a confidence booster heading toward the Big Ten tournament at the end of the month. “We were disappointed after the Northwestern loss. Wins like this do absolutely give your team confidence,” Moren said. “We can only enjoy this win for 24 hours, and then we have to go get ready for Iowa.” Indiana next travels to Iowa on Sunday. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Follow Lucas on Twitter @TheLucasCorley
When we await the start of basketball season, it seems to last an eternity. But when it finally arrives, the season flies past us faster than we realize. It seems like just yesterday that the 2014-15 season was starting off, but in fact it was more than three months ago when we first saw the Hoosiers take to the court in Hoosier Hysteria. Some things have stayed the same around college basketball since then. The Kentucky Wildcats still haven’t lost a game. Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky is still one of the standout players in the nation. Some things have changed, though. Northern Iowa has been a surprise taking down the mid-major powerhouse Wichita State on Jan. 31 by a 70-54 margin. After starting off the season strong, Maryland has struggled losing its last three road games. But who are the teams that are flying under the radar? Who could be making some noise come March? I’ve picked out the five teams I think could turn some heads come tourney time. 1. Oklahoma St. (17-7) The Cowboys have been inconsistent. No doubt about that. For a team that has six wins against the RPI top 50 including two against Texas and one against Kansas, they also have five losses in that same category. Not to mention some bad losses to South Carolina and Kansas St, both by 10 or more points. But what the Cowboys do have is Le’Bryan Nash and Phil Forte III who are both averaging 17 points per game. Though Oklahoma St. is No. 21 in the nation, it sits at fifth in the Big 12. In their next three games, the Cowboys have some chances for big wins (and big losses). They play at TCU and then take No. 14 Iowa State and No. 21 West Virginia on at home. If they can win all three, they’ll have some momentum going into their last three games of the regular season, one of which is West Virginia again, this time on the road. Momentum is a big thing in basketball. Let’s see if they can take it into the Big 12 tourney and potentially improve their seeding going in. 2. Iowa (15-8) The Hawkeyes are in a critical position. This should seem familiar for them as well. Last year they barely snuck into the tournament but lost their play-in game to Tennessee. Currently, Joe Lunardi has them as a nine seed. However, a 15-8 record is no lock. The Hawkeyes have a lot going for them heading into this final stretch. First off, they just thumped Maryland at home by 16 points. That will look good in the eyes of the committee. For a team I thought would struggle without Roy Marble, it has been a delightful surprise. The schedule doesn’t look too bad from here on out either. Iowa’s toughest road game remaining is Indiana, but the Hawkeyes have a host of winnable home games as well. The Big Ten tournament can offer a lot to a team like Iowa should it find itself on the brink. A couple of wins and it could be in. The Hawkeyes also have no losses outside of the RPI top 100, which is a boost. 3. Arkansas (18-5) Unless you’re Kentucky, you aren’t going to get much love or attention in the SEC. However the Razorbacks currently boast a 7-3 conference record. Arkansas is mediocre against RPI top 50 teams with a 3-2 record and its strength of schedule is 70. While it may not be as simple as “win and get in,” this team has put itself in a good position here at the end of the season. Of the Razorbacks’ remaining eight games, five of them are on the road, including one at Kentucky. If Arkansas can avoid a slide, it will likely find itself dancing in March. Look for Bobby Portis to lead this team as he has done all season. The sophomore forward is averaging 17.7 points per game while playing only 29 minutes a game. He is also shooting an efficient 56.2 percent from the field. We’ve seen teams with stars make it far in the tournament. Steph Curry with Dayton, Kemba Walker with Connecticut, Gordon Hayward and Matt Howard with Butler. Portis has a decent supporting cast. Why not the Razorbacks? 4. Baylor (18-6) Having taken down ranked Iowa State and West Virginia teams earlier this season, the No.16 Baylor Bears have some good wins against the RPI top 50. Though they have an equal amount of losses, five, they have opportunities to improve their resume. Three more ranked Big 12 opponents await them including a matchup this Saturday at Kansas. The Bears have a SOS of eight which means their six losses aren’t as bad as they appear at first glance. Four of the team’s players average more than 10 points a game. Three have more than 20 blocks this season. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Will this Baylor team be hoisting a trophy? That’s unlikely, but it is definitely a team that can slide through the early rounds and make a run. 5. Providence (17-7) The Friairs have been a surprise this season with six wins against the RPI top 50 and only four losses. One of the biggest wins came against Notre Dame on Nov. 23. The Friars have had lost to some bad opponents including three teams outside of the RPI top 100. LaDontae Henton leads the Big East Conference in scoring with 20.4 points per game. Kris Dunn adds a nice complement to Henton in the backcourt averaging 15.7 points per game and dishing out seven assists per game. The Friars have two more matchups with Villanova and a home game against Butler. If Ed Cooley can help this Friars team win at least two of those three and prevent any more big collapses against weaker teams, Providence could be in the tournament for the second straight year. The last time the Friars made the tournament in back-to-back years was 1989-1990. Follow Lucas on Twitter @TheLucasCorley and listen to him on WIUX 99.1 FM on Sundays 6-7 pm
Dear Hoosier Nation, Wow! What a game last night. I don’t think Assembly Hall has been that electric since the Wisconsin game last season. I bet Tom Crean would agree you are a large part of the reason Indiana won last night. From the moment the teams took the floor, you were in it being loud and proud. Your energy was palpable and something Maryland had not yet experienced. This isn’t the ACC, and you helped the Terrapins realize that. Dear Yogi Ferrell, You played one heck of a game last night, young man. Just when people thought that your scoring presence was diminishing, you came in and scored 24 points. I know you have been playing more of the true point guard position this season, but it is good to know that the old Yogi is still inside you somewhere. Nothing brings a smile to my face faster than when you cross over the defender, step back and hit a three. I hope we see more performances like this from you as the season goes on. Dear James Blackmon Jr., Well I guess you got your swagger back. All it takes is a little confidence and you soar. If 21 points wasn’t good enough against Illinois, follow that up with 22 against Maryland to show people a little slump never killed anybody. I got a chance to talk to your father after the game. I told him you’re a heck of a ball player. I’m sure I’m not the only who thinks so either. On behalf of my fellow Hoosiers, thank you for choosing Indiana over Kentucky. It’s a decision you won’t ever regret. Dear Tom Crean, So I guess I should start off by saying I’m sorry. If you ask any of my friends, they know you and I have a love hate relationship. Maybe I was a bit too hard on you earlier this season. I wanted you to take the blame when things were bad, but I didn’t want to give you credit when things were good. That was my fault. I can see you have brought this team a long way. I respect the way you treat your players. You develop them into great athletes. I’m going to shut my mouth for a while and let you do your thing. You are the coach, not me. Oh, and whatever you are putting in the water to make these guys shoot 68 percent from behind the arc, well, keep using it. Dear Troy Williams, Keep impressing me. Keep impressing the conference. Keep impressing the nation. You’re the man. My heart beats out of my chest when you throw it down. You may be the most improved player on this team. Last year you were athletic. This year, you’ve added control to your game that makes you so dangerous. You’re making smart plays and unselfish plays. If you keep that up, there is no reason why you couldn’t be the best in the Big Ten. You have your own style. Stay true to that. Dear Martha the Mop Lady, Clean the hall real well for us. We want this place spotless before the next bloodshed. With Cream and Crimson, Lucas Corley Follow Lucas on Twitter @TheLucasCorley
When I was in middle school, I played basketball for Holy Family Catholic School. The Eagles were a powerhouse in the New Albany Deanery league. I myself was a bench player for two years. I was usually the first or second guy off the bench. I wasn’t the most skilled player. I had a decent baseline jumper and made the occasional three, but I was nothing to write home about. However, I like to think it was my effort on the court and my “give it 110 percent” attitude that made me a good player. So too is the case for Collin Hartman. Hartman, a sophomore for the Hoosiers, has really turned a lot of heads this season. When all the talk over the summer and fall was about James Blackmon Jr., Robert Johnson and the other freshman, people forgot about Hartman. Granted, the Indianapolis product was coming back from an ACL tear he sustained in a practice late last season. In fact, that bad news came on the heels of Indiana finding out that not only had it missed the NCAA tournament, but the NIT as well. But just seven months later, Hartman was back practicing. I’ve had some experiences with ACL tears. My mom tore her ACL when I was younger. Granted a 20-year-old like Hartman can come back a lot faster than a middle aged woman. But it still is no easy task. Hours of physical therapy. Slowly regaining your ability. But that is only half the battle. Perhaps the toughest part, especially for an athlete, is coming back mentally. Hartman had to regain confidence in his knee. He had to be able to trust himself and the strength of that knee. That is no simple task. Imagine if you knew that scattered around your carpet at home there were shards of glass. Would you be walking around the same way? No, not likely. You vacuum up the glass and hope that you got it all, but still walk around carefully just in case. That is until eventually you realize it must be okay to walk around normally since your foot hasn’t been cut up. So how is Collin doing with his confidence? 4.4 points per game, 3.88 rebounds per game and shooting an efficient 52.1 percent from the floor, including 45.8 percent from behind the arc. This coming from a guy that averaged only four and half minutes a game last year, but has since seen his average jump to 16.8 minutes this season. Hartman’s role has changed dramatically as well. No longer is he the trash man picking up garbage minutes late in games. Now, he is the spark off the bench. His effort is unmatched on this team. Every game he is the first out to shoot around. In game, he gives bursts of production. In the Ohio State game on Jan. 10, he recorded 3 blocks. But his best game of his career came against Penn State on Tuesday. In the absence of an injured Hanner Mosquera-Perea, Hartman took the starting role and made the most of it. He tied his career high in points (8), a career high in assists (3), and pulled down 5 rebounds as well. When his number was called, he rose to the occasion once again. It should be no surprise. Earlier this season he was ranked fourth nationally in offensive efficiency according to Kenpom.com. While he now sits at 23rd on that list, he continues to get better as the season progresses. I saw Hartman play in high school. The Cathedral product was playing in the Indiana semi-state game against Jeffersonville High School. Jeffersonville had their own standout in Darryl Baker. That didn’t faze Hartman. He scored 12 points and pulled down 8 rebounds on the way to a 75-53 victory. I wasn’t overwhelmed by Hartman’s performance. He was still a bit undersized for a guy that would have to play more of a forward position. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever see him play more than five minutes a game. I’m glad Hartman has proved me wrong. He has quickly become my favorite player on the team. He is unselfish in the way he plays. He always dives for loose balls. He crashes the boards, and when he is open, makes the easy shots look easy. This point is: Collin Hartman show a lot of heart, man (Sorry, I couldn’t resist). Next time you watch him play look for the little things. That is what makes a player. A lot of players can make shots. But special players do the little things Follow Lucas on Twitter @TheLucasCorley
When I was younger, I used to get into a lot of trouble. I can remember one time when I got into a fight with some classmates of mine. Nothing too major, but enough that it got me a front row seat in front of my principal’s desk. Like any good parent, my father disciplined me. No cell phone for two weeks, no hanging out with friends except at school. I was only in fifth grade at the time, but I was being taught early on in my life what the purpose of discipline was. Correction. I have never thought of Tom Crean as much of a coach. I thought of him as a father figure to a team. He rarely yells at his players, but instead praises them for their accomplishments and corrects them calmly. However, there comes a time in every father's life where he must lay down the law. He must make his child fear him in the same way man should fear God. Tom Crean, the current father of the IU basketball team, has showed more weakness in these last few days as the head coach of Indiana basketball than is acceptable. I do not blame Tom Crean for everything. I want to make that clear. First and foremost he is a coach. He is not a babysitter. He cannot have 24/7 control of his team. No parent can do the same either. My dad couldn’t watch me all the time, and it was in the times he wasn’t there to watch me that I made my mistakes. He was always quick to show me two things: discipline and love. He showed me the latter through the former. Tom Crean has fallen short. Emmitt Holt, Stanford Robinson and Troy Williams have all been suspended for four games. Of these four games, two of them are exhibition games. I can’t help but be filled with a sense of shamefulness. I can’t help but be filled with a sense of repulsiveness. I can’t help but be filled with pure and utter angst at this weak handed approach to discipline. You have a player lying in the hospital because one of your players got behind the wheel after drinking. I don’t care that his BAC was .025. I’m well aware how little alcohol that is. That is not an excuse though. He is under the age. But more than that, he is under the microscope. It seems that a lot of player have forgotten that. What was going through the mind of Hanner Perea last year when he got a DWI? What were Yogi and Stanford thinking when they tried to use fake IDs to get into a bar in the spring? These people are Indiana basketball players. Do they not realize they are the single most recognizable figures on this campus? Short answer: I guess not. Long answer-maybe they don’t care. It shows a lack of respect. They're showing that they don’t respect the fans. Think of all the people that put their heart and soul into this basketball team. Indiana has a rich history of basketball. People get behind this team more than anything else in this state. It’s a lack of respect for the university. They are ambassadors of Indiana University. When they put on their jersey, they are representing not just themselves, not just the team, but every student, faculty, staff and alumni associated with this institution. But it can all boil down to one last disrespect: their coach. There were times when I was younger that I did not respect my father. But as I grew up, through discipline and maturing I came to respect him very much. Tom Crean has expected his players to mature but he forgot to discipline them. You can’t expect players to grow if you don’t show them tough love. "It may be to late for the coach to save his job. It may be too late for this coach to regain control and respect of this team." Kelvin Sampson had respect from his players. True, he violated NCAA rules and regulations that left this program in shambles. But nobody on his team ever strayed outside the line. Tom Crean used to have respect. Players understood what it was going to take to rebuild the program. That team is long gone. In fact, not a single member of the team that historically beat Kentucky remains. There has been a culture change at Indiana. Tom Crean has spent so much time rebuilding this program to be a success. He accomplished that in two straight years with the likes of Cody Zeller, Victor Oladipo, Jordan Hulls, Verdell Jones, Christian Watford, Will Sheehey, and countless others. Unfortunately, Tom Crean has spent the last two years trying to chase and duplicate that success. Maybe he has changed the way he recruits. Big names over players that you can count on to be responsible and respectful of what it means to wear the candy stripes. I know that if I ever got behind the wheel at the age of 19, and my BAC was .025, I guarantee I would have a one way ticket back to Floyds Knobs, Indiana courtesy of the university. And if they didn’t kick me out, my father would be disciplining me and bringing me home. Even at the age of 19, my father can still discipline me. Maybe a lot less than he used too, and of course it is a lot harder. For Tom Crean, it’s much easier. He can set curfews, he can make harsher suspensions, he can show leadership, he can show backbone. He hasn’t, though. The father is being walked all over by his sons. It may be too late for the coach to save his job. It may be too late for this coach to regain control and respect of this team. And it may be too late for the father to gain back the respect of his sons.
As his crimson IU emblazoned cape fluttered in the afternoon breeze, Drew Hussung couldn’t help but be filled with a renewed sense of Hoosier pride. His dirty converse shoes treaded the ground in front of him and he made his way to a spot in the back of the line with only fifty or so people in front of him. He still had to wait 5 hours, but he was content knowing that basketball season was about to begin for his beloved Hoosiers. Is this our year? Are we at least going to win and get back to the tournament? Drew began to wonder. He has a whole season ahead of him to find out. Hoosier Hysteria is a time for fans like Drew to get back into the Hoosier spirit. When the football team hits the rough waters of Big Ten play, basketball season is Jesus Christ there to calm the tide. It isn’t by any means an overstatement to say that basketball is a way of life in Indiana. Travel down old back roads and you will find barns with hoops nailed to the side. Courts aren’t made of hardwood, but instead formed from gravel, dirt, asphalt, concrete. It’s every little boy’s dream to don the cream and crimson uniform with the name “Indiana” across the chest. Thanks largely in part to traditions of winning instilled by Branch McCracken and Bobby Knight, the Hoosier legacy of a state filled with pride for its basketball team continues. It’s about 4 pm now and guards have moved the line up to allow for more people to file into the line. The line has gone through a queue and now stretches along the sidewalk of 17th Street. However, Drew smiles to himself knowing he got here at the right time. For the Indiana native, its been all about the Hoosiers since the day he was born. Though the last Hoosier championship came seven years before he was born, he knows what the tradition is all about. Its more than a team to Drew, it’s an emotional connection that fills his heart like a river spilling out of its banks. Doors are opening, and Drew elbows his way through the crowd to get a seat. He finds his way down to just behind the media table where Don Fisher has called many a Hoosier win. Hoosier Hysteria has arrived and nobody is more ready than the faithful that have traveled to this sacred building. The temple of the Midwest, the mecca of the basketball world. ESPN writer Eammon Brennan called it the most classic court in the nation. And whether a fan is from Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Gary, Chicago, New York or any other reach of Hoosier nation, the season is back. As far as the event itself goes, there was no shortage of pomp and circumstance. Sage Steele was back for her second time hosting the event. Her last appearance came in 2012 and calling it an honor and a privilege to get to return. Fireworks a la Fred Glass of course, but also new traditions as well. Thanks to the Student Athletic Board, Hoosier Hysteria features its first ever 3v3 basketball tournament with the championship game taking place on the floor of Assembly Hall. “The Takeover” took the win 11-6, a moment that those students aren’t soon to forget. The newcomers to the men’s team also had a new tradition started this year. They were ceremoniously given their first pair of candy stripes. The pants, which represent Indiana basketball not only across the state, but across the country, were given to the players by former players of Indiana basketball. A tradition that started in 1971 now has spawned a new tradition of its own. Of course no Indiana basketball event is truly such without “The Greatest Timeout In College Basketball.” The flags waving once again to the tune of William Tell Overture and thousands of Hoosier faithful clapping along as if it were the Purdue game tied 75-75 at the under-eight timeout. But then came the events. What would this team show up and be? Would the team live up to the hype in its grand unveiling? Those questions were answered. Not just for the men’s’ team, but for the women’s’ team as well. Maura Muensterman took the women’s three point contest but the whole team shot the lights out of the place. Speaking of shooters, the Indiana Hoosiers men’s team has enough of them to form a well-organized militia. Max Hoetzel took the three point contest scoring 22 points in the final round. He put it best when he said, “I’m Max Hoetzel. That’s all you got to know.” But if you want the feel good story of the night, look no further than Nate Ritchie. The freshman stunned the crowd by taking home the dunk contest title. Nobody gave Ritchie a chance. Ritchie, who was a little humbler than Hoetzel, said he was just glad the team gave him another chance. Finally the Red team beat the White team by a score of 49-42. The scrimmage was fast-paced with no shortage of scoring. This young team looked both athletic and talented. Underline that, star it and then highlight it. This team looked ATHLETIC and TALENTED. Those are the two biggest takeaways from this year’s Hysteria. The team has a lot of options that it can go to for scoring. The familiar faces that have returned such as Ferrell, Williams, Robinson help with the athleticism, and the newcomers such as Blackmon, Hoetzel, Johnson, Ziesloft, and others give this team its talent. Excited. That is what Hoosiers should be. There is no doubt that this team is better than it was last year. Can they play up to the challenge? Can they make it back to the NCAA tournament? Hoosier fans, hold on. This season is going to be a roller coaster ride. There will be good wins and bad losses. When it is all said and done, who knows what awaits this squad. With Hoosier Hysteria in the books, there isn’t much longer to find out. Follow Lucas on Twitter @TheLucasCorley and listen to him on "The Sunday Showdown" Sundays from 6-7 pm