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 Thank God for Armon Bassett. Could you have imagined saying that at the beginning of his freshman season? If not for Bassett, IU very well could have seen their Big Ten Title hopes slip away last night instead of grinding out a 72-69 victory. Bassett is quickly overtaking JaMarcus Ellis (5 points, 7 rebounds) as the third option for IU on offense. He is seemingly the calm in the emotional storm that is the IU team. He is beginning to make people wonder who the last great point guard was for IU......
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 Even thought the Hoosiers missed a ton of shots in the first half (35% from the floor), they actually looked pretty good. Damn, I squirmed even when I wrote that. They were running the fast break, breaking down the Ohio State zone defense, getting open for open shots and grabbing tons of offensive rebounds. Normally, that is the recipe for winning basketball and even though IU was up by nine at the half.....you couldn't help but wonder how close they were to being up by 25 instead. Too many three point shots were taken (16 in the first half) and the Hoosiers were off the mark. Still, they were moving on offense, their defense looked pretty good and the Hoosiers were content. Maybe too content.
Then the second half came.....and the Hoosiers came out sloppy and Ohio State took advantage of it. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but Eric Gordon can not drive the lane, jump in the air and then throw the ball away. He just can not be doing that. At this point in the season he either has to put up a shot when he's that close or lean in to someone and get fouled. It's that simple. His inability to seal the deal near the bucket is what is keeping him from being the next Dwyane Wade (Marquette form). Seven turnovers is about five too many to get from the guy who is doing a lot of the ball handling.
Nevertheless, credit has to be given to Ohio State for settling down in the second half and forcing the Hoosiers to make buckets. The Buckeyes are still looking for their first 'signature' win this season to pad their NCAA Tourney resume and they were determined to come out after halftime and get it. Kosta Koufos was a man underneath with 21 points and held D.J. White (16 and 8) to one of his worst games of the season (If 16 and 8 were a bad game). Still, the Buckeyes are a young team and failed to seal the deal down the stretch when they had opportunities.
A win is a win is a win is a win. Yep, the Hoosiers now sit at 24-4 and 13-2 in the Big Ten. Not too shabby. They stroll into Michigan State on Sunday to try to sweep the season series and stay in contention for at least a share of the Big Ten title.
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I couldn't watch Gordon go into the lane anymore last night. In addition to your point, he needs to work on his handle.
Yes. I always see you guys commenting on his handles but I never really talk about it much because I think that's a given. Anyone who's handling the ball should work on their handle, I don't care how good they are.
I think at the end of the season we're going to have to write up a good scouting report/Season Review on Gordon. If I'm a GM in the NBA I'm not sure I'd touch him right now.
I'm to the point where I think I can handle the ball better than Gordon. Even his open court dribbling is noticeably...not that good.
Bassett has been the man the last two games. Without him the Hoosiers would be 0-2 without Sampson.
Sorry Buck, I know for a fact that you can't handle the ball better than Gordon. Fact.
Great point Cobra. Couldn't agree more. Gordon look lost at times out there. So many time he plows recklessly into the lane, even if it's a one one three fast break. He needs to become more aware of the situation, ball handling needs serious improvement. He seems too nervous and he just forces things too often. Earlier in the year, he let the game come to him and he was driving and dishing very effectively. I'm sure he will still be a top 10 pick next year, but boy what another year of college would do for him. I mean that and am not just saying that out of selfishness as an IU grad and fan.
That's what I was implying. I can't dribble well at all and neither can Gordon.