It’s time to break out one of my favorite pictures from the real Assembly Hall. Bruce Weber understands he is hated in Bloomington and tonight the fans will go after him once again.
We will hear Weber complain all night…and we will hear fans subsequently chant “Shut up Weber!”
But now onto the big picture.
Indiana is at .500. It is tonight where they decide whether they want to grind it out and win a couple more Big Ten games or collapse and lose out. With just one conference win, tonight will be a challenge but certainly not out of the question.
Maurice Creek is out for the season, Guy Marc-Michel is ineligible and Verdell Jones is out indefinitely. Jones is probably out for the next few games with a knee injury.
Nonetheless, it’s time for Indiana players to sack up. What the hell, you play at Indiana University—a quality education, gorgeous women all around but most importantly, a storied program.
How in the world does IU lose to an Iowa team last weekend that hadn’t won a conference game? Even without multiple starters playing, there’s no way Iowa should ever beat Indiana. Iowa even revamped their roster last season and hired a new coach. IU got flat out beat, outworked, and evidently didn’t want it as much.
But the tides need to turn. Enough with these lame excuses and lackluster efforts. Sack up, take care of business and represent the name on the front of the jersey with pride. So many collegiate players and those that didn’t make it would have done anything they could to get the same opportunity.
At this point, Crean is frustrated and grinding inside. This is tearing him up and it should. “Help is on the way” is great, but like the Pacers, IU needs to make the most out of the situation.
To their credit, Jordan Hulls and Jeremiah Rivers have had their best season yet. Hulls is shooting just under 50% from three-point and taking quality shots. Rivers has accepted his role, minimized his shots and turnovers, and played solid on defense.
Meanwhile Illinois is also looking to get back in the win column. The Fighting Illini are coming off a home loss to No. 1 Ohio State and ole’ Weber still holds a grudge to this day that Eric Gordon signed with IU after originally committing to Illinois.
It’s going to be a batter of wills tonight in Bloomington. How much pressure will Indiana impose on Illinois and will they stick to their game plan? It’s a late tip-off, slated for 9 pm on the Big Ten Network. And with Gus Johnson on the call, the ‘law of Gus Johnson’ requires this one to go down to the buzzer.
I want Indiana to succeed and know they will in the coming years. Sitting at 10-10, which path will the Hoosiers decide to take. We’ll find out tonight.
Do you think EJ had a little smile night?