It’s been a frustrating year for Indiana University Basketball, trying to appease spoiled fans like myself. When victories were once the norm, they are now hard to come by. An Assembly Hall opening loss to Indiana State set the stage for mediocrity, yet competitive losses against #15 Seton Hall and #1 Duke showed a glimmer of hope. The BIG season, with an early start this year, began with a predictable loss in Ann Arbor and a much-needed roller coaster home victory over Iowa. Disappointment then reared its ugly head again against then ranked Louisville, with18th ranked Notre Dame up next. It was time for Coach Archie Miller’s first Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis, where I.U. faces N.D. or Butler on an every other year basis, and Purdue plays either Butler or N.D. in  the other in-state rivalry game of the annual holiday double header. Was it “Miller Time” yet? (See Post #35)

Two years ago, I.U. Coach Tom Crean was badly wavering in terms of fan favoritism,  There were great expectations for that Hoosier team entering the Maui Classic, but the wheels quickly fell off with losses to Wake Forest, U.N.L.V., and Duke. It was a comeback victory against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic that got the team back on track, and enabled them to win the BIG regular season title and beat Kentucky in the NCAA tournament. It also saved Tom Crean’s job for another year. I was at that game in 2015 and watched Troy Williams rally the Hoosiers from 15 down to beat the Irish 80-73. Yesterday’s Crossroads Classic game against the Fighting Irish had a similar outcome, but this year’s Hoosier team does not have BIG title talent, and Coach Miller will hopefully be given a few years to restore a perennial winner.

The timing of this year’s event did not work out with our holiday travel plans back to Indiana. In fact, the I.U. schedule does not even allow me to see a game in Bloomington, as is traditional with my longtime college buddy. He was at the game yesterday and also attended last night’s high school battle between New Albany and Carmel. Romeo Langford plays for New Albany and is a top national recruit that could greatly enhance the “Miller Time” era. Indiana, Vanderbilt, and Kansas are in the final running for the services of the five-star, 6″5″ shooting guard, although he’ll probably be a one-and-done player. The biggest criticism of former Coach Tom Crean was his inability to recruit from within the state of Indiana. Coach Miller already has two home-state bread stars on next year’s squad, Damezi Anderson, a 6’6″ small forward from South Bend Riley and Rob Phinisee from Lafayette McCutcheon. Wherefore art thou Romeo?

I’ll be attending the Les Schwab high school basketball Invitational later this month, and although there will probably be no potential Hoosiers playing, it is a premier showcase of high school talent. I hope to see Oregon’s top recurit, Bol Bol, 7’3″ son of the late Manute Bol, and Arizona’s commit Brandon Williams, as well as other potential college stars like Spencer Freedman and Keldon Johnson. The slam dunk contest is always a crowd favorite. Quite frankly, I had lost some interest in my favorite sport, following Indiana’s dwindling presence in the national college picture, but the Notre Dame victory yesterday makes me a little more excited to watch some good high school basketball. Admittedly, I was very jealous of being in the company of Duke, Michigan State, Florida, and Gonzaga fans at the recent PK80 event. They were into the games like I used to be, especially after three National Championships from Coach Bob Knight. I fear that I may never get to be that obnoxious again!

I probably will not get to another college basketball game this season, and I.U. games and even March Madness have temporarily lost their “appointment television” status. I reluctantly watched the Crossroads Classic on T.V. yesterday, fearing about another second half collapse. Instead, they did that in the first half with poor shooting and multiple turnovers but rallied to make it close at halftime. Early in the second half I was ready to turn it off, but then Juwan Morgan caught fire. He ended with a career high 34 points, including the final eight points in regulation and eight more in overtime.  The biggest play however was from Zach McRoberts, who somehow grabbed Morgan’s missed free throw and while stumbling to the floor made a remarkable pass back to Morgan for the winning dunk. Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame’s star, missed a three quarter court shot as time expired, as the “luck of the Irish” turned into “Hoosier Hysteria.” It was a signature win  for Archie Miller, but beware that a Ft. Wayne club that put one of the final nails in the coffin of Tom Crean, with a major upset last year is next on the schedule. Hopefully, there won’t be a let down from a team that has already let me down many times this year already!

Indiana did not play very good basketball against Notre Dame. They had 16 turnovers, including six from senior guard Robert Johnson. They shot less than 50% from the field and went 18-25 from the free throw line. Three-point shooting was at 38%, while Notre Dame was even worse. The Fighting Irish could have won in regulation, if Austin Torres hadn’t missed two free throws with less than a second on the clock. Even the most experienced, five-year Hoosier players did not show good leadership when critical, questionable fouls against Collin Hartman seemed to favor the Irish, and Josh Newkirk fouled out with no points and two turnovers. Indiana never led once until overtime, squandered several opportunities to put the game away, and ultimately had to come from behind again to get the victory. It was an ugly win, but a win nonetheless. As is often said, “it’s sometimes better to be lucky than good!”