What better way to bring in the new year than another top ten list? It would be my pleasure, Hoosier Nation.
Top Ten New Year's Resolutions for Hoosiers Basketball
10. Feed Cody. Literally, feed the boy! Understand that he's only a freshman, and still growing, but just imagine if he put on another 25 pounds. He'd be around 245, still getting taller than the 6'11" he already is, plus a year of experience in the always tough and physical Big Ten. It's the recipe for domination in his future. Along with putting on weight, he needs to be fed the rock more often. He's shooting nearly 75% from the free-throw line, so pass the ball inside and allow him to get his chances at the charity stripe. Stack the fouls up on the opponents' starting centers, like done in the game against Kentucky, and get the studs on the bench and let Zeller go to work against smaller, less talented players.
9. Schedule more top ranked teams to play at home. After the number one and number two teams in the nation were beaten in Assembly Hall it appears it is a place to be feared and reckoned with. Indiana plays basketball. Assembly Hall is a basketball atmosphere, mecca if you will. Schedule them and they will be beat. Who else wants some?!!
8. More seating at Assembly Hall. Sure, 17,472 fans screaming and rushing the court is a lot, and one hell of a beautiful sight, but there's something that would make it even better: 17,473 Hoosiers fans swarming the court. Besides, who wouldn't like more friends?
7. Rebound the basketball. IU is ranked 158th in the nation in rebounding. I can't help but think of how much less stress I would be under if IU would carry double digit leads into the last two minutes of games versus teams like Ohio State and Kentucky. Cody Zeller is averaging about 15 points per game, and that number would be 20+ if he'd get more second chances. Add another few points to Watford's average of 13 and we'll see those double digit leads against solid opponents more often. Develop a presence inside and get up there and bring the ball down!
6. Road wins. Assembly Hall is Heaven on Earth, but it's only fair to go to others' houses and play ball too. But road wins against teams like NC State won't cut it, especially when the tournament comes around. The Hoosiers saw a semi-harsh atmosphere at Michigan State, and that was without the students in town. Let's see how Indiana fares on the road when they go play a Buckeye team that's seeking revenge, and in their house no less. If this Hoosiers team can start coming back to Bloomington with big wins under their belts they will develop the confidence they'll need when March rolls around.
5. More cowbell. Not literally, because there is no room for the cowbell in college basketball outside of Purdue, and that's only when the Homecoming queen is entering the gym. But the student section at Indiana has been ranked in the top five, and with a little more spirit those crazies in Cameron might get a bit of competition. I want to hear, "Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers!" from my couch here in South Carolina.
4. Transition. Countless times IU has had numbers on a fast break and for whatever reason the ball handler slows down and waits for everyone to catch up. Oladipo isn't the only one on the team who can posterize a man. If nothing else, drive in and draw a foul. Get the other team's starters on the bench and take advantage of the opponent while their second string is having to carry the load. Patience is good, but the basketball court is one place where it's okay to kick a man while he's down. In fact, I find it quite enjoyable to watch.
3. Help others. With 15.1 assists per game, the Hoosiers rank 49th in the nation, which means that there are plenty of teams better than the Hoosiers at finding the open man. It's better to give than to receive. Rather than settling for rushed jump shots and trying to force the ball into the basket, find a shooter that has separated himself from his defender and get him the ball. Assists mean points, and points mean wins, and wins make me and all of the other Hoosiers fans, players and coaches happy.
2. Take back the state. With wins this season over Butler and Notre Dame, there's only one school left on the hit list. Purdue, we're coming, and afterward you, too, will know that Indiana is back. Jordan and Cody came to Indiana to play for the state that fed them in their youth, and it's time for other star players to stay and get some of mom's cookin' while playing for the Crimson and Cream.
1. Six. If you have to ask then you'll never know.
Happy New Year Hoosiers!
-Kenneth Languell
@AskTheWho
