Indiana suffers first conference loss

Wisconsin won at home, which is what they were supposed to do. I haven't watched most of the game yet, it's sitting at home waiting on my DVR, but I caught the first 10 minutes and the last 4. Looks like we got down 20 in the second half before storming back to make it a game. Big Ten Chronicle has a nice statistical run-down of the game. I can't add much more to it, other than to say that the Indiana offense is really starting to look like a liability against good teams. I don't know if it's just the lack of a true point guard, or a just the resulting of playing a bunch of talented guys who don't know what D-I pressure looks like, but it's starting to piss me off. The Hoosiers need to know what they are trying to accomplish on offense, and jacking long threes or trying to beat five guys off the dribble should never the answer.

All that aside, this team could still come together. Eric Gordon & Jamarcus Ellis are solid players, and DJ White is just a beast inside (22 pts and 17 rebs last night), and there's a collection of solid role players. And they've shown some resiliency even in these tow losses. But getting guys to play as a team on offense is something Sampson needs to make happen but quick, and I still think Lance Stemler will help us more on both sides of the ball at the four-spot than Mike White (neither can block shots, but Stemler can at least take charges, and Stemler just doesn't cough up the rock). But heck, maybe Brandon McGee deserves a longer look at this point.

Northwestern comes to town on Sunday. Go Hoosiers.