Some Basketball

Indiana didn't get punished much by the polls for quitting early at Illinois last week.  It was stunning that they failed to defend a simple pick - I learned how to do that when I was in the 6th grade.  But that's not the only reason they lost that game.  They failed on multiple levels, primarily by deciding the game was already in hand way too early.

The preseason marquee player at Indiana, the Big 10, and even nationally, was Cody Zeller.  He's certainly a terrific big man.  But I think the Big 10 and possibly National player of the year is one of Cody's teammates.  Victor Oladipo has been fantastic.

Vic can leap higher than Superman, he has a decent 3-point shot, and is the fastest guy I've seen in college basketball.  I think if I was an NBA coach or GM I might consider taking Vic over Cody in the draft, assuming they both decided to enter this year.  He's like Ron Artest (Metta World Peace) without the attitude.  He'll have a long and successful career in the NBA, assuming he stays healthy and doesn't lose his mind.

The more immediate question is this year.  Can Indiana win another National Championship?

The question isn't "can they?", but "will they?".  Two different questions.  They've got all the elements - they can lock teams down defensively.  They have a great 3-point shooter in Jordi Hulls.  They have the best Center in the country in Cody.  They have the slasher-playmaker-rebounder-defender in Vic. They have a freshman point guard in Yogi Ferrell that looks a bit like Isaiah Thomas. They have a deep bench, with maybe the NCAA's sixth man of the year in Will Sheehy.  They have a hyperactive coach who seems to be able to inspire them.

But they can get rattled by aggressive opponents (see Wisconsin).  They can get out-hustled by teams they seem to take lightly (see Illinois, Butler). 

But when they're on their game, they can beat anybody.  They might get away with an off game in the first round, but by the time they reach the Sweet 16, they've got to bring the game they brought to Michigan and Ohio State to every single game the rest of the tournament.  They can, but will they?

The Final Four I'd most like to see is Indiana, Duke, Michigan, and Butler.  I'd love to see Butler get revenge on Duke in one semifinal, then an Indiana repeat of their recent defeat of Michigan in the other.  Then in the championship game, I'd like a game in which the winning team hits the shot at the buzzer to take the title. Andrew Smith is down with an injury for Butler, but hopefully he'll be recovered fully in time for the tournament.

It's a little tough to pick which team I want to hit that buzzer-beater, but I'd kind of like to see Butler break through and get their first title in 3 tries.  But I wouldn't grieve too much if it turned out to be Indiana.  It's sort of a dream matchup.

The final four probably will be significantly different.  But I think there's as good a chance for my four to make it as any other group of four teams. 

This is fun.