I've been following Indiana basketball for more years than I'd like to admit. I go way, way back to the days when Jimmy Rayl was popping in long jump shots and Walt Bellamy seemed to be getting virtually every possible rebound. I've experienced the many losses whether listening to the voice of Don Fischer on radio, a Billy Packer on television or being at Assembly Hall when Nick Anderson of Illinois chucked in a prayer at the buzzer.
Some say the most recent loss is the toughest. Not sure the statement is true but the Northwestern loss last evening ranks up at the top in most disappointing for me. I can't figure out how an IU team that has so much to play for could get beat by a far less talented team on its home court. The second half performance of the Hoosiers was abysmal. Our coach didn't appear to have an answer to adopt to Northwestern's play and highly experienced players lost composure. They were being outplayed by a couple freshmen on their home court. A sad evening for IU basketball.
I appreciate all you posters and boosters of Indiana sports and the fine work of the Hoosier Huddle staff. For an old guy living up north in Michigan you have provided a great connection for my IU athletics passion. On an ending positive note we have the women's team to follow Wednesday evening as they travel to play Rutgers. Teri Moren has got that inexperienced group playing well and she has some great talent coming in next year.
Enjoyed your post.
Is it possible to be a blue blood and laughingstock at the same time?
That's what this Northwestern loss feels like to me.
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A few months ago I had this online written battle discussion with Jim Coyle regarding the blue blood status of Indiana basketball. Jim disagreed with my opinion that IU had lost its blue blood status some years ago. I wonder if today Jim sees Indiana as a member of the blue bloods.
I think of the big games that were disappointing losses, those where we had a chance to win something big, not as much about the tough, inexplicable losses like last night. Those that come to mind:
- 1992 Final Four vs. Duke
- 2002 title game vs. Maryland
- 1993 Elite 8 vs. Kansas
The bad losses like last night tend not to stick in my memory for too long. That said, last night was pretty bad!
This one is a big one
Iowa in the BTT title game-- Luke Recker
Pepperdine
Kentucky with Bracey Wright
S16 against Syracuse in 2013
st Mary's in 2022
PFW in 2016
I hated the losses in 92 FF, especially because I was there and it wasn't as close as the score indicated but that Duke team was the best team
also the 93 loss to Kansas was a heart breaker mostly because if Henderson is healthy we win it all
@hoosiers94 Yeah that '93 loss to Kansas was a painful one. Ouch!!! It brought back bad memories of the 1975 Mideast Regional final loss to Kentucky. Scott May played only a couple minutes with a cast on a broken left arm and IU lost by only 2. That 1974-75 was so good that 4 of its starters (May, Steve Green, Kent Benson, & Quinn Buckner) made the five-man All Big 10 team.
2013 Syracuse for me
That loss basically ended the Crean era and started the decade plus of mediocre basketball. The 2015-16 season was an aberration. Every team since then has lost at least 12 games in a season. Disgusting.
I was not cognizant enough of a human being on 75 to personally remember that but that loss has to sting a little more than 93.
@bigmike would love to hear about that back and forth. There is an argument for both sides and it comes down to how do you define a "Blue Blood". Was Indiana Basketball a Blue Blood? Absolutely, but when does one stop being in that tier? IU has not won a National Title since 1987. They have 5 Big Ten Titles since 1990. Have gone to the NCAA tournament 13 times since 2000. So there is a strong argument that they lost that status.
Cleveland State
As far as a loss goes...The 08 BTT loss to Minnesota was heartbreaking, but that team was torpedoed weeks before. The Brian Butch three for Wisconsin that year was brutal.
2013 Syracuse for me
That loss basically ended the Crean era and started the decade plus of mediocre basketball. The 2015-16 season was an aberration. Every team since then has lost at least 12 games in a season. Disgusting.
Yep this one.
@thehoosierhuddle Yeah I think it's about definitions. Some people define a blue blood based on heritage, not current situation. So Indiana will always be a blue blood because it always has been. Not elite, currently. Not for quite a while in fact. But still a blue blood. We're not a blue blood in Football, and may never be. We're "new money" in that world.
@ams66 You can make a case for both sides. I don't know if there is a wrong answer to that question, because it is very subjective.
@thehoosierhuddle A number that define IU as a blue blood are senior citizens that can still recall the 3 Knight NCAA championship years. Some of those people sit in Assembly Hall watching the Hoosiers play and dream for the old times to return. There is another group that defines blue blood by amount of fan interest, attendance and expenditures. I do believe that's part of the equation but it's important to be relevant on the basketball court.
Is the team winning conference titles on a somewhat consistent basis? Is it making the Sweet 16 on an annual basis a given? How many trips to the final four are made every 5 or so years.
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