Indiana Basketball Progess

Opening up gifts on Christmas day, I received some nice IU gear and wondered about our basketball Hoosiers.  The season at that point had me asking many questions.  Questions about the defense, questions about team chemistry, and questions about the overall direction of the basketball program.

So, less than a month later, I find myself reflecting on those same questions, but with a different perspective given the Hoosiers 6-0 start to Big Ten play.  I know, the schedule has been very friendly to the Hoosiers!  The questions I asked at Christmas time have seemed to be temporarily answered in the positive.

We have noticed a much improved effort and attitude toward playing defense.  We have seen a lot more emotion from the players.  This team is starting to forge an identity, an identity of toughness.  The credit must go to both the coaching staff and the players.  It seemed as though they had lost each other over the holiday season.

There is still a lot to correct, especially as the opponents get much tougher.  Turnovers have been way out of control.  The loss of James Blackmon has allowed teams to defend differently and adjustments must be constant as the season progresses.

The view from the tailgate lot is a good one for the basketball Hoosiers at this point.  There will be some bumps in the road, some losses and poor play.  However, this team looks like it could make a decent run in the conference and be a “tough out” in the NCAA tournament.

At Christmas time the Hoosiers were tough to watch and hard to enjoy.  The new year has coincided with Hoosier basketball being enjoyable again.  Let's hope the changes are more permanent and recent late season swoons do not happen this year.

Good job, Hoosiers!  Keep it up!

Indiana Basketball

Driving two hours on a work week to attend a college basketball game? Yes. Why? It's Indiana.

Driving two hours home on a work week from a college basketball game? Yes. Why? It's Indiana.

I'm 49 years old and have been an Indiana basketball fan most of my life.  I was eight years old when my father, Norm Tonsoni, sat me down in front of our television and introduced me to the Indiana basketball program.  Thanks to The Farm Bureau Insurance network, my Dad and I would always tune in early to see Martha the Mop Lady sing the fight song on TV before each game.

I was nine years old in 1976 when my father shared with me why the Hoosiers epitomized the concept of team.  He taught me to watch Quinn Buckner defend and play unselfishly.  He helped me appreciate the skill of Scott May, the athleticism of Bobby Wilkerson, the role playing of Tom Abernathy.  I remember watching many games during that year and rejoicing with my father when the Hoosiers defeated Michigan for the National Championship. The greatest team ever.  The last undefeated team in NCAA history.

I was sold on Hoosier basketball.  It was what my dad and I did during the winter.  We watched and talked Hoosier basketball.  As an eighth grader, I watched IU defeat North Carolina for the championship while trying to comprehend why someone would try to assassinate the President. I was in high school and on a team bus when the chair was thrown. When it came time to select a college, I was going to IU, simply because of Indiana basketball.

My freshman year was 1985-86.  Walking into Assembly Hall for the very first time was one of the best memories of my sports fandom.  It was a dream come true to watch the Hoosiers live in Assembly Hall.  As a sophomore, I was fortunate to witness another National Championship.  That Monday evening of the championship game I received a phone call from my father.  He asked if I had milk and cookies ready for the game as we had a tradition of snacking on sweets during the championship games.  I had never lied to my father and so I had to admit that we just placed a "keg" of beverage on ice.  On Tuesday he phoned again and asked for me to share how it felt to be on campus. "Dad. it's the best natural high I have ever had.  The celebration ended around 4:00 am."  I could sense his smile through the phone line.

Since the last National Championship, I have been blessed with a great marriage, two wonderful sons, a couple of final four trips for the Hoosiers and sadly the passing of my father in 2004.  What has been consistent is our family's love of Hoosier basketball.  Attending games in Assembly Hall with the family has been memorable over the years.  In 2014, my oldest son decided to attend Indiana for college.  He is currently a manager for the basketball team.  On Sunday, I will be attending another Hoosier game with my youngest son, and we will be watching his brother rebound for the Hoosiers during pregame.  From sitting in my living room as a eight year old to watching my own son work on the court in Assembly Hall, Indiana Basketball has been huge part of my life.

Indiana Basketball is tradition.  Indiana Basketball is about relationships.  Indiana Basketball is more than one team, player or coach.  Indiana Basketball is something to cherish.

Driving two hours to watch a game where the 1976 NCAA champions were to be honored?  The last undefeated team?  The team and players that set the tone for what Indiana basketball is and should always be for years?  Yes - no doubt!

I drove to Bloomington by myself on Tuesday, but I was not alone.  "Hey. Dad, We get to see the greatest team ever again.  Thanks for the introduction."

Summer Workouts

Social media allows those of us in the tailgate lot to view the inside activity of our favorite sports programs.  Getting to watch summer workouts of the Hoosier basketball team is simply enjoyable. Seeing our team working hard to improve for the upcoming season creates excitement.

The new strength coach, Lyonel Anderson, seems to be a great hire.  Watching him lead the team through the weight room and conditioning drills, one gets the sense that we will be physically and mentally ready for the season.  He brings a great amount of energy and enthusiasm.  He would be someone, I would love to work for as an athlete.  Sad, but those days for me are long gone.

There are a few new techniques that the team are using this summer.  The oxygen reducing masks are one of them.  I believe that this is to help with endurance. The weight room is one place where winners are made.  Athletes must have a love for competing in order to attack the weights and improve one's strength.

Coach Crean also has the guys working on basketball skills.  I love the pace of practice.  In the snapchat story from IndianaMBB we saw  a line that said, "train fast, play faster" as the players were going through several offensive skill development drills.

We in the tailgate lots need to remember that our guys are working hard.  I know, they need to win, but these young men are spending the summer improving.  Also, we must appreciate the efforts of our coaches and the time they give to the program.

Summer 2015.... keep working guys.

That's my take from the tailgate lot.