Once upon a Hoosier

This is when college basketball gets exciting. Just a few days removed from selection Sunday when teams hope for a spot in the field of 64 (65 if you count the play in game between South Harmon Institute of Technology East Campus off Idaho Blvd. and Northwestern State-Calumet Campus on the east side.)University of Kentucky earned a number one seed.

Eastern Kentucky needed to win the OVC tourney to get the automatic seed, which went to Murray State.

U of L needed to say 25 rosaries and pray Rick Pitino wasn't at another restaurant ordering.oh wait.

And Indiana University just needs a prayer, a roster, some talent and maybe someone to step in and write Hoosiers: The College Years, starring Mark Paul Gosselaar and Screech Powers.

Remember when Indiana University was relevant?

In the 2001 NCAA Tournament, the Hoosiers beat Duke (ranked one), Oklahoma (ranked three) and then lost to Maryland in the championship (ranked four in the tournament seeding.) They also finished 5-2 against top 25 ranked teams in the regular season.

In '03 they had an ever better record, then stumbled a bit in 04', then in '05 and '06 came back with 20 win seasons. In '07 the Hoosiers finished 25-8.

Just a season later, they clawed their way to six wins. That is a 19 game turnaround.

In a short amount of time the Hoosiers were coached by Bob Knight, Mike Davis, Kelvin Sampson and now Tom Crean.

What happened Hoosiers? This year you were lucky enough to win ten games (10-21.) Kelvin Sampson, you punched Hoosiers in the face and now look at them. (I am from Indiana, so I am a Hoosier, so I guess he punched me in the face too.)

Sampson racked up recruiting violations faster than you can say "Ben Affleck died in Smokin Aces."

After 550 illegal calls (dating back to his time at Oklahoma) and five rule violations at IU, Sampson was fired. There was even speculation that in December of '09, Eric Gordon raised issues of drug use stating that some players were abusing drugs and that this led to the disintegration of the team, and that Sampson tried to stop it, but did not as he was focused on winning.

I heard AT&T came up with an unlimited minutes plan just for Sampson.

"Hi welcome to AT&T, how can I help you?" AT&T representative asks.

"Yeah that new Sampson plan," Mr. Knight said. "I heard I can call any recruit, at anytime, anywhere in the country all for one low rate."

Since then, the Hoosiers have fallen on hard times. Once a tough opponent, now they are the doormats that other teams wipe their shoes on after a stepping in a puddle.

After starting 7-6 this season, they suffered from an 11-game losing streak and have relative unknowns on the roster. Their last eight losses were by 10 or more points. Leading scorer Maurice Creeks (16.4) is out for the season with an injury. That leaves two players in double figures and the rest of the team looking around for a miracle.

It's hard to imagine such spiraling, so quickly for a university known for basketball.

If there is someone that can do the job, I believe it is Tom Crean. Why? Heck, I don't know, I was just hoping to fill some more column space. All kidding aside, he has improved already by three games over last year and is pulling a program from meteor wreckage.

A nuke might as well destroy everything with Tom Crean standing on the rubble asking himself "Is this even possible?"

It is possible. Will Hoosier faithful be willing to stand next to him with faith? That's a tough question. Hoosier fans are pretty tough fans. Look at Kentucky fans, they eat and breathe anything basketball.

Billy Gillispie tore the town, and the team, up in a few short years. One season later, John Calipari has a national title contending team.

Hoosiers take notice. Pull out your notepads and take notes. Just don't make illegal phone calls. Maybe bring in Angelo Pizzo to write for you (wrote the movie Hoosiers and co-produced Rudy.)

"Relevancy" needs to be in your vocabulary, along with the words, win, win now and stop losing.

Yes Bob Knight started the ship that was sinking and then Kelvin Sampson straight up Titantic'ed that program.

Work your magic Tom Crean. Hoosier hysteria needs to come back, and it starts with you.

Two minute warning: Things I think I thought about in the sports world (and not-so sports world.)

NBA trade deadline came and went with Tracy McGrady moving to the Knicks. I guess he likes losing. How's Eddy Curry playing? He's not.

Ronald McDonald was arrested for possession of marijuana on Feb. 15. True story. Except for the fact that it was not the clown, just a guy named Ronald McDonald. What's worse, having the name and knowing he always is part of a joke, or being busted and only having your story published because of your name?

An Ohio man lost his job, so he decided to build an igloo. His four room igloo even has an entertainment room. At least he doesn't need a refrigerator for his beer.

Police arrested two women after a former lover burst into a Waffle House on Valentine's Day and beat a man with her high-heel. That's where I spend my Valentine's Day.

I stopped at Thorton's Gas Station in Louisville before the John Mayer concert and I must say the bathrooms are the best bathrooms I have ever been in. Even in front of the stall it says "Our bathrooms are so nice, our competition 'goes' here." I might just drive there anytime I need to use the bathroom.

Lastly, Tiger Woods held a press conference a few weeks ago. He hand selected those who would be in attendance and wouldn't allow questions. How's your golf swing? Oh wait, I can't ask questions.