Forget the wait

Sporting News, The, April 1, 2002 by Kyle Veltrop

This season was supposed to be a transition.

The thinking back in October: Give Mike Davis, in his first year as Indiana's coach without an interim label, a year to get acclimated. Then hope Jared Jeffries would return for his junior year and team with an acclaimed recruiting class, headlined by guards Bracey Wright and Marshall Strickland.

Then, and only then, look out for the Hoosiers.

After a 7-5 start, that thinking seemed rational. Even Davis asked for patience, saying reinforcements were on the way. But for seniors Dane Fife and Jarrad Odle, that plan did them no good. "For me, there was no next year to focus on," Odle says. "We knew we had to be good now."

The Hoosiers' vision went from farsighted to nearsighted. They became hardened by one of the nation's toughest schedules, embraced their long-range shooting ways and rode Jeffries inside. Along the way, they claimed a share of the Big Ten title, then stormed through the South Region, Duke included.

"We started meshing at the start of the Big Ten season and realizing how good we could be this year and not worrying about if J.J. stays or what kind of freshmen are coming in," junior Kyle Hornsby says. "There are only so many next years."

Davis has won over all but the blindest of the Bob Knight lunatics. This is a team with a star in Jeffries, who has not yet decided--at least, he has not said--whether he will declare for June's NBA draft, and a number of solid parts. While Davis has shown he can recruit for the long term, he gets high praise for developing players now. Seven players who were on the team last season are seeing significant minutes; each has improved his game.

"That's because of the intensity at practice," Hornsby says. "If you are not working on your defense, if you are not working on improving your weaknesses, don't expect to play."

And don't underestimate the Hoosiers' resolve. This is a close-knit group, one that has endured Knight's stormy departure and Davis' uncertain start. They learned to rely on each other.

While he was eating at a Tony Roma's in Lexington, Ky., last weekend, Hornsby expressed his amazement to forward Mike Roberts that theirs is a team devoid of cliques. "We have the oddest assortment of personalities," says Hornsby, who is from Anacoco, La. "I'm the brunt of the jokes, the small-town guy. Dane is sarcastic. A.J. (Moye) never stops talking. And Odle may be the most sarcastic guy I've ever met. But we all get along."

Laugh together, win together.

Wait till next year? Wait till Saturday.

REGION ROUNDUP

Stock's up

Stan Heath, Kent State. Let senior G Demetric Shaw tell it: "Don't let him fool you that it's the seniors who deserve all the credit. Coach is a mastermind. When you're that good, it's going to be hard to keep him."

Stock's down

Rod Grizzard, Jr., F, Alabama. Once viewed as a rising star, Grizzard has flatlined. He was 8-for-24 in two games, with many points coming in garbage time. Worse, he played passively.

Best moment

IU's Final Four celebration. Tom Coverdale gets out of a wheelchair to snip the net. Mike Davis celebrates with IU-jersey-clad son Antoine. Jared Jeffries, amid chants of "One more year," gives high fives in the stands.

Best game

Indiana 74, Duke 73. IU rallies from 17 down to topple the champ. Who can forget Jason Williams pulling the bottom of his jersey over his head as time expired? Free-throw shooting felled Superman.

Biggest bust

Southern California. After an Elite Eight appearance last season, USC washed out in the first round against UNC Wilmington, despite the seasoned presence of seniors Sam Clancy, Brandon Granville and David Bluthenthal.

TSN's all-region team

Pos./Name          School       Ht./Wt.    Year

G Trevor Huffman   Kent State   6-1/190    Sr.
G Tom Coverdale    Indiana      6-2/200    Jr.
G Brandin Knight   Pittsburgh   6-0/183    Jr.
F Antonio Gates    Kent State   6-5/240    Jr.
F Jared Jeffries   Indiana      6-10/215   So.

INDIANA's rotation

Starters

G Dane Fife, 6-4/200, Sr.: Look for the Big Ten's top defensive player to clamp down on OU's Hollis Price. Fife is a dangerous 3-point threat.

G Tom Coverdale, 6-2/200, Jr.: Runs the show. Team's second-leading scorer. Is streaky from long range. Status is iffy because of a bum ankle.

G Kyle Hornsby, 6-5/205, Jr.: A very good shooter who takes nearly 70 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. Heady player.

F Jared Jeffries, 6-10/215, So.: One of the nation's top players. Very active inside. Can overpower smaller defenders or blow by bigger guys.

F Jarrad Odle, 6-8/220, Sr.: Became a starter early in Big Ten play. Now a competent inside complement to Jeffries. Solid scorer and rebounder.

Bench

A very good unit. Jeff Newton provides size, rebounds and shot blocking. A.J. Moye provides excellent energy on the wing. Donald Perry helps at the point, and he improves the defense.

Coach

Mike Davis is in his first Final Four, but he doesn't lack big-game experience. Davis had to audition for the job for a season before becoming the full-time successor to Bob Knight. He's very emotional and energetic and has taught this team to overachieve all season.