Loading ...Big Ten Media Day notes about IU
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by Doug Wilson | Sunday, October 29, 2006 - 9:25 pm UTC
Here are some of Chris’ notes from Big Ten Basketball Media Day:
Sampson and the three Indiana players who attended the event – D.J. White, Earl Calloway and Rod Wilmont – flew home Sunday afternoon to be back in Bloomington in time to watch film of Saturday’s scrimmage and then practice.
Calloway, White and Wilmont are the team captains.
Sampson acknowledged that White may jump to the NBA after this season. “Whether or not coaches like to admit it or not, if you’ve got a high level player like D.J., if he has a good year, he may go out. That’s a decision for him and his family to make.”
Sampson said he recruits for need, then mentioned that he’ll have to replace Calloway, the point guard. Indiana remains in the running for Derrick Rose, the top-rated player at the position in the class of 2007.
But, irony of all ironies, Rose visited Illinois – the in state power he hadn’t seriously considered originally – over the weekend and is now set to pick between the Hoosiers, the Illini and Memphis. The Chicago product will announce his decision Saturday.
When discussing the slow development of his team so far, Sampson said: “Right now, we’re just trying to turn on the lights in the living room so we don’t run into the furniture.”
Sampson said he feels lucky because of how disciplined his players are. “That’s a credit to Mike Davis,” he said. “These kids are all good kids. We didn’t inherit any discipline problems, and that’s a credit to Mike Davis.”
White had cramps all over his body after Saturday’s scrimmage and said he still felt pain Sunday. “He’s using muscles he hasn’t used in a long time,” Sampson said of the star forward who missed most of last year with two separate foot injuries.
White said he was sick last week and the cramps were a result of not keeping his fluid level high enough. But it sure didn’t feel good. “I cried yesterday for the first time in forever,” he said.
Was it also Big Ten Media day for Women’s basketball?
Check UDA Today Nov. 1 for a national prevue.