ROAD ISSUES

The Indiana Hoosiers have struggled on the road all season long, but who hasn't? The Big Ten has a combined 29-58 road record, so obviously the Hoosiers are not alone. That is the way it is in college basketball. Anybody can beat anybody on any given night. Give a team a support group on a court in which they are familiar and anything can happen. Just look back to the beginning of this season. Wisconsin was ranked in the top 10 in the country, but when they visited Missouri State they were defeated. Nobody expected a team from the Missouri Valley Conference to come out and beat one of the nation's elite, but it happened.
Indiana should not be worried at this point. Yes, losing 2 games in less then a week is not something to be proud of, but they will get better. This Hoosier team is very young, look at the lineup they started against Michigan on Saturday. Armon Bassett, a true freshman, was the point guard for the majority of the game. Playing on the road is tough, but playing on the road as a freshman is something totally worse. Especially at the point position. This team will be well prepared come tournament time because of the battles they have experiened throughout the regular season. This team went to Duke, to Kentucky, to Ohio State. Those are three of toughest venues to play college basketball. Had it caught a break or two, Indiana may have won all of those games. The fact that they were in them proves that this team could be dangerous in the tournament. If they get one of these elite teams on a neutral court- watch out.
Now about tonight's game against Minnesota. It is a MUST WIN game. I hate to say that because it is so overused, but there really is no other way to describe it. The Golden Gophers have been horrible this season, especially on the road. A home loss to Minnesota could very well take the Hoosiers out of the NCCA Tournament picture. But they will win tonight, and win big. My prediction is 73-52 with Indiana resting some key guys late in the game. Here is my reasoning. Indiana has lost three of its last four games- the one win was a 4 point squeaker over the Illini at home. The Hoosiers did not shoot well in that one, nor did they shoot well in any of the past four games. I expect them to come out firing tonight and really light the Golden Gophers up. It will be on the East Lansing for a Saturday night that will be filled with emotion. The College Gameday crew will be down there on the campus of Michigan State for a game as large as any for both teams involved. We'll see how it goes, that is my take, now give me yours.