My crush is fading

Wow, really guys? Indiana State, huh? \nWe lost to the other, other, other team in our home state. Sure, it was on the road and, yeah, they played great, but we should have won that thing by double-digits blindfolded. After that game my opinion of our team has shifted slightly. The only comparison I can think of is L.C. from "Laguna Beach." When you first see her, she looks great and there are honestly no visible flaws. Then you get to know her a little bit, and it confounds you how anyone could pass her up because honestly, she's perfect. Then later in the season, she starts dating that loser, Jason, and everything changes. You begin to wonder what possessed her to do such a thing and ponder if it was all just a façade and if this is who she really is. You wonder if your massive crush on her was based on a lie or if it was justified. Yeah, it's kinda like that. \nWho are the real Hoosiers? \nAre they the team that fought tooth-and-nail with Duke? Are they the guys who blew teams out and scored 100 points easily? Or are they the team that had 22 turnovers against the red-headed stepchild of Indiana basketball?\nSaturday at the RCA Dome, it's time for the real Hoosiers to come to play and make a statement. But there's one problem -- their opponent, Kentucky, is loaded and needs to make a similar statement. \nAfter early season losses to Iowa and a rebuilding North Carolina team, the Wildcats are searching for their identity as well. Tubby Smith and company now know they will be without center Randolph Morris for the entire 2005-06 season after he was ruled ineligible by the NCAA. Luckily for Ashley Judd, the cupboard isn't totally bare. \nIt's a solid bet this season's success will depend upon Kentucky's immensely talented backcourt. Senior Patrick Sparks is one of the top shooters in the country and can't be left open, while sophomore Rajon Rondo is enjoying a breakout season. So far, Rondo is averaging 14.7 points, 10 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Needless to say, the kid can play. He steals the ball like Angelina Jolie steals husbands, slyly but right under everyone's noses. \nWhat the Hoosiers need to do is take care of the ball, play smart and hit open shots. They need to regain their early season swagger. Senior Marco Killingsworth needs to play like he thinks he's the best post player in the country. Senior Lewis Monroe needs to stop being tentative and take the open shot when he has it. Lewis, it's your last year man, don't hold back. Sophomore Robert Vaden needs to get back to his strength, slashing. Robert, you're a great shooter, but your game is at its best when you're going to the basket and finishing or getting fouled. \nThe team needs to play fearlessly. It needs to take a page out of Ben Allen's book. The Aussie freshman has been the best player on the court for the last two games and looks like the most confident guy on the floor. He wants the ball and knows what to do when he gets it. \nThe strength of the Hoosiers this year was supposed to be their experience, yet since the Duke game, a freshman has carried them. The four seniors need to get control of the team and steer it in the right direction. They need to establish this team's identity. \nThey need to show that this campus' crush on them was justified.