Former players consider Davis, IU's future

A.J. Moye said he believes Mike Davis is the master of paying attention to detail.\nThe former Hoosier men's basketball player currently suits up for Keflavik in the Icelandic Express League. His squad finished second in the regular season and Saturday, his team lost to Grindavik 93-78 in the Icelandic Cup Final. Moye scored 20 points in the loss.\nHe told the Indiana Daily Student in an e-mail interview Friday that he finds it unfortunate that Davis is stepping down.\n"From first-hand experience, I must say that he put his all into the position," Moye said in the e-mail, "often times spending the night in Assembly Hall breaking down game film or long road trips to scout a young prospect."\nWhen Moye played for the cream and crimson, he was known for his scrappy play and hustle, averaging just more than six points and almost four rebounds per game.\nSo far, Moye's foray into professional basketball in Iceland is working out for the former IU forward.\nHe was an all-star game most valuable player and he said he is one of the favorites for the regular season MVP. Moye currently averages 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Moye led the FIBA European Cup Challenge in scoring 31 points per game in Fall-Winter 2005.\nMoye -- along with former Hoosiers Dane Fife and Jeff Newton -- were part of Davis' team that advanced to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game in 2002 versus Maryland.\nFife and Newton came to IU in 1999, while Moye arrived in Bloomington in 2000.\nNewton averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds per game for IU. He also told the Indiana Daily Student in an e-mail interview Friday that Davis was very influential in his decision to stay in Bloomington after the University fired Bob Knight in September 2000.\n"I respect coach Davis as a coach and as a man," Newton said. "He is one of the best coaches and people I know."\nMoye said after Knight left the program, he stayed on because of Newton and the duo's roots to Atlanta. Even though the two players attended different high schools, Moye said they had gone through a lot together growing up as they lost their best friend - Travis Lee Davenport - a year before Knight left.\nMoye said they figured if they could get through the loss of their close friend, they "could buckle down through losing a legendary coach."\nWhen IU hires its 26th men's basketball coach, Moye said he hopes they will take his advice.\n"I hope the University considers a successful coach who is noted for his character just as well as his basketball prowess and knowledge," Moye said. "The man for this job must not fear the mantle of expected success, he must embrace it as not only a challenge, but as an inevitable conquest - starting from day one.\n"He must be a man of dedication, determination, humility and a no-nonsense individual."\nFife became the youngest NCAA Division I men's basketball coach when IU Purdue University-Fort Wayne hired him in March 2005. Prior to moving to Fort Wayne, Fife spent two seasons on Davis' staff in Bloomington.\nAs a player at IU, Fife broke IU's career steals record in his senior season with 180. He said his initial reaction to Davis stepping down was that it was tough for him to handle because he has known for some time what Davis has had to endure.\n"At Indiana, you are expected to have three things," Fife said in a phone interview Thursday. "First, a high graduation rate; second, charisma; and third, win and win big. I thought Davis had all three of those qualities."\nAll three Hoosier men's basketball alumni said they believe Davis is at peace with his decision and wish him the best of luck in the future.\n"I would be lying if I said that I couldn't tell the pressure of the position appeared overwhelming for him at times," Moye said. "People must realize this was most definitely his first major head coaching experience and it was absolutely baptism by fire."\n- Staff writer Michael Sanserino contributed to this report.