After Butler guard A.J. Graves sank a wild, banking three to seal the first Hoosier loss of the season Tuesday night, IU coach Kelvin Sampson said he was disappointed but not discouraged. \nThe Hoosiers will get a chance to rebound from that disappointment -- and progress toward a Nov. 28 tilt with Duke University -- when they host Indiana State tonight and Chicago State University Sunday in Assembly Hall. \n"We made some mistakes," Sampson said after Tuesday night's loss. "But this will be a good experience if we learn from it." \nIU owes its in-state cohorts a measure of revenge: Indiana State knocked off Mike Davis' No. 18-ranked Hoosiers 72-67 at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute Dec. 7 last year. \nThanks to constant double teams, IU center Marco Killingsworth coughed up seven turnovers and was held to only 10 points. Just a week before, Killingsworth had posted 34 points in a losing effort to Duke and All-American center Shelden Williams. \nIndiana State went on to a 13-16 overall record. \nThis year, the Sycamores are coming off a 73-71 opening night win against the Western Michigan University Broncos, led by freshman Cole Holmstrom, who notched 17 points on the way to the win. \nSunday's opponent, Chicago State, is coming off a 76-64 season-opening loss to Wichita State. The Shockers -- an NCAA Tournament team last season -- rebounded from a seven-point halftime deficit to drop Chicago State to 1-2 on the year. Guard David Holston led the Cougars with 19 points. \nDespite Tuesday's disappointing loss, Sampson said he was happy with some of the improving areas of the team. \n"I thought A.J. Ratliff made great strides (Tuesday)," Sampson said. "I saw some good things some kids did. Our defense was good, but we need to work on getting some easier shots on the offensive end, pushing the ball. We played way too much of a half-court game."\nTip-off tonight is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sunday's game begins at 2 p.m.
Sampson added a fifth player to his 2007 recruiting class when 6-foot-4 guard Jordan Crawford signed a national letter of intent Wednesday night. A Detroit native, Crawford sat out his senior season at Detroit Communication Media Arts High School and now attends Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia, the same school for which IU freshman guard Armon Bassett played a year ago. The guard is averaging 11.5 points and 7.3 assists per game this season, helping Hargrave to a 4-0 start.\nCrawford, who is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, is the fifth member of what many scouts are labeling a top-10 recruiting class for the 2007 season. The group also includes five-star guard Eric Gordon, center Eli Holman, guard Jamarcus Ellis and forward Brandon McGee.\n"We think Jordan can help us in the backcourt. He is capable of playing the point or the wing," Sampson said in a statement. "He is a very talented young man from a wonderful family. We are very excited to have Jordan as part of the IU basketball program."\nSampson said he expects Crawford to enroll at IU in June 2007.
