Glass Houses

Just when we all think we have figured “it” out, a game like Sunday evening happens.

Sometimes we have to remember what “it” is.

“It” is youthful exuberance, mixed in with inexperience, sprinkled with a lack of clear leadership on the court.

Some games  it’s 16 assists and 12 turnovers on the road.

Some games it’s 3 assists and 16 turnovers at home.

Some games it’s 45 points on the road.

Some games it’s 81 points at home.

I get it.  Indiana is young.  It’s like the thermometer in January, one day in the 50′s, one day in the teens.  It makes sense but it doesn’t.

But here’s what they did figure out.  Just showing up won’t cut it.  And no matter how much the coaches beat it into them, they have to figure it out themselves.

And it’s hard.

It’s hard to have someone take the team or the game by the scruff of the neck and not let “it” happen.

But it’s not hard just to show up.

Showing up doesn’t rebound (39-23 against).

Showing up doesn’t share the ball (three assists).

Showing up doesn’t move on offense and help on defense.

Showing up doesn’t get the crowd, a huge asset at home, involved in the game.

I think Indiana figured out another chapter of Big Ten basketball on Sunday and sometimes those lessons are hard to take, but as always, they will learn from “it.”

We’ll see on Saturday in Champaign just how much.