In the four years I spent in Bloomington ('02-'06) the basketball was secondary. I just missed the Mike Davis NCAA Finals squad that caused that memorable eruption of drunken euphoria and pole-climbing on Kirkwood. The subsequent downward spiral of Men's basketball left me not disappointed, but ambivalent. I saw some games, got pumped in 2006, but focused on the Colts and the X on my calendar marking Little 5 weekend.
That's all changed now. Eric Gordon is in Bloomington, Indiana wearing the cream and crimson. Maybe it's just a year, but with his presence, as well as some strong help inside from a veteran D.J. White, Gordon's again put the ranking next to the name.
Indiana University has a tenuous grasp on Eric Gordon. Even if he were to make some sort of commitment, it wouldn't be a sure thing; the luxury of the young all-star. But while he's there it seems to be all Gordon, all day. He's not Lebron, not yet, not carrying a team with zero help. D.J., Jamarcus Ellis, Mike White, even a young Jordan Crawford, they're all sharing the love in a top 10 ranking. But Gordon is the star. The 6'4", 215 babyface from Indianapolis is establishing himself as a premiere guard not just in the Big Ten, or even the NCAA, but the history of Indiana Basketball. He moves the ball, puts points on the board, gets his teammates into the mix, and defends like a madman. He is absolute, unabridged talent.
It begs the question, what if he did stay? He probably won't, Money vs. Myth and all that. But what if they had the opportunity to build a team around this kid for four years? Maybe slim another 30 or 40 off of Deandre Thomas and keep inside, get Jamarcus and Crawford to stick around, really build a little mini-Franchise around him. It could really be something to see. But alas, the idea of a four-year starter, a player with serious NBA-ready talent who sticks around, well, it's just not gonna happen. It's old school. Antique College ball.
Which means we have to settle for one year at a time. Keep our hopes and dreams contained to this season and what it might mean. Sure, it's a young team, but clearly they're not lacking for talent. They make mistakes and they're play is nothing if not inconsistent. But they're ranked. High. They're working hard, and this is one of those seasons where literally anything could happen.
When Eric Gordon leaves it'll be a sad day down in Southern Indiana. But it won't be the end of Indiana Basketball. We'll watch Gordon, wherever he ends up playing. And we'll watch IU, whatever happens next. But for this season, while he's there, let's get pumped about what it means: A young all-star, top ten prospect, kid still learning how to be the best player he can be, and a team at his heels looking for a former greatness.
