Hoosier Fans Excited for 2007-08 Print E-mail
Written by Zak Keefer   
Wednesday, 18 April 2007
So, is it too early to look ahead to the 2007-08 season? My guess is many of you already have. It’s hard not to, considering the stellar year college basketball fans just enjoyed. But, with so many questions surrounding who’s going (see Greg Oden, Mike Conley), who’s staying (Indiana’s D.J. White), its hard not to look forward and start to think about the contenders for next season.
So, right here and right now, I’m going to be the first to say the Indiana University Hoosiers are going to be a Final Four team in 2008. True, it’s going out on a limb. True, it’s pretty ridiculous, considering the amount of talent coming in from across the country to the powerhouses like Duke, North Carolina and UCLA.

But that’s why it’s a prediction. It may or may not come true. But when you sit down and look at their roster on paper, its hard to argue with the potential next season is going to bring for the Hoosier faithful.

Firstly, and most significant, was the Hoosiers’ acquisition of Indianapolis native Eric Gordon, the No. 2 ranked played in American and a lethal scorer. Gordon, committed to Illinois, changed his mind in October when new Indiana headman Kelvin Sampson lured him away from the Fightin’ Illini to stay in his home state.

In short, Gordon’s going to bring a lot of points to the Hoosiers next season. And trust me, from a fan’s perspective, they’ll need it.

Besides Gordon, the Hoosiers are bringing in a slew of other role-type players that are going to get some big minutes. JaMarcus Ellis will bring solid off-guard to Indiana from the JUCO ranks, where he was just yesterday named the National JUCO Player of the Year. Also, Brandon McGee and Deandre Thomas will bring some much needed muscle to a weakened front court from a year ago.

Eli Holman, a stud recruit from California, will bring his 6’10” frame to Bloomington with a defensive, rebound-first mentality the Hoosiers were in much need of this past season.

But, in the most integral part to the Hoosiers’ off-season, forward-center and the team’s best player of a year ago D.J. White announced Monday that he would return for his senior season. Considered by many as a possible late first round to early second round NBA draft pick, White chose to stay on campus for his senior year and give the Hoosiers an impressive guard-forward combo heading into the season with him and Gordon.

So, assuming all falls into place, here’s what the starting five will look like for the 2007-08 Indiana Hoosiers, with the subs in parenthesis.

   1. Armon Bassett (Jamal Crawford)

      
   2. Eric Gordon (A.J. Ratliff)

      
   3. JaMarcus Ellis (Joey Shaw)

      
   4. Lance Stemler (Mike White, Brandon McGee)

      
   5. D.J. White (Ben Allen, Deandre Thomas)

      

Without a doubt, it’s going to be a special year for the Hoosiers. And for the Indiana faithful, can you really blame them for getting so excited already?

 

Technorati Tags: Indian Hoosiers, 2008, D.J. White, JaMarcus Ellis, Lance Stemler, Eric Gordon, National JUCO Player of the Year
 
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