Punative Damages? Don't Call Us...We'll Call You

Punitive Damages? Don’t Call Us…We’ll Call You

Let me give you a quick profile of an at-large NCAA Tournament team. 25-7 overall. 8-4 in their last twelve games. A second place finish in one of the BCS power conferences. Wins over Kentucky, Michigan St., Ohio St twice. 5 of 7 losses quality losses against Top 25 teams, and an RPI of 23.

Where would you seed them? 5? Maybe a 6? In the case of the 25-7 Indiana Hoosiers, try an EIGHT slotted against North Carolina for a second round match-up in Chapel Hill…er, Raleigh.

Should Indiana be punished for Sampson’s transgressions? Absolutely. Particularly in light of the fact that it is the exact same transgression that followed him prior to being hired by IU. As Terrell Owens would say, “if it walks like a duck…” The school knowingly took a risk in hiring Sampson (why would be a whole separate article for a later day – it isn’t like you were getting Dean Smith reincarnated). My problem lies in the fact that the kids are the ones taking the hit here. Not IU, and not Kelvin Sampson (yes he got fired, but rumor has it he is going to be the bench coach for Jim Harrick in the NBADL. Even Dave Bliss thinks that is a great idea).

The people punished are DJ White, Eric Gordon, and the rest of the current Hoosiers who did nothing wrong. The text overage charges they incurredalone should be punishment enough! A sure-fire 5-6 seed drops like a stone to an 8, a near certain 2^nd round early exit and in a few years Sampson will crop up again and coach at a program completely sanction-free. I imagine the partisan crowd in Raleigh on Sunday will not be the least bit disturbed, but to me it seems a lousy end to a promising season.