White proves to be big difference for focused Hoosiers

	#7 Indiana #10 Gonzaga 70 57   Box Score Recap All Scores
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By Phil Taylor, SI.com

SACRAMENTO -- A great deal has changed for both Indiana and Gonzaga since the 'Zags 90-80 victory over Indiana in the second round of last year's tournament, but here's one of the biggest differences: this time, the Hoosiers had their best big man available and Gonzaga did not. That helped lead to Thursday's reversal of fortune, a 70-57 victory for Indiana that propelled the Hoosiers into the second round against UCLA on Saturday.

D.J. White, Indiana's 6-foot-9, 250-pound big man who missed last year's tournament because of injury, was very much present and accounted for on Thursday. White had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks against a Gonzaga defense that simply couldn't handle his size and strength. That might not have been the case if the 'Zags' best big man, 6-foot-11 Josh Heytvelt, had been on hand. Heytvelt was suspended for the rest of the season after a drug arrest in February, and though Gonzaga managed to win the West Coast Conference without him, they didn't face many post players in the WCC who are the caliber of White.

Indiana led 34-29 at halftime, but coach Kelvin Sampson felt the Hoosiers weren't exploiting their advantage in the paint. "We talked a lot at halftime about running the offense through D.J.," Sampson said. "We felt that if we pounded it inside the offense would flow a little better." It did, because when White wasn't scoring on short jump hooks, he was passing the ball back out to open teammates after the Gonzaga defense collapsed on him. "D.J. had four assists and zero turnovers," Sampson said. "When you get that kind of line from your post player, it defintely helps you."

Sampson represented one of the other differences from last year's matchup. A year ago the Hoosiers were led by embattled coach Mike Davis, who had announced he was leaving at the end of the season, and the team was in turmoil. This season, Indiana benefited from the stability that Sampson has brought. "There are no outside worries this year," White said. "All we have to think about is basketball. That's why we're playing so well right now."

PLAYER WHO IMPRESSED ME

When Sampson was asked whether coaching guard Rodrick Wilmont is as gut-wrenching as it seems, he replied, "Yes." Wilmont, a senior, is a human roller-coaster ride, mixing a sweet shooting touch and athletic drives with wild passes and questionable shot selection. But the Hoosiers had more of the good Wilmont than the wild one on Thursday, as he finished with 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting, including 6 for 11 from the 3-point line. "He gives me the eye once in a while," Wilmont said of Sampson. "But Coach and I have a great relationship." Said Sampson: "He'll drive you crazy with some of his passes, but he's been a joy to coach." Especially on Thursday.

COURTSIDE CONFIDENTIAL

White hugged and chatted with Gonzaga big men Sean Mallon and David Pendergraft as the final seconds wound down. "I was just telling them that I respected how hard they played," he said. "It was a war inside, but those guys never once talked trash or did anything dirty. Just good, hard play. I respect that." ... Indiana guard Earl Calloway wrote "Jesus" on both of his high tops. ... The Hoosiers came to the bench during a timeout with their heads down after turning the ball over. "It's OK to make a mistake as long as we do what?" Sampson said. Several of his players answered in unison. "Attack," they said.

BIG PICTURE

Sampson was most pleased with the "basketball IQ" his team showed against Gonzaga. In order to beat UCLA on Saturday, the Hoosiers will have to play like geniuses. White will have a harder time scoring inside against the Bruins, who feature an effective interior defender in 7-footer Lorenzo Mata. That means Indiana will have to run an efficient, probably somewhat conservative offense to keep the Bruins from getting the turnovers they like to transform into easy buckets. Sampson is particularly worried about UCLA's wings, 6-foot-6 Aaron Afflalo and 6-foot-5 Joe Shipp, because of their size and strength. It's hard to find an area in which the Hoosiers have an advantage, and UCLA isn't prone to an upset because their intense defense tends to keep teams from putting together a run. Barring a lights out 3-point shooting night from Wilmont and friends, Indiana's fine season seems destined to end against the Bruins.