Been reflecting a lot on last night's game.

All of the disappointment about HOW #iubb played for most of it is valid. Nine times out of ten, that overall performance from IU results in a bad loss. No big corners were turned.

A mediocre Big Ten team beat a bad one.

And yet ...

What we saw from Indiana at the end of the game -- specifically Al Durham and Armaan Franklin -- was really meaningful.

We've been BEGGING the guards to make plays late in games all season, and now in two straight games they have.

That matters.

I remain dissatisfied with the overall arc of the program.

In Year 4, we shouldn't need to narrowly avoid another disastrous loss to NW just to reach .500.

But we also shouldn't be so quick to dismiss an impressive clutch performance that turns an L into a W.

It's a weird season. There are many of us who question whether the program is truly on the right track.

But the PEOPLE, from the staff to the players, whether we believe they're the long-term answers or not, are all worth supporting. They're Hoosiers. Let's stick with 'em.

I don't like threads like this. Seems like I do one every season nowadays, which in and of itself is a problem.

But this group battles. They fight. They play ugly basketball, but they play it together and represent IU well.

So let's try to keep an open mind about where this season can still go, support the team every step of the way, and then see where the dust settles in March.

It may not end up being good enough, but let's at least get there together.