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RALEIGH, N.C. – Eric Gordon slapped hands with D.J. White. He ran through the layup-drill line and defended Adam Ahlfeld during a dribbling drill minutes before facing Arkansas.
Gordon participated in his first NCAA tournament game on Friday. He has been mum on whether this tournament will be his only one.
Gordon could decide to enter the NBA draft. IU interim coach Dan Dakich said Gordon’s game reminded him of two NBA players, one current and one from the past.
“(Former Sacramento King) Mitch Richmond was a strong-built guy that could go to the rim and shoot the basketball,” Dakich said.
“In terms of build, (Miami Heat) Dwyane Wade, the size and strength and build that he has is somebody that I would compare him to.”
IU junior forward DeAndre Thomas made his sixth start of the season. It was Thomas’ first start since Jan. 23 against Iowa.
Dakich discussed the adjustments he and the players have had to make through a season filled with adversity.
“You go 20-some games into the season and all of the sudden what happened, happed, then I think it’s a huge adjustment in a number of ways to the players,” he said. “And I always try to equate what I would have done had it happened to me with coach (Bob) Knight while I played here. And it would have been very difficult for me. … But you know these players jumped right into it. We’ve talked a number of times, individually, collectively, and in a number of different ways. You know, so their adjustment is a different voice. Their adjustment is the person that brought them here not being here. But my adjustment as a coach, it’s what I’ve been doing for 10 years, so it’s not that big of a deal to me.”
lpope@jg.net
