Hoosiers head to the Garden

Sophomore guard Tom Coverdale has always wanted to play a basketball game on the floor of Madison Square Garden. \nCoverdale will live out that dream when the Hoosiers face Temple at 7 p.m. Wednesday in New York. IU advanced by defeating South Alabama in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament Friday. Should the Hoosiers win, they'll play in the NIT finals at 9 p.m. Friday. If they lose, they'll play in the consolation game at 7 p.m. Friday. \n"It's better to be in New York for Thanksgiving than Bloomington, which is where we would be had we lost to South Alabama," junior forward Jarrad Odle said. "This isn't entirely a sight-seeing trip. We're going out there to win two games. But I would like to see the Statue of Liberty and Times Square."\nBefore Odle can visit the landmarks, he and the Hoosiers (2-0) have to take care of business -- not an easy task. Temple (3-0) is known for playing a tough 1-3-1 trapping zone defense that creates problems when the opposing team is unable to shoot well.\n"We're going to have to knock down the outside shot in order to win the game," Coverdale said. "We have good shooters on this team, so we just have to relax and make our shots. The other important thing against their zone is to get the ball in the middle and attack their big guys."\nThe Hoosiers might be without the services of sophomore guard Kyle Hornsby, one of the team's best shooters. Hornsby did not practice Monday because of an injured foot. Interim head coach Mike Davis said he is unsure whether Hornsby will be healthy in time for the game.\nTemple is led by guard Lynn Greer, who scored 22 points in Temple's 67-62 victory against Memphis in the second round. The Owls and IU have met each of the last three seasons, with IU winning the last two matchups. IU defeated Temple 67-59 last year in Springfield, Mass.\n "Patience and spacing is very important," Davis said. "Against this team, you shouldn't really create shots because what they'll do is get out in the open court, and their guards are really good in the open court."\n Davis said the Hoosiers were nervous in their first two games. Coverdale said he isn't worried about being nervous Wednesday.\n "We might be nervous before the game, but once the game starts we'll be fine and relaxed," Coverdale said. "We're young, but we have two games under our belt and once the game starts we'll settle down and do the things we need to do to win."\nNo. 1 Duke faces Texas in the other semi-final at 9 p.m. Wednesday. \n"I'm sure all of us would love to play Duke, but we have to beat Temple to do it," Odle said. "It's just a matter of getting everything together."\nJunior forward Kirk Haston is looking forward to getting to know his teammates a little better. \n"This is a good place for the team to go, a chance for us to get close," Haston said. "Road trips are always fun, especially when you're winning. We've put in a lot of hard work, and this is kind of a reward"