1 LAST time

Two weeks ago, senior guard Dane Fife and the Hoosiers methodically picked apart Michigan to set up a game between IU and Ohio State, the then-top two teams in the Big Ten. Although the Hoosiers had to play without Jared Jeffries for much of the game against the Wolverines, IU was determined to get to the game with the Buckeyes tied at 9-4 in the conference.\n"We're fighting for a Big Ten championship," Fife said after the win in Ann Arbor. "That's something we haven't been able to say generally coming into Ann Arbor. This is a very special season for us. That's why we came in and played so hard and played so well."\nMuch has changed for Fife and IU since. The Hoosiers beat Ohio State but have since lost close games at Michigan State and at No. 15 Illinois. Now IU goes into tomorrow afternoon's game against Northwestern at Assembly Hall needing a win to lock up a share of the conference title with Wisconsin and maybe Ohio State and Illinois.\nIf the motivation to win an outright conference title is gone, Fife and Jarrad Odle have the added incentive to go out with a victory on Senior Night at Assembly Hall Saturday. And after seeing how hard the Illini played Tuesday on their senior night, the Hoosiers will be ready to help their seniors.\n"You see how (Illinois) played on senior night; they played hard," junior guard Kyle Hornsby said. "We're going to do the same thing."\nFife will end a career that includes more than 90 starts and a reputation for being one of the best defenders in the Big Ten. IU Coach Mike Davis has said that Fife should be the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.\nThis season Fife helped shut down Iowa's Luke Recker and Illinois' Cory Bradford. What's surprising has been Fife's offensive breakout this season, which is the result of a lot of shooting practice this past summer. Fife had a career-high 20 points against Illinois Jan. 26, hitting 6-of-7 three-pointers and fueling an 88-57 victory. He's averaging 9.1 points per game.\nOdle found his niche in the offense this season as well. He has become a starter after coming off the bench for his first three years. He has been a consistent scorer for the Hoosiers, especially early in games when IU looks for easy buckets in the paint.\nBefore this season Odle had six career starts, but this season, he started 14 Big Ten games. He has also scored more points this year (234) than he had in his previous three seasons combined (228). This season, he averages nine points per game.\nThe Hoosiers' two seniors have had different careers, but on Senior Day, they will be going for something that has eluded them both since they arrived at IU. The best Odle and Fife have ever finished in the Big Ten is 10-6, and they have never even contested for a league crown late in the season.\nOpportunities have passed them by this season, but the two still can leave their mark on IU Saturday.\n"I've been here for four years and really haven't won anything, and I want something to show for myself when I get out of here," Odle said. "I want to go home and be able to say we won a Big Ten championship. I think we are in the best spot we can be in."\nThis will be the last stand for Fife and Odle, and their teammates aim to give them a win for their last home game.\n"At this point, we may not be able to take out our seniors with a regular-season Big Ten championship," Hornsby said. "But we're definitely going to take them out with a win on senior night"