Hoosiers snap big ten drought

Jarrad Odle started his speech like most seniors do on Senior Day at Assembly Hall Saturday, after the Hoosiers clinched a share of the Big Ten regular season title by beating Northwestern 79-67. \nHe had the microphone and thanked his family, teammates, coaches and fans. But Odle kept going, thanking what seemed like everybody he knows, including his academic advisors and his hair stylist.\nIn an emotional speech after Odle's, Dane Fife, the Hoosiers' only other senior, let the home crowd know that all the Big Ten fans who have told him his brother Dugan was better than Fife were wrong.\n"Let me tell you something, Indiana, Dugan is not better," Fife said.\nA guard for Michigan several years ago, Dugan was at Assembly Hall Saturday. Throughout the league, opposing fans have taken to telling Fife he wasn't as good as his older brother, but Fife pointed out after the game that Dugan never won a Big Ten championship.\nFife also said it was only fitting that he be called for a technical foul in his last game in Assembly Hall. Northwestern's Tavaras Hardy and Fife mixed words after Fife pulled down Drew Long late in the second half. It was Fife's first technical foul at home.\nOdle and Fife both thanked former Hoosier coach Bob Knight for bringing them to IU and helping them get their careers going. Both also thanked Mike Davis and assistant coaches John Treloar, Jim Thomas and Ben McDonald.\n"They did a wonderful job with us this year, and they got us a Big Ten Championship," Odle said.\nNow that the duo's careers at Assembly Hall are over, the two seniors both spoke of taking this season further than most expect.\n"We're no longshot; we're for real," Fife said. "Here it is, right here on my (Big Ten Championship) shirt."\nFife approaching record\nAfter the game Fife spoke of how glad he is that he has had the chance this season to hit some jump shots he said IU fans have been waiting for. But Hoosier fans still look for Fife's signature defense and with good reason.\nHaving defended the opposing team's best player for four years, Fife has accumulated 169 steals in his career after two Saturday. That total is second only to Iowa coach and former IU All-American Steve Alford, who finished his career with 178 steals from 1984-1987.\nFree tosses\nIn the first meeting with Northwestern, IU got a big lift from Odle when sophomore George Leach hurt his ankle on the opening tip. Odle had 16 points in Evanston, Ill., but like all the other Hoosiers that day, none of his points came from the free throw line. For the game, IU was 0 for 2 from the charity stripe.\nSaturday, with both teams shooting the ball relatively well from the field, the Hoosiers took advantage at the foul line, hitting 20 of 28. Northwestern was just 12 for 19.