Hoosiers look to build momentum at Penn State tonight

After nearly a month and a half of trying, the Hoosiers (18-10, 8-7 Big Ten) were finally able to string together two straight wins with a 74-70 victory over Minnesota Tuesday night. \nIt was a feat they had not accomplished since beating Northwestern, Illinois and Ohio State during a home-stand that went from Jan.15-21, and they will attempt to match that streak tomorrow night when they travel to Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions (6-20, 1-14).\n"Saturday is a big game for us," senior guard Tom Coverdale said. "I think that we'd still make the tournament if we didn't win it, but I think we've got to go in there and get it just so there's no doubt."\nIt will be the last game of the Big Ten season for both teams and a win for the Hoosiers would most likely earn them the sixth seed in next weekend's conference tournament. If that is the case, they will meet the 11-seeded Nittany Lions again in the first round.\nCoach Mike Davis said that scenario would give the Hoosiers good momentum heading into the postseason.\n"We win Saturday, and that's three straight wins. It's been a long time since we won three games in a row," Davis said. "If we win we'll probably end up playing Penn State again on Thursday night (in the Big Ten tournament). If we can win those two games that's four in a row, and we can try to win the (conference) tournament."\nPenn State had a chance to move out of the league's cellar last Saturday when they played the Northwestern Wildcats. Had they won that game, it would have tied them with the Wildcats at 2-12 in the Big Ten and given them a chance to grab the 10-seed for the tournament.\n But things didn't quite work out that way as they haven't for Penn State for much of the season.\n The visiting Nittany Lions took Northwestern into double-overtime behind impressive performances by junior guard Sharif Chambliss and senior guard Brandon Watkins, who finished with 21 and 31 points respectively. But it was not enough as the Wildcats pulled out an 85-79 victory.\nPenn State then headed back to their home court Tuesday night for a matchup with Michigan.\nThe Wolverines shot 60 percent from the field and handed the Nittanny Lions their fourth straight loss, which plunged them to 1-14 in conference play and ensured them the 11-seed in the Big Ten tournament.\nDespite the loss, Penn State saw some encouraging play from two of their young forwards, sophomore Jan Jagla and freshman Aaron Johnson, who both finished with 15 points. \nBut while Jagla (8.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg) and Johnson (8.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg) have provided some quality play down low, the backcourt of Chambliss (14.7 ppg) and Watkins (13.9 ppg) has provided the Nittany Lions with experience as well as consistent production.\nThose guards will match up with a revitalized Hoosier backcourt that features freshman Bracey Wright, whom Davis said is finally healthy again; Coverdale, who has shaken off his scoring slump to re-emerge as the team's leader; and freshman point guard Marshall Strickland, who has thrived since entering the starting lineup.\n"I think that the additional level of play from the backcourt has really made (IU) a better basketball team," Penn State coach Jerry Dunn said. "I thought their backcourt was struggling earlier (in the Big Ten season)."\nAfter a long conference season in which the Hoosiers played seven out of nine games on the road in one stretch, Davis said the team is finally regaining its confidence and intensity, and it's happening at the perfect time.\n"I've watched schools in last couple weeks, and you have some teams fading," he said. "And what we've got to do is pick our momentum up. If we continue to get better, you'll be surprised by the run that we're going to make. I'm telling you -- you count us out, and you're in trouble"