With the Purdue Boilermakers coming to town, practices will be a little more intense this week.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo and the Hoosiers (2-9, 1-6 Big Ten) have their eyes focused on the prize, or Bucket in this case, as they prepare for the 106th rendition of the Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue.\nPurdue leads the all-time series 64-35-6 and won last season in West Lafayette 34-10. IU beat Purdue the last time the Boilers visited Memorial Stadium 13-7 in 2001.\nDiNardo said a rivalry game like Purdue changes things up a bit.\n"I think the way you practice should change in a rivalry game," DiNardo said. "How much tape you watch on your own should change. How much you think about the game should change. I think the way you play the game should change. The one thing that should stay the same is you don't say anything about your opponent. You keep your business to yourself."
Injury Report\nDiNardo said Tuesday he doesn't think senior running back Brian Lewis will play on Saturday. DiNardo also expressed doubts about freshman backup quarterback Graeme McFarland's ability to play as well.\nThe second-year coach said he expects sophomore running back Chris Taylor to practice Tuesday. Taylor dressed but did not play against Penn State last Saturday.
Defense struggling\nThe recurring IU football trend of sloppy defense hasn't changed in 2003. The Hoosiers rank last in total defense in the Big Ten, giving up 6.3 yards per play, 44 touchdowns and 432.8 yards per game.\nThrough 11 games, the IU defense has given up 30 or more points seven times and 50 or more twice. \nOne of those 50-point games was Saturday's 52-7 Penn State victory. The IU defense, after holding Illinois to 14 points, has surrendered 55 and 52 points to Minnesota and PSU in IU's other games in November.\nIU's pass defense struggled particularly in the first half against PSU as the Lions threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.\nSenior Joe Gonzalez said he was embarrassed.\n"I'm disappointed with myself," Gonzalez said. "I'm disappointed with the defense. I'm disappointed with my job as a leader, as a captain."
Moving it on the ground\nEntering the 2003 season, DiNardo said one of the main Hoosier goals was improving the rushing attack. DiNardo's hopes have been reached and eclipsed.\nThe Hoosiers are averaging 4.3 yards per carry this season. Their goal is 4.\nDiNardo said the rushing game is one of the real bright spots for the Hoosiers in 2003.\n"I believe (running) is the basis of offense," DiNardo said. "You see passing teams come back to the rush because you need it in certain situations. Ultimately, you have to be able to run the football. I didn't feel like we could do that a year ago."\nIU has also eclipsed last season's yardage total. This year, the Hoosiers have rushed for 1,667 yards this season, up 269 from '03. IU is averaging 151.5 yards rushing per game.
The rise of BJGE\nPart of the reason for IU's rushing resurgence is freshman running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Green-Ellis, with 203 yards against Penn State, became the first true freshman to rush for over 200 yards since Alex Smith in 1994.\nGreen-Ellis, who has only started two games this season, leads IU in rushing with 783 yards and seven touchdowns.\nWith Lewis and Taylor nicked up, Green-Ellis had to carry the load. He did, with 42 carries.\n"Coming into the game I knew I was going to have to carry the rushing game load," Green-Ellis said, "because we're suffering a little bit of injuries at the running back position so I had that mindset this week in practice."
Extra Points\nThe 106th rendition of the Old Oaken Bucket game with Purdue will kickoff at 12:10 p.m. at Memorial Stadium and be televised by ESPN-Plus.\n-- Contact staff writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.
