Freshman Ben Allen looks to step into expanded role

Freshman center Ben Allen broke out against Indiana State last month, scoring 21 points and grabbing seven rebounds. But his performance couldn't earn him much extra playing time because sophomore forward D.J. White was gradually becoming healthy again and resuming his starting role.\nWhite's return has since limited Allen to fewer than five minutes per game, but the Aussie's sentiments have always remained the same.\n"As long as we're winning, I'm happy," he said.\nBut with White sidelined again, Allen can directly influence his own happiness.\n"I see this as a huge opportunity for me," Allen said. "I've been getting two to three minutes a game these last four or five games and I've waited my time. It's unfortunate D.J had to go out like this... I'm really going to work hard to make the most of it."\nAllen statistically is one of the best shooters on the team and in the conference. He is averaging 61 percent from the field and 68 percent from 3-point range, making good on senior forward Marco Killingsworth's preseason prediction that Allen would lead the Hoosiers from behind the arc.\n"It's just been a matter of finding Ben some time," said IU coach Mike Davis, who is now looking to get Allen about 15 minutes per game. "We wanted to get D.J. ready, and that really cut back on Ben's time. And playing the schedule that we play, with smaller guys, we really don't play Ben."\nAllen also has the faith of his teammates. He received calls Sunday night from junior guard Rod Wilmont and senior guard Marshall Strickland.\nThe two upperclassmen leaders provided a heads up on the bigger role the freshman will have to play with White sidelined. Allen said the two gave him some confidence.\n"I told him, 'You need to be ready to play' -- just knowing from experience, going up there," Wilmont said.\nThe loss of White even trickles all the way to the backcourt.\n"We'll be smaller now," Strickland said. "(Sophomore forward) Robert Vaden was our big three guy, but now he is going to playing more of a power forward."\nVaden saw some time at power forward earlier this season, so he is not completely unfamiliar with the position. The Hoosiers' non-conference schedule made him the ideal starter because early opponents had smaller forwards the 6-foot-5 Vaden matched up well against.\nOther options include freshman forward Cem Dinc, who has played very little and is still making the adjustment from the international game to the collegiate level. And senior forward Sean Kline has dealt with a knee injury for the majority of the season, but Davis said he thinks he will be ready to play tonight.\n"We've just got to focus on Michigan State," Davis said. "It's going to be a tough game for us whether (White) was playing or not cause it's a home game for them. We've got to make sure we get Ben and Kline ready to play"