Suhr, yes Suhr

Errek Suhr was all over the place during IU's 72-63 win over Northwestern last night. Anyone else think it's funny that the smallest player on the Hoosier squad has the biggest heart?\nStanding only 5-foot-8 and 151 pounds, Suhr showed again last night that size really doesn't matter -- hear that ladies? \nThe junior guard, and Bloomington native, spent the game scrambling all over the court like a 5-year-old on Ritalin -- diving on the floor, driving to the basket and finding his teammates with great passes. What impressed me is how he's never scared or tentative with the ball and he's aggressive on defense no matter who he's guarding. \nWhile Roderick Wilmont led the team in scoring with 23 points, Suhr was clearly the player that sparked his teammates all night. He finished with 10 points, five assists and three rebounds (all on the offensive end). \nIU played with much more energy than they had in the last few contests. They were clearly happy to be home after two tough road losses, as they opened the game with a 12-4 run and never trailed. With Marco Killingsworth struggling through a nine-point effort, largely due to double teams in the middle of Northwestern's trapping zone defense, the backcourt needed to step up its play. Suhr and Wilmont led the charge as the Hoosier guards looked to drive into the lane for the first time in several games. \nBut it was Suhr's night. He consistently energized his teammates and the home crowd with his hustle on defense, smart passes and great shooting from the perimeter. \nIt's the halfway point of the Big Ten season. If IU wants to compete for the conference title, they need to continue to win at home and steal a few games on the road. There is zero chance of winning road games in this conference if you play without energy, and Suhr, Sean Kline and Wilmont bring those elements every time they step on the floor. They make the players around them better by elevating the team's overall intensity level. \nOne major area the Hoosiers improved last night was their aggressiveness on offense. They shot too many contested 3-pointers in the first half but began to move the ball and drive to the hoop during the second frame. IU shot 64 percent in the second half -- a direct result of their patience, ball movement and getting shots closer to the basket. Suhr helped facilitate the offense by finding his open teammates and getting them the ball and that was just what this team needed.\nThough he had not seen much action since the Big Ten season began you can be sure, after last night, that Coach Davis will find a place for him in the Hoosiers' lineup. \nAfter all, size doesn't matter. Heart does.