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(05/04/09 3:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack has hired Amaka Agugua as assistant coach for the Hoosiers. The spot opened when former assistant Marc Wilson’s contract was not renewed.Legette-Jack and Agugua are already familiar with each other. Legette-Jack coached Agugua from 2001 to 2006 at Hofstra, which included a season in which Agugua missed most of the year because of injury.Legette-Jack said she enjoyed having Agugua at Hofstra and is thrilled to be working with her again.“Amaka is a humble person, but she’s a hard worker,” Legette-Jack said in an IU media relations release. “She is a person that played for me at Hofstra, and she totally believed in what we were trying to do when we got to Hofstra.”As a player, Agugua was known for her jump shot and fierce rebounding ability.She averaged 10.2 points and six rebounds per game. She is 12th in the history of the program with 568 rebounds and recorded 970 career points. Her numbers weren’t the only reason Agugua was added to Legette-Jack’s staff. Agugua gained an understanding of what her former coach is trying to accomplish in her four years on the court.“She became my captain for three years, and all we did was continue to raise the bar there,” Legette-Jack said. “Now, with her joining our staff here at Indiana, our future is bright. And she is a person that understands exactly what I’m looking for as far as work ethic, enthusiasm for the job, recruiting and loyalty.”Agugua, who will begin her duties for the Hoosiers Monday spent the last three seasons at Virginia Commonwealth. She spent three seasons with the team, one as a graduate assistant and two as an assistant coach.She helped lead the team to their lone NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2008-09 season.Agugua will join Legette-Jack, and current assistants Jose Mori and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson for the upcoming season.
(04/21/09 3:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Last year, senior Ray Fisher caught passes from quarterbacks Kellen Lewis and Ben Chappell. This spring he is trying to intercept them. Fisher switched from wide receiver to cornerback to help the football team’s defense, which ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in most defensive categories last year. Fisher is one of only 14 Hoosiers with 100 career receptions and 1,000 career receiving yards, yet he said he was motivated to help the defense. “Whatever I can do for the team, that’s what I want to do,” he said. “Every day, I’m going to go out and work hard so I can have all my teammates behind me, so they can trust me at whatever I’m doing.” Fisher has some experience on defense from when he played defensive back at Glenville High School in Cleveland, a program coached by the father of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. Although he has some knowledge of the position, Fisher said he has had trouble making the switch to a defensive mindset.“It’s pretty hard,” he said. “They are throwing a lot of stuff at me. I just have to go out and play every down real hard, so I can understand the whole game.” Despite being somewhat limited by a groin injury, Joe Palcic, co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach, said Fisher has progressed well. “Ray (Fisher)’s done a great job,” Palcic said. “He has missed a couple practices with some injuries, but since then I’ve seen the improvement step back up.” Palcic said Fisher can apply the skills that made him a good receiver to the cornerback position, citing his speed, quickness and timing in the air as usable qualities.Fisher said the technical aspects of cornerback have been another challenge, but said he feels he can make up for that in other areas. “I’m kind of rusty with my technique, but I have athletic ability,” Fisher said. “I’m able to do stuff, where instead of using technique, I can use my athletic ability with some things.” Fisher will use his athleticism to return kickoffs and punts as well. Sophomore Chris Adkins, who also plays cornerback, said Fisher is smoothly moving into the position. “He’s doing a lot better,” Adkins said. “It’s always good to have playmakers on both sides of the ball. We got him from the offense, bring him over here, so he’s getting a lot better. He’s just an athlete.” The Hoosiers have what seems to be a strong outlook for the offensive side of the ball, making many changes that IU coach Bill Lynch said fans will enjoy. Although the offense might be improved, the defense will need to do better than it has in the past. Last season the defense ranked 11th in the Big Ten in total defense, scoring defense, opponent first downs and opponent fourth downs. Lynch said Fisher might be what they need to help turn those numbers around. “He’s a tough guy,” Lynch said. “He gives us a physical presence at corner. He’s a kid that likes to get in the mix, and he can be a cover guy since he has good feet. I think it’s a good move for him, and I think it’s a good move for the team.” Although Fisher said his true calling is wide receiver, he is happy to make a switch that helps his team. “To me, I’m a receiver at heart, but I have ability that a lot of people don’t have,” Fisher said. “I have a chance to play two positions, so I’m going to go out and play hard.”
(04/17/09 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the IU football team won’t kick off their season until Sept. 3, fans will have a chance to see it play in a game setting this weekend. The Spring Game, which is slated for 2 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, will mark the end of the offseason practice schedule for the Hoosiers. The IU men’s basketball team will sign autographs at the event from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.IU coach Bill Lynch said he would like to see his team play a true game, health permitting. Otherwise, it will be a scrimmage with a point system to keep it competitive. For people making their first visit to Memorial Stadium to see the Hoosiers since their season ended this fall, many things will seem different. One of the most notable changes will be junior quarterback Ben Chappell taking most of the snaps instead of senior Kellen Lewis, who is now listed at wide receiver. Lewis will still take some snaps at quarterback, but his primary duties will be at wide receiver. Lynch said he liked what he saw from Chappell. “I think Ben’s had a really good spring,” Lynch said after last weekend’s scrimmage. “I thought he really threw some in there today. He has a good grasp of what they do with the running game and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.” The Hoosiers hope changing to the pistol offense will improve their running game. The pistol offense features a running back directly behind the quarterback and includes more running up the middle than toward the sidelines. The new formation will also allow running backs more time to read defenses because they start plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Hoosiers have good depth at the running back position, with four players competing for time. Seniors Bryan Payton and Demetrius McCray will join freshman Darius Willis and junior Trea Burgess in the backfield. Lynch said he likes the depth and presence IU has at the position. “The thing I like about all four of them are physical guys,” he said. “Physical running the ball, and they can break tackles. They are physical in their pass protection as well.” Another key to the running game will be the offensive line, a group that has impressed Lynch with its recent improvement. There have also been changes on the defensive side of the ball. Senior Ray Fisher moved from wide receiver to cornerback, and Jarrod Smith switched from offensive lineman to defensive tackle. In previous scrimmages, the offense has gotten off to a quick start, but the defense has answered with big plays of its own. Smith said he believes Saturday will follow the same script.“That’s the way football is, going back and forth,” he said. “It’s a game of momentum. Whoever has it has it.” Although many defensive players are injured, including last year’s MVP Jammie Kirlew and captain Will Paterson, sophomore cornerback Chris Adkins said the team is not worried. “We have that confidence that we know that we can get a lot better, because we have a lot of veterans that are injured and will come back soon,” Adkins said.While there are many things still up in the air, one thing is certain: Saturday’s game will be a battle. IU players will approach the scrimmage with the same intensity they do every day at practice. Senior middle linebacker Matt Mayberry showed the seriousness with which players approach practice with his crushing hit on an IU wide receiver coming across the middle during practice last week. Lynch said he hopes the game will provide an atmosphere for players to jumpstart the regular season. “You always find somebody in that last scrimmage that has a big day, and that kind of kicks them off into the fall,” Lynch said.
(04/13/09 3:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Moving junior Ben Chappell to the primary quarterback position this spring seemed to be working well. In the Hoosiers’ second spring scrimmage Saturday at Memorial Stadium, Chappell connected on his first eight passes for a total of 111 yards in the day that consisted of the scrimmage, 7-on-7 and red zone drills and field goal attempts. The most impressive play of the day was a 22-yard touchdown strike to sophomore wide receiver Damarlo Belcher. Then the defense woke up.Junior Jarrod Smith, who switched from offensive lineman to defensive tackle this spring, sacked quarterback Adam Follett for a 7-yard loss.Chappell said he saw improvement in the defense from last weekend’s scrimmage.“I think the defense did a lot better today,” Chappell said. “I think we executed OK on offense. We could have done a few things better. We will watch it on film and see, but I think the defense flew around a lot better today.”During the next series, with Chappell behind center, the defense struck again as sophomore cornerback Chris Adkins picked off a pass to end another offensive possession.Adkins said the play wasn’t incredibly difficult to execute.“I felt like (Chappell) just threw it to me,” he said. “I don’t know – right place, right time – something like that. Thanks, Chap.” The Hoosiers’ defense is missing several key players this spring. They are without safeties Austin Thomas and Nick Polk, last year’s captain Will Patterson and last season’s MVP Jammie Kirlew.Despite the injuries, IU coach Bill Lynch said he liked what he saw from the defense during the scrimmage but also acknowledged there is still work to do.“I liked their enthusiasm,” he said. “They got a lot of guys out, so a lot of young guys are getting a chance and they’re flying around. The biggest thing I see is we need to tackle better.”Lynch also said he thought Chappell was having a good spring and has a good grasp of the new offensive formation.“He’s got such great command of the offense,” Lynch said. “That’s the biggest thing. ... When the play is over, he comes off the sideline and – Coach (Matt) Canada talks about that all the time – he will tell you exactly what happened out there. When you watch the tape later on, he really saw it.”The quarterback trio of Chappell, Follett and junior Teddy Schell threw the ball to 10 different wide receivers on the day. Sophomore wide receiver Matt Ernest led the group with two catches for 47 yards, including a 40-yard completion from Follett.Chappell said he likes the balance and chemistry that has developed between the quarterbacks and receivers. “With that much talent, with those guys at wide receiver, I think it could be really special,” he said.The running game, which has been a focus of spring practice, also came through as the Hoosier ball carriers accounted for 169 yards on 30 carries.Freshman Trea Burgess sprinted down the right sideline for a 37-yard gain to set up a 5-yard touchdown run on the next play. Senior Bryan Payton rushed for 38 yards, including a 25-yard run, and senior Demetrius McCray rushed for 25 yards.Freshman Darius Willis gained 20 yards in his first scrimmage after returning from an injury.At the end of the scrimmage, Chappell said he thought it was a productive practice.“I think it was a good day overall,” he said. “We came out and ran the ball really well. That was nice. The defense picked it up a little bit, too, so I think overall it was really good.”
(04/10/09 4:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>By his own admission, senior defensive end Jammie Kirlew doesn’t fit the football player stereotype. He’s studied in Italy and campaigned for President Barack Obama. Now, he’s exploring filmmaking.Kirlew, last season’s team MVP, said he likes doing things people don’t expect him to do and setting an example for others.“We are trying to do as much as we can to break the barriers and expand and be better role models,” Kirlew said.Kirlew got his start in cinema when he made a 10-minute film, entirely in Italian, for a summer class. He said the film was a hit.“I did the Italian movie, and it turned out really well,” he said. “We blew everyone out, so I was like ‘man, we really got something here.’”Kirlew, a School of Public and Environmental Affairs management and public financial management double major, has always had an interest in movies, but he said he couldn’t make his own because of limited resources.Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival, came to IU and gave him that opportunity. The contest gives each entrant one week to make a five-minute film and supplies them with everything from Apple laptops to High Definition cameras to do so.Kirlew wrote, produced, directed and edited his film “Spring Break-Up.” About 60 groups entered the competition, and the top 16 films played Thursday night. Kirlew did not make the cut.When choosing the cast, Kirlew didn’t have to look far to find his leading man.Junior wide receiver Terrance Turner came to mind after Kirlew remembered seeing him in the play “An American Ma(u)l,” last year.Turner, a theater and drama major, said his teammate has some talent in film production. “I think he did pretty well,” Turner said. “He knew what shots he wanted. He had everything organized. One thing about Jammie, he is always organized. That really helped out the process, especially since we only had a limited amount of time.”With only seven days to shoot and edit the film, the group of 10 started production on “Spring Break-Up.”The film, which stars Turner as the main character, Tyree, starts when he and his girlfriend stop at a convenience store. His girlfriend sees a text message on his phone from another girl and gets furious. With his girlfriend going on a spring break cruise in four days, he knows he has to make up with her fast.Kirlew said he drew some inspiration from “The Sopranos,” although the film is mainly a comedy that incorporates romance, drama and action.IU football coach Bill Lynch said he is not surprised by Kirlew’s varied story line.“That sounds like Jammie,” Lynch said. “All those things in five minutes. You get those things every time you talk to him.”Kirlew said the most challenging part of the process was coordinating everyone’s schedule to shoot scenes.The filming portion took place over a span of three days in which Kirlew shot one scene as early as 8 a.m. on a Sunday morning.Turner said he was happy to help out his teammate and take a break from his daily routine. “I like acting,” he said. “I like film and theater and things of that sort. To be able to do it and get away – get a small break from football and school – it really helps.”Kirlew said he loves football but believes this time in his life is prime for expansion. “College is about learning,” he said. “It’s about finding out what your passions are and what you want to do later in life. I find that very important, so I try to go in different realms and see which actually work for me and what stuff I like doing.”
(04/10/09 4:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The loss of No. 1 running back Marcus Thigpen, an unsettled quarterback situation and the movement of Ray Fisher, one of last year’s most productive wide receivers, to corner back all have the IU offense in flux.In its second spring scrimmage at 10 a.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the Hoosiers will test out and evaluate a number of newly implemented players in preparation for the 2009 season.Another change is a revamped offense referred to as the pistol. The pistol offense has the quarterback behind center and a featured running back as the last line of attack.Last season the Hoosiers used a spread formation, where the running back would line up to the side of the quarterback.IU coach Bill Lynch said he thinks this will help with the players’ running game and allow the team to be less predictable in its play calling.Junior quarterback Ben Chappell said he is getting more comfortable with the new formation every day and believes it will help the team.“It keeps the defense off balance and gives us a lot of different options,” he said.Freshman Will Matte is also an emerging top center for the offensive line.Chappell said developing center-quarterback chemistry can be a long process, but said he thinks Matte has adjusted very well.“Normally it does take a while, but with Will it has been a seamless transition,” he said. “He has been good so far – really good.”Matte, who has braved new, more talented opposition this spring, said he embraces the idea of an increased running back presence in the backfield.“I love getting fired up,” Matte said. “I love playing offensive line. I think it’s a great position. Center has been a new challenge coming to college, but I’ve loved every minute of it, and I can’t wait to get better.”With Chappell taking more snaps at quarterback during spring practice, senior Kellen Lewis has shifted to wide receiver in many of the Hoosiers’ formations.One of Lewis’ targets at wide receiver last year has also made a position switch. Fisher, who ranks eighth on IU’s all-time reception list with 118 receptions and 1,070 career receiving yards, is playing cornerback this spring. Lynch said he is happy with where the team is, noting the play of members of the offensive line, who he said have progressed well and stayed healthy.Lynch said one of the biggest goals he has for spring practice is the chance to evaluate his players and determine who the top 50 will be.“You want to have a good idea of where you are when spring practice is over,” he said.
(03/30/09 4:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>NORMAL, Ill. – As the final seconds ticked off the clock, senior Kim Roberson found herself in an unfamiliar spot.Roberson and her three fellow seniors all sat on the bench, ending their season and IU careers in defeat. The highly contentious game saw six ties and 12 lead changes before the Hoosiers (21-11) finally fell 66-55 to Illinois State (27-7) on Sunday in the quarterfinals of the WNIT. Roberson led the Hoosiers back from a 10-point first-half deficit to a 29-26 halftime lead with 11 points. She left the game for good when she fouled out with 3:10 to go.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said Roberson’s absence hurt the team.“Kim is a kid that you need on the court at the end of the game,” she said. “I think we all know that. To replace that is very difficult, but we certainly tried to makeshift that a little bit.”Fatigue might have played a part in IU’s loss. After playing Bowling Green on Thursday night, the Hoosiers did not have much time to rest before going on the road again and enduring a time change.Legette-Jack said she did not understand why IU had to make such an abrupt transition from Bowling Green, Ohio, to Normal, Ill. “We didn’t have any legs to move left and right today,” Legette-Jack said. “Is that an excuse? Usually, I don’t give excuses, but if you spare me this one. I really believe our kids were icing up and trying to get ready, but we ran out of gas against a really great team.”Junior point guard Jamie Braun, who led the Hoosiers with 15 points, said her team shouldn’t have needed any extra incentive for the biggest game of its season.“For me, I personally was a little fatigued in the second half,” she said. “It really shouldn’t matter. We should be able to dig deep. It’s the tournament. It’s March. We are playing. We shouldn’t have to worry about if we are tired or not.”They lacked the energy needed to fight for rebounds, trailing in that category 48-35 and shooting just 30.6 percent from the field. Illinois State had 23 points from their bench, but the only points from the pine for IU came when freshman Lindsay Enterline hit a 15-foot jump shot at the final buzzer.The sound marked the end of a season full of inconsistencies. The Hoosiers had a nine-game winning streak early in the year and started conference play winning seven of their first eight. Then IU went on a four-game losing streak near the season’s end. A disappointing end to the Big Ten Tournament followed, as IU lost 68-64 to Purdue, leaving it to speculate whether it would partake in the NCAA tournament.Next year the Hoosiers will be without senior Whitney Thomas, only the second in school history to collect more than 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. They will also be without Roberson, the IU record book’s all-time steals leader.Senior Amber Jackson realized her career at IU was coming to an end as she sat on the bench in the closing seconds of the game.“As the clock was going down to its last seconds, I was sad that I knew – as a senior – that is it for me and this is my last game,” she said.Legette-Jack had her most successful year at the helm of the Hoosiers, carrying IU to 21 wins for the first time since the 1997-98 season. She said it will be hard to replace such a talented and hard-working senior class.“They just stayed focused,” she said. “Normal people can’t do that. These kids are abnormal in a great way. I don’t know if were going to find those special kind of kids in such a group like that again.”
(03/27/09 4:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Senior Amber Jackson said she couldn’t even hear herself breathe – the 2,786 fans in Anderson Arena sounded more like 10,000. Despite the deafening screams, the Hoosiers captured a 75-67 victory against Bowling Green on Thursday night in the third round of the WNIT. The Hoosiers (21-10) controlled the first four minutes as they got out to a 10-2 lead. Senior Whitney Thomas, who had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Hoosiers, said the team talked before the game about getting off to a good start. “We really stressed at the beginning of the game that the first four minutes of the game were going to be very important,” she said. “We came out with a lot of energy and pressured them, and we hit some good shots.” Bowling Green (29-5) trailed by as many as 12, but cut the Hoosiers’ lead to five midway through the first half. Just when it looked like the Falcons could go on a big run to end the half, Jackson stepped up and knocked down a baseline jumper with 8 seconds left. Jackson was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to give IU a 36-25 halftime lead. IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said Jackson, who led the Hoosiers with 17 points, played well in the closing moments of the half. “That just shows her focus,” Legette-Jack said. “Amber is very focused lately, and she knows she has to play until the end.” The second half was similar to the first as the Hoosiers jumped out to a 55-45 lead at the 10:15 mark. It took less than three minutes for the Falcons to trim the gap to just two. Then junior point guard Jamie Braun made an important decision. Braun told Legette-Jack to put freshmen Ashlee Mells into the game to give IU a spark. Legette-Jack said she trusted her player. “You listen to your point guard,” she said. “This is not about me making all the decisions. It’s about us making decisions that are best for our team.” The decision paid off as Mells connected on a high-arching 3-pointer to extend the Hoosiers’ lead to 60-53. The Falcons could never get closer than within five points the rest of the game as IU hit its free throws to seal it. The Hoosiers will now battle Illinois State in the quarterfinals of the tournament at 3 p.m. Sundayt at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill. Jackson said she likes playing in environments like the one in which the Hoosiers played against Bowling Green. “It was really exciting, actually,” she said. “I would like for the fans to be for us, but I loved it, and they have a great fan base here.” The coaches on the opposing benches, after playing an intense game, had plenty of good things to say about each other’s team. Bowling Green coach Curt Miller, who worked with Legette-Jack from 1994 to 1998 when they were both assistant coaches at Syracuse, said he wishes the Hoosiers the best in the tournament. “I’m not only Felisha’s friend and former colleague,” Miller said, “I’m her biggest fan, and I truly hope they go win this.”
(03/23/09 3:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Whitney Thomas put her volleyball days at Bloomington North to good use Sunday on the basketball court.Thomas tipped in a half-court, inbound pass from senior Kim Roberson with 0.2 seconds left to give the Hoosiers (20-10) a 59-57 victory against Dayton (21-14) at Assembly Hall in the second round of the WNIT.VIDEO: IU wins with last-second shotThomas, a left-handed player who made her game-winning tip on the right side of the basket, said the play developed after a backscreen forced a guard to switch to her as she went up.“Kim threw it perfectly, so I just jumped,” Thomas said. “I didn’t see a player in front of me at all. All I saw was the ball and the basket.” The game did not end without controversy.Dayton forward Kendel Ross hit a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds left to tie the game at 57. Overtime looked like a reality after the Hoosiers gave up a nine-point lead in the last four minutes of the game.But before Thomas’ tip in, the Hoosiers had another shot at tying the game – kind of.Roberson took the ball with .6 seconds remaining, but as she shot the ball, which missed the basket, an official blew the play dead, thinking the game was over.The official mistakenly thought Roberson had to tip the ball in and could not catch and shoot, since only 0.6 second remained. With 0.3 second to go the ball must be tipped in, according to NCAA scoring and time regulations. After a short conference, the officials gave the Hoosiers the ball at half court with 0.2 seconds left.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said the play happened exactly as she drew it up, and she gave a special thank you after the game. “I want to thank all of the Bloomington North volleyball coaching for helping develop Whitney’s jumping ability,” she said. “If you look at that play, it was like everybody was in slow motion, and she was shoulders above everyone else.”The pass came from Roberson to Thomas, the two seniors who have stuck it out since their freshman year – playing for three different coaches in the process.The Hoosiers will now play Bowling Green in the third round of the tournament Thursday in Bowling Green, Ohio. Although the Roberson-to-Thomas pass eventually won the game, many players contributed to the victory.Junior point guard Jamie Braun led the Hoosiers with 16 points. Also scoring in double figures was senior Amber Jackson, who had 14 points. Sophomore Jori Davis scored 11, Thomas added 14 rebounds with her nine points and Roberson played a complete game with seven points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. The Hoosiers have had some trouble playing with leads during the season, and Sunday’s game was no different. A 53-44 lead evaporated in a span of 3:47 to a tie at 57.Jackson said she usually does not think about other games while on the court, but she said she thought about last year’s 86-81 WNIT overtime loss to James Madison after Dayton tied the game.Jackson said the team was sad to miss the NCAA tournament, but she said she and her teammates are not letting that affect their play.“We are upset and disappointed that we did not make the NCAA tournament, but we are not going to hang our heads,” she said. “We still have a lot of games left to play.” Legette-Jack, in her seven years as a head coach, had never posted 20 wins in a season until this one. She credited Thomas and Roberson for what they have done for the program and the team overall.“To receive that 20-win season on the backs of the two kids that started this whole thing off – it just makes my heart beat a little harder,” she said. “I’m so proud of this team, and we are not done yet.”
(03/13/09 4:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s basketball team started Big Ten play with seven wins in its first eight games – the best start in the program’s history.The Hoosiers’ last 12 games had very different results, as they posted a 5-7 mark. Two of those losses came against Illinois, a team that totaled only five conference victories.Now IU must wait to see if the NCAA selection committee will accept the team for a position in the tournament.While the Hoosiers’ resume has some strong points, the question remains: Will it be enough to make the big dance?IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack offered an emphatic yes earlier in the week of March 9 to the 13.“I believe we have done enough to let people know we are worthy of making the final 64,” she said.But Charlie Creme, the women’s basketball analyst for ESPN, said no in his most recent prediction on March 11. Creme listed the Hoosiers as one of the first four teams out of NCAA Tournament consideration.The Hoosiers will learn their fate March 16 at Coaches Bar and Grill when they gather to watch the NCAA selection show. The public is invited to join the festivities, set to start at 6 p.m.No matter what, the Hoosiers are guaranteed to play another game. Should IU be left out of the NCAA tournament field, it will play in the WNIT for the third consecutive season. – By Jeremy Rosenthal
(03/06/09 5:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly seven minutes into the first half, the IU women’s basketball team had not scored a point.Then freshman Lindsay Enterline hit a 3-pointer, which was followed by an increased effort by the Hoosiers (19-9). IU came back to beat Michigan 68-50 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday in Indianapolis.Sophomore captain Jori Davis said the 12-point deficit to start the game didn’t surprise her, but she said she didn’t expect the lack of intensity with which IU came out.“I was more so shocked that we had to get our energy up,” Davis said. “It was just a matter of fixing it and coming back strong.” Davis led the Hoosiers with 22 points, but the game’s turning point came when IU picked up its defensive intensity in the second half.The Hoosiers held the Wolverines scoreless for 4:58 in the second half and used a 15-0 run to capture a six-point lead, 43-37. The win will place the Hoosiers opposite in-state rival Purdue at 2 p.m. Friday for the second-round game in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.For the game, the Hoosiers forced Michigan into 22 turnovers.Senior Kim Roberson, who led the defensive effort with six steals, said IU’s defensive presence changed the game.“The pressure in the second half was pivotal for us,” she said. “It allowed us to generate offense from defense. It gave us an extra possession.”Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said his team’s inability to beat anyone off the dribble ultimately cost the Wolverines the game. While they stalled, IU capitalized on extra chances, converting easy baskets that proved vital – the Hoosiers shot only 37 percent in the first half, which included a 1-for-12 start to the game.IU improved to 46.9 percent in the second half.In addition to Davis’ productivity, Roberson and senior Amber Jackson scored 15 points apiece. Enterline also came off the bench to chip in six points.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said she is not concerned with the short recovery time going into the next game.“This is tournament time,” Legette-Jack said. “You can’t be worried about something you can’t control. It is what it is. I think we’re going to be as ready as we possibly can.”The last time IU played Purdue, the Hoosiers captured a 71-57 victory in Bloomington. If the Hoosiers want to make a strong case for making the NCAA tournament, a win tomorrow could go a long way.For Roberson, the game against Purdue is not about the rivalry.“Yeah, Purdue is our rival, but it’s tournament time,” Roberson said. “All the other stuff is extra. We’re just playing the team that’s next. It happens to be Purdue. That’s what we’re going to do: focus on Purdue – not Purdue as our rival, but Purdue as our opponent.”
(03/06/09 5:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Nearly seven minutes into the first half, the IU women’s basketball team had not scored a point.Then freshman Lindsay Enterline hit a 3-pointer, which was followed by an increased effort by the Hoosiers (19-9). IU came back to beat Michigan 68-50 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday in Indianapolis.Sophomore captain Jori Davis said the 12-point deficit to start the game didn’t surprise her, but she said she didn’t expect the lack of intensity with which IU came out.“I was more so shocked that we had to get our energy up,” Davis said. “It was just a matter of fixing it and coming back strong.” Davis led the Hoosiers with 22 points, but the game’s turning point came when IU picked up its defensive intensity in the second half.The Hoosiers held the Wolverines scoreless for 4:58 in the second half and used a 15-0 run to capture a six-point lead, 43-37. The win will place the Hoosiers opposite in-state rival Purdue at 2 p.m. Friday for the second-round game in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.For the game, the Hoosiers forced Michigan into 22 turnovers.Senior Kim Roberson, who led the defensive effort with six steals, said IU’s defensive presence changed the game.“The pressure in the second half was pivotal for us,” she said. “It allowed us to generate offense from defense. It gave us an extra possession.”Michigan coach Kevin Borseth said his team’s inability to beat anyone off the dribble ultimately cost the Wolverines the game. While they stalled, IU capitalized on extra chances, converting easy baskets that proved vital – the Hoosiers shot only 37 percent in the first half, which included a 1-for-12 start to the game.IU improved to 46.9 percent in the second half.In addition to Davis’ productivity, Roberson and senior Amber Jackson scored 15 points apiece. Enterline also came off the bench to chip in six points.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said she is not concerned with the short recovery time going into the next game.“This is tournament time,” Legette-Jack said. “You can’t be worried about something you can’t control. It is what it is. I think we’re going to be as ready as we possibly can.”The last time IU played Purdue, the Hoosiers captured a 71-57 victory in Bloomington. If the Hoosiers want to make a strong case for making the NCAA tournament, a win tomorrow could go a long way.For Roberson, the game against Purdue is not about the rivalry.“Yeah, Purdue is our rival, but it’s tournament time,” Roberson said. “All the other stuff is extra. We’re just playing the team that’s next. It happens to be Purdue. That’s what we’re going to do: focus on Purdue – not Purdue as our rival, but Purdue as our opponent.”
(03/02/09 5:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Of the 11 banners hanging from the rafters of Assembly Hall, 10 belong to the accomplishments of men’s teams.Members of the women’s basketball team said IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack does not let them forget that fact, but the current senior class might reverse that trend.Legette-Jack said she wants the tradition and legacy to be about an all-around approach.“It’s about the pursuit of championships – in the community, in the classroom and on the court,” she said. “We are taking those steps, and today was yet another step.”The Hoosiers might have saved their goal of advancing to the NCAA tournament after erasing a 15-point deficit Sunday to beat Michigan, 67-61.All four IU seniors scored in Sunday’s game.After the game concluded, the spotlight turned to the foursome: Lydia Serfling, Amber Jackson, Kim Roberson and Whitney Thomas.After the seniors exchanged hugs and stood by their jerseys, a video speech from each player played. Serfling came first.Serfling, who joined the team in her junior year after starting her IU athletic career with the track and field team, said she would miss everything about being on the team.She thanked everyone from her teammates and coaches to the security guards.Jackson said she would miss secret handshakes, shopping and speaking Spanish with various teammates. Although Jackson will soon end her basketball career at IU, she said she will not forget the experience.“This chapter of my life might be over, but these girls will remain in my heart forever,” she said.The final two seniors, Roberson and Thomas, have played for three different coaches in their time at IU. Roberson said they have always stuck together – even if Thomas did push her in a swimming pool in seventh grade.Roberson’s body is often heavily taped. Having frequently worked with athletic trainer Robert Black, she thought it fitting to thank him.“I know it was a difficult task,” Roberson said of his helping her. “But I know you will have great case studies.”Thomas said one of the things she will miss most is running into the locker room, giving high fives to kids and seeing their smiling faces.But the seniors weren’t the only ones to reflect on the impact they made on the program.Freshman Ashlee Mells said the upperclassmen have pushed her tremendously on the court and helped her off the court as well.Fans who attended the final home game of the four Hoosier seniors gave them loud applause following their post-game introductions.The attendance at the game excited Legette-Jack, who said she hopes the program will continue moving forward.“We had 5,000 fans here today,” she said. “That was fantastic. Our goal is to average that and blast it forward – and it’s all on the backs of these seniors. They started it, and now we will continue it.”
(02/27/09 5:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the IU women’s basketball team will play its final regular-season game on Sunday, they want to go much further. In her first two seasons with the Hoosiers, IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack has taken the team to the WNIT, but this year she hopes for a different scenario. “We are practicing our new moves so we can have a real good dance,” Legette-Jack said. “The party and dance that is the most significant is the NCAA, and we want to be invited to that party.” After Sunday’s game, the Hoosiers, currently sixth in conference standings, will have only the Big Ten Tournament remaining to strengthen their NCAA tournament resume. Senior Whitney Thomas said the team’s effort is important, but for her final season, she said the results are even more significant. “We want to give it all we have,” Thomas said. “That’s what we play every day for. We want to make it to the post-season. We don’t want anything less than that NCAA tournament.”
(02/20/09 6:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The first time the IU women’s basketball team played Northwestern, the Hoosiers captured a 24-point victory. On Thursday the Wildcats gave IU a tougher fight, tying the game at 58 with 8:02 left.Then, sophomore captain Jori Davis led a barrage of 3-pointers, propelling her team to an 85-67 victory in Evanston, Ill.Davis scored 25 points, a new career high. She hit 9-of-13 field goals including 5-of-6 from beyond the 3-point line.IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said Davis has been watching a lot of film lately.“When we recruited Jori, Jori was brought here to be a program-changer,” Legette-Jack said. “She has been waiting and waiting because she is a sophomore. She is waiting her turn. Her turn is now.”Davis said she tried to be more aggressive and felt more confident in her stroke after a few shots went in.“The game came out a little slow at the beginning, so I felt I was the one who had to come out and hit some shots,” she said.Davis and her teammates battled back and forth with the Wildcats in a game that had 14 ties and 11 lead changes.The Hoosiers (17-8, 10-6) shot the ball well, putting in 27 of their 49 field-goal attempts for 55.1 percent. The Wildcats (6-20, 2-13) stayed in the game with six first-half 3-pointers and shot 37.1 percent for the game.The Hoosiers, a team that always had balanced scoring, did the same against the Wildcats. In addition to the 25 points from Davis, seniors Amber Jackson and Kim Roberson had 16 points apiece, and junior Jamie Braun had 10.IU has prided itself on its defense all season, and the game against Northwestern was the same. IU held Northwestern to nine points during the last 8:02 of the game and closed on a 27-9 run over that stretch.Roberson, whom her coach calls the defensive general, had three steals to give her the most in the program’s history at 233.After snapping a four-game losing streak on Monday at Wisconsin, the Hoosiers now have some momentum. They take on Ohio State on Sunday at home.Legette-Jack said she doesn’t like to call one game bigger then another, but she said she is looking forward to Sunday’s matchup.“We are looking at an Ohio State team that has gotten better, and Ohio State is looking at an Indiana team that has gotten better, so it’s going to be a good game,” she said. “As a coach and as a team, we just want to see how much better we have got.”
(02/19/09 5:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During their recent four-game losing streak, which ended in overtime Monday at Wisconsin, the Hoosiers lost by an average of 5.7 points.IU (16-8, 9-6) will try to continue its winning ways as they take on Northwestern (6-19, 2-12) tonight in Evanston, Ill.With the Hoosiers shooting 30.1 percent during the four losses, senior Amber Jackson said she believes the shortcomings had a lot more to do with IU than its opponents.“I feel where we are now is because of how we have been playing and what we have done to ourselves, versus the other team just being better then us and flat-out beating us,” Jackson said during a recent practice. “Our backs are against the wall, but we put ourselves there, and we can definitely get ourselves out.”Despite winning for the first time in this month Monday night, the Hoosiers still remain a half-game out of fifth place in the Big Ten. If they made the No. 5 spot, it would give them a buy in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, March 5 through 8 in Indianapolis.Junior point guard Jamie Braun, who scored 20 points in front of more than 30 relatives and friends Monday night, said the team’s energy has increased after their overtime victory against the Badgers.“I think we are being hopeful right now,” Braun said. “We are hoping that things work out in a certain way – that maybe other teams will get some losses in their column. We know we have to have a good attitude to finish strong.”To capture more victories to strengthen their NCAA Tournament resume, the Hoosiers will have to do more than bring positive attitudes. They will have to put the ball in the basket.One key statistic for the team in their conference schedule has been field goal percentage. When the Hoosiers shoot over 37 percent, the team holds an 8-1 record; when they dip below the 37 percent mark, they are just 1-5.In the first game against Northwestern, which also kicked off the Big Ten schedule for the Hoosiers, IU shot 46.9 percent to claim an 81-57 victory.After tonight. Northwestern will be one of six teams the Hoosiers will have faced twice this season. On two of those occasions, teams they have beat the first time have come back to beat them the second.Senior Whitney Thomas said some of the differences between the two games are due to teams adjusting and playing the Hoosiers differently.Legette-Jack agreed but also said her team can make adjustments as well.“Yeah, they play us different,” Legette-Jack said. “We play a little different too, but any given day, that is what makes the Big Ten so fantastic – that anybody can be great and you got to finish the game, 40 minutes.”After a 7-1 start in the Big Ten, the best in the history of the program, the Hoosiers have put themselves in a difficult spot by losing four of their last six games, including two to Illinois – a team with only four total conference victories.Legette-Jack said tonight’s game is a must-win.“Our back is against the wall right now,” Legette-Jack said. “We put ourselves in a duress situation. Every game is a must-win situation right now. We have to go after Northwestern, and we have to compete to win.”
(02/17/09 5:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Kim Roberson lunged toward the sideline hoping to get a steal.Instead, she got a dislocated finger.Roberson, the defensive general for the Hoosiers, grasped her hand as she lay on the ground in a recent practice.After spending a few minutes on the sideline with trainer Robert Black, Roberson rejoined her teammates in a shooting drill.After the injury, Roberson said she was thinking about her teammates while standing on the sideline.“Just cheering my teammates on,” Roberson said. “Whether it’s being hurt or in foul trouble or my time to sit on the bench, I’m just trying to do whatever to be a team player and cheer them on, and my focus is on the game.”Roberson constantly throws her body across the court in practice and games, earning the nickname “Kamikaze Kim” for her hustle. The Indianapolis native is covered in tape but keeps fighting. IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said despite all the hurt Roberson’s body goes through, she continues to work hard.“Most people would have said ‘I’m going to shut it down,’ but not with this kid right here,” Legette-Jack said as she watched Roberson and the Hoosiers practice. “Right now you look at her face and she’s grimacing every time she catches the ball.”Some leaders are vocal, and some lead by example. Roberson does both – with humility.“Kim is a joy to have on this team,” Legette-Jack said. “She doesn’t like anybody talking about her. She doesn’t want any credit. All she wants to do is have this team become successful. Without her we are just an average team. With her spirit we always have a chance.”Perhaps Roberson should get some credit. She’s tied for the program’s single-game steals record after swiping nine last year against Wake Forrest. Roberson and teammate Whitney Thomas are racing each other for the all-time school steals record. Roberson’s 228 steals are just two shy of Thomas’, who is tied for the record.But Roberson is no slouch offensively, either, with a career high of 28 points in a game. She said she is not doing anything special, since the motto of the team is “defense.”“I think that’s the statement of our program,” she said. “That’s what we want to build our program on: hard working and always hustling and trying to dive for that loose ball. Coach Jack always uses a phrase, ‘chip a tooth’ for it, so I think that the philosophy of this program is hustle, hard work, blue collar.”What Roberson might not realize is her dedication and work ethic inspires teammates, including fellow senior Amber Jackson. “For us, it really shows the type of passion she has,” Jackson said. “It makes us want to play harder, because if someone can go through what she goes through, putting her body through all that pain and hurt, and for her to come back – that shows us we are not even hurt, so we should be giving it more just like she is every play.”Although Roberson appears to be a more quiet, lead-by-example player, she is also not afraid to speak up.If something is not clear or she sees something her team could be doing differently, she doesn’t hesitate to speak up.Legette-Jack said she sees a coach in the making with Roberson. “I’ve never learned it the way she did at this age,” Legette-Jack said. “It was after college that I picked up how to watch film. She is way ahead of the curve. She is going to be a very good coach if indeed that is the choice she makes.”Roberson said she might be interested in coaching but added she does not want to limit her possibilities.Still, coaching isn’t on Roberson’s mind as she dives across the court for a loose ball.“If you look at Kim, sometimes she is taped up from the shoulder down to her ankle,” Jackson said. “I definitely admire someone who puts their body through something like that.”
(02/17/09 5:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Senior Kim Roberson knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 53 with 1.3 seconds left in regulation.The bucket allowed the Hoosiers to break their four-game losing streak with a 67-61 overtime win Monday night at Wisconsin.Going into the play, the Hoosiers (16-8, 9-6) looked for junior point guard Jamie Braun, who had the hot-hand most of the night, but Legette-Jack said she knew Roberson had made the shot when it left her hands. “They decided to leave Kim wide open,” Legette-Jack said. “What they didn’t realize is everyone is great.” The Hoosiers have played with great balance all season, with nearly all of their starting five averaging in double-figures. Against the Badgers (15-11, 5-10), three of the starters scored in double-figures while the others had eight points each. After Roberson got them to overtime, Braun hit a 3-pointer to give IU a 60-57 lead with 1:42 remaining in the extra period.Braun, a native of Marshfield, Wis., played well in her home state, leading the Hoosiers with 20 points. Roberson played well on the defensive end, blocking the Badgers’ first shot and finishing the game with two steals. Those two steals tie her with senior Whitney Thomas and former player Jenny DeMuth for the all-time Hoosier record of 230. The Hoosier victory was the team’s first in February.During the Hoosiers’ four-game losing streak they shot 30.1 percent from the field but stayed close in games with defense.Monday night the Hoosiers shot 30.4 percent in the first half, but held Wisconsin scoreless during the last 7:05 of the half. The Hoosiers used an 8-0 run to cut an 11-point deficit down to three going into the locker room at halftime. The second half started with the Hoosiers finding the bottom of the net, putting in 14 of their 29 shots, and ended with them hitting 75 percent of their free throws. Legette-Jack said the losses have been tough for her team but also said she hopes this win will give them some confidence moving forward. “Every time you win it feels great,” she said. “This is going to give us an added boost.”
(02/16/09 5:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a day off, the Hoosiers (15-8, 8-6) returned to practice Saturday in preparation for tonight’s trip to Madison to face Wisconsin (15-10, 5-9). But the Hoosiers’ four-game losing streak still weighed on their minds.“Everybody is just disappointed,” senior Whitney Thomas said. “We want to win. This is the time of year you need to win. We want those wins, so we knew we had to get back today and work hard.”Earlier in the year, the IU women’s basketball team won nine consecutive games and seven of its first eight conference matchups.The 7-1 start in the Big Ten represented the best in the program’s history.Going 1-5 in the past six games, IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said the team will not give up.“We are going to stay true to who we are,” Legette-Jack said. “Boxing out, rebounding, playing great defense. And whatever the chips are, we are going to have to deal with them. We certainly won’t quit in the middle of the race.”Legette-Jack said there is really no reason why the team has dropped from first to sixth in the Big Ten.“No explanation,” she said. “You put the ball in the hole is the explanation. We hold a team down to 57 points, and we got to score baskets.”The stat that jumps off the page during the Hoosiers four-game losing streak is field goal percentage. In the first five games of the Big Ten schedule – a stretch in which IU went 4-1 – the team shot 45.4 percent from the field.In the last four losses, they have shot 30.1 percent.Legette-Jack said the field goal percentage is out of the team’s control. Instead, she said she would like the women to focus on defense, boxing out, running hard down the floor and increased energy.“One thing we are not going to worry about it what we can’t control,” Legette-Jack said. “Yeah, we shoot 30 percent. We certainly want to shoot 80 percent, but we’re not right now. But we are going to stay focused on our defense.”A month has passed since the Hoosiers beat the Badgers 64-61 in Bloomington. After the victory, the team had a 5-1 record in the conference, but won just three of its next eight games.For the team, with only four regular season games left, time is running out to achieve its goal: making the NCAA tournament.“Everyone is playing for keeps right now,” Thomas said. “Either you do it now or you will be watching other teams play in the post-season. Everybody needs to pick it up.”
(02/11/09 5:49am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sophomore Andrea McGuirt embodies the definition of a student-athlete.McGuirt, a guard on the women’s basketball team, is a student in the Kelley School of Business and has a 3.9 GPA. The Atlanta native came to IU for academics as well as basketball. “That definitely was a big part of my decision,” she said. “A prestigious institution and then the basketball along with it was just the total package.” IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack likes to talk about a three-pronged approach she calls C.A.B. she uses when recruiting. The letters stand for character, academics and basketball. Legette-Jack said McGuirt has great character, something she values immensely. “I know the journey is going to be long, and I like to be around good kids,” Legette-Jack said. “The character is so important, and I think that we have a tremendous amount of that on our team.” McGuirt grew up around basketball. Her father played in high school, and her uncle played overseas. She also has a cousin who played for Notre Dame’s women’s team. McGuirt played high school ball at Marist School in Atlanta. During her senior year, she averaged 15 points per game and earned nominations for the Wendy’s High School Heisman and McDonald’s All-American team. Her freshman year, McGuirt played 19 games for the Hoosiers and scored a season-total 27 points. Despite her low average, her teammates have noticed her dedication. “She is a very hard worker,” said sophomore Jori Davis. “Obviously, she is very intelligent on and off the court. She brings a lot of energy. ... She is just a good player we are going to need this year and the next coming years.” This season, McGuirt’s hard work has paid off in the form of 39 points in 20 games. At Penn State, McGuirt connected on three of three 3-pointers in a stretch when the Nittany Lions looked like they might take over the game. The Hoosiers won 84-77.Legette-Jack said McGuirt’s calm demeanor relaxes her teammates and keeps them in control. The coach also said McGuirt spends time outside of practice improving her game. “She is one of those kids that is always in the gym shooting, making shots,” Legette-Jack said. “She understands that academics come a little easier for her than the game of basketball, so she knows that she has to work on her craft, and she’s here after the last person leaves the gym every night.” The dedication McGuirt applies on the basketball court carries over to the classroom. McGuirt said she wants to attend law school after she graduates to study corporate law. She said she hopes to combine her interest in sports and business and become a sports agent. “There is life after basketball,” she said. “Preparing yourself for life after the game is over is important, but I want to do something where I can stay with basketball.”