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(04/14/05 3:23pm)
IU junior guard Bracey Wright declared he would forego his senior season and enter the NBA draft, IU coach Mike Davis said in a statement Wednesday. \n"I am excited about the possibility of playing in the NBA and it has always been a dream of mine," the 6-foot-3 Wright said in a statement. "I want to thank coach Davis and all of the assistant coaches for the things they have taught me. I also want to thank my teammates for being there for me throughout my career."\nWright has yet to sign with an agent, but is planning to do so after he finishes his course work this week. He will then withdraw from the University in preparation for the June 28 draft. \nThe NBA has a May 14 deadline for early entry candidates to declare themselves eligible for the draft, and Wright now has until June 21 to withdraw from the draft pool.\nIf Wright does not sign with an agent, NCAA rules permit him to return to IU to compete in his senior season without loss of eligibility. Once he signs with an agent, all bets are off.\n"I wanted to complete my coursework before I signed with an agent," he said. "I expect to finish that soon, and at that time I will then turn my focus toward the NBA draft and pre-draft camps."\nThe 2002 McDonald's All-American averaged 17.6 points during his three-year career during which IU went 50-42. \n"I think this is a great opportunity for Bracey, and we all wish him the best," Davis said. "Bracey has a lot of talent and will be a terrific professional player. We are going to miss him here at Indiana, but at the same time, we are excited about the players who are here and the newcomers next season."\nAdding to the transformation of next year's men's basketball team, Wright's departure comes two weeks after Pat Ewing Jr. decided to transfer from the Hoosier program.\nThe next pre-draft camp will be held in Chicago June 7-10 at Moody Bible Institute. The seniors' only Portsmouth Invitational Tournament took place April 6-9.\n"This is a decision I reached after talking with a lot of people and receiving a lot of input," Wright said. "It was a tough decision but I have thought it out very clearly and feel it is the best move for me at this time."\nThe NBA is not allowed to comment on early-entry candidates until the deadline to enroll in the draft, but Marty Blake, NBA director of scouting said an agent isn't always necessary. \n"(I'd tell Wright) do not get an agent," Blake said. "It will not help him because the people who are going to play in the NBA get by on their own, and not with the help of an agent."\nHe also said that Stu Jackson, NBA senior vice president of basketball operations, and an "astute" group of NBA insiders sit down and help college players determine their possible draft status. However he said nothing is guaranteed.\nWright was named an All-American honorable mention by rivals.com this season after leading the Big Ten in scoring with 18.3 points per game, and captaining the Hoosiers to a 15-14 record. He finishes his career at IU in 15th place on the Hoosiers all-time scoring list. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(04/13/05 5:39am)
Who's down with O.P.P.? ZBT.\nBypassing the new-school, young rap stars of today, Zeta Beta Tau fraternity will play host to old-school rap nostalgia with a Naughty By Nature concert Friday in its parking lot on North Jordan Avenue.\nThis year will be the third time in four years ZBT has held a Little 500 concert. Last year Bone Thugs-n-Harmony performed, and in 2002 Fabolous graced the stage. \nThe doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, said Brian Nessel, ZBT member and concert coordinator. But the group won't take the stage until 8:30 p.m. at the latest and will be preceded by DJ Spitz from New York. Tickets are $15 in advance, and could possibly be raised to $20 at the door, with all proceeds benefiting the Riley Hospital for Children, he said.\n"As I see it, it's the night before the race," Nessel said. "The cops are out everywhere. It's a good alternative for kids who are underage, and not even that, just to come out and have fun, listen to live music and have fun with their friends."\nBest known for their 1991 hit "O.P.P.," Naughty By Nature was formed in 1986 with MCs Treach, Vinnie and DJ Kay Gee, all of whom will make the trip to Bloomington. \nAccording to www.allmusic.com, Kay Gee split from the group in 2002 to pursue other career options, but Treach and Vinnie came out with their latest album, "Iicons," in early 2002. But the most recent compilation of all three original members dropped in 1999 with "Nineteen Naughty Nine: Nature's Fury." \nZBT President Jeff Spector said the draw of Naughty By Nature is the band's age.\n"We feel that the more old-school-type rap artists have a bigger draw than the new school," he said. "They're proven and not just a one-hit wonder."\nZBT chose the group over the likes of Coolio and Boyz II Men because of the guarantee of a solid show by Naughty By Nature, Nessel said.\n"The reason why we chose (Naughty By Nature) is because they are a well-established group, been around for a while, and they put on a killer show. And they play for over an hour," he said.\nAbout 2,000 people are expected at the concert, but about 600 tickets have been sold, Nessel said. The task of preparing for a concert isn't easy, but ZBT has experience coordinating past events.\nSpector said this year's performance will top previous ZBT Little 500 shows.\n"I think this show will be just as good, if not better, than the other ones," Spector said. "I think that so far from the ticket sales that I've heard of, it will just be as good, if not better."\nFor sophomore Lyndsey Tollifson, going to the concert will be more for social purposes than for the music. But she said she does know a few of their songs.\n"I guess it's more of a social event rather than go see the group perform," she said. "It's just to be a part of the events of the Little 5."\nComing to the show for reasons other than the music is fine with ZBT. Nessel and Spector said it will be a safe alternative to the temptations of Little 500 week, and they will try to keep students out of trouble with the law. But on top of that, it's benefiting a good cause.\n"It's not for profit. It's for charity," Spector said. "It just shows that we want to do something for someone other than ourselves and show students a good time."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/31/05 5:56am)
Eight days after Mike Davis was retained as head coach of the Hoosiers, the team's look has begun to change.\nSophomore Pat Ewing Jr. has decided to transfer from IU after the academic year, IU coach Mike Davis announced Wednesday.\nThe 6-foot-8 forward said he wants to go somewhere he can play more.\n"I've spent a lot of time with my family and given this decision a lot of thought, and I feel it is in my best interests to pursue my education and basketball career at another school," Ewing said in a statement. \nThis season Ewing averaged 4 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per game and started five of the 29 games he played. He had a career high Feb. 12 against Minnesota with 15 points. \nEwing declined to comment Wednesday evening while playing a pickup basketball game at the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation gymnasium. \nNext season the IU frontcourt will be stocked with bodies, as the Hoosiers will add three frontcourt players -- Auburn University transfer Marco Killingsworth and recruits Ben Allen and Joey Shaw -- in addition to having Big Ten Freshman of the Year D.J. White, classmate Robert Vaden, junior Sean Kline and freshman Lucas Steijn.\nDuring his freshman year, Ewing set his career high in rebounds with 12 and started in nine games of the 28 he played in. He finished the 2003-04 season averaging 2.8 ppg and 3.6 rpg.\nHis next school has not been announced. Ewing is the son of 11-time all-star Patrick Ewing, who starred at Georgetown, played for the New York Knicks and now is an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets.\nThe younger Ewing was best known for his athleticism and dunks that would electrify the Assembly Hall crowds.\n"Pat is an exceptional athlete with a lot of potential, and we're disappointed to see him go," Davis said. "We wish him nothing but the best."\nAccording to www.rivals.com, Ewing was offered scholarships to Texas, Georgetown and DePaul, in addition to IU, in 2003 when he was a senior at National Christian Academy in Maryland. The previous season, he played at Marietta High School in Marietta, Ga.\nEwing is the only member of his recruiting class remaining at IU, and he has experienced the Hoosiers' two NCAA Tournament-less seasons. Still, Ewing understands the history of playing at IU.\n"I would like to thank coach Davis for the chance to play at a storied program like Indiana," Ewing's statement read, "and I appreciate how coach Davis and the other coaches worked with me both on and off the court." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/23/05 5:37am)
It's official.\nMike Davis will return to Bloomington next season as head coach of the IU men's basketball team, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan formally announced Tuesday morning in a press release. \nDavis' return brings raised expectations not just from the public and the University, but also from Greenspan and IU President Adam Herbert.\n"Given its tradition and success, men's basketball is our most visible sport and will continue to be held to the same top standard," Greenspan said in a statement. "Mike Davis is the Indiana basketball coach. Coach Davis and I have reviewed every facet of the program, and we are both committed to returning Indiana basketball to the level to which Indiana is accustomed and to which we aspire."\nGreenspan and Davis met numerous times during the past week to review the coach's body of work, which Greenspan said includes the entire season, the off-court performance of the Hoosiers, as well as rules compliance, academic performance, recruiting and program management.\nGreenspan then reported to Herbert about Davis and the program.\n"I have had several conversations with Rick and coach Davis and agree with their assessments, as well as the goals they have established to restore a winning tradition to Indiana basketball," Herbert said in a statement. "The extended Hoosier family expects and deserves no less."\nComing off a 15-14 season and a loss in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, all eyes were on Davis last week, both locally and nationally, to see whether or not he would survive the firestorm of criticism from the past two seasons.\nThough some of his players questioned the need for the media attention because Davis is still under contract and should be expected to return, he knows the pressure that will come next season.\n"I am fully aware of the high standard of excellence set for this program," Davis said in the statement. "I understand the goals and accept full responsibility of achieving these objectives. I think that our non-conference slate and our success in Big Ten play have only helped our basketball team to grow and mature. The future of Indiana basketball is certainly bright, and I am excited to be a part of it."\nDavis is in his fifth year as IU head coach after taking over for former IU coach Bob Knight, who was fired in 2000 after violating former IU President Myles Brand's "zero tolerance" policy. Davis is in the third year of a six-year contract that expires June 30, 2008. Davis will receive a one-time performance-based bonus of $300,000 on July 1. \nDuring the past two seasons, Davis has a 29-29 record, with zero NCAA Tournament appearances -- something Greenspan said needed to change.\n "This is why we have set ambitious and achievable goals for next season of competing at a very high level in the Big Ten Conference and successfully competing in the NCAA Tournament," Greenspan said. \nGreenspan, who said throughout the season that every game was an interview for Davis, fired former IU football coach Gerry DiNardo Dec. 1 after his third consecutive losing season. \nBy remaining as head coach, Davis' 2005-06 team will feature the same group of talented freshmen that includes Big Ten Freshman of the Year D.J. White in addition to Auburn transfers Marco Killingsworth and Lewis Monroe, and recruits Joey Shaw from Phoenix and Ben Allen of Australia.\nBut despite the growing expectations for next year from the Hoosier faithful, the administration will be looking for an improvement on the past two seasons.\n"A number of our programs are nationally ranked," Greenspan said, "and we expect our basketball program to compete at the highest level as well."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/22/05 5:34am)
IU coach Mike Davis will return next season to coach the Hoosiers, a source in the athletics department said Monday.\nThe official announcement will come today in the form of a press release, IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said. However Greenspan refused to comment further.\nA voice mail was left Monday evening for Davis, but he did not return the phone call at press time.\nDavis is currently in the third year of his six-year contract, which ends June 30, 2008, paying him $225,000 per year.\nBy returning, Davis stands to receive a $300,000 one-time bonus July 1. \nThe debate surrounding the third-year head coach climaxed last week. Davis is just six days removed from a season-ending loss to Vanderbilt in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday, which capped a 15-14 year, and a 29-29 two-year span. \nIU Trustees President Fred Eichhorn said he is looking forward to hearing that Davis will return next season.\n"If that is announced, I think it will be a good thing," Eichhorn said. "I think coach Davis has earned the opportunity to present his next team, which I think will be pretty sensational."\nDespite being invited to the NIT, the Hoosiers missed the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. \nIU junior guard Bracey Wright said the circus surrounding Davis got old this year, and he was looking forward to it moving on.\n"It's good (he's coming back)," he said. "Last year, (IU) went through all this stuff with keeping him. They went through all this drama. This year was the same thing. They need to not keep doing it every year."\nWright, who has his own cloud of speculation around him regarding a possible jump to the NBA, said he would have missed Davis, but not from the standpoint of losing a coach. He said he considers Davis "a friend of mine more than anything basketball related."\nWright was part of Davis' first star-studded recruiting class at IU -- players who will be seniors next season. But many say the 2005-06 Hoosiers are one of the top teams in the country featuring senior transfers Marco Killingsworth and Lewis Monroe from Auburn, and recruits Joey Shaw from Phoenix and Ben Allen of Australia.\nWright said "in a way" he was surprised that Greenspan is bringing Davis back, but admitted the finances didn't seem feasible.\n"He has three years left on his contract, and it's a lot of money to pay somebody to let them go," Wright said. "They just let (former IU football coach Gerry) DiNardo go. It wouldn't have been good to let (Davis) go."\nHowever, the past five seasons almost never happened.\nIn a Sporting News Radio interview Saturday, former IU coach and current Texas Tech coach Bob Knight said the IU administration brought the current situation with Davis upon itself.\n"(IU) created that for themselves. The guy that's coaching there is a guy that I told Pat (Knight, his son) we were going to replace at the end of the season," Knight said of Davis. "There's no way that I would have kept the guy any longer than that. That's their problem."\nWright said the naysayers can keep talking about how Davis should not coach at IU, but it will not affect his feelings toward Davis.\n"They can say whatever they want," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/21/05 6:14am)
One year after the University passed the athletics fee without student approval, the student-run Committee for Fee Review recommended not to renew the athletics fee before spring break.\nThe $30 fee would have provided about $1.1 million to the athletics department to help fund the 22 non-revenue IU sports. IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan was let down by the committee's recommendation but understands the process is not finished.\n"I was disappointed by the initial reading of it from the students," he said. "As I said very candidly, we asked all of our constituents for help financially, as well as the understanding that we've got to drive ourselves toward self-sufficiency. And we've asked that of our administration, we've asked that of our donors, we've asked that of our alums. So it was disappointing to see, but I'd like to think that there's still some good campus debate on it."\nIn its report, the CFR stated that the athletics department's "budgetary justification" was "insufficient to command a fee for all students." In its presentation to the CFR, Greenspan alluded to other ways his department was bringing in money including corporate sponsorships, costs being soaked up by the University and an annually increasing endowment. \nAs a member of the CFR, former Residential Halls Services President John Palmer said the committee couldn't find a service the athletics department was producing for the students.\n"Basically, we were trying to make sure there was an evident service being produced to students, and in the case of athletics, being temporarily instituted last year, there would not be the idea of an evident return to students," he said.\nPalmer said the CFR looked for a proposal that would give the students their money's worth, and in Greenspan's presentation, it did not see that.\nNow that the CFR has made its recommendations, the next step in the process is for Dean of Students Richard McKaig to review the recommendations for all 14 mandatory student fees -- of which the athletics fee was the only one to not receive funding -- and pass it on to IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis for final review. He then sends it to the trustees for a final vote.\nBut Palmer said that what was recommended by the CFR might not be what gets passed by the trustees.\n"The trustees can overrule. They can do whatever they want," Palmer said. "These are strictly recommendations. Historically they haven't (overruled them). We hope our recommendations are what get passed."\nFred Eichhorn, president of the IU board of trustees, said he understood why the students recommended the way they did, but he also said the University needs to supply the athletic department with funding. \n"We have to fund athletics and we either fund the full expenses or we start cutting things," Eichhorn said.\nHe went on to say it is possible for his group to overrule the recommendation by the CFR, but he wasn't sure what it will do. Besides advertising, Eichhorn listed other ways to come up with the $1.1 million that will be lost if the trustees accept the recommendation. \n"There might be some places to pick up small portions of it, but some things might have to be cut," Eichhorn said. "Probably male, non-revenue sports. We are mandated by federal law to increase the participation of the female sports, so we could balance perhaps, which no one wants to do, by cutting noon revenue male sports." \nHe said he doesn't know which sports will be cut, if it gets to that. Of the 24 varsity sports at IU, 22 are non-revenue sports. \nAs the process continues, Palmer said the CFR will reconvene this week to put the final vote on their recommendations. And while that continues, Greenspan said he will not talk to the trustees because that is IU President Adam Herbert's job.\n"Certainly, if the fee does not materialize, that million or $1.1 (million) has implications on the solvency of our program. So we'll have to shift and adjust if we don't receive that fee," he said.\nIf the athletics department does not receive the $1.1 million, Greenspan will have to re-evaluate his plan.\n"We haven't gotten that far," he said. "We'll look at it."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/21/05 5:14am)
If Hoosier fans were displeased at IU not making the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, they showed it Wednesday night.\nIU took on Vanderbilt in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament in front of a record low crowd of 5,113 in the 17,257-capacity Assembly Hall -- the smallest crowd ever to watch a game in the 33-year history of the building. The previous low was 7,249 Jan. 3, 1999, against Illinois. \nAs of the day before the game, only about 4,500 tickets were sold. But IU officials weren't expecting a large turnout because of spring break and the majority of students being out of town.
(03/21/05 5:07am)
No one was surprised when the topic came up.\nAfter Wednesday night's 67-60 loss to Vanderbilt in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament, IU coach Mike Davis addressed the media with a glum look on his face, knowing his Hoosiers won't have a chance to play in Madison Square Garden for the NIT title -- what could have been a reviving end to a rollercoaster season. \nBut it was on question No. 4 that the flood gates opened.\n'What is the time table…'\nThe question wasn't finished before Davis answered.\n"The only people that talk about my future are you guys," Davis said to the media.\nAfter finishing 15-14 (29-29 during the last two seasons) and not making the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, the grumble coming from the Hoosier Faithful has peaked. \nBut Davis' future is still in the balance -- and will be this week. \nDavis meets with IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan every Tuesday to just talk -- and this week will be no different, Davis said Wednesday night. \nGreenspan has been sticking to his story all season long, saying that every game is an interview for Davis. \nThe pair will sit down sometime in the near future to discuss Davis' "body of work," which consists of the entire season.\nWith rumors circulating about Davis' future, Fred Eichhorn, president of the IU board of trustees, said there has not been a meeting scheduled with Greenspan for today or this week.\nEichorn said personally, he likes Davis a lot, and will wait for the administrative review to determine the coach's fate.\n"I think his team improved," Eichorn said. "I think his prospects for next year are much greater. When I talk about the team, I talk about him being the head coach and his recruits."\nAfter starting out rocky with a six-game losing streak, the Hoosiers turned around what could have been an explosive season, going undefeated at home in Big Ten play, and finishing fourth in the conference. Many thought after the regular season ended, Davis' job was secure for at least another year. But after losing to Minnesota in their first game of the Big Ten Tournament, and then losing to Vanderbilt in the first round of the NIT at home, Davis' future is in question again.\n"My job is day-to-day," Davis said Wednesday.\nAfter Wednesday's loss, one peeved fan yelled from his East Main seats, "Do the right thing Greenspan."\nIf Davis remains coach of IU beyond July 1, he will get a $300,000 bonus. If Davis resigns before July 1, he will have to pay IU $250,000. \nIf Davis were to be terminated by IU, the University would have to pay Davis $225,000 -- his base salary -- for every year remaining on his contract. \nBut all the talk Wednesday wasn't just about Davis.\nProspects of jumping to the NBA loomed over junior Bracey Wright last year, but an early season back injury curtailed any possible plans of leaving, this injury-free year put the NBA back into the limelight. \n"Right now, we're not talking about that stuff," Wright said in response to a question about whether or not he will return.\nWhen asked specifically about him leaving IU, Wright didn't say much.\n"I ain't answering that," he said.\nDavis told ESPN's Andy Katz Thursday morning that he expects Wright to declare for the NBA Draft, but that doesn't mean he can't return to IU.\nNCAA rules would allow Wright to enter the draft without signing with an agent, and if he is not drafted he can return to IU within 30 days. \nIn response to being asked so much about whether or not Wright will be at IU next year, Davis shot back.\n"We face so many questions about when the guys play well, are they coming out? It's unbelievable," he said. "Bracey is a good player for us. And I think he would be better next year, when we have a guy like Marco Killingsworth, somebody that can play and do some things."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/21/05 5:07am)
CHICAGO -- With their NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, the Hoosiers played like they were on a sandy beach and watched their post-season wash away like the tide.\nIn the Big Ten tourney, eight Hoosiers emerged from the locker room in the United Center March 11 with shaved heads in hopes of locking up a bid for The Big Dance. Led by barber Marshall Strickland, the team followed sophomore Rod Wilmont's lead in an attempt to mirror assistant coach Kerry Rupp. \nBut the hairless Hoosiers still gave a lackluster performance against Minnesota in the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago, losing 71-55.\nIU was led by a double-double from Big Ten Freshman of the Year D.J. White -- but it wasn't enough as the Gophers persisted through senior center Jeff Hagen's foul trouble. Junior guard Bracey Wright added 14 points in the defeat. \n"It's real frustrating. The way we played against them in our place -- it was like we were playing a different team," Strickland said after the Minnesota loss. "I guess that's the fun part about college basketball -- on any given day, anyone can beat anyone."\nThe loss capped any hope of an NCAA bid, as the team found out Sunday evening when they didn't hear their name called in the field of 65. \nBeing left out of the Big Dance gave the Hoosiers an opportunity to get more games under their belt in the National Invitation Tournament. \nDisappointed they didn't make it, the Hoosiers let the talk of not making it to the tournament get to their heads.\n"Everybody always talks about who's not making the NCAA, and that's what all the talk was around here," Wright said.\nIU played host to Vanderbilt Wednesday in first-round NIT action, but the hangover from not making the NCAA Tournament was evident.\nA record-setting low crowd of 5,113 showed up to see the Hoosiers lose 67-60 to the Commodores, ending the 2004-05 campaign with a 15-14 record.\nDespite three Hoosiers scoring in double figures Wednesday, IU came out more uninspired than the team was against Minnesota, and it showed in the sloppy play. From top to bottom, IU couldn't catch passes, run the offense or combat the Commodores presence in Assembly Hall. The loss snapped the Hoosiers' 10-game winning streak on Branch McCracken Court.\n"We tried to prepare the best we could for this game," Davis said. "I think we did a poor job of getting our guys ready to play. I think the toughest thing sometimes is to play through disappointment. To play in the NIT is a great opportunity to be still playing basketball. We tried to motivate our guys about other teams that lost last night at home. Home court wasn't the key; it was the mindset. I did a poor job of getting our guys ready and excited to play NIT."\nThe Hoosiers were led by Wright's 17 points, in what could have been his last game in an IU uniform. Freshman Robert Vaden chipped in with 13, and Strickland contributed 10 in the losing effort. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/17/05 6:33am)
Somewhere, the NCAA Selection Committee was sitting Wednesday night shaking their head, knowing they made the right decision.\nAll debate, all questions, all what-ifs were laid to rest as the Hoosiers proved why they weren't pretty enough to be in the round of 65 with a 67-60 loss to Vanderbilt at home in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. \nIn front of a crowd of 5,113 -- 12,144 below Assembly Hall's capacity -- IU trailed for all 40 minutes, making the Commodores look like the NCAA-worthy team they claimed to be.\nThe loss caps the Hoosiers' season at 15-14 -- one game better than where they ended last year. Despite the loss, all focus after the game was aimed at whether or not IU coach Mike Davis and Bracey Wright would be back next season.\nAs for the question about Wright returning to a Hoosier squad that many have predicted as a top 25 team next year, he remained mum.\nWright finished with 17 points and four rebounds, leading all IU scorers. \nThe Hoosiers were lit up by senior Commodore Corey Smith, who shot 8-14 en route to 25 points.\nThe Hoosiers' lackluster performance carried over from their poor showing in the Big Ten tournament, where they lost to Minnesota by 16 points. Wright said the Hoosiers fell into the NIT mindset -- that of playing in a second tier tournament. \n"Everybody always talks about who's not making the NCAA, and that's what all the talk was around here," he said. \nWhen asked if IU didn't come out for this game, Wright was blunt with his answer.\n"It looked like it, didn't it?" he said. "Yeah it did." \nDespite the dull effort on the court by the Hoosiers, Davis took all the blame for their loss. \n"We tried to prepare them the best we could for this game, but I thought we did a poor job of getting our guys ready to play," Davis said.\nDavis said he and his staff talked about the home upsets in the NIT, that saw the likes of Notre Dame, Missouri and Marquette go down in the early rounds. \n"We tried to motivate our guys about other teams that lost last night at home, knowing that having home court wasn't really the key, it was the mindset. I did a poor job just getting our guys ready and excited about the NIT," he said.\nIU finished the game shooting a dismal 37.5 percent from the field, which included 22.2 percent from behind the arc.\nWright's help Wednesday came from freshman Robert Vaden and Marshall Strickland, who scored 13 and 10 points respectively. \n"They're a really tough team," Strickland said. "They kind of beat us up today."\nDespite all the bullying Strickland talked about, both teams came out even on the rebounding scale with 32 a piece. \nThe loss broke the Hoosiers 10 game home winning streak, dating back to the win over Oral Roberts New Years Eve. Even Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings couldn't believe his team came into Assembly Hall and left victorious.\n"It's not often you get to come here and experience victory," he said.
(03/17/05 6:31am)
No one was surprised when it came up.\nAfter Wednesday night's 67-60 loss to Vanderbilt, IU coach Mike Davis addressed the media with a glum look on his face, knowing his Hoosiers won't have a chance to play in Madison Square Garden -- what could have been a reviving ending to a rollercoaster of a season. \nBut it was on question number four that the flood gates opened.\n'What is the time table…'\nThe question wasn't over before Davis answered.\n"The only people that talk about my future are you guys," Davis told the assembled media. \nDavis meets with IU Athletic Director Rick Greenspan every Tuesday to just talk -- and this week will be no different he said. \nGreenspan has been sticking to his story all season long, saying that every game is an interview for Davis. \n"My job is day to day," Davis said.\nAfter last season's 14-15 record, the Hoosier Faithful called for Davis' firing, with their reason being that Davis has brought down the IU program.\nAfter Wednesday's loss, one peeved fan yelled from his East Main seats, "Do the right thing Greenspan."\nBut all the talk wasn't just on Davis.\nWith the NBA looming over Bracey Wright last year, but an early season back injury curtailing any possible plans of leaving after his sophomore year, this year put those three letters back into the limelight. \n"Right now, we're not talking about that stuff," Wright said in response to a question about whether or not he will be playing for Davis next year -- a question that could be taken in two senses.\nWhen asked specifically about him leaving IU, Wright didn't say much.\n"I ain't answering that," he said.\nIn response to being asked so much about whether or not Wright will be here next year, Davis shot back.\n"We face so many questions about when the guys play well, are they coming out…It's unbelievable," he said. "Bracey is a good player for us. And I think he would be better next year, when we have a guy like Marco Killingsworth, somebody that can play and do some things."\nWhether or not Davis or Wright will be back next year is still unseen, but no time table by either Davis or Greenspan has been set.
(03/12/05 12:21am)
CHICAGO -- Headbands were the fashion of choice to start the season, but two near losses nixed that idea. \nThen IU went to the traditional headdress of basketball players -- nothing -- and that worked, giving them a fourth seed in this weekends Big Ten tournament. \nBut the bright idea of Rod Wilmont to shave his head ended the Hoosiers season Friday afternoon with a 71-55 loss against Minnesota at the United Center in Chicago. \nEight Hoosiers put a 'Bic' to their scalps Thursday afternoon with the exception of Bracey Wright and Pat Ewing Jr., but even the aerodynamics of a coach Kerry Rupp-like look couldn't help the woes of the Hoosiers. \n"It was kind of everybody following Wilmont's lead," said guard Marshall Strickland about the shaved heads. "Wilmont kept talking about Jordan, because we were coming to the United Center, and a bunch of us were hanging out with him and we decided to do it also. It was a fun thing."\nTrying to keep those bald heads warm was a struggle because of the chilly United Center temperature, but the Hoosiers' shooting was colder.\nTheir troubles started on the free throw line and continued to the rest of the court, shooting 55 percent from the line, making 11 of 20 foul shots.\n"Everybody was out there playing as hard as they could, and just free throws killed us though," Wilmont said. "That's what I think the big part of it was, free throws killed us."\nWhen they weren't shooting foul shots, IU shot a dismal 33.3 percent from the field, taking long three's and coming up short on many of their drives.\n"I felt like I should have been attacking the basket more, instead settling for jump shots, but I think all of us should have been doing that," freshman Robert Vaden said.\nHe said once the team realize its shots weren't falling, it should have drove more and taken the ball to the hoop.\nBut before the poor shooting began, Ewing Jr. said he saw the lack of energy in his team. \n"You can tell from the jump, seeing that we were a little sluggish," he said.\nWhen asked where the team's sense of urgency was Friday, Vaden said the Hoosiers forgot it somewhere.\n"I don't know," he said. "I guess we left it in the locker room."\nTrying to shoot themselves out of the slump, IU coach Mike Davis looked to his bench to bring a sense of urgency and productivity to the lineup, but none came.\nFreshman James Hardy came off the pine to score the only two bench points IU had all game with 3:27 left in the game. \nHe said the bench isn't heavily looked upon to put points on the board, but that everyone -- starters and the bench -- had good shots that weren't falling.\n"Everyone just comes in and plays," Hardy said. "Whoever scores, scores. Besides the starters, they're going to get the most playing time. They're going to get the most shots. But as coming off the bench players, we just try to come in and bring fire to the team, the best way that we can. And if we score points whole we're doing that, then so be it"
(03/10/05 5:16am)
Everett Dean, say thank you.\nMike Davis, say thank you, too.\nBranch McCracken, say thanks.\nOh, and Bob Knight, you too. \nSay thank you to Amos Alonzo Stagg for bringing basketball to the Big Ten.\nThe same Stagg who is better known for his excellence in football at the University of Chicago and started that school playing basketball in 1894 -- 11 years before the Big Ten conference began its basketball league. One hundred years later the Big Ten is going strong, having made its mark as one of the best conferences in college basketball over the past century. \nAs the game matured throughout the Midwest, going from seven players per team on the court down to five, and working out the kinks of Stagg's colleague and friend, Dr. James Naismith's original rules, the closer the Big Ten came to its birth in basketball. \nIn 1896, the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives converted into what is now the Big Ten Conference and then featured Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois and Stagg's Chicago. IU and Iowa joined the Big Ten in 1899 and were followed by Ohio State in 1912. But it wasn't until 1905 that the official Big Ten basketball league commenced with those 10 teams. \nDespite being known now for its power in college basketball it took IU a little while to get into the swing of things. \nMore than 20 years after the birth of the Big Ten, the Hoosiers finally got on the board with its first league title, a four-way tie with Michigan, Purdue and Iowa, in 1926.\nTwo years later, the Hoosiers captured their second Big Ten crown in three years -- but that would be the last conference trophy to visit Bloomington for a long time. \nTwenty-five years long, to be exact.\nIn 1953, IU started their dominance in the current era of Big Ten teams, which included Chicago disbanding its football program in 1939 and subsequently dropping out of the conference in 1949 -- the same year that Michigan State joined the group, making the Big Ten only nine teams. \nThe Hoosiers captured that 1953 league title, led by Big Ten Most Valuable Player Don Schlundt, who also paved the way for the Hoosiers second national championship that same season.\nA year later, IU notched its second consecutive conference crown and from there, the Hoosiers won three more league titles until the 1970s.\nThe dominance IU started in the 1970s helped secure the Hoosiers' place in Big Ten lore, something IU coach Mike Davis says is synonymous with the conference.\n"I think Indiana is the Big Ten," he said. "When you talk about Big Ten basketball, the first school that comes to mind is Indiana. And there's some other schools that's really doing well here lately, but when you go back all the way back, when you talk about basketball now, you really think Indiana when you hear the Big Ten."\nIU secured its legacy alongside Kentucky, North Carolina and UCLA in the 1970s, with domination of not just the Big Ten, but the country in whole.\nStarting in 1973, in today's words, it was on.\nBetween '73 and 2005, IU won 12 Big Ten titles, including a stretch of four consecutively from 1973-76. During that span, the Hoosiers went 79-5 in league play, including back-to-back undefeated, 18-0 seasons in 1975 and 1976. But their run of dominance ended on a pedestal and has yet to be knocked off.\nStill known as "the greatest college basketball team of all time," the 1976 Bob Knight coached Hoosiers ran the table, finishing 32-0, winning their fourth Big Ten title and the NCAA Championship. That was the last undefeated season in college basketball. \nAfter the likes of Tom Abernathy, Quinn Buckner, James Crew, Scott May and Bobby Wilkerson left Bloomington after that historic season, it took the Hoosiers three seasons to get back on track in their winning ways. Starting in 1980, with Isiah Thomas running the point, the Hoosiers caught fire again, winning that year's Big Ten crown and came back the next year with another league win and their fourth NCAA title March 31, 1981 -- the day former-President Ronald Reagan was shot. Giving another team a chance to take the 1982 championship, IU came back in 1983 by topping the league for the 14th time. Once again, a few years separated championship streaks.\nStarting back up again in 1987, the Hoosiers took home yet another Big Ten title, and with the help of Keith Smart, IU captured the '87 NCAA title, putting up their fifth banner in Assembly Hall. From there, the conference crown sat upon the Hoosiers head every other year until 1993, when the Hoosiers had a 17-1 Big Ten record, their first zero or one loss season since 1976. \nThat would be the last Big Ten championship of Bob Knight's career, as the reign of the Big Ten's winningest coach ended in 2000 with his firing. \nFor Hoosier star Bracey Wright, the Big Ten isn't something new to him, but it wasn't what he followed when he was a youngster in Texas.\n"Growing up, I didn't really keep up much with the Big Ten," he said. "The conference I was really into was the Big 12, being from Texas, and the Pac-10 and stuff like that. But the Big Ten has a lot of history and a lot of great players have come through here, a lot of great teams. And obviously with the tradition it has with the teams in here, it's something special."\nHowever, coach Davis didn't let the Hoosier tradition down as he took home the 2002 title in a four-way tie and returned the Hoosiers to Big Ten greatness.\nAfter that 2002 title, the Hoosiers went on to play in the NCAA title game, losing to Maryland. But to this year's freshmen class, just sophomores in high school that year, the Final Four is their most recent big IU memory.\n"When IU went to the Final Four in 2002, I feel that was the biggest moment, right there," said freshman Robert Vaden about the Hoosiers' biggest moment he can remember.\nBeing a Big Ten coach, Davis said the great tradition of the conference and the fans is what makes the Big Ten so great.\n"It's definitely` an honor to be in a conference that the attendance is always good, no matter where you go," he said. "I've been around a lot of conferences and watched a lot of conferences, and this is by far, from top to bottom, as far as attendance and excitement of it, is pretty good."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/09/05 6:12am)
He's your typical IU point guard.\nHe's 6-feet-2-inches tall, about 195 pounds, has the quickness of a jaguar and the hands of a surgeon.\nWith his mind constantly working, thinking two steps ahead of everyone else, his smile can electrify a crowd.\nAnd that's only in the biology lab.\nFor Marshall Strickland, the basketball court isn't the only place he's able to showcase his skills.\nThe junior from Winfield, Md., is not only the Hoosiers' leader on the court, he's a budding scientist off it. Unlike many of his teammates who are pursuing sports-related majors in telecommunication and the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, Strickland has carried over his high school passion to college. Majoring in biology, Strickland has found an academic home where he can keep up a childhood curiosity.\n"It was just always something I was interested in," he said. "In high school I was in (Advanced Placement) science classes. I was kind of in the nerdy group in a way, but I was an athlete so I hung out with those guys, and it kind of grew on me."\nAttending South Carroll High School in Sykesville, Md., Strickland developed a passion for the sciences, which has stuck with him ever since.\n"We had the athletes and the really, really smart kids, and I was a mixture," Strickland said about high school.\nBut his dual role didn't stop at high school graduation. He's been wearing both hats -- one for the biology department and one for the men's basketball team -- during his three years of college.\nAs every other student-athlete has to handle both school and sports, Strickland faces a little more work because of the nature of his major.\n"It's a challenge all the time," he said. "You just have to know when to pick your shots -- when you're going to try to get an 'A' and when you're going to try to get a 'B'."\nAnn Bednarski, an academic adviser in the biology department, said in her two years she's seen athletes from women's basketball to track to crew come through, but never men's basketball. She went on to talk about the difficulties Strickland faces because he is an athlete in the sciences.\n"Him being an athlete takes a lot of discipline," Bednarski said. "And him being a biology major also takes a lot of discipline. Both are very difficult things to do while in college. I think it tends to be fairly rare with high profile sports like basketball and football. It tends to take a lot of time and has a tendency to be hard to balance the time."\nBut Strickland said he's been juggling the biology and basketball duet for a long time, so he's used to multi-tasking. If he wasn't a basketball player, he would be able to make all A's, the junior said.\nAs part of getting his bachelor's of arts in biology, he has to take a slew of chemistry classes, which he said are by far his toughest courses. But that is all part of what draws him to biology. \n"I love ... I don't know," Strickland said undecidedly. "The cells, the molecular level of it. Just talking about medicine and the body's immune system and stuff like that."\nWith that bachelor's degree he is set to receive next May, Strickland might not take his career on the science path. Having discussed the possibly of practicing medical law with his friends, he has put that path into his possible plans for post-graduation. But if law school doesn't work out, can Hoosiers see a Dr. Strickland? He said it's a possibility, but only if he can be an orthopedic surgeon.\nBut for now, soon after turning 22, Strickland has other things to concentrate on, such as midterms and the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. If working to get to the NCAA Tournament is hard, then working on that biology homework on the way to the NCAA Tournament might be just as hard.\n"It's real tough as the season gets really serious," Strickland said of the work load. "You have to kind of prioritize and you may not do as well as you know you can, but that's what comes along with it."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/07/05 5:03am)
Overshadowed by a career night from sophomore Rod Wilmont, the Hoosiers' three seniors walked out of their last game in Assembly Hall with a win.\nSetting a career high in points and three pointers in the first half, Wilmont, a Miramar, Fla. native, finished with 20 points and six rebounds, leading IU to a 77-55 win over Northwestern.\n"(Wilmont) stepped up in a big way," said junior guard Bracey Wright. "He hit some threes. He got hot early, so I told (IU) coach (Mike) Davis at halftime we should continue to go to him and ride his hand. He came up big for us."\nAfter making his first five 3-pointers and a free throw to finish the first 20 minutes with 16 points in 14 minutes, Wilmont hit two layups in the second half to finish with 20. \n"I know a lot of people have asked me why I've started Roderick," said IU coach Mike Davis. "I've been asked that question a lot lately. Well I knew he would get 20 points (Sunday) against Northwestern. Wilmont was great (Sunday)."\nWilmont's previous career high in points was 13 against Vanderbilt on Nov. 24, 2003. \nWith the win, IU finishes the regular season 15-12 and 10-6 in Big Ten play. The victory also gives the Hoosiers their first undefeated conference season at home, 8-0, since 1993-94 when they went 9-0. \nAvenging their Jan. 5 loss at Northwestern, the Hoosiers shot 60 percent behind the arc, making 12 of 20 3-point shots Saturday.\nLetting the Wildcats hang around until just over five minutes left in the first half, IU went on a 16-2 run and entered the break ahead 44-26.\nComplementing Wilmont, three other Hoosiers finished in double digits.\nWright ended with 14 points on 4 of 8 shooting, and freshman Robert Vaden and sophomore Pat Ewing Jr. each finished with 12 and 11 points, respectively. \nChipping away in the second half, the closest Northwestern got was nine points midway through, but with the help of Ewing Jr., the Hoosiers kept their composure to win by 22 points.\n"(Ewing Jr.) brought a lot of energy, a lot of feistiness," Wright said. "It was good for us."\nNot only bringing electricity to the crowd of 17,299, Ewing Jr. did it all Saturday afternoon. He blocked three shots, handed out three assists and was able to spark IU after the Wildcats cut it close.\n"I just came in the game to do what I do," Ewing Jr. said. "I don't really remember what the score was when I came in the game or how we were playing. But I know that every time I come in the game I come in to make a difference and that's what I did tonight."\nEwing Jr. was able to make such an impact because freshman forward D.J. White played only 15 minutes Saturday.\n"(White) was out, so we had to find another way to score besides going inside," Vaden said. "Pat can score inside as well. But no matter who's in the game we try to play hard defense. We just try to play hard defense and that will create our offense."\nLeading Northwestern was 6-foot-8-inch junior forward Vedran Vukusic with 22 points and junior guard Mohamed Hachad with 10 points. The loss leaves the Wildcats with a 14-15 record overall and 6-10 in the Big Ten. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/04/05 6:06am)
When Mark Johnson and Ryan Tapak boarded the IU basketball ride in 2001, they didn't know what they were getting themselves into.\nThey had no idea how high the ride went or how low, or where they would end up. \nBut four years later, the ride is coming to an end, and the senior walk-on duo has experienced it like no one else.\nAlong with senior Mike Roberts, Saturday's game against Northwestern will be the pair's final home game in Assembly Hall. It will conclude a college career that has seen more than some lifetime coaches have.\n"It's unbelievable," Johnson said of playing in his last home game. "It just seems like yesterday I walked in here and had my first practice. Four years goes by real quick. It's been a lot of great memories, starting out as freshmen going to the Final Four."\nAnd that was just the beginning.\nFor Johnson, a preferred walk-on recruited by former IU coach Bob Knight, and Tapak, going the traditional walk-on route, the highs were as almost as high as a college basketball could get -- going to the Final Four and the national championship game, winning a Big Ten title and being ranked in top 10 nationally in only their first season. But their lows equal those accomplishments in an opposite way.\nThey were part of the first IU team to miss the NCAA Tournament in 19 years and the first to have a losing season in more than 30. But besides the accomplishments, just playing at IU was good enough for the pair.\n"Everybody that dreams about playing here, everything you dream it would be, it's exactly like that," Tapak said. "You go around town and people recognize who you are."\nDuring last season's Big Ten Tournament, the pair made its mark playing crucial roles in a win over Ohio State and the season-ending loss to Illinois, in which Johnson set his career high with 16 points. After those games, they looked at this season as a promising one. \nBut it wasn't meant to be. \nSidelined by injuries, both Tapak and Johnson had limited playing time.\n"I think all three (seniors), maybe not showing in games what they've meant to this team, but in practice they've done a great job for us," IU coach Mike Davis said.\nBoth had back injuries and Johnson hurt his knee. They said this year was a disappointment in terms of their health.\n"Yeah, just a little bit just from the health standpoint," Tapak said about his disappointing season. "I haven't really felt healthy all year, and that's really the only thing that's been disappointing. "\nBut for all their hard work, the pair was rewarded each with a one-year scholarship last year. \n"It just feels right," Tapak said of ending his career with Johnson. "We came in together. We live together. We've always hung out together all four years. We've kind of gone through the same situation all four years."\nWhether or not they see the court Saturday, the last four years for Johnson and Tapak have been more than what they bargained for when they came to IU as freshmen in 2001. Come Saturday night the duo will have to exit the ride and get in line for the next one.\n"It's just unbelievable what's happened and how it's happened -- playing for a Final Four, winning the Big Ten championship. Everything is unexpected. No one in a million years would have given me a chance. Everyone always said one out of 10,000 kids will play Division-1 basketball, and I just happened to fall into that one of 10,000. It's been a great ride. I've had a blast."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/02/05 6:00am)
MADISON, Wis. -- If the Hoosiers' recent string of success before Tuesday's loss at Wisconsin wasn't an indicator that things were going IU's way come March, then ESPN helped the team out a bit.\nDuring the first television timeout of Tuesday's telecast of the IU-Wisconsin game, broadcasters Brent Musberger and Steve Lavin reviewed the controversial 3-point buzzer beater by Charlotte Dec. 22 at Assembly Hall.\nESPN replayed the television version of the play that had 49ers guard Brendon Plavich releasing the shot at half court with 0.1 second left on the game clock in the corner of the television screen -- which is an ESPN game clock, not the official game clock. The network then showed a different angle with the Assembly Hall scoreboard -- the official game clock -- which had Plavich releasing the shot after time expired.\nMusberger said the score will not be reversed but shows the clock that head official Ed Hightower was supposed to use would have not allowed the game-winning 3-pointer. That win would put the Hoosiers with 15 wins on the season and at the time would have broken Charlotte's four-game winning streak.\n"You can see it has zeroed out on the score board," Musberger described during the replay, which came at the north baseline of Assembly Hall. "The ball has not been released. And this, of course, is the angle that would have changed Hightower's mind here. So now, Steve, the question becomes, how will the committee consider, and first of all, we're not trying to put Charlotte down, there's no mistake about this. It counts, its not going to be changed, but will the NCAA committee consider this when they're talking about Indiana's chances?" \nAfter Tuesday's buzzer-beater loss at Wisconsin, IU has one more chance to get the coveted 10th Big Ten Win against Northwestern Saturday. The loss moves the Hoosiers to fourth in the league, with a 9-6 record and ups Wisconsin to third with a 10-5 record.\nLavin said the committee can compare the Charlotte incident to an injury when it comes time to pick the 65 teams March 13, but it isn't the "defining point in terms of being in or out of the tournament."\nIU coach Mike Davis, despite having referred to the Charlotte incident in the past, wouldn't talk about it.\n"I can't make any comments about it," Davis said. "I just have to wait and see. I can't make any comments because that game is over with. They went back and reviewed it. I can't make any comments." \nIU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan said the University has already pled its case to the Big Ten and ESPN but does not wish to argue it further.\nIn his interview with ESPN's Erin Andrews, Greenspan pled for NCAA Tournament consideration.\nAndrews said the reason for bringing up the Charlotte incident again was because of the enormity of the Wisconsin game and IU being on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.\nShe admitted that ESPN made a mistake with their clockwork, but the officials did their job with what they had to work with.\n"We were wrong," Andrews said. "We were wrong. I think we know that. I think the network knows that."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(03/01/05 4:39am)
For the past five months, four letters have hovered over the Hoosiers' basketball program, looking for a place to land. \nLate tonight, N-C-A-A might find a clearing in Bloomington as IU travels to No. 23 Wisconsin in the second-to-last game of the regular season -- a game some say holds the Hoosiers' tournament hopes in balance. \nWith a win tonight -- giving IU 10 Big Ten wins -- an at-large bid to the "Big Dance" seems almost inevitable, but a loss could keep IU on the bubble for yet another day.\nComing off of an upset of then-No. 10 and current No. 14 Michigan State Sunday, the Hoosiers have a solid case to argue to the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, which makes its 65 picks March 13.\n"I feel that if you win 10 wins in this league -- this is a great league, and I don't think we get enough credit for this league," said IU coach Mike Davis. "To talk about three teams going from this league is a disrespect to the Big Ten."\nGoing into Madison, Wisc., IU is tied with the Badgers for third place in the conference. Tonight will be Wisconsin's third game in six days and the Hoosiers' second game in three days. \nPlaying so many games in such a short amount of time might benefit the Hoosiers, Davis said.\n"We have a short turnaround, and Wisconsin has a short turnaround, but my good friend (Don) Fischer told me that in the Big Ten Tournament, you have to play back-to-back games if you win. So, that's the message I'm giving to my basketball team," Davis said.\nThe argument for the Hoosiers seems stronger tonight than it did Jan. 5, when IU lost at Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. \nFour of the teams IU played during their six-game losing streak have a chance to win their conferences, Davis said, referring to North Carolina in the ACC, Kentucky already clinching the SEC, Connecticut in the Big East and Charlotte in Conference USA. Plus, Oral Roberts, who IU beat on New Year's Eve, has a chance to win the Mid-Continent Conference. \n"There is a big difference in this basketball team now than the basketball team you saw back in November and December," Davis said. "But there's a reason for that. The basketball team you saw back in November and December was playing North Carolina and Connecticut. So, we've played five teams -- five teams that's going to win their conference. Who else has done that? That's unbelievable when you've played five teams that can win their conference, and that's what we did, and that's why it took us so long to become a really good basketball team."\nLast time these two teams met, Jan. 8 in Bloomington, junior guard Bracey Wright scored 30 points and led IU to a 13-point win. \nTonight Wright enters the Midwest foe coming off of winning the Big Ten Player of the Week honor Monday with his performances in wins against Purdue and Michigan State. \nThis time around, Wright said it's important to start strong in the hostile Kohl Center.\n"We really got to play with a lot of emotion, a lot of intensity," Wright said. "We just have to go in there and jump on them early and take the crowd out of it for a while and build a nice lead and play from there."\nWright's back court mate, junior guard Marshall Strickland, said IU needs to go away from their traditional half-court sets tonight.\n"I remember we were able to pressure them a lot," he said. "They want to play slow, they want to play their rhythm. I think if we can speed them up, then we'll do well in the game."\nAfter the Hoosiers beat his Spartans in overtime Sunday, MSU coach Tom Izzo said IU should not be punished for playing the schedule they did given other teams who played cupcake schedules, and the Hoosiers could make the NCAA Tournament. \n"Indiana is a good enough team," Izzo said. "Mike Davis is nuts, like Tom Izzo was. He just played a schedule that he wanted to play. He played a schedule that challenged his team. He gave the people of Bloomington and Indiana University what they wanted, and he got hit on for a little bit."\nWith the Hoosiers paving the way for a tournament berth, tonight's game can solidify their spring break plans one way or another. \nBut Wright thinks with their play in the Big Ten season and Sunday's win against Michigan State, the Hoosiers proved they're tourney worthy.\n"I think we showed how well we can play and that we deserve to be in the NCAA Tournament," he said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(02/28/05 6:26am)
It started with a simple pat on the arm.\nWhen Pat Ewing Jr. checked in late in the second half Sunday, he received the encouragement from IU Athletics Director Rick Greenspan.\nMoments later, with 42.1 seconds left in regulation and IU down 62-64, Ewing forced a turnover by Michigan State's Chris Hill, giving the Hoosiers the ball and the momentum.\nThat was all they needed.\nFrom there, freshman D.J. White took over, scoring the game-tying basket at the end of regulation and four of the Hoosiers' first five overtime points as IU knocked off No. 10 Michigan State, 78-74 Sunday afternoon in overtime.\nDespite attempts by Assembly Hall ushers and the IU Police Department, hundreds of students rushed the court for the first time since IU beat then-No. 1 Michigan State Jan. 7, 2001 when former Hoosier Kirk Haston hit a game-winning shot at the buzzer.\n"They want to rush the court," IU coach Mike Davis said. "All the students want to run on the court, no matter who you beat. If you took that yellow string and put it down, they'd rush the court if we beat freakin' Slippery Rock State.\n"Today was just a home game for us. I keep talking about home wins. You have to win your home games in the conference, and right now we're 7-0 at home, and that's the most important thing for us -- to win our home games." \nThe win moves the Hoosiers to 9-5 in the Big Ten, 14-11 overall and one game closer to a sought-after NCAA Tournament berth. The Spartans dropped to 11-3 in league play and 20-5 overall, \n"It ranks right up there at the top," junior guard Bracey Wright said of the win. "It couldn't come at a better time. The situation was perfect for us. We needed a big quality win. We needed to protect home. We killed two birds with one stone. We really showed how well we can play and that we do deserve to be in the (NCAA) tournament." \nBut it wouldn't have been possible without the heroics of Wright.\nAgain, the junior guard carried IU on his back scoring 13 of the Hoosiers' first 19 points during a 19-3 IU run in the first half to put IU ahead 19-9 with just under 14 minutes left. After the run, Wright added another jumpshot, making it 5-5 before his first miss with 11:57 left in the first half. \n"I was in the flow of things. I got hot early," Wright said. "For me, if I hit a couple baskets then the basket looks 10 times as big and I feel I can make anything. So I wanted to just be aggressive, stay aggressive and see what I can do. And 32 points worked out for me."\nThe Colony, Texas native scored 17 of his season-high 32 points in the first half and sealed the Hoosiers' win by banking in a three-pointer with just under 42 seconds left in the extra period. He ended the game shooting 9-of-14 from the field, including 5-of-8 from behind the arc. \nSunday was the first time since Dec. 11 against Kentucky that Wright made five three-pointers and the first time since Jan. 5 at Northwestern that Wright has missed only five shots. \nHelping Wright was White, who finished with 17 points and one rebound while playing only 25 minutes because of foul trouble. White had the duty of defending All-Big Ten player Paul Davis, who finished with only 12 points and fouled out with 3:25 left in overtime.\nThe first few minutes Sunday looked bleak for IU, as Michigan State jumped out to a 6-0 lead, running its patented fast break to perfection.\nBut it wasn't until the 19-3 IU run that the Hoosiers gained control. Holding the tempo at its pace, IU was able to take an 11-point lead with 6:37 left in the first half before Michigan State chipped away with an 11-0 run of its own. Junior guard Marshall Strickland ended the first half with a three-pointer, putting IU up 31-28 at the break. The Hoosiers battled back, ending the final 2:43 of regulation and 4:32 of overtime on a 14-2 run.\nStrickland finished with 13 points, eight assists and one turnover, playing 43 of the game's 45 minutes. \n"We had a good team coming into our house," Strickland said. "We feel like we can beat anyone in here. That was our goal -- to protect our house -- and we feel like we can win out at home for the Big Ten season." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.
(02/23/05 6:19am)
Game-winning shots make history. Starting fives make history. Even coaching match-ups make history.\nBut a piece of molded fiber glass with metal legs making history?\nIt made history 20 years ago today.\nWhat started as just another game between former IU coach Bob Knight and arch-rival Purdue coach Gene Keady, ended with a chair sitting in the middle of the court.\n"It was no big deal. Anything he did was not surprising to me," Keady said. "That's why I liked him, because it was always a new adventure. It didn't surprise me. I was mad at Steve Reid. We won the game so Steve was forgiven."\nAnd to think it was all started with Knight arguing about a questionable jump ball. \nMoments later, former Hoosier Daryl Thomas was called for another foul. In typical Knight fashion, he blew up at an official and received his first technical of the game.\nAs former Boilermaker Steve Reid began to shoot the foul shot accompanying the technical, Knight, still fuming about the original call, received his second technical foul when he infamously launched the red fiberglass chair across the court.\nAfter verbally assaulting official London Bradley, Knight received his third technical of the game, and followed the path of the chair and walked cross-court into the IU locker room. \n"It was amazing. I was standing here, and coach Knight only went so far," said Assembly Hall usher Barb Slessinger. "When he came down the bench he always stopped at a certain place and he always went back. And I was just standing here as always, because I've always worked in the same place. And I thought oh my gosh, oh my gosh. And about that time, whooom there it went." \nFor the past 26 years, Slessinger has worked section five, just feet from the end of the IU bench on the north side of the court. During those two and a half decades -- a span that outlasted Keady's reign at Purdue -- she has seen her fair share of memorable moments and memorable incidents.\nNot to be outdone, usher Alvin Trissler has been working IU games since 1971 and was standing near the court when Knight let out his javelin skills for the world to see.\n"When Knight let the chair go, he walked over after following the chair and went into the dressing room. I remember that quite well," Trissler said. "Everybody kind of grinned because Knight kind of had a smile on his face when he did it. There was a cheerleader sitting over there and she was down on her knees and (the chair) went to the cheer leader, and he just walked over there and I think he kind of patted her on the back and walked on." \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfus@indiana.edu.