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(01/24/05 6:28am)
New IU football coach Terry Hoeppner might have Indiana roots, but his Ohio background is paying big dividends for the Hoosiers as they gained another commitment from the Buckeye state -- defensive back Dan Kinsey from Wellsville, Ohio.\nKinsey, 6 feet 3 inches and 195 pounds, starred for Beaver Local High School in Lisbon, Ohio, earning first team all-state honors in Ohio's Division III. As a senior, Kinsey led the Beavers to a perfect regular season and a berth in the Division III state playoffs and top 10 ranking throughout the season.\nSchools throughout the Midwest and the South sought Kinsey, including Ohio State University, University of Tennessee, Penn State University, Miami University of Ohio, Kent State University and the University of Cincinnati.\nDespite that lack of success for the Hoosier program in recent years, the excitement of the new coaching staff intrigued Kinsey, he said.\n"First off all (a reason I committed) was the coaching staff," he said. "It was everything (about IU), you couldn't ask for a better place."\nAfter arriving in Bloomington Friday afternoon, Kinsey took a tour of the campus getting to meet with members of the new coaching staff as well as meeting IU President Adam Herbert and attending the indoor track and field event and the men's basketball game.\nAlong with playing football, Kinsey participates in track as a decathlete. His talents didn't go unnoticed on the track as he was recruited by the University of South Carolina, Purdue University and Syracuse University to participate in track and field exclusively.\nAt IU, Kinsey plans to participate in both football and track, and was a reason for his decision to commit to the Hoosiers Thursday, he said.\nWhile on his visit to Bloomington, Kinsey got the opportunity to meet another recruit from Ohio -- wide receiver Chris Banks. Kinsey and Banks, a star at Alliance High School, actually met before as Banks' team defeated Kinsey's 19-16 in the playoffs.\nThe two aren't the only players from the Buckeye state to decide to play for Hoeppner next year.\nAccording to the Web site www.rivals.com, IU has six players committed from the Buckeye state with national signing day Feb. 2. There are 17 players that have currently committed to Hoeppner.\nKinsey expects to continue playing at defensive back at IU, but could possibly be moved to linebacker or wide receiver. \n"I am a real big hitter and I like stopping the run," Kinsey said. "I can drop back and stop the pass and I can do kick returning as well."\nThough Kinsey committed to Hoeppner before the visit, he wanted to take a trip to IU to be sure of his decision. Once he experienced a trip to IU, he knew it was the place for him, he said.\n"I know coach Hoeppner is going to turn the program around, and I feel he really will," Kinsey said. "(Being able to do both track and football) was really important. Wherever I went I wanted to do both and coach Hoeppner is really supportive of that — it was the perfect place for me."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/21/05 6:04am)
Even though new IU football coach Terry Hoeppner has been in Bloomington for only a month, he has already nabbed his first recruit: Tim Sergi from Roncalli High School in Indianapolis.\nDuring his junior year, Sergi starred as running back for the Rebels in the 2003 season, rushing for 2,500 yards on the way to being named to the first-team All State. In the process of guiding Roncalli to the state championship in class 4-A over East Noble High School 17-0, Sergi rushed for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the win.\nSergi made his official visit to Bloomington Jan. 11 and afterward knew the school was for him.\n"After the offer from Hoeppner, there was no question that I wanted to go to IU," Sergi said. "Hoeppner is the type of guy I want to play for. Being a fan of the big of the campus, it was a complete package."\nComing into the 2004 season, Sergi was primed to continue his rushing dominance. But a torn ligament in his knee during the final quarter of the fourth game of the season ended those hopes and forced him to miss the rest of the season.\nAfter a tough injury, having Sergi receive the opportunity to play at IU is great, Roncalli Athletics Director Dave Toner said.\n"It feels very good for us and our program," Toner said. "It is a unique circumstance. Even though we have been successful wining eight state titles, we have only had one or two (football players) go to Division I programs."\nSergi wasn't the only player from the Rebels to commit to a major in-state program. Patrick Kuntz, a defensive lineman, verbally agreed to Notre Dame, while Jason Werner, Indiana's high school Mr. Football, decided to go play for Purdue.\nEven though Sergi starred as a running back in high school, he will likely play defensive back or wide receiver for the Hoosiers.\nThe opportunities in Hoeppner's spread offense are serving as a motivation for the summer and fall, Sergi said.\n"I want to work to be a wide receiver," he said. "I would love to be a part of that offense."\nIt has been 12 weeks since Sergi's surgery to correct the ACL injury, and he has been cleared to participate in basketball and plans to compete in track and field in the spring.\nFinding a coach that would take on Sergi was important, said Frank Sergi, Tim's father.\n"I think a lot of coach Hoeppner and the success he has had," Sergi said. "(Hoeppner) is a person of great integrity. As a person, having your son in a program like that, he will learn how to be a good football player and a good person."\nIn addition to being recruited by the Hoosiers, Sergi had scholarship offers from Ball State University and Western Michigan University.\nThough Sergi had to deal with questions from recruiters regarding how he would return from his injury, it wasn't a big problem for Miami (Ohio), as he was recruited by the Redhawks as well. \nNot getting to play the majority of his final season has left Sergi with a chip on his shoulder.\n"I am functioning about as good as I was before the injury," Sergi said. "I want to show that I was a good player and prove that I am a Big Ten-caliber player."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/20/05 5:06am)
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(01/14/05 2:15pm)
When the second half began, the IU crowd stood on their feet in hopes of turning around a lackluster first half performance.\nWhen it ended, they stood on their feet in celebration of a 53-42 win over Northwestern.\nFalling behind 24-21, IU (8-6, Big Ten 1-3) played a more motivated brand of basketball in the second half scoring the first nine points and giving them a 30-24 lead.\nThe Wildcats (4-14, Big Ten 1-4), like they did in the first half, charged back, cutting the lead to a point with 12 minutes remaining.\nRather than folding, the Hoosiers went on a 12-3 run over the next four minutes, providing a 10-point cushion and the momentum for the remainder of the game.\nSparking the run was junior guard Cyndi Valentin with three pointers on back-to-back possessions. Valentin paced IU with 20 points on the evening.\nGrabbing the lead was important, especially after Northwestern clawed back from an eight-point deficit in the first half, Valentin said.\n"(The run) was really important with the game tight the whole way," Valentin said. "My teammates did a good job penetrating and kicking and I had a lot of open shots."\nThough Valentin sparked the run, sophomore center Jamey Chapman played an integral part. After being hampered with a hip injury for the first 13 games, the Nebraska native made the most of her seven minutes.\nChapman scored four points, grabbed a rebound and provided an assist on Valentin's second three during the pivotal run, pushing the Hoosiers lead out to 36-29.\nHaving Chapman contribute, despite her short time back on the court, will be important if the team hopes to improve offensively, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"The big key (in the run) was Jamey Chapman and the respect they had to give to her," Bennett said. "That helped a lot, if we can establish a post presence where our post player makes a good decision ... and if we can get smarter on that end, that presence is going to make a difference for us."\nDefensively, the Hoosiers maintained the intensity they have had much of the season, forcing 17 turnovers and limiting the Wildcats to 33 percent shooting.\nWhen IU had the opportunity to convert turnovers into points they didn't waste them. Senior guard LeeAnn Stephenson went coast-to-coast early in the game giving the Hoosiers their first lead 4-2. Later in the game she sliced through the lane and scored on another fast break. \nTaking advantage of the opportunities the Wildcats provided was important, Stephenson said.\n"We felt like we could get a lot of transition points on Northwestern and our goal was to penetrate as deep as we could until they stopped us," said Stephenson who finished with 10 points. "It allowed me to get a couple of takes, or if not, to find the open person."\nNext up for the Hoosiers is Penn State (9-6, Big Ten 4-0), 2 p.m. Sunday at Assembly Hall. The Lady Lions finished off Illinois 76-41 Thursday night and will mark IU's first time on television this season with the game being broadcast on WTIU.\nPicking up the first conference win before such a big game was important, Bennett said.\n"It wasn't pretty and we didn't play extremely well, but we needed to find a way to win," Bennett said. "Confidence does a lot and we needed to win in the worst way. From this victory we have to build."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/13/05 4:47am)
After taking to the road for the first three games of the Big Ten season, home hasn't looked better to the Hoosiers. Tonight, they'll exercise their home court advantage as the IU women's basketball team plays Northwestern in its conference home opener at 7 p.m. in Assembly Hall.\nIU (7-6, Big Ten 0-3) struggled on the road against the conference's best. The team dropped three games, including a record setting 54-31 loss to Purdue, which set a school record for fewest points scored by IU.\nThe Wildcats (4-13, Big Ten 1-3) haven't faired much better this year. Under first-year coach Beth Combs, Northwestern lost to DePaul University by a whopping 69 points, and claimed their only conference win against last place Michigan 66-59.\nWith not having a home game in 22 days, the team is looking forward to playing in Assembly Hall said IU associate head coach Trish Betthauser.\n"We're happy to be home, the beginning wasn't all that good to us," Betthauser said. "We are anxious to take on Northwestern and we are going to have our hands full and have to play one of our best defensive games."\nDefense, which has been a trademark with coach Kathi Bennett, will play a role in claiming the team's first Big Ten victory, but the offense has been a more pressing issue as of late.\nIn conference play IU has managed to shoot only 28.6 percent, including 19 percent in its most recent loss. \nNo one has been left unscathed from the team's offensive woes, as scoring leader, junior guard Cyndi Valentin was limited to a point against Purdue. This was a far cry from Valentin's team-leading average of 16.5 points per game.\nValentin said getting back on track for the rest of the season will be important.\n"We've been working on our motion offense, just screening, getting open and working on shooting the ball ... ultimately the ball has to go through the hoop," Valentin said.\nAfter splitting last season's games with the Wildcats, a 58-55 win at home and 48-36 loss on the road, the Hoosiers expect nothing less than a challenge. Northwestern boasts three players averaging double figures in points, led by senior center Sarah Kwasinski at 12.4 ppg. \nIn conference play, the Wildcats have not only been able to dish the ball out, but also take it away from their opponents. Northwestern ranks second in both assists and steals, averaging more than 16 assists and nine steals per game. \nTo nail their first Big Ten win, the Hoosiers will look to extend their winning streak at home. Currently, IU has a five-game winning streak in Assembly Hall.\nProtecting home court will be important for the Hoosiers to make it to the NCAA tournament, especially because the Big Ten boasts five teams in the top 25.\nSenior forward Jamie Gathing said getting the team back on track and protecting home will start with Northwestern.\n"We need to basically win all of our home games in the Big Ten and steal a few on the road," Gathing said. "It would be very good (to win tonight), we play Penn State on Sunday so we need to get back to our old selves and playing as hard as we know we can."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(01/11/05 6:11am)
After enduring another tough season in which IU lost eight of its last nine games, getting to a bowl game seemed light years away for the Hoosiers. But with the hiring of new football coach Terry Hoeppner, players are looking to now for their bowl aspirations rather than later. Despite IU not going to a bowl game since the 1993 Independence Bowl and not playing in the Rose Bowl since 1968, players believe Hoeppner is the man to bring Hoosier football back.\nOn the eve of the spring semester, Hoeppner and the new coaching staff held their first team meeting, and the team's initial reaction mirrored their current one — excited.\nIn a meeting that lasted about an hour and a half, players learned what the team culture would be as well as changes to be made to the program. Some were made public at the initial press conference; players declined to comment about any further changes.\nOne of the efforts discussed Sunday night is to get players out in the community more often, junior offensive lineman Adam Hines said.\n"Being an athlete, you are already tagged ... it would be nice for the community to know us as people," Hines said. "As coach said, 'Football is what we do, not who we are.'"\nHoeppner brings many intangibles that have the players excited, but the obvious reason is his winning record. In Hoeppner's six seasons at the helm in Oxford, he led Miami University of Ohio to a 48-25 record. In those same six years, the Hoosiers managed only 16 wins.\nHaving a proven winner come in is a step in the right direction, said junior offensive lineman Isaac Sowells. \n"I actually cannot wait until spring ball to see what that spread offense is all about," Sowells said. "(Hoeppner) was real successful (at Miami) and he has had a real good record there, I'm just excited he is here."\nHaving a good system is almost as important as the right personnel, and Hoeppner's spread offense already has the players buzzing about the possibilities. Hoeppner's Redhawks had been one of the top offensive teams in college football since he became coach. This season the team averaged more than 30 points per game en route to the Independence Bowl. 2003 was even more productive under Hoeppner as Miami averaged 43 points per outing.\nEven though teams knew how dangerous the Redhawks were, it wasn't until 2003 that Miami splashed onto the national scene.\nAfter a season-opening loss to Iowa, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger guided the Redhawks to 13 straight wins and a 49-28 victory in the GMAC Bowl against the University of Louisville, finishing the season No. 10 in the country. \nConsidering Hoeppner's success with quarterbacks, freshman quarterback Blake Powers said he feels optimistic as he competes for the vacated position with true freshmen Grant Gregory and Mike Vlahogeorge.\n"With a new coach you don't know exactly what kind of system it is going to be like," Powers said. "He seems like a great leader and motivator and that is exactly what we need."\nAlong with winning comes tradition, and that's one thing IU has been lacking for years. The Hoosiers hope that's about to change with the arrival of Hoeppner, who is hoping to start that tradition by making a connection with the students.\nAt his initial press conference, Hoeppner announced that the football players would participate in "The Walk." Players will be dropped off two hours before the start of the game and will walk through the tailgating area to encourage fans to make it beyond the tailgating fields and to the game. Hoeppner did this at Miami as well. There are also plans for the team to sing the fight song after home wins in front of the Crimson Crew, IU's student section. \nMost recently Hoeppner addressed the crowd during the men's basketball game against Wisconsin at halftime. He gave a short speech addressing the students, encouraging them to be a part of IU football. He stressed the importance of the student body and their support of the players and coaches. \nWinning and having fun, something Hoosier football fans haven't experienced recently, are things that go hand-in-hand, Hoeppner said. \n"I am going to allow my guys to have fun coaching and playing football and we are going to win," Hoeppner said. "We need to wake up our echoes. We have some great echoes here and we need to wake them up and we are going to do that starting this spring."\nThe bottom line of winning hasn't been forgotten after the Hoosiers' devastating loss to Purdue in the 63-24 season finale. The loss inspired Hoeppner, upon arriving in Bloomington, to tell the seniors to make it to a bowl game before they graduate. \n"Hopefully, since it is my last year, we can get this done in a hurry, because I would like to go to a bowl game. Perhaps even the Rose Bowl," Sowells said. "That is a common goal for us now, not just a bowl game, but it's the Rose Bowl. Now our expectations are even higher and we are going to work hard to achieve that goal."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(12/13/04 6:57am)
Athletes seem to be the top priority -- at least in terms of scheduling. After years of student-athletes experiencing trouble finding a way to put a schedule together that included time for class, games and practice, the Bloomington Faculty Council approved a temporary plan Tuesday that would allow student-athletes to register for classes before the rest of the undergraduate students at IU.\nThe plan, which still has to be reviewed by IU President Adam Herbert, and voted on in January by the board of trustees, would allow student-athletes, beginning the summer of 2005, a priority in scheduling. Student-athletes would still have to wait until after graduate students registered.\nThe plan would be on an interim basis until the spring semester of 2007-2008; during that time different plans will be reviewed in order to find the best plan.\nThe policy of giving athletes priority scheduling is a common practice in the Big Ten, as every university besides Purdue has a policy in place, athletics department officials said.\nThere are a variety of reasons the athletics department has wanted a policy like this, but one additional reason is because new NCAA rules will make it tougher for athletes to stay eligible, said BFC President Dan Daleke.\n"NCAA regulations for progress for a degree to maintain eligibility will be stiffer," Daleke said. "Coaches have wanted this primarily for the benefits as a recruiting tool and enable them to schedule students to not be disadvantaged with scheduling for practice."\nThe new rule taking place in 2006, requires student-athletes entering into a certain graduating class must have a particular percentage of their degree completed at the beginning of the year to stay eligible, said Scott Norman, IUSA vice president. \nThe IUSA has yet to formally announce whether it agrees with the policy. A meeting is set for Jan. 13 with the IUSA Congress to debate the issue and to decide on a stance.\nThough Norman understands the frustration some students might feel with student-athletes getting priority in scheduling, the scheduling issues might not be as bad as some students might think.\nBefore agreeing upon this course of action, other policies were looked at, including allowing athletes to register first among their graduating class, but problems with the inadequacies in the system arose and the approved policy was seen as the best course of action, Norman said.\nThough the problem of priority scheduling for athletes might be solved for the time being, the ultimate problem remains in fixing the current scheduling for students, Norman said.\nWith problems in rain checking and good waitlisting system among a few, Norman feels that if these problems are addressed, the entire student body can have a successful registration process, which is the hope of the IUSA, he said.\nBut some students still feel this new policy is, in essence, favoritism. One reason cited was that student-athletes are the same as regular and undergraduate students and should be treated the same, senior Molly Foos said.\n"There are lots of other non-athlete students balancing other sorts of extracurricular activities and school as well, yet they are not granted the privilege of scheduling classes early," she said. "I think there should be a class standing priority registration where seniors get to register first and so on, whether you are an athlete or a star student, shouldn't dictate whether you register before someone else or not."\nThe Associated Press contributed to this story.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(12/13/04 5:32am)
After a tough loss Monday night to Indiana State University 66-59, the Hoosiers hit the road this weekend to take on a pair of foes from the American East Conference -- the University of Maine and Boston University. IU (5-3) was victorious in both games 62-60 against Boston and 67-59 against Maine. \nBut it wasn't easy.\nSunday in Boston, the Hoosiers got all they wanted from the Terriers as IU eked out a 62-60 win. \nClutch free throw shooting saved the day. With the game tied with 2.5 seconds left, junior guard Cyndi Valentin was fouled. After uncharacteristically missing three of four free throws, Valentin sank both to push IU in the lead by two. BU (3-3) had one last chance to tie or win the game, but an errant three went up and over the backboard, ending the game and sending IU out of Case Gymnasium with a victory. \nAfter missing a chance to seal the game, getting another opportunity was good, Valentin said.\n"It was surprising, especially with just 2.5 (left in the game)," said Valentin, who finished with 20 points. "I was just trying to get a shot up because there was just enough time to. I was relieved when I had another opportunity to hit the two free-throws."\nIt was a dog fight for the Hoosiers throughout the game. After grabbing a 19-9 lead to start the game, IU went cold in the second half and the Terriers outscored the Hoosiers by 12 to end the half and take the lead going into intermission, 29-27.\nThe second half continued like the first as both teams exchanged leads as IU was up 39-37 before the Terriers went on an 8-0 run, moving ahead 45-39. \nThe Hoosiers didn't quit as they whittled the lead down and took the lead in the final minutes, eventually holding on for the win behind timely shooting and a solid day on the boards, out-rebounding the Terriers 39-25.\n"That was the key to our defense," senior forward Jamie Gathing said. "It feels good to know what we have to do on the road to win."\nBefore heading south to Boston, IU first tangled with the Maine Black Bears (3-3) en route to its first road win of the season, 67-59.\nValentine continued her hot streak leading the Hoosiers with 28 points, going 12 for 12 at the free throw line. Over the past three games, Valentin has scored 78 points. The team had success all night from the free throw line going, 24 of 26, all in the second half.\nGetting to the line proved to be the difference after tight first half, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"The key to the game was us getting to the free throw line," Bennett said. "We didn't get to the line in the first half and what we did accomplish in the second half was the difference in the game."\nAfter having a lead as big as 23-9 in the first half, Maine knocked the lead down to five at 33-28 going into the break.\nIU had a comfortable lead throughout most of the second half until the Black Bears made a 9-4 run with less than two minutes to make it 61-59 with 32 seconds remaining. Six free throws down the stretch finished off the Black Bears and provided IU with the win.\nIn the process of the two wins, the Hoosiers picked up their first two road victories of the season, along with experience for the rest of the season in Big Ten play, Bennett said.\n"It was a long weekend. I'm definitely glad to get home," Bennett said. \n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(12/06/04 9:58pm)
After letting a 58-51 lead dwindle to a point with just more than a minute remaining in the game, the IU women's basketball team looked like it might fold under the pressure. Instead, timely free throw shooting and defense saved the day for the Hoosiers Friday in a 61-57 win against the University of Louisville.\nWith IU (3-2) clinging to a one-point advantage, junior guard Cyndi Valentin sank two free throws giving the Hoosiers a three-point lead with 20 seconds on the clock.\nThe Cardinals (2-3) quickly ran the ball down court but a three pointer by sophomore forward Missy Taylor hit nothing, giving the ball back to IU. Sophomore guard Annika Boyd ended any hopes for Louisville by hitting the second of two free throws, providing the final margin.\nMaking free throws proved to be a strength for the Hoosiers, as they outscored the Cardinals by nine points from the line, Boyd said.\n"Free throws are always important, because they can change the game," she said. "We work hard on them in practice and they paid off tonight."\nThe bench played a key role for IU throughout the night as the Hoosiers outscored Louisville's bench 21-2. Boyd provided 15 of those points, but junior guard Kali Kullberg provided the team with a defensive boost in addition to a point guard presence as she led the team with three assists.\nHaving Kullberg emerge as a leader on the court paid dividends in the win, IU coach Kathi Bennett said. \n"We needed ball pressure, and that was the difference. We had no ball pressure to start the game," Bennett said. "She came in and gave an immediate presence. Her spark really helped."\nWhile the Hoosiers relied on bench play for much of the night, the Cardinals went to their starters for support, as the starters scored all but two of their team's points.\nLouisville was paced by junior center Jazz Covington and Taylor. The duo gave IU fits most of the night, especially in the first half as the pair scored 19 points. Covington scored all nine of her points in a two-minute span that gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the night, 16-9.\nThe Hoosiers responded with a 15-6 run to take the lead 24-22 before going into the break tied at 28.\nThough the pair picked up 15 more points in the second half, Covington led all scorers with 20 points, they weren't given the same opportunities as before, senior forward Jamie Gathing said.\n"The post defense was really important," Gathing said. "We had to change our mentality (in the second half). We had to stop them in the post, because that is where they were getting their offense and that was getting them easy layups."\nNext up for the Hoosiers is Indiana State (3-1) at 7 p.m. tonight in Terre Haute at the Hulman Center. The game marks the beginning of a three-game road swing for IU, the first of three the Hoosiers will face this season. \nGaining some momentum for the Hoosiers before facing a good Sycamores team was important, Bennett said.\n"We needed this," she said. "We have been playing good basketball, but we needed a win like this against a quality opponent. Tonight was nice."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(12/02/04 6:37am)
After a 3-8 season, speculation swirled Tuesday night that IU football coach Gerry DiNardo would be fired. At a press conference Wednesday, the three-year head coach was officially fired when IU athletics director Rick Greenspan confirmed DiNardo had been relieved of his duties as IU's head football coach.\n"It was a review of the entire body of work," Greenspan said. "Part of the reason I was perhaps more deliberate is my relative newness to the University. After looking over the entire body of work, I recommended to the president (Adam Herbert) that a change needed to be made to get us to our goal to be an exciting and dynamic team that reunites with the fans."\nDiNardo had two years remaining on his contract, with a base salary of $225,000 after finishing 8-27 in three years at IU.\nDiNardo marks the 10th coach since 1947 to finish his career at IU without a winning record.\nFor Greenspan, this marks his first major move since coming to Bloomington Sept. 2. After the announcement, Greenspan met with players Wednesday and plans to meet with assistant coaches and other members of the football staff in the next few days. The assistant coaches are still currently employed by the athletics department.\nPlayers on the team began to find out about the firing of their coach Tuesday as reports trickled in from various media outlets. \nThe Hoosiers, for the first time under DiNardo, were at their full compliment of scholarship players, and picked up two victories over ranked opponents, then-No. 24 Oregon and then-No. 23 Minnesota.\nEven though many players were disappointed by the announcement, they were glad to see Greenspan talk to them after the announcement and lay out his plan for hiring the new coach. \nHaving to deal with a coaching change is nothing new for junior offensive lineman Adam Hines, who originally committed to former IU coach Cam Cameron and later recommitted to DiNardo, he said.\n"You play for each other, you can't really worry about who your coach is, you just have to worry about just playing," Hines said. \nDespite IU losing its head coach, there is a feeling that there won't be a major defection from Bloomington, sophomore safety Will Meyers said.\n"Just because our coach is gone and we will have a new coach doesn't change who we are and how we feel about each other," Meyers said. "(Greenspan) said it was up to us. We can make it a rebuilding process for the next season or we can go to a bowl game."\nThough wins and losses played a factor in the decision of firing DiNardo, attendance was an additional consideration said Greenspan.\nThe Hoosiers didn't come close to filling up Memorial Stadium, only averaging 28,377. IU had three games where the attendance was less than 25,000.\nWinning and filling the seats are things Greenspan feels go hand-in-hand and as one is accomplished so will the other.\nThe process of the coaching change began 10 days ago as Greenspan and DiNardo met and discussed the progress of the program. After talks with President Herbert, it was clear to them IU needed to go in a different direction.\n"We are determined to restore a winning tradition in IU football, while continually enhancing the academic success of our student athletes," Herbert said in statement. "The extended Hoosier family expects and deserves no less."\nGreenspan isn't wasting anytime in finding DiNardo's successor. Greenspan said all avenues will be pursued in finding the new coach. There are plans for an advisory group to be established in helping Greenspan make the decision and ultimately help him find one to three candidates to submit to Herbert for consideration.\nNo timetable has been set for when a new coach will be announced, but time could be of the essence as football recruiting season is heating up with signing day in February.\nGreenspan said turning around the program won't be done with a quick fix.\n"You have to find someone that can look beyond the past and look beyond what some say might say is a task too large," he said. "We need someone that is tireless and probably a bit of risk taker. You have to be ready to take some risks in order to be successful."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(12/02/04 5:34am)
IU football coach Gerry DiNardo was fired Tuesday night. A press conference has been set for 2:30 p.m. at Assembly Hall in the basketball media room.\nIt didn't take new athletics director Rick Greenspan long to make his first major decision in his new post. DiNardo, just finished his third season at IU with a record of 3-8. His overall record with the Hoosiers was 8-27.\nAfter reviewing the season and evaluating the progress of the program, Greenspan decided that it was time for a change, he said in a statement.\n"This is a difficult decision made with considerable deliberation. We appreciate Gerry's dedication and commitment to the Indiana football program," Greenspan said.\nIU wasn't just plagued with losses this season, but also poor attendance. The Hoosiers didn't come close to filling up Memorial Stadium, only averaging 28,377. IU had three games where the attendance was less than 25,000, topping out at 36,041 on the season.\nFred Eichhorn, president of the board of trustees, said the declining attendance was a factor in the decision.\n"The big thing, the attendance had fallen bellow 25,000, and we are competing for schools with attendance with over 100,000," Eichoorn said. "I knew that (President Adam Herbert and Athletics Director Rick Greenspan) were considering it on Monday"\nDiNardo had two years remaining on his contract, with a base salary of $225,000. \nBefore coming to IU, DiNardo previously coached at Vanderbilt University and Louisiana State University, compiling a record of 51-49-1. He also had a brief stint in the XFL with Birmingham Thunderbolts in 2001.\n"We are determined to restore a winning tradition in IU football, while continually enhancing the academic success of our student athletes," Herbert said in statement. "The extended Hoosier family expects and deserves no less"
(11/29/04 8:28pm)
While most students were away for the Thanksgiving holiday, IU played host to the Hampton Inn Classic. The Hoosiers advanced to the championship game of the event by defeating Belmont University 56-26, Saturday night. \nScoring wasn't a popular item Sunday afternoon when IU battled Central Michigan University for the championship game, as both teams were plagued with shooting difficulties. After struggling to reach double digits in the first half, the Hoosiers eventually pulled away from the Chippewas to win the title, 42-32.\nIt took the Hoosiers (2-1) 19 minutes and 15 seconds before hitting double digits as junior guard Cyndi Valentin hit a layup to cut a Chippewa lead to 14-11 going into halftime. \nAfter trailing throughout much of the game, IU went on a 15-2 run to pull ahead 30-20. Sparking the run for the Hoosiers was Valentin, scoring 13 unanswered points to spearhead the run.\nDuring the game, the Bloomington native came through when the team needed her the most, something Valentin tried to do during the second half, she said.\n"Shots just weren't falling in the first half," said the All-Tournament team member. "I was just trying to lift my team any way I could. We came back hard and fought for the win."\nGetting to the championship game proved easier for IU than it was to pick up the championship hardware. Behind a balanced offensive scoring attack and smothering defense, the Hoosiers picked up their first win of the season. Sophomores Annika Boyd and Sarah McKay paced IU on the scoreboard, picking up 11 and 10 points, respectively. \nThe Hoosiers limited the Belmont Bruins to only 16 percent shooting on the night, allowing IU to enjoy a double digit lead throughout the game. The Belmont game also marked the first time since Jan. 2004 IU held a team under 40 points, the last such occurrence was a 60-39 win against Wisconsin.\nThroughout the championship game against Central Michigan, the Hoosiers struggled to find their shot, shooting only 19 percent in the first half. A lack of focus and preparedness were two factors that contributed to the poor first half performance, IU coach Kathi Bennett said.\nIn the second half, the Hoosiers' shooting improved, hitting 45 percent of their shots, but the key for IU was defense.\nIU limited CMU (2-2) to 30 percent shooting during the game, forcing 17 turnovers. Because of the offensive woes, it made playing good defense more important, Bennett said.\n"(Playing tough defense) was the only way we were going to win the game," she said. "Without it, we wouldn't have won the game,"\nThe Hoosiers defense played better as the game went on, forcing two turnovers in the final minutes to seal the win. Senior forward Jamie Gathing scored the last six points for the Hoosiers en route to being named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.\nThe other four members of the All-Tournament Team were: Hollie Davis from Belmont University, Central Michigan's Casey Manning and Ann Skufca and IU's Valentin.\nDefense wasn't the only area where the Hoosiers held an advantage against CMU. Rebounding, which Bennett cited as being important for the team's success this season, was not a problem as IU out rebounded the Chippewas 37-26.\nHaving a good combination of rebounding and defense proved to be the difference in the game, junior forward Angela Hawkins said.\n"I think our defense was really important tonight, especially in the second half," Hawkins said. "(The rebounding) is something we work on everyday, and it proved to be big."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/22/04 4:24am)
Halfway through the second half, the IU women's basketball team was in position to pull off an upset against No. 8 Baylor University, trailing only 39-34. Instead of making a run, the ice-cold shooting that had plagued IU all night continued, developing into a 60-47 loss to the Lady Bears.\nPlaying solid defense wasn't a problem for the Hoosiers (0-1), as they held the No. 8 Lady Bears (1-1) to 29 percent shooting -- getting the ball in the basket was, as IU was held to 27 percent shooting. \nThe Hoosiers had good looks throughout the game, but their inability to make baskets was a factor in the loss, said sophomore center Sarah McKay.\n"I think that if our shots had dropped, the game would have had a different outcome," McKay said. "Taking care of the ball is something we have to do in order to win games."\nIn addition to the bad shooting night, IU was plagued with turnover problems, committing 17.\nDespite the problems on offense, the defense kept the team in the game. The Hoosiers blocked 10 shots on the night, including five by McKay. IU had the deficit down to single digits throughout the second half but couldn't break through the Baylor defense.\nLeading the Hoosiers in scoring was junior guard Cyndi Valentin with 13 points. Valentin had to earn them, though, shooting only three of 15. Valentin made five free throws, extending her school-record streak to 47 consecutive makes.\nStopping the Lady Bears throughout the game was a problem for IU, as two big runs allowed Baylor to get the victory in their home opener.\nThe first came with the score tied at six. Behind eight points from freshman guard Angela Tisdale, the Lady Bears put together a 15-4 run to push the lead to 21-10.\nWith all the weapons Baylor had, it was tough to contain an unexpected one, senior forward Jamie Gathing said.\n"(Tisdale) came off the bench and knocked down some big shots," Gathing said. "We worked on stopping their two preseason All-Americans. She was a big help to them."\nThe final run that did IU in went 19-6 and pushed the lead to 58-40.\nDespite a disappointing loss to start the season, the Hoosiers have nothing to hang their heads about, said IU coach Kathi Bennett.\n"We competed tonight against one of the top teams in the country," Bennett said. "We played with some good intensity at times, and our post players really did a good job on their inside game."\nIU will play its home opener against Belmont at 4:30 p.m. Saturday as they play host to the Hampton Inn Classic. Depending upon the outcome of the first game, the Hoosiers will play either at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/22/04 4:22am)
WEST LAFAYETTE -- The Hoosiers came into the final game of the season against Purdue seeking revenge and the Old Oaken Bucket. Instead, what they got was an old-fashioned beat down and a long ride back to Bloomington following a 63-24 loss to the Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in front of 65,137 fans.\nOn a cool, rainy day, Purdue dominated early and often throughout the game, gaining a Big Ten-record 763 yards of total offense.\nIt started on the first drive for the Boilermakers, as senior quarterback Kyle Orton hooked up with sophomore wide receiver Kyle Ingraham for a 52-yard touchdown. \nOrton and Ingraham both made a living against the IU defense, both achieving career days.\nIngraham had 11 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. Orton had 522 yards, tying the school mark while breaking the total yardage in a single game mark with 530 yards.\nHaving a great day wasn't a big surprise for the senior signal caller, he said.\n"I actually went to bed last night thinking it would be nice to get our offense going again like we had earlier in the year," Orton said. "We had a great week of practice and everyone was focused, so I was not surprised by the outcome."\nOrton didn't just look to Ingraham for offense; he also went to senior wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield. Stubblefield caught 14 balls on the day, in the process breaking the NCAA all-time receptions mark with 309 career catches.\nDefending the Boilermakers and all their weapons was a problem all afternoon. Despite Purdue throwing the ball most of the afternoon, the Boilermakers out-rushed the Hoosiers 173-119.\nEven though IU rushed the quarterback numerous times -- causing five sacks -- Orton still had enough time to throw the ball, said IU coach Gerry DiNardo. \n"The pressure was a little bit of a problem early, but the match-ups were as much a problem as anything," DiNardo said. "They found every place we were soft and went to it."\nThe Boilermakers not only gained yards, they gained them in big chunks. Purdue had 11 plays of 20 yards or more, including four plays of 50-plus yards. IU only mustered four such plays.\nThis wasn't the first time that IU has had trouble against an offense, as the Hoosiers gave up 400 yards or more for the seventh time. On the season, the Hoosiers finished with the worst defense statistically in the Big Ten, giving up more than 450 yards per contest, ranking them No. 110 out of 117 teams in Division I.\nThe Boilermakers ended their day the same way they started it -- with big plays. Freshman wide receiver Dorien Bryant took an end around 62 yards for a score, and junior tight end Charles Davis caught a 61-yard touchdown pass to cap off the big day for Purdue.\n"We just wanted to set the tempo early," Bryant said. "We came out sharp, firing on all cylinders, and I don't think that they were ready. We knocked them off early, and I don't think they recovered."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/19/04 5:16am)
Walking into the football locker room, it becomes evident after a few moments which game is the most important to IU: the game against arch-rival Purdue.\nOn the wall hangs a clock that resembles something out of a "Mission Impossible" movie, counting down the seconds until the clash with the Boilermakers.\nThe Hoosiers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) will try to accomplish the assignment of bringing back the Old Oaken Bucket when they square off against Purdue (6-4, 3-4 Big Ten) at noon Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. \nJunior defensive lineman Russ Richardson said the clock is a constant reminder when training.\n"You get that feeling when you look up and see that clock, and it just kind of reminds you of the way things are going to be out there," Richardson said.\nThere will be no love lost between the two rivals as they battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, which has been awarded to the winner since 1924.\nThe Hoosiers can look to last season as source of motivation, as Purdue came into Memorial Stadium and defeated IU 24-16.\nTo accomplish the task at hand, IU will have to contain two of the most potent weapons in the conference: quarterback Kyle Orton and Taylor Stubblefield.\nOrton, at quarterback, was a contender for the Heisman Trophy after leading the Boilermakers to a 5-0 start, and has struggled as of late in Purdue's recent slide, losing four of its last five and falling out of the top 25. After an injury caused him to miss time, Orton returned last Saturday to guide Purdue to a 24-17 win against Ohio State, ensuring the Boilermakers' eighth bowl bid in eight years.\nOne of Orton's top targets is Stubblefield. The all-time leading receiver at Purdue is only six receptions away from setting the NCAA career mark for receptions.\nDespite the Boilermakers' vaunted passing attack in the past, Purdue has preferred running the ball, said IU coach Gerry DiNardo.\n"They have two very good running backs (juniors Brandon Jones and Jerod Void)," DiNardo said. "They are one of the top three-talent level teams that we play this year."\nThe Purdue offense isn't the only thing the Hoosiers will have to worry about, as the Boilermakers boast a tough defense. Purdue's rush defense ranks first in conference in league play, possibly posing problems for an IU team averaging just three yards per carry. \nWith the Purdue game comes an emotional side not seen in most games.\nThroughout the weeks leading into the game, a different level of intensity grows for players, no matter where they are from.\nRichardson, an Arizona native, didn't know much about the in-state rivalry coming out of Phoenix Christian High School, but once he played in his first game, he understood the passion between the two schools.\nJunior cornerback Buster Larkins had a similar experience, despite being from Indianapolis, he said.\n"Until you play in a game do you really understand the intensity and tenacity and the tradition and pride of this rivalry," Larkins said. "It is deep. You are not only fighting out there this weekend for the guys in the locker room, but the guys in the locker room before you."\nAs the clock in the locker room ticks down the final seconds before the clash, thoughts of missing out on a bowl game are pushed to the backs of the IU players' minds.\nThe underclassmen would love nothing more than to send the 18 seniors out with the Old Oaken Bucket. For most seniors, they came in and won the Old Oaken Bucket in 2001, and getting the opportunity to win it again is one for which the players are primed, senior wide receiver Courtney Roby said.\n"It's my last (Old Oaken Bucket) game. I got one coming in, and I want to get one coming out," IU's all-time leading receiver said. "(The clock) is a big reminder of how close we are. There are a lot of memories, and it's definitely counting down."\nThe game will not be televised, but IU fans can catch it through ESPN Broadband by logging on to www.iuhoosiers.com and clicking on a link that will prompt viewers to a Web site where they can watch. A high-speed connection is required to view the game.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/15/04 5:11am)
The Hoosiers found out the hard way why the last yard to the end zone is called the "longest yard" in their 22-18 loss Saturday to Penn State on Senior Day.\nFacing third and nine, senior quarterback Matt LoVecchio winged a pass to fellow senior, wide receiver Travis Haney. Haney worked his way down the field stretching his 6-foot-5-inch frame for every inch toward the end zone before being pulled down just shy of the goal line. \nThe play put IU in prime position to get its first win against Penn State in team history. But four plays later those dreams were dashed as junior running back Chris Taylor was stuffed at the goal line -- inches short of the go-ahead score.\nAfter the catch, Haney, like many of his other teammates, thought the win was theirs, he said.\n"All I could think is that we're going to win. We're going to take this game," said Haney, IU's leading receiver on the day with three catches for 74 yards. "I knew I was a couple of inches away, I was just stretching all I could to get in the (end zone)."\nThe Hoosiers worked the clock down by going up the middle with Taylor on first and second down. Instead of scoring, Taylor actually lost one-yard on second down, setting up a third and goal with just more than a minute remaining.\nThe option play, which IU has used more as the season has wound down, was used again on the third down. The team had success with it earlier in the game when senior wide receiver Courtney Roby took an option 26 yards for a touchdown -- giving IU the lead early.\nBut on the third down, LoVecchio went right and found little running room, resulting in no gain and setting up a fourth and goal with one minute remaining.\nTaylor went up the middle picking up the lost yard and more. But once the pile cleared, he was short as white and navy clad Nittany Lion defenders celebrated with the ball just inches shy of the goal line.\nIU coach Gerry DiNardo faced criticism after the game for running on all four downs, but he said it was the best way to go.\n"I thought that is how we could win the game," he said. "We felt good with the guys that were in there. We don't have any preference in that situation with either one of our tailbacks."\nIn a back-and-forth game, Penn State had the ball with less than nine minutes remaining in the game trailing 16-14 after IU senior kicker Bryan Robertson nailed a 23-yard field goal.\nThe Nittany Lions quickly worked down the field as senior quarterback Zack Mills orchestrated the drive as PSU gained large chunks of yards at a time. IU didn't help its cause with two penalties before sophomore running back Tony Hunt put the ball in the end zone, giving the Nittany Lions the lead 22-16 after a successful two-point conversion.\nThe big penalty occurred after Mills had completed a pass to junior wide receiver Michael Robinson -- gaining 12 yards and the first down. As Robinson was going out of bounds, senior offensive lineman Chris Voltattorni threw a forearm to the chest of Robinson, which resulted in a 15-yard personal foul penalty.\nHaving a lack of discipline by someone who wasn't in the game was something DiNardo won't put up with, he said.\nPenalties plagued IU all day, racking up eight for 63 yards. \nImproved discipline on defense will be important against Purdue next week, senior defensive lineman Jodie Clemons said.\n"If you see something you know there is a good chance you might get a flag, don't do it," Clemons said. \nThe Penn State defense, which came in as one of three teams in the country along with Wisconsin and Auburn yet to allow more than 21 points in a game, lived up to that claim in the second half. But the Hoosier defense made some noise of its own. All of IU's scores in the first stanza were set up by interceptions.\nThe first pick was made by junior linebacker Paul Szczesny, which quickly resulted in Roby's touchdown. With the score tied at seven, junior linebacker Kyle Killion picked off freshman Anthony Morelli's pass and took it 46-yards for a touchdown, giving IU a 13-7 lead going into halftime. Robertson's point after attempt was missed -- marking the third game in a row where at least one extra point was missed.\nPenn State got on the board when Mills connected with Robinson on a 33-yard touchdown pass. Originally it was ruled incomplete, but after it was reviewed, PSU was rewarded a touchdown. \nLosing close games has taken its toll on the team as the Hoosiers have now lost four games during conference play where they lead in the fourth quarter.\n"It sums up our season, that close and we can't do anything with it," Roby, who was held without a reception, said. "I can't put it into words; that is how frustrated I am right now."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/10/04 5:47am)
Getting the opportunity to travel overseas is one many people never experience in their lifetimes. For four Hoosier players and the IU women's basketball coaching staff, the chance to participate internationally was too good to pass up as they went to Australia, Canada, Guatemala and Cuba this summer.\nEach year, the Big Ten conference sets up a Foreign Tour team in which one head coach in the league can take her staff and two of her players to participate in international competition.\nIn 2004, IU coach Kathi Bennett was selected to head up the team. Bennett and her coaching staff of associate head coach Trish Betthauser and assistant coach Paul Nixon were joined by seniors Jenny DeMuth and Jamie Gathing in Australia on a four game tour.\nDeMuth's numbers during her junior year were one reason why she was selected, and her play didn't drop in the land down under. DeMuth averaged 9.3 points per game helping the team sweep the four-game tour.\nGetting the opportunity to travel to another country was an enjoyable experience, DeMuth said.\n"It was awesome. It was my first time going overseas," said DeMuth, a Highland, Ind., native. "Just seeing other countries and seeing how their programs are was just really fun."\nGathing was chosen for a different reason. After missing the 2003-2004 season due to a preseason knee injury, having a chance to play in a competitive atmosphere before the start of the season was partly why she was chosen to go. Gathing proved not to be too rusty, averaging more than five points per contest and pulling down 4.5 rebounds -- good for fourth on the team. \n"It was great, fun and different," Gathing said. "They did some of the same things we did, but a little quicker."\nSophomore center Sarah McKay, a native of Canada, was given the opportunity to try out for her national team in May. After a week of tryouts, she was named to the 17-player roster that will compete in the 2005 FIBA Americas World Championship qualifying tournament. \nGetting the opportunity to play and watch experienced players, as Canada faced Japan in a four-game series, was a great benefit for her future, McKay said.\n"This summer was amazing, they took me under their wing and helped me understand everything that coaches were expecting of us," she said. "Just playing against Japan and watching them for four games -- watching how different international ball (is)."\nBecause her father was born in Puerto Rico, junior guard Cyndi Valentin, was allowed to try out for the Puerto Rican national team despite being born in the United States. She eventually made the final cut. \nContinuing with the trend of the rest of the IU players overseas, Valentin's team advanced to the second round of the FIBA Americas qualifying tournament, ensuring an appearance in 2005 at the FIBA Americas World Championship.\nMany things for the women were different once they got overseas -- not even the basketball was the same. In international competition, they played with a man's ball which provided some difficulty at first, but wasn't a problem after a few days.\nThe style of play varied as well, as the players are used to the rough environment of the Big Ten. Things were different for Valentin in Cuba in the qualifying round and Guatemala in the second round, she said.\n"It was very physical play. It is usually physical in the Big Ten, but there are a lot of things that they get away with," Valentin said. "I was surprised about the rules. I didn't really know the rules so I had to adjust to that."\nGathing had a similar experience in playing with "Mighty Mouse women" in reference to the Australians ability to run all over the court. There was also the use of a trapezoid lane that provides for a wider paint, but puts wing players and post players in closer proximity.\nGetting the opportunity to play with the Puerto Rico team provided Valentin with the unique opportunity to work on her basketball game and improve her Spanish, she said.\n"It definitely helped me, because all of our practices were in Spanish," Valentin said. "There are a lot of girls that I made friends with that spoke English so that really helped out a lot."\nThe players continue to communicate with the players they met this summer, whether it is through e-mail or snail mail.\nWith all the differences the players encountered, from language, driving customs and food, the desire to travel overseas in future is there.\n"I really enjoyed it, I would like to do it again," Valentin said.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/10/04 5:29am)
Coming off a season where the Hoosiers women's basketball team finished 12-17 and had everyone returning, expectations were high -- then an injury occurred. Senior guard/forward Jenny DeMuth tore her anterior cruciate ligament within two hours of the season starting. How the team responds from the injury will be a test IU must pass in order to make it to the NCAA tournament.\nDeMuth's running mate last year, junior guard Cyndi Valentin, will be one player IU coach Kathi Bennett will be calling upon to make up for the lost contribution. Valentin, honorable mention All-Big Ten last season, averaged 15.5 points per game while grabbing 95 rebounds and 37 assists last season.\nWith expanded roles for her and her teammates, there shouldn't be a problem with players rising to the challenge, Valentin said.\n"Everyone is competitive and wants to go out and win, things haven't changed," said Valentin, a Bloomington native. "I will do whatever I can, I have full confidence in our team that they can step up and help the whole team out."\nStepping up in the low post will be just as important as the wings, as DeMuth racked up almost eight rebounds a game last season.\nLed by 6-foot-7-inch center Sarah McKay, the Hoosiers will attempt to fill the void.\nHaving a height advantage over most players is something McKay benefited from, grabbing nearly six rebounds a game and swatting 55 shots last season.\nUsing the extra inches will be fundamental for the team if they hope to reach the NCAA tournament, McKay said.\n"Height is just a blessing of basketball; I want to use it as much as I can." McKay said. "I just like to help the teammates. If they bring a double team, I'm going to be looking for open shooters."\nMcKay won't be alone inside as senior Jamie Gathing comes back to the team after missing last season because of injury. Gathing is in her sixth year of eligibility and will help shore up a front line that boasts seven players over six feet.\nTo help out with scoring duties, junior forward Angela Hawkins is one Hoosier who will be counted on. Hawkins had trouble last season staying out of foul trouble as she fouled out 10 times last season.\nGetting big contributions from the Florida native will be a determining factor in how the team plays, Bennett said.\n"As an inside player she holds one of the biggest keys for us because of her ability to get easy baskets," said Bennett, in her fifth season as head coach. "Her challenge is to become more fundamentally sound. We are looking for a huge season from her offensively and defensively."\nWith an abundance of players from last year's squad returning, there weren't many openings for new players, but Bennett is banking on her two newest additions to make an immediate impact.\nNikki Smith, a guard from Sylvania, Ohio, will be looked upon to provide the team with lethal three point shot. Walk-on guard Kelli Agness from Indianapolis will provide the Hoosiers with another player at the point.\nThough both players are only freshmen, they are meshing with the team as if they're not, McKay said.\n"The freshmen are great, they fit right in with all of us," McKay said. "You can't really come in and think you are freshman; you have to be ready to go."\nIU won't be getting any favors from its schedule, as it starts the season at No. 8 Baylor Nov. 19 -- in addition to games against Maine, Arkansas and Louisville.\nHaving a tough non-conference schedule should acclimate everyone to the competition they'll face in the Big Ten this season, Bennett said.\n"Our non-conference schedule is the toughest since I've been here without a doubt," Bennett said. "I think all of these games will definitely prepare us for our Big Ten season."\nBefore her season ending injury, DeMuth said the goal for this year's Hoosiers was to make the NCAA tournament. \n"I do think we definitely have a chance to get there this year," DeMuth said.\nThough the Hoosiers' chances may have taken a hit with the injury to DeMuth, confidence is still high for achieving priority No. 1 -- getting IU back to the field of 64 for the first time since 2002, McKay said.\n"Everyone is taking the right step," McKay said. "It is going to be harder without our leading scorer, everyone is going to step up and we should be able to accomplish what we decided on at the beginning of the season."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/10/04 5:20am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- After a season that saw the women's Big Ten place six teams into the NCAA tournament, and Minnesota into the championship game, the conference is looking to repeat the results. It is hoping the ultimate reward will be a trip to the Final Four in the heart of Big Ten country -- Indianapolis. \nThe coaches and media differed on who would come out on top during conference play this season. The media picked Purdue and the coaches picking Ohio State. \nThe Buckeyes return four starters from a team that finished third in the conference while advancing to the NCAA tournament.\nLeading in the low post for Ohio State is 6-foot-4 sophomore center Jessica Davenport. Davenport averaged 12.5 points per game, nearly six rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest.\nThe Buckeyes won't just rely on Davenport to lead the Big Ten's best shooting team as they return three guards from last year's 21-10 team -- including senior Caity Matter, who finished the 2003-2004 season as a member of the All Big Ten second team.\nDespite being tabbed as the favorite, Buckeyes' coach Jim Foster said he feels that this team is a work in progress.\n"I think we will be evolving until we start conference play, and we will have a better understanding and an idea of who we are then," Foster said. "I think Jessica (Davenport) is one of the pieces of our puzzle, I think she is an integral piece, I can see her continuing to evolve into a good player."\nThe other preseason pick -- Purdue -- returns only one starter, but many bench players that saw extensive playing time during the Boilermakers run to the Sweet Sixteen last season.\nSophomore Katie Geralds will provide the spark to get Purdue going. Last season's Big Ten freshman of the year could be forced to play the point guard position after playing most of last season as a two-guard.\nGeralds said being named to the All Big Ten first team was a surprise, but her goal and the rest of the Big Ten's is to get back to where it all started -- Indianapolis, her hometown.\n"Getting to the Sweet 16 isn't good enough. I know for myself I want to get to Indianapolis," Geralds said.\nBoilermakers coach Kristy Curry knows she will have her hands full with more than just conference foes this season because of five incoming freshman, she said. \n"With five freshmen every day is so different. We have the chance to be as good as we want to be or as bad as we want to be," Curry said. "They will have to come in and contribute right away, early and often."\nCurry said she thinks that the upper half of the conference has the ability to get to Final Four, including Michigan State.\nSpartans coach Joanne McCallie returns all five starters from last year -- a team that tied for fourth in the Big Ten and advanced to the field of 64. \nWith a roster that is filled with mostly freshmen and sophomores, nothing is guaranteed this season, McCallie said.\n"Just because you were a starter last year doesn't mean you are a starter this year," McCallie said. "We are excited, but we have to start all over again. You can't take the chemistry of last year's team and stamp it on this year's team."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(11/09/04 5:34am)
Before the season opener Nov. 19 at No. 8 Baylor University, the IU women's basketball team got a preseason test against the Australian Institute of Sport -- and it was tested. IU passed the test, behind some timely shooting and defensive stops to win 75-67.\nThroughout much of the second half, AIS held on to the lead, building it to as high as 61-54 with seven minutes remaining.\nThe IU defense would take over, limiting the AIS to just six points down the stretch.\nKeying the Hoosier defense was sophomore guard Annika Boyd. Boyd came up with a crucial defensive five-second call, with IU clinging to a 69-66 lead.\nBoyd wasn't limited to just stellar defensive play, as she poured in 10 points on four of eight shooting, including a key three-pointer with five minutes and 25 seconds left in game, giving the Hoosiers their first lead of the half.\nBoyd playing both sides of the ball was a key to the win, IU Coach Kathi Bennett said.\n"(Annika) was huge. She is capable of scoring, but she held her own defensively," Bennett said. "I feel real good about the minutes she played and what she did."\nHelping key the final run, was senior forward Jamie Gathing. Gathing, who sat out last year because of injury, drew a key charge and converted a three-point play, closing the gap 61-59.\nAfter not playing all last year, coming out and winning was a good feeling, she said.\n"It felt great," said Gathing, who finished with seven points and six rebounds. "At first I was a little nervous, but after a while I calmed down and got into how I play basketball."\nJunior Angela Hawkins, keyed the final run along with Gathing, coming up with four points, including a basket after she missed the first two times, but stuck with it and put it in on the third try.\nThe Hoosiers never lead comfortably in the game, their biggest lead came toward the end of the first half, 34-27.\nPacing IU in the first half and throughout the game was junior guard Cyndi Valentin. Valentin scored 23 points, draining four three-pointers in the game, three of which came during the first half when she scored 16 points.\nThough she scored nearly a third of her team's points, Valentin didn't feel any pressure tonight, she said.\n"I just let the game come to me, and not force any shots," Valentin said.\nThe exhibition season is over for the Hoosiers, though IU will play Butler in a scrimmage this Saturday. \n"I just felt it was really important for us to win this game," Bennett said. "That was the most important goal for us, no matter how ugly or what, we did it and I'm very happy about that."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.