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(09/15/04 5:05am)
After a 2003 season in which the Hoosiers gave up 30 points nine times and only forced 20 turnovers, the 2004 squad is working to reverse those trends this season.\nWith the 2-0 start, IU has yet to surrender 30 points to either opponent and has forced nine turnovers, including seven in its upset win over then-No. 24 University of Oregon, 30-24.\nAmong the defensive players helping the Hoosiers turn their fortunes is senior safety Herana-Daze Jones.\nAgainst Oregon, Jones collected nine tackles in addition to a key interception in the fourth quarter helping IU preserve the victory.\nIn the process, Jones garnered Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors for his play against Oregon.\n"It felt pretty good," said Jones, downplaying his achievement. "Our job is trying to hold them to one point less than our offense."
(09/13/04 5:57am)
Christmas came early for the IU football team Saturday after Oregon surrendered seven turnovers in the Hoosiers' 30-24 upset victory over the Ducks in Eugene, Ore. IU came into the game as a 20-point underdog.\nThroughout the game the Hoosier defense showed impressive play by forcing four fumbles in the first half and caused Oregon quarterback junior Kellen Clemens to throw three interceptions, two of them occurring in the fourth quarter. \nWith the win, IU snapped a 13-game road losing streak, 12 of them under IU coach Gerry DiNardo, and in the process ended Oregon's non-conference dominance at Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks had won 21 straight games dating back to September 1994.\nGetting a win on the road at one of the toughest places in the country shows the strides the program has made since DiNardo's arrival in 2002, he said.\n"This is a great feeling. The win was terrific," DiNardo said. "To beat a team like this is a culmination of effort from everyone the last three years. It just so happened that today showed the kind of progress we're making as a football program."\nThe first half went as well as the Hoosiers could have hoped as they grabbed an early 23-0 lead. The second half proved to be more of a challenge as the Oregon offense woke up, and a sellout crowd of 57,550 at Autzen Stadium became a factor.\nWith the score at 30-24, the Ducks had three opportunities to take the lead in the final seven minutes, but the Hoosier defense turned back Oregon each time.\nThe first was after IU turned the ball over on downs and Oregon began driving at the Hoosier 44-yard line. But the defense would bend but not break, keeping the Ducks out of the end zone and forcing senior kicker Jared Siegel to attempt a 37-yard field goal. It sailed left and gave the Hoosier offense another opportunity to run more time off the clock and hold onto the upset bid.\nWith the ball, the Hoosiers attempted to run out the clock, but turned the ball over when junior running back Yamar Washington fumbled the ball for IU's second turnover of the day while giving Oregon the ball on the IU 27-yard line.\nThe Hoosier defense once again knocked back the Ducks, as senior safety Herana-Daze Jones picked off a Clemens pass with 3:12 remaining in the game.\nAfter going three and out, Oregon would get one last chance to try and pull out the victory but IU's defense wouldn't allow it as junior Kyle Killion intercepted the ball for the Hoosiers' seventh forced turnover of the game.\nKillion collected nine tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery and the fourth quarter interception.\nTrying to come back from being down 23-0 at the end of the half proved too much for the Ducks, Clemens said.\n"The last interception was forced. I tried to throw in between two linebackers and (Killion) made a great play," Clemens said. "It was very difficult to get momentum in the first half with the turnovers and it kind of snowballed."\nIn the past two seasons, allowing opponents to put big quarters together has been a problem, but the Hoosiers reversed that by putting up a 17-point first quarter on the Ducks to start the game.\nIt got started for IU after junior linebacker Paul Szczesny recovered a fumble, putting IU on the Oregon 25-yard line. Szczesny collected nine tackles in addition to his fumble recovery.\nSenior Bryan Robertson put IU up 3-0 after his 39-yard field goal split the uprights.\nTwo more turnovers provided two more scoring opportunities for IU in the first quarter. After an Oregon fumble on a punt return, IU recovered and sophomore running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis scored on a 19-yard scamper into the end zone. Green-Ellis finished the game with 91 yards on 29 carries.\nThe next fumble recovery by the Hoosier defense set up a senior connection between quarterback Matt LoVecchio and wide receiver Courtney Roby for an eight-yard, one-handed grab in the back of the end zone, giving IU a 17-0 lead at the conclusion of the first quarter.\nRobertson added two more field goals in the second quarter, both from 31 yards, pushing the IU lead to 23-0 heading into halftime.\nIn the first half, IU collected four fumbles, all resulting in scores for the Hoosiers.\nOnce the second half started, the Ducks woke up putting 17 points on the board in the third quarter led by a 59-yard pass from Clemens to junior wide receiver Demetrius Williams to cut the Hoosier lead to six.\nThe big play of the quarter was provided by the IU special teams, as sophomore Lance Bennett returned a 98-yard kickoff -- taking the air out of Autzen Stadium. Bennett's return is the second longest kickoff return in school history.\nDefense and special teams were a big reason for IU's first victory on the road against a ranked opponent since beating Michigan State 37-28 November 2001, LoVecchio said.\n"Autzen's crowd was very loud ... but we came away with some fortunate field plays. Our defense played unbelievably well," LoVecchio said. "Lance did great. That was a huge play in this game."\nFor the Hoosiers, this marks the first time since 1996 IU has started the season 2-0, and last time the Hoosiers went on the road and won a non-conference game was in 1998, beating the University of Cincinnati 48-14.\nThe hard practice and preparation during the week was a big part in the upset against No. 24 Oregon, senior defensive lineman Victor Adeyanju said, who also sustained a dislocated shoulder.\n"The environment here was very hostile," Adeyanju said. "Coach DiNardo did a tremendous job preparing us for the crowd. We owe our compliments to the coach. After this win, I feel confident to keep rolling and playing hard."\nIU will put its 2-0 record on the line at 6 p.m. Saturday at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, Ky., against the Kentucky Wildcats.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(09/10/04 5:25am)
After an opening season win over Central Michigan University, 41-10, the Hoosiers (1-0) take to the road and head west to face the No. 24 University of Oregon Ducks (0-0) at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.\nPlaying on the road is a fact the Hoosiers will have to deal with this season, as six of their 11 games are away from Memorial Stadium. \nGetting off to a strong start on the road will be important, sophomore running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis said.\n"Our confidence is high, and we're practicing hard and looking forward to Oregon," Green-Ellis said. "It is always good to get off to good start, especially since we have six road games, and we need to win on the road to have a winning season."\nThis will be the Ducks' season opener, as they return 13 starters from last season's 8-5 Sun Bowl squad.\nThe Hoosier defense, which held the CMU Chippewas to 10 points, will have to go up against a more potent offense at Oregon.\nThe Ducks have a trio of juniors who will look to light up the scoreboard and try to take IU out of the game early.\nQuarterback Kellen Clemens, who threw 2,400 yards last season, leads Oregon. One of Clemens' favorite targets from last season, Demetrius Williams, returns from a season where he led the team with eight touchdowns and was second in reception yards with more than 900.\nOregon's backfield boasts tailback Terrence Whitehead, who rushed for nearly 800 yards and found the end zone on six occasions last season.\nFacing Oregon should pose an early season challenge for the Hoosiers, IU coach Gerry DiNardo said.\n"They are a physical, veteran group for the most part," DiNardo said. "It will be loud and tough to communicate, and it is going to be tough going up against one of the better teams in the Pac 10."\nThroughout the past decade, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti has built a program with a strong following, providing one of the most hostile environments in the country. Oregon has sold out its last 29 home games and is expecting another sellout Saturday.\nThe last time a Big Ten team visited Autzen Stadium was last season when Oregon defeated then No. 3 Michigan 31-27. \nThroughout the week, IU has been preparing for the Autzen Stadium fans by simulating the "crowd" noise the Hoosiers will have to endure from 54,000 in Eugene, Ore.\nPrior experience playing in big, loud crowds should aid IU when the Hoosiers take the field against the Ducks, junior offensive lineman Isaac Sowells said.\n"(Oregon) is supposed to be one of the loudest (places) in the country," Sowells said. "We've played at Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. So we're used to the big, loud crowd atmosphere, and those games in the past will help us against Oregon."\nWhile trying to pick up a win on the road at Oregon, IU will be looking to snap a few streaks in the process.\nUnder DiNardo, IU has yet to win on the road, going winless in 12 road games.\nAdditionally, Oregon has been a tough place for nonconference teams to pick up a victory. The last time an opponent came into Autzen Stadium and beat the Ducks was September 1994, when the University of Utah came away with a win. Oregon has won 21 nonconference home games since then.\nThough the Hoosiers are looking at this game as an opportunity to make a statement, members of the team feel Oregon isn't taking the same approach. This sentiment stems partly from IU's less-than-stellar record the past few seasons and Oregon having a tilt with No. 2 University of Oklahoma looming after the IU game, junior defensive lineman Victor Adeyanju said.\n"We know that they aren't respecting us and are overlooking us," Adeyanju said. "They are a big tough team, and we have to make them know we deserve their respect and try and shock everyone."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(09/03/04 6:25am)
After three months of searching for a new athletics director, IU President Adam Herbert announced Thursday that Rick Greenspan would fill the position, effective Sept. 15.\nIn coming to IU, Greenspan left the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he has served as director of intercollegiate athletics since 1999.\n"When you consider making a change like this, the most critical aspects of the position is the individual you have to work with," Greenspan said in his introductory press conference Thursday. "I am a passionate person. I love what I do, and I like working with other passionate people. That is important to me."\nGreenspan will be IU's fourth athletics director in the past five years and is replacing Terry Clapacs, who has served as both the athletics director and vice president and chief administrative officer since November 2002.\nThe athletics director search committee, led by IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley, interviewed 100 applicants with the intent of finding a director with great leadership skills and integrity, Herbert said.\n"We have found a leader who has a depth and breadth of experience in athletics administration that addresses all of the criteria we sought," Herbert said. "We have found a leader who clearly understands the overarching significance of our academic mission and priorities at Indiana University."\nGreenspan is under contract for five years and will receive $275,000 annually, with $30,000 delayed compensation for each year he serves as athletics director.\nBecause of the many changes in leadership at the top of the athletics department, the decision for the new director was an important one, Herbert said.\n"I stated that this search presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of Indiana University Athletics," Herbert said. "It also provides an opportunity to demonstrate that our athletics program will reflect this institution's high expectations -- excellence in athletic competition and in the classroom." \nHerbert has lofty goals for Greenspan. He said he expects IU to be in the top 20 of the Directors Cup, the annual rankings that honor institutions that maintain a broad-based program, achieving success in many sports, both men's and women's. Herbert said he is also looking for IU student athletes to have one of the highest graduation rates in the Big Ten.\nGreenspan made an immediate impact to student athletes, as he donated $10,000 to the IU Varsity Club in honor of Jason Garrett, a family friend who recently passed away.\nIn accepting his new position at IU, Greenspan is excited about tackling the problems currently challenging the athletics department, he said.\n"I enthusiastically look forward to helping to establish a world--class environment, where our student athletes and coaches can successfully strive for championships," Greenspan said. \nIn hiring Greenspan, IU has a leader who has turned around athletics departments before. \nAccording to the Army Web site, Greenspan has led West Point to an aggressive overhaul in facilities and an infusion of financial support from fundraising. Under his six years of guidance, Army opened an off-field home for the football program, and a new press box atop Michie Stadium, in addition to four facilities for seven sports.\nFacilities have been a new issue for the IU athletics department. In July, Clapacs made a proposal for a $65 million in facility upgrades for IU sports teams.\n"(Greenspan) had excellent experience and strength in each of the areas of qualifications that the president sought," Beckley said. "What the main interest for us was that he appeared to be the complete package and there was no doubt that Rick was the person to lead Indiana University."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(09/03/04 6:25am)
As Rick Greenspan inherits the IU athletics director position, he also inherits a litany of hot-button issues and controversial projects. \nIssues with which Greenspan will have to deal as IU's fourth athletics director in the last five years include lifting the athletics department out of the red, as they have been maintaining a budget deficit of over $1 million for the past three years, a football program that hasn't been to a bowl game since 1993, a $30 student athletic fee, and a recent proposal by Terry Clapacs, vice president of administration and chief administrative officer, for a $65 million upgrade in athletics facilities.\nGreenspan realizes the amount of work it will take to turn the program into the right direction. \n"There are lots of challenges, and how we try to measure them and tackle them is critical," Greenspan said. "I'm not a wizard and don't have a genie in a bottle. It's care, concern and credibility -- people believe in what you do because you've been successful before."\nWhere Greenspan goes, success follows, as both times he was in the athletics director position, the programs had turnarounds.\nIn his most recent position at the United States Military Academy at West Point, he served from 1999 to 2004 and helped fuel an aggressive facilities upgrade and an increase in fund raising.\nBoth issues are ones that currently concern the athletics department.\nFrom 1993 to '99, Greenspan was at Illinois State University, where he guided the program into having a reserve of $5 million in the budget.\nFor Greenspan, being honest has been the policy in terms of fundraising.\n"The first sale is easy, but the second sale is the hardest because they have to know you are genuine," he said. "I've always tried to be honest and forthright with the donors of special gifts and try to make them feel good about the gift."\nFinding a leader that turned programs around and got them going in the right direction was a quality Herbert was looking for, he said. \n"At West Point, he developed an athletic master-plan that led to improved and needed facilities that were largely developed through private support and created excitement for athletics through creative and profitable broadcasting and marketing efforts," Herbert said. "We heard nothing but positive comments about his high ethical standards, his philosophy, values, his administrative style and his leadership abilities. "\nDealing with students is an important issue for Greenspan, as he plans to make himself as visible as possible by attending practices and meeting with the Student Athlete Advisory Board.\nThroughout the press-conference, Greenspan represented a down-to-earth personality and a knack for cracking jokes about himself, including one about his recent hip replacement.\nThis is exactly why Linda Herman, interim director of athletics at Illinois State University, feels Greenspan is a well rounded leader, she said in a statement.\n"Rick is a strong communicator who understands the profession from both the coaching and administration sides," Herman said. In looking at the future of IU athletics, Greenspan said two things are needed: stability, and collaborative and dynamic change.\nBut with the problems facing the athletics department today, Greenspan knows he has his work cut out for him.\n"I'm not going to lie: It is a hard job," Greenspan said. "If it wasn't, there would be a long line of people for AD jobs."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(09/02/04 7:18pm)
After three months of searching for a new athletics director, IU President Adam Herbert annouced today that Rick Greenspan would be the next athletics director at IU, effictive September 15.\nIn coming to IU, Greenspan left the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served as director of intercollegiate athletics since 1999.\nGreenspan, will be IU's fourth athletics director in the last five years. He will be replacing Terry Clapacs, who served as both the athletics director and vice president and chief adminstrative officer since November 2002.\nThe athletics director search commmittee, led by IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley interviewd 100 applicants, with intent of finding a director with great leadership skills and integrity, Herbert said.\n"We have found a leader who has a depth and breadth of experience in athletics admistration that addresses all of the criteria we sought," Herbert said. "We have found a leader who clearly understands the overarching significance of our academic mission and priorities at Indiana Univeristy"
(08/31/04 6:22am)
After three months of searching, IU will soon have its new athletics director. IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley, who is the leader of the search committee, said IU President Adam Herbert is focused on one candidate and an announcement will likely be made early next week. \nTerry Clapacs, vice president of administration and chief administrative officer for IU, has filled the role on an interim and then temporary basis since Nov. 2002. \nThe search committee, which was announced May 27, originally set a goal of making a decision and announcing the new athletics director by the end of the month.\n"The search committee and the president have been working hard throughout the process ," Beckley said. "If not for references being in Athens, Greece, we should have made an announcement or would be making one by the end of (today). There is no harm in the delay."\nThe search process throughout has gone smoothly for the committee and only recently ran into delays. Herbert is continuing to conduct the due diligence process, and is expected to talk with references regarding the candidate this week.\nHerbert did not return phone messages Monday. \nWhile the 16-member search committee has been involved throughout the process, the final phase will consist of Herbert, Beckley, Business and Economics Professor Bruce Jaffee, and former IU football coach Bill Mallory.\nThere are no meetings planned this week, Beckley said.\n"It is now in the President's hands and he and I still talk at least once a day," Beckley said. "The President seems upbeat about the names given to him and what we are learning about the primary candidate."\nHerbert will have final say over the choice, said Bill Stephan, vice president of university relations and corporate partnerships at IU. Stephan said Herbert is listening to all of the committee's recommendations. \n"The President believes it is helpful to finding the right candidate that the committee is entirely supportive of, and (the President) carefully listens to different issues, because that support will be critical over time," Stephan said. \nOnce the new athletics director is selected, he or she will not have time to relax as there are many issues plaguing the department, including a budget deficit and the possibility of a $65 million facility upgrade.\nThe search committee released an advertisement in June jointly with a Web site outlining qualifications, facts about the University and the athletics department.\nThe 12 qualifications the committee sought in a candidate included a commitment to academic and intercollegiate athletic excellence, high ethics and values and a commitment to diversity.\nThe position had a July 16 deadline and though the committee received a total of 100 applications by then, new candidates emerged in recent weeks after the final list was narrowed to three to five.\nOnce a decision is announced, Clapacs will resume his full-time duties as an IU administrator.\nThe next athletics director will be IU's fourth in five years.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(08/31/04 1:47am)
After three months of searching, IU will soon know who will lead its athletics department. IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley, who is the leader of the search committee, said the search is now focused on one candidate and that an announcement will likely be made early next week. \nTerry Clapacs, vice president of administration and chief administrative officer for IU, has filled the role on an interim and then temporary basis since Nov. 2002. \nThe search, which was announced May 27, originally set a goal of making a decision and announcing the new athletics director by the end of the month.\nDespite not meeting the original goal, the search committee is not disappointed at all, Beckley said.\n"The search committee and the president have been working hard throughout the process," Beckley said. "If not for references being in Athens, Greece, we should have made an announcement or would be making one by the end of the day tomorrow. There is no harm in the delay."\nThe search process throughout has gone smoothly for the committee and only recently ran into troubles. IU President Adam Herbert is continuing to conduct the due diligence process, and is expected to talk with references regarding the candidate this week.\nHerbert did not immediately return phone messages Monday. \nWhile the 16-member search committee has been involved throughout the process of finding a new athletics director, the final phase will consist of Herbert, Beckley, Bruce Jaffee, professor of business and economics, and former IU football coach Bill Mallory.\nThere are currently no meetings planned this week, Beckley said.\n"It is now in the President's hands and he and I still talk at least once a day," Beckley said. "The President seems upbeat about the names given to him and what are learning about the primary candidate."\nOnce the new athletics director is selected, he or she will not have time to relax as there are many issues plaguing the department, including a budget deficit and the possibility of $65 million in facility upgrades.\nAfter the announcement of the search for a new director was announced, the search committee released an advertisement jointly with a Web site outlining qualifications, facts about the University and the athletics department.\nAmong the 12 qualifications the committee sought in a candidate were a commitment to academic and intercollegiate athletic excellence, a person of high ethics and values and a commitment to diversity.\nAlong with the advertisement was the announcement of a July 16 deadline for applicants to submit resumes to the committee.\nThe committee received a total of 100 applications by the deadline, though in recent weeks new candidates have emerged after the final list was narrowed to three to five.\nOnce a decision is announced, Clapacs will resume his full-time duties as an IU administrator.\nThe next athletics director will be IU's fourth in five years.
(08/25/04 6:28am)
After more than a month of interviews, the Athletics Director Search Committee has narrowed its pool of 100 candidates to three to five, IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley said.\nThe 16-member committee received a total of 100 applicants by the July 16 deadline, with the goal of having the finalist pool reduced to, at most, six to eight by mid-August to present to IU President Adam Herbert.\n"The list of potential candidates has been narrowed down to three to five, and the president is in the process of interviewing and very carefully conducting the due diligence process," Beckley said. "Our goal is still to announce a new athletics director by the end of August."\nThough the goal is to end the search by the end of August, it hasn't been ruled out that the search might take longer than anticipated, said Bill Stephan, vice president of University relations and corporate partnerships at IU. \n"President Herbert wants to make sure that we have the right person," Stephan said. "Different challenges have kept the process open, as other strong candidates have emerged, and the committee and president are considering all of the candidates."\nBeckley said he believes the next athletics director is within the final pool of candidates. Herbert will make the final decision.\n"It is important for the candidates to have all the qualifications to be the next athletics director," Beckley said. "But the new athletics director will have to be able to work with the president, and only the president knows who will be the next athletics director."\nIn conducting the search process, the committee looked for someone who met 12 criteria, including the ability to act as a spokesperson for the athletics department and serve as a leader for coaches and other staff.\nThis is an important detail because of IU's recent revolving door of athletics directors. When hired, the next director will be IU's fourth in five years.\nDuring the past year, debate over the athletics department has been heated because of the budget deficit, the proposed plan of $65 million in facility upgrades and the $30 student athletic fee.\nBecause of the all the issues facing the department, it will be important to find a candidate who plans to make his or her home in Bloomington for years to come, Stephan said.\n"The committee clearly has an interest in finding a strong candidate that will stay with the University for a long time," Stephan said. "Successful athletics departments have had strong athletic leadership for a good number of years, and the new athletics director will be a long term solution and response to the athletics position."\nHerbert announced the search May 27.\nThe committee consists of members throughout the IU community, which gives many perspectives in finding the next athletics director.\nThe new athletics director will replace Interim Director Terry Clapacs, who also serves as vice president for administration and chief administrative officer. Clapacs has filled the position since November 2002 when then-athletics director Michael McNeely resigned after 16 months in Bloomington. \nOnce a new athletics director is announced, Clapacs will resume full-time duties of the vice president of administration and chief administrative officer.\nAfter the announcement, the search committee released an advertisement that was sent throughout the country formally announcing the opening of the athletics director position. Released jointly with the advertisement was a Web site that allowed potential candidates to find out more information about the qualifications for the position and more about the University and the athletics department.
(07/29/04 1:19am)
Coming off a year in which the Hoosiers finished the season 12-12, with six of those losses recorded by a narrow 4-3 margin, the IU coaching staff needed to add depth with the 2004 recruiting class.\nIU coach Ken Hydinger achieved that by adding highly touted recruits Michael McCarthy and Dara McLoughlin to a team that will return for the 2004 season completely intact.\nThe depth of the team was exposed last season as the Hoosiers had limited options when many of its top players suffered injuries, including the team's No. 1 singles player, senior Jakub Praibis.\n"It's (the depth) going to help a lot next season," Hydinger said. "It's going to provide a competitive situation for the team, and it will only help everyone get better."\nIncoming freshman McCarthy, like many new students, will have to get used to many changes when he arrives in Bloomington this fall, including getting acquainted with his new teammates. However, McCarthy won't have to look too far for some familiarity. His brother, Ryan, is a senior on the Hoosier team.\nThis kind of familiarity isn't foreign territory for Hydinger as well, who recently coached the Held brothers, Andrew, David and Zach, who collectively played for Hydinger from 1990-2002.\nThe Cincinnati native dominated the tennis scene in Ohio last season as he captured the singles state championship at Indian Hills High School and All-American honors while compiling a 38-0 record.\nThough the younger McCarthy is not as strong as his older brother, Hydinger described Michael as "a 5-foot-ll-inch player who moves like a deer and is a tough competitor and knows how to win."\nLast year's Hoosiers team had a foreign feel as three of the players hailed from outside the United States. With the addition of McLoughlin, IU has continued that trend.\nMcLoughlin, a 6-foot-2-inch native of Ireland, comes to IU with extensive international experience as he won a round-robin tournament that earned him a spot as an alternate for Ireland's Davis Cup match against the Ukraine July 16-18.\nWith the entire roster returning, the process of the team feeling comfortable with each other should be shorter, junior John Stone said.\n"I do feel the team will gel faster because everyone knows each other," Stone said. "We know how to play and how to act on and off the court. We just need to show Michael and Dara they are a part of our team from the beginning. These two are going to make our team even stronger."\nOne benefit the team will gain in addition to depth will be an increased level of competition. \nThe new players bring in new styles of play and experience that will only test each other in practice and help the team on game days.\nWith Hydinger expecting both players to make an impact early, playing time will be at a premium, but it will only make the team stronger, he said.\nIn adding McCarthy and McLaughlin, the Hoosiers will be looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2001. Stone said he hopes the addition of the two freshmen will get the team over the hump.\n"With having 10 solid players on your team it allows the coaches to mix the line-up around so we have the best opportunity to win," Stone said. "We have options now. This is probably one of the deepest teams IU has had in the last couple of years. I am looking forward to this coming season."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(07/26/04 2:43am)
The search for a new athletics director began its next phase with the passing of the July 16 deadline for applicants.\nThe IU Athletics Department set up a Web site featuring an advertisement outlining the criteria expected of IU's new athletics director June 10 and distributed the advertisement through traditional media in addition to e-mail. The ad was also sent to major college sports conferences around the nation and to those who expressed interest in the job. There are seven qualifications listed on the advertisement, including significant experience in fiscal planning and budget management, as well as an understanding and appreciation of the role of intercollegiate athletics within a leading university.\nFrom the time of the advertisement listing the job opening to the recently passed deadline, the search committee received 100 applicants, IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley said.\nIn regards to the applications, Beckley said the committee is excited.\n"We are really pleased with the diversity of the pool," Beckley said. "I'm really pleased with the quantity and quality of the candidates. We feel we can find a really good candidate for the position from the pool of applicants."\nWhen applications began arriving at the beginning of July, the 16-member committee went th rough the process of reviewing all letters of interest and resumes.\nThough Beckley wouldn't reveal any specific information regarding the applicants, he said one common bond existed among the majority of the applicants: Most had experience in the athletics profession.\nFrom the 100 applicants in the running, the search committee hopes to whittle that number down to six. It will present the finalists to IU President Adam Herbert in mid-August.\nThe search committee still plans to keep its goal of having a final candidate to Herbert by the end of August and a decision on the new athletics director shortly after.\nThe position of athletics director opened up in June when Herbert announced the formation of the committee, which will allow current athletics director Terry Clapacs to resume his full-time duties as vice president for administration and chief administrative officer. Clapacs is currently serving the University in both capacities, having been named the interim athletics director in November 2002, following the resignation of former Athletics Director Michael McNeely that same month, and was then given permanence to the position in April 2003.\nClapacs' initial contract called for him to hold the athletics director position until June 30, when the process of selecting a new AD would begin.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(06/24/04 1:20am)
Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the 2004 NBA Draft, where losers will look to become winners and winners will wait as college-seasoned veterans fall in their lap. \nTonight, many a hoops junky will sit in front of the television and watch for hours as their favorite team looks for the next star to save their franchise or provide the missing link in winning a title.\nLike most recent years, this year's Draft is drenched with high school prospects, bad teams and big trades.\nIn terms of high schoolers in the Draft, this could be the biggest year thus far. Though there isn't a LeBron or a KG, there are as many eight high school players that could go in the first round. Granted, drafting a high school player isn't based on "the now," rather it is based on "potential".\nThere is the possibility that a third high school player could be selected as the No. 1 pick, marking the second consecutive year a player has made the jump straight from prom. \nThe NBA will also be welcoming back Charlotte to the NBA as the Charlotte Bobcats begin play next season.\nDespite the Bobcats having a roster littered with league castoffs, the team wasn't prevented from throwing a wrench in the draft as they traded the No. 4 pick in the first round along with the No. 33 overall pick to the L.A. Clippers for the No. 2 overall pick and Predrag Drobnjak.\nThe importance of this trade isn't the player you are having trouble figuring out who he is or how to pronounce his name; it is the pick that matters.\nThis pick will allow the Bobcats to have their choice of the top two players, Emeka Okafor from Connecticut or high schooler Dwight Howard from Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy in Atlanta.\nMy first prediction for the Draft: Look for Charlotte to trade, trade and trade some more on this night as it looks to acquire players and picks for the future.\nDespite not having played a game in its existence, there is a team worse off than the Bobcats -- the Orlando Magic.\nThe season started well for Orlando with a win against the New York Knicks. The Magic proceeded to lose 19 straight games, something I haven't seen since my Little League baseball days.\nNeedless to say, the Magic can't go wrong with the No. 1 pick. Getting Okafor or Howard would help to cure a team that had no offense outside of T-Mac. \nDrafting help for McGrady could be irrelevant, as the Magic are planning on shipping him to Houston for Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley.\nSecond prediction: Teams will draft for trades. It always happens that teams draft for other teams, and they later trade the pick, or they will package them later in trades. \nA team I'm looking for to do some damage tonight are the Atlanta Hawks. \nThere is some relevance to this. The Hawks have more picks than any other team, a total of five, two in the first round and three in the second round.\nWith a roster returning just four players, here is a team looking to take advantage of the Draft.\nHere are some parting predictions and things to look for tonight:\nJosh Smith, the former IU recruit, could go as high as the lottery (the first 14 picks) or the middle of the draft. Don't be surprised if he ends up in Atlanta. The Hawks need fans, and getting one of their own would be a step toward bringing them back.\nPlan on lots of high school and foreign players being drafted, so if there are names that hurt to pronounce, don't be frightened because there is a likelihood you won't see them for a few years anyway.\nDwight Howard will end up in Orlando, Charlotte or Atlanta; anywhere else would be a surprise. Being a top-two pick is no surprise, and staying close to home is something Howard has made no secret about being a good thing.\nLastly, pay attention to the second round. It'll be late, and you won't recognize the players, but these are often the guys that play a key role for teams, despite not having a guaranteed contract.
(06/14/04 1:26am)
The men's basketball coaching carousel has stopped -- for now. \nIU men's basketball coach Mike Davis announced Friday the hiring of Kerry Rupp as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers in 2004-2005.\nRupp, 50, will be replacing former IU assistant coach Ben McDonald, who resigned May 12.\nRupp was previously at Utah for three seasons where he oversaw the program's scouting of opponents and recruiting, helping the Utes to NCAA tournament appearances in all three seasons and two Mountain West Conference championships.\nHaving the opportunity to join a recognized program like IU and work with Davis was one that he couldn't pass up, Rupp said in a statement.\n"I've traveled all over the world and studied many successful coaches and programs," Rupp said. "That is why getting the opportunity to work under coach Davis at Indiana University is truly an honor."\nBefore joining the Utah staff in August 2001, Rupp was a high school coach in Utah for 24 years. In Rupp's most recent high school coaching spot he was at East High School in Salt Lake City from 1986 to 2001. Rupp was promoted to head coach in 1990 and led the Leopards to four region championships and two appearances in the state title game. While at East High School, Rupp served as athletics director from 1992 to 1999, when he was named Coach of the Year by the Utah High School Activities Association.\nWhile at Utah, Rupp was an assistant under men's basketball head coach Rick Majerus. In January, Majerus resigned due to health problems, leaving the head coaching seat vacant.\nRupp was promoted to interim head coach and led the Utes to a 9-4 record and a Mountain West Conference tournament championship.\nThe team advanced to the NCAA tournament after winning the conference tournament title. The Utes were seeded 11th in the tournament and fell to six seed Boston College in Milwaukee, 58-51, in the first round.\nOnce the season concluded, Utah named Ray Giacoletti from Eastern Washington its new head coach and Giacoletti decided not to keep Rupp on staff.\nFor IU to gain a coach with the amount of experience Rupp has will be a significant addition for the Hoosiers, Davis said in a statement.\n"Kerry's success throughout his career, especially working for a great coach like Rick Majerus, speaks for itself," Davis said. "Kerry is a veteran coach with a tremendous work ethic, and he brings a lot of energy to a program. I am anxious to start working with him."\nRupp has been involved with basketball on many levels including the National Basketball Association. In 1993, he was the Utah Jazz Summer League coordinator and in 1996 was part of the Seattle Supersonics Summer League staff at the Rocky Mountain Revue.\nThere is one word that characterizes Rupp: "teacher," Majerus said in a statement.\n"He's a teacher extraordinaire, and he knows how to impart his knowledge and help players become better," Majerus said. "Kerry is a genuine guy who has a heartfelt concern for the players, and yet he remains a tough disciplinarian."\nThis is the second coaching change for the Hoosiers in as many years as assistant coach Thad Fitzpatrick joined the staff last season after Jim Thomas left the staff in the summer of 2003.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(06/14/04 1:25am)
The search committee for IU's new athletics director isn't wasting time to find a replacement as an advertisement and Web site were both released Thursday by IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley, the chairman of the search committee.\nThe advertisement will be sent through traditional media in addition to e-mail. It will also be sent to major college sports conferences around the nation and those who expressed interest in the job. The committee announced a July 16 deadline for applicants to submit resumes, with a final selection for applicants to be in August.\nThere are seven qualifications listed on the advertisement, including significant experience in fiscal planning and budget management and understanding and appreciation of the role of intercollegiate athletics within a leading university.\nThe seven guidelines listed are important, but other qualifications listed on the Web site are equally vital, Beckley said. \n"We feel the seven in the ad are the leading ones. It would have been impossible to list all the qualifications in the advertisement," Beckley said. "We feel it is an excellent ad, that leads (applicants) to a Web site that has a huge amount of details on the qualification and the University."\nThe Web site, which was launched in conjunction with the advertisement, includes more details about IU and lists a total of 12 qualifications.\nAngela Tharp, from the Office of Communications and Marketing, and Thomas Atkinson, campus Web manager helped create the Web site along with Beckley.\nThe added features on the site include past releases about the position of athletics director along with background of the University and the athletics department.\nBefore the release of the advertisement, the search committee met with current Athletics Director Terry Clapacs Monday at the Virgil T. DeVault Alumni Center\nClapacs provided insight on the job and helped present the committee with ideas that may not have been looked at before, along with the possibility of Clapacs helping the committee in the future Beckley said.\nClapacs could not be reached for comment at press time.\nDespite the advertisement being out less than a week, it has been successful thus far, Beckley said.\n"Within 48 hours after President (Adam Herbert) announced (the position being open), it had spread throughout the U.S.," Beckley said. "We've already had applications submitted."\nThe committee won't purely be relying on candidates to submit applications themselves, as the committee will look at nominated candidates from sports organizations that were sought when the committee was formed.\nWith the release of the advertisement and launching of the Web site two weeks after the official announcement of the search, Beckley said the committee is keeping its aggressive approach.\n"We are going to be very proactive in contacting potential candidates and to inquire about candidates," Beckley said. "We are going to be very aggressive in supplementing that action by contacting prospects who come to us. That is the great benefit of going to commissioners of major conferences, and getting the names of prospects."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(06/14/04 1:21am)
For the first time in three years, the price of parking permits will increase for the 2004-05 academic year, IU Parking Operations announced last week.\nThe largest increase was in 'A' permits, which will increase from $254 to $264. Parking permits for 'C' and 'E' spots both went up by $3. The 'C' permit will now cost $99 and the 'E' will run $81. The only permit unchanged was the 'F', which remains at $39. \n"About $100,000 will be generated from the price increases," he said. "It is going to fund $100,000 worth of projects, and help for million dollar projects."\nOne such project Parking Operations is working on is paving the 'E' blue lot next to Assembly Hall and across from Briscoe Quad.\nPreliminary work is under way on paving the gravel lot, which is slated to be completed on August 20 and is costing about $1.2 million.\nThe paved blue lot will be a welcome sight for junior Amy Schroeder, who said she has used the lot for three years.\n"(The blue lot) is often very unorganized. People will park too close or too far apart and block people in," Schroeder said. "It will be really nice to have designated spots for parking with lines and actual spaces."\nParking Operations is planning three to four smaller projects this summer including 10th Street and Woodlawn Avenue behind the School of Informatics.\nThough improvements to parking lots might be needed, the need for more parking spots is a more pressing issue, junior Ryan Arnold said. \n"We obviously have parking issues here at (IU) with so many students," Arnold said. "I don't think paving is the solution. I think we should make more parking lots on campus somewhere."\nParking Operations does have plans for future parking garages because of the increasing student enrollment that is nearing 40,000.\nThough sites have not yet been determined, Porter said the new money coming in will help those plans along.\nMany students feel that the positives will outweigh the negatives of the price increase.\n"With a new smooth surface (in the 'E'0 blue lot), I won't have to worry so much about the weather," Schroeder said.\nEven though Arnold said he is unhappy about the prices increasing next year for an 'E' parking permit, which he has used for the past two years, he said he'll probably buy one in the fall regardless.\n"(The cost) is not a factor. It's a necessity, especially where I am going to live next year," Arnold said. "Even though I'm going to walk to class, I'm going to get the 'E' pass, so if I ever need it I can have the opportunity to use it."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu .
(06/03/04 2:28am)
With the season on the line for both IU's men's and women's tennis teams, the women's doubles duo of sophomore Sarah Batty and senior Linda Tran fell in the Elite Eight while men's junior Jakub Praibis fell in the second round of the men's singles championship.\nAfter pulling off two upsets in the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament women's doubles championship, Batty and Tran's luck ran out as they ran into UCLA's doubles team of Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher and fell 1-6, 6-4 and 6-4. With the loss, Batty and Tran ended the season with a 14-4 record.\nBatty and Tran had to endure 90 degree temperatures in Athens, Ga. throughout the tournament and faced them again on May 27 at the Dan Magill Tennis Center when they matched Bercek and Fisher.\nThings started off well for the Hoosiers as they grabbed an early lead, winning the first set 6-1, putting them one set away from advancing to the Final Four.\nBatty and Tran used a mixture of drives and lobs to convincingly win the set, IU women's coach Lin Loring said.\n"We were making our shots and trying to neutralize some of their power," Loring said. "That (first set) may have been the best set they played all season."\nDuring the second set things began to change. Shots that were falling in the first set for Batty and Tran began not to fall and in return, the duo from UCLA captured the set 6-4 sending the match into a third and decisive set.\nThe third set went back and forth with Bercek and Fisher eventually capturing the set 6-4 winning the match for the eventual national champions.\nDespite facing tough conditions and their third three-setter of the tournament, no excuses were given about the match, senior Linda Tran said.\n"(The temperature) is not even an excuse," Tran said. "We were ready to go today."\nKnowing they were two steps away from playing for the national title makes the loss tough to swallow, Batty said.\n"We've had a lot of close matches," Batty said. "(The loss) sucks because you are so close to getting to the next round, its right there and then it's gone."\nIn getting to the Elite Eight and reaching All-American status, great things for the players and the team came from this experience, Loring said.\n"(Linda) is one of the best doubles players to have been at IU. I was really happy for Linda to go out an All-American," Loring said. "Hopefully it will make (Sarah) work extra hard and be in the individual tournament. Being involved with the caliber of play will be a motivational force and she can share the experiences and it can be a positive for everyone."\nEarlier in the day in Tulsa, Okla., Praibis faced off with the third ranked player in the nation, Jeremy Wurtzman of Ohio State, with a chance to advance to the round of 16.\nJust like the first time they faced each other, the match was close. Despite getting behind 4-1 in the first set, Praibis rallied to within 5-4, before losing the set 6-4.\nMuch like the first set, Praibis fell behind, this time 5-2, with the match and season on the line; Praibis won the next four games to pull ahead 6-5. Praibis couldn't hold off Wurtzman though and dropped the final two games, losing the set 7-5 and the match, ending his season with a 16-7 record.\nAt the end of the match Wurtzman was too much for Praibis, IU men's coach Ken Hydinger said in a statement. \n"Jakub (Praibis) had a rough tiebreaker in the second set," Hydinger said. "It was just not a good tiebreaker for Jakub as his concentration began to waver towards the end."\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu .
(06/03/04 2:26am)
For the third time in four years, a new athletics director will lead the IU athletics department, IU President Adam Herbert announced Thursday.\nHerbert also announced the formation of a 16-member committee to choose the next director, which will be chaired by IU Alumni Association President Ken Beckley.\nThe committee is composed IU community members, including the IU trustees, faculty, coaches and athletics department employees.\nThe committee will begin work immediately and has a great opportunity to form the the future of IU athletics, Herbert said in a statement.\n"Like all other fields of endeavor at IU, we strive for excellence in athletics," Herbert said. "We have before us a unique opportunity to shape the future of IU athletics in a manner that reflects the values and high aspirations of the University."\nThe committee will replace current Athletics Director Terry Clapacs, who has managed duties as both athletics director and the vice president for administration and chief administrative officer since Nov. 8, 2002. Clapacs assumed responsibility of the athletics department when former Athletics Director Michael McNeely stepped down from the position after being hired on March 1, 2001, holding the position for only 16 months.\nBeckley said it will be important to find a director who wants a long career at IU.\n"It is very important that we have a strong feeling from the candidates who are selected as finalists, and will want to have a long career with Indiana University," Beckley said. \nThe committee will be working closely with Herbert throughout the search process and hopes to submit three to five candidates in August as finalists. A candidate for the athletics director position should be selected in September by Herbert, Beckley said.\nHerbert will make the final decision, but has asked former IU football coach Bill Mallory to assist in the process along with Beckley and business professor Bruce Jaffee, one of the 16 chosen for the committee.\nJaffee has experience in the search process as he has been involved with many athletic and academic searches, including the searches for current men's basketball coach Mike Davis and football coach Gerry DiNardo.\nBeing involved in many searches before will aid him in the process this time, Jaffee said.\n"Its a big advantage for me having experience," Jaffee said. "I have a better feel now for an appropriate background in the athletic ranks."\nIn the quest for a new athletics director, the committee plans to open up the search to many fields and professions. Among those are associate athletics directors, applicants from professional and collegiate associations and athletes with business backgrounds, Beckley said. The committee expects internal and external candidates.\n"We are starting with a clean slate. No one is on the list at this point," Beckley said. "To be an athletics director at IU would be a prime position in the United States in athletics -- something a lot of people would want."\nThe search for the new athletics director will begin as the committee holds its first meeting today at 4:30 p.m at Bryan Hall.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(06/03/04 2:26am)
IU will change from a swoosh to three stripes when the athletics department changes apparel suppliers from Nike to Adidas July 1. \nThe department also announced that current Athletics Director Terry Clapacs will step down to make way for a new director to be determined in September.\nIU had been under contract with Nike from 2001 and signed a two-year deal that expires June 30.\nThe process began when IU received unsolicited offers from other apparel merchandisers in 2003. IU solicited proposals on Oct. 7 to around five companies, with the main three consisting of Adidas, Nike and Reebok.\nWhen it was time to make a decision, the Adidas offer was the best one, Clapacs said.\n"We went through the request process and opened it up to everyone," he said. "In the end, Adidas ended up being the best deal for IU."\nThe contract at this point has not been signed, and is for an undetermined number of years and with unspecified cash considerations. The contract will be similar to the Nike one, in that they will supply all of the athletics equipment for the 24 varsity sports\nWhen asked about the specifics of the contract, all sources declined to comment.\nThe Varsity Shop will carry the new Adidas apparel, but will continue to sell Nike items.\nHoosier fans can expect many new Adidas items to arrive in both Varsity Shop locations no later than Aug. 1, said Jeff Horan, associate athletics director of merchandising.\nConcerning cream and crimson, the colors Nike had and Adidas will have should resemble one another, but could vary depending on material.\nThe athletics department is hoping that because of the quick switch from Nike to Adidas, fans aren't disgruntled about trying to keep pace with the look on the field, Horan said.\n"We hope that there is no backlash from Nike purchasers," Horan said, "as (the shops) try to have as close to what they have on the courts and fields for the fans."\nWith the new deal, it will mark the first time that Adidas has been a licensed vendor of all IU sports products. In the past, Adidas had licensed some men's soccer products.\nIn addition to the cash consideration, the athletics department will have a full-time Adidas representative in Bloomington, Clapacs said.\nWith the athletics department suffering through a deficit, IU will not have to worry about a cost from switching, said purchasing contract manager Mike Keen.\n"The tangible benefits were clearly much improved with Adidas over the Nike deal," Keen said.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(05/27/04 2:05am)
The rest of the IU men's and women's tennis seasons might be over, but individual players on the teams are still leaving their mark on the NCAA singles and doubles championships.\nWith a win Wednesday, the doubles duo of sophomore Sarah Batty and senior Linda Tran advanced to the final eight of the NCAA tournament doubles championship, while junior Jakub Praibis notched his first NCAA tournament win in the men's singles championship.\nAfter an opening round victory, Batty and Tran (14-3) advanced to the round of 16 to face off against junior Heather Saluri and senior Anda Perianu, the No. 17 team from Oklahoma.\nThe Hoosiers had to go the distance in their first match, and a repeat performance would be needed in pursuit of a final eight spot.\nIn the first set, Batty and Tran cruised to a 6-3 victory in the second match. The tandem from Oklahoma staved off elimination by winning a close 7-6 decision in the second set.\nFor the second time in as many days, Batty and Tran had go to the third set in order to advance.\nIn a set that went back in forth throughout, with the score tied 5-5, Batty and Tran won the next two games to provide a 7-5 decision, allowing them to advance to the round of eight against the UCLA duo of Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher, the No. 23 team in the country.\nGetting the victory in 90 degree temperature was big in the close match, IU women's coach Lin Loring said.\n"(The match) could have gone either way," Loring said. "Throughout the match there were really long games, it was a shame that either team had to lose."\nWith the victory, Batty and Tran achieved All-American status, which can be attained by reaching the final eight in the doubles championships.\nAccomplishing All- American status is great honor, Tran said.\n"I am so happy to say I am an All-American," Tran said. "I worked so hard to get back here and we had a tough match today and I am just ecstatic."\nBefore advancing to the last 16, Tran and Batty made the most of the opportunity in their first round match against the No. 9 team and No. 3 seed of the tournament in Duke Tory Zawacki and Amanda Johnson.\nAfter losing the first set 7-6 (5), the team rebounded by winning the second set 6-2 forcing a third and decisive set.\nIn the third set, Batty and Tran overwhelmed the duo from Duke and won the final set 6-1, claiming the victory and advancing the round of 16.\nFor the men, the Hoosiers had the No. 54 ranked Praibis (16-6) representing the team in Tulsa, Okla.\nPraibis squared off against No. 59 senior Calle Henson (20-11) from Pepperdine and came away with a victory in three sets, 6-3, 3-6 and 7-6.\nPraibis grabbed an early lead and cruised on his way to capturing the first set. The second set proved to be more of a challenge as he fell behind and lost 6-3.\nIn the final set, Praibis showed why he was selected to compete in the tournament. Facing elimination being down 4-1, Praibis tied the match up and won the final set 7-6. \nComing back and winning in his first NCAA tournament match was a good feeling, Praibis said.\n"I'm pretty happy, especially after I didn't play my best throughout," Praibis said. "I was down mentally and the score (4-1), I was lucky to come back and win."\nWith the victory, Praibis moved to the second round to face a familiar foe, Big Ten rival Jeremy Wurtzman (41-4) of Ohio State, No. 3 player in the nation and the No. 3 seed in the tournament.\nThe last time Praibis faced Wurtzman was in Columbus, Ohio, and despite Praibis winning the first set 6-2, he lost the final two 6-4 and 6-0.\nWhen Praibis plays Wurtzman, he'll have to be sure not to back down against him, IU men's coach Ken Hydinger said.\n"He can't let up against (Wurtzman)," Hydinger said. "He has to keep him on the defensive and jump all over him."\nBatty and Tran will try to advance against UCLA's Bercek and Fisher at 3 p.m. today in Athens Ga., at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, while Praibis will resume his run in the tournament at 9 a.m. today in Tulsa Okla., at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.
(05/24/04 1:31am)
Though both the men's and women's teams are out of contention for a team national championship, IU tennis players still have a chance to be national champions through the singles and doubles competitions this week.\nWomen's singles and doubles championships begin today and will continue Saturday in Athens, Ga., at the Dan Magill Tennis complex at the University of Georgia. The men's championship will be played Wednesday in Tulsa, Okla., at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center at the University of Tulsa.\nAfter a successful season in which the women's team was a co-Big Ten regular season champion and advanced to the NCAA tournament, the team will send the doubles tandem of sophomore Sarah Batty and senior Linda Tran, along with junior Dora Vastag, an alternate in the singles bracket tomorrow.\nBatty and Tran combined efforts during the season to clinch a 12-3 record and a No. 25 national ranking.\nPlaying on a national stage will not be new for this combo, as a tough schedule and competition in the NCAA tournament at Southern California will help them out, said IU women's coach Lin Loring.\n"It shouldn't be a big factor, they've been (in the spotlight before)," Loring said. "The tournament will be a more select field with great competition, and they will have to be really motivated and work hard."\nFor Tran, competing in the doubles championship will not be new, as she was selected in her sophomore season along with fellow senior Karie Schlukebir.\nTran said she feels her experience will be important when she and Batty meet up with the No. 9 team in the country and No. 3 seed Duke, with senior Amanda Johnson and freshman Tory Zawacki.\n"I think my experience from the previous NCAA tournament is vital, because I know what to expect," Tran said. "If we can play our percentages well on the court we can beat any team in the tournament."\nAs one of the alternates, Vastag's path is unclear at this point, She currently boasts a 19-12 record and a No. 52 ranking.\nDespite not knowing whether she'll participate in the tournament, Vastag said she remains confident.\n"I feel optimistic about playing in the tournament," she said. "I am the third alternate and last year five advanced into the draw."\nFor the men's team, only one player was able to advance to the tournament for IU, junior Jakub Praibis.\nPraibis has been leading the Hoosiers throughout the season as he has played at the top spot, along with achieving Big Ten Player of the Week honors in late February and being named to the All-Big Ten team.\nWith all the achievements for the No. 54 player, he said being selected to the the NCAA tournament is the best so far.\n"In the beginning I thought I might make the tournament," Praibis said. "Then I did not due to the injury, and at the end it was pretty surprising that I made it," referring to a wrist injury he suffered April 4 against Penn State.\nAlthough the competition will be tough for Praibis, having played at No. 1 spot for the past two years will aid him when he goes up against the nation's best.\nThough Praibis was surprised by his selection to the NCAA tournament, IU men's coach Ken Hydinger said he wasn't shocked that Praibis was selected for the tournament.\n"Jakub defeated a player that was ranked No. 8 (Doug Stewart of Virginia) this year and went three sets with a player who was ranked No. 1 (Jeremy Wurtzman of Ohio State) in the nation," Hydinger said. "Honestly, I would have been surprised and felt it unjust if Jakub had not been in the tournament."\nBatty and Tran will begin tomorrow, while Praibis will start his tournament run Wednesday.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.