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(02/19/10 5:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tom, Derek, Bobby — it’s time to step up. Other than freshman forward Christian Watford, there has been little to no consistency from the members of IU’s front line.Each of IU’s “bodies” has had his moments, but collectively there has been limited production from the Hoosiers playing opposite of Watford at the “5.”Against Michigan State on Tuesday, IU’s four big men outside of Watford combined for five rebounds in 48 minutes of action. Junior guard Jeremiah Rivers, meanwhile, had 6 boards alone in his 28 minutes. That must change for IU if it wants to go on the road and complete the season sweep of Minnesota. In the narrow overtime defeat of the Golden Gophers at Assembly Hall on Jan. 17, it was the Verdell Jones show down the stretch. The sophomore guard scored 13 of the Hoosiers’ last 18 points, including a number of big shots and key free throws.Aside from the 24 points from Jones, IU got a tremendous boost from its post players. Watford had an impressive stat line in 16 points and 10 rebounds. But more significantly, the Hoosiers’ three other big men combined for 17 points and 15 rebounds. Sophomore forward Tom Pritchard scored 7 points, while freshmen forwards Derek Elston and Bobby Capobianco had 5 apiece. But the key number was their combined 15 boards. Despite 19 points from Minnesota’s centers — 17 from sophomore Ralph Sampson — the Gophers’ two tallest players grabbed only 6 rebounds. “We would have never won the game without rebounding,” IU coach Tom Crean said after the game. Minnesota coach Tubby Smith saw it, too. “I thought all day, Indiana did a great job of working hard and getting on the boards,” Smith said. “That’s where the game was won. They really did a great job of attacking the glass.” In the eight games since the Minnesota win — seven of which have gone in the loss column — IU has played as many as five different forwards or centers alongside Watford. Not once in that span has that group of Pritchard, Capobianco, Elston, senior Tijan Jobe and freshman Bawa Muniru pulled in more than 13 total rebounds. Pritchard continues to be the most curious case of the big men, having averaged 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds a year ago but just 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds to date. He played the half of his life on Feb. 4 versus Purdue, scoring 13 points and bringing in 3 rebounds in just 19 minutes. But in the 100 minutes of playing time since, encompassing his 17 second-half minutes and IU’s four most recent games, Big Tom has gone for a meager 14 points and 10 rebounds.With Minnesota guard Al Nolen academically ineligible, that’s one less guard to key on for the Hoosiers. Therefore, Smith’s game plan will likely run through the post even more than it did in January’s contest at Assembly Hall. Whereas Watford continues to be reliable at the 4, Crean and the Hoosiers will need more help from Pritchard and his teammates at the 5. Certainly the Gophers will focus heavily on Jones, so elevated post play will be critical for the Hoosiers if the team hopes to emerge victorious on Saturday. “Playing through contact, being physical, being on the glass, being willing to take shots, being willing to get fouled — those are all a big part of it for us,” Crean said after beating Minnesota in January.Those same factors will be in play at The Barn this weekend. So, Tom, Derek and Bobby, let’s see what you’ve got.Cohen's prediction: Minnesota 70 - IU 63
(02/19/10 4:45am)
After losing to Michigan at home and at Northwestern, Minnesota beat No. 14 Wisconsin tonight at Williams Arena.
(02/17/10 5:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The scoreboard might not have shown it — and it was the team’s seventh loss in as many games — but IU took some baby steps in the right direction Tuesday.Tom Crean’s Hoosiers played with more heart and more fight than they showed in recent performances, despite ending on the losing end of things yet again. In the final minutes, even when the game was out of reach, the Hoosiers were battling for rebounds, on the ground scrapping for loose balls and playing hard on both ends. Unlike Saturday, the Hoosiers looked like a team that wanted to be out there. IU grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and scored 21 second-chance points, took several charges and created a number of problems early for the Spartans, but Michigan State was simply the better team. “They have no weaknesses at any position and they have the depth and all that, and you just can’t let them come down and get comfortable,” Crean said. IU was not much of a match for Michigan State, despite playing them tough for virtually the entire contest. The Spartans had nine guys play 10 or more minutes and had four players score in double figures and had 10 different guys score at least a bucket. Although IU out-rebounded the Big Ten’s top rebounding team by six, the Spartans were the dominant team for much of the game.The Hoosiers didn’t even collect their first defensive rebound until nearly 12 minutes into the game, partly due to the Spartans shooting, offensive boards and second-chance opportunities. Michigan State also distributed the ball well, and eight of the team’s 13 assists came from a pair of big men. IU, meanwhile, had five assists to 16 turnovers. Unlike in recent games, IU didn’t fall apart after getting behind by double figures. But the Spartans, led by guard Kalin Lucas, always had an answer to the Hoosiers’ small runs.“Every time we thought we were going to cut it and make a little dent and get a little momentum, then Kalin would come back with a big shot,” Crean said. The Hoosiers weren’t expected to win, but given the team’s performance, they should be returning to practice Wednesday with much more confidence than they had been playing with prior to Tuesday’s game. “We came out with a lot of energy today. We played hard, they just had some more points off turnovers,” freshman guard Jordan Hulls said. “I thought our group played with a lot more energy than we had the last couple games and we’re just going to build off that.”Junior guard Jeremiah Rivers made similar comments, talking about continuing to build off the successes of both recent practices and certain spurts.“Losing is tough, it’s real tough, especially when we know we’re right there and good enough to win,” Rivers said. “I think if we just continue to believe in ourselves and believe in what the coaches preach I think we’ll be okay.”Although the Hoosiers weren’t satisfied with Tuesday’s outcome, the team did appear to be back on track and the players talked with a renewed since of hope.Even Michigan State coach Tom Izzo spoke about Crean bringing his program back. It won’t come all that quickly, but if IU continues playing hard and making strides in the right direction — even if just small steps — good things will come in time.
(02/16/10 2:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU lost to No. 11 Michigan State last March, it was the team’s eighth-straight loss and the 19th in 20 games. Yet after the way the Hoosiers performed against the eventual NCAA Tournament runner-up Spartans last year, there wasn’t much with which to be disappointed.“It was a great game,” IU coach Tom Crean said. “Our guys were in it the entire way to the very end.” While the upset didn’t happen and then-senior Kyle Taber lost his final home game at IU, it was a valiant effort. Crean said his team could have “packed it in” after falling behind by 13 midway through the second half, but they never did.“That is a sign of maturity and our goal as we go through this is to keep playing better basketball, keep building a better mind-set and keep building that belief that we can win now and we can win in the future,” Crean said.IU quickly surpassed last year’s six wins and a single Big Ten victory this season, but since starting 9-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play, the Hoosiers have lost six straight.In the team’s most recent losses, it hasn’t displayed that same fight the 2008-’09 Hoosiers did against the Spartans. IU simply hasn’t been competitive after falling behind by double digits.That has to change quickly for the Hoosiers to compete in the final six games of the regular season, starting tonight.Although Michigan State has lost three of its last four, including two of its last three on the road, the Spartans will be a tough matchup for the Hoosiers. MSU guard Kalin Lucas, though still not fully recovered from an ankle sprain, scored 24 points, dished out 6 assists and nabbed 3 steals Saturday at Penn State. The Spartans have three other double-figure scorers in guard Durrell Summers (10.4) and forwards Raymar Morgan (10.4) and Draymond Green (10.0). Michigan State is third in the Big Ten in scoring but the conference leader in rebounds (39.5 per game) and rebound margin (+9.5). IU, meanwhile, is third in the Big Ten on the boards (35.8), yet is in the league cellar by allowing its opponents to grab an average of 36.7 per game. “Rebounding is going to be key for us, as long as we are tough in there,” freshman guard Jordan Hulls said.Green is Michigan State’s biggest force on the glass, averaging 8.2 boards, while starting forwards Delvon Roe (5.7) and Morgan (5.6) could greatly challenge IU as well. It should be an up-tempo and sometimes sloppy game, as IU and Michigan State lead the Big Ten in turnovers. Despite its recent woes during the course of Lucas’ injury, Michigan State will not be an easy opponent for IU to bring down. Yet if recent performances have anything to do with today’s outcome, it is likely IU will determine its own fate. The Hoosiers might seem due for a win soon, but it won’t be handed to them in the Big Ten. They will have to earn it, and that starts inside. “We’ve had some tough games the last couple weeks, but as long as we keep working hard in practice, it’s going to come,” Hulls said. “We’re staying together and as long as we keep doing that, it’s going to work out.”Cohen's prediction: MSU 72-IU 64
(02/15/10 7:15pm)
In this morning's weekly Big Ten teleconference, IU coach Tom Crean addressed the nagging question about the status of sophomore guard Matt Roth. At last, it seems we have an answer, and it appears that the injured sharpshooter will not play the rest of the year.
(02/15/10 6:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After freshman guard Maurice Creek was lost for the season, you wondered how the Hoosiers would respond. Three days later, IU beat Michigan 71-65. On Jan. 17, riding a three-game losing streak consisting of two blowout road losses and a blown lead to Illinois at home, IU pulled out a gutsy overtime win against Minnesota. Then the Hoosiers beat Penn State on the road by six. IU returned to Assembly Hall with a 15-point loss to mediocre Iowa, but the Hoosiers came within seconds of winning at Illinois and at home against No. 7 Purdue.Despite a number of setbacks, coach Tom Crean’s Hoosiers continued to show a lot of fight and looked like a team unwilling to be weighed down by the overwhelming odds against them. However, many wondered, at what point would the close defeats start to take its toll on the young IU team? The answer seems a bit obvious at this point, as the Hoosiers have railed off a pair of 17-point losses at Northwestern and at home to No. 13 Ohio State and a 28-point road loss to a Wisconsin team that was without its leading scorer and rebounder on Saturday.Wisconsin scored 30 points alone on 10-of-25 shooting from behind the 3-point line, yet the Badgers dominated the Hoosiers in the paint as well: 32-16. IU turned the ball over 21 times, a significant number of them unforced, and Wisconsin scored 29 points off those miscues. The Badgers also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points, while IU joined Cal Poly and Green Bay as the only teams Wisconsin has scored at least 80 points on this season.Save for sophomore walk-on guard Daniel Moore and some spurts by a few of his teammates, the Hoosiers looked almost uninterested in being out there. They aren’t playing hard and they certainly aren’t playing tough. We continue to hear about the team playing well in practice and coming in with a good game plan, but in each game the team unravels from the opening tip.At Wisconsin on Saturday, IU was down 8-0 less than two minutes in and had fallen behind by the equivalent of two touchdowns and a pair of field goals by the 12:35 mark in the first half. In its last three games, the Hoosiers have trailed a combined 33-6 by the first media timeout, which comes just more than four minutes into each game. Wisconsin was hitting baskets at will Saturday, but that was due in large part to IU’s defense. It let the Badgers get open, and it couldn’t stop the inside-out game, allowing a number of easy layups and second-chance baskets. “I felt like when they were in zone or even when they were in man, I felt like nobody really checked me out,” said Wisconsin forward Mike Bruesewitz, who had six offensive rebounds. “I kind of felt like I could just go get it whenever I wanted to.” It can’t be easy for IU, but you question where the motivation is even going to come from at this point.A coach’s pep talks can only do so much, and it really has to come from the players — even if you subscribe to the idea that Crean should be taking more responsibility for these losses. The Hoosiers can either keep on playing as they have been, taking a knockout punch in the early stages of a game and wilting from there, or the team can own up, come together and try turning things around. Without the fans, the IU program isn’t more than five cloth banners, some pictures on the wall and a couple display cases of past achievements. This team owes it to the Hoosier faithful to come out and play like it deserves to wear cream and crimson.
(02/14/10 7:45pm)
If you haven't realized it by now, each game we host a live blog/chat with the Herald-Times' Chris Korman and Dustin Dopirak, InsideTheHall's Alex Bozich and a number of other guests.
(02/12/10 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After falling to No. 13 Ohio State on Wednesday, IU will play at No. 11 Wisconsin on Saturday and No. 10 Michigan State at home Tuesday. Outside of the Big East Conference’s Providence Friars — currently in the middle of a four-game stretch consisting of No. 7 Georgetown, No. 4 Villanova, No. 5 West Virginia and No. 2 Syracuse — no other team in the country is facing a tougher span of games than the Hoosiers. But while Providence is facing the Murderers’ Row of the Big East during a 15-day period, IU’s difficult three-game stretch is taking place in a week’s time. That means very little turnaround between games and limited time to prepare for the next opponent. Prior to Wednesday’s Ohio State game, IU assistant coach Tim Buckley had taken care of the Wisconsin game tapes and done the necessary scouting.But while the players went home after the 17-point loss, IU coach Tom Crean suggested he had a long night ahead to watch the film. “I’ve released them from the locker room, but I can go back another eight hours tonight,” Crean said. The Hoosiers likely practiced Thursday and will get in some work Friday before heading north to Madison, Wis., for Saturday’s 2 p.m. tipoff.After playing Ohio State, a team averaging nearly 75 points per game, IU has had only a little time to transition to a Wisconsin swing offense that significantly slows down the game pace. The Badgers (18-6, 8-4) are also the top defensive team in the Big Ten, allowing just 56.5 points per game. Less than 72 hours later, however, the Hoosiers will be back on its home court to face Michigan State at Assembly Hall. The Spartans (19-6, 9-3), third in the conference in total offense behind just Minnesota and Purdue, play an up-tempo game that is drastically different from what the Hoosiers will see Saturday. It likely will not be an easy back-and-forth transition between games and playing styles, especially going against more experienced, more talented and very well-coached teams like Wisconsin and Michigan State. In recent days, IU hasn’t played like a team that can compete at the Badgers and Spartans’ level, but the Hoosiers aren’t far removed from a stellar effort against No. 6 Purdue. “Six days ago, we played one of the best teams in the country to a three-point game,” Crean said Wednesday. “It’s not like we can’t do good things. But we have a lot of challenges in front of us ... We just have to continue to grow through it.” Although banged-up Michigan State star Kalin Lucas should be 100 percent by Tuesday, IU will benefit at Wisconsin if 6-foot-10 forward Jon Leuer is still sidelined with his wrist injury. Leuer, Wisconsin’s leading scorer and rebounder at 15.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game has missed the team’s last eight games.The Badgers began the year 13-3, but they have gone just 5-3 in Leuer’s absence. Most notably, Wisconsin fell by seven at home versus Illinois on Tuesday, snapping the Badgers’ 51-game home winning streak versus unranked opponents. Of course, Illinois (17-8, 9-3) will almost surely be ranked next week and IU hasn’t won at Wisconsin since 1998. The Hoosiers lost there, 85-61, a year ago, despite a game-high 23 points from then-freshman guard Verdell Jones. This could be a critical stretch for IU, considering the manner in which the team has responded since the Feb. 4 loss to Purdue. It might also show how much fight the team has left.Cohen’s prediction: Wisconsin 65, IU 51
(02/11/10 8:21pm)
Louisville coach Rick Pitino reportedly has shown interest in the New Jersey Nets coaching position, sources told the New York Daily News.
(02/11/10 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The NBA All-Star Game 2010 Weekend won’t begin until Friday, but Wednesday’s IU and Ohio State game at Assembly Hall had the looks of it. There was plenty of dunking – alley-oops, two-handed flushes and a near-perfect windmill attempt by Ohio State’s William Buford. There were a fair amount of 3-pointers shot.And toward the end of the first half, and for much of the second half, especially, it was a quick-paced, sometimes sloppy game.Unfortunately for IU fans, it looked as though the Hoosiers signed up for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge – IU’s team of primarily “rookies” and sophomores were outplayed by the much more experienced Buckeyes. The Hoosiers were beaten in a number of areas and were dominated inside. The Buckeyes scored 40 points in the paint, including seven dunks, a number of hardly contested layups from penetration and a number of open looks due to IU not sealing off the Buckeyes in the lane.“We went on what I called ‘island defense,’” IU coach Tom Crean said. “On the defensive end, you’ve got to cover for your teammates, you’ve got to be alert and you’ve got to block out.” Buford, who averaged 14 points per game entering Wednesday’s contest, scored 12 first half points and 21 overall. He got to the basket at ease for layups when his jump shots weren’t falling, making up for star guard Evan Turner’s early foul trouble. Forward Dallas Lauderdale and center Kyle Madsen, a pair that averaged 7.1 points and 2.3 points per game, respectively, combined for 25 on Wednesday. But it wasn’t necessarily a product of Ohio State playing that well, though there is no doubt the team’s No. 13 ranking and 9-3 Big Ten record are legit. The Hoosiers simply weren’t there tonight mentally, Crean said. “I love what our game was about. But it wasn’t about game plan, it wasn’t about anything significant in the fact that we didn’t move well,” he said. “We weren’t alert. We didn’t guard the dribble. We weren’t alert on the backside.” Although he hadn’t seen a stat sheet, Crean said he felt the team did a good job of handling Turner, a favorite for national Player of the Year honors.Turner has been the primary reason the Buckeyes are where they are today, but his presence wasn’t all that significant as OSU put together a 12-0 run late in the first to enter the half ahead by 14 points. “We just broke down,” sophomore guard Verdell Jones said. “We weren’t playing as a team today. We didn’t play team defense, we weren’t playing as a team on the offensive end. If we want to win games against good teams like Ohio State we’ve got to do those things.” The Hoosiers fared rather well in the early part of Big Ten season, but amidst a brutal schedule – one that includes a game at No. 13 Wisconsin on Saturday and a home contest versus No. 10 Michigan State next Tuesday – it’s a legitimate question to ask when, or even if, another IU victory will come. Freshman forward Christian Watford said he and his teammates “just didn’t come out ready.” With a brutal schedule to end the season, the Hoosiers quickly need to figure things out. I haven’t the slightest clue what that entails, but IU must find some answers if it hopes to compete down the stretch.
(02/11/10 4:32am)
We have now seen three of America's best players play at Assembly Hall this year. In December, it was John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins of Kentucky. On Wednesday, it was Ohio State's Evan Turner.
(02/10/10 4:44pm)
Earlier today, USA Basketball revealed the names of the 27 players who will make up the 2010-2012 USA Men's National Team.
(02/10/10 6:59am)
I don't make decisions around here, but if I did I might add "Club Trillion" to the links down at the very, very bottom of Hoosier Hype.
(02/10/10 4:17am)
1-on-1 with OSU walk-on and blogger Mark Titus
(02/10/10 4:13am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ohio State coach Thad Matta has proven to be one of the best recruiters in the nation, and since taking over for the Buckeyes he has pulled in many of the best players in the region – including a number of stars from the Hoosier State. Matta’s No. 2 ranked class in 2006 included Indianapolis natives Greg Oden and Mike Conley, while his highly touted 2010 class will include five-star forward and Fort Wayne native DeShaun Thomas. But this year’s Ohio State squad (18-6), currently ranked No. 13 in the country, has just a single Indiana native. And while this particular player has earned just 47 minutes in four years, he might be the most well-known Buckeye of them all. Senior Mark Titus grew up in Brownsburg, Ind., a small town northwest of Indianapolis, but he has quickly emerged as a celebrity at Ohio State and all across the college basketball world. What makes Titus unique, however, is what he does off the court. “I’m a benchwarmer on the Ohio State basketball team that has a blog that’s more successful than it ever should have been,” Titus said. “There’s nothing all that special about me, other than the fact that I have inside access to a high-caliber college basketball team, and I write about my experiences.” Titus’ blog is called Club Trillion, an ode to a frequent walk-on statline consisting solely of one minute of playing time. That is, a one followed by a number of zeroes, and hence the “trillion.” The 6-foot-4 guard developed the idea to blog about his experiences during his sophomore year. Titus said he “didn’t even know what a blog” was then, but after doing some research and getting it started, it took off. “When I reached 500 total hits, I called all my friends and bragged about how crazy it was – so I guess it’s safe to say that I never envisioned over two million views,” he said. Aside from the insight into playing at Ohio State, Titus’ wit and humor are what made him an instant star – so big that he’s been interviewed by ESPN’s Bill Simmons and has been featured on ESPN’s First Take and in a number of publications such as Sports Illustrated. More recently, Titus has produced the latest YouTube sensation, “Mr. Rainmaker,” a video compilation of Titus’ basketball skills, fundamentals and tips from a D1 basketball player. In the end credits of his video, which received about 150,000 views in only four weeks, Titus paid homage to one of his favorite coaches – specifically his sweater. “Bob Knight is really the only reason I even cared about basketball when I was growing up,” Titus said. “All I wanted to do was play at Indiana for Coach Knight. In fact, when he was fired, I got progressively worse at basketball somehow.” Titus, who met Knight and other members of OSU’s 1960 National Championship game two weekends ago, grew up a “huge” IU fan. “I was at the Duke game in Lexington (Ky.) during their tournament and went crazy like every other Hoosier fan when (A.J.) Moye blocked (Carlos) Boozer’s shot,” he said. Although the Buckeyes are his new team, Titus still supports IU when the team isn’t matched up against OSU and “still get(s) chills hearing the IU fight song when we play in Bloomington,” he said. While a shoulder injury has likely ended Titus’ playing career, he posted a “trillion” versus in his last career game on Jan. 19. Even though he won’t play tonight versus IU, he hopes to be embraced by the Hoosier faithful. “I just want all the Hoosier fans to know that the only goal I have in my life at this point is to become one of those giant heads that are held up during free throws,” Titus said. Titus added that his goal to become a big head is his “only motivation in life,” and he hopes to become famous enough to make it into the Assembly Hall bleachers – even though he doesn’t play for IU. “I’m hoping that since I’m from Indiana and since I grew up a Hoosier fan, an exception can be made,” he said. “Plus, I have a disproportionately large head to begin with, so that’s got to count for something.”
(02/08/10 4:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After IU dropped a 58-43 contest to Iowa on Jan. 24, something changed. Both IU coach Tom Crean and his players alike spoke about the team’s quality practices and its renewed focus and belief since the home loss. Despite falling short at Illinois and at home versus No. 8 Purdue, the Hoosiers looked, acted and felt like an entirely different team. “No question,” junior guard Jeremiah Rivers said after the 78-75 loss to Purdue. “I think just the way we are playing. I think our communication is better, our defense is better, our offense is better. You can see that we’re really focused right now.” Watching IU battle Illinois until the final horn and seeing the Hoosiers push the highly-touted Boilermakers for 40 minutes, we all saw those qualities first-hand. Sunday’s game at Northwestern, however, was a completely different story. In fact, the Hoosiers looked like the same, inconsistent Hoosiers that have been unpredictable all season. After an 8-of-16 effort from beyond the arc versus Purdue, IU shot 2-of-17 from deep Sunday. In fact, senior guard Devan Dumes and freshman guard Jordan Hulls took that word to an entirely different level. Early in the first half, Dumes pulled up from Buffalo Grove, Ill., and later followed his first missed 3-pointer with a 28- or 30-footer that missed everything and had enough air to land at O’Hare Airport. Late in the second, with IU trying to claw back, the momentum was lost when Hulls threw up a bomb from Eric Gordon-like territory with the Hoosiers in transition. The miss led to a 5-0 Wildcats run with IU down just 11, its smallest deficit since the 19:22 mark in the second half. IU appeared to be taking too many quick shots, including a number off fast breaks, perhaps intimidated by the defensive problems Northwestern has been known to create. The Hoosiers got large boosts off the bench since switching to the more traditional two-guard lineup after the Iowa game, but the team’s first bench points Sunday came with 4:24 left in the game. Games are won and lost by team efforts, but sophomore guard Verdell Jones carried the Hoosiers on his back all day. Of the Hoosiers’ 18 made field goals, Jones accounted for 13 of them with his seven made field goals and six assists.Freshman forward Christian Watford chipped in 16 points, but 4 of his 5 field goals came on looks from Jones and a pair of his trips to the free-throw line were also created by Jones’ passes. Jones, who posted a career-high 28 points, including 12-of-13 shooting from the foul line, has certainly responded since the Iowa loss. He is averaging 24 points and 5 assists over the last three games. With Rivers and Hulls in the picture, Jones has played significantly fewer minutes this year as the team’s point guard. But Sunday, Jones was unquestionably IU’s best player on the floor, whether he was running the point or playing in his typical off-ball position. IU needed the ball in his hands in almost any offense, but one man typically can’t do it all. Injured freshman guard Maurice Creek has been sidelined for 10 games, so it’s not like IU hasn’t had time to find another scorer. The Hoosiers might be a different team after all, but until a player outside of Jones consistently produces, IU will likely run into the same problems that have been hurting the team all season.
(02/06/10 10:41pm)
IU coach Tom Crean on the Wildcats
(02/06/10 7:11pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Tom Crean’s Hoosiers are looking to bounce back from heartbreaking losses against two of the Big Ten’s best. The losses came by a combined total of five points and it’s certainly gotten some fans asking, "What if freshman guard Maurice Creek wasn’t injured?"Northwestern fans might be asking a similar question considering the team is off to its best start in 51 years and is two wins shy of matching its school record of 17 wins. The Wildcats are 15-7 and needing at least a few more wins for NCAA Tournament consideration – all this without star senior Kevin Coble (2nd team All-Big Ten in 2008-09) who is out for the year after having foot surgery.The Wildcats are only a game ahead of the Hoosiers in the Big Ten standings, but they have done a number of things IU wasn’t able to accomplish this year – win at Michigan and record home victories against Purdue and Illinois.Sunday’s game will game pit two of the hottest players against each other. Verdell Jones and John Shurna, both sophomores from Illinois, have been among the league’s best players in Big Ten play. Shurna is first in the conference in scoring in Big Ten games (19.6 points), while Jones is seventh (17.6 points). Shurna scored 31 and 15 in his last two outings, while Jones has posted consecutive 22-point performances.Although they play different positions, two of the top contenders for Big Ten Freshman of the Year will be in action on Sunday. IU’s Christian Watford is averaging 12.2 points and 6 rebounds (12 points and 5.9 rebounds in Big Ten games), while 6-foot-5 Northwestern wing Drew Crawford is averaging 11.4 points and 4.2 rebounds (13.7 points and 4.6 rebounds) in Big Ten games).IU has looked like a much different team since the Iowa loss and is ready for a win. The team’s ability to bounce back and the Hoosiers’ will to win could ultimately decide this one. Expect it to come down to the final minutes, but I’ll give the nod to Northwestern as the home team.Northwestern 70, IU 67
(02/06/10 5:34pm)
Devan Dumes
(02/05/10 5:02pm)
The Sagemont School (Fla.) senior forward and IU commit Will Sheehey will lead his school against fellow Sunshine State school Montverde Academy today at 5 p.m.