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(02/21/14 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Despite an opening weekend that has the IU baseball team already embroiled in a three-game losing streak, IU Coach Tracy Smith said he sees no reason to worry about his team heading into a three-game slate this weekend. As part of the inaugural Big Ten-Pac 12 Challenge, No. 10 IU will square off with Washington, Utah and No. 2 Oregon State on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The Hoosiers’ ninth-year coach said his team’s inability to practice outside due to a particularly harsh Indiana weather led to some early-season rust that was difficult to shake off.“It’s a tendency early in the season, when you come outside for the first time, we’re going to be a little wild fright, you’re going to be jumpy,” Smith said.“I think our guys were just that — were a little jumpy at the plate. I don’t like losing, certainly, but I’m not too worried about it.”The Hoosiers are projected to start three left-handers during the weekend — reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week and senior Joey DeNato, junior Kyle Hart and sophomore Will Coursen-Carr.Smith said he will look to see more consistency from a pitching staff that allowed 16 walks to Texas Tech last weekend.“I thought we were a little sloppy from the sense of just the consistency of strikes,” he said. “I think we had 15 walks or something on the weekend. A little sloppy on the mound.” In that season-opening series in Lubbock, Tex., IU’s nationally-hyped offense sputtered, scratching across only eight runs after putting 6.7 runs per game on the scoreboard last season.The No. 2 through No. 5 hitters in IU’s lineup — a group that includes preseason All-American juniors Kyle Schwarber and Sam Travis — were held to 11-60 throughout the weekend, a .183 batting average. Smith said IU’s offensive struggles don’t concern him, as the team was able to practice outside only once in the preseason.“I’m not worried about us offensively, it’s one of those things,” he said. “I think we’ve got to get more time outside, get in a rhythm a little bit, but this team’s going to hit, so I’m not worried about them.”Looming over the weekend’s first two games is Oregon State, who knocked IU out of the College World Series in 2013.As the nation’s No. 2 team, the Beavers are the most highly-ranked opponent on the Hoosiers’ 2014 schedule. Smith said he won’t focus on the matchup.“I think right now, our whole focus needs to be on Indiana and getting Indiana right and put together our good at-bats every time to the plate and our pitchers throwing strikes, not walking people,” he said. He said the Hoosiers’ leadership will not allow their slow start to the season to affect them.“Our guys are a confident group. It’s four baseball games, which is not going to change how we feel about that,” Smith said. “We’re just going to go out and keep going and doing what we do. “I think if we do that, we concentrate on that and not worry about the other stuff, that at the end of the day we’ll be on the winning side of the ledger probably a lot more than the losing side.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/18/14 9:21pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Almost as soon as planning for Assembly Hall’s upcoming renovations began, a piece of the 42-year-old building fell from the ceiling.IU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass and other IU officials had just started their first meeting regarding the $40 million renovation project when a piece of metal weighing about 50 pounds fell from the ceiling and into the building’s lower bowl of seating.Pressure from an accumulation of snow and ice on the building’s roof caused a piece of steel plating, which runs at each of the four corners with a slight curve, to pop loose and fall.“It was ironic that I was in Assembly Hall when this happened today, because our very first kick-off meeting of the renovation team of the new Assembly Hall ... was together in Assembly Hall,” Glass said. “Shortly after that meeting started, a couple of our facilities folks were called out of that meeting because of something that apparently happened in the bowl.”Glass said he went to see for himself what had happened shortly after those members of the facilities staff left the meeting, and discovered the extent of what had happened.IU Vice President for Capital Planning and Facilities Tom Morrison said his team’s preliminary reports determined the building’s structural integrity has not been compromised. This was solely weather-related, he said.“The engineers gave me the point that it is not critical,” Morrison said. “It appears to be an isolated case to those areas where the roof meets or the ceiling meets the wall.”Nobody was present in the lower bowl at the time, and the damage was limited to five seats in Section F. IU officials have yet to assess what the damages and repairs will cost.“The glass is half-full because nobody got hurt,” Glass said. “All this other stuff is manageable and thank God we’re not here talking about a really serious situation. So if it had to happen, I’m glad it happened the way it did.”He said he didn’t feel this incident would set back IU’s planned renovations to Assembly Hall, scheduled to be finished in 2016. “(It) underscores the value of even more detailed structural review,” he said.The framing, a piece of metal measuring approximately 8 feet long and 14 inches wide, fell at around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, six and a half hours before IU was scheduled to tip off its Big Ten clash with No. 15 Iowa.An IU Athletics statement released at 4:02 p.m. announced the game had been postponed and that both schools’ athletic departments were working to reschedule as soon as possible.Glass said he and his facilities team made the decision to postpone the game around 3:30 p.m., and he credited the presence of key decision-makers at the renovations meeting for the quick decision.“It was fortunate and lucky, a matter of happenstance, that this group of people were in Assembly Hall, because I think it really made the assessment and the decision-making go much quicker than it otherwise would have,” he said.The men’s basketball team was undergoing preparations for the Iowa game when the cancellation was announced.IU Coach Tom Crean said his team was preparing for its final walkthrough when he received a message from Glass.“I was behind closed doors, we were getting ready for our walkthrough and what we wanted to accomplish there, and I didn’t have my phone with me at first,” Crean said. “When I got my phone, I responded to Fred’s voicemail and text right away and literally dropped what we were doing and got to the gym as quick as possible.”When it was determined that safety concerns would prevent Tuesday’s game from taking place, Glass began looking at other sites. IU trustee and President of Pacers Sports and Entertainment Jim Morris offered the Pacers’ Bankers Life Fieldhouse as an alternative location, but Glass determined the logistical demand of moving the game to Indianapolis on short notice would be too great.“We concluded logistically that’s not anything we could put together on 24 or 48 hours notice,” Glass said. “Because of the uncertainty of returning to Assembly Hall and the logistical challenges of playing in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, we respectfully declined the Pacers’ offer — but we appreciate it very much.”Big Ten rules dictate in the event of a game’s postponement, the two schools have 72 hours to reach an agreement on its rescheduling. After that period expires, the conference will step in and choose a date.Currently, IU is scheduled to play five games between Feb. 22 and March 8. Its longest gap between games before the end of the season comes between Feb. 25 and March 2, a five-day stretch.Crean, who said he could remember only one other game in his coaching career being postponed, said he will work to keep basketball in perspective but will have his team ready whenever the decision is made.“The bottom line is you adjust, and that’s what we’ve done,” he said. “Our guys were extremely ready to play in that sense, to be where we needed to be to have that mindset going into the game tonight. I’m disappointed we didn’t get to do that, but that pales in comparison to what any of us would have felt like at 9:30, 10 tonight if something would have happened inside that building, and that’s exactly how I said it to the players after practice.“I mean, you have to keep something like this in absolute perspective while you’re making your adjustments and contingency plans ahead. It’s all part of the resiliency. Just go do what you have to do when it’s time to do it.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/17/14 5:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Feb. 7, IU was a short stretch of good basketball away from an NCAA Tournament at-large berth.The Hoosiers sat at 14-8, 4-5 in the Big Ten. They had defeated two top-10 teams — handing then-No. 3 Wisconsin its first loss of the season and beating then-No. 10 Michigan — in their conference schedule, and were riding momentum from the Michigan victory into Minneapolis to take on a depleted Golden Gophers team.At No. 70 in the national Ratings Percentage Index, IU was no shoo-in to the postseason’s most prestigious tournament, but was facing a stretch of three consecutive bottom-half Big Ten teams that could bolster its postseason résumé before returning to the conference’s elite.The formula was simple — beat Minnesota (then 4-6 in Big Ten play), Penn State (3-8) and Purdue (4-7) and get ready for a finishing stretch of four ranked opponents in six games.IU didn’t follow the script.More than a week later, IU (14-11, 4-8) finds itself in ninth place in the Big Ten after three consecutive losses.The Hoosiers have plummeted to No. 99 in the national RPI and now must collect a handful of wins against No. 15 Iowa, No. 21 Wisconsin, No. 20 Ohio State and No. 18 Michigan as well as beating Northwestern and Nebraska, two teams IU has already lost to this season, to slide into the NCAA Tournament field.Despite his team’s poor form, IU Coach Tom Crean said he has yet to concern himself with IU’s long-term prospects.“I don’t think like that,” Crean said. “That’s not how I’m built, that’s not how I’m going to coach the team. That’s what we have to work through.”Much of IU’s difficulty in its past three games can be attributed to offensive struggles. The Hoosiers have averaged only 63 points during that stretch, well behind their season average of 73.4 points per game.Crean said that “quite a bit” of his team’s performance has been mental, but that he will not look to overanalyze its recent woes and will instead ask his players to rely on each other.“You point it out in film,” he said. “I’m not big on bringing a team of sports psychologists and things like that.” “I’m not saying there’s not a place for that, but the bottom line is you get your strength from your teammates. We’ve got to get more strength and confidence from our teammates on the floor.”The Hoosiers will attempt to stop their free-fall Tuesday, when they return to Assembly Hall to welcome No. 15 Iowa for a game in which oddsmakers and observers alike will place IU as heavy underdogs.Despite his team’s slide, Crean said he will continue to push forward and ignore any outside criticism.“I’ve dealt with doubts most of my life,” Crean said. “Maybe not all of it, but most of it. I’m pretty good at dealing with that. I’m pretty good at spotting it when other people have them, and I don’t tolerate it. Some of these things, we just have to figure some things out.”
(02/16/14 1:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On Feb. 7, IU was a short stretch of good basketball away from an NCAA Tournament at-large berth.The Hoosiers sat at 14-8, 4-5 in the Big Ten. They had defeated two top-ten teams – handing then-No. 3 Wisconsin its first loss of the season and beating then-No. 10 Michigan – in their conference schedule, and were riding momentum from that Michigan victory into Minneapolis to take on a depleted Golden Gophers team.At No. 70 in the national Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), IU was no shoo-in to the postseason’s most prestigious tournament, but was facing a stretch of three consecutive bottom-half Big Ten teams that could bolster its postseason resume before returning to the conference’s elite.The formula was simple: beat Minnesota (then 4-6 in Big Ten play), Penn State (3-8) and Purdue (4-7), and get ready for a finishing stretch of four ranked opponents in six games.IU didn’t follow the script.Just over a week later, IU (14-11, 4-8 conference) finds itself in ninth place in the Big Ten after three consecutive losses.The Hoosiers have plummeted to No. 99 in the national RPI, and now must collect a handful of wins against No. 15 Iowa, No. 21 Wisconsin, No. 20 Ohio State and No. 18 Michigan as well as beating Northwestern and Nebraska, two teams IU has already lost to this season, to slide into the NCAA Tournament field.Despite his team’s poor form, IU Coach Tom Crean said he has yet to concern himself with IU’s long-term prospects.“I don’t think like that,” Crean said. “That’s not how I’m built, that’s not how I’m going to coach the team. That’s what we have to work through.”Much of IU’s difficulty in its past three games can be attributed to offensive struggles. The Hoosiers have averaged only 63 points over that stretch, well behind their season average of 73.4 points per game.Crean said that “quite a bit” of his team’s performance has been mental, but that he will not look to over-analyze its recent woes and will instead ask his players to rely on each other.“You point it out in film. I’m not big on bringing a team of sports psychologists and things like that,” he said. “I’m not saying there’s not a place for that, but the bottom line is, you get your strength from your teammates. We’ve got to get more strength and confidence from our teammates on the floor.”The Hoosiers will attempt to stop their free-fall Tuesday, when they return to Assembly Hall to welcome No. 15 Iowa for a game in which oddsmakers and observers alike will place IU as heavy underdogs.Despite his team’s slide, Crean said he will continue to push forward and ignore any outside criticism.“I’ve dealt with doubts most of my life,” Crean said. “Maybe not all of it, but most of it. I’m pretty good at dealing with that. I’m pretty good at spotting it when other people have them, and I don’t tolerate it. Some of these things, we just have to figure some things out.”
(02/14/14 5:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When college basketball’s 2012 recruiting classes were finalized, a great debate between Indiana’s preeminent basketball rivals was sparked.IU and Purdue each signed one of the Hoosier State’s top two point guard recruits, with Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell committing to IU and Ronnie Johnson signing to play for Purdue. Since their commitments, the two Indianapolis natives have fueled a now two-year argument between Hoosiers and Boilermakers about which player is best.Both players graduated as top-100 national recruits, as ranked by recruiting service Rivals.com, though the service gave Ferrell the edge as the state’s No. 1 point guard.The Park Tudor School graduate was rated the country’s No. 19 overall player — No. 2 in Indiana. Johnson, out of North Central High School, was ranked No. 94 in the nation and No. 7 in the state. On Signing Day for the class of 2012, IU Coach Tom Crean heaped praise on his newly-signed point guard.“Yogi is a great floor leader who has the ability to make others better and get his own shot,” Crean said Nov. 10, 2011. “More than anything, he is a proven year-round winner.”In announcing his college decision on an IndyStar.com video, Johnson lauded Purdue Coach Matt Painter and his staff on making Purdue a fit for him.“I like Purdue a lot, and I like the coaching staff,” he said in May 2011. “I thought I just saw a better opportunity for me to just go and play.”Since their commitments, the two now-sophomore guards have recorded almost identical career averages, with Ferrell earning a slight advantage in points, assists and 3-point shooting.His line of 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game is similar to that of Johnson, which comes in at 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. Statistically, the two are separable by only 3-point shooting percentage — Ferrell’s 39 percent being well ahead of Johnson’s 26 percent — and team performance. Crean’s Signing Day quip about Ferrell has proved to be accurate. The 6-foot sophomore has started every one of IU’s 60 games in the last two seasons, with IU winning 43 of those and reaching the Sweet Sixteen in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.This season, he has stepped up from his fifth-option role on last year’s preseason No. 1-ranked team to become the Hoosiers’ most reliable scorer, averaging a Big Ten-leading 18.5 points per game.Crean said his point guard’s transformation to a first-option scorer is a result of his work ethic.“He is a tremendous worker and a tremendous player,” he said in a Tuesday press conference. “He continues to work at it at a very high level. He wants to be a great player, and he really wants to be a great leader. When you work that hard and when you want to win that bad, you can’t help but get better and better. And that’s exactly what he is doing.”By comparison, Purdue has compiled a 30-28 record during Johnson’s tenure in West Lafayette, missing the NCAA Tournament and falling to Santa Clara during the second round of the College Basketball Invitational last year.The two Indianapolis point guards will spark the debate once again Saturday when Ferrell’s Hoosiers travel to West Lafayette looking for a third consecutive victory against Johnson’s Boilermakers. A win against Purdue would snap a two-game losing streak for IU. Ferrell said the Hoosiers, himself especially, must improve their mental approach to the game to escape their struggles.“We’ve just got to get more intelligent on our team, I feel like,” he said. “It starts, of course, with me and (senior forward Will Sheehey). Always does. We’re the front-runners for that.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293
(02/13/14 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On a night that looked destined to be a celebration, the Hoosiers fell apart.With an 11-point lead and senior forward Will Sheehey sitting just one point shy of becoming the 47th Hoosier to reach 1,000 career points, IU was three minutes and 19 seconds away from festivities that never came to be. During those final minutes, when Penn State outscored IU 13-1 to snatch a victory, a familiar foe returned to hurt the Hoosiers — turnovers.IU gave the ball away five times during the game’s final 199 seconds, including back-to-back inbound plays that allowed Penn State to complete its comeback. Turnovers dogged the Hoosiers’ throughout the game. In total, IU gave the ball away 20 times and, on multiple occasions, turned it over on back-to-back possessions. IU Coach Tom Crean said the Hoosiers’ inability to protect the ball played an important role in the loss.“The two things that hurt us throughout the night were the turnovers, and the ridiculousness of those,” he said.After struggling with turnovers in the early part of the season, the Hoosiers appeared to have solved the issue. IU turned the ball over an average of 16.3 times per game in its first 16 games this season, but cut that number to 13.9 per game during its last seven contests. The 20 turnovers Wednesday night were the Hoosiers’ most since the Dec. 20-31 stretch, in which they gave the ball away 20, 20 and 23 times. Crean said while many of IU’s turnovers are a problem, many come from its high-pace, run-the-floor offensive style. He added he will not look to change his game plan in order to take better care of the ball.“The turnovers, there’s no excuse,” Crean said. “I’d like to say, ‘You know what, if we did this, if we did that, what if we just aired it out, slowed it down,’ I’m not sure that’s the answer. We need easy baskets, so you have to run some.”Sophomore guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell, who committed four turnovers Wednesday night, said it will be up to him and Sheehey to help the Hoosiers stem the flow.“We’ve just got to get more intelligent,” Ferrell said. “It starts, of course, with me and Will, always does. We’re the front-runners for that. But we’ve just got to be more intelligent with the ball and how we play the game.” He said he will look for players to step up and take a leadership role to slow the turnovers and keep the team’s composure as a whole.“You can’t just play to play at this level,” he said. “We’ve all got to do better ... Our leadership could’ve been better.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293
(02/12/14 3:54am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s a problem that has plagued IU for almost every one of its first 21 basketball games this season.The opponent didn’t matter. The stakes didn’t matter.In seemingly every game, the Hoosiers allowed the opposing team’s star player to score — and to score in bunches. Opponents’ leading scorers averaged 21.5 points per game during that stretch.IU didn’t discriminate who it allowed to light up the scoreboard. While Big Ten Player of the Year Gary Harris scored 24 and 26 points in Michigan State’s two games against the Hoosiers, Chicago State’s Clarke Rosenberg scored 27 in IU’s season opener. For every Rayvonte Rice of Illinois — 49 points in the Illini’s two games against IU — there was a Dallas Moore, who scored 27 against the Hoosiers, despite his North Florida team losing by 21 points.Their inability to stop star scorers nearly felled the Hoosiers in their first matchup with Penn State this season. Nittany Lion junior guard D.J. Newbill poured in 24 points in State College, Pa., keeping his team within striking distance of IU before losing 79-76.IU Coach Tom Crean said Penn State’s versatility on offense challenged IU during the Jan. 11 matchup.“They are very good on the break and with their half-court offense,” Crean said. “They are very, very good at pull-up jumpers and getting to the rim. They play smart, tough basketball and like to control the pace.”For 21 games, IU struggled to slow opposing scorers. Now, more than a month after that Penn State matchup, the Hoosiers appear to have bucked that trend. In IU’s last two games — a win against then-No. 10 Michigan and a loss at Minnesota — they held the opposition’s leading scorer to an average of 14.5 points. That success has been a large part of a defensive rebirth that has seen the Hoosiers allow only one opponent of its last six — then-No. 3 Michigan State — to score 70 or more points. IU will look to continue its defensive revival tonight when the Nittany Lions come to Assembly Hall.Newbill will be joined in Penn State’s offensive attack by graduate student guard Tim Frazier, whose 16.2 points per game trail just 1.5 points per game behind Newbill’s 17.7.Crean said the Nittany Lions have yet to find a reliable third scorer, but he thinks sophomore forward Brandon Taylor could step up and be that player. “If there is one guy who is continuing to flourish, people would think it is Tim Frazier and D.J. Newbill, and they are,” Crean said. “But Brandon Taylor is playing extremely well for them also.”Taylor’s 9.8 points per game place him third on Penn State’s roster. Should IU be able to build on its progress on the defensive end and slow Newbill and Frazier, the outcome of tonight’s game could hinge on his ability to score. Crean said IU is close to getting where he wants it to be and have been overcoming its youth to get there.“We are so close,” Crean said. “There are so many corners that you have to turn to be a good basketball team. So we have turned and we want to make sure that we don’t lose sight of that.“Some we haven’t turned yet. The bottom line is that the more confident these guys get from the experiences they go through and the understanding of it, the better they will be.”
(02/11/14 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s Feb. 6, eight days before the 2014 season starts, and Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.The 6-foot, 240-pound All-American sits low in his stance. He bends his knees and locks his eyes on the pitcher ahead of him.He exhales. His eyes narrow. And he waits.As each pitch approaches, the junior catcher coils his upper body, ready to unleash what has been called the most powerful swing in college baseball.When the lobbed pitches reach the plate, Schwarber sets the chain in motion. First, a fluid movement, working from the ground up, then ending in the sharp ping that rings throughout the building.It is a steady cycle: pitch, swing, ping, back to the crouch.The season has yet to begin — instead of battling with an opposing pitcher at Bart Kaufman Field, Schwarber takes his swings under a protective cage inside John Mellencamp Pavilion.None of that matters to him. He is locked in.Each pitch is met with the same intensity and controlled violence of the last, and each ball careens through the cold air, whizzing past the pitcher’s head with the same fear-inducing velocity.Even in batting practice, this repetition is a comfort zone.“You’re in there, you’re locked into that at-bat, that moment,” Schwarber said. For others, Schwarber’s swing is something to be marveled at, an exercise in muscle memory that could lead IU baseball to its second College World Series in two years and make him a surefire first-round draft pick in June.For one of the country’s top collegiate hitters, it’s just another day at work.***It was the spring 2010, and Kyle Schwarber couldn’t be missed.At the urging of Assistant Coach Fred Nori, who coached in Schwarber’s native Middletown, Ohio, for almost a decade, IU Coach Tracy Smith made the three-hour drive from Bloomington to Middletown to see a high school catcher play. It was Schwarber.“Coach Nori kind of dropped the beat on Coach Smith about me, so he came out and watched me play a game,” Schwarber said.On the mound for Schwarber’s opposition that day was left-hander Joel Bender, who was drafted later that year by the Cincinnati Reds.For the left-handed Schwarber, the matchup was not ideal.He hit three home runs anyway, securing a scholarship offer from Smith on the drive back from the game.“I was playing a pretty quality left-hander, and had some success, hit a couple home runs off of him,” Schwarber said. “I gave (Smith) a call after the game, and he offered me there. It’s kind of like a dream school for me, and I couldn’t be more happy with my choice.”Apart from the quick-trigger offer from Smith, Schwarber was mostly overlooked by the country’s top baseball powers while mashing pitches at Middletown High School.He batted .474 his senior season, adding eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. The recruiting world didn’t notice.He was named Middletown’s team MVP four consecutive years, collecting Co-Player of the Year honors in the Greater Miami Conference in 2011. The country’s top baseball institutions yawned.Now, two seasons into a career that has him on pace to shatter a handful of IU records, Schwarber said being glanced over as a recruit has not bothered him.“It doesn’t really play a factor,” he said. “You come to college, you want to be a mature player, you want to be able to take that next step to get to the majors, get to the big leagues.“That’s what we do here. We want mature guys. Take them in as boys, make them into men.”***Major League Baseball scouts and prospect rankings agree — Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 7 college prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft, calling him “one of the best all around hitters in recent years in college ball.”He is Baseball America’s No. 16 college prospect, collecting preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-America honors.“Schwarber has a strong case as college baseball’s best hitter and most powerful slugger,” the publication’s Big Ten preview reads.He is as sure a prospect as any to come through the IU pipeline, boasting raw power and an ability to stay patient at the plate and wait for a pitch he likes.His statistics emphasize that plate discipline: 72 walks against only 61 strikeouts in 465 at-bats.That patience and ability to select pitches is a point of pride, he said.“You’re in there battling your butt off, trying to get a pitch to handle,” he said. “I really pound myself on not missing my pitch. I feel like I’m going to get one pitch an at-bat, and I’m going to take advantage of that pitch.”For two seasons, Schwarber has done exactly that — taken any advantage he can find and turned it into a mistake for the opposing pitcher.In his 121 collegiate games, Schwarber has simply dominated at the plate, hitting .333 with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in during his two seasons.After leading IU to its first College World Series appearance last season — hitting .366 and 18 home runs in the process — he became the Hoosiers’ sixth-ever first team All-American and was selected as the country’s best catcher by Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Should he continue at his current statistical pace for two more seasons, Schwarber will threaten almost every IU offensive record: 52 home runs would be the most in program history; his 310 hits would rank No. 2 all-time; 202 RBI would place him No. 3, as would 232 runs scored.If he eschews whichever MLB club calls his name in this summer’s draft and plays four seasons in Bloomington, Schwarber will almost inevitably become one of IU’s greatest players, should he avoid the minor injuries that have cropped up throughout his time at IU.Individually, he is well-decorated. With just two seasons behind him, Schwarber has already collected more accolades and honors than all but a handful of IU’s greatest all-time players. Despite that success, his goal remains singular and team-oriented.Return to the College World Series. Win a national championship.“What I’m more focused on right now is getting to Omaha and leading the team,” he said. “That’s my main goal. All that’s goody-good for everyone else to read, but I don’t take that stuff to heart. Right now it’s 100 percent Omaha and how to get there.”***Due to his abilities with a bat in his hands, Kyle Schwarber has been described as a “can’t-miss” prospect.His prowess behind the plate lags behind that bevy of offensive weapons. It’s a discrepancy both Smith and coaches from USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, who Schwarber played for after the 2013 season, have worked to erase.“We were very honest with him, and I don’t see the players they’re seeing all the way across the country, but I think Kyle’s a good defensive catcher,” Smith said. “Is he one of the best in the country? I don’t know. But he did play for the best amateur team in the country this last summer, and they did say at the end of the summer he did a fine job when he caught.”With just 14 career errors and a .979 fielding percentage to their credit, Schwarber’s defensive numbers are average for a college catcher, though he expressed a renewed dedication to his work behind the plate.“I feel 20 times better,” he said. “I really want to put emphasis on it. I feel a lot better throwing the ball, a lot better blocking, handling the pitching staff. I feel like’s it’s going to be good to have me back there.”In practice, Schwarber is reserved, preferring to lead his teammates by setting the standard for dedication and showing off his skill set, forgoing a brash, loud approach.Exemplary of this was a batting practice session before the 2013 season, one of the Hoosiers’ first at then-brand new Bart Kaufman Field. When his turn came, Schwarber quietly stepped into the batter’s box, settled into that ever-recognizable crouch, and took his swings.One baseball left the stadium. Then another. Ball after ball rocketed over the outfield fence, leaving the small crowd of Hoosier teammates that had gathered to look on in awe, mouths agape.When his time in the cage ended, Schwarber stepped out and joined his teammates, refusing to acknowledge the show he had just given.Now, as IU prepares to enter a season with higher expectations than any in program history, those teammates will look to him as the head of a leadership corps that has the College World Series in its sights.To deliver on those intentions would be to answer a cloud of questions that swirl around the All-American.Can he stay healthy? Is he good enough defensively? Will the skills transition to the next level? Are the Hoosiers’ goals reachable?To provide an answer to those questions and make another deep tournament run, only one thing is certain.Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Follow baseball reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/11/14 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It's Feb. 6, eight days before the 2014 season starts, and Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.The 6-foot, 240-pound All-American sits low in his stance. He bends his knees and locks his eyes on the pitcher ahead of him.He exhales. His eyes narrow. And he waits.As each pitch approaches, the junior catcher coils his upper body, ready to unleash what has been called the most powerful swing in college baseball.When the lobbed pitches reach the plate, Schwarber sets the chain in motion. First, a fluid movement, working from the ground up, then ending in the sharp ping that rings throughout the building.It is a steady cycle: pitch, swing, ping, back to the crouch.The season has yet to begin — instead of battling with an opposing pitcher at Bart Kaufman Field, he takes his swings under a protective cage inside John Mellencamp Pavilion.None of that matters to him. He is locked in.Each pitch is met with the same intensity and controlled violence of the last, and each ball careens through the cold air, whizzing past the pitcher’s head with the same fear-inducing velocity.Even in batting practice, this repetition is a comfort zone.“You’re in there, you’re locked into that at-bat, that moment,” Schwarber said. For others, Schwarber’s swing is a thing to be marveled at, an exercise in muscle memory destined to lead IU baseball to its second College World Series in two years and make him a surefire first-round draft pick in June.For one of the country’s top collegiate hitters, it’s just another day at work.***It was the spring 2010, and Kyle Schwarber couldn’t be missed.At the urging of Assistant Coach Fred Nori, who coached in Schwarber’s native Middletown, Ohio, for almost a decade, IU Coach Tracy Smith made the three-hour drive from Bloomington to Middletown to see a high school catcher play. It was Schwarber.“Coach Nori kind of dropped the beat on Coach Smith about me, so he came out and watched me play a game,” Schwarber said.On the mound for Schwarber’s opposition that day was left-hander Joel Bender, who was drafted later that year by the Cincinnati Reds.For the left-handed Schwarber, the matchup was not ideal.He hit three home runs anyway, securing a scholarship offer from Smith on the drive back from the game.“I was playing a pretty quality left-hander, and had some success, hit a couple home runs off of him,” Schwarber said. “I gave (Smith) a call after the game, and he offered me there. It’s kind of like a dream school for me, and I couldn’t be more happy with my choice.”Apart from the quick-trigger offer from Smith, Schwarber was mostly overlooked by the country’s top baseball powers while mashing pitches at Middletown High School.He batted .474 his senior season, adding eight home runs and 11 stolen bases. The recruiting world didn’t notice.He was named Middletown’s team MVP four consecutive years, collecting Co-Player of the Year honors in the Greater Miami Conference in 2011. The country’s top baseball institutions yawned.Now, two seasons into a career that has him on pace to shatter a handful of IU records, Schwarber said being glanced over as a recruit has not bothered him.“It doesn’t really play a factor,” he said. “You come to college, you want to be a mature player, you want to be able to take that next step to get to the majors, get to the big leagues.“That’s what we do here. We want mature guys. Take them in as boys, make them into men.”***Major League Baseball scouts and prospect rankings agree — Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Perfect Game USA ranked him the No. 7 college prospect in the 2014 MLB Draft, calling him “one of the best all around hitters in recent years in college ball.”He is Baseball America’s No. 16 college prospect, collecting preseason Big Ten Player of the Year and first team All-America honors.“Schwarber has a strong case as college baseball’s best hitter and most powerful slugger,” the publication’s Big Ten preview reads.He is as sure a prospect as any to come through the IU pipeline, boasting raw power and an ability to stay patient at the plate and wait for a pitch he likes. His statistics emphasize that plate discipline: 72 walks against only 61 strikeouts in 465 at-bats.That patience and ability to select pitches is a point of pride, he said.“You’re in there battling your butt off, trying to get a pitch to handle,” he said. “I really pound myself on not missing my pitch. I feel like I’m going to get one pitch an at-bat, and I’m going to take advantage of that pitch.”For two seasons, Schwarber has done exactly that — taken any advantage he can find and turned it into a mistake for the opposing pitcher.In his 121 collegiate games, Schwarber has simply dominated at the plate, hitting .333 with 26 home runs and 101 runs batted in over his two seasons.After leading IU to its first College World Series appearance last season — hitting .366 and 18 home runs in the process — he became the Hoosiers’ sixth-ever first team All-American and selected as the country’s best catcher by Perfect Game and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.Should he continue at his current statistical pace for two more seasons, Schwarber will threaten almost every IU offensive record: 52 home runs would be the most in program history; his 310 hits would rank No. 2 all-time; 202 RBI would place him No. 3, as would 232 runs scored.If he eschews whichever MLB club calls his name in this summer’s draft and plays four seasons in Bloomington, Schwarber will almost inevitably become one of IU’s greatest players, should he avoid the minor injuries that have cropped up throughout his time at IU.Individually, he is well-decorated. With just two seasons behind him, Schwarber already has collected more accolades and honors than all but a handful of IU’s greatest all-time players. Despite that success, his goal remains singular and team-oriented.Return to the College World Series. Win a national championship.“What I’m more focused on right now is getting to Omaha and leading the team,” he said. “That’s my main goal. All that’s goody-good for everyone else to read, but I don’t take that stuff to heart. Right now it’s 100-percent Omaha and how to get there.”***Due to his abilities with a bat in his hands, Kyle Schwarber has been described as a “can’t-miss” prospect.Lagging behind the bevy of offensive weapons is his prowess behind the plate, a discrepancy both Smith and coaches from USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, who Schwarber played for after the 2013 season, have worked to erase.“We were very honest with him, and I don’t see the players they’re seeing all the way across the country, but I think Kyle’s a good defensive catcher,” Smith said. “Is he one of the best in the country? I don’t know. But he did play for the best amateur team in the country this last summer, and they did say at the end of the summer he did a fine job when he caught.”With just 14 career errors and a .979 fielding percentage to their credit, Schwarber’s defensive numbers are average for a college catcher, though he expressed a renewed dedication to his work behind the plate.“I feel 20 times better,” he said. “I really want to put emphasis on it. I feel a lot better throwing the ball, a lot better blocking, handling the pitching staff. I feel like’s it’s going to be good to have me back there.”In practice, Schwarber is reserved, preferring to lead his teammates by setting the standard for dedication and showing off his skill set, forgoing a brash, loud approach.Exemplary of this was a batting practice session before the 2013 season, one of the Hoosiers’ first at then-brand new Bart Kaufman Field. When his turn came, Schwarber quietly stepped into the batter’s box, settled into that ever-recognizable crouch, and took his swings.One baseball left the stadium. Then another. Ball after ball rocketed over the outfield fence, leaving the small crowd of Hoosier teammates that had gathered to look on in awe, mouths agape.When his time in the cage ended, Schwarber stepped out and joined his teammates, refusing to acknowledge the show he had just given.Now, IU prepares to enter a season with higher expectations than any in program history, those teammates will look to him as the head of a leadership corps that has the College World Series in its sights.To deliver on those intentions would be to answer a cloud of questions that swirl around the All-American.Can he stay healthy? Is he good enough defensively? Will the skills transition to the next level? Are the Hoosiers’ goals reachable?To provide an answer to those questions and make another deep tournament run, only one thing is certain.Kyle Schwarber can’t miss.Follow baseball reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/03/14 3:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Lost in the chaos of IU’s stunning upset over the nation’s No. 10 team, underneath the steady stream of 3-pointers and raucous Assembly Hall crowd, a Hoosier squad that had seen star opponent after star opponent score almost at will grew up.Coming into Sunday’s 63-52 victory over Michigan, IU had allowed big points to nearly every opposing star player. Michigan State’s Gary Harris scored 50 in his two games against IU. Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice tallied 49 in his two matchups. Penn State’s D.J. Newbill scored 24 and Northwestern’s Drew Crawford recorded 17 points in Bloomington.Michigan’s Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III entered Assembly Hall on Sunday averaging 31.8 points per game between them. Stauskas, a sophomore guard from Ontario, Canada, was the third-leading scorer in Big Ten play, tallying an average of 18.6 points per game against conference opponents.The two had carried Michigan offensively, leading the Wolverines to eight consecutive Big Ten wins and 10 straight overall.That changed Sunday.With sophomore guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell guarding Stauskas and freshman forward Noah Vonleh on Robinson III, the two Wolverines combined to score only 15 points while shooting 5-of-15 from the field. As a team, Michigan shot just 40 percent from the field and struggled even more from long range: 3-of-13 on 3-point attempts.Michigan Coach John Beilein said IU’s defensive play prevented his team from finding an offensive flow.“We didn’t get many good shots today and credit their defense,” he said. “They played really good defense. Part plan, part long, athletic kids that were very quick on us.”The Hoosiers’ performance highlighted their renewed devotion to defense.After allowing 80, 73, 76 and 72 points in its first four Big Ten games, IU has smothered its last five opponents, allowing 56.6 points per game over that stretch. That defensive performance has allowed IU to go 2-3 in those games despite scoring only 57.4 points per game.Vonleh said the Hoosiers’ defensive prowess has been a result of a return to fundamentals.“We’re just trying to go to the best matchups, be sound, move our feet, talk and communicate, and just play defense really well,” he said.Graduate student guard Evan Gordon added that IU’s mental philosophy on the defensive end helped shut down the Wolverine attack.“I think the key was the communication throughout the game,” Gordon said. “Guys stepped up and made sure that we covered our matchups and did our concepts that we wanted to get to in our game, and you know, we kept our chest in front so they weren’t driving many lanes. I think we did a good job with it.”As the Hoosiers move deeper into Big Ten play, their commitment to defense will be tested even further. Seven of the conference’s top 10 scorers remain on IU’s regular-season schedule, including a rematch with Stauskas, Robinson III and the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich., March 8.For IU Coach Tom Crean, his team’s energy and ability to stay committed will prove vital to whether its improvement on the defensive end remains.“I think energy wears itself a lot of different ways,” he said. “I think it comes in the activity that you have with your hands, I think it’s the moving feet.“The hardest thing for any of them is that you’ve got to continue to play through it when you’re not having a great game offensively or you’re not getting that confidence from your shot. But the hard part defensively is that every game is different, and you have to understand how that other team wants to win. Today, we understood it for the entire game, and we were successful.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(02/02/14 9:23pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Lost in the chaos of IU’s stunning upset over the nation’s No. 10 team, underneath the steady stream of 3-pointers and raucous Assembly Hall crowd, a Hoosier squad that had seen star opponent after star opponent score almost at will grew up. Coming into Sunday’s 63-52 victory over Michigan, IU had allowed big points to nearly every opposing star player. Michigan State’s Gary Harris scored 50 in his two games against IU; Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice tallied 49 in his two matchups; Penn State’s D.J. Newbill scored 24 and Northwestern’s Drew Crawford recorded 17 points in Bloomington.Michigan’s Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III entered Assembly Hall on Sunday averaging 31.8 points per game between them. Stauskas, a sophomore guard from Ontario, Canada, was the third-leading scorer in Big Ten play, tallying an average of 18.6 points per game against conference opponents. The two had carried Michigan offensively, leading the Wolverines to eight consecutive Big Ten wins and 10 straight overall.That changed Sunday.With sophomore guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell guarding Stauskas and freshman forward Noah Vonleh on Robinson III, the two Wolverines combined to score only 15 points while shooting 5-15 from the field. As a team, Michigan shot just 40 percent from the field and struggled even more from long range: 3-13 on 3-point attempts. Michigan Coach John Beilein said IU’s defensive play prevented his team from finding an offensive flow.“We didn’t get many good shots today and credit their defense,” he said. “They played really good defense. Part plan, part long, athletic kids that were very quick on us.”The Hoosiers’ performance highlighted their renewed devotion to defense. After allowing 80, 73, 76 and 72 points in its first four Big Ten games, IU has smothered its last five opponents, allowing 56.6 points per game over that stretch. That defensive performance has allowed IU to go 2-3 in those games despite scoring only 57.4 points per game.Vonleh said the Hoosiers’ defensive prowess has been a result of a return to fundamentals.“We’re just trying to go to the best matchups, be sound, move our feet, talk and communicate, and just play defense really well,” he said.In response to Vonleh, graduate student guard Evan Gordon added that IU’s mental philosophy on the defensive end helped shut down the Wolverine attack.“I think the key was the communication throughout the game,” Gordon said. “Guys stepped up and made sure that we covered our matchups and did our concepts that we wanted to get to in our game, and you know, we kept our chest in front so they weren’t driving many lanes. I think we did a good job with it.”As the Hoosiers move deeper into Big Ten play, their commitment to defense will be tested even further. Seven of the conference’s top 10 scorers remain on IU’s regular-season schedule, including a rematch with Stauskas, Robinson III and the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Mich., March 8. For IU Coach Tom Crean, his team’s energy and ability to stay committed will prove vital to whether its improvement on the defensive end remains.“I think energy wears itself a lot of different ways,” he said. “I think it comes in the activity that you have with your hands, I think it’s the moving feet.“The hardest thing for any of them is that you’ve got to continue to play through it when you’re not having a great game offensively or you’re not getting that confidence from your shot. But the hard part defensively is that every game is different, and you have to understand how that other team wants to win. Today, we understood it for the entire game, and we were successful.”
(01/23/14 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The legion of IU alumni in professional soccer grew by two Tuesday.Former IU midfielders A.J. Corrado and Nikita Kotlov were selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft and will join their respective clubs for the upcoming 2014 season.Corrado was chosen No. 47 overall by the San Jose Earthquakes, and Kotlov had his name called by the Portland Timbers with the No. 73 pick in the SuperDraft.The two Indiana natives — Corrado from Zionsville Community High School, Kotlov from North Central High School in Indianapolis — started a combined 114 games in Cream and Crimson and were key contributors in the Hoosier midfield during the past few seasons. They combined to score 32 goals and assisted in 47 more during their time at IU. Corrado and Kotlov were starters on the 2012 NCAA College Cup-winning squad. Before the draft, Corrado said joining the professional ranks would be a dream realized.“It’s something you always dream about doing and really want to do,” he said. “It is surreal when you actually get the opportunity to do it. It’s pretty cool.”Both players will join Hoosier alumni at their new clubs.Timbers Coach Caleb Porter played at IU from 1994-97 and worked on former Coach Jerry Yeagley’s coaching staff from 2000-2005 before embarking on his head coaching career.Corrado will join former IU forward Tommy Thompson as an Earthquakes newcomer. Thompson signed a Homegrown contract with the club last week after one season at IU.This year’s SuperDraft marked the second in a row in which multiple Hoosiers had their names called.Forward Eriq Zavaleta was selected in the first round, No. 10 overall, by Seattle Sounders Football Club.Goalkeeper Luis Soffner was taken by the New England Revolution in the second round, No. 36 overall, in 2013.Kotlov will square off against former teammate Zavaleta in what has been called the country’s best soccer rivalry, a series of clashes between Pacific Northwest powers Portland and Seattle.IU Coach Todd Yeagley, who played with MLS’ Columbus Crew from 1996-2002, said he will pass on what he learned from his experience — however outdated — to IU’s newest professional alumni.“The league is a heck of a lot better than it was when I was playing, and the opportunities are harder to break into,” he said. “They have to be patient. They have to be hungry. They have to be extremely patient and coachable. Maybe it’s a new role to their team that they’re going to be pulled into and not worry about what decisions are being made.”Yeagley said his staff has made every effort to mimic a professional environment in order to make players’ transitions more straightforward.“They’re going to have to do everything in their power to prepare themselves on and off the field. That’s why we say we train as professionals now, so there’s not a shock to the system of what’s expected,” he said. “It’s a feather in the cap of the program.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(01/23/14 4:55am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the latest of this week’s flurry of moves involving IU alumni in professional soccer, Indy Eleven announced the signing of former Hoosiers Brad Ring and Mike Ambersley on Wednesday.The North American Soccer League club added to its growing roster with Wednesday’s additions during a press conference held at Assembly Hall’s I-Lounge. Ring and Ambersley mark the ninth and 10th players to sign in the club’s yearlong history.“Adding Mike Ambersley and Brad Ring not only gives our roster two more starting-caliber players, it also strengthens the bonds to the finest soccer program in the country,” said Peter Wilt, club president and general manager. “Indiana University has provided soccer fans across Indiana championships to celebrate on a regular basis and has done so with great integrity, and that’s the blueprint Indy Eleven will strive to follow.”Ring and Ambersley bring a combined 14 years of professional playing experience to Head Coach Juergen Sommer’s growing roster.A native of Rockford, Ill., Ring played at IU under Coach Mike Freitag from 2005-08 before joining Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in the second round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. As a Hoosier, he was named to the All-Big Ten first team in 2007 and 2008 and was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given annually to the country’s top collegiate player.After sitting out the 2009 season with a hip injury, Ring made 37 appearances with the Earthquakes, playing primarily as a defensive midfielder. He was traded to the Portland Timbers in September 2013, but played only one minute with the club before his move to Indy Eleven.Ring said that he was eager to join the Indy Eleven since hearing about the team.“I was very excited when I heard Indiana was getting a professional soccer team, and I knew I had to be a part of it,” Ring said. “I am very grateful to be joining Indy Eleven for its inaugural season and anxious to get out on the field with my teammates. Indiana has felt like home to me, and I can’t wait to play in front of Hoosier fans again.”At 30 years old, Amberseley will become the second-oldest player on Indy’s roster after 31-year-old Kristian Nicht, a goalkeeper who marked the club’s first signing in October.He donned the Cream and Crimson from 2001-05, playing under Freitag and former IU Coach Jerry Yeagley. The St. Louis native’s penalty kick in the penalty shootout phase of the 2004 College Cup Final sealed IU’s seventh national championship.After his four years in Bloomington, Ambersley signed with and was released by two professional clubs before embarking on a career that has seen him make 148 appearances for five clubs over the past seven years.His longest tenure with one club came with the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies from 2011-13. Ambersley scored 19 goals in 60 appearances for Tampa Bay before being traded to Minnesota United Football Club in August 2013.Ambersley said the opportunity to play for Sommer, a fellow IU alumnus, excites him.“I am really excited to be a part of Indy Eleven and to play for two highly regarded coaches in Juergen Sommer and (assistant coach) Tim Regan,” he said. “This is an organization with high expectations for the team, and that is something that motivates me as a player.”Both players made appearances for the United States’ U-20 National Team during their IU tenures. The two former-Hoosiers combined to play in nine games with the club.Indy Eleven will begin its inaugural season April 12 in Indianapolis against the Carolina RailHawks. Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(01/22/14 10:53pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In the latest of this week’s flurry of moves involving IU alumni in professional soccer, Indy Eleven announced the signing of former Hoosiers Brad Ring and Mike Ambersley on Wednesday.In a press conference at Assembly Hall’s I-Lounge, the North American Soccer League (NASL) club added to its growing roster with Wednesday’s additions. Ring and Ambersley mark the ninth and tenth players to sign in the club’s yearlong history.“Adding Mike Ambersley and Brad Ring not only gives our roster two more starting-caliber players, it also strengthens the bonds to the finest soccer program in the country,” club President and General Manager Peter Wilt said. “Indiana University has provided soccer fans across Indiana championships to celebrate on a regular basis and has done so with great integrity, and that’s the blueprint Indy Eleven will strive to follow.”Ring and Ambersley bring a combined 14 years of professional experience to Head Coach Juergen Sommer’s growing roster. A native of Rockford, Ill., Ring played at IU under Coach Mike Freitag from 2005-08 before joining Major League Soccer’s (MLS) San Jose Earthquakes in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. As a Hoosier, he was named to the All-Big Ten first team in 2007 and 2008 and was named a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, given annually to the country’s top collegiate player. After sitting out the 2009 season with a hip injury, Ring made 37 appearances with the Earthquakes, playing primarily as a defensive midfielder. He was traded to the Portland Timbers in Sept. 2013, but played only one minute with the club before his move to Indy Eleven.“I was very excited when I heard Indiana was getting a professional soccer team and I knew I had to be a part of it,” Ring said of his move back to the Hoosier State. “I am very grateful to be joining Indy Eleven for its inaugural season and anxious to get out on the field with my teammates. Indiana has felt like home to me and I can’t wait to play in front of Hoosier fans again.” At 30 years old, Amberseley will become the second-oldest player on Indy’s roster after 31-year-old Kristian Nicht, a goalkeeper who marked the club’s first signing in October. He donned the Cream and Crimson from 2001-05, playing under Freitag and former IU Coach Jerry Yeagley. The St. Louis native’s penalty kick in the penalty shootout phase of the 2004 College Cup Final sealed IU’s seventh national championship. After his four years in Bloomington, Ambersley signed with and was released by two professional clubs before embarking on a career that has seen him make 148 appearances for five clubs over the past seven years.His longest tenure with one club came with the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies from 2011-13. He scored 19 goals in 60 appearances for Tampa Bay before being traded to Minnesota United FC in August 2013. Ambersley said the opportunity to play for Sommer, a fellow IU alumnus, excites him.“I am really excited to be a part of Indy Eleven and to play for two highly regarded coaches in Juergen Sommer and (assistant coach) Tim Regan,” he said. “This is an organization with high expectations for the team, and that is something that motivates me as a player.”Both players made appearances for the United States’ U-20 National Team during their IU tenures, playing a combined nine times for the squad. Indy Eleven will begin its inaugural season April 12 in Indianapolis. Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293
(01/22/14 5:12am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Statistically, No. 3 Michigan State’s Breslin Center is one of the most difficult places to play in college basketball.The Spartans entered Tuesday night’s contest against IU with a record of 9-1 on their home floor this season.They were coming off back-to-back overtime victories against then-No. 3 Ohio State and Minnesota in their last two home games.To overcome the Spartans’ home-court strength, IU Coach Tom Crean brought his team into the game focusing on two keys to the game that often prove vital in capturing Big Ten road victories — limiting turnovers and shutting down the other team’s star player.In Michigan State’s case, it was sophomore guard Gary Harris.During the teams’ first matchup on Jan. 4, IU struggled with those goals, committing 15 turnovers and allowing Harris to score 24 points.“We didn’t follow the game plan, to put it very simply,” Crean said in a press conference before the game. “We weren’t strong enough with the ball. We were a little sloppy with it at times.“The other thing was we really let Gary Harris get far too comfortable and loose in the game and he did a phenomenal job.”Crean said his team would learn from its previous mistakes, and through 20 minutes of Tuesday night’s game, it looked like it had. Though they turned the ball over nine times, the Hoosiers held Harris to four points in the first half.IU entered halftime with a 28-27 lead.The Hoosiers had followed Crean’s game plan, executing the sixth-year coach’s keys to conference road victories. A slightly above-average number of turnovers hurt, but the plan had slowed one of the country’s preeminent shooting guards.And then Gary Harris came out firing.The Fishers, Ind., native scored Michigan State’s first six points of the second half and nine in the half’s first five minutes. When IU took a five-point lead with just over 10 minutes to play, it was Harris’ two free throws and 3-pointer that kept his team in the game.Crean tried to find an answer to Harris’ run, but to no avail. The guard finished with 20 points in the half almost single-handedly putting the game out of IU’s reach in the 71-66 victory.For Harris, success against the Hoosiers was nothing new. His 24 points raised his career average against IU to 22.5 point per game, well above his career average of 14.2 points per game against all other competition.Giving up big points to an opposition’s star is nothing new to IU this season. Northwestern’s Drew Crawford scored 17 points last week. Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice scored 27 against IU, as did Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier.But Crean said Harris, who has scored 50 points against his team this season, is at another level.“Gary Harris was phenomenal,” he said. “He’s very tough. Shoots the ball at a high rate. He’s going to get better and better. He is as good as it gets in that backcourt.”Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(01/22/14 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Statistically, No. 3 Michigan State’s Breslin Center is one of the most difficult places to play in college basketball.The Spartans entered Tuesday night’s contest against IU with a record of 9-1 on their home floor this season and were coming off back-to-back overtime victories over then-No. 3 Ohio State and Minnesota in their last two home games. To overcome the Spartans’ home-court strength, IU Coach Tom Crean brought his team into the game keying on two keys to the game that often prove vital in capturing Big Ten road victories: limiting turnovers and shutting down the other team’s star player, in Michigan State’s case, sophomore guard Gary Harris. In the teams’ first matchup on Jan. 4, IU struggled with those goals, committing 15 turnovers and allowing Harris to score 26 points. “We didn’t follow the game plan, to put it very simply,” Crean said in a press conference before the game. “We weren’t strong enough with the ball. We were a little sloppy with it at times.“The other thing was we really let Gary Harris get far too comfortable and loose in the game and he did a phenomenal job.” Crean said his team would learn from its previous mistakes, and through 20 minutes of Tuesday night’s game, it looked like it had: though they turned the ball over nine times, the Hoosiers held Harris to four points in the first half.IU entered halftime with a 28-27 lead. IU had followed Crean’s game plan, executing the sixth-year coach’s keys to conference road victories. A slightly above-average number of turnovers hurt, but it had slowed one of the country’s preeminent shooting guards.And then Gary Harris came out firing. The Fishers, Ind., native scored Michigan State’s first six points of the second half and nine in the half’s first five minutes. When IU took a five-point lead with just over 10 minutes to play, it was Harris’ two free throws and 3-pointer that kept his team in the game. Crean tried to find an answer to Harris’ run, but to no avail. The guard finished with 20 points in the half almost single-handedly putting the game out of IU’s reach in the 71-66 victory.For Harris, success against the Hoosiers was nothing new. His 24 points raised his career average against IU to 22.5 points per game, well above his career average of 14.2 points against all other competition.Giving up big points to an opposition’s star has been a constant for IU this season. Northwestern’s Drew Crawford scored 17 last week. Illinois’ Rayvonte Rice scored 27 against IU, as did Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier.But Crean said Harris, who has scored 50 points against his team this season, is at another level.“Gary Harris was phenomenal,” he said. “He’s very tough. Shoots the ball at a high rate. He’s going to get better and better. He is as good as it gets in that backcourt.”
(01/21/14 7:52pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The legion of IU alumni in professional soccer expanded by two Tuesday.Former IU midfielders A.J. Corrado and Nikita Kotlov were selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft and will join their respective clubs for the upcoming 2014 season.Corrado was chosen No. 47 overall by the San Jose Earthquakes, and Kotlov had his name called by the Portland Timbers with the No. 73 pick in the SuperDraft.The two Indiana natives started a combined 114 games in Cream and Crimson and were key contributors in the Hoosier midfield over the past few seasons. They combined to score 32 goals and assist on 47 more during their time at IU and were starters on the 2012 NCAA College Cup-winning squad. Corrado said before the draft that joining the professional ranks would realize a dream for him.“It’s something you always dream about doing and really want to do,” he said. It is surreal when you actually get the opportunity to do it. It’s pretty cool.”Both players will join Hoosier alumni at their new clubs.Portland Coach Caleb Porter played at IU from 1994-97 and worked on former Coach Jerry Yeagley’s coaching staff from 2000-2005 before embarking on his head coaching career.Corrado will join former IU forward Tommy Thompson as an Earthquakes newcomer. Thompson signed a Homegrown contract with the club last week after one season at IU.This year’s SuperDraft marked the second in a row in which multiple Hoosiers had their names called. Forward Eriq Zavaleta was selected in the first round (No. 10 overall) by Seattle Sounders FC and goalkeeper Luis Soffner was taken by the New England Revolution in the second round (No. 36 overall) in 2013.Kotlov will square off against former teammate Zavaleta in what has been called the country's best soccer rivalry, a series of clashes between Pacific Northwest powers Portland and Seattle.IU Coach Todd Yeagley, who played with MLS’ Columbus Crew from 1996-2002, said he will pass on what he learned from his experience – however outdated – to IU’s newest professional alumni.“The league is a heck of a lot better than it was when I was playing, and the opportunities are harder to break into,” he said. “They have to be patient. They have to be hungry. They have to be extremely patient and coachable. Maybe it’s a new role to their team that they’re going to be pulled into and not worry about what decisions are being made.”Yeagley said his staff has made every effort to mimic a professional environment in order to make players’ transitions more straightforward.“They’re going to have to do everything in their power to prepare themselves on and off the field. That’s why we say we train as professionals now, so there’s not a shock to the system of what’s expected,” he said. “It’s a feather in the cap of the program.”
(01/18/14 8:23pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the first time in almost three years, the IU men’s basketball team was held under 50 points in a 54-47 loss to Northwestern on Saturday. It was the first time since a March 5, 2011 loss at Illinois that IU failed to break the 50-point barrier and the Hoosiers’ first loss to Northwestern since Feb. 19 of that same year. The loss dropped IU to 12-6 on the season and 2-3 in Big Ten play. IU Coach Tom Crean said his team’s struggles on the offensive end hurt doubly, as it affected his players’ intensity in all phases of the game.“You can’t be driven by your offense in the sense that when your offense is not there it affects every other part of your game,” he said. “And that happened too much. It happened with our oldest guys.”The game started off slowly on both ends of the floor, with neither team able to make an impact offensively. After 3-pointers from freshman forward Noah Vonleh and Northwestern sophomore forward Kale Abrahamson made the score 3-3 in the game’s first two minutes, both offenses stalled. Neither team scored a point for four minutes and 44 seconds.The offensive ineptitude continued throughout the game: IU and Northwestern shot a combined 30.6 percent from the field and combined to make only nine 3-pointers.After entering halftime trailing 22-19 and playing from behind for most of the second half, IU was able to tie the score at 40 with less than four minutes remaining in the contest before Northwestern’s Tre Demps found his offensive rhythm.The redshirt sophomore guard made a 3-pointer, then collected a defensive rebound and took it down the court for an easy layup. He added a free throw in the game’s dying seconds to help the Wildcats put the game away.Freshman guard Stanford Robinson said a lack of communication on the defensive end allowed Demps to hit his stride. “I think our communication, I think it got quiet,” he said. “Our communication dropped. Felt like we could’ve picked it up. Basically, we were moving, holding ours, but our communication was very poor today.”Crean said he was disappointed in his team and that he saw a lack of leadership on the floor.“I’m not going to use the term ‘leader’ because I don’t think we appeared like there was a leader today,” he said. “But with guys that get the bulk of the attention, the shots and things like that… we have a long way to go.“There’s a way to win and a way to lose. Today we showed how to lose.”
(01/17/14 4:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>During its five Big Ten games in this season, Northwestern struggled with one of the most basic aspects of basketball — putting the ball in the hoop.The Wildcats average 51.2 points per game throughout their conference slate, putting them dead last in the Big Ten by almost 10 points.IU will welcome Northwestern to Bloomington on Saturday for a 2:30 p.m. game. The Hoosiers have scored an average of 72.5 points per game in conference play, more than 20 points better than its upcoming opponent. Despite the Wildcats’ offensive struggles and his team’s recent upset of No. 3 Wisconsin, IU Coach Tom Crean said the matchup is not one to overlook.“We’re not going to sit on this tape and sit and watch this tape and have a pizza party and get some ice cream and say, ‘Wow, we couldn’t have played any better,’” Crean said. “Home, on the road, it doesn’t make a difference. The league is that good, and that’s why it’s so strong. We’ve got to keep building the confidence of why we’re being successful.”The Wildcats have failed to reach 50 points in three of their five Big Ten matchups, and have been hindered by that statistic in spite of strong defensive performances. Advanced college basketball statistics website kenpom.com ranks Northwestern as the 313th-strongest offensive team in the country, a stark contrast to its No. 37 defense. In comparison, IU heads into Saturday’s game as kenpom.com’s No. 86 offensive team and its No. 58 team defensively.Each team is dominated in scoring by a backcourt leader. IU sophomore guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell leads the Big Ten with 17.9 points scored per game.Northwestern senior guard Drew Crawford is one of three Wildcats averaging double-digit scoring figures at 15 points per game — 12th in the conference.In spite of IU’s highly ranked defense, the Hoosiers have struggled to keep the ball out of their own basket in the Big Ten season. They gave up 68.9 points per game in their four conference games, better than only two other teams. Saturday’s game will be a battle of IU’s strong offense against Northwestern’s equally strong defense, and IU’s weak defense against Northwestern’s stagnant offense.While Northwestern looks like one of the Big Ten’s weaker teams on paper, Crean said every game gives his team an opportunity to grow.“They’re just getting better,” he said. “When you’re with them every day, you’re focused on the improvement more than you’re focused on the successes. Northwestern got their first Big Ten win last week against Illinois, and they played a very tough game against Michigan State. They are a team that is extremely well-coached with (Northwestern Coach) Chris Collins and (Assistant Coach) Brian James, and they are a difficult team to prepare for.”He said the energy of Assembly Hall’s fans, to whom he repeatedly gave credit after the win against Wisconsin, will again be vital to IU’s performance.“I can’t wait to be out there with our students again on Saturday,” Crean said. “They were difference-makers on Tuesday and received a lot of attention nationally. I think it’s outstanding. Bring the energy and passion. This is your team.”Follow men’s basketball reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.
(01/15/14 5:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Mike Pence outlined his focus on elimination of the business personal property tax, continuing the state’s progress in education and improving the state’s infrastructure and highways during his 2014 State of the State Address.Pence closed his 30-minute address, which summarized his legislative agenda for the upcoming year, by recounting the tale of “the Miracle on Mount Baldy.”A 6-year-old boy in Michigan City, Ind., was walking along the dunes of Lake Michigan on July 12, 2013.He fell deep into the sand, unable to be seen by any of his family or the rescue workers in attendance. For three hours, firefighters with their shovels, reporters with their notebooks and passersby with their hands dug in the hot sand to find the boy, Pence said. The boy was eventually pulled to safety.The second-year governor said the boy’s father told him that saving his son’s life “wasn’t our miracle. This was everyone’s miracle.”Pence said the community and camaraderie displayed by Indiana’s citizens during that hot summer day is part of what keeps Indiana moving forward.“The state of our state is strong and growing stronger because Hoosiers are the best people on earth,” he said. “We are a strong and good people, but we are never stronger than when we work together.”Pence led his legislation proposals with the phasing out of Indiana’s business personal property tax, which taxes business owners on personally owned machinery and equipment. Because of the tax, business owners in Indiana have some of the highest property tax rates in the nation. “I believe that one significant impediment to business investment remains — it’s called the business personal property tax,” Pence said. “This tax is especially damaging because it’s harder for Hoosier business to grow. Taxing equipment and technology in a state that leads the nation in making and creating things just doesn’t make sense.”He urged members of both chambers of the state’s legislature to find a responsible way to phase out the business personal property tax.A proposal to spend $400 million on the state’s infrastructure will “put Hoosiers back to work, keeping us as the Crossroads of America,” Pence said.The governor also proposed legislation that would prompt a study of every state dollar spent on education.It would also create a voluntary preschool voucher program for low-income families to keep the state’s progress in education going.The evening’s most tense moments came during Pence’s final agenda point, when he reiterated his support for marriage between one man and one woman in the state.Just one day after the House of Representatives decided to table a vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in the state, Pence implored Indiana’s legislature to find a solution in 2014.“For my part, I believe in traditional marriage, and I have long held the view that the people, rather than elected judges, should decide matters of such great consequence to the society,” he said. “So let’s have a debate worthy of our people with civility and respect, and let’s resolve this issue this year once and for all.”House Democrats described Pence’s speech as one that raised more questions than answers.“Mike Pence clearly looks like a governor, he has the soaring rhetoric of a governor, but I wonder if he likes doing governor,” Minority Leader Scott Pelath said. “I think we have to agree that his solutions are simply not up to the task ahead.”Pence, however, said he believes Indiana will thrive in the coming year because he will keep pushing it to do so.“We’ve made progress in jobs and schools, but with still too many Hoosiers out of work, with our state lagging behind in per capita income and health, and too many kids in underperforming schools, I believe we must remain relentless, bold and ambitious to keep Indiana moving forward,” he said.Follow reporter Alden Woods on Twitter @acw9293.