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(07/08/10 12:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indianapolis was the place to be for both coaches and recruits as the July free period kicked off with the annual adidas Invitational. The tournament, which took place in gyms located all around Indianapolis and its suburbs, drew in several big-name coaches, such as Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, UNC’s Roy Williams, Kansas’ Bill Self, Butler’s Brad Stevens and IU’s Tom Crean.The coaches watched several of the top-ranked players for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 recruiting classes, as well as several who have offers or interest from the Hoosiers.However, the players did not sense any additional pressure during the games, even with numerous championship-winning coaches sitting on the sideline.“I really don’t even look at them when they’re on the sidelines,” Nic Moore said. “I don’t pay any attention to them.”Moore, a 2011 point guard, has received offers from several schools, including Minnesota, and also has received interest from Ball State and IU.Moore was able to avoid an easy mistake many players make with so many scouts present — trying to do too much. It can be very intimidating for some players, but Moore and his fellow Spiece Indy Heat teammate Austin Burgett just try to focus on their game.Avon High School star Burgett, a 2012 prospect, scored 15 points as Spiece cruised to an easy victory against Team Swish on Wednesday afternoon. Burgett, who has offers from Butler, Cincinnati, Iowa, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio and Xavier, got off to a hot start in the first half.“Early, I was shooting pretty well and getting to the basket and rebounding,” Burgett said. Spiece was able to own a sizable advantage on the inside due to the strong rebounding from center A.J. Hammons over the smaller Team Swish. Moore added eight points and was able to connect on two 3-pointers as the Heat pulled away in the second half.The Spiece team is full of IU prospects for the 2012 recruiting class, as Hammons and DeJuan Marrero both have scholarship offers from the Hoosiers.Hammons scored 10 points and blocked six shots in Spiece Indy Heat’s victory, and teammate Marrero of Bowman Academy in Gary added eight points. Hammons, a 6-foot-11 center, announced recently that he will transfer from Carmel High School to basketball powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for the 2010-11 academic year.He said the transfer will allow him to grow as a player for the next two years and perhaps make a name for himself at a program that has seen the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Jackson and Brandon Jennings.“I’m trying to get better offensively, get bigger a little bit, and try to break some records, I guess,” he said.Hammons said he had also been participating in workouts at the beginning of summer and plans to resume them soon.“I kind of stopped (the workouts) now, but I’ve got to start back,” he said.Though he is on the radar of a number of schools in addition to IU, including Purdue, Ohio State and Xavier, Hammons said he would not stress about his college choice until his senior year of high school.“I’ve been in contact with a couple of colleges, but I’m not really thinking about college until next year,” he said.He did mention, however, that he was interested in playing for the Hoosiers.“Indiana’s a good school,” he said. “My brother liked Indiana, and he’s a person that’s going to help me pick my college. So it’s a good school.”Marrero also said no decision would come for him until next year, though he was less inclined to rank one school over another.“I’ve got all the colleges the same,” he said.Marrero, a native of Puerto Rico, spent part of June playing with the 18U Puerto Rican national team and said he placed high emphasis on his perimeter game while there.“They had me run the two, so I’ve just been working on my ball-handling and my shooting,” he said.
(06/27/10 11:30pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Teams and individual players alike used the 2010 NBA Draft as a springboard for professional careers, preparation for perhaps the biggest offseason in NBA history and even a fashion show.Last Thursday’s draft beckoned such heralded college basketball players as John Wall, Evan Turner and DeMarcus Cousins to new homes in the pros. The annual selection also saw teams like the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls trade veterans to clear cap space for the highly anticipated free-agent class that will likely include two of the NBA’s biggest stars: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.As was expected during his lone campaign at Kentucky, Wall was selected first overall by the Washington Wizards, making him the first Kentucky player to be taken with the draft’s top pick. “It’s a big honor,” Wall said. “To be the first No. 1 player from Kentucky means a lot.”Ohio State’s Evan Turner, the consensus collegiate player of 2009-10, went to the Philadelphia 76ers with the second pick.“I’m really excited,” Turner said to reporter Craig Sager. “I think Philadelphia is a great organization. I like the heads of it and also Coach (Doug) Collins — he’ll be a joy to play for.”Georgia Tech forward Derrick Favors and Syracuse forward Wesley Johnson went third and fourth overall to the New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively.The Sacramento Kings then made Cousins, a subject of much pre-draft scrutiny concerning his maturity and attitude, the fifth overall selection.After his name was called, Cousins made clear that such concerns were largely misconceptions.“They think I’m a monster off the court,” he said. “I’m nothing like that.”The 2010 SEC Freshman of the Year was the first of several consecutive big men to be drafted. Baylor forward Ekpe Udoh went sixth to the Golden State Warriors, and the Detroit Pistons selected Georgetown’s Greg Monroe with the seventh pick. Al-Farouq Aminu of Wake Forest went eighth to the Los Angeles Clippers.JAZZ TAB HAYWARD, PACERS SELECT GEORGE Many observers thought the Indiana Pacers might draft hometown hero Butler forward Gordon Hayward, who barely missed a miracle last-second half-court shot in the 2010 NCAA championship game against Duke.However, the Pacers found themselves without that option as the Utah Jazz snatched the Brownsburg, Ind., native one selection before Indiana.Hayward told Sager he was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in the NBA, regardless of team.“I’m just excited to go where I’ve gone,” he said. “It was a dream to play for the Pacers growing up, but I think it was a dream for all little boys in Indiana, just growing up watching them. “But it was a dream to play in the NBA, so to be able to put on that Utah Jazz jersey will be something very special.”With Hayward off the board, the Pacers instead opted for Fresno State forward Paul George with the 10th pick.George averaged 16.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during his sophomore season with the Bulldogs. He also made a school record 90.9 percent of his free throws.A swingman likened by many to Indiana’s Danny Granger, George saw his draft stock rise after strong pre-draft workouts. Several scouts said his athleticism and skill set could help him become one of the draft’s best players a few years down the road.After he selected George, Pacers president Larry Bird discussed the importance of having athleticism on a roster.“We’re trying to get some athletic talent in here,” Bird said. “He’s very skilled. He can shoot from outside and get to the rim. He can defend. We’re just going long and athletic.”Indiana also acquired former Cincinnati guard Lance Stephenson and Louisiana Tech forward Magnum Rolle in the second round.LeBRON, FREE AGENCY RULE NIGHTThe race for James is underway.Much of the talk during draft night was not of the draft itself, but how it might affect the free-agent bonanza that begins at midnight Thursday. Instead of drafting players to improve their rosters, several franchises traded away draft picks and veterans in an effort to clear cap space to sign one or more of the prized gems, such as James, Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire. The Miami Heat moved its No. 18 pick and guard Daequan Cook to the Oklahoma City Thunder and now have the cap flexibility to sign two free agents to maximum contracts.Similarly, the Bulls traded Hinrich to Washington. Chicago, now figuring to have about $35 million in cap space, is widely considered one of the frontrunners to land James.FORMER IU GUARD TO HAWKSXavier sophomore guard Jordan Crawford, who played his freshman year at IU during the 2007-08 season, was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the No. 27 pick in the first round of the draft.The Nets immediately traded Crawford’s rights to the Atlanta Hawks.Crawford averaged 9.7 points for the Hoosiers that season before sitting out the 2008-09 campaign per NCAA transfer rules.With the Musketeers this season, he averaged a team-best 20.5 points per game and led Xavier to the Sweet 16.Crawford gained national notoriety for dunking on NBA star LeBron James at a Nike basketball camp in 2009.FASHION ON DISPLAY?Several draftees arrived at Madison Square Garden with interesting wardrobe selections.Wesley Johnson wore Christmas-colored plaid pants with his sport coat.Al-Farouq Aminu wore a large pair of non-prescription glasses in the mold of Steve Urkel.ESPN analyst Jay Bilas called this year’s draft class “the best-dressed lottery class we’ve ever had by far.”
(06/16/10 9:57pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s basketball team is targeting the right kind of talent to restore the program’s prestige. One currently committed player and another recruiting target will be attending one of the nation’s premier camps.Austin Etherington of Hamilton Heights High School in Arcadia, Ind., and Jeremiah Davis of Muncie Central High School are currently participating in the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va., this week. Both high school seniors expressed excitement at the opportunity to participate in the camp. “It’s an honor because only the top 100 players go,” Etherington said. “I’m proud of myself for being able to make that, and I’m just going to go out, play and have fun.” Davis, Etherington’s AAU teammate, said he was looking forward to participating with his fellow Indiana player. “It’s a great honor,” Davis said. “My buddy Austin’s going too, so that will help make it even better.” Mark Adams, Etherington and Davis’s AAU coach, called the camp “a great opportunity” for his players. “They go against some of the top competition across the country and see where they measure up,” Adams said. “Any time you get that kind of experience, you’re only going to get better from it. “It’s good for them to get that recognition, to be invited to it, and then to be able to play against other kids that are that quality of basketball players across the country.” Like other prospects attending the camp, Etherington and Davis have college careers in mind. Etherington, who committed to play for IU, sees the camp as a way to prepare him for a collegiate career in Bloomington. “Those players there are going to be playing at the same level that I’m going to be playing at,” he said. “It’ll make everyone work hard and just show each other what we’ve got to do to be able to play at (the collegiate) level.” Davis, on the other hand, has yet to decide on a school. He lists the Hoosiers among options that include in-state competitors Purdue and Ball State as well as Cincinnati, Dayton, Xavier and Big Ten rival Michigan State. “I haven’t really thought into it that much,” he said.Adams said the camp could be beneficial to Davis, depending on his performance.“If he plays well, it will do well for him,” Adams said. “He’s had a broad spectrum of offers already, so I think if he plays well, maybe he’ll get more offers, but ... I think it’s just more him being able to play against the competition and try to get better and improve in specific areas.”Those areas, Etherington said, are likely to be more fundamental areas such as ball-handling and movement. “There’s really not much they can teach you shooting-wise,” Etherington said. “I’ve just got to go out and get better fundamentally.” Davis said his desire coming out of the camp was simple.“Just get better.”
(06/06/10 11:59pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From IDS ReportsLess than a month after signing junior college transfer Guy Marc-Michel, the IU men’s basketball team made another addition in an effort to deepen its frontcourt.Jeff Howard, a 6-foot-8 forward from Westfield, Ind., announced he will join the Hoosiers as a walk-on freshman this fall.“Before I really ever thought about playing basketball in college, I knew I wanted to go to IU,” Howard said. “The fact that I wanted to go to school there before, and now that can play basketball too — it was just a really good opportunity that I didn’t want to pass up.”Howard averaged a double-double during his senior season at Westfield High School, scoring 16.8 points per game and pulling down 12.9 rebounds per game.Howard said he believes he can use his style of play and work ethic to be a positive addition to IU’s roster.“I can score the ball, but I’m also a really unselfish player,” he said. “Even if I play in the post, I think I have some good passing abilities, which I definitely exhibited this past year to find my teammates for a lot of good, open looks.“And basically just my hard work — I ... work hard in practice every day to make myself better, as well as the rest of the team.”The Hoosiers have been looking for more bodies up front to grab more rebounds and establish themselves inside.IU coach Tom Crean mentioned that adding more big men would be a priority in the coming seasons and that he has searched the junior college ranks extensively.The additions of Marc-Michel and Howard add more depth to the frontcourt positions.Howard also said he had seen Cook Hall, IU’s new basketball practice facility and was impressed.“It’s definitely an extremely nice place,” he said. “I’ve played in there with the guys some. I’ve seen most of it. It’s really nice, and it definitely shows that everyone’s serious.” — Drew Allen
(06/06/10 11:56pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After strong indoor and outdoor seasons and two Great Lakes Region Athletes of the Year, national championship time has come for IU track and field.Nine athletes head to Eugene, Ore., to represent the Hoosiers in the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 9-12.“We always want more, but the nine that are going, they all can be players at the national level,” IU coach Ron Helmer said. “The nine who got through are all capable of performing at a very high level once they get there, and that’s the positive piece.”Leading the nine Hoosiers into Eugene are the Great Lakes Region honorees, sophomore Derek Drouin and senior Molly Beckwith.Drouin, who qualified for the NCAA championships as a freshman in 2009, claimed the indoor national and outdoor Big Ten titles in the high jump.Beckwith, who will close out her career at IU at the Outdoor Championships, charges in after winning her East Prelim quarterfinal heat in the 800-meter event with a time of 2:03.02.The senior said she is the most ready that she has ever felt. “I think going into last year, my goal was just to make it as far as I could, but this year it’s past that,” Beckwith said. “It’s almost getting to the national championship and placing in the top three or four would be my goal.“I don’t really have many expectations for myself because that puts limitations on things, and I don’t want any limitations going into this meet.”The seven other Hoosiers competing in the national championship meet are Kelsie Ahbe, Faith Sherrill, Sarah Pease, Jeff Coover, Andrew Poore, Ben Hubers and De’Sean Turner.Eight of the nine national finalists have earned All-America honors as well.Turner might have gained momentum heading into nationals by winning his 3,000-meter steeplechase heat with a time of 8:47.22.“Going in there and winning my heat, it’s a confidence booster,” Turner said. “Knowing some of the guys that are going to be in the meet, it makes me feel pretty good about the race. I’m 13th going in right now, so I think all I have to do is beat one of those guys and I’m in the final. I think I’m capable of doing that.“I’d say I’m pretty ready. We’ve been doing some pretty solid stuff this season. All the races and all the workouts have really set me up nicely for Big Ten (Championships), regionals and, hopefully, nationals.”Taking nine athletes to the Outdoor Championships is not quite where Helmer wants his program to eventually arrive, but he sees it as a nice stepping stone to what IU track and field can be in the coming years.“Our goal when we started here three years ago was to get to the point where we could contend for Big Ten championships ... and to be a consistent top-10 team at the national level,” he said. “We got there with the men indoors and need to get there with the women and sustain it through indoor and outdoor and cross-country, and I think we’re really, really close. These kids give us a chance to do that.”
(05/26/10 11:47pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A condensed, drama-filled month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway has seen a new qualifying format garner fans’ praise, a popular driver experience fan displeasure, and high-profile veterans struggle — and fail — to make the 33-car field. Speedway chairman Mari Hulman George has yet to even say, “Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!” But the hectic two-week schedule at the famed racing venue has provided plenty of storylines to follow when the green flag waves for the 94th running of the Indianapolis 500 at 1 p.m. Sunday. One such storyline is the pursuit of history, as many eyes will be on polesitter and three-time winner Helio Castroneves. The Brazilian has become synonymous with the event long billed as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” after becoming the first to win the race in each of his first two starts in 2001 and 2002, respectively. However, he claimed perhaps the most satisfying victory of his career in last year’s running after being cleared of federal tax evasion charges. “That was the best moment of my life,” Castroneves said in an ESPN.com feature titled “Life in Reflection: Helio Castroneves.” He now stands one win shy of Indy immortality. Only three drivers — A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears — have won the race four times. “After everything I went through, to be that close to joining the most incredible drivers in this place — wow, another dream come true,” he said. After posting an average speed of 227.970 mph on his four-lap qualifying run Saturday, Castroneves has history on his side, as the polesitter has won 20 times. Also in the front row are current points leader Will Power and Dario Franchitti, the winner of the 2007 Indianapolis 500. The field also includes two other former victors: Scott Dixon, the 2008 winner, and 2005 winner Dan Wheldon.The new two-day qualifying format, which replaced the traditional two-week odyssey, generally received positive reviews from fans. However, Indy’s new schedule triggered the unexpected, as well. Before Castroneves made his official Pole Day run, Alex Tagliani held the provisional top spot for much of the initial qualifying session. Tagliani advanced to the new “Fast Nine” shootout and earned the sixth starting position. Paul Tracy, a seven-time Indianapolis 500 veteran, missed the field after withdrawing his time during the final session and failing to find sufficient speed afterward. Also dominating headlines were the struggles of Andretti Autosport, which has produced the race’s winning driver twice in the last decade. The team could only muster highs of 13th with Marco Andretti and 14th with Ryan Hunter-Reay. Tony Kanaan nearly missed the field after crashing during his first qualifying run and again during morning practice the following day. But in the waning moments of Bump Day, Kanaan’s crew pieced together a patchwork backup car using parts from other Andretti crews and turned in a courageous four-lap run to qualify 32nd. Danica Patrick, IndyCar’s most popular driver and the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500, also struggled in qualifying. Patrick blamed her career-worst 23rd starting position on a poor car setup. “I’ve never been outside the top 10 on a finish or qualifying, so, um, it’s not my fault,” Patrick said in an interview. “This car is not good.”Her statement caused fans to respond loudly with boos. Patrick was only third-quickest among the four female qualifiers.The speedway opens at 6 a.m. Sunday. The pre-race ceremonies, highlighted by the annual singing of “God Bless America” by Florence Henderson and “Back Home Again in Indiana” by Jim Nabors, begin at noon. “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts will drive the pace car.
(05/24/10 12:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Nathan Altenhofen wears the “defensive-minded coach” badge proudly. And given the emphasis IU women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack has placed on defense, the team’s new assistant coach feels that’s where he can help jump-start the program.“I bring a lot of energy and a lot of intensity, especially to that defensive side of the ball,” Altenhofen said.Altenhofen, who compiled a 73-25 record in three seasons as coach of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics St. Ambrose University, agreed to join the Hoosiers’ staff starting June 1.“I’m extremely excited,” he said. “Ever since getting the phone call from Coach Jack, I’ve been wanting to get started the very next hour. I think it’s such a great opportunity.”He joins current assistant coaches Amaka Agugua, Jose Mori and Stephanie Siler.Legette-Jack said Altenhofen fits perfectly with the women’s basketball program’s agenda.“He’s going to continue with ... character being first, academics being second and basketball being the third thing on our list,” she said. “Basketball-wise, he ... absolutely gets off on teaching the defensive side. He’s a proven winner everywhere he’s gone. He touched programs and helped them find success.“I think that his addition to Amaka, Jose and Stephanie is going to be tremendous.”While the “defensive-minded coach” label certainly might be a breath of fresh air for a team that allowed the second-most points per game in the Big Ten with 65.5 last season, Altenhofen’s “proven winner” label might hold just as much credence.In addition to his career mark at St. Ambrose, which included Midwest Collegiate Coach of the Year honors following his initial campaign with the Queen Bees, he excelled at the junior college ranks, leading Odessa College to a 66-3 record over two seasons and the National Junior College Athletic Association title in 2007.The situation at IU, Altenhofen said, convinced him that joining the Hoosiers was the perfect next career move.“Obviously, I’ve heard a lot of great things about Coach Jack and the staff,” he said. “I think everybody close to their side and my side really did their homework on what kind of people we were going to be associated with. And then, obviously, IU has just got a great athletic tradition, especially when it comes to basketball, along with the opportunity to coach in the Big Ten.“I just thought putting all three of those pieces together was too good of an opportunity not to pursue strongly.”Legette-Jack said Altenhofen has the same “go-getter” mentality as the team and can work well with the staff and players.“His enthusiasm will purpose you,” she said. “He’s a no-nonsense kind of a guy — he kind of gets you to get the job done. There’s no secret about what his focus is. It’s about pursuing greatness in the classroom and then on the court. You won’t get a lot of fluff from him.”Altenhofen said he is looking forward to starting on all that once he begins work this summer.“I’m just excited to do every aspect, whether that’s get on the road and do some recruiting or evaluate film or work with the players — whatever is asked,” he said. “I couldn’t be more blessed with this opportunity right now.”
(05/19/10 11:51pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU women’s tennis coach Lin Loring said it was unusual for a freshman to see so much action in the top singles slots. But freshman Leslie Hureau’s rare situation, playing No. 1 singles in 13 matches this season, might have been the biggest factor in her garnering the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s Ohio Valley Region Rookie of the Year honor. The native of France earned the distinction after winning 44 total matches in her initial campaign with the Hoosiers, 25 coming in singles and 19 in doubles. “That just says a lot for the season she had and the fact that she could be successful playing high in the lineup,” Loring said. Loring said the fact that Hureau was a dedicated student and worker made a difference in her ability to become an impact player so soon. “A lot of freshmen have adjustments to make, and if you think about all the adjustments an international player has to make with culture and language and everything, it really makes that ‘coming to college’ experience that much more difficult,” he said. “She just handled it really well. She’s very low-maintenance. “She just kind of showed up every day and worked hard in practice. She was a true student-athlete. I can’t say enough good things about her.” Loring pointed to several of Hureau’s key matches during the season as evidence that she was deserving of being named the region’s top freshman. One such contest occurred Feb. 21 against then-No. 10 Tennessee. Hureau defeated Maria Sorbello, then ranked 38th in the nation, 6-3, 7-5. Loring also praised her efforts against Kentucky, Ohio State and Purdue. “She’s had some wins against some very good players, and she’s had some good losses against some of the top players,” he said. “I think the experience of playing one and two in every match as a freshman, that’s really going to help her the rest of her college career.” And that remainder of her college career — three more years — has Loring excited not only about the prospects for Hureau individually but also for those of his whole team. “We have (rising junior) Evgeniya (Vertesheva) back for two more years and Leslie back for three more years,” he said. “That’s a great feeling as a coach.”
(05/17/10 12:22am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU volleyball team has been practicing all spring to this point —
nearly six months removed from its last competitive match, save for a
couple of small spring tournaments.
However, the Hoosiers get their payoff Wednesday as they embark on an
11-day European tour for sightseeing and a series of matches against
some of the continent’s top youth competition.
IU coach Sherry Dunbar said the team’s pre-tour practice schedule has
made the players and coaches ready and excited for the trip.
“We’re trying to use these 10 days as a huge benefit for a lot of
different purposes, not just getting better in the gym, but bonding as a
team and learning about Europe,” Dunbar said. “We’re ... trying to find
what the true identity of this team is.”
IU has seven matches scheduled against teams from the Czech Republic,
Slovenia, and Italy.
Dunbar likened the competition to “the very top of the Big Ten.”
“I just made a commitment when we wanted to go over there ... that we
wanted to play high-level competition,” she said. “We can go over there
and play any level we want to, basically. You can end up 7-0 easily, but
I don’t think that accomplishes what we want to get done.
“I think in order for us to see what these 10 days, what the spring has
done for us, kind of a culmination of that is to play the highest level
over there.”
Dunbar, who is entering her fourth season at IU, added that while the
purpose of the trip is to improve as a team, everyone should enjoy the
sightseeing, as well.
“One of the biggest things is to experience Europe,” she said. “We have
lots of tourist things we’re going to do, from the Vatican, the
Coliseum, gondolas — we want to do it all. Some of these kids and some
of the staff probably will never go back in their lifetime, so we want
to experience the whole thing.”
Senior middle blocker/right-side hitter Taylor Wittmer agreed.
“We know our purpose to go over there is to play volleyball, and the
athletic department is sending us over there to play volleyball and get
better,” Wittmer said. “I think the sightseeing and all that is just an
extra bonus, but life is short, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime
experience.”
The Hoosiers leave Wednesday and arrive in Prague on Thursday, where the
team is scheduled to play its first two matches against Czech teams.
After a brief tour of Vienna, Austria, IU will head to Maribor,
Slovenia, to play two more matches and enhance teamwork skills on a
high-ropes course.
They are set to spend May 26 in Venice, Italy and the following day in
Bologna for a match.
The final three days in Rome include two matches against the Italian
Junior National Team, which Dunbar said would be the best competition IU
would face.
Senior middle blocker Ashley Benson, the program’s first All-America
selection, said the trip will be beneficial to the team’s growth.
“We’re all going to take this trip as a step forward,” Benson said.
“It’s not every day that we get to play different styles of teams,
different forms of teams, and this is going to be a great opportunity
for us to grow as a program in general.”
(05/13/10 12:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>On May 19, Ashley Benson and her IU volleyball teammates will begin a trip through Europe — uncharted territory — to face some of the finest youth players from Italy, the Czech Republic and elsewhere. Benson might be playing in Europe for the first time, but by now she knows a thing or two about uncharted territory. After becoming IU volleyball’s first-ever All-American last December, she ensures the Hoosiers will have one of the United States’ finest amateur players on display during their two-week European excursion. The Third-Team All-America selection says the honor is still sinking in. “Just hearing that all my work that I’ve built up throughout my career here has gotten me that title, I think it’s awesome,” she said. IU coach Sherry Dunbar agrees. “I thought she was very deserving of it,” Dunbar said “When we watched her ... playing against the best in the country ... and her hitting percentage and blocks per game and all those types of things, I felt she had a legitimate chance to be an All-American.”Dunbar, whose first season at IU in 2007 was also Benson’s initial campaign with the Hoosiers, adds that the ability of the senior middle blocker to play as well as she did in the ultra-competitive Big Ten conference made the designation that much more of a sure thing. “You can be a great player and not be in a conference like this, and it’s tough to be an All-American because you’re not playing against the best,” Dunbar said. “I thought she was very well-deserving of it, but I also thought she earned it because she’s worked very hard throughout her career so far and she’s given a lot to this program and this University.” Even after posting a school record .361 hitting efficiency and racking up 150 total blocks — 17 shy of her 2008 mark of 167 — Benson was still in “disbelief” when she first heard the announcement. “I was sitting in Coach’s office, and I had no idea why I was in there — she made it sound like she was angry at me, so I came in scared,” Benson recalled. “She sat me down, and a whole bunch of people came into the office, and she told me that a certain amount of people have a special amount of abilities that get them places, all this stuff, and I was like, ‘OK, where’s she going with this?’” Benson said when Dunbar finally broke the news to her, she burst into tears. “I just started bawling, crying,” she said. “I couldn’t say anything. Literally, it was like seven minutes. I was just in disbelief.” However, people familiar with IU might not find a Benson garnering All-American honors difficult to believe. Benson’s father, Kent Benson, made the surname legendary while starring on the IU men’s basketball team.. He earned All-American honors twice, including during the 1976 undefeated national championship season. Growing up in Bloomington, the younger Benson grew used to being labeled as Kent Benson’s daughter, but upon arriving at IU, she sought to emerge from her father’s shadow.“I told him that my freshman year, and he was like, ‘You know you’re going to have to do a lot of hard work,’” she said. “I was like, ‘OK. I’d like to take that challenge.’” Nearly three years later, that mission’s accomplished — or almost, the two Bensons say. “I talked to him after the (end-of-season) banquet,” Benson said. “He said that he was just so proud of me, and he said that I’m almost there, so I’ve still got some work to do.” Like her father, Benson’s first love was basketball until taking up volleyball at Bloomington High School North. She says she never imagined having this degree of success in the sport. “When I came in, I didn’t know that much about volleyball, to be honest,” she said. “At North, all I knew was to hit the ball hard and to block the ball when I could, and I never thought in a million years that I would be breaking records and becoming an All-American.” Yet that is exactly what she has done, and her teammates are excited for her as well. Rising senior middle blocker and right-side hitter Taylor Wittmer, whose has played with Benson since pop club volleyball, said the honor is great for the program. “I just thought it was awesome,” Wittmer said. “I think having that type of recognition for IU, putting us on the map, is definitely a great thing because people will look at us and say, ‘Oh, they are producing one of the best.’” Dunbar agreed, adding that “success breeds success.” “Any time you have All-Americans and kids see that, that’s ultimately what you want to do,” Dunbar said. “You want to be an All-American, you want to play on the national team, you want to play professional volleyball. So to be able to see that you can do that at Indiana, absolutely it helps our recruiting, and it helps her.“It’s wonderful to see her be the first All-American — somebody from Bloomington that understands what it means to go to school here and what it means to play for Indiana.” While Benson has relished the individual joy that has come with her unprecedented achievement, she hopes being an All-American sparks more success within the program.“I wouldn’t be able to have the title of All-American without the team,” Benson said. “Without them behind me, it would be impossible, because you can’t just do it all alone. Hopefully we’ll have some more All-Americans in this bunch, and if not in this bunch, then future players.” The desire to make a jump to First Team All-America is also there, but for now, she is excited about fulfilling another dream: traveling to Italy with the team in a couple of weeks. “I was almost born there because my dad was playing overseas,” she said. “I’ve heard so many stories about it, and I’ve just wanted to visit and spend a great opportunity to fulfill a dream.”
(04/28/10 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Passionate cheers and chants, droning horns and an array of tunes by IU’s Crabb Band and a Mexican mariachi band echoed throughout Bill Armstrong Stadium for two hours Tuesday.The aggressive play on Jerry Yeagley Field accompanied with the surroundings resulted in the IU men’s soccer team’s best performance of the spring season.The Hoosiers scored twice on four shots-on-goal and dominated physically on defense to shut out the U-20 Mexican Youth National Team 2-0.With the win, IU finished 2-1-2 on the spring.“We had some very good moments in our performance, collectively and individually,” IU coach Todd Yeagleysaid. “We’re leaving like we want to leave the spring. I think we made positive steps.”More than 4,000 people attended the game, including a healthy contingent of Mexican fans. That made the contest as close to a regular season game as possible this time of year, Yeagley said.“That’s why we really love this game,” he said. “With players, there are butterflies. They’re nervous, especially the young ones who haven’t played in an environment like this. So now, when you come into a hostile away environment or a home game where there’s four or 5,000, the anxiety may not be there as much.“That is a great tool for us.”The Hoosiers went on the offensive in the first half, striking first blood at 30:33. Sophomore midfielder Tyler McCarroll took advantage of an opening and put junior midfielder Andy Adlard’s assist past Mexico goalkeeper Israel Cano.“I knew that goal would be crucial to change the momentum of the game,” McCarroll said. “We deserved it with how we were playing.”McCarroll could see the improvement in his team’s aggression in first-half play.“I think each game we’ve gotten better and better,” he said. “I think we proved it today with how we played and how we executed.”Returning from the half with their 1-0 lead, the Hoosiers continued to build on their aggressiveness.Five minutes into the second period, sophomore forward Will Bruin barely missed on a shot on which Cano made a brilliant diving save.Mexico could not muster much on offense, however, as IU’s physical advantage limited its opponent to six total shots, three by midfielder Diego De Buen.Bruin said it was a result of increased emphasis on defense in practice.“At the beginning of the spring, we started off from scratch,” he said. “We worked on so much defensive shape and getting all our backs and midfielders on the same page.”Later in the half, at 68:29, Bruin made up for the miss and added his fifth goal of the spring on a header from McCarroll.“We’ve been working a lot more on finishing, and I think a lot of people are getting more confidence with just the little drills we do in practice,” Bruin said. “From where we started, we’ve made multiple strides up to now.”Mexico earned one final chance at a score with extra time on an IU penalty, but the Hoosiers’ defense clamped down and shut out the visitors as the final gun sounded.With his first stretch of games as IU coach now finished, Yeagley has at least a better and clearer idea of what he’ll see when the team reconvenes for the fall season.“We built a lot of depth, and depending on how guys come back, there’s going to be a lot of great competition,” he said. “That’s what this spring is about, as well: create competition. Competition within this program has been a backbone and a strength, and we’re going to have that.“That’s what makes you better – the environment.”
(04/27/10 4:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Soccer is a pretty big deal in Mexico. IU will soon see why. The men’s soccer team will end its six-game spring season with some international flavor as it welcomes the Under-20 Mexican Youth National Team for a 7 p.m. scrimmage. The team members won’t be the only ones doing the welcoming, as a large contingent of Mexican fans, media and entertainment are expected at Bill Armstrong Stadium. “We expect a very festive crowd,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “It’ll be exciting to hear all the chanting and horns blowing and see their pride in their country. We also hope a lot of our fans come out.” Junior midfielder Daniel Kelly added that the players are eager to play in the atmosphere. “It’ll be fun. They always bring a crowd,” he said. “You never realize how many Hispanics and Mexican supporters there are until a team like this comes out. They’re going to be loud, and it’s going to be fun.” The Hoosiers are 1-3 in their four contests with the Mexican youth teams since IU began playing them in 2005. Kelly, who played in two of those games and also in international competition, likened the Under-20 squad to national runner-up Akron. “In international soccer, you basically get the best of your country,” he said. “They’re usually really talented. If I had to compare player-wise with their tactics and the way they like to play and keep the ball in their possession, I’d have to compare them to Akron ... or any ACC team like Maryland, Wake Forest or UVA.” Yeagley said the competition would be different, and thus a great measuring stick for the Hoosiers. “They’re going to be more naturally gifted than some of the players we see in the fall,” he said. “There are certain guys who can compare, but the technique is at a slightly higher level.” IU has gone 1-1-2 in four completed matches this spring, beating Louisville 2-1 on March 28 and then tying Cincinnati and IU-Purdue University Indianapolis before falling to Notre Dame 4-2 in penalty kicks April 17.The Hoosiers’ April 24 contest against Akron at Northern Kentucky University was canceled due to lightning in the area.Kelly said the matchup with the Under-20 squad, which is preparing for its international qualifier, will help the team see where it stands in preparation for its fall season. “We would like to see where we’re at overall,” he said. “They’re trying to get geared up for qualifying for the U-20. Everybody on their team is fighting for a spot, so we’ll probably get the best of what they’ve got. “We’re wrapping up our spring season, so we’re just trying to end on a good note so we can roll into the fall with some positives.”
(04/23/10 3:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If the trends of the spring season continue, the men’s soccer game Saturday would need to go beyond penalty kicks to settle. Such seems to be the case for the Hoosiers, who have had three straight regulation ties lead to overtime periods en route to a 1-1-2 spring record. “Late in the game, you start stretching and you start forcing,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “Nights are going to be tough sometimes to score.”IU hopes Saturday isn’t one of those nights, as the team travels to Northern Kentucky for an exhibition contest at 8 p.m. against Akron, last season’s national runner-up. By design of the spring season, teams have played more overtime periods each game. The Hoosiers ended their April 9 game against Cincinnati with a 1-1 tie in regulation. Then, they played two 10-minute extra periods against IU-Purdue University Indianapolis before the game concluded with the same outcome.On April 17 in Fort Wayne, IU once again sent a contest to overtime when sophomore forward Will Bruin matched two Notre Dame goals in the second half. Neither team scored in the two overtimes, which led to penalty kicks, where the Fighting Irish claimed the victory with a 4-2 advantage. More concerning to Yeagley, however, is the Hoosiers’ tendency to start slowly on offense in the first half. All six of IU’s goals this spring have come in the second half of games.“We weren’t there in the first half as much as I would’ve liked,” Yeagley said. “We’re seeing a trend that we have to address.” The first-year coach attributed conditions during the games as a possible factor in his players’ adjustment periods. The Hoosiers played through rain in their spring opener against Louisville on March 28 and a glaring setting sun in two evening contests. “Whether it’s the sun, a little heat that we haven’t been dealing with, they’re things that we’ll deal with next year,” he said. “Our team’s got to get stronger and deal with conditions. That could’ve played into it.” Regardless of the conditions in Newport, Ky., on Saturday, IU could be in for a challenge against Akron.The Zips entered the Dec. 13 final of the 2009 NCAA Men’s Division I Soccer Championship undefeated before falling to Virginia 3-2 in penalty kicks. Akron coach Caleb Porter, who played at IU from 1994-97, earned National Coach of the Year honors for his team’s flirtation with perfection. While a date with one of the nation’s premier programs seems daunting, Yeagley said he knows exactly what he wants to see from his squad: a faster start. “What I would’ve liked is to see them solve that a little bit quicker on the field because most of our job is done prior,” he said.
(04/15/10 3:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s soccer team remained undefeated for the spring Wednesday, though not in the manner it would have liked.Twenty-two shots converted to just one goal for the Hoosiers, who went to 1-0-2 during the spring season with a 1-1 tie in two overtime periods against IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.“There were a lot of positives tonight,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “When you generate the amount of opportunities that we did, that’s positive. The positive side is that you get that many quality looks. The disappointing part is we didn’t convert.”Nine different IU players took shots at the Jaguars, and four Hoosiers attempted two or more with sophomore forward Will Bruin’s team-high eight.IU saw one corner kick opportunity after another pass without a score.“I felt that the players, early, felt that the next one would come too quick, so they weren’t as focused on their final pass or touch,” Yeagley said. “And then late in the game, you then start stretching and you start forcing. When you play and create enough opportunities, you have to reward yourself, and tonight, we didn’t.”However, neither did IUPUI, whose 11 shots translated to just one goal at 83:49 when Emile Garcia put a corner kick past IU freshman goalkeeper Luis Soffner for a late 1-0 lead.The Hoosiers finally got their score shortly afterward in crunch time.Freshman midfielder Caleb Kostanski took a pass from junior midfielder Cameron Jordan and fired a header to junior midfielder Andy Adlard, who put the ball in at the right post of the Jaguars’ goal for the tying score with just over a minute remaining in regulation.“There wasn’t much time left, so we were rushing to get it,” Adlard said. “We played an early one to the top of the box, and Cam did real well to play a back-post ball to Caleb, who did well to stay onsides. It was a great header back across, he found me very well, and, you know, a wide-open goal; I couldn’t miss it.”Adlard said the feeling of finally coming through with a goal in the waning moments of the game was rewarding.“It’s very frustrating; soccer’s like that,” he said. “We nearly had 25 shots or so, and we hit the post two or three times. It’s frustrating, but the good teams keep going and just keep doing what they’re doing and trust that the goal will come.“I thought we deserved to win. They were dangerous on their long throws and corners, and that’s what they were hoping for. One lapse and they get a goal, but we did well to fight back.”Yeagley agreed that the tying goal was a positive.“When their backs were against the wall, and they got one against the run, maybe that focus was heightened just a little bit,” he said. “I was proud of them. They didn’t panic, they felt it coming, and we were able to score a nice goal. That’s very positive when you’re down one late.”While Adlard’s goal kept IU alive and sent the contest to overtime, missed shots again plagued either side.Freshman midfielder Jacob Bushue’s two shots came in the two extra 10-minute periods, and Bruin added more looks to his busy night.The Jaguars also had a shot on goal that Soffner saved, and after the second overtime with no resolution, the Hoosiers picked up their second straight 1-1 stalemate.Yeagley said there are still plenty of things to fix, including the need for increased energy in the opening half.“We’re seeing a trend that we have to address,” he said, “and we’re still looking for the personnel to start the game. Some players are better in a reserve role; some do better in a starting role, and we’re still sorting that out.”
(04/14/10 1:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The men’s soccer team has started slow in the first halves and ended strong in the second in each game this spring.That got IU coach Todd Yeagley talking about playing the same throughout a game’s entirety.“Consistency is something we talk about,” Yeagley said. “That’s why in every activity that we do in training, we cannot allow them to have periods.”The Hoosiers, 1-0-1 this spring, will get another shot to display that consistency when they play host to IU-Purdue University Indianapolis today at 7 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium.In a 2-1 victory against Louisville on March 28 and a 1-1 tie with Cincinnati on April 9, IU surrendered a goal in the first half and answered with scores of its own in the second.Yeagley said the goal is to overcome a tendency to be out of sync, as in the first half against Cincinnati.“There are going to be times that we’re not going to have our game,” he said. “We’re going to be out of flow, and teams are going to be sharper. What I would’ve liked is to see them solve that a little bit quicker on the field."However, the continued experimentation with players in different positions, a priority during the spring season, could have an effect on the team’s striving for consistency, Yeagley said.“We know there are going to be some mistakes made, whether it’s positional mistakes or technical errors or whatever it might be,” he said. “We’re trying to be patient. However, we do want things to happen a little bit quicker.”Much of that experimenting has occurred in the midfield and on defense, where freshman goalkeeper Luis Soffner noticed positive changes in the Hoosiers’ most recent outing.“The defenders have been pressuring the forwards and not letting them turn and come at us,” Soffner said after the Cincinnati game. “In the second half, especially, we really did that.”Yeagley traced the issues to youth as well. Midfielders, sophomore Tyler McCarroll and freshman Jacob Bushue, got their first significant minutes at IU.“I thought Jacob Bushue, in particular, came in and did a real nice job,” Yeagley said. “Here’s a kid that still would be in his last semester of high school. He came in and was confident. He has bite to his game and gave us a lift. I thought he and Tyler McCarroll, in the second part of the first half, changed our momentum a little bit to the positive.”Yeagley said whatever the causes, the team will need to show more consistency in today’s game.“That’s something that we’re going to talk about, trying to get a few more individuals in key spots, when we’re not finding that rhythm, to help us do so,” he said.
(04/12/10 3:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>So far this spring, the story of IU men’s soccer has been a tale of two halves.Just as they had done in a 2-1 victory against Louisville two weeks ago, the Hoosiers played a slow first half and surrendered a goal before responding in the second, tying Cincinnati 1-1 on Friday.“First half, we were really out of sync,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “We weren’t sharp, we weren’t proactive in that first half. However, I thought we responded well and had a fairly good performance in the second half.”The opening period consisted of ill-advised passes by IU and a lot of time attempting to keep the Bearcats at bay on the defensive end.That meant constant action for freshman goalkeeper Luis Soffner, who faced six total Cincinnati shots, allowed one goal and recorded two saves.Soffner said the heavy work on defense wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.“It helps me feel a part of the team,” he said. “It helps me keep engaged in the game. There are some games where I can go 20 or 30 minutes without even touching the ball at all. Today was a good test against a good team.”Soffner and defenders sophomore Tommy Meyer and freshmen Matt Wiet and Chris Haffner faced pressure from the Bearcats early and often before Cincinnati’s D.J. Albert redirected a corner kick in for a score at 14:13.IU entered the break trailing 1-0, prompting Yeagley to address his players’ performance in the locker room.“We really challenged the team at halftime,” he said. “We were very reactive. A lot of key things that we’ve been spending a lot of time with, we were not doing well with.”As a result, the Hoosiers returned to the field with renewed vigor.As quickly as the Bearcats had scored in the first half, IU had sophomore forward Will Bruin beat Cincinnati’s goalkeeper one-on-one for the tying score at 57:26.“We had a good halftime talk, and they went out and did it,” Yeagley said. “We addressed a few things, lit a little fire, and you saw in the second half what we’re more capable of playing like.”The Hoosiers would finish with nine total shots against the Bearcats. The defense also benefited from the offense’s strong second half.“Tonight in the second half ... they didn’t get to run a play, they didn’t get to dribble toward us,” Soffner said. “That’s what we’re working on, just staying together as a unit more than anything.”While he was pleased with his team’s effort in the second half, Yeagley said he will look for more consistency as the spring season progresses.“I thought the 30 minutes to start the second half was more like an IU team can play,” he said. “The Cincinnati coach right away after the game said, ‘That second half, you guys really took it to us,’ and that should have been for the 90.”
(04/09/10 3:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>New IU men’s soccer coach Todd Yeagley couldn’t be happier being back at his alma mater. “Every day, I kind of step back from what I’m doing and say, ‘I have the best job in college soccer,’” he said. “I’m very fortunate.”And if the beginning of the spring season is any indicator, the new era of Hoosier soccer is progressing well. After winning the first of six exhibition games scheduled for the spring, the Hoosier team has earned the praise of its new boss. “They’re giving us one heck of an effort,” Yeagley said. “We have a good balance of some upperclassmen with some young guys. I like the feel of the group.” Yeagley said he hopes to get a better idea of where certain players might perform best when IU returns to action against Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. today at Bill Armstrong Stadium. “Each game, we want to go in with some different objectives and seeing some players in certain positions,” he said. “You might see a few players in spots who didn’t play in those areas in the last game. We’ve got to see some players in spots to see if we can develop depth in those spots and find new combinations and chemistry in different combinations of the field.” He also said competition among the players at different positions should help to improve the team. “We do know that we have some areas of the field that we’ve got to get better in,” he said. “Some of the players coming in give us a potential boost and some competition, which is always a bit of a cornerstone of this program, that we can always have some competition to get out on that field.” Since IU’s 2-1 victory against Louisville on March 28, Yeagley said the focus in practice has been consistency and details, primarily on defense and efficient offensive possessions. Sophomore forward Will Bruin, who scored the first of IU’s two goals against Louisville, said combination play also carried emphasis and would be part of the game plan today. “We’re still just trying to build off the basic principles that we had at the start,” he said. “We’re trying to get patterns ingrained into our minds so that it just comes natural instead of having to think about it.” The first team All-Big Ten striker added after Wednesday’s practice that Yeagley has been successful in getting the most out of players in practice. “Everybody knows what’s expected of them, and if you’re not playing up to your ability, he’ll let you know,” he said. “Today is a perfect example. We started off really slow in practice, and then we finished up really strong.” Yeagley said he expects to see that same strong effort from his players in his second outing as coach.“We’re starting to see that show up consistently in training, and that’s going to translate to the game,” he said. “We’re staying the course we’ve had from the beginning.”
(04/05/10 3:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>“You’ve been waiting forever to play in this game! Who’s gonna win tonight?”“WE ARE!”“Are you a Bulldog?”“Hell yeah, Butler!”The chants echoed continuously throughout Hinkle Fieldhouse, along with the thunderous rumble of feet underneath the bleachers and reaction, positive or negative, to every change of possession.And when Butler sophomore forward Gordon Hayward came down with the final rebound to seal the Bulldogs’ first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament’s championship game, the historic arena erupted with entire minutes of non-stop cheers.Each of the stadium’s lower balconies filled with ecstatic Butler fans who came to watch the hometown university’s men’s basketball team participate in the Final Four at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday.Butler beat Michigan State 52-50 to advance to the final round against Duke on Monday.From the opening of the Fieldhouse doors at 5 p.m. to the playing of Kool & the Gang’s “Celebration” upon Butler’s victory, not a minute passed without energy.Students, faculty, alumni and Indianapolis residents came to watch the game on four giant viewing screens.“It’s not so much what it feels like, it’s just kind of a culmination of, ‘We’ve been this good and we’re finally there,’” said Josh Arntz, a 2008 Butler graduate. “It’s almost like a breath of fresh air. Now everybody knows about Butler basketball. It’s great for the team and great for the school.”Arntz, who returned to his alma mater from Nashville, Tenn., for the Final Four, said he never thought the day would come when his Bulldogs would be this close to a national title.“You have teams like Syracuse, Kansas, Kansas State — you have so much good depth out there, and big recruits don’t look at Butler,” he said. “We really have to recruit whatever we can get, so it’s almost stacked up against us. To see us rise up this way as a team and as a program is unbelievable.”Rachel Mohlman, a 2004 graduate, shared the excitement.“It’s absolutely amazing,” she said. “The Sweet 16 was cool back in 2003 when I was in the band and we went to Albany, but this just beats that. It’s just incomparable. It’s amazing what this team has done.”She added that having 10 Indiana natives on the team — including last year’s Horizon League Player of the Year Matt Howard and this year’s honoree Hayward — made the journey even more special.“It’s great, because they have the hometown support behind them,” Mohlman said. “We can just cheer them on from high school onward and just support them 100 percent. They’re just such good kids and such good kids academically too. We’re proud of that and Brad Stevens is proud of that.”The Butler fans expressed their appreciation for Stevens, who will attempt to become the youngest coach to win an NCAA Division I men’s basketball championship since IU coach Branch McCracken in 1940.“From what I hear, he’s just exceptional with the students and just a great guy all-around,” Mohlman said. “Just a class act.”Following the Bulldogs’ win, attendees continued to party in the Hinkle Fieldhouse parking lot, honking horns and chanting cheers. The vibe around Butler’s campus is likely to continue all the way to tip-off Monday night.“I think this is going to help boost the program within the state,” Arntz said. “We can be that good. We don’t have to be North Carolina. We don’t have to be Duke. We can be exactly who we are and do everything right and still get here.”
(03/29/10 2:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rain poured onto Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium as Todd Yeagley made his debut as IU men’s soccer coach Sunday.But the showers didn’t dampen the Hoosiers’ performance, as they scored two goals in the second half to claim a 2-1 victory against Louisville in the first of six contests during the spring season.“It was a wonderful feeling, obviously, to get out and play today, quality aside, and get this spring kicked off,” said Yeagley, the son of IU Hall of Fame coach Jerry Yeagley.Having seen his IU players from the outside as coach at Wisconsin during the 2009 season, Yeagley said he was excited to experiment with them.“Overall, where we are and where we want to be with this group is good,” he said.While much attention was centered on Yeagley’s debut, the team was also glad to get back onto the field for its first action of 2010.“It was amazing to be out there,” said freshman midfielder Joe Tolen, who scored the game-winning goal for the Hoosiers. “I think we were definitely hungry. We’ve had a long spring of working hard, playing with each other and wanting to get on the field and make the most of it.”Tolen added that the players were excited to play for Yeagley.“He’s so helpful, and he’s so positive,” Tolen said. “He tries every day to get the best out of us, and he really leaves a lot of responsibility to us to bring everything we can in training and make the most of it.”As for the game itself, the tale was one of two halves for IU.Louisville attacked aggressively in the first half, as six players took shots at IU freshman goalkeeper Luis Soffner. The Hoosiers, however, only managed three shots, all from sophomore forward Will Bruin.Neither team could score until 33:30, when Louisville’s Buck Tufty fired a cross shot into the back of the IU goal to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.However, the Hoosiers launched an offensive early in the second period and tied the game when Bruin sent a low roller into the Louisville goal to tie the game at 54:23.Bruin finished with four shots and an assist to go with his goal.The wet conditions allowed for several rough tackles on both sides. Junior defender Daniel Kelly was shaken up twice.“In a competitive game, there are going to be hard tackles,” Yeagley said. “Certainly injuries are a part of the game ... but you need to play through them.”IU’s offense showed up in the second half where it didn’t in the first. The team would earn five more shots from four other players in the second half.In the final 10 minutes of play, the Hoosiers sealed the win with Tolen’s unassisted goal at 84:35.Overall, the new coach liked what he saw from his team.“What I saw was about 65 or 70 minutes of solid soccer,” Yeagley said. “Overall, the result was there, and when you talk about this group, they find ways to win.”
(03/05/10 7:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Third time’s not the charm.The IU women’s basketball team won both games against Illinois in the regular season but lost when it mattered most.The Hoosiers (14-16, 7-12) overcame a sloppy offensive performance and nearly pulled off a comeback before falling to the Fighting Illini (16-13, 8-11) in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.“We wanted that game so bad,” IU coach Felisha Legette-Jack said of the 59-53 loss. “I thought we had a great game plan. We got opening shots. Just the stars weren’t lined up.”All game long, IU could not capitalize on offense when given breaks in the form of 25 Illinois turnovers.The Hoosiers shot a meager 27.4 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers themselves.Junior guard Jori Davis led IU in scoring with 20 points, but the Second Team All-Big Ten selection couldn’t find her rhythm until midway through the second half. Davis scored just three points in the first half.Senior guard Jamie Braun scored 13 points, all in the first half, and led the Hoosiers with eight rebounds in what was probably her final game at IU.“I’m only taking the positives out of this,” Braun said. “We may not have hung up a banner or made the NCAA tournament, but we worked hard every day to do what we needed to do and just fell short.”While the Fighting Illini weren’t able to run away with the game, they rode the monster performances of their two senior stars, center Jenna Smith and guard Lacey Simpson.“I trust those seniors and knew they would come through for us down the stretch,” Illinois coach Jolette Law said.The Hoosiers had no answer for Smith, who posted a double-double with 23 points and 19 rebounds despite being double- and triple-teamed throughout the game.“I was playing like it was my last (game),” said the First Team All-Big Ten selection. “I give it up for my teammates and family. When we have confidence, it’s hard to stop us.”Simpson added 12 points, seven rebounds and eight steals while IU concentrated heavily on Smith.The play of the Illinois seniors and the offensive struggles of the Hoosiers were evident early.The Fighting Illini led by six points twice in the first half, and Braun was IU’s only scoring threat. Davis went 1-for-7, and junior forward Hope Elam had the Hoosiers’ second-highest scoring total — four points.Davis finally hit her first field goal with 5:12 left in the first half to bring IU within a point.However, the Hoosiers couldn’t take the lead from Illinois because of missed shots and turnovers and trailed the Fighting Illini 26-25 at the break.Smith and Simpson continued dominating in the second half, and the game seemed well in hand with Smith’s jump shot to put Illinois up 52-43 with 6:26 remaining.However, Davis hit her stride in the second half and would not let her team concede defeat, scoring a jumper with 3:38 to put IU back within seven.“The time was against us, and we really needed to take it to another level, and that’s basically what we did,” she said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t take it to that other level earlier in the game.”Neither team scored again until 1:04 to play, when Davis again stepped up and drained a 3-pointer to bring IU within four.But despite the late comeback, it was not enough for the Hoosiers. With the win, the Fighting Illini advanced to the quarterfinals and will play top-seeded Ohio State.The Hoosiers must wait and learn if their season has come to an end. Legette-Jack said that either way, the program’s long-term goals remain the same.“We’re not going anywhere until we add to those five championships that our men put up there in that beautiful hall,” she said. “Our goals are big; our dreams are high. We’re going to go out there and attain them.”