Sports

IU joins five ranked teams in championships

In their last dual meet of the year, the unranked Hoosiers took the 21st ranked Purdue Boilermakers by surprise, winning in convincing fashion. Now, the Hoosiers hope it's time to take the rest of the conference by surprise when the Big Ten championship meet begins today at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center and continues through Saturday. "We need to make this the best meet of the year to date," Coach Kris Kirchner said. "We need to be swimming faster than we ever have before."

Sophomore uses 'natural gifts' to lead team

Looking at the box scores of IU's water polo matches this year, one name consistently appears under any offensive category statistic.

A tale of two teams

As a co-host of the Big Red Classic at Lake Diamond Golf & Country Club in Ocala, Fla. March 9-10, IU was optimistic they would be swinging into contention for the tournament title. Instead, the Hoosiers struggled to their worst finish since the season-opening Badger Invitational in September. IU placed 14th in the 16-team tournament.

Team drops first game

The Reebok Lady Stars brought its celebrity-studded lineup Wednesday night to Assembly Hall, much to the dismay of coach Kathi Bennett and the IU women's basketball team. WNBA standouts Katie Douglas and Ukari Figgs scorched the defensively-troubled Hoosiers, as the touring team of former college and professional players outlasted IU 84-83 in an exhibition game. Besides showing that Purdue products Douglas and Figgs can still knock-off IU, the night game proved to Bennett that her team needs to improve its transition defense, sloppy passing and ability to put away opponents. "They're very experienced," Bennett said about the Stars, who in recent weeks have pasted Butler 112-81 and Valparaiso 68-56. "They've been there, they know it and can play really loose."

Live football updates on www.idsnews.com

Starting this weekend, the IDS and WIUS student radio will present a special Web site for IU football fans to "watch" the games and track statistics as the game unfolds.

Hoosiers shock Badgers 63-32

MADISON, Wis. -- So this is what good defense looks like. This here, just past midfield, senior Sharrod Wallace running step-for-step with Wisconsin's Lee Evans and breaking up Brooks Bollinger's bomb on the first play of the game, is how pass coverage is supposed to go.

Weather allows 2 of 3; 2 losses

Player of the Week

IU has the Big Ten Player of the Week routine figured out. For the fifth consecutive week, the Player of the Week has been either a Hoosier or someone from a team that played IU (16-7, 8-2 Big Ten) during the week for which he was awarded. This time, senior forward Jarrad Odle gobbled up the honors, after posting back-to-back double-doubles in No. 22 IU's victories over Iowa and Louisville. Against Iowa Feb. 5, Odle shut down Hawkeye forward Reggie Evans for the second time this season, holding the 6-foot-8 Evans to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. Meanwhile, Odle scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Hoosiers hope to add more qualifiers

After their best-ever Big Ten conference finish in Ann Arbor, Mich., last weekend, the IU women's swimming team looks to qualify more swimmers for the NCAA Championships this weekend at the Indiana Open. Sunday's event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatics Center. The Hoosiers play host to other competitors in the last-chance meet for swimmers to post qualifying times for the NCAA Championships. The NCAAs will be held March 21-23 in Austin, Texas.

Hoosiers fight for bowl contention

Oh, how things have changed. Less than a month ago, the odds of IU repeating its streak of losing seasons were pretty high. Then came Northwestern and Michigan State, and suddenly the routing of Wisconsin didn't seem like such a fluke. Instantly, speculation surrounded the Hoosiers about a possible bowl game appearance, and senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El's name was thrown back in the Heisman mix. And now, IU is favored Saturday in the 12:10 p.m. televised game against Joe Paterno and Penn State. At Happy Valley. In front of more than 100,000 Nittany Lions fans. IU is picked to win.

Davis signs contract

Almost a year after being named head coach for the men's basketball team, Mike Davis signed a formal four-year contract Friday. The terms of the contract include an annual salary of $225,000 beginning July 1. His annual income will reach about $500,000 a year with outside income and bonuses tallied up. This contract is binding until May 2005.

Hoosiers cut down the net

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- IU coach Mike Davis knew what he wanted to do with the ball as soon as he got it from sophomore Jared Jeffries at the close of the Hoosiers' 81-69 win against Kent State Saturday night at Rupp Arena. Davis jumped through two rows of media and headed for the one man he seems to be unable to thank enough for having given him his first shot as a head coach -- IU president Myles Brand. Both Brand and his wife, Peg, were in attendance for both of the Hoosiers' wins in Lexington and they helped kick off the celebration Saturday night after IU won the South Regional. "He said, 'I appreciate all that you've done, thank you and here's the game ball,'" Brand said. "Coach Davis did a tremendous job. I'm proud of him; I'm proud of all the coaches and our student-athletes."

'Glad to be back'

INDIANAPOLIS -- The billboard across the street from the speedway looks like a greeting for a long-lost friend: "Look who's back in town."

Teams cite determination as key to victory

The middle of the pack for the women's Little 500 could contain this year's champion if track conditions improve and luck is on someone's side. Even though Alpha Omicron Pi, Con Fuoco and Alpha Phi have not been powerhouses recently, these teams say not to be surprised if determination drives them past the favorites.

Coverdale's injury inspires late run

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- When junior Tom Coverdale stepped on Kent State's Eric Thomas' foot and crumbled to the floor, there was 9:35 left in Saturday night's game against the Golden Flashes. The Hoosiers had just put the finishing touches on a 19-9 run and had built a 59-41 lead.

Down to the wire

On lap 93 of the 100-lap race, Kappa Alpha Theta senior took the exchange, hopped on her Mongoose bike and built a quarter of a lap lead on the four teams that remained on the lead lap, Roadrunners, Kappa Delta and Alpha Gamma Delta. With a quarter of a lap remaining in the race, Johnson could not make up the half a straightaway lead that Roadrunner senior Jenn Wangerin had built in the final lap to win the 14th running of the women's Little 500. "I just don't believe it's over," Wangerin said. "It really came together for us."

Miami takes down IU

A final-second save by Miami of Ohio senior goalkeeper Marie Vaughn gave the Redhawks a 2-1 victory against the Hoosiers in the season opener Sunday at Mellencamp Pavilion. In front of a crowd of 136, the largest crowd in the program's history, the second-year Hoosier program improved on a 9-0 loss last year against the Redhawks.

Frontrunners in playoff race

As the dog days of August come to an end, the excitement of the baseball season has grown exponentially. Five of the six division races are still up for grabs, the wild card race is anybody's guess, and, of course, there is the ever present home run race. While no race can match the excitement brought in 1998's record breaking season, this year's race is special for one reason: All of the frontrunners also find themselves in a pennant race.

Hoosiers still in Big Ten title hunt

Wednesday was a big goof -- a black mark on IU's Big Ten slate. But Mike Davis' message was simple, and he said it even before IU lost to Wisconsin in Assembly Hall Wednesday: Win or lose, the Hoosiers are still on top of the Big Ten.

Team splits weekend matches

The IU women's tennis team split its road matches this weekend. The Hoosiers traveled to Madison, Wis., on Saturday and beat the Badgers 4-3 but lost 4-3 to Minnesota on Sunday. IU is 14-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play.