Sports

Four-game roadtrip provides challenge

Six a.m., the sun has barely risen, yet there they are, warming up on four miles of jogging, rooting out the players with true dedication to the sport of lacrosse.

Terps' Dixon leads Maryland to title game

ATLANTA - Juan Dixon tied a career-high 33 points in Maryland's 97-88 win against Kansas in the second national semifinal Saturday night at the Georgia Dome. He is the leading scorer in the tournament with 27.4 points per game. Dixon has been in double figures in 53 straight games.

Hoosiers bounce back after Big Ten tourney

ATLANTA -- Senior Dane Fife sat with a stoic look on his face, looking straight ahead from the seat in front of his locker, still in his uniform 30 minutes after the game with Iowa had ended. Junior Kyle Hornsby was two lockers to Fife's right and in the same position.

Hoosiers flex muscles on way to title

ATLANTA -- Senior Jarrad Odle called Oklahoma's effort to get physical with IU "punking."

Team winless in Big Ten matchups

Team performs well in Fla.

Team take 32nd in NCAA championship

Team finds no success in Big Ten Tournament

The IU women's softball team found no success in its Big Ten opening weekend. Yesterday, the Hoosiers dropped both doubleheader games to Northwestern 9-1 (six innings) in the first game and 4-3 (11 innings) in the second. Sunday's game's followed two losses to Iowa on Saturday. The Hoosiers are 9-14-1.

IUSF ruling challenged by team, BSU over racial issues

A controversial ruling by the IU Student Foundation last week questioned the eligibility of the men's Little 500 team, Team Major Taylor. The team challenged the IUSF ruling, which will be decided this week. If IUSF continues with their original decision on the matter, it will disqualify Team Major Taylor from the 2002 race. Speculation surrounds a rider who might have had too much riding experience to race in this intermural event.

Hoosiers take low-key approach

ATLANTA -- IU will play in the national championship game tonight, but you couldn't tell Sunday.

Coverdale availability still in question

ATLANTA -- The question mark continues to loom over Tom Coverdale. Coverdale didn't practice during IU's 50-minute session in the Georgia Dome Friday, instead resting his twice-sprained left ankle by sitting on the bench and conversing with IU coach Mike Davis. He status is still listed as questionable for IU's Final Four battle with Oklahoma Saturday.

Playing the 'what-if' game

Kirk Haston is enjoying IU's ride to the Final Four. But the former Hoosier is on the outside looking in. Haston, who left IU after his junior season and opted for the NBA Draft, is with the Charlotte Hornets, not the Hoosiers. A season after his departure, Haston is watching IU's longest NCAA Tournament run in 10 seasons instead of playing in it.

Students abroad following team

It was 10 years ago this month that Kirkwood Avenue and Showalter Fountain last heard the hoots and hollers of the Final Four-bound IU faithful. A short walk through campus reveals a sense of pride that has been restored here in Bloomington. "This is a really exciting time for students to be at IU. I think it's just great," Telecommunications lecturer and Public Information Director of WTIU, Suzann Mitten Owen said.

Alumni prepare for Saturday's game

We're ready. Ready to flood Kirkwood Avenue and jump in Showalter Fountain in the event of a Hoosier victory Saturday. But, for alumni who can't join in the jubilation here or in Atlanta, the party will have to occur elsewhere.

Sweet home Atlanta: 'P.O. Boys' back

Jeff Newton and A.J. Moye will enjoy their trip back to Atlanta, the city they both call home. It's a warm and fuzzy story, full of anecdotes and emotion. But make no mistake, IU's two top bench scorers aren't headed to the Final Four to visit family and friends or their old stomping grounds.

Keeping the Faith

One hour before the Hoosiers started their NCAA Tournament run against Utah two weeks ago, IU coach Mike Davis wasn't drawing up plays or lecturing his team. No, he was watching the New York Knicks play the Sacramento Kings on a television inside of Arco Arena in Sacramento, offering his description of the play to arena workers

Freshman thrust into Final Four spotlight

Freshman Donald Perry ended up at the free throw line 10 times in the last 2:14 of last Saturday night's South Regional final against Kent State. The free throws were insurance to the Hoosiers' lead, which was 72-58 when Perry was fouled at the 2:14 mark. Perry promptly missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Hoosiers hit with ankle madness

Ankle madness didn't stop after sophomore Jared Jeffries. It spread to junior Tom Coverdale. It's become a mini-epidemic that has followed the Hoosiers through the NCAA Tournament, continuing right up until the Final Four. It's infected IU's top two scorers and put the Hoosiers at risk in nearly half of their games this season.

Sinking the Sooners

Who's tougher?: IU says it has one of the best defenses in the country. So does Oklahoma. IU figured out how to stop Duke's dynamic offense, holding the Blue Devils to 33 percent from the field in the second half, but the Sooners are more physical, stronger and have more depth. IU forwards Jared Jeffries, Jarrad Odle and Jeff Newton will have to go muscle-to-muscle with OU's Aaron McGhee and Jabahri Brown. IU needs to push back at OU's physical style, establish its defense and an interior presence by blocking shots and hitting the glass. A season in the rugged Big Ten should help. "I think our defense is going to have to be as good as it has all year with Oklahoma being so athletic and talented," Odle said.

Team set for Saturday showdown

ATLANTA -- The lights are getting brighter, but the distractions that have surrounded IU all week are starting to fade away. No more time for ticket requests or other matters not related to basketball. It's time for the Final Four.