Sports

Hoosiers trip Illini on the road

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Just when it appeared the women's basketball team was falling deeper into the Big Ten cellar, the Hoosiers awoke to reach .500 and made a solid bid for a decent seed in next week's Big Ten tournament with a 70-66 victory over Illinois last night. IU would have had to win last night's game as well as Sunday's home game against Northwestern to possibly earn as high as a sixth seed, which would mean playing the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

on the SIDELINES

Saturday night is "Senior Night" for the newly-crowned Great Midwest Hockey League champion Hoosiers. The Robert Morris College Gold team comes to Bloomington for a two-game series beginning tonight at 7:30. The games will offer both teams a chance to tune up for the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament, which begins next Wednesday.

Rookie Week off and riding with success

The future riders of the Little 500 began their intense training yesterday, marking the start of the annual Rookie Week for all first year riders. The preparation for the rookies will last until Feb. 28, after which the track will open for all veteran riders.

Cycling club providing pre-Little 500 experience

The IU Cycling Club, or IUCC, provides its member's experience and the opportunity to ride with and against national caliber riders. The IUCC is made up of three disciplines, with their respected seasons. The club has categories for track and mountain biking in the fall and, beginning this weekend, the road season. The club has about 140 members who ride casually or compete seriously. Its largest category is the road, largely due to the production of riders who race for the Little 500.

Perfect record wins team No. 1 in Big Ten regular season

The current record of the men's club volleyball team resembles perfection. The Hoosiers returned from Iowa Saturday with a 16-0 record and the Big Ten regular season title under their belt.

Hoosiers in solid second after relays

The Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships got underway in Ann Arbor, Mich. Wednesday night with the 200-yard medley relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay. The IU quartet of junior Tina Gretlund, sophomores Brooke Taflinger and Sarah Fiden and freshman Erin Smith finished second in the 800-yard free relay with a time of 7:19.14. The time set a new school record by over two seconds. The Hoosiers edged out Minnesota for second place by 86-hundredths of a second. Wisconsin won the event with a time of 7:14.60.

Lloyd bringing IU into national scene

Coming out of high school, UnRico Lloyd had a decision to make. In high school, Lloyd participated on a state champion track team while winning several individual state titles in the 100-meter and long jump competitions. He also finished second in the 200-meter race and ran in the Penn Relays his senior year. Lloyd was also on the football team and was offered scholarships from schools to come play football.

Associate coach brings brains, motivation

Trish Betthauser admits Kathi Bennett kicked her out of practice at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh more than a couple times. Betthauser was a captain, and if the team wasn't playing to Bennett's liking, well, Betthauser often got the boot. "But I learned valuable lessons from that," said Betthauser, associate head coach of the women's basketball team. "I think it's helped me become a leader."

Bench production gives starting five solid support

The box scores and statistics that chronicle the play of IU's starting five are impressive. That quintet makes up IU's top five scorers and scores 73 percent of IU's points. But the Hoosier bench helped Wednesday against Ohio State. It's happened before -- at North Carolina, where A.J. Moye scored 19, at Northwestern where Jarrad Odle scored 16 and most recently at Michigan Sunday, where Jeff Newton scored 17.

Game to determine Big Ten leader

Jarrad Odle said a few weeks ago that after three years of mediocre finishes, he wants to win something in his senior season at IU. This is probably why Dane Fife left Michigan, to play in games like these for the Hoosiers. And this type of late-season showdown is probably why Jared Jeffries turned down every school in America to stay in Bloomington and play at IU.

Hoosiers can't sneak up on pack this year

IU finished third in last year's Big Ten Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, and head swimming Coach Dorsey Tierney admits she thinks her squad snuck up on the rest of the pack. This year it won't be so easy, and Tierney and the Hoosiers know it. But Tierney hopes last year's experience will help her squad.

Seniors don't want careers to end yet

The women's basketball team blared Yugoslavian music while it stretched at practice Tuesday, honoring senior center Jelena Lazic's homeland. Today, the Hoosiers will pay tribute to senior forward Erin McGinnis, a Tennessee native, perhaps with cowboy hats and "y'alls," associate head coach Trish Betthauser said.

Little representation for Big Ten?

The Big Ten coaching corps seems confident about the possibilities surrounding how many league teams will earn NCAA Tournament berths. History is on its side. Critics are not. It's been 18 years since the Big Ten hasn't received at least five NCAA invites, but there is danger that streak could be snapped this season.

Hoosiers split weekend matches, end streak

The IU water polo team started off its weekend by running its win streak to four games. Unfortunately, the weekend turned bad as the Hoosiers dropped their final two matches, losing by a total of two goals.

Divers hit stride for stretch run

Throughout the year, diving head coach Jeff Huber has been far more concerned with personal improvement than dual meet wins and losses, encouraging his team to stay focused on the bigger picture. Now, with IU hosting the Big Ten championship meet beginning Feb. 28, Huber is beginning to watch his words of wisdom blossom into fruition.

Hoosier offense sweeps doubleheader

When teams score 29 runs in two games, they do not usually lose. But throw in solid pitching and defense that allows only one run in those two games, and you have the perfect combination.

Court date set for football player

Clarence Young had his day in court. Friday, the junior cornerback of the IU football team was at the bench of judge Marc R. Kellams at the Monroe County Courthouse facing arraignment for sexual assault charges.

TOURNAMENT BOUND?

Given its history and academic standards, Northwestern has long been a Big Ten cupcake -- frosting, sprinkles, the whole bit. If Northwestern is scheduled twice, that's two victories for whoever plays it. That's been the status quo since, well…just about forever.

Team uses Hills Classic as tune up

Open prepares team for Big Tens

IU hosted the Hoosier Hills Open this past weekend as a tune-up for next weekend's Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championship.