One of those was Indiana Coach Kevin Wilson. After a 1-11 season, Wilson is no longer the rookie, nor is he one of the newest faces to the conference.
Statistically, the scales were reversed on offense in 2011. While IU’s leading passer, rusher and receiver were all juniors or seniors in 2010, the leading passer, rusher and receiver were underclassmen in 2011.
Before this IU basketball season began, everyone had their own expectations of the team and its players. Here is one disappointment and one pleasant surprise so far:
The IU (6-0) defense propelled a 75-59 victory against Butler (3-3) to claim the Hoosier Invitational title at Assembly Hall.
Sophomore forward Will Sheehey set a career high Sunday and was named MVP of the Hoosier Invitational after IU’s 75-59 win against Butler.
The Hoosiers dropped the game 1-0 in overtime, and the Tar Heels knocked Indiana out of the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.
It wasn’t a blowout, and it wasn’t pretty, but IU proved it can beat a team that matters.
In the last week, the IU women’s volleyball team lost to both No. 8 Purdue on Wednesday at home and No. 19 Minnesota on the road Friday.
The IU wrestling team won all three rounds of the Hoosier Duals with a combined score of 80-34.
Senior defender Chris Estridge and the IU men’s soccer team had top seed North Carolina scoreless for 96 minutes, but one misstep did them in.
Bragging rights aside, this loss isn’t such a bad thing for IU Coach Kevin Wilson and the Hoosiers.
Saturday was Senior Day, but as IU fought to a 33-25 loss to rival Purdue, it was largely the team’s underclassmen playing in their first Bucket Game that kept the Hoosiers in contention.
The 20 players not returning next season, along with the rest of the Hoosiers, didn’t win the Bucket on Saturday, allowing the Boilermakers (6-6, 4-4) 508 yards of total offense and a chance at a bowl game.
But it was all too much, as the Hoosiers dropped the game 1-0 in overtime, and the Tar Heels knocked Indiana out of the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years.
Facing its toughest test to date, the IU men’s basketball team (6-0) withstood numerous punches from the Butler Bulldogs (3-3) Sunday in a 75-59 victory at Assembly Hall.
Join the IDS basketball writers in the live chat starting at 6:45 p.m. here. The Hoosiers are scheduled to tip off against Butler at 7 p.m. on the Big Ten Network.
While IU (5-0) and Butler (3-2) have had different paths in the past two years, their paths will collide at 7 p.m. on Sunday night at Assembly Hall in the Hoosier Invitational finale.
Four of Butler’s five opponents this season have also played IU, with far different results. While the Hoosiers steamrolled over Evansville, Chattanooga, Savannah State and Gardner-Webb, Brad Stevens’ squad fell to the Purple Aces in a controversial overtime loss and recently escaped the Runnin’ Bulldogs by just two.
In the 87th battle between IU and Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket, the old rivals stayed close for most of the game, but in the end, the Boilermakers reclaimed the Bucket with a 33-25 victory.
The IDS is chatting live from today's Bucket Game between IU and Purdue. Join the conversation.
