Sports

Stemler stellar in IU blowout victory

Lance Stemler must be seeing straight again. Hit with a concussion during practice more than a week ago, the junior forward missed IU's 54-51 loss to Duke University last Tuesday. Instead of trying to figure out Cameron Indoor Stadium with his teammates, Stemler was stuck trying to solve memory-based puzzles, hoping to prove to team doctors he was ready to step back onto the court. He made his case before IU's 74-57 win over the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Saturday, but played just 12 minutes -- below his season average of 33.5 -- in the win. In the first half Wednesday night, Stemler had all the post-concussion proof he needed. Back in the starting lineup, the IU forward scored 14 points, including three 3-pointers on four attempts in the first half, to lead IU in a 92-40 blowout of Western Illinois University. Stemler played 20 minutes, considerably more time on the floor than he got against Charlotte, when he said that, even though the game was almost a week after his concussion, his legs were still wobbly and weak. "The first few minutes I was out there (against Charlotte) I felt good," Stemler said Tuesday. "But my legs were a little wobbly there just for the first few minutes just because I hadn't really ... I had done some running, but I was really limited on what I could do."

Ripken talks steroids, McGwire as Hall of Fame election draws near

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The steroid scandal that tainted Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame chances is also threatening to tarnish Cal Ripken Jr.'s induction.

Big Ten picks former Disney executive to run TV network

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Former Disney and ABC executive Mark Silverman was named Tuesday as president of the Big Ten Network, slated to launch in August 2007.

Colts' Harrison ready to join elite 1,000-catch club

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marvin Harrison's mission statement has not changed: The next play matters more than the last one and the next cut carries more weight than some gaudy numbers.

IU travels to Bowling Green State to take on two-time defending MAC Champ

If the members of IU women's basketball team seem to have a little extra confidence early on this season, they've certainly earned it.

Senior Wilmont undaunted by recent 'slump'

Don't tell Rod Wilmont that he's in a slump. He'll just smile and laugh it off. The IU senior has scored just four points on 1-of-8 shooting in the last two games. But to Wilmont, that's no reason to discount his shooting and scoring abilities when IU faces Western Illinois University (3-4) at 7 p.m. tonight at Assembly Hall.

Midfielder earns All-American honors

Second IU championship ring from '76 season up for auction

Hoosiers' future looking bright

Thigpen gains national attention

Trio pulls in Big Ten honors

Coach Hoeppner receives contract extension through 2011

Coach Hep wants you. And IU wants Terry Hoeppner, too. During halftime of Saturday's radio broadcast of the IU men's basketball victory against the University of NAorth Carolina at Charlotte, Hoeppner announced he is receiving a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2011 season.

Sampson: D.J. needs a 'swagger'

IU forward D.J. White -- all 6-foot-9, 251 pounds of him -- lay motionless on the court as the buzzer sounded Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Hoosier big man fell to his knees with his arms extended in front of him as the realization of his team's loss sank in. It's been that kind of a year for the junior forward.

In flux: Sampson continues to switch around starting lineup

IU coach Kelvin Sampson insists his first Hoosier team is still searching for an identity, for something the players can "hang their hat on," as he often says. As he searches for that identity, he is also searching for a group of players he can count on. He is finding out who his starting five are, who his role players are and who -- if anyone -- can provide him much needed poise and experience.

On Earl, Rod and A.J.

Earl Calloway, Rod Wilmont and A.J. Ratliff sat on IU's bench for much of the second half during the Hoosiers' 54-51 loss to Duke University Tuesday night. Certainly, you'd expect at least some combination of these three to see the floor during crunch time in such a tough nonconference affair. So was IU coach Kelvin Sampson sending a message to the trio? "Oh, there was a message," Sampson said Thursday afternoon.

Better than cake

Happy birthday, A.J. Ratliff. The beleaguered IU guard celebrated his 21st Saturday by pouring in 18 points -- 16 of which came in a first-half shooting flurry -- in a 74-57 IU win against the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Saturday night at Assembly Hall.

Gators, Buckeyes will play for title

Florida beat Michigan on Sunday in the only game that mattered. The Gators, who lobbied hard for this victory, were picked to play No. 1 Ohio State for college football's national championship, ending any chance for the Wolverines to get the rematch they so desired and thought they deserved.

Women's: Stockwell breaks second-straight school record in breaststroke

To say that sophomore Sarah Stockwell has had a good two weeks of swimming would be an understatement.

Men's: Student-coach Fesenko takes 3rd place, Olympian Phelps dominates

The IU swimming team sent four swimmers to compete in the U.S. Open Invitational at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center in West Lafayette this weekend. Three Hoosiers earned final swims in the 1,500-meter freestyle competition. Senior Ryan McNeill finished 24th overall with a time of 16:13.83.

Titans pull off upset of Colts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Magic is in the air around the Tennessee Titans. Just ask Rob Bironas.