Sports

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.

'76 title ring sold off

An anonymous seller sold an NCAA championship ring -- from the Hoosiers' historic undefeated 1976 season -- for a whopping $50,100 on eBay at about 7:30 a.m. Sunday. Former Hoosier assistant coach Harold Andreas was the original owner of the ring.

Winter meetings come to Disney World

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Barry and Manny figure to be mentioned prominently alongside Grumpy and Dopey when baseball's winter meetings open Monday at Disney World.

Bears clinch division championship

CHICAGO -- Devin Hester ran into the record book again. Ricky Manning Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown, and the Chicago Bears claimed their second straight NFC North title.

Hoosiers finish 6th in Las Vegas

Top competition was on display as IU competed in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Friday and Saturday. The field boasted 49 teams, and IU coach Duane Goldman said this tournament was among the top two regular season events in the nation.

IU wins on road against Fighting Irish; team off to 7-1 start

There's an old adage that says defense wins championships. Though it hasn't secured a championship yet, the IU women's basketball team used defense to secure its seventh victory of the season.

Defense, rebounding keys Hoosiers in victory; bench scores 49 points versus Charlotte

Defend and rebound. As long as the IU men's basketball team can do those two things effectively, IU coach Kelvin Sampson will be satisfied. The Hoosiers defeated the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 74-57 Saturday night in Assembly Hall and held the 49ers to just 34 percent shooting from the field while also outrebounding them 46-34. Sampson said after the victory that he is beginning to see his team's identity take shape.