Sports

IU hopes weather permits home game

The IU baseball team hopes the third time proves to be the charm, as it attempts to play its first home game of the season. The first two scheduled home games were cancelled because of inclement weather.

IU to face off against Boilermakers, Illini

When it comes to women's tennis, the recent IU-Purdue rivalry has been about as one-sided as a fight between a polar bear and a pussycat -- and at 35-2 all-time over their rivals, IU coach Lin Loring isn't leading the pussycat. Friday afternoon, the No. 35 Hoosiers will look to improve their conference record to 2-0 against the visiting Boilermakers, who come into the contest ranked No. 33. IU will also face Illinois on Sunday.

Uncharted Waters

For the IU women's basketball team, the postseason is uncharted waters. The last Hoosier team to make a postseason tournament was the 2001-02 squad that steam-rolled its way through the Big Ten Tournament and into the NCAA Tournament.

Student response mixed on departure

Junior Matt Conroy is embarrassed to be a Hoosier fan right now.

Search for replacement as up in the air as ever

After two conflicting reports in as many days from www.ESPN.com, more questions than answers surround IU's search for its next men's basketball coach. Tuesday night, ESPN columnist Andy Katz reported that Iowa coach Steve Alford was expected to interview with the University of Missouri today.

END OF THE ROAD

Portland woman planning 56th straight state tourney finals

PORTLAND, Ind. -- Doris Northam hadn't planned to attend the Indiana high school boys' basketball finals this year. After all, she's 87 years old, climbing stairs is difficult and, frankly, her interest just wasn't there anymore. But when her hometown team Jay County advanced to the Class 3A championship game, Northam decided to make the trek to Indianapolis one more time -- her 56th finals tourney in a row. "When I was a kid, you know, you went to church and you went to ball games. And that was your entertainment. It was just natural to me," said Northam, who has tickets for all four games at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday. "I would have been so disappointed if I had given up on going," she told The Commercial Review.

Oden named Naismith award winner

INDIANAPOLIS -- Greg Oden of Lawrence North High School was named Naismith high school player of the year Wednesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. The award, given each year to the top male and female high school players in the nation, will be presented March 29 at the McDonald's All-American Game in San Diego.

Soriano finally agrees to move to left field for Nationals

JUPITER, Fla. -- Alfonso Soriano's only chance in left field Wednesday was a reminder of the good old days, before the Washington Nationals finally persuaded him to change positions. Soriano jogged in a few steps to catch a routine fly ball by Albert Pujols, then threw to second base to double off David Eckstein. "I never think I'm going to make a double play in the outfield," Soriano said. "But I did it." Soriano agreed to make the move from second base only two days after refusing to take his new spot in the outfield. The Nationals had a day off Tuesday, giving him time to accept the switch.

COACHING CONFUSION

Despite recent speculation by some media, it is likely only two people know who will become the next IU men's basketball coach: Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan and President Adam Herbert. Those charged with shaping the future of much of the University, including trustees, members of the Bloomington Faculty Council and influential, wealthy alumni, said Wednesday they are out of the loop. Directors of the IU Foundation, whose efforts brought in more than $100 million last year for the Bloomington campus (approximately equivalent to one tenth of the operating budget), said they are concerned about who will fill the vacancy, but have no knowledge of the candidates being considered. Many at the foundation said they worry about the next coach's ability to rally alumni and increase donations, but cited a confidence in Greenspan's abilities to choose coaches.

Colts sign Patriots Super Bowl hero Vinatieri

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts are switching from the NFL's most accurate kicker to the best in the clutch.

Lawrence North on the verge of basketball history

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jack Keefer's not much of a history buff. What happens to his Lawrence North team for a couple of hours Saturday night means a lot more to him than what happened to Oscar Robertson and Indianapolis Attucks a half-century ago.

Hoosiers take second straight division title

In a weekend set that included two wins against ranked opponents and the end of a nine-game win streak, the No. 19 IU water polo team captured its second-straight Collegiate Water Polo Association Western Division regular season title.

Hoosiers fail to win first title

Before the Hoosiers headed to Rochester, N.Y., to compete in the 2006 American Collegiate Hockey Association Championship Tournament last week, IU coach Rich Holdeman pointed to one game that would decide how his team would fare throughout the tournament -- its matchup with Oakland University.

IU leaves shortened tournament with 3rd-place finish

Exactly two weeks after finishing its previous tournament, the men's golf team played Sunday in the Pinehurst Intercollegiate. Because of unplayable course conditions, the final 18 holes were canceled, leaving the Hoosiers with a third-place finish.

The NFL: Live long and prosper

The National Basketball Association, under Commissioner David Stern, has an image problem. Major League Baseball, under Bud Selig, has a steroid problem. The National Hockey League, under Gary Bettman, has more problems than it does fans. Meanwhile, the National Football League, under Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, has the problem of prosperity, which frankly, is no problem at all.

VALENTIN'S DAY

TERRE HAUTE -- Senior guard Cyndi Valentin did not want to be denied. In Monday night's second round WNIT game against Indiana State, Valentin scored IU's last 10 points of the game to lead the Hoosiers to a 68-62 victory, extending their season at least one more game. Down 59-58 in the closing minutes, IU had the ball following two Indiana State free throws. Valentin dribbled up the court and, rolling off a pick from senior center Angie Hawkins, found herself wide open at the top of the key. "I think (IU) coach (Sharon) Versyp made a great call to call that play, but I was wide open," Valentin said. After the senior drilled the wide open 3-pointer, the Sycamores quickly replied with a basket of their own. Valentin responded again.

Team reaches 14th at NCAAs

Sophomore Christina Loukas, two-time Big Ten Diver of the Year and of the NCAA Championships, tied former IU standout Sara Reiling for the best all-around finish at an NCAA competition as the IU women's swimming and diving team culminated its season with a 14th-place finish at the 2006 NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga. Saturday. The Hoosiers scored 91 points overall at the championships while Auburn University took home the national championship, defeating the University of Georgia in the second-closest finish in NCAA history.

Hoosiers ready for first home game of season after spring break trip

After playing 14 straight games away from home to open the season, the IU baseball team is ready to finally play a game in Bloomington. The road-weary Hoosiers face Valparaiso University today at Sembower Field. Today's game is the first of a four-game home stand for the Hoosiers, which includes a three-game series with Hartford University. "We are definitely ready to come home and get a chance to play on our home field and in front of our fans for once," senior pitcher Josh Lewis said. "It will be nice to be off the road for awhile."

A bid farewell

SALT LAKE CITY -- It's time to say goodbye. Words can't fully express what ended Saturday. A season that began with limitless dreams quickly dissolved into a coaching fallout. But when the fires tamed, the Hoosiers that originally ignited optimism rose again. A five-game losing streak beget a five-game winning streak that beget IU's first tournament berth in three years. But the run finally ended with a 90-80 loss to No.3-seeded Gonzaga Saturday night. And all that was left for a coach and his players were emotions. The moment seemed larger than words. "I can't explain it," IU coach Mike Davis said of his feelings after the game. "We've been through a lot together. I am just proud of them." In a fashion fitting for the entire season, the Hoosiers fought till the bitter end. They held the nation's leading scorer to 14 points. They set a new IU tournament record for 3-pointers. Their point guard even came one rebound shy of a triple-double. But also in a fashion fitting for the entire season -- things were just not meant to be.