Here ya go...looks like he is playing...
Here ya go...looks like he is playing...
IU faces must-win situation
Hoosiers' Big Ten title hopes depend on strong finish over final 5 games.
By Terry Hutchens
terry.hutchens@indystar.com
February 17, 2002
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Indiana University junior guard Kyle Hornsby is a firm believer that a team is only as good as its last game.
"And according to our last game, we aren't very good," Hornsby said.Coming off a disappointing 64-63 home loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday, Indiana (16-8, 8-3) will try to bounce back at 1 p.m. today against Michigan (10-13, 5-7) at Crisler Arena.
Indiana is the Big Ten's best road team with a 3-2 conference record away from home. Michigan is 4-2 at home in Big Ten play.
And the Wolverines are likely looking forward to playing at home. In fact, if Hornsby's philosophy is to be accepted, how do you think the Wolverines feel? Michigan dropped a 36-point decision to lowly Purdue Wednesday night at Mackey Arena.
The Hoosiers are a half-game out of first place in the Big Ten with five games to play. IU has a key game with conference-leading Ohio State on Wednesday night at Assembly Hall.
The way Hornsby and his IU teammates see it, Indiana's margin for error is slipping away. If Indiana hopes to claim its first Big Ten championship since 1993, the Hoosiers need to finish strong.
A 4-1 finish would leave IU with a 12-4 record. If one of those four wins was against Ohio State, the Hoosiers would be assured of at least a share of the conference title.
If Indiana were to close out 3-2, it would likely have to settle for a co-championship at best and perhaps a second- or third-place finish.
"Every game means even more now that we lost to Wisconsin," Hornsby said. "Every game meant a lot then, but now we're in a win-or-no-championship type situation. Ohio State still has to come here, but we can't keep counting on people to lose."
One thing weighing in IU's favor today is that sophomore Big Ten player-of-the-year candidate Jared Jeffries is expected to play. IU coach Mike Davis said Friday there was an 80 percent chance Jeffries would be back in the lineup.
Jeffries missed the Wisconsin game, his first ever non-start in college, due to a badly sprained ankle suffered against Louisville.
"I think Jared will play (today)," Davis said. "He's walking a lot better. He's not limping and he got a lot of shooting in on the side in practice. I think he'll be ready to go."
Jarrad Odle, one of IU's most consistent players of late, did not practice Friday because of a thigh bruise. Said Odle: "It's sore, but it's not something that could keep me out of a game. Especially not at this point in the season."
As for Hornsby, he's not only hoping IU bounces back as a team, but he wants to rebound personally as well.
Going into the game against Wisconsin, Hornsby had been averaging 8.6 points in the first 10 conference games. He was shooting 47 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
Wednesday, he missed all four of his shots, all 3-point attempts, and didn't score in 17 minutes. And he felt the worst about his defensive effort.
"Defensively, I wasn't very good," Hornsby said. "There were a couple of us that weren't very good defensively. For me, it carried over offensively. It just didn't go well. I don't think there's anything wrong with our offense, but allowing 40 points in one half is just ridiculous. And I'll take some of the responsibility for that."
Davis isn't worried about Hornsby.
"Hornsby played well; he just missed his four shots," Davis said. "That's not the first game that we've had a guard that hasn't scored. He's my guy. He came in (Friday) and shot the ball well. You can't be unhappy when a guy is playing hard just because he doesn't make shots."
