The Illinois Hoosier

Conference Season: Win Early and Hang On Late

2010-08-29T12:40:00.004-04:00

Week 4 may be the biggest game of the year. Michigan travels to Bloomington after BARELY escaping with a controversial win in Ann Arbor last year. The Wolverines have another year running the spread offense under their belt and both potential starting quarterbacks are no longer freshmen. If the Hoosiers are serious bowl contenders, this will be the game where fans will see it.

Notice the theme I had been developing through the first three games. Just as in past year, the Hoosiers are going to rely on their offense to win games. The defense is going to be a huge liability nearly all of its great players like Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew have moved on.

The Hoosiers will have to attempt to run up the score on every opponent, not because they are better, but because they will need to build leads because the defense will not be able to hold opponents in the fourth quarter. If the Hoosiers lead by a field goal with 2 minutes to go in the game, I'll bet against the IU defense most of the time.

Against Michigan, the Hoosiers will come out with a chip on their shoulder. They will score early and an unforced turnover will allow the Hoosiers to take a 21-7 lead at halftime. The Wolverines will get back in the game in the second half, but IU will outscore them 38-28, for their first win over Michigan since 1987.

The party will come to an end the following week when the Hoosiers travel to No. 2 Ohio State. The Buckeyes play on a different level. They should have the complete package. After the win over Michigan, Coach Jim Tressel will not let his team underestimate the Hoosiers. The reality check is convincing and immediate. IU loses 42-24.

The 4-1 Hoosiers return for homecoming to play Arkansas State -- the final non-conference game of the year. This should be the perfect way for the Hoosiers to forget about the pounding in Columbus. Arkansas State was rated near the bottom of the FBS by Rivals.com and is coming off a 4-8 season. Again, if the offense is healthy, the Hoosiers should be able to overcome any defensive problems with points. IU wins 38-21.

At 5-1, the Hoosiers will travel to Illinois and take on another team trying to claw back into the realm of football relevance. This will be the one road game that would be a disappointment to lose. If they cannot outlast Illinois, their bowl chances likely go away with it. I think IU pulls it out with a late touchdown: 28-24.

Now 6-1, the Hoosiers return home again to face Northwestern, the source of a ton of misery last season. The Wildcats stole the game in 2009, holding IU on fourth and goal from the 2 yard line and eventually won the game with a last-second field goal. There is no question the Hoosiers can win this game, but as a friend of mine (a Penn St. alum) once said "You can never underestimate Northwestern."

The tone of this game will be much different if the Hoosiers lose to Illinois. A loss the previous week and the Hoosiers likely will not win this game. But I think the confidence generated by a road win could carry the Hoosiers to win number 7. This game is close, but IU gets the late stop and kicks the winning field goal with less than a minute to go. Final score: 38-35.

Now 7-1, the Hoosiers begin to enter some national radar screens. They may be getting votes in the polls at this point. But now the schedule becomes an impossible gauntlet, beginning with No. 9 Iowa. Like Ohio State, the Hawkeyes are looking to contend for a Rose Bowl berth. They will not take the Hoosiers lightly. IU hangs around, but will only tease fans of a huge upset. Hoosiers lose 31-24.

No. 12 Wisconsin awaits the following week, which will fully expose the weaknesses of the Hoosier defense. The Badgers like to run the ball and with the high-octane Hoosier offense waiting to explode, Wisconsin will run it even more. The Hoosiers won't get the ball long enough to stay in the game at Madison, losing 17-3.

At 7-3, the doubters are back and the national media is gone, just in time for IU to kind-of welcome Penn State. It is a home game, but will be played in Washington D.C. While I will be excited to attend, the Hoosiers will not be playing like they are at home. This game will be dominated by Penn State fans and they will have plenty to cheer about. IU loses for the third straight week, 31-21.

Now 7-4, the Hoosiers attempt to reclaim the Old Oaken Bucket at Purdue. The Boilers are rebuilding and also improving, but the good news is IU should not have to win this game to gain the bowl bid. IU Coach Bill Lynch knows an 8 win season would impress just about everyone in Bloomington, but I don't see it happening. Flip your coin for this rivalry game ... it's tails. Hoosiers lose, 28-24.

The Hoosiers will finish the year 7-5 and likely head to the Texas Bowl or return to the Insight Bowl. Lynch will lose the bowl game, but it is a good season, one that earns him a contract extension.

The 2010 Season: Steps Forward or More Questions?

2010-08-29T11:56:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers open this year's season Thursday with the hopes of playing beyond Nov. 27. After a season of almosts, this year we should find out if that was potential we saw last year or just typical IU football.

If the Hoosiers want to make post-season plans, they will have secure them early. They likely will have to win seven of their first eight games. Yes, that is a tall order, but the IU schedule is largely back-loaded with unwinnable games. It may be possible to be 7-1 heading into November.

The Pre-Conference Schedule

The good part about IU's opponents before the Big Ten schedule begins is that they should not be too tough to handle. The opener Thursday against Towson matches the Hoosiers against a team that won two games last season, but only one in conference. Quarterback Ben Chappell and the IU offense should have no problem overwhelming the Tigers.

The scene moves to Western Kentucky in week 2, the worst team in the football bowl subdivision, according to Rivals.com, and the loser of all 12 of its games last year. It's a road game, but again, the IU offense should overwhelm the Hilltoppers.

If Chappell, receiver Tandon Doss and running back Darius Willis are potential all-conference players (maybe not first-team, but second- or third-team), the Hoosier offense should not have a problem putting at least 35 points on the board in both games.

Akron comes to town in week 3, the traditional MAC pre-conference match-up IU loves to schedule. The Zips were rated higher than IU in the Rivals.com ranking, 88, but not by much (IU was rated 97). Home field advantage will come into play here. After two big wins to start the season, the momentum will begin to build and fans will come to Memorial Stadium. This game may end up a track meet, but IU should be able to outlast Akron to start 3-0.

Next: The conference schedule

2009 Losses We'd Like to Avoid

2010-08-28T15:45:00.002-04:00

Last season was maybe the toughest to take for Hoosier fans in recent memory. Not only did the team suffer through another losing season, but the Hoosiers lost three games by three points or less. A break here and there (or a fourth-quarter stop) and IU would have been bowling.

Of the eight 2009 losses, I'm picking the worst and most soul-crushing today.

The worst loss of the year was the first: A 3-point loss to Michigan. The Hoosiers had not beaten the Wolverines in their last 15 meetings. And they had not won at Michigan Stadium in many, many years -- 1967 to be exact.

Michigan was ranked No. 23 after knocking off Notre Dame in week 2, but I thought they were ripe for an upset. The Michigan defense was weak and its offense was still learning the spread offense, hardly dominating.

The Hoosiers had the lead at halftime, but trailed by two in the fourth quarter. The offense didn't quit and took a 33-29 lead with less than 9 minutes to go. But the defense could not hold Michigan and surrendered the lead with less than 3 minutes left. I thought the Hoosiers had one more drive left in them, but a bad call ended the game. Quarterback Ben Chappell threw a pass to Damarlo Belcher, who appeared to catch it and fall down, but a Michigan defender came up with the ball and it was ruled an interception. Game over.

How could it get any worse than that? Remember which team we're talking about here...

The most soul-crushing loss came on Halloween: 42-24 at Iowa.

The score may look lopsided, but hidden in the box score was that the No. 4-ranked Hawkeyes were on the ropes after three quarters. Indiana had a 21-7 lead at halftime and going into the fourth, it was 24-14 Indiana. The Hoosier defense was forcing turnovers, six to be exact. They were well on their way to the biggest upset maybe in Hoosier football history.

Then the bottom fell out.

Once again, the IU defense gave way. They gave up 14 points on two one-play drives, passes of 92 and 66 yards. In about 4 minutes, the Hoosiers went from up 10 points to down four. Two more late Iowa touchdowns ensured the game was out of reach.

The Hoosiers were outscored 35-3 in the second half. It was a choke of the grandest proportions. It was soul-crushing and season-ending, the second of five straight losses to end the season.

Next: Predicting the 2010 season: Better things to come?

A Season Preview

2010-07-18T14:03:00.002-04:00

Here is the pre-season ranking from Rivals.com.

It's not all that surprising. The Hoosiers are ranked 97th out of 120. The major problem they found is what we already knew: defense. The second major problem is the Big Ten schedule, also which we already knew.

I'm a little concerned about IU's company in the bottom third of the country. The Hoosiers are ranked behind Army (95) and Kent State (96), as well as Akron (88), who is on the IU schedule this year.

The good news is IU plays the worst team in the rankings in Week 2: Western Kentucky. The Hoosiers also are ranked ahead of Arkansas State (100), which is IU's homecoming opponent.

As of July 18, the full list had not been released. Other IU opponents on the list so far are (in schedule order): Michigan (41), Illinois (84), Northwestern (57), and Purdue (62). That means four IU opponents are in the top 32. My guess is Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State will end up in the top 15 and Wisconsin could end up in the top 25.

These pre-season rankings are tough to use in drawing conclusions. But I don't think it's a good sign when 10 of 12 games will be against better teams.

Welcome to Hoosier Football 2010

2010-07-17T17:01:00.003-04:00

The Hoosiers open the 2010 season in seven weeks (Sept. 2 v. Townson). I can already hear "Indiana, Our Indiana" reverberating through Memorial Stadium.

Since I'm the most excited about IU football before the season begins -- take that as a hint of my thoughts on the Hoosiers' prospects of playing in the 2011 Rose Bowl -- I thought I would take a look back at the 2009 season. Let's just say it's my own version of positive thinking. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, but things have to look up this year right?

Let's start with last year's greatest win.

There weren't that many to choose from: Eastern Kentucky, Western Michigan, Akron and Illinois. Each was impressive in its own right, but I'm going with the only road win of the bunch.

The Hoosiers' win at Akron was the greatest of 2010 mostly because it was on the road. IU helped the Zips open their new stadium. While facing a hostile crowd, the Hoosiers were able to execute despite falling behind late in the second quarter. The team forced four turnovers and looked like a defensive squad, which any fan would admit is not one of its strong points. What was considered a good Akron offense did not get much going and any momentum they generated was stopped cold by turnovers.

The win that wasn't: Unfortunately, this was how the 2009 Hoosiers defined themselves. The team grabbed leads, only to blow them late in the game. The Hoosiers held leads against quality teams like Iowa and Penn State, only to lose them in the second half.

The one that really was a win, or at least should have been, was the 29-28 loss to Northwestern. The Hoosiers were blanked in the second half and gave up 26 unanswered points to the Wildcats after taking a 28-3 lead late in the second quarter. The worst part, maybe the low-point of the season, came in the third quarter. IU, leading 28-19, had first and goal at the Northwestern 7, but could not convert.

On fourth and goal from the 1 yard line, rather than kick a field goal and increase the lead to 31-19, the Hoosiers went for the touchdown. Mitchell Evans was tackled for a 1-yard loss. Northwestern took over and drove 98 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-26. The collapse was completed with 21 seconds to go in the game, when the Wildcats kicked the winning field goal.

That game essentially ended the season. IU could have moved to 5-3, been brimming with confidence and one win from a bowl berth. If the team had pulled out one of those close games, who knows what could have happened that season.

Next up: The worst and the most soul-crushing losses of 2009.

Coming Soon...

2010-05-08T12:14:00.002-04:00

Most of you few loyal readers know that I've been working on a novel.

I have launched a new website to help market it once it is finished. Feel free to check it out. I will be adding more as the book nears completion.

Soon and very soon...

2010-03-25T14:28:00.004-04:00

This will matter in late March.

Keep the faith IU fans!

Cinderella Madness

2010-03-25T11:19:00.004-04:00

We're only hours away from the start of the Sweet 16 and I'm already noticing the buzz about the potential for more major upsets. It seems many people expect this year's tournament to send another non-traditional power to the Final Four in the tradition of George Mason's 2006 run.

First, I do not consider Xavier and Butler to be in that category. While a Final Four berth would be unexpected, both are traditional mid-major powers that cannot sneak up on any team in the tournament. Tennessee, Washington and Purdue, all lower seeds in their games, would never be written-off by anyone.

However, there still are several teams that may be dismissed without a second thought. I only like one: St. Mary's.

St. Mary's will upset Baylor and move to the Regional Final. I was impressed with how the Gaels took care of Villanova and not all that excited about the Bears, which did not impress with its win over Old Dominion. This game seems like a toss-up on paper, but I could see St. Mary's dominating the front court, which would open up its perimeter game. How cool would it be for St. Mary's and Duke or Purdue to play for a Final Four berth? Then I really would be rooting for an upset.

Cornell will lose to Kentucky. Sorry Ivy League fans. Despite blowing out Wisconsin and Temple, I don't see the Big Red doing the same to Kentucky. The Wildcats have some size in the post to match-up with Cornell's bigs as well as speed and shooting at the guard position. Kentucky's youth will catch up with them at some point in this tournament, but it won't be in this game. Cornell is just over-matched and out-talented.

After upsetting Kansas, Northern Iowa will lose to Michigan State. This game screams upset, especially after State's star Kalin Lucas went down for the season with an injury. I think an upset is possible, but won't happen. The Panthers were out-played statistically against the Jayhawks, shooting a lower percentage overall and grabbing fewer rebounds, yet still won. Kansas may not have been able to capitalize on the rebounding edge, but Michigan State will. Sparty also will play much better defense, especially on the perimeter, than Kansas. This game will be close, but Michigan State's rugged style of play will win out.

Relax Big East critics

2010-03-19T12:15:00.002-04:00

The first day of the NCAA tournament is over and already pundits are ripping the Big East.

The conference got eight teams into the dance, but only saw one of four teams win first round games on Thursday. Georgetown was bounced by 14th-seed Ohio University, Old Dominion clipped Notre Dame in a 11-6 upset, and Washington knocked out Marquette at the buzzer. No. 2 seed Villanova managed the only win, in overtime, over Robert Morris.

Was it a bad day for the Big East? Of course. Any conference supporter wants all its teams to advance. But really, should the conference be embarrassed at its first-day showing? Absolutely not.

As an alum of a Big Ten school, I've had to listen to these grumblings during numerous past tournaments. Six or seven Big Ten schools get into the dance, and only one or two advance beyond the first round, which cues the criticism. But if you notice, rarely are the top-tier of the conference exiting early. Pundits should complain about the weakness of the Big Ten if Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan State are upset today, not if Minnesota and Purdue lose.

No one expected Ohio to dominate Georgetown, but the Bobcats shot 57 percent, including 56.5 percent from the 3-point line. You put up those numbers you're going to win, even if you play Kansas.

As for Marquette or Notre Dame, both losses were expected. I hate to burst some bubbles, but the Irish were lucky to get into the tournament. Their best player is hobbled by an injury, which made the game a toss-up. Marquette fans should not have been surprised either. Washington won the Pac 10 tournament -- certainly not a push-over -- while the Eagles posted a 12-loss regular season.

There are no easy games in the NCAA tournament. Fans, especially those of big six conference teams, have to recognize that mid-major teams can play big-time basketball. These teams may not land starting line-ups filled with high school All-Americans, but they are well-coached and experienced. These mid-major teams aren't scared of the big schools any more.

I really can't call the Notre Dame or Marquette losses upsets this year. An above-average team in a big six conference is no longer miles ahead of the winner of a mid-major counterpart.

Now if Pitt, West Virgina and Syracuse have trouble or find themselves out after this weekend, then I would push the panic button. But don't dump on the Big East because its second tier couldn't compete with the best mid-majors.

The Tiger Effect on The Masters

2010-03-17T13:22:00.002-04:00

Likely the greatest benefactor of Tiger Woods' return to golf will be the Internet.

Yesterday during the frenzy surrounding Woods' announcement that he would return to golf at next month's Masters, I heard a CNBC reporter suggest the ratings for Sunday's final round could reach Super Bowl levels if he has a chance to win. I think that's a stretch, even if Woods is in the lead heading into the final day. There are so many Super Bowl viewers that are not interested in football -- those that watch for the commercials, those at parties who normally wouldn't watch the game -- that will not watch The Masters. Woods transcends the sport, but not to the level the Super Bowl transcends football.

I do think the first two rounds could set records for the number of online viewers. Masters.org will broadcast live video of the entire tournament. Just like tomorrow and Friday, when office workers will secretly access live feeds of NCAA tournament games, Woods fans will be tuning in on their computers and smart phones to watch him tee off on the first hole as well as his entire opening and second rounds.

I would expect this year's first two rounds to easily set records for online viewers. It will be another sign that online media is evolving into a major money-maker. I suspect the price for online advertising on Masters-related Web sites already is shooting up.

Undoubtedly more people will tune in to the weekend TV broadcast if Woods makes the cut. But expect the real story to be Thursday, when Woods takes his first swing, and where everyone was watching...

Not on a TV, but on a computer.

Tiger's baaack...

2010-03-16T11:49:00.002-04:00

Tiger Woods said in a statement today that he wants to make his return to golf at The Masters next month. His decision finally puts an end to the firestorm of speculation over which tournament he would play first. I like everyone else, assumed he would not miss a major championship, if for no other reason because his window to surpass Jack Nicklaus' record is closing at an increasing speed.

Many pundits, as well as I, suspected Woods would play at least one tournament prior to The Masters as sort of a tune-up. For those non-golfers out there, tournament golf cannot be simulated on the practice tee. We all thought Woods would want a warm-up before taking on a major championship field.

However, as the news broke this morning, I thought making his return to The Masters probably is the best place to do it. And here's why:

Logistically, it makes the most sense: Woods return already is being called the biggest return to sports in the last decade, maybe ever. The crush of sporting press at his first tournament will be out of control. Add the gossip press that is covering his non-golf problems and you create much more than a media circus. Because it is a major championship, which draws media from around the world every year, The Masters is equipped to handle the onslaught. Woods can hide there if he wants.
If Woods is seeking control of his return, he can get it at The Masters: Augusta National Golf Club hosts The Masters each year, not the PGA Tour. It invites whoever it wants to play the event each year. And as a private club, it strictly controls a limited amount of tickets for the gallery. In fact, badges for the event are famously difficult and expensive to obtain. That will limit the number of potential hecklers or hooligans that potentially could be on the grounds.
Woods can control the media crush as well: Augusta National can credential whichever media outlets it chooses to cover the event. That means if they don't want TMZ.com on the grounds taking pictures and asking questions, they can do that. There is no indication yet whether the club will do that, but my guess is Tiger's people have made the request.
Woods has dominated the course: Woods has won The Masters four times, finished in the top three seven times and the top 10 nine times. Of the 15 times he has played the event, he has finished in the top 25 12 times. Club officials lengthened it and added rough because it was too easy for him. His game suits that course.

Should Woods be considered a favorite to win? Probably not, although I wouldn't put it past him. If it's true what he says that he didn't pick up a golf club for a few months after the Thanksgiving incident, I doubt he will be in contention. Like any other sport, golf requires athletic ability that you can't just turn on and off.

For someone who enjoys the pressure of competition, this will be Woods' ultimate test. Not only is he dealing with a major championship, chasing the record of the greatest golfer of all time, and expectations that he must win every time he plays, now he is shouldering the burden of returning to golf after the off-course disaster.

He will have the biggest stage to show he hasn't lost a step. I think he'll have a good showing, but not a great one. He'll make the cut and finish in the top 20, but I don't think he'll be in contention during the final round.

Post-season considerations

2010-03-15T14:50:00.002-04:00

After finishing 10-21, there aren't too many superlatives to shower on the Hoosiers this year. But I looked at the schedule again after the release of the NCAA and NIT tournament brackets, and I decided the Hoosiers may have, at least in part, been a victim of their quality opponents.

Twelve of the 31 games on the Hoosiers' schedule this season came against NCAA tournament teams: Maryland, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Ohio State (2), Minnesota (2), Purdue (2), Wisconsin (2), and Michigan State. Another six games were against NIT teams: Mississippi, Illinois (2), and Northwestern (3). That's 18 out of 31 games, or 58 percent, against the best 97 teams in the country.

Among those playoff teams were one of the favorites to win the national championship: SEC champion Kentucky; the ACC regular season co-champion, Maryland: and two games against the Big Ten regular season and tournament champ: Ohio State.

I know it's hard to compare college basketball and pro football, but all the sudden the Hoosiers' difficulties this year seem a little more understandable. Whenever the new NFL schedule is released, a huge emphasis is placed on the number of playoff teams each fan's favorite club will face that year and is used to predict success. Given coach Tom Crean's extremely young and inexperienced team going into the season, could fans have expected a whole lot more than this year's results if I told you they would be playing more than half of their games against playoff teams?

If the Chicago Bears had to play two games against the NFC North division champ, the Minnesota Vikings, another two games against a Wild Card winner, the Green Bay Packers, as well as a game against the best team in the conference and NFL champion, the New Orleans Saints, and another Super Bowl favorite, the Indianapolis Colts, would you expect them to make the playoffs or have a winning record? If the Bears lost all six of those games, the margin of error to grab a post-season spot shrinks dramatically.

I firmly believe Indiana should include quality teams in its non-conference schedule because it can provide a valuable measuring stick for players and coaches. So I would not say the Hoosiers over-scheduled their team this year. But I definitely can't fault them too much for struggling. The team was not good enough to expect any easy wins and it was difficult to find many games where the Hoosiers had a fighting chance short of playing a perfect game.

The good news is in several cases the Hoosiers played well against the superior competition. They beat Pittsburgh in New York, by far the biggest win of the year, beat Minnesota in Bloomington, lost at the buzzer to Illinois on the road and lost by three to Purdue at home.

Unfortunately, Crean and his players have a long way to go. While it was painful at times, we did see some improvement over last year. Let's hope the program has taken another step forward at this time next year.

Checking the stats

2010-02-12T15:44:00.003-05:00

A disturbing statistic I found: In Big Ten play the Hoosiers are scoring 61.7 points per game, nearly seven points below their season average of 68.6 points per game. And probably more of a concern, IU is allowing more points per game in conference play. The Hoosiers are giving up an average of 70.3 points per game to Big Ten opponents, an increase over the season average of 69.6 points per game.

The scoring difference in Big Ten play mostly has come in the second half. IU was outscored by 73 points in those 11 games, while in the first half, the scoring difference was 24.

The Hoosiers' field goal percentage is 39.5 in Big Ten play, which is essentially tied for worst in the conference with Iowa. That wouldn't bother me very much, except that IU is allowing opponents to shoot 45.2 percent.

I think these numbers will improve soon. But I don't think it will happen Saturday at Wisconsin or Tuesday versus Michigan State. There may be two games left where the Hoosiers have a fighting chance: at Iowa and at home against Northwestern. If not, we'll be hoping for a surprise in the Big Ten tournament.

Better results coming tonight

2010-02-10T14:54:00.004-05:00

Based on recent history this season, the Hoosiers are expected to put up a much better game against Ohio State tonight. It may not lead to a win, but I think the team will take another step forward.

After a clunker at Michigan in January, a 24-point loss, the Hoosiers won two in a row, over Minnesota and Penn State. After a 15-point home loss to Iowa, a game they were expected to win, the Hoosiers lost by a combined five points to Illinois on the road and Purdue at home.

The 17-point loss at Northwestern on Sunday was another clunker, another byproduct of a young team trying to improve while playing a tough Big Ten schedule. The Hoosiers shot a meager 35.3 percent for the game, including 32 percent in the second half. Their three-point shooting percentage was just under 12 percent.

Northwestern, on the other hand, had a fantastic day, shooting 52 percent for the game, including 59 percent in the first half. The Wildcats shot 40 percent from behind the arc, making six three-pointers in the first half. The Hoosiers made two threes the entire game.

The defense simply was not there, but this team will not back down. It faces another tough task tonight. The Buckeyes (18-6) are ranked 13th in the AP poll and 16th in the ESPN poll and haven't lost a conference game since Jan. 9. The Hoosiers will have to start strong to stay in it. I don't see them coming back from a 15-point deficit in the second half. If they can grab an early lead or keep it close into the second half, they may have a chance.

Tip-off is early, 6:30 p.m., on Big Ten Network. Here's hoping tonight brings win number 10.

Hoping for the Perfect Storm

2010-02-04T14:29:00.002-05:00

Indiana is looking to rebound from a loss at the buzzer to Illinois and end a two-game losing streak with a win over Purdue tonight. The Boilers are ranked No. 7 in the ESPN poll and No. 8 in the AP poll and want to extend a four-game winning streak.

There's no question, on paper Purdue has a better team that IU this year. The Boilers are farther down the rebuilding road than the Hoosiers at this point. I'm hoping IU can pull a little magic from the home crowd and steal a win.

It could happen. The Hoosiers looked great on the road against Illinois. It may have been the best 40-minute performance of the season. If they can play another game at that level IU has a chance.

The Boilers also play at Michigan State on Tuesday, which will probably be one of the games of the year in the Big Ten. A sub-.500 Indiana team should not present as much of a challenge. Could Purdue possibly be looking beyond this rivalry game?

Purdue also has lost two of four road games in the Big Ten, at Wisconsin and Northwestern. Their road wins in conference so far came against Illinois and Iowa, but were not blow-outs. This team may dominate at home, but is vulnerable on the road.

Indiana also has a couple statistical advantages heading into the game, both defensive categories. The Hoosiers average more than 36 rebounds per game, while the Boilers average more than 34. Indiana also averages more steals per game, 7.9, than Purdue, 7.6.

The Hoosiers will not have much margin for error. They can't get into foul trouble early in the game or have any long scoring droughts. And they have to keep the effort level up the entire game, a trait that has defined them this season.

I'm looking for a great game with a loud and emotional crowd in Bloomington. If IU starts fast, Purdue won't let it get out of control, and if the Hoosiers stall early, they will get back into it late in the first half or early in the second half.

The Hoosiers will win it by three for the team's biggest win under Tom Crean. This one would be bigger than the win over Pitt in New York.

Tip-off is at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

Unfortunately, I was right

2010-01-27T12:10:00.003-05:00

The Super Bowl match-up may include the two No. 1 seeds in the NFL playoffs, but it is not the game many fans wanted to see, including me.

Instead of the Colts, I and others wanted the Jets to be preparing for a game with the Saints. I admit, even though I picked the Colts, I was rooting for the Jets. I jumped out of my couch when the Jets took a 17-6 lead with less than 2 minutes left in the first half.

Unfortunately, the defense the Jets relied upon to carry them in the playoffs failed. Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne were held in check. It was two other receivers, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie, who are big-play threats, but not people defensive coordinators are going to game-plan around, that won the game.

As for the Vikings, they beat themselves. Quarterback Brett Favre threw the interception that sealed it, but four other turnovers essentially lost the game. Looking at the offensive stats, you wonder how the Saints won. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 197 yards, including three touchdowns, and Pierre Thomas led the team in rushing with 61 yards.

Favre threw for 310 yards and Adrian Peterson rushed for 122 yards. Those numbers would be understandable if the Vikings were playing from behind in the second half. But the game was close throughout and tied at halftime, as well as after the third and fourth quarters.

The Saints did not win that game. They were opportunistic in taking advantage of Vikings mistakes. The Vikings lost this game and despite all the mistakes, still were in position to win it late in the fourth quarter. That tells me the Vikings found a way to slow the Saints offense.

That's the reason I'm leaning toward the Colts to win the Super Bowl right now. There were cracks in the Colts offense in the first half, when the Jets were able to force field goal attempts in the red zone rather than allow touchdowns. But the Colts adjusted and by the end of the first half had the Jets defense solved. The Colts touchdown drive late in the first half gave quarterback Peyton Manning the road map.

Manning and the Colts offense may have trouble with the Saints defense early in the game. But I think he and the coaches will adjust. It will be up to the Colts defense to make sure the Saints don't put the game out of reach while the adjustments are determined. Garcon and Collie also must scare the Saints defenders. Besides worrying about Clark and Wayne, now defenders know Collie and Garcon also can make big plays.

Right now I think the Colts will score more than 28 points and could win by at least 10.

Four players that will shape NFL Championship Sunday

2010-01-22T14:41:00.004-05:00

I want to like the sentimental favorites in Sunday's AFC and NFC championship games, but I can't seem to shake the lingering doubts.

In the AFC, I would love nothing more than to see the Jets ruin another Colts season. I am a firm believer that resting players instead of chasing a perfect season should not be rewarded. And I believe that decision kept my team, the Steelers, out of the playoffs.

The Jets are red hot and not because their coach's wild comments are the darling of the New York media. It is because all that talking has taken most of the pressure off the players. Instead of talking about what it would be like to play in the Super Bowl or upset the favored Colts, the players mostly are responding to their coach's comments. While I do think Rex Ryan believes what he said about his team, I think there is more there than simple vanity. The last thing he needs is for his players to remember they were never supposed to get this far. Ryan is helping maintain the team's momentum by consistently telling everyone the Jets are good.

I think the Jets can stay on their roll this weekend. This two players that will determine the outcome: Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez and Colts tight end Dallas Clark.

Clark had seven catches for 59 yards against the Ravens, including four receptions that resulted in first downs. Since the Colts' top wide receiver, Reggie Wayne, will be double-covered the entire game, Clark will become Colts quarterback Peyton Manning's go-to guy.

If the Jets figure a way to keep the ball out of Clark's hands, it will put them in a great position.

A rookie quarterback started last year's AFC Championship game and probably decided the game. Joe Flacco of the Ravens completed 13 of 30 passes for 141 yards and three interceptions in their loss to the Steelers 23-14. His most crucial turnover of the game was a Troy Polamalu interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. If Sanchez plays similar to Flacco, the Jets are doomed, no matter how well the Jets defense plays.

Ideally, Sanchez should not have to throw the ball a lot because that would mean the Jets running game is clicking and the team is in the lead. Sanchez has two touchdown passes and one interception in the playoffs. He needs to manage the game effectively for the Jets to win it.

I want to pick the Jets. I really, really want to pick the Jets. But I don't think Sanchez will play a mistake-free game. He'll have one turnover, either a fumble or interception, which will be enough. The Colts will win a close one, 24-21.

In the NFC, the sentimental pick is the Saints, who are in their best position ever to get to a Super Bowl. The two players that will shape this game are the two most important players on the field: Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Vikings QB Brett Favre.

Brees is playing at home and at the helm of a monster offense. Favre is at the helm of a monster offense, too, but is on the road. The Vikings may be familiar with playing in a dome, but the noise when Favre is on the field will be deafening. Favre will not be able to make too many changes at the line of scrimmage and probably will deal with false-start and delay-of-game penalties.

Favre also must deal with long-time teammate Darren Sharper in the Saints secondary. If you don't think Sharper knows Favre's tendencies, you're sorely mistaken. That should be good for at least one interception, either by Sharper or another Saints defender.

With a sizable advantage because of the crowd noise, I think Brees will do a better job managing the game. In his other NFC Championship appearance, Brees did not play all that well, but the entire Saints team fell flat that day, losing big to the Bears. Brees learned from that experience and will use it to his advantage.

Favre on the other hand, will be undone by his gunslinger mentality. He may have played within himself during the regular season and divisional playoffs, but with the pressure on, I think he'll revert back to his old self. If the Vikings fall behind or can't get their running game on track early, Favre will be throwing the ball a lot. At that point, it's only be a matter of time before he begins making mistakes.

Both teams will put points on the board, but the Saints will win it with defense in the second half. With the Vikings trailing by a touchdown early in the fourth quarter, Favre will throw an interception that the Saints will convert into a field goal. The Saints will win 31-21 and earn their first Super Bowl berth.

What is a great season for the Hoosiers?

2010-01-22T09:13:00.002-05:00

The Hoosiers have won two games in a row, following last night's win at Penn State.

It was the team's first conference win on the road this year and the first for Coach Tom Crean since his tenure at Indiana began. The team is 3-3 in conference play and 9-9 on the season, both already improved from last year.

The Hoosiers have a win over a top 25 team, Pittsburgh, and two conference wins over teams with winning records, Michigan and Minnesota. And as of this morning, Indiana is tied for fifth in the Big Ten.

The most obvious improvement from last season, as well as earlier this season, came from Crean during last night's post-game press conference.

"There was no panic in our guys' voices; there was no deer-in-the-headlight look," Crean said after the game, according to comments posted on IUHoosiers.com.

Looking ahead, I'm wondering if we adjust our expectations for this season.

Before the season started, I thought a .500 or better finish was possible, but after watching the results in the pre-conference season, I wondered whether this team would win more than seven or eight games. This team has improved so much over the last month, I'm wondering if these Hoosiers could reach 15 wins or more by the end of the season.

Indiana has 12 games remaining, including four games against Iowa and Northwestern, two of the three teams below them in the Big Ten standings. The Hoosiers also will play Michigan State and Wisconsin, the top two teams in the conference, only once. The game with the Spartans is in Bloomington, which will should slightly diminish the size of the task.

Realistically, could the Hoosiers finish the season 15-15 heading into the Big Ten tournament? If the Hoosiers continuing playing with the poise they found last night, I could see them sweeping or taking three of four against Iowa and Northwestern. I also don't think a win at home over Purdue is out of the question. And these Hoosiers are not the same team that was blown out by Ohio State. When the Buckeyes come to Bloomington it will be a much different game.

That's five or six potential wins. Could this team steal the game at Minnesota or against Michigan State?

No matter what happens, year two of the Tom Crean era is turning out to be a big improvement. I think it's a reasonable goal to go for .500 for the year. If that happens, Indiana may begin the 2010-2011 season contending instead of a rebuilding.

What do you think? Tell me your expectations for the remainder of the IU season.

Next game: Against Iowa, 6 p.m. Sunday. The game will be on Big Ten Network.

Hoosiers beginning to get it...

2010-01-19T14:36:00.003-05:00

It took me a couple days to understand the significance of the IU win over Minnesota on Sunday.

The Hoosiers defeated the Gophers 81-78 in overtime, despite blowing a 15-point lead in the second half. This game was another sign the team is improving and growing.

There were questionable calls by the officials. The Hoosiers did not fold.
There were missed shots. The Hoosiers did not fold.
There were missed free throws. The Hoosiers did not fold.
Minnesota built a quick 5-point lead in overtime. The Hoosiers did not fold.

It wasn't a perfect game. The offense became too conservative late in the second half as the team tried to protect its lead. IU sacrificed points to run the clock and Minnesota was able to tie the game with a few second left.

Still, there were more things to like about this performance. The evolution of Christian Watford is particularly exciting. Early in the season, Watford appeared to be playing timidly. Against Minnesota he played much more aggressive under the boards and has become a primary option on the offensive end. He scored 16 points and now is averaging 13 points per game, second-most on the team. I wished Watford had received more touches late in the second half. He could have iced the game during regulation.

The team also is improving on the defensive end, particularly rebounding the ball. IU grabbed 43 rebounds, including 20 offensive boards, while Minnesota managed 31 total rebounds, including 10 offensive.

If you have followed the Hoosiers over the past several years, you know IU has not been able to rebound the ball well at all. And too often late in games, IU had one shot per possession, while opponents had two or more. The Hoosiers had 17 second-chance points on Sunday to the Gophers' 12, a direct result of the rebounding edge.

The offensive collapse late in the game, I think a result of overly conservative play-calling, has to be corrected. This seems to happen all too often when the Hoosiers build a lead in the second half. But there are signs the toughness Coach Tom Crean is preaching is sinking in.

This win was another glimpse of this team's upside. I think they are starting to get it.

Note: The Hoosiers stand at 8-9 on the season, and 2-3 in the Big Ten. They travel to Penn State on Thursday. The game will be on ESPN2.

Taking a break from sports

2010-01-14T12:20:00.002-05:00

If you haven't heard about the earthquake in Haiti, maybe you're living under a rock. The pictures and video coming out of the country are showing unimaginable tragedy. See here, here and here.

If you want to help, one way to donate $10 that would be charged to your cell phone bill is to text "HAITI" to 90999.

You also can give to The American Red Cross and/or check this link to the White House blog, which has other resources.

NFL Divisional Playoff Predictions

2010-01-12T11:43:00.005-05:00

My predictions on Wild Card Weekend proved true: the Ravens knocked out the Patriots and the Bengals went down in flames.

The Jets and Ravens are being referred to as Cinderellas as they head to San Diego and Indianapolis this weekend, but I really don't see it that way. Both teams are hot and must be playing with a lot of confidence after beating division champs.

The Ravens proved once again the old adage that defense wins championships is true. They intimidated and flat-out manhandled the Patriots on Sunday. Early turnovers essentially ended the game, but the Ravens' running game was strong as well, keeping the Patriots offense off the field once the team regained its bearings.

I'm not discounting the Patriots had injury problems that hindered their offense. Who knows how a healthy Wes Welker would have changed the game plan. But none of the Patriots' offensive weapons were working in the first half. It was so bad the New England crowd began booing the team. Even if Welker was in the game, I'm not sure the Ravens' would have not won that game easily.

The Ravens now find themselves facing another team with a big offense this weekend. The Colts scored only 17 points at Baltimore in Week 11, but still won 17-15. The Ravens forced two Peyton Manning interceptions and recovered another fumble. Manning threw for 299 yards, but only one touchdown.

The Ravens were winning by a point in the fourth quarter, when they allowed a 25-yard field goal that ended up being the game-winner for the Colts. The game played out perfectly for the Ravens, but the offense could not get the job done late in the game when Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco threw an interception deep in Colts territory.

This leads me to Prediction No. 1 for the Divisional Playoffs: The Ravens are going to upset the Colts and return to the AFC Championship game.

The Colts have no momentum after taking three weeks off, which I think is a big problem. It will take a couple drives for the Colts offense to get into rhythm and if the Ravens again force early turnovers, the Colts could be in trouble. But it is the Ravens running game that is so dangerous. Manning can't throw touchdown passes from the bench. The Ravens did not run extremely well against the Colts in the regular season, but I guarantee the Colts defense will see a lot of Ray Rice if the Ravens go up 14-0 like last week.

Surprisingly, the Ravens pass-rush did not sack Manning in the regular season match-up. That will have to change in the playoffs. At the very least, the Ravens defense will have to hit Manning and make him uncomfortable. With safety Ed Reed back in the line-up I think the Ravens can do it.

Don't let the seeding and records fool you. These two teams are not as far apart as they appear. This is not your father's NFL, when an 9-7 record was a monster difference from 14-2. Increased parody forces you to almost throw out the records in the playoffs.

Prediction No. 2: Giants Stadium will be preparing to host the AFC Championship, but the Chargers will have just enough to win a close game.

Yes, the AFC could send a No. 5 or 6 seed to the Super Bowl. The Chargers are a hot team and a popular pick to beat the Jets this weekend. But I wouldn't count out Rex Ryan, who has named his team the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

This game will come down to the quarterbacks. Mark Sanchez, a rookie, will keep the Jets in the game, but like Flacco last year, will make a mistake at the wrong time that will cost his team the game. Chargers QB Philip Rivers has enough playoff experience to not be a liability.

The Jets have upset the Chargers in the playoffs before, but I think they get their revenge this year. Ironically, it's on a late field goal.

Prediction No. 3: The Cowboys prove they are over-rated. The Vikings-Cowboys divisional playoff is a no-win situation for me. It pains me to pick either team, but I don't think the Cowboys can sustain their level of excellence. They are due for a clunker after winning four games in a row and the hostile Metrodome is a prime spot. The Vikings will be ready for this game and should not underestimate the Cowboys and their momentum.

Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will play well, but will let the Cowboys stay in the game with a turnover or two. The Vikings will ice it in the second half with a lot of Adrian Peterson and win it by 10.

Prediction No. 4: The Saints be the team that snaps out of the late-season funk.

The Cardinals' defense was shredded by the Packers, which should have the Saints licking their chops. Quarterback Drew Brees will have no problem finding his favorite receivers and scoring 35 points or more.

The Saints may have lost three straight to end the season, but the defense did not give up more than 24 points in any of them. If the Saints and Cardinals defenses hold to recent form, the Saints should have no problems and win by 14 or more.

Baseball's Global Series

2010-01-07T15:11:00.004-05:00

Another international baseball event in the design stages I think is another great idea.

Japanese sports media reported Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball (the Japanese pro baseball league) are attempting to establish a series where the champions of both leagues play each other.

While MLB wanted to see its best players wear the uniforms of their countries and play a tournament to grow the game, this could prove to be a better event. It potentially could grow the game within the two countries where baseball is the most popular.

The main problem with the World Baseball Classic has been the unfamiliar site of the game's best players playing for their countries. Players with more than one heritage, like Alex Rodriguez or Mike Piazza, both of whom are heroes in America and spend most of their time living in America, ended up playing for foreign countries in the WBC. This proposal would pit two professional clubs against each other.

And unlike the WBC, which is staged in March during MLB's spring training, the Global World Series could be staged in the late fall. The World Series ends in late October, and the Japan Series is staged around the same time. Could the two leagues broker a deal to play a seven-game series around Thanksgiving?

This past year would have been the prime chance to inaugurate the series. The leagues' two most dominant franchises, the New York Yankees and Yomiuri Giants, both were champions in 2009. It was the Yankees' 27th title and the Giants' 21st. Imagine the two teams facing off to determine which dynasty was superior.

Alternating years could determine home-field advantage. If the U.S. had home-field in 2009, the Yankees could have played three games in Japan, presumably Tokyo, then fly back to a warm west-coast city like Los Angeles or Phoenix to play the final four games. One big story line would be the Japanese players attached to American teams heading home: How would Hideki Matsui play in his return to Japan to face-off against his former team -- he played for Yomiuri from 1994-2002?

If baseball were looking to add an event for a captive audience after Thanksgiving, this is the opportunity. NFL football on Thursday, followed by baseball on Friday, Saturday and/or Sunday.

A multi-country club championship already is staged in Asia between the champions of professional leagues of Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. The Caribbean Series, already extremely popular in that area, involves winter league clubs in Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

Regular readers of this blog know I am a proponent of the WBC (See here, here and here). That event is important to grow the game outside countries like the U.S. and Japan, where it is traditionally strong. This event is a reward for the two countries where baseball is a major sport. The two teams will not have to worry about getting in shape, pitch counts and injuries ruining seasons. There will be no concerns about building team chemistry. It will just be a series to determine who's better.

I love this idea because I like seeing how our favorite sports are played outside our borders. I hope the two sides can work out a deal.

NFL Playoff predictions

2010-01-04T18:06:00.002-05:00

This may not be the year to trust the No. 1 seeds in the NFL playoffs, especially in the AFC, where four of the six teams could win the Super Bowl. Here are a few of my thoughts and predictions on the AFC as Wildcard Weekend approaches:

The Baltimore Ravens will surprise a lot of people, but that shouldn't surprise anyone.

The Ravens enter the playoffs with the necessary fundamentals to win January and February games: They run the ball and play tough defense. Ray Rice has emerged as a workhorse and Willis McGahee is consistently good. The Ravens face the Patriots, who will go without the perfect slot receiver, Wes Welker, and a banged up Tom Brady at quarterback.

This match-up has all the makings for an upset. The Ravens defense may not be as stingy as in the past, but the offense is picking up the slack. Joe Flacco is a much better quarterback than a year ago and if the running game is clicking, the Patriots won't spend much time on the field.

I have no confidence in the Bengals.

Chad Ochocinco hurt himself in warm-ups Sunday, but is expected to play against the Jets this weekend. The Jets thoroughly waxed the Bengals on Sunday. The Bengals ended the season losing three out of four and did not beat a team with a winning record since winning over the Steelers in week 10. The Bengals are in because they started fast and destroyed all the teams in their division. They have not proven anything in the last month of the season.

The 2010 playoffs are shaping up to strongly resemble the 2006 playoffs.

The Colts had a chance at perfection, only to lose late in the year and then rest all their starters. Sound familiar? In 2006, the Colts won 13 in a row, lost, then chose not to take the last three games seriously. The 6-seeded Steelers had had win their final four games to qualify for the post-season and entered scored the upset.

Hmm...The Colts started 14-0, only to lose late in the year and rest all their starters. They will open the playoffs Jan. 16, having not played a meaningful game in a month. Did they learn their lesson? It doesn't appear so.

The Ravens could end up in the Super Bowl.

The similarities are striking: The Ravens are a lot better than their record indicates and the AFC has no dominant team in the playoffs this year. They have playoff experience, having come close to beating the Steelers in the AFC Championship last year (The Steelers in the 2006 playoffs lost in the AFC Championship the previous year). The No. 1 seed enters the playoffs rusty and will play a No. 6 seed that can play tough defense. I don't think it's unthinkable that the Ravens knock out the Patriots, then upset the Colts and head to San Diego for the AFC Championship. At that stage, the records don't matter.

This may be the year the Ravens get back over the hump.

Defense leads to a big win

2009-12-31T14:13:00.002-05:00

Defense wins championships and for the Hoosiers, it won their first conference game of the season. IU defeated Michigan 71-65 -- sealing the nip-and-tuck game with 10 seconds left.

Michigan was a poor shooting team coming into the game, but Indiana had one of its best defensive outings of the season. After the Wolverines started the game hot behind the 3-point line, coach Tom Crean extended his defensive pressure. It was a great move and changed the game in the first few minutes. Michigan shot 39 percent for the game and the Hoosiers had 10 steals, two blocks, and forced 12 turnovers. They also held star DeShawn Sims to 12 points and three rebounds and forced him to foul out of the game.

The Hoosiers did not have any extended scoring droughts in this game as in previous losses. And they used their defensive pressure to create easy shots. The team played like they should win the game. They competed the entire 40 minutes.

Christian Watford also stepped into a role as primary offensive option with 19 points. Verdell Jones scored 20 and Jeremiah Rivers came up with some huge plays late in the game, including a double-pump three-point play.

Michigan seemed beaten as the second half wound down, but made some big shots late to get back in the game. The Hoosiers carved out a 4-point lead with 40 seconds left, but Michigan kept fighting, scoring a couple layups to keep it a one-possession game. The Wolverines immediately fouled each time and the Hoosiers made the free throws when they had to. Freshman Jordan Hulls made four big ones with less than 10 seconds left to end it.

This is a big win for the IU program. It gives the young team some confidence and, hopefully, gives Crean a clearer formula for success.

By the way, did you ever think IU fans could say this in 2010: Indiana is tied for first in the Big Ten.

Next up: at Ohio State, Jan. 6.

Time for Big Ten play

2009-12-31T09:22:00.003-05:00

I'm a little nervous this morning as I wait for the noon tip off between Indiana and Michigan.

At times this season, the baby Hoosiers have appeared ready to take that next step in the rebuilding process. The team got its biggest win in the last two years on the game's biggest regular-season stage this month -- over Pittsburgh -- only later to play an absolute clunker first half against Loyola of Maryland and more resemble last season's team. The Hoosiers came back from 20 points down to take the lead late in that game, but could not finish.

Now they face another hurdle: the loss of Maurice Creek, the team's leading scorer through 12 games. Which team will emerge? I'm hoping the high effort this team is known produces positive results, because once again it's going to take a near perfect performance for this team to win. They are unlikely to recover from long scoring droughts or poor shooting halves against Michigan State, Ohio State and Purdue.

The Hoosiers are 6-6, equaling the win total from last year. Ideally, the record would have been 8-4. I don't think anyone expected the team to lose all three games in Puerto Rico and Loyola showed in the second half they were not as unbeatable as they appeared. Still, Crean seems to be making progress. I think moving beyond 10 or 12 wins certainly should be a goal. The Hoosiers should get three or more of those wins in Bloomington. Could this team approach .500 by the end of the season?

Enjoy the game. It's on ESPN2.

The Illinois Hoosier National Championship

2009-12-23T11:55:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the national championship game. We're at the Orange Bowl in Miami for the finals of the 8-team Illinois Hoosier college football playoff. Florida, the 8 seed, faces Oregon, the 4 seed.

The Gators reached the finals by upsetting Alabama in the quarterfinals and TCU in the semifinal round. It is not a complete surprise the lowest-seeded team reached the finals. Florida was undefeated and ranked No. 1 the entire season, until Alabama pulled the upset to gain the No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Oregon may be somewhat of a surprise in the finals, but in reality the Ducks are a product of the draw. Oregon beat Ohio State at first round, then Cincinnati in the semifinals. Both teams were not considered real championship contenders.

Florida has to enter the game as the favorite, given its two huge wins since losing the SEC Championship and the location of the game. But don't discount Oregon's chances. The Ducks knocked off USC, Utah, California and Oregon State, all of which are ranked. They also score an average of nearly 38 points per game.

Unfortunately, Florida has nearly as powerful an offense, averaging more than 34 points per game. The Gators also have a defense that can win games by itself. They give up less than 12 points per game. The Oregon defense allows nearly 24 points per game.

Defense is the difference in this game. The two teams play to a 14-14 tie in the first half, but Florida makes an adjustment at halftime and in the third quarter, Oregon has trouble moving the ball. The Ducks can manage only 35 yards of total offense in the third quarter and two first downs. Meanwhile, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow takes over, throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another in the period.

Florida tries to sit on the lead in the fourth quarter, but Oregon makes it interesting. Jeremiah Masoli throws a 55-yard touchdown after a Florida defender falls down in coverage to cut the lead to seven, then leads the Ducks on another long drive that results in a field goal.

The Gators' lead 28-24 with 5 minutes to go. Oregon pulls out all the stops on defense and gets the ball back with 2 minutes left. Masoli gets the team across midfield with 10 seconds to go, but the hail Mary pass falls incomplete.

Florida wins its fourth national championship since 1996 and Tebow graduates among the most decorated college football players ever. TV ratings are off the charts, beating the best figures for any BCS championship game. There is talk in the future it could rival the Super Bowl in popularity and viewership.

The revenue generated by the tournament is unprecedented in college football. And bowl committees find the traditional bowl games, many of which were still played, still drew more than enough fans. There is general agreement the new idea was a success and college presidents begin to talk about whether the playoff can be expanded to 16 teams.

Let the College Football Playoff begin

2009-12-22T14:30:00.002-05:00

The only way major college football will ever move to a playoff is to continue applying pressure. If enough fans and others demand it, the powers that be may change their minds. It is with that objective that I present 2009 Illinois Hoosier National Championship.

My rules are simple:

1. The big six conference champions automatically qualify: Alabama (SEC), Texas (Big 12), Ohio State (Big Ten), Oregon (Pac 10), Cincinnati (Big East), and Georgia Tech (ACC).
2. Two "wild card" teams complete the eight-team bracket. They are the two highest-ranked teams in the Bowl Championship Series rankings without an automatic bid. This year, those two teams are: TCU (No. 4) and Florida (No. 5). Boise State, which completed another undefeated season, is edged out.
3. All eight teams are seeded based on BCS rankings, but conference champions will be seeded higher than wild cards. Alabama is the top seed, followed by Texas, Cincinnati, Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, TCU, and Florida.
4. Quarterfinal games are played at the higher seeds' home field. The semifinals and finals are played at BCS bowl stadiums. The Rose Bowl continues to insist on the Big Ten-Pac 10 match-up on New Year's Day, but once every four years it will host the national championship game.

Quarterfinals

1. Florida at Alabama: Can you imagine the hype around this game? Florida gets a second chance to beat the Crimson Tide after a thumping in the SEC Championship game. This time the game is not on a neutral field, however, which should give the Tide some advantage.

Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram of Alabama has another big game, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown, but Florida quarterback Tim Tebow does not turn the ball over this time. He throws for 250 yards and a TD again, but also rushes for a TD. The Gators pull the upset with a late field goal, 31-28.

2. TCU at Texas: Wow! Another huge match-up. The Longhorns are looking to prove their clunker in the Big 12 Championship was a fluke, while TCU is looking to prove they deserve to be among the elite teams. Oh, and by the way, the game is between two teams in the state of Texas.

Texas has holes in its game and TCU exposes them in this game. The Horned Frogs score a late touchdown to win it 24-21.

3. Georgia Tech at Cincinnati: This game carries a bunch of questions. How will Cincinnati respond to the departure of its coach to Notre Dame? Can the Bearcats' defense handle the triple-option offense? Is Georgia Tech, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, a deserving participant over Boise State?

The game is played on a snowy December day in southern Ohio. As with their game against Pittsburgh, the Bearcats struggle early and by halftime the team is trailing by two touchdowns. But the team rallies, taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Georgia Tech is stopped inside the Cincinnati 20 on its final drive, securing the win. Cincinnati escapes, 34-28.

4. Ohio State at Oregon: This would have been the traditional Rose Bowl game. Instead the Buckeyes travel to Eugene, Ore. It is a match-up of two big-time quarterbacks, Terrelle Pryor and Jeremiah Masoli. The Ducks speed and spread offense was too much for USC and is too much for Ohio State, too. The crowd also hands Oregon a touchdown. OSU falls 35-17.

Semifinals

1. Florida v. TCU at the Sugar Bowl: There is no true home field advantage in this game, because it is close to both schools. TCU is flying high after its upset of Texas, but Florida is a different animal. The Gators don't suffer the same let-down and pound TCU 28-10. Florida scores on its first two possessions and does not allow a touchdown in the first half. TCU scores its only TD late in the fourth quarter after it has been decided.

2. Cincinnati v. Oregon at the Fiesta Bowl: Cincinnati is another newbie to the big stage, but in a way so is Oregon. Both teams find themselves playing for a chance to reach the biggest of stages. The Bearcats already find themselves in the biggest game in school history, while Oregon has played in Rose Bowls before.

Without the coach that got them there, Cincinnati was playing with house money. This game it is time to pay up. Oregon wins, but never takes full control of the game. Final score: 31-21.

That sets up the national championship game, to be played at the Orange Bowl in Miami. Florida will face Oregon the first week of the new year. The game will come a few days after the other bowl games.

Who will be my national champion? Stay tuned...

By the way, here is a link to my 2007 Illinois Hoosier National Championship.

Big Ten Expansion: Great idea, but who to take?

2009-12-16T14:00:00.004-05:00

I don't think there's any doubt out there that the Big Ten needs a 12th school. The most obvious reason is for football, but it will benefit the other sports as well.

If we only consider football, a Big Ten with 12 teams will allow for two divisions and a championship game, extending the season into December and creating more media buzz during the final push for the national championship. The question now is which school should be the 12th team?

Speculation is all over the place, but there are some common names: Pitt, Cincinnati and Missouri have been mentioned many times. I think Pitt and Missouri are strong candidates, if they are interested. Missouri would have to be convinced to leave the Big 12 conference, where it has played second fiddle to Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska in football for years. There's no guarantee the Tigers will quickly rise into the upper division in the Big Ten, but athletic department officials may be willing to consider a change.

Cincinnati is not as strong a candidate. The Bearcats just joined the Big East four years ago and I don't think they would be ready to switch affiliations again. And with the moving of coach Brian Kelly to Notre Dame, the quality of their football team has become suspect.

Cincinnati as an institution also does not fit the profile of the Big Ten. Conference officials may say that's not a factor, I think it will be a consideration if it comes to a vote. Both Pitt and Cincinnati are city schools, but Pitt has a long tradition as a research center, with one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world. No disrespect to Cincinnati, but the school does not have that reputation.

Syracuse or Rutgers would be interesting choices because they would extend the conference's reach to the east coast. But they could find opposition from the western schools like Minnesota and Iowa because of the travel issue. It may not pose a problem for football, but non-revenue-driving sports like field hockey and wrestling would have either long bus trips or expensive plane rides to matches on those campuses.

Iowa State is a possibility, but I'm not sure the Big Ten would want to expand in a state where they already have a presence. Granted, there already is a Big Ten presence in Pennsylvania, but Pitt and Penn State are on different parts of a large state and are in different geographic regions of the country. Pittsburgh is a more Midwestern city, while State College, Pa. is likely more split between the Midwest and east coast ties. Iowa is solidly Midwestern.

Nebraska will not leave the Big 12 and the rivalry with Oklahoma. Kansas or Kansas State may be interested and would be bring football and basketball power to the conference, but will those schools give up their rivalry game?

My money would be on Missouri or Pitt, assuming the conference decides expansion is a good idea and the schools are interested.

The divisions for football would fall into place relatively easily with either school. Missouri would join the Big Ten West along with Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern. The Big Ten East would include Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State.

If Pitt is selected, the Big Ten East also would include Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern. Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa would compose the Big Ten West.

Who's the best BCS National Champion

2009-12-15T16:56:00.002-05:00

I have posted this on Hub Pages, but I thought I also would share it on this site as well.

I ranked the first 11 BCS national championship teams here, and as we approach the contest for the 12th, I suggested where either Alabama or Texas would appear on the list.

Did I get it right? Let me know...

IU-UK: A look to the future

2009-12-14T15:48:00.002-05:00

The Hoosiers took it on the chin in the second half against Kentucky on Saturday. Indiana was outscored 48-32 and allowed a 18-0 run early in the final period that sealed their fate.

After the win over Pitt earlier in the week, I was a little optimistic the Hoosiers would play better against the No. 4 Wildcats. But as the game unfolded, I realized the huge gap IU will have to bridge to become a national championship contender once again. It's not scoring, it's defense and rebounding.

The Wildcats destroyed the much smaller Hoosiers on the boards. All five players on the floor were crashing the boards. UK grabbed 49 rebounds, more than double IU's 24. Their 21 offensive rebounds led to 30 second-chance points. It's a tough stat to consider given IU lost by 17. If half of those second chance points are converted to IU defensive rebounds, the Hoosiers have a chance to win late.

The Hoosiers have some size, but it was nowhere near enough to defend Kentucky. The Wildcats were getting rebounds off missed free throws and three-pointers. Even when there were four IU players under the basket, it seemed Kentucky's players came up with the ball.

This type of play is what I hope coach Tom Crean is building toward. It is the kind of play that typifies Michigan State basketball, which has dominated the Big Ten over the last decade. It's also the type of play that wins games in March and early April. The more chances the Hoosiers can generate for themselves, the more likely they are to win. And on the defensive side, the team that holds its opponent to one shot per possession has the advantage.

I think these Hoosiers can get there after watching this game. They had Kentucky on its heals in the first half, shooting 63 percent, and even though they were down 20 in the second half, the team made a couple runs to get within 12 and try to get back in the game.

Crean had his team playing with confidence, unafraid of the highly-ranked Wildcats. The fact that it took Kentucky more than an entire half to gain control of the game is impressive, given their size advantage.

The Hoosiers also won the turnover battle, but only had one player score more than 10 points. The Wildcats had five players in double figures.

Crean has a long way to go, but it is clear he is making progress. On Saturday I saw the players beginning to play like they belong. They played like they legitimately could beat Kentucky, something we didn't see at all last year. The trick will be for Crean to keep the team's energy level up through the Christmas season and into conference play.

Reflections on the IU opener

2009-11-14T11:16:00.002-05:00

I'm watching the Hoosiers football team take on Penn State (the Hoosiers are up 10-0 early), but I'm more excited to talk about the IU basketball team.

Tom Crean's "Baby Hoosiers" beat Howard convincingly on Friday, 83-60. The game was close early, but IU made a run late in the first half and led by 17 at the break. While it's difficult to really determine how good this team will be, there are signs it could be special.

Christian Watford, the highly-touted freshman forward, has a lot of potential. He is a little lanky and probably will struggle against teams like Michigan State and Purdue, but I like his athleticism and his speed. He reminds me a little of Jared Jefferies. Last night he scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Not bad for playing only 24 minutes.

Last year, IU's post play was lacking and it showed. It already appears much improved. Freshman Derek Elston also played well underneath as did sophomore Tom Pritchard.

I really liked junior Jeremiah Rivers at point guard. He brings a lot of speed to the game that the Hoosiers did not have last year and was looking to distribute the ball all night. He also made a spectacular reverse layup that wowed the crowd.

Crean appeared to be using the game to help determine his regular starting lineup and did not play anyone longer than 26 minutes. I think Watford, Pritchard, and Rivers played like starters. The other two guard spots should rotate between Devan Dumes, Verdell Jones, Maurice Creek.

I know they are only freshmen, but I think Crean could end up starting three or four freshmen going forward this season. I could definitely see Elston and Creek starting a few games this year, and both should see a lot of playing time.

As you might expect, the Hoosiers need to improve their rebounding. They only got two more boards than Howard last night. To complete in the Big Ten, that stat will have to improve. The Hoosiers also had 16 turnovers, which can't happen against better teams.

Overall, this team already appears much improved from last year. If they continue improving throughout the year, IU will scare a lot of opponents.

Hall of Fame weekend in Bloomington

2009-11-07T10:25:00.003-05:00

The Hoosiers honored Bob Knight, Jerry Yeagley and the rest of the IU Hall of Fame class of 2009 last night. Knight was not there. The more pressing business now is the football game against Wisconsin this afternoon.

Indianapolis Star IU writer Terry Hutchens wrote about IU's second half offensive struggles this week. I'm glad someone finally asked that question. I had been waiting all season for an answer.

The Badgers present a different problem for the IU defense. Wisconsin runs first and often. They average nearly 195 yards rushing per game, less than four yards per game than they average passing. This comes after spending the last two weeks dealing with pass-happy Northwestern and Iowa, which won the game on two big pass plays.

The more conservative Badger attack likely will equate to long drives, leaving the IU defense on the field for huge chunks at a time. It also means the Hoosiers' offense will be on the bench for long periods, unable to score.

The key to this game will be the IU defense's ability to force three-and-outs to stay in the game. Unfortunately, this sets up for a second half collapse. IU's defensive players will no doubt wear down late, letting Wisconsin have those long drives for touchdowns.

IU has had Wisconsin's number in recent games in Bloomington. I think the Hoosiers keep it close and may even have the lead at halftime, but can't sustain it late. It's another 30-minute victory. Wisconsin wins 24-13.

Oh my

2009-10-31T14:57:00.004-04:00

I am speechless...

I didn't think it could get worse than last week's loss to Northwestern. Before that I didn't think it could get any worse than the loss to Virgina. And before that I didn't it could get worse than the loss to Michigan.

But apparently it can get worse.

Despite forcing six turnovers, the Hoosiers blew a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter and lost to Iowa 42-24. The IU defense got four turnovers in the third quarter. Yet, they still allowed the Hawkeyes to score two touchdowns on one-play drives in the fourth. It was part of a collapse that included giving up 28 unanswered points in the quarter.

Bill Lynch received the support of Athletic Director Fred Glass earlier this week, with Glass saying he would honor the remainder of Lynch's contract. But I still feel he has to be on the hot seat, at least with the fans an alumni.

This wasn't a last-second loss. This wasn't a loss because of a tough call on the road. This was a flat-out collapse. A big-time choke. It was as if the switch was flipped when the fourth quarter started and IU said it was time to blow it. The final score doesn't even indicate that Iowa trailed for more than three quarters. The Hoosiers were outscored 35-3 in the second half.

I am just a fan and I don't much about football. But I can't see how there is any reason this should have happened. This game was shaping up as the greatest IU football win in more than 40 years. Instead it's just another embarrassing loss. Are the Hoosiers just the most unlucky college football team ever? There's no way Iowa is that lucky.

As I said, I am speechless.

Are you read for a beat down?

2009-10-31T10:02:00.002-04:00

It's hard to get excited about IU's noon kick-off today at No. 4 Iowa. The Hawkeyes are undefeated and looking to continue a run to the Rose Bowl or National Championship. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers are in the midst of their (now traditional) conference season slide.

Iowa is a 17 1/2-point favorite. The only real question is whether the team will be completely focused after the literally last-second win at Michigan State last week. Next week Iowa plays Northwestern and then on Nov. 14 travels to Columbus, Ohio for the unofficial Big Ten title game.

Are the Hawkeyes going to be looking ahead this week? Probably not. The Hawkeyes are a little banged up -- they're without leading rusher Adam Robinson and will be starting some freshman at key positions. But head coach Kirk Ferentz is among the best coaches in the country. He will have his team ready.

The key to this game will be defense. Iowa allows less than 15 points per game, while the Hoosiers allow more than 26. If the Hoosiers can put Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi on the ground and keep the running game under control, they may be able to hang around.

But IU's offense will have to score points in both halves if they want to pull the upset. Scoring 21 points in the first quarter and expecting the defense to hold the lead the rest of the game is not going to cut it. It certainly didn't work last week.

I think the Hoosier defense plays well, but the offense never gets on track. Iowa wins 17-3.

By the way, I'll be updating on Twitter, at least until the game gets out of control.

A more pleasant subject

2009-10-30T15:47:00.004-04:00

While I continue to lament the symbolic end of football season, the good news is there are only five days until the men's basketball team begins its season.

The first game is Wednesday: an exhibition against Grace College. Ironically, Grace is in Winona Lake, about an 45 minutes west of Fort Wayne. Unfortunately, that game, as well as the other exhibition against St. Joseph's College of Indiana will be nothing more than lay-ups.

I do not expect to learn much about this team until later in the month, when the Hoosiers head to Puerto Rico for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip Off. The Hoosiers take on Ole Miss Nov. 19 in the first round of the tournament.

The Rebels were 16-15 last year, after suffering several injuries. This year, the team is expected to be much better and is picked to finish second in the SEC West division. This game will be an important measuring stick for the development of IU's now veteran sophomores and junior college transfers, as well as its heralded recruiting class.

The big test before the conference season begins will come in early December. Three games in two weeks: versus Maryland in Bloomington, versus Pittsburgh in New York, and versus Kentucky in Bloomington.

The Maryland game will be on ESPN2 as part of the ACC-Big Ten challenge. The Pitt game is on ESPN as part of the Jimmy V Classic and the UK game is a rivalry game on CBS. All three are national TV games, all three against top-tier programs. I'll find out how good they are after these three games. An upset of any of these teams would be a big step forward.

Big Ten play begins New Year's Eve and that road will be anything but smooth.

After I saw the pre-season AP and coaches' polls, I was surprised to find six Big Ten teams in the AP and five in the coaches' poll. And Michigan State and Purdue were both ranked in the top 10. If the voters are correct, this could be one of the toughest Big Ten seasons ever.

That doesn't lend a whole lot of confidence in the Hoosiers rebounding for a 20-win season this year. But I still think the team could finish better than .500 and possible get into the NIT. If they get a few breaks and the freshmen play better than expected, who knows, the Hoosiers could be dancing in March.

Football season over

2009-10-24T15:21:00.003-04:00

This loss hurts more than the blow-out at Virginia. The Hoosiers were up 28-3 half way through the second quarter, but still managed to lose to Northwestern, 29-28.

The Hoosiers gave up 14 points in the final 4 minutes of the first half to give the Wildcats hope, then did not score a point in the second half. The offense was stopped on 4th and goal from the 1 yard line in the third quarter, which likely sealed the loss. Northwestern had turned the ball over for a second time in the quarter and still were down 28-19 after IU had a punt blocked for a safety.

An IU touchdown would have put the game out of reach and a field goal would have increased the lead to 12. Instead the Hoosiers got no points and Northwestern converted the turnover into a touchdown, which cut the deficit to two.

The winning score came on a Northwestern field goal with 21 seconds left. Unfortunately, I can't fault the IU defense for its inability to stop the Wildcats when the game was on the line. The Hoosiers forced three turnovers in the second half, which the IU offense could not convert into points. Northwestern gave the Hoosiers opportunities to put the game away, but IU refused to finish.

I think the story of the 2009 Hoosiers is they are a 30-minute team. The Hoosiers were able to play well in the first half, but consistently fell apart in the second. An inability to finish caused losses to Northwestern and Michigan and made several other games closer than they should have been.

Barring two miracle wins in the next four games, the IU season is essentially over. The Hoosiers play Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State before finishing the year at home against Purdue. Now that the Boilers are playing better these past two weeks, it is entirely possible the Hoosiers could lose out. Fortunately for me, that would mean my season prediction (4-8) would be correct.

Maybe that's not such a bad thing. I think the coaching staff needs to be changed and head coach Bill Lynch is in the last year of his deal. Lynch and his staff always seem to have great game plans at kick-off. But when opponents make adjustments, the IU coaches don't seem to be able to counter. Northwestern clearly made an offensive and defensive adjustment when IU took the early lead. Throughout the second half, IU seemed to play right into Wildcats' hands.

Throughout the season, it has not been superior opponents like Ohio State that have stymied the Hoosiers. Eastern Kentucky and Northwestern did not allow any IU points in the second half. IU was 1-1 in those games and both games were decided by a touchdown or less.

Western Michigan, Michigan, Ohio State, and Virginia also outscored IU in the second half. The Hoosiers were 1-3 in those games, including two that were decided by four points or less.

It is an alarming statistic, especially given the talent IU has on both sides of the ball this year. To me, it means someone is unwilling or unable to change when the other team figures out the game plan. It is not coaching that long-term will help rebuild the IU football program.

Two wins to go and the Wildcat QB

2009-10-18T11:51:00.004-04:00

The Hoosiers improved to 4-3 with a somewhat convincing win over Illinois, moving two wins from bowl eligibility.

Once again, the Hoosier defense set up the clinching scores in the second half. Illini QB Juice Williams fumbled twice, including one deep in IU territory, which the Hoosiers converted to touchdowns. The IU offense also looked much better, with Hoosier QB Ben Chappell throwing for 333 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Darius Willis also returned to the lineup, rushing for 58 yards.

The Hoosiers this week travel to Northwestern, where they will have to prove they can beat a team on the road that is better than Akron. A loss next week, and fans can fully shift their focus to basketball season.

An interesting side note on Saturday night's win. Yes, Chappell played likely the best game of his college career last night. But Mitchell Evans also impressed when he moved into the quarterback spot in Wildcat formations.

Evans did not complete a pass in two attempts, but ran for 84 yards on nine rushes. He is clearly faster than Chappell and a big asset in the pistol offense the Hoosiers run, which is a version of the spread attack in use around college football.

I'm wondering if Evans would be a better regular quarterback in the Hoosier system than Chappell. No question, Chappell can make all the necessary throws. He made a really pretty 44-yard pass to Tandon Doss in the fourth quarter that put the game away. But Chappell cannot run effectively if the pocket closes. The IU coaches also can't call the designed QB runs that are a staple of most spread offenses with Chappell in the game.

Just look at Illinois: Williams ran for 54 yards against the Hoosiers last night, the second most on the team. Florida QB Tim Tebow does almost all the offensive work for the Gators and Michigan QB Tate Forcier is as much a threat to run as he is to pass.

Evans, a junior, began last season as a quarterback, but moved to wide receiver. He came to IU having played QB and safety in high school.

At this point, Evans has only six pass attempts for the season with two completions. But he also has 125 yards rushing and is averaging more than six yards a carry. Am I suggesting Chappell should be benched as the starting QB? No. But I just wonder if Evans could be a better and more complete QB in the pistol system if he took more snaps.

I don't think any changes will be made at this point. It's just something to think about.

Clean slate

2009-10-17T15:43:00.002-04:00

It's homecoming in Bloomington and the Hoosiers will take on Illinois at 7 p.m.

Many fans likely are more interested in the men's basketball practice underway at the time of this post that is open to the public. But after the last week's debacle at Virginia, the Hoosier football team has a clean slate with six games to go. The team is 3-3 and while the team has looked downright awful at times, and we would like to think the season is over, there still is something to play for.

The Hoosiers could regain some confidence against an Illinois team that has played just as bad this year. The Illini are 1-4 on the season and 0-3 in the Big Ten. Quarterback Juice Williams was benched two weeks ago because of poor play and the team has been in a general disarray. The Illinois offense, its strength coming into the season, has scored more than 17 points in a game only once all year.

Of course, the IU defense has been the cure for many teams' offensive problems. That includes Virginia, which had not done much of anything offensively all season before beating the Hoosiers to a pulp. If the IU team that played Michigan shows up this weekend, they should beat Illinois. If the team that played last week is on the field, it will be another drubbing.

After this weekend, there may be only two winnable games left: at Northwestern next week and against Purdue Nov. 21. That would get the Hoosiers to .500 for the season and at least bowl eligible. Unfortunately, a win at home against Purdue became somewhat less likely this week with the Boilers' win over Ohio State.

Side note: More than 13,000 fans attended the Hoosier Hysteria basketball practice last night. Photos and other information here.

Total, complete breakdown

2009-10-10T18:02:00.003-04:00

The IU athletic department may be wishing it didn't have to pay the travel expenses to Charlottesville, Va. The Hoosiers didn't play like they deserved the trip, losing 44-0 to Virginia heading into the fourth quarter.

I look like an idiot for predicting a convincing IU win. The Hoosiers lost the game on the first drive, when, after five plays, they turned the ball over. Virginia turned it into a touchdown four plays later. Virginia rolled up 337 yards 30 points in the first half.

Indiana never appeared a part of this game. And the defense appeared totally unprepared or unable to handle the UVA offense. Every Virginia receiver caught a pass with no defenders in the area and every running back had wide holes to run through. Simple plays went for big yards every time.

Meanwhile, every IU receiver caught a pass with five defenders ready to tackle him and every running back struggled to gain more than a yard. Quarterback Ben Chappell did not have much time to throw because on nearly every play defenders were running at him untouched.

This was a clunker at a time when the Hoosiers could not afford one. I'm afraid the Hoosiers may already have peaked this year and now are declining to the finish. This level of play will not win another game this season.

Maybe the talent levels are finally settling out for the season. IU was playing above their level the first five weeks, while Virginia was playing below it.

Next game: against Illinois 7 p.m. Oct. 17.

Update: Final score: UVA wins 47-7. Total yards: UVA-536, IU-267.

Unfamiliar territory: Indiana-Virginia pre-game

2009-10-10T11:17:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers, and their fans, find themselves in an awkward position awaiting the 3:30 p.m. kick-off against Virginia. This match-up has become a must-win.

It's awkward because the Hoosiers haven't been in too many must-win games in the last 15 years. The last one came in 2007, when IU had to beat Purdue to secure a bowl bid.

This game became important when the Hoosiers won their first three games and nearly beat Michigan in week 4. All the sudden, the talk of post-season berth began, which just about everyone laughed about before the season started.

IU has been dismissed as irrelevant week after week despite its decent play. Again this week, they find themselves a road underdog. The spread is seven points, which astonishes me. Virginia lost to William and Mary and then No. 16 TCU at home, and Southern Mississippi on the road. They upset North Carolina on the road last week to get their first win, but I think IU again is underrated.

If home-field advantage is worth a field goal, I don't think Virginia is four points better than Indiana. Virginia has been outscored 78-96 on the season, while IU has outscored its opponents 127-122. The Cavaliers offense also has passed for 717 yards and rushed for 372 through four games, an average of 179 and 93 yards passing and rushing, respectively, per game.

The Hoosiers offense has been much more productive, averaging 233 and 131 yards passing and rushing, respectively, per game. And that has been against arguably better competition.

ESPN's Lee Corso, a former IU football coach, said Virginia should be on upset alert this week. I think IU will open some more eyes and show this win should not be considered an upset. They don't blow out Virginia, but remain in control of the game throughout.

Quarterback Ben Chappell and wide receiver Tandon Doss put points on the board and running back Demetrius McCray grinds out the clock. IU overcomes the Cavaliers' new confidence and their quarterback Jameel Sewell.

The Hoosiers move to 4-2 and complete a perfect non-conference season. IU wins 31-17.

The game is not on TV, but is available on ESPN360.com. I'm going to try to watch it on my computer, but absent that, I will be listening to the radio call and giving updates on Twitter.

Back to reality

2009-10-04T13:26:00.002-04:00

After watching Ohio State beat the Hoosiers thanks to only one player, I have mixed emotions.

Quarterback Terrell Pryor accounted for four touchdowns, three throwing and one rushing, which was more than enough to stop the Hoosiers. IU lost 33-14, but did not close to within 19 points until the last few seconds, when the offense scored a meaningless touchdown.

IU had to play a near-perfect game to upset the No. 9 Buckeyes and did not. Far from it. Two interceptions and a fumble killed three drives. IU was hanging around in the first half, thanks to OSU mistakes. The Buckeyes were up 10-0 quickly, but missed two field goals, which would have put the game out of reach. IU put together an impressive touchdown drive to close to within 10-7, but Ohio State scored a TD three plays later to push the lead back to 10. A Buckeye touchdown late in the second quarter off an interception probably was the knock-out blow.

I wish the team that pushed Michigan to the brink last week had showed up for this game. Last week's Hoosiers made 1.5 mistakes -- a missed field goal and the questionable interception late in the fourth quarter -- and proved their best game was good enough to win. I think if IU played OSU the same way, with few mistakes, the game would have been a lot closer.

I was eager to see what the Hoosiers' best game could do against Ohio State. And while an upset was unlikely, the Buckeye offense was not overpowering, at least not at first. Who knows what would have happened if IU had not committed the turnovers in the first half.

The good news is the toughest part of the schedule is over. IU travels to Virginia Oct. 10 for its final non-conference game of the year. The Cavaliers upset North Carolina on the road last week, but have several problems. The Hoosiers still have a good chance to win and move to 4-2.

The 3:30 p.m. game will be broadcast on ESPN360.com. It's probably safe to call the game a must-win if IU expects to play in a bowl game. The team that played against Michigan will have to make the trip east. The team that played Ohio State will lose.

IU-Ohio State Pre-game

2009-10-03T08:07:00.002-04:00

I still am smarting over last week's loss to Michigan. For a brief minute late in the second half, I thought the Hoosiers would pull it out. My hopes and those of Hoosier nation were not answered that afternoon, but I am hoping the loss doesn't linger.

The IU gauntlet continues at 7 p.m. tonight in Bloomington when Ohio State arrives. It appears the only two advantages the Hoosiers have in this game are their home field, which will be filled with students (it was a sell-out) and the possibility of their opponent underestimating the Hoosiers.

The later is not likely, unless the Ohio State coaching staff decided not to use film of last week's game in their game-planning session. I suspect the Buckeyes are ready for Ben Chappell and the pistol offense. But the Buckeyes have struggled defending spread offenses in the past. Two years ago in Columbus, Illinois' spread offense controlled the game and knocked off the No. 1 team in the country.

Chappell and his receivers must play well and put pressure on the Ohio State defense. Running back Darius Willis will have to produce again this week.

It is the OSU offense that will play the biggest role. Can defensive ends Greg Middleton and Jammie Kirlew put Buckeye QB Terrelle Pryor down on the turf? Or better yet, can they keep him in the pocket and take away his speed in the open field? Pryor is much more vulnerable throwing from the pocket, which is not his strength.

Ohio State is an 18-point favorite. I can't predict an IU upset, which likely would be the biggest win in school history. I suspect this game will mirror the 1996 game, one I witnessed. The Hoosiers stayed in the game for more than three quarters, but ultimately lost. The Buckeyes will win this game, but not by 18.

Score: 28-17

Prediction adjustments Part II: Hoosiers may go bowling

2009-09-20T10:18:00.002-04:00

After three weeks, the Hoosiers prospects for this season appear to be getting better. At 3-0, Indiana will face their toughest opponent so far: undefeated Michigan at the Big House.

The next two weeks don't appear promising. After heading to Ann Arbor, Mich., Ohio State comes to Bloomington. But after those two games, there may be another three or four wins out there. Dare I say it: Indiana may play in a bowl game this year. A far cry from my opinion heading into the season.

In week six, the Hoosiers play at Virginia, which I thought would be a sure loss. But Virginia has been awful so far this season. The Cavaliers are 0-3, including an opening week loss at home to William and Mary. After a bye this week, Virginia should lose at North Carolina and be 0-4 when they play IU. While I don't like the Hoosiers coming to town with Virginia still looking for that first win, the Cavs certainly are beatable.

The Hoosiers then get Illinois at home. Before the season began, experts thought the Illini may be a dark horse conference title contender, but after another beating by Missouri and an injury to quarterback Juice Williams, Illinois looks a lot more human.

Then Indiana travels to Evanston, Ill. to take on Northwestern, which lost to Syracuse on Saturday. I thought this was a sure loss as well, but the Wildcats have been anything but impressive since their blow-out of FCS school Townson.

The Bucket Game once again may hold the key to the post-season. Purdue will come to Bloomington and did not look good the last two weeks in losses at Oregon and to Northern Illinois.

That's four more potential wins, another 7-5 season, and almost surely a bowl bid.

None of those four games are locks, especially if the games against Michigan and Ohio State go badly. If IU can maintain some confidence after that difficult two weeks, wins will come. I think it's more likely IU wins three of these four games and finishes 6-6. Then a bowl game is not assured, but it would create some momentum for next year.

Could IU fans actually have expectations heading into the 2010 season?

Are the Hoosiers a defensive team?

2009-09-19T18:01:00.002-04:00

After by far the most impressive performance of the season, the Hoosiers are 3-0 and heading to Ann Arbor, Mich. to open Big Ten play.

Through three non-conference games, it is clear the IU defense has carried the load. But can we call the 2009 Hoosiers a defensive team? It's something that hasn't been said in a long time, if ever.

IU forced four turnovers in its win over Akron, all interceptions. They were stout against the run again, allowing 106 yards, with a big chunk coming with the game well in hand. It appeared throughout the game that except for one big mistake the IU defense was in control. Whenever Akron began mounting a drive, IU forced a turnover. Akron was short-handed at quarterback, but that shouldn't take away from the IU performance.

The big question heading to next week will be whether the Hoosiers' defense can stop the run against a quality Big Ten foe. Michigan is clearly much improved and has a lot of speed on offense. The IU defense will have problems with Tate Forcier and the spread offense. But if they can keep the run game under control, I think they may have a chance to keep the game close. Ben Chappell and the IU offense will have to play well and eliminate the turnovers.

The Hoosiers may need to play a near-perfect game, but I think IU's best game is enough to win at Michigan.

Overall, a dominating performance by the Hoosiers in the 38-21 win over Akron. It's exactly what IU needed with conference play about to begin.

Next week: At Michigan, noon Sept. 26.

Defense dominates third quarter

2009-09-19T17:16:00.002-04:00

IU dominated the third quarter with its defense. They forced two interceptions and turned one into a touchdown to take a 24-14 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

The IU offense had three possessions in the third and appeared to be adhering to the same pattern as the previous two games. The first drive resulted in a fumble and the third was a blocked field goal.

Akron still has not been able to mount much offense. They have rushed for 27 yards and passed for 134 through three quarters. The IU defense so far remains the game MVP.

IU takes lead back at end of half

2009-09-19T16:18:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers offense retook the lead late after an otherwise forgettable second quarter. A late touchdown gave IU a 17-14 lead over Akron.

The special teams big plays now are even. Akron blocked an IU punt and recovered in the end zone to go up 14-10. IU responded with a 12-play drive to retake the lead with about 30 seconds left.

Quarterback Ben Chappell lost his rhythm in the second quarter, throwing an interception and completing no passes until the final drive. But he had five completions on that last drive, including the touchdown pass to Mitchell Evans.

IU coach Bill Lynch threw in a new wrinkle by using Evans at quarterback in the first half. He played pretty well, completing two passes for 12 yards. He also has four catches for 43 yards.

Overall, the offense looked pretty good. The running game has been exceptional and has sustained most of the Hoosiers' drives. IU running backs are averaging 4.3 yards per carry, which is really impressive.

The defense also has largely clamped down on the Zips, with the exception of the one touchdown catch by Deryn Bowser. Akron had 100 total yards in the half and 49 came on Bowser's touchdown catch. The IU defense allowed only four yards rushing in the half.

The halftime adjustments once again will be crucial. The last two weeks, IU's opponents have been successful at controlling the Hoosier offense in the second half. The IU offense has to be prepared to score some more points to hang on.

In-game updates on Twitter.

Hoosiers lead 10-7 after first quarter

2009-09-19T15:10:00.000-04:00

The Hoosiers offense looked in sync in the first quarter, but a defensive lapse has made sure Akron remains in the game.

IU rushed for 47 yards and passed for 67 in the first quarter, but the big play came on the opening kickoff, when Ray Fisher ran it back 91 yards for a touchdown.

I've been impressed with the IU running game so far. The line appears to be opening the holes and the backs are hitting them. The Hoosiers also were 4-5 on third down, which is encouraging.

Unfortunately, one defensive lapse gave the Zips an easy touchdown. A missed tackle allowed Akron wide receiver Deryn Bowser to score a 49-yard touchdown. He is the only Akron receiver with a catch so far.

Indiana v. Akron: Pregame thoughts

2009-09-19T13:06:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers will be the underdog on the road against Akron today. The early line gave the Hoosiers 4 1/2 points.

According to my friend LaMond Pope, who covers the Hoosiers for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Akron has not allowed a a point in its last six quarters. Of course, four of those quarters came against Morgan State. The first two quarters came against Penn State, when the team was already down 31-0.

Statistically, Akron and Indiana are nearly identical so far this season. Akron has scored 24 points per game, Indiana 21. The Hoosiers allowed 16 points per game, Akron 15.5.

The Zips offense has been pretty balanced so far, with a few more passing yards per game. The team's defensive problem appears to be in the passing game. Akron has allowed 232.5 yards per game through the air. That's still better than IU, which has allowed 272 yards passing per game.

The IU defense will have to take advantage of a depleted Akron offense. Starting quarterback Chris Jacquemain will not play after being suspended indefinitely.

Game is on ESPNU or 100.1 FM radio in Fort Wayne.

Hoosiers move to 2-0

2009-09-12T12:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, that is not a typo. IU beat Western Michigan 23-19 in Bloomington to remain undefeated.

Western Michigan was about to take the lead late, however. The Hoosiers defense helped by committing three major penalties -- a late hite, pass interference and facemask -- that sustained the Broncos drive. But Greg Middleton forced and then recovered a fumble with Western Michigan about 10 yards away. IU could not run out the clock, thanks in part to a penalty, but took a safety and then held Western Michigan in the final seconds to secure the win.

I have to say I'm surprised at how the IU defense has stepped up late in the game two weeks in a row. It seems like they have to play better to compete on the Big Ten stage, but if they keep making big plays with the game on the line, they should be just fine.

The IU running game looked much better this week, accumulating 187 yards, including a 59 yard run for a touchdown by Demetrius McCray. Maybe more importantly, IU committed no turnovers.

Ben Chappell did not have his best game: 185 yards passing and no touchdowns, but he did enough to win. I'm still worried about the IU offense in the second half. It fell asleep again in the second half, scoring only 6 points.

The IU defense allowed only 22 yards rushing, which is impressive. The Hoosiers' defensive identity appears to be a bend-but-don't-break style. But the unit is able to get pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers.

Overall, a much better performance than last week.

Next up: At Akron, Sept. 19. The Hoosiers could head to Ann Arbor 3-0...

IU looks good on both sides of the ball

2009-09-12T12:31:00.003-04:00

The Hoosiers lead Western Michigan 10-0 early in the second quarter.

I've been impressed with how the IU offense has started the game again. There appears to be some semblance of a running game as well, which is promising. The question remains whether the team will remain consistent in the second half. Last week Eastern Kentucky made an adjustment at halftime and held the Hoosiers scoreless the rest of the game.

The touchdown drive that finished early in the second was impressive, including Ben Chappell's two sneaks to get into the end zone.

While we already knew the IU offense was in gear, I'm more impressed with the IU defense so far. Western Michigan has 21 total yards through the first quarter. QB Tim Hiller, who was expected to have a big game, hasn't done much of anything.

The big key so far is the Broncos lack of running game. As I write this, a rush for 6 yards by WMU gets them near 0 net yards on the ground for the game. There are about 11 minutes left in the half.

The Broncos were moving the ball a little better after the IU touchdown. The IU defense now must make an adjustment.

IU-Western Michigan early thoughts

2009-09-12T12:27:00.003-04:00

The big surprise heading into this game was that IU was the favorite. The Hoosiers were a 1-point favorite this morning.

Early in the first quarter, the IU offense seemed to be clicking, but stalled in the red zone. The running game was not able to get it done inside the 10 yard line and a fade in the corner of the end zone was not successful. IU still was able to salvage a field goal.

The defense held the supposedly potent Bronco offense in check on their first drive, thanks to a huge tackle for a loss. The Broncos have -9 yards rushing nearing the end of the quarter.

We'll see if that holds up...

Prediction adjustments following Week 1

2009-09-07T11:25:00.002-04:00

After watching the Hoosiers get an unconvincing win in Week 1 and seeing some actual game action, I want to make some adjustments to the season prediction.

I was correct in saying the IU-Eastern Kentucky game would be close. Looking ahead to Week 2 against Western Michigan, after predicting a loss at first, I think now the Hoosiers could get a win. The Broncos were routed by Michigan on Saturday, 31-7. Western Michigan's offense never got started and scored its only points late in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines offense ran up nearly 300 yards total offense in the first half.

That is encouraging for the Hoosiers, who had trouble stopping the EKU pistol offense last week. If the defense can contain the Broncos and the offense can get going, WMU may fall to 0-2 on Saturday.

Unfortunately, after watching Michigan, I don't think the Hoosiers are going to break the losing streak in the Big House this year. Michigan looked and played like the West Virginia teams coach Rich Rodriguez built. The Michigan offense looks as if it would overwhelm the Hoosiers defense.

Penn State smoked Akron on Saturday as well, making me more confident the Hoosiers should be favored to win their game there. And surprisingly, Virginia lost to William and Mary 26-14, creating more confidence that expected loss could turn to a win.

I still can't say the Hoosiers' record will improve over the 4-8 record I predicted. A win at Virginia would push the record to 5-7, but Purdue looked sharp in its win over Toledo, 52-31, leading me to wonder whether that win will come to end the season.

Week 1 inspired some confidence in the Hoosiers prospects this season, but it also issued some more challenges. Ultimately, it should not change the outcome: 4-8 is still the expectation.

Hoosiers win, but it's not pretty

2009-09-03T22:26:00.003-04:00

After scoring two touchdowns, a field goal and a safety in the first half, the Hoosiers are shut out in the second, yet still hold on to win by six, 19-13. The key play was a forced fumble on the goal line by the Hoosier defense that preserved the six-point lead.

But the Hoosier offense fell asleep in the second half, which will be a major problem this season if not fixed.

Ben Chappell had a decent day, throwing for 327 yards and a touchdown, but also had two interceptions. I was really impressed with the IU receivers, who surprised me with some of their catches and speed. Doss, Belcher and Turner appear able to run after the catch and aren't afraid to make a catch in front of a defensive back.

Something has to be done about the running game. The Hoosiers rushed for 73 yards, averaging 2.4 yards per carry. It caused real problems trying to run the clock out late in the game.

It was an ugly win, but as they say, it still counts. However, this performance will not beat any Big Ten team.

Next week: Western Michigan comes to Bloomington at noon Sept. 12.

Hoosiers still lead after third, 19-13

2009-09-03T21:35:00.003-04:00

EKU crept closer in the third quarter and exposed some weaknesses in the Hoosiers defense.

The defense allowed a 36-yard run on 3rd and 11 that eventually led to a field goal. The only good news is instead of touchdowns, the Hoosiers are holding the Colonels to field goals.

And while the EKU offense is improving in the second half, the IU offense is sputtering. Chappell only threw for about 25 yards, including one interception. The Hoosiers now have three turnovers in the game.

I hope IU's defenders aren't tiring, because they need to step up in the final quarter.

IU up by 9 at halftime

2009-09-03T20:49:00.003-04:00

Indiana leads Eastern Kentucky 19-10 at halftime. I'm starting to believe, just a little bit.

The IU offense is clicking. Maybe that's because EKU's defense is not a Big Ten calibre unit, but I'm starting to wonder if the Hoosiers could give a few more teams fits this season.

It's the speed on the outside that's impressive. Tandon Doss is the prime example. Doss has accounted for a huge chunk of the IU passing game with 7 catches and 117 yards receiving. Quarterback Ben Chappell has thrown for 214 yards.

The only bone I have to pick is it seems like IU is dominating this game on both sides of the ball, yet only leads by nine points. The Hoosiers gave EKU seven easy points on a blow coverage and then held them to a field goal after EKU returned a punt inside the 20 yard line.

The offense has to keep the foot on the pedal in the second half. Hopefully, the defense will tighten up as well.

The box score is available here.

First Quarter: IU leads

2009-09-03T19:35:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers lead Eastern Kentucky 9-7 after the first quarter.

The defense forcing a safety was a welcome change from last season, especially after the offense turned the ball over on its first series. Other than the one big mistake, the defense played pretty well. They only gave up 67 yards of total offense, all of it coming on one pass completion.

Offensively, the wide receivers have been impressive. There is some speed there, among Terrance Turner and Tandon Doss, and Damarlo Belcher made a heck of a catch on 3rd and long to keep a drive going. The running game has been at least servicable, but it's clear the Hoosiers' strength is going to be in the passing game. Chappell threw for 112 yards in the quarter.

Hoosiers still driving in EKU territory to start the second quarter.

Pre-game meal

2009-09-03T19:12:00.002-04:00

We are less than 45 minutes until kick-off of Indiana-Eastern Kentucky. Here is an interesting story to chew on while you wait for the game to start. Interesting trends for both teams are here.

I'll be providing commentary throughout the game here and on Twitter as the need warrants.

The 2009 season: The rule, not the exception

2009-08-30T15:50:00.002-04:00

When I asked my Facebook friends their thoughts on the upcoming IU football season, I set the over-under for wins at four. Not surprisingly, everyone took the under.

After looking at the play in camp, predictions for the rest of the conference, as well as the schedule, I'm going to predict a push: the Hoosiers will go 4-8.

IU beats Eastern Kentucky, loses to Western Michigan, and beats Akron in close games to start the season 2-1. The team heads to Michigan, a team still rebuilding, learning a new offense and now reeling from internal problems outlined in the Detroit Free-Press, and upsets the Wolverines 24-23. Michigan's players and coaches expect to steamroll the Hoosiers, only to find a team looking to end its decades long losing streak at Michigan Stadium.

The Hoosiers move to 3-1, and the word bowl is thrown around. Then Ohio State comes to town favored by at least 21 points and reminds the Hoosiers where they stand in the Big Ten power structure. The Buckeyes more than cover the spread and IU is 3-2. The loss lingers in Charlottesville, Va., as the Hoosiers lose to Virginia by 10.

The Hoosiers find themselves at .500 at Homecoming, when Illinois is in Bloomington. The Illini offense is too strong and IU loses its third in a row.

The slide continues with a close loss at Northwestern, followed by a convincing loss at Iowa. Wisconsin then comes to Bloomington with the Hoosiers at 3-6 and mauls them behind their huge offensive line and power running game.

The game at Penn State is a mismatch and IU leaves with another loss. The Hoosiers enter the Bucket game at 3-8 and looking for a new coach. Athletic Director Fred Glass decides before the game that Coach Bill Lynch's contract will not be renewed, but lets him and his staff finish the season.

In a both a tribute to Lynch and payback for last year's embarrassing loss in West Lafayette, the Hoosiers squeak by Purdue to regain the Old Oaken Bucket and finish at 4-8.

It's another sub-par season for Indiana, but really that is the rule in the last 20 years, not an exception. Once again we hope for next year and eagerly await basketball season.

Early Hoosier basketball thoughts

2009-08-28T18:12:00.002-04:00

The Hoosiers won't begin year two of the Tom Crean era for another six weeks, but I want to present my theme for the season.

One word: Finish.

The Hoosiers had a 10-point halftime lead against Lipscomb before losing by five. They were up as many as 20 in the second half against Michigan, before losing in overtime, and had a lead with less than four minutes to go at Penn State before being outscored 6-1 to end the game.

Is it clear yet? The Hoosiers had trouble putting teams away last season. They had trouble playing with a lead and in seemingly every situation demanding a clutch play, no IU player was to be found.

Crean will have nine non-freshmen on the team this year, which is a boat load of experience compared to what he had at the start of last season. I expect team growth, experience and improvement will go a long way toward fixing the clutch problem. The question is will it translate into more than six wins?

Just looking at the schedule, I could see 16 or 17 wins this season, maybe more if the ball bounces the right way. It will depend on the strength of the Big Ten conference this year and whether teams like Kentucky, which has a new coach, and Maryland, which is coming off a sub-par year, play at a level most fans expect.

Bottom line, I'm expecting the Hoosiers to take an adult stride forward this year, not a baby step. And I think that is what Crean is expecting as well.

Hall of Famer Bob Knight

2009-08-23T15:08:00.005-04:00

Bob Knight deserves better.

The news this weekend that Knight has been selected for the IU Athletics Hall of Fame is really a no-brainer. The fact that he isn't already a member is an insult. The man has been a member of the basketball Hall of Fame for 18 years.

Now the debate rages about whether Knight should return to Bloomington for the induction ceremonies in November. Athletic Director Fred Glass apparently sent a hand-written note to Knight requesting he attend and has enlisted Bob Hammel, one of Knight's friends, to beg for his attendance.

I like the olive branch approach by the university. And I want to say Knight will decide to let bygones be bygones, attend the ceremony and receive the appreciation of the Hoosier faithful. But I suspect he will decline.

Knight may not want to upstage the other members of his Hall class, as was one guess, which include former soccer coach Jerry Yeagley, who won six NCAA championships at IU. Knight also may not care about the recognition. If he wishes to repair his legacy, honoring him like the other Hall of Famers would be unfair.

Like it or not, Knight is a special case and should be honored in a special way. It should be done in Assembly Hall.

There's no question Knight did not always bring honor and distinction to Indiana University. We are not asking anyone to forget that. But I think it's also time to stop ignoring his accomplishments.

IU clearly wants to mend the fence, and may need to considering the men's basketball program's recent turmoil and rebuilding. Glass wants to gather as many fans as he can, including re-engaging those who left the program after Knight's departure.

If that's the case, why not honor Knight during a basketball game this season? During halftime of a game against Kentucky, Purdue or Ohio State, bring him out to the floor for a few minutes. A great number of former players would gladly speak on his behalf. It may even provide some extra motivation for this year's team in a tough game. Imagine the hype if ESPN had Knight call the game and then televised the halftime ceremony.

Knight deserves better than halftime at a football game. Honor him at the place he made famous and maybe he will return.

IU football season preview: The Big Ten schedule

2009-08-21T21:23:00.002-04:00

When a team enters the season with as many question marks as the Indiana Hoosiers will this season it's hard to predict a lot of wins. And when they play in a conference the caliber of the Big Ten, it's even harder to predict conference wins.

Sports Illustrated thinks the Hoosiers will go 0 for 8 in conference play this year. I'm not going to go that far. I think there are one or two potential wins out there. Here's my breakdown:

Forget about an upset of Ohio State on Oct. 3 in Bloomington. The Buckeyes may be overlooking the Hoosiers (they play Wisconsin the following week), but I don't think on a bad day they will lose.
If you think the Hoosiers will win at Penn State Nov. 14, I have a bridge to sell you. Harder than beating a team coached by Joe Paterno is beating one of his teams on the road. Happy Valley will be rocking and the Lions likely will be in the hunt for the Rose Bowl.
Homecoming will be fun, but the Hoosiers likely won't beat Illinois. Quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn are considered to be two of the best offensive players in the Big Ten. And the Hoosiers defense has trouble stopping teams. IU's defense will be able to rush the passer, but they are suspect at corner and their run defense is expected to be a problem again. This all adds up to a Hoosiers loss.
The Hoosiers will hang around at Iowa Oct. 31 and against Wisconsin Nov. 7, but lose. Both of these teams seem to have trouble beating the Hoosiers. But I'm not convinced the Hoosiers will be able to hang around and still convert it into a win.
Watch the Hoosiers play at Michigan Sept. 26. It has been more than 40 years since IU has won there. Michigan is better after last year's disaster season, but stranger things have happened, namely Wolverine Anthony Carter running for a touchdown with no time left to prevent a tie with the Hoosiers in 1979.
If IU was scheduled to play Northwestern at home, I would say they could win it. But since it's in Evanston, I'm going to vote 'No.' I still think teams with lots of offense like the Wildcats will give the Hoosier defense fits. The offense may end up in too big a hole to win.
The one winnable game is the last one: Nov. 21 against Purdue. The Boilermakers are rated at the bottom of the conference along with IU. I'm guessing the one conference win SI predicted for them is against IU. Since it is a rivalry game, you forget the records. The Old Oaken Bucket will be on the line and after last year's embarrassment, the Hoosiers may have a chip on their shoulder.

I wish I could put more than one conference win on the board, but I can't. The Hoosiers will beat Purdue for their only win and finish in the Big Ten basement at 1-7. But that is much better than 0-8.

Coming next: Picking the 2009 season.

Other parts of my IU football season preview: Must wins, Upset chances, and Coaches' signature wins, Part I and Part II.

IU football preview: Must wins

2009-08-15T16:40:00.002-04:00

For the purposes of this post, I am going to refer to a must-win as a game the Hoosiers accurately should be expected to get the victory. Given the football team's performance the last several years, there haven't been too many of these games. But here a a couple teams that at least should ensure IU doesn't suffer through an 0-12 season in 2009. I don't think either of these will be easy wins, however.

1. Vs. Eastern Kentucky, Sept. 3: A Division I-AA school. The Hoosiers should out-talent this team just because they have access to much better players than the smaller school in Richmond, Ky. It's also opening night in Bloomington, a rare Thursday prime-time date.

But don't think the Colonels will be a push-over. They are going for their third straight Ohio Valley Conference championship and 32nd consecutive winning season. (I wish IU had that problem.) Is this going to be a Michigan-Appalachian State upset? Probably not. The Hoosiers likely will win it, it may not be a 45-0 blow-out.

2. At Akron, Sept. 19: This is a rare road game where I think the Hoosiers have an advantage. The Zips, a member of the MAC, have the same problem IU does: good offense, bad defense. Last season the team had trouble stopping the run and pass at the same time. That should be a big help for the Hoosiers, who will rely on their offense, not their defense, to win games. Unfortunately, the Akron offense is no slouch either. But I think the Hoosiers' defense should do enough to get the victory.

Unfortunately, that's it. Out of 12 games, there are only two the Hoosiers should win and really must win. That doesn't bode well for the Rose Bowl predictions.

Coming next: The Big Ten schedule.

See also: Upset chances and football coach's signature wins, parts I and II.

IU football season preview-Upset chances

2009-08-09T18:48:00.003-04:00

Let's be honest. The Indiana Hoosiers football team is not expected to win too many games this year.

But while hoping for a Rose Bowl berth may be just a pipe dream, it is possible to hope for a grand upset. The win where the students storm the field and celebrate. The win where every break goes your way. The win where you catch the powerhouse team completely off guard.

It is a win that can save a coach's job, put a program on the national stage for a week, and raise your status among high-profile recruits. Illinois continues to grow thanks to such a win two years ago over Ohio State. Quarterback Juice Williams became a national name.

Michigan, on the other hand, still suffers from a similar upset. The 2007 loss to Appalachian State put the marque programs on notice that those early non-conference games can never be considered a laugher.

Is there a big upset on the schedule this season for the Hoosiers? Here are two games I think the stars could align perfectly for one:

1. At Michigan, Sept. 26

The Hoosiers haven't won in the Big House for as long as I can remember. Actually it has been 41 years -- the last win coming in 1967, the year of IU's only Rose Bowl appearance. But Michigan is not the powerhouse it has been over the last 10 years. Second-year coach Rich Rodriguez continues to rebuild the program after a terrible first season. Ideally, this game would have been played there last year, but the Hoosiers' pistol offense could cause some trouble for the Michigan defense. And if Michigan's offense plays at the anemic level it did last year, the Hoosiers may be able to scratch out a victory.

Make no mistake, an Indiana win at Michigan Stadium would be an upset, even if the Wolverines aren't a national championship contender this season.

2. Vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 7

Wisconsin has played down to Indiana's level in recent years. In 2001, Cam Cameron's offense-only team rolled over the Badgers by scoring 63 points. And in 2002, Gerry DiNardo's Hoosiers came from behind to win. It's reasonable to assume the Hoosiers, playing at home, could catch Wisconsin sleeping once again.

Either game would take a near-perfect game for the Hoosiers to come out on top. But it's a perfect game that we all desire to see to get a victory of this magnitude.

Coming next: 2009 must-win games

IU Signature wins Part II

2009-08-01T15:27:00.002-04:00

The second part of my picks for the signature wins of the last five Indiana football coaches begins with Gerry DiNardo.

DiNardo did not last long, coaching three seasons in Bloomington. He won three, two and three games in those years and only one conference game each season. Needless to say no one was surprised when he was fired.

His biggest win in Bloomington was not a Big Ten game. It was a 30-24 win at then No. 24 Oregon on Sept. 11, 2004. Pac 10 powerhouses like USC have trouble winning in Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. But for some reason, that year, the Hoosiers were able to take care of business.

Looking at the box score, the Hoosiers should have been overwhelmed. Oregon rolled up 495 total yards, including 317 yards passing. The Hoosiers managed only 198 total yards. But Oregon also had seven turnovers to IU's two. The Hoosiers were up 23-0 at halftime and hung on for the win in the second half.

The winning touchdown was a 98-yard kick-off return by Lance Bennett in the third quarter. The Hoosiers would win only one more game that season.

Terry Hoeppner

Hoeppner's effect on Hoosier football has been greater in death than his short coaching tenure. He showed confidence in his team, when no one else would. He wouldn't accept mediocrity from a team that had been mediocre or worse for longer than most could remember.

His signature game was a 31-28 win over then No. 13 Iowa on Oct. 14, 2006 in Bloomington. Hoeppner already had missed a few games to undergo surgery, but had returned a few weeks earlier to resume coaching.

This team had two young players leading it -- freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis and sophomore wide receiver James Hardy. Lewis threw for 255 yards and three touchdowns. Hardy had eight catches for 104 yards and three touchdowns. IU trailed 21-17 at halftime, but took the lead in the third quarter on a Hardy touchdown. After Iowa scored again to take a 28-24 lead, the Hoosiers scored the game-winner with less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter -- another Lewis-to-Hardy touchdown.

It was the biggest football upset by an IU team in nearly 20 years and the coming-out party for Lewis and Hardy. No one knows how good this team could have been if Hoeppner had been the coach in 2007.

Bill Lynch

It was Lynch who took over after Hoeppner's death and had the unfortunate pressure to bring Hoeppner's dream of a bowl berth to reality. "Play 13" was the slogan for the 2007 season. Lewis and Hardy were hitting their stride.

Lynch's career is not over yet, but his signature win was during that 2007 season. It made "Play 13" a reality: Indiana 27, Purdue 24; Nov. 17, 2007. As it turned out that season, IU needed seven wins to qualify for a bowl game. After getting its sixth win two weeks earlier against Ball State (which I witnessed) the Hoosiers had lost to Northwestern by a field goal.

The Purdue game was the final game of the year and the annual grudge match for the Old Oaken Bucket. The Boilermakers already had their seven wins and were looking for number eight and possibly a New Year's Day bowl game.

The Hoosiers had the lead at halftime, 17-3 and early in the third quarter took a 24-3 lead on a touchdown run by Lewis. But Purdue scored three unanswered touchdowns through the rest of the third quarter and most of the fourth to tie the game.

With about 3 minutes to go, the Hoosiers got the ball back and went on a 12-play, 45-yard drive to the Purdue 31 yard line. Austin Starr then nailed a 49-yard field goal to give the Hoosiers the win and a berth in the Insight Bowl.

Lynch fulfilled Hoeppner's first dream. It has yet to be seen whether he can build the program into a regular conference title contender.

Signature IU football wins

2009-08-01T14:13:00.004-04:00

As the Hoosiers begin to prepare for the upcoming football season, I am considering the great IU games of the recent past.

Now that you've stopped laughing, I decided to name one signature win for the last five Hoosier football coaches, beginning with Bill Mallory and ending with current coach Bill Lynch. The selection was not as hard as you might think in some cases. Picking the best win among a series of 3-9 seasons seemed hard at first, but with so few potential selections, it made the choice a lot easier.

Bill Mallory

Mallory likely is among the top two or three football coaches in IU history. He took the Hoosiers to six bowl games, winning two. He also had four seasons with seven or more wins during his 13-year career.

My selection for Mallory's signature win: the 1988 Liberty Bowl. The Hoosiers defeated South Carolina 34-10 and finished the year 8-3-1 and ranked No. 20 in the final Associated Press poll.

Indiana set a bowl record for total offense with 575 yards. Quarterback Dave Schnell threw for 378 yards and Big Ten MVP Anthony Thompson scored two touchdowns and ran for 140 yards. The Hoosier defense only allowed 153 yards. The win assured the Hoosier's highest ranking at the end of the season in Mallory's tenure.

Cam Cameron

Cameron is most noted for finding all-world quarterback Antwaan Randle El, who broke several school and NCAA offensive records. Unfortunately, Cameron won only 18 games during his six-year tenure and never appeared in a bowl game.

My pick for his signature win: Oct. 6, 2001. Indiana thumps Wisconsin 63-32.

Throughout his Hoosier coaching career, Cameron was an offensive coach. His teams could always put points on the board, but lacked defensive skill. This game probably was the height of Cameron's and Randle El's offensive brilliance. The Hoosiers scored 32 points in the first quarter. The game total of 63 was a school record for Big Ten games. It also was the most points scored against the Badgers since 1890.

The Hoosiers rushed for 449 total yards, including 280 from Levron Williams, who also scored six touchdowns. Randle El also threw for 182 yards and rushed for 102.

Cameron could not continue the momentum. The Hoosiers beat Purdue to win the Old Oaken Bucket that season, but finished with a 5-6 record.

What do you think? Leave a comment here.

Coming next: Gerry DiNardo, Terry Hoeppner and Bill Lynch.

The Perfect Game

2009-07-23T21:04:00.003-04:00

I'm watching Mark Buehrle's perfect game encore broadcast because I was working during the live showing. It's hard to distinguish this start from most of his other outings, at least after the first few innings.

For my non-Sox fan readers, Buehrle is not a power pitcher. He usually doesn't break 90 mph with his fastball. But he has pinpoint control and can force a lot of ground ball- and fly-outs.

His best was on full display this afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. Buehrle dealt 11 ground-ball outs and 10 fly-outs. No heap of strike-outs. That is a typical outing. Buehrle threw 116 pitches. He was working out of several 2-2 and 3-2 counts. And the 25th out of the game was one of the greatest catches ever, when DeWayne Wise robbed Gabe Kapler of a home run.

It was a great pitching performance, and a great defensive effort. I think that is what makes this perfect game, the 18th in MLB history, that much more impressive. It was a perfect game for the entire White Sox team.

A cool fan video of the final out is here.

Read this story NFL fans

2009-07-19T13:51:00.003-04:00

The NFL, and by extension other U.S. professional sports leagues, is looking to gain mammoth power over its players and vendors. And it could mean dramatic increases in ticket, T-shirt, and jersey prices for fans, lower salaries and possibly huge changes in the free agency rules.

Read this story by Lester Munson. It likely won't be decided for another year, but I have to believe it eventually will make it into the daily news cycle.

A case to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court pits the NFL against American Needle Corp., a company that made hats with NFL team logos on them. American Needle lost its league contract when the league gave Reebok exclusive rights to make NFL hats.

American Needle sued, arguing antitrust infractions, and now the Supreme Court is going to hear the case. The NFL, despite winning in the lower courts, wants a broad ruling over all antitrust issues. The league could be ruled a single entity, competing with other sports leagues, rather than 32 teams competing against each other.

A favorable ruling would mean antitrust judgement against the NFL would become nearly impossible. It could spell disaster for the NFL Players Association, which gained free-agency and many other concessions through antitrust rulings. Only if, say the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB colluded to set hat or T-shirt prices, could an antitrust case be filed.

It's easy to see why the league wants this. It is a chance to make lots more money, put the brakes on rising player salaries, likely its biggest expense. Munson argues the owners also could cut into the free-agency rules as well as limit coaches' and coordinators' salaries.

More control could be placed over TV broadcasts as well, meaning the NFL Network could become the sole provider of all regular- and/or post-season broadcasts. Anyone who doesn't get that station in their cable subscription would lose out.

This sounds to me like putting the old Bell phone monopoly, which was broken-up in the 1984, back together because it was simpler when everyone paid their phone bill to the same place.

Any NFL, MLB, NBA, or NHL fan will tell you the leagues do not act together. Teams in a league offer different products and chase the best player talent. Why did we cheer when the Bears traded for quarterback Jay Cutler? Because it was the Bears' front office that made that decision, not the NFL dictating it.

The NFL has been successful because it created a system where franchises in large and small markets could thrive. While it allows all 32 teams to be competitive, it does not force them to be competitive. That is left to each individual front office. Look how many years the Arizona Cardinals were mediocre or worse before advancing to the Super Bowl this year. That wasn't a league decision, it was the franchise operator's decision.

McDonald's and Burger King franchises may offer the same food, but each individual restaurant is unique. Does that mean McDonald's and Burger King should be allowed to control the price of hamburgers and french fries?

Based on Munson's piece, this sounds like a bad idea for the NFL and other pro-sports leagues. The U.S. thrives on fair competition and spends a lot of time pushing that idea around the world. A decision making the NFL essentially a legal monopoly is not going to produce a better brand of football.

It likely is going to produce a more expensive brand of football, at least for fans.

A tribute to Hall of Famer Rod Woodson

2009-07-16T19:39:00.004-04:00

Former Steeler Rod Woodson, a native of Fort Wayne, will be inducted into the pro football Hall of Fame this summer.

Woodson entered the league with the Steelers, where he was one of the greatest cornerbacks ever. He had 71 interceptions in his 17-year career, including 12 returned for touchdowns. And yet, when he returned to the Summit City to be honored, he did not speak much about football. He talked about how much the Fort Wayne community meant to him and how it would enter the hall with him.

The city of Fort Wayne will place signs at city entrances denoting Woodson's accomplishment. It is richly deserved, even though he played football for that other school before reaching the pro ranks. And of course, he would go into the Hall of Fame as a Steeler, if possible.

Here is a good Woodson highlight video.

World American football needs improvement

2009-07-10T16:21:00.004-04:00

The U.S. won the Junior World Championship of American Football easily ... too easily. It was so easy I thought I was looking at video game football stats.

The American team, a group of player age 19 and under, won its three games by a combined score of 174-3: they beat France 78-0; Mexico 55-0; and Canada 41-3 to win the gold medal.

I'm not sure the Americans broke a sweat during the three games. But it was defense that won it. The French had -31 yards rushing and only 7 net yards for the game. Through three games American opponents had a combined -67 rushing. That's hard to do, even in a video game.

The NFL is looking to expand beyond the U.S. borders and a world championship is one way to generate interest in other countries. But a beat-down by the home team is not going to generate much enthusiasm outside the U.S. It also shows how far behind in rest of the world is in the junior system. But it's not all that surprising. All of those other countries have other more important sports -- soccer and hockey, among others -- and have well-established junior programs.

Hopefully, the competition will be better in 2012.

The other good news is a couple IU recruits, offensive lineman Aaron Price and "athlete" Nick Zachery, made the team. Zachery was playing defense and had a 49-yard kick return against France and a sack against Mexico. He wasn't listed in the box score against Canada.

Price was among the offensive linemen used consistently. Hopefully both can translate the international success to Big Ten play.

Happy Fourth of July

2009-07-04T13:45:00.002-04:00

The U.S. celebrates its 233rd birthday today.

I'm enjoying it grilling and watching baseball (the White Sox-Royals game of course) -- two of the most American things a person can do.

Thanks to all those in the military who are ensuring we can enjoy another Fourth of July. God's speed for a quick return.

Will Mother Nature allow a lesser U.S. Open champion?

2009-06-21T10:07:00.009-04:00

It takes a measure of luck to win the U.S. Open, but this weekend the luck appears only sprinkled among a few players.

The weather has dominated the tournament and today is no different. The field will play round three today and likely start round four, which is expected to be completed Monday.

I don't mind playing golf in the rain. But I do mind when it seems to rain on the same players over and over, while sparing others. Ricky Barnes, a former U.S. Amateur champion who is more or less unknown as a pro golfer, is leading the tournament at 8-under par. He has not played one shot in the rain in three days. On Saturday he torched the softened course for a 5-under 65. The telecast of his early-morning round made it appear like a serene sunny day. Meanwhile, Tiger Woods and the so-called second wave of players played their second round in what generously could be called wet conditions. It didn't rain throughout Tiger's round, but it was a misty drizzle for several holes that eventually strengthened into rain.

I know the U.S.G.A. cannot predict the weather and decides the early round pairings well before the first stroke is played. But I just wonder whether a red flag should go up when the same group of players are benefiting from a soft course, while others continue to fight the conditions. It seems as though half the field has been eliminated without taking a shot.

Barnes even benefited again yesterday after his record-setting round. He was one of the few players that did not have to start his third round Saturday afternoon, when the course had been beat up by the players and the rain. He will start this afternoon, when conditions likely will have improved.

It's hard to find fault with how the tournament has been managed. Like I said, no one can predict a nasty bout of rain. But it seems this year's U.S. Open is a lesser test than it should be given the leaderboard.

This has nothing to do with Woods and other favorites being out of contention. I like the U.S. Open because the players have to make a good swing every time to score. Par is supposed to be a good score, maybe the winning score. Players shouldn't be able to attack every pin placement.

Seeing guys stick six irons, and in some cases fairway woods, 2-inches from every hole is not my idea of a major championship. That is reserved for the weekly PGA Tour events.

The Big Ten-Pac 10 Challenge

2009-06-13T17:14:00.005-04:00

I'm about to start preparing for the IU football season, when I come across this article on ESPN.com.

It was making the argument for conference challenges in college football, similar to the events staged in college basketball every year between the Big Ten and ACC. They are very successful and generate some buzz in what used to be a mostly boring pre-conference season.

ESPN writer Mark Schlabach proposed a Big Ten-Pac 10 football challenge, where 10 games would be staged. He designated Purdue as the Big Ten's odd team out, but scheduled the rest of the teams to play a fictitious Rose Bowl game of sorts.

Indiana was given USC in the inaugural series. This game is as unlikely as it is stupid. If the challenge were agreed to, USC would be the marquee team and demand a prime-time television audience. Also, coach Pete Carroll would want the game to improve his BCS standing, not hurt it. A likely blow-out of Indiana would not provide TV star power or BCS points.

If the series were established, I think it would have a make-up similar to its basketball counterpart. Teams with large followings would play each other, i.e. Indiana v. Duke and North Carolina v. Michigan State. The lesser teams in each conference still participate, but play teams on their level. Example: Northwestern v. Miami.

In a football challenge, USC most likely would play a Big Ten power, like Penn State or Ohio State, in the first year or two to interest the fans in the series. I would love to see the Hoosiers take on a team like Stanford. The game would generate some interest if played in Bloomington. Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh led the Indianapolis Colts to the AFC Championship game back in the mid-90s.

The rest of my Big Ten-Pac 10 challenge:

Oregon State-Northwestern -- There is a little history between these two. Northwestern beat Oregon State in 1964, but the Beavers still went to the Rose Bowl. This would be a good game against two conference contenders.
Michigan-Arizona -- Two teams on the rise and RichRod gets a good early benchmark for his team's development. It also could score some big points for the winner in the BCS polls, since both should be conference title contenders.
Wisconsin-Washington -- I don't know why this match-up is appealing. Wisconsin likes playing out west (they have scheduled Hawaii this season). This would save them a few thousand miles on a plane.
Penn State-USC-- This is the game everyone will want to see. Two big-time programs with big-time coaches. Can you imagine the white-out at Beaver Stadium?
Michigan State-California -- This game is perfect for these two teams. Both have a history of not living up to expectations. At least this time someone has to come through in a big game.
Ohio State-Oregon -- The Buckeyes get more practice defending against the spread offense, which will come in handy if they get another BCS berth. This game also could be an early top 10 match-up. Autzen Stadium will be rocking.
Minnesota-Washington State -- Like I indicated above, some of the games will be boring, and this one should be among them. Minnesota has shown improvement in recent years, but the Cougars have been just awful lately. The Big Ten can use the game to get some needed points for the series title.
Iowa-UCLA -- This is a coaches match-up, Rick Neuheisel versus Kirt Ferentz. Both teams will be ready to play, even if they don't have national championship talent. It would be a great game whether played in L.A. or Iowa City.
Illinois-Washington -- The Huskies haven't made much noise in the last few seasons, but if the game were played in Illinois, you know the Illini fans would be eager.

Overall, I like this idea. If gets some lesser-known teams, like Indiana, on national TV, which would help in recruiting. And it creates some quality non-conference games each year for the BCS contenders.

Just think of the scene in Bloomington if Indiana drew a ranked team. All the sudden, those pre-conference games designed to generate easy wins and cement a bowl bid don't seem to matter. I think IU fans would buy tickets to see a west coast team that was not part of the usual schedule.

And what if the Hoosiers pulled the upset? Well let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Turn off the hype machine please

2009-06-07T11:34:00.009-04:00

Two months into the baseball season, some people already are developing unrealistic expectations.

While running errands Saturday, I heard an ESPN radio announcer talking about how wonderful it would be if the New York Yankees and L.A. Dodgers played in the World Series this year. The two teams (as of Saturday morning) had the best records in each league (The Yankees later that day slipped a half-game behind the Red Sox in the AL East).

Part of the justification for such a match-up is Major League Baseball's two largest markets, as well two of its most popular teams, would meet in the league's premier event. The two teams have played each other 10 times in the fall classic, most recently in 1981.

The game only suffers with the hyping of these so-called "dream match-ups." Because while it draws lots of fans to the two teams as the regular and post seasons play out, it sends most of them away if, and most likely when, that match-up doesn't materialize. A lot can happen with 97 games remaining. No team has reached the meat of the pennant race yet.

How quickly we fail to learn from mistakes. Just look at the NBA Finals to see what happens when the hype machine runs in overdrive. As the Cleveland Cavaliers cruised through the early rounds of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs and the L.A. Lakers advanced in the Western Conference, we began hearing with increasing frequency how exciting the NBA Finals will be when the Lakers' Kobe Bryant takes on the Cavs' LeBron James.

Unfortunately, the Orlando Magic had different plans. They spanked the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, setting up a more forgettable NBA championship series. The Lakers hammered the Magic by 25 points in Game 1 and few signs that wouldn't continue in Game 2 today.

I don't think MLB benefits by pushing a Yankees-Dodgers World Series two months into the season. The sports media always is looking for season-defining themes, but in this case, they should be looking at the races (14 teams are within 3 1/2 games of first place and two more are within 4 1/2 games), not hoping for an end result.

What baseball really needs is a competitive World Series. While some favorite teams have returned to the World Series or won after long droughts, three of the last five have been sweeps and the other two were 4-games-to-1 victories. The last series to reach a seventh game was the Anaheim Angels' 2002 win over the San Fransisco Giants.

I suppose it is a natural baseball cycle that sometimes the World Series is the season after-thought instead of its climax. It has happened in other sports -- Remember the NFC dominance over the AFC in the Super Bowl from the mid-80s through the mid- to late 90s? -- and there likely is no cure, except to let the cycle play out.

Pushing faces or teams to artificially inflate interest is not a good bet. The odds are too high for a devastating loss.

A world competition similar to the WBC

2009-06-04T21:04:00.005-04:00

My comments promoting the World Baseball Classic are well-known on this blog. That is why I was intrigued by this story in the New York Times about the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, the world championship of a version of cricket.

Full disclosure: I know almost nothing about cricket, except that it is a cousin of baseball. But I have been mildly curious about it since my wife returned from India last year. Among her presents for me was a Mumbai Indians polo shirt. The Indians are one of the teams in the Indian Premier League, a professional cricket league that plays the Twenty20 version of the game.

It is controversial, because it does not last days and days like traditional cricket. Games last about three hours and fit better on television. Traditionalists, of course, don't like it.

Which brings me to the Twenty20 World Cup. The NYT story had a tone that reminded me a lot of attitude surrounding the WBC. Baseball purists complained about the mandatory pitch-counts, the mercy rule and other modifications made so the tournament could be staged in March. Yet Major League Baseball and others looking to grow the national pastime pushed for the world tournament to gain more exposure, even though it wasn't "pure" baseball.

I wonder if the same "I'm not sure this is a good idea" attitude surrounds these matches. The story indicated while Twenty20 cricket is growing in popularity, test nations, those that play the highest level of cricket, are not playing lots of these new streamlined matches. The story suggested that could affect the play in the World Cup.

It sounds somewhat like concerns around the U.S. team heading into the WBC. Not only did we not have the best players available to us, but we also were just beginning spring training. Our guys were not in game-playing shape and our quality of play was in serious question. Japan and Cuba on the other hand had more prepared players physically.

Ultimately, the WBC was a success, even though the U.S. did not win it. Just advancing to the final four was an achievement. And even though Japan has won both WBC events, I think the game grows when someone other than the U.S. is the best at our favorite sports. Americans like being the best and some competition for the crown makes us better.

The Twenty20 World Cup has the potential to do the same for cricket. Three of the participants are not test nations, which sounds to me like they could be potential expansion markets.

Would a Netherlands upset of India be as big a cricket upset as the Netherlands upsetting the Dominican Republic was a baseball upset? I don't know. But it certainly would draw some attention outside traditional cricket markets.

Hoosiers in the NCAA baseball tournament

2009-05-24T14:13:00.004-04:00

IU will find out tomorrow where they will play in the NCAA baseball tournament.

The selection show is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Monday on ESPN. The Hoosiers earned their first berth in the tourney since 1996 with a 13-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday that gave them the Big Ten tournament title.

The 16 regional sites will be announced Monday along with the field. The ultimate goal is to advance through the regional and super regional to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Big Ten Champs!

2009-05-23T22:03:00.004-04:00

If you didn't know about the IU baseball team before this weekend, you should be well aware of them now.

The Hoosiers thumped Minnesota 13-2 Saturday to win the Big Ten championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As the No. 3 seed, the Hoosiers had to win four games in four days, beating No. 1 seed Ohio State and No. 2 seed Minnesota twice after knocking off No. 6 seed Purdue.

IU outscored opponents 47-9 over the four games. It was a phenomenal offensive explosion. They scored at least 9, 12, 13, and 13 runs over the four-game stretch, respectively. Pitching also was impressive, allowing 1, 3, 3, and 3 runs respectively.

The NCAA tournament begins May 29. If the offensive explosion continues, you have to think IU could scare a lot of teams. And with two outstanding pitchers in Eric Arnett and Matt Bashore it is not unrealistic to expect a good showing.

The win is the second ever Big Ten title for IU, the other coming in 1996. As an IU fan, I have to say this win is satisfying, given all our suffering during the football and basketball seasons. It may not be the most popular sport on campus, but hopefully, IU baseball is gaining some fans tonight.

The best-kept secret on the Bloomington campus

2009-05-17T10:51:00.004-04:00

A sport other than football or basketball is yearning for attention from IU fans.

The IU baseball team is the third seed in the Big Ten tournament beginning Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio. While the overall record was not stellar, 28-25, the conference record was an impressive 16-7. The Hoosiers had won six in a row before losing the final game of the year yesterday to Michigan State.

The team batted .322 as a team this year, while opponents batted .289. Junior Pitcher Eric Arnett has been impressive, compiling an 11-1 record and 2.89 ERA in 12 appearances. He has 93 strike-outs in 94 innings pitched.

In Big Ten play, the entire IU pitching staff has been impressive. Arnett has a 7-0 record and 2.89 ERA. Pitcher Matt Bashore is 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in conference play, despite an overall record of 6-4 and a 3.87 ERA. Four IU pitchers have ERAs under 4 in Big Ten games.

The Hoosiers will open the Big Ten tournament against Purdue, the sixth seed in the double-elimination event. A win means a game against No. 2-seed Minnesota. All the games should be on Big Ten Network.

Last year, the team made a Cinderella run to the Big Ten semi-finals before losing to Purdue.

This program is on the rise and deserves a little more attention from the fans. IU baseball suffers from a season that begins in the winter, overlaps with basketball and ends after the students depart for summer vacation. The team plays in relative obscurity in a facility across the street from McNutt Quad.

A Big Ten title and NCAA tournament berth would be impressive for a team that has to leave town the first two months of the season to play games. Two of the Hoosiers' first 18 games were in Bloomington.

Here is a blog with game-by-game coverage of IU baseball.

Elite football AND basketball?

2009-04-30T18:35:00.002-04:00

The reaction to Kellen Lewis' dismissal from the Hoosier football team was not surprising. Most of my friends said they weren't expecting a good season with Lewis on the team. And to be honest I wasn't at all optimistic either.

But it led me to ask something:

Why can't Indiana University field top-tier football AND basketball teams?

It has happened. Florida held the Division I football and men's basketball titles in 2007. Ohio State of the Big Ten has built a contender in men's basketball to go along with the resurrected football program.

The IU football program doesn't have a stellar reputation. But it can be improved with a staff that is enthusiastic and good at recruiting. It also will require a little luck, like a win over a Top 10 team, as well as consistent improvement. I'm not talking about a Rose Bowl berth every year, but I am talking about hovering around .500 record or better every year.

A team that can win seven games every year at some point is going to get that big win (Ole Miss over Florida last year, or Illinois over Ohio State in 2007) and vaults them to national prominence.

Indiana University is capable of fielding that kind of team. It has the resources to do it, and I'm not talking about a new stadium. Michigan produced a quality football team for decades playing in the same bowl. I'm talking about know-how in the athletic department.

IU doesn't even have to give up its academic standards to produce a winner. Northwestern and USC proved that. That road has already been paved. The real question is why hasn't IU taken it over the last 10 years?

Do I expect IU to consistently produce a BCS and Final Four contender? No. But we can have winning teams. We can sell out Memorial Stadium. We can play in more than one bowl game a decade.

Am I making an unreasonable request?

No Kellen Lewis TD catches this year

2009-04-30T09:11:00.003-04:00

IU announced yesterday that former QB Kellen Lewis has been kicked off the football team.

Lewis had switched to wide receiver for the upcoming season, allowing Ben Chappell to take over at QB.

This obviously diminishes the Hoosiers' talent level, but another dismal season appeared imminent anyway.

Hoosiers did not fair well on draft day

2009-04-26T21:16:00.002-04:00

After a year where two Hoosiers were drafted in the second round of the NFL draft, IU had no players drafted this year.

Five players were on the board, including wide receiver Andrew Means, running back Marcus Thigpen and kicker Austin Starr.

This doesn't mean none of them will end up in the NFL, but it certainly is a lot tougher to make a team as an undrafted free agent.

By comparison, Ohio State had seven players drafted, Penn State had five. Northwestern and Minnesota also were shut out, but West Texas A&M had one player drafted: quarterback Keith Null, who was taken by the Rams in the sixth round. Null threw for nearly 5,100 yards and 48 touchdowns last season, averaging 392 yards per game.

What does this mean for the IU program? Probably not much. As was noted, some much better Big Ten programs had no players drafted. I have to think it doesn't help much for recruiting. Seeing that IU logo appear during the pre-draft process and during the ESPN draft telecast was exciting. I remember how excited I was because IU had a Pro Day in last year.

College football teams can win a lot of games without NFL-calibre talent. But I don't think it's a coincidence that the year IU goes 7-5 -- its first winning season in recent memory -- is the year a defensive back and wide receiver are taken high in the draft.

Are we going to continue seeing no cream and crimson draft picks?

I hope Bill Lynch knows what he's doing

2009-04-12T16:51:00.003-04:00

The IU football team completed its second spring scrimmage yesterday. Once again Ben Chappell was at quarterback and Kellen Lewis played wide receiver.

The coaches say Chappell has just as good a grasp of the spread offense as Lewis. Chappell threw for 111 yards and an interception yesterday, completing eight of 10 passes. But Lewis is the former second-team all Big Ten QB, who now is learning a new position.

In 2001, Antwaan Randle El switched from QB to receiver to open the season, the best chance for a bowl appearance in several years. Randle El also was a Heisman Trophy contender. The Hoosiers opened with a 35-14 thrashing by North Carolina State. Randle El had to move back to QB and the Hoosiers struggled through another losing season.

Neither Lewis nor Chappell played well last year, combining for 10 TDs and 11 interceptions passing in an injury-filled season. I suspect Lynch's strategy is to gain some more consistency at QB. My guess is Chappell will stand in the pocket a little longer and make more throws than Lewis, who tended to scramble when the rush closed in. That usually led to a good result -- Lewis was second on the team in rushing yards last year.

The question I ask is: If Lewis is your best all-around player, do you want to take the ball out of his hands? The '01 Hoosiers were much better with Randle El touching the ball on every play, which is why after that game against N.C. State he did not play receiver consistently again until after his college career was over.

Is Lewis that type of player? We will find out in August.

Bears got a long-term solution, not a quick fix

2009-04-03T17:02:00.009-04:00

I want the Bears to play better. I want them to score more points. But simply adding Quarterback Jay Cutler will not achieve those goals. He needs help. He needs better wide receivers. He needs better offensive linemen. He may even need an offensive system that suits him.

All things being equal, Cutler will not make the Bears significantly better than they were with Kyle Orton. Last season, running back Matt Forte led the Bears in catches with 63. Behind him was Tight End Greg Olsen with 54. The Broncos' leading pass catchers were wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal with 104 and 91, respectively.

The stat indicates a difference in philosophy. The Bears are willing to grind a team down with a strong running game and controlled passing and depend on their defense to win games. The Broncos played to outscore an opponent, which requires throwing the ball a lot and down field.

The Bears are not going to line Forte up as a wide receiver all that often. And Olsen isn't fast enough to beat a corner down field. Both indicate an expectation for short passes and long drives. That's not playing to Cutler's strength, his talent or his strong arm.

I think Orton understood his role and how to flourish in it. He knew he couldn't throw the ball 70 yards to hit Devin Hester on a fly pattern. But he was smart enough to know he could make the 15- and 20-yard over the middle. We don't know if Cutler will succeed in that role.

The Bears don't have the personnel to change their offense to suit Cutler's strengths. Now maybe in the future (but not until at least 2011) the Bears will have a high draft pick to get a receiver that allows for a vertical passing game.

The Cutler trade has made rebuilding a long-term project, not a quick fix. The problem is so many Bears fans are expecting results next season. I don't think they're coming this fall.

Cutler to Bears not the answer

2009-04-02T18:31:00.005-04:00

Bears fans are jumping for joy across the world. Next year, quarterback Jay Cutler will be running the offense. Clearly the Bears are expecting him to be the answer to an offense that has been downright awful at times over the past few years.

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm is tempered. I don't like that the Bears gave away two No. 1 picks (this year's and 2010), as well as this year's third round pick. Oh, and they also gave the Denver Broncos Kyle Orton.

The Bears may have a good quarterback, but they have few people for him to catch passes. Devin Hester was their leading receiver with 51 catches and three touchdowns. Is that an indictment of Orton? Maybe. But it also shows the Bears philosophy for its quarterback. It is to manage the game, not win it. Cutler played in an offense where the quarterback must win the game.

I think Cutler is going to be surprised at how many upgrades the Bears offense needs. Most important is offensive line. The Bears gave up 29 sacks last year, the Broncos 12. Hopefully Orlando Pace will help, if he is healthy.

The NFC North is not a free-wheeling pass-happy division like the AFC West. In November and December in the Midwest, a team has to run the ball when the snow is falling and wind is blowing.

Cutler had big stats, but it was because the Broncos didn't run the ball. He threw for 1,600 more yards than Orton last year, but he also had 150 more pass attempts. The Bears ran the ball about 50 more times than the Broncos last season.

The two players' passer ratings were not that different. Cutler threw for six more interceptions than Orton, including more picks than TDs in his last four games, when the Broncos were in the playoff hunt. Orton won three of his last four games, when the Bears were chasing a playoff spot.

My problem isn't Cutler, it's that the Bears will not have much a draft to build the rest of the team. This year's first round pick could have been used for an offensive lineman, a wide receiver or defensive back. And next year's first round pick could have been used to draft Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, or Sam Bradford, the likely three best QBs coming out of college next year.

This was a good trade for the Bears. I just don't think it's immediately going to turn the Bears into a playoff contender. There are just too many other problems I would have liked to see the team address. Orton was not the answer either, but he also was not the only question.

Reality Check

2009-03-22T12:45:00.005-04:00

It's easy to forget how lucky we are to live in the United States.

I was reminded once again today after I read this story in the New York Times.

Cricket officials in India are moving the Indian Premier League games out of the country because of security problems. With national elections upcoming, the government said it cannot spare military forces to secure cricket matches. And after the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November, the country is on high-alert.

Cricket in India is akin to football in the U.S. It is the national obsession. My wife saw it first hand when she visited India about a year ago. The season was about to start and the media hoard was in full swing. It was a national controversy when the teams brought cheerleaders to the pitch that did not adequately cover themselves. (They were dressed similar to American cheerleaders.)

Americans worry about security at sporting events. I have endured the pat-down to enter football games at Solider Field and Michigan Stadium. But can you imagine if President Bush last fall said all NFL games would be moved to Canada the first week of November because we needed to ensure voters were secure during the presidential election?

We all remember how important baseball and football became after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York. City residents under so much pressure from the mayhem and clean-up were able to cheer for the Mets, Yankees, Jets or Giants and forget about the chaos for a few hours.

Moving the cricket matches off shore is not fair to the millions of cricket fans in India. The actions, or potential actions, of a few, cause the many to suffer.

It gave me a moment of pause. Times may not be ideal now, but we're still pretty lucky here.

Handicapping the WBC Final 4

2009-03-21T20:55:00.004-04:00

Tonight and Sunday are the World Baseball Classic semi-finals. Korea and Venezuela mix it up first, followed by the U.S. and Japan Sunday night. Both games are at Dodger Stadium.

ESPN's experts made their picks today. Four of six selected Japan.

Roy Oswalt will pitch for the U.S. against Daisuke Matsuzaka. Oswalt is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA during the classic. Dice-K has been almost unhittable so far. He is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, including a win over Cuba.

It will be a tall order for the U.S. to knock Dice-K around. And there is no real pitch count in the semis. Up to 100 pitches are allowed now. I think Japan wins, but it's a close game. Oswalt will pitch well. Maybe a 3-2 or 4-2 final.

The WBC finals on Monday will be all Asia. Korea should get past Venezuela. As the U.S. proved, the Venezuelan bullpen is suspect.

In the finals, Japan v. Korea should be a great game. The teams split their four previous meetings in the WBC, but I think this time Korea wins it. Both teams play small ball, but Korea also has some power. A timely home run will be the difference.

Fixing the World Baseball Classic

2009-03-20T18:29:00.004-04:00

Even T.J., a self-proclaimed detractor, now has offered a WBC fix. Suddenly, with the U.S. still in contention and the games unusually exciting, it's worth saving.

I have argued from the beginning of the tournament that the WBC was a good idea. The U.S. needs to embrace the game on a world stage. It is not an exhibition, but the ultimate determinant of superiority.

T.J. is right, though. The WBC suffers because of one big problem: the date. America is not in a baseball mood in March. We are longing for our office pools and 12-hour TV-watching sessions to find out who wins the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

If you play it in March, it interrupts Spring Training and the players are out of shape. If you play it in November, after the World Series, the players are burnt out.

Jayson Stark of ESPN offered an interesting idea in this column. He said start the tournament with a qualifying round after the regular season or a some other time, but play the semi-finals and finals during All-Star weekend. An neat idea that definitely would put the best baseball players in the world on the biggest stage.

I agree with T.J. that single-elimination is not the way to determine a baseball champion, which is the flaw in Stark's plan. Playing the finals during All-Star week would not allow more than a few games. But I propose a best of three series in the finals. That would make the tournament similar to the NCAA baseball tournament. A seven-game series in either round would take too long, especially if played in the middle of the baseball season.

I'm not sure expanding the tournament is the way to go just yet. We saw how well the Netherlands played, but look how bad South Africa played (They were outscored 22-4). Panama didn't score a run in the whole tournament. China's pro baseball league plays 21 games a year. Let the game take hold in the fringe countries first, like Australia, where the fans think the players should be using flat bats and a pitcher is a bowler.

We're building something here. It's going to take a while before it's right. The Super Bowl took a couple years to catch on, as did the Ryder Cup and even the Olympics. It just takes a little time.

The grit lesson

2009-03-13T17:18:00.004-04:00

IU men's basketball played with grit and determination this season, despite losing 25 of 31 games. We applauded and celebrated that grit even though it comes with a tablespoon of humility mixed with horror and anger.

The best part about getting knocked down is getting up – because we can get up. The U.S. basketball gold medal at last year’s Olympics was that much sweeter because we hadn’t won it since 2000. The U.S. returning in 1987 to win the America’s Cup after its first-ever loss four years earlier was that much more epic.

We’ve heard it all year. IU basketball will be back. And once we are “back” it will be all that much sweeter knowing how low we sank and the hardship we had to endure.

The IU players are better because of this season, as hard as it is to believe. Hoosier fans are better fans as well. Because we know how low a program can actually go, we can appreciate all the more the nine Final Fours and five national championships. We can better understand the sustained excellence coach Bob Knight brought to Bloomington.

We were lucky. We were spoiled. We won’t be spoiled again.

Note: Interesting piece about what Tom Crean said to his team after the Big Ten Tournament loss Thursday.

An ending, mercifully

2009-03-12T18:55:00.006-04:00

The IU men's basketball season ended with a thud Thursday. A 66-51 loss to Penn State.

Most fans thought the team would be down this year. Maybe the ESPN commentators were right today when they said during the broadcast that the end of the season couldn't come soon enough. They said sometimes it's time to put the ball away and go home.

Maybe they were right. The Hoosiers were out-manned and out-played all season.

Today's game resembled much of the Big Ten season. Despite fighting hard, the players couldn't get it done. Penn State was on the ropes. After nearly blowing the Hoosiers out early on, IU began to come back. The Hoosiers came back from being down 26-8 and with 6 minutes left and had the ball trailing 29-20. IU was on a 12-3 run, another bucket would have really put some pressure on Penn State with six minutes to go in the half.

Instead, an offensive foul was called. The ball went back to Penn State, who promptly scored a lay-up. IU never got within 10 points again. Season over. Six wins, 25 losses.

Throughout the second half, just like the entire season, ESPN's commentators filled time by saying the IU cavalry is on the way. That next year truly is coming.

As IU fans, we hope it does. Because we must never speak of the 2008-09 season again.

WBC reading list

2009-03-08T12:01:00.002-04:00

Here are a couple stories on the World Baseball Classic worth reading:

An ESPN.com story has more info on the atmosphere in Toronto and the pressure on the U.S. players in the 9th inning.
A story from the New York Times on how Mexico doesn't consider baseball much of a priority.
A column by the Chicago Tribune's Rick Morrissey on the U.S. and other countries' attitudes about the tournament.

The U.S. team plays Venezuela at 8 p.m. tonight. A win sends either team in the semi-final round in Miami.

WBC opener or MLB playoffs?

2009-03-07T17:05:00.003-05:00

You think nobody cares about the World Baseball Classic? How about 42,000 people standing and cheering with two outs and a runner on second in the 9th inning as Canada tried to tie the game against the U.S.

The game seemed like it should have happened in October. Two rivals. The U.S. trying to avenge a loss to Canada in the 2006 WBC first round. A great symbol of the tension: Adam Dunn with his head down, then putting his first two fingers to his neck to take his pulse in the 9th.

It was a well-played game, swinging back and forth throughout. Ultimately, the U.S. was able to hang on, winning 6-5 in Toronto, Canada.

The U.S. trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, before scoring three runs on two homers to take lead. The winning run came in the sixth on a two-run shot by Dunn.

The WBC couldn't have started better for the U.S. team. And it hopefully attracted some new fans.

Note: The U.S. victory was the second great game of the day. The Netherlands defeated the heavily-favored Dominican Republic 3-2 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

WBC debate

2009-03-07T14:17:00.002-05:00

My friend T.J. insists the World Baseball Classic is not worth the trouble. He says he'll be disgusted if Cubs players Ted Lilly and Geovanny Soto get hurt in the international tournament and that the team paying the bills deserves the ultimate loyalty.

Did anyone at Manchester United tell David Beckham it would be a bad idea if he played for England in soccer's World Cup? I suspect it would be a national disaster if he chose to sit out the tournament because his employer didn't like the idea.

When Canada won the Olympic hockey gold medal in 2002, was that not a symbol of national pride? Our northern neighbors define their sporting selves by excellence in hockey and won the Olympics for the first time in 50 years. Consider this from Wikipedia:

"In Canada, the CBC said that 10.6 million watched the game. Veteran CBC Sports commentator Bob Cole called in the dying seconds of the game: 'Now, after 50 years, it's time for Canada to stand up and cheer! STAND UP AND CHEER EVERYBODY! THE OLYMPICS SALT LAKE CITY 2002 MEN'S ICE HOCKEY GOLD MEDAL: CANADA!'"

The game was among the most-watched sports shows in CBC history. You think Canadians only care about NHL success? They care about international hockey, too.

It is OK to play for national pride, T.J. It should be encouraged.

Hit the nail on the head

2009-03-06T20:49:00.005-05:00

ESPN's Jayson Stark made the same point in this column that I did here yesterday.

Stark argues there is pressure on the U.S. baseball team to play well in the World Baseball Classic this time for the health of the competition. The WBC is widely accepted outside the U.S., but here in the birthplace of baseball it's an afterthought.

That has to change, not because of TV ratings and financial projections, but because baseball is the American game.

"Three years ago, we sat in ballparks where other WBC countries were playing baseball and were blown away by the energy crackling out of every seat in the park. It felt like the Final Four had just merged with the World Cup. The baseball was awesome. The atmosphere was even better," Stark wrote.

American fans have to get past the notion that winning a World Series is the greatest achievement in baseball. Maybe it is bigger than a WBC championship now. But in a few years, when the WBC grows, that title will be bigger. Is there anyone in the world that thinks winning the MLS Cup or European Champions League title is bigger than winning the World Cup?

This is not a glorified All-Star game designed to make money for MLB. It's an international tournament. A chance to prove who has the best baseball players. When was the last time the U.S. could accurately say that? The 2000 Olympics, the last time a U.S. team won the gold medal. We also could say it in 1988, when we sent amateur players.

The country got behind the Olympic basketball team last summer in its quest to win the gold medal and prove U.S. basketball really was the best in the world. In my mind this is the same idea. We have to prove we're the best once again, this time in baseball.

There has to be someone out there willing to get behind that banner.

International enthusiasm for the national pastime

2009-03-05T17:20:00.008-05:00

While home trying to get over my nasty cold, I was able to watch a replay of the first 2009 World Baseball Classic game between China and Japan.

The game was played in Tokyo, Japan, one of the most baseball-obsessed countries in the world. It was a sell-out and the fans were vocal, banging drums and blowing horns to cheer for their team.

Japan won 4-0 over an inexperienced Chinese team. I was impressed with the enthusiasm for world baseball. Here in America, it seems throughout the off-season, players have been going out of their way to avoid playing in the event, whether it be for team USA or any other country.

I know money is the ultimate deciding factor in those decisions. But I don't think it's such a bad idea that pro athletes play for their country. The Olympics remains the premier international competition, now with professionals playing team sports like basketball and hockey. It also seems to work for soccer's World Cup and golf's Ryder Cup.

I think a competition like this can grow to become a great event, even if there are maximum pitch-counts and other odd rules, like beginning in the 13th inning, each team bats with runners on first and second.

Americans still call baseball the national pastime, but the national sport really is football. The WBC is another reminder about why we love baseball. Just watching the game today, headache and all, I remembered why I enjoy watching games in the summer. The pace ... the anticipation of the pitch ... the fact that I could check three other channels between plays.

Baseball is never going to become a world game like soccer, but I enjoyed seeing other countries excited about it. That is one thing you don't see with football.

By the way, Japan played very well, fitting of a defending world champion. Even China, a country that has had professional baseball for seven years (that's 126 less than America), and one win in international competition, showed signs that it could develop into a competitive team.

Team USA opens WBC play on Saturday against Canada in Toronto. Let's hope the Asian enthusiasm for the event rubs off in North America.

So close ... again

2009-03-03T21:06:00.010-05:00

I thought the Hoosiers played their best game of the season Saturday in a loss to Penn State. It turned out they played their best game Tuesday against Michigan State. Unfortunately they still lost.

I was just itching to write here that Indiana beat No. 8 Michigan State. No one would have believed me. I would have said read this twice and let it sink in.

When the Hoosiers closed to within two with 3:31 to go, I turned the computer on. It seemed IU was getting a few breaks. They caught Michigan State on an off night a day after a win at Illinois. The Spartans seemed sluggish and could never deliver the knock-out punch. And after MSU Coach Tom Izzo got a technical foul with less than 8 minutes to go, the Hoosiers went on a tear.

I logged into Blogger.com when the Spartans missed a layup and another jump shot with less than 2 minutes to go.

But the Hoosiers once again could not close. After the gap narrowed to two points on a Verdell Jones free throw, IU did not score another field goal and only managed two points the remainder of the game. An MSU rebound and dunk with 29 seconds left finally put the game out of reach.

This game was no let-down after the big step forward Saturday. This time it was the final 5 minutes without a field goal that ended it. If they had one more good possession, this team may have gained the biggest win of the year.

But once again, I write about a valiant effort that resulted in a loss.

That clicking noise

2009-03-01T14:10:00.007-05:00

Did you hear that?

Something may have clicked Saturday night during IU's loss at Penn State. These young Hoosiers may finally be starting to get it.

The team played probably its best game of the season on the road. They never trailed by more than five points and led the game with about two minutes to go. Unfortunately, an inability to make some clutch shots down the stretch and untimely turnovers caused what has been a familiar result this season. This time the season's major problems surfaced late in the game.

Verdell Jones played much better than I had seen in recent weeks and I think Tom Pritchard would have had a better game if he hadn't been saddled with three fouls in the first half. The team only committed 11 turnovers, much better than its season average.

I've read and watched several commentators talk about coaches waiting for that light to turn on with a young team and the players begin to play with confidence. I saw it Saturday. Late in the game, the Hoosiers didn't wilt, they remained aggressive. Unfortunately the shots just didn't fall.

I wrote Friday there was a scenario where the Hoosiers could win a few games in the Big Ten tournament. Last night's game proves this team could be dangerous. If they meet a team with nothing to play for, who knows what could happen.

This game is something the Hoosiers can build upon. I just hope Tuesday's game versus Michigan State and Sunday's regular season finale at Wisconsin don't destroy the foundation. The Hoosiers are playing with more confidence, but certainly that confidence is shaky.

It could happen?

2009-02-27T16:45:00.009-05:00

Tomorrow's game could be a Big Ten tournament preview for the Hoosiers.

In the first round, the sixth seed plays the 11th seed.

Penn State is tied with Wisconsin for sixth place in the Big Ten standings. IU is in last place, three games behind Iowa and the Hoosiers' recent play, as well as it's remaining schedule, doesn't inspire too much hope for moving out of the basement.

The Hoosiers played a marginally good game against Penn State in Bloomington, losing by 10. The tournament will be played in Indianapolis, which should be a home game.

The 11 seed is 3-11 all-time in the tournament, but it has advanced to the tournament final before. In 1999, Illinois finished last and made it to the final, where the team lost to Michigan State. Last year, as the 10 seed, Illinois reached the final again, losing to Wisconsin.

If the Hoosiers advance, they would play the No. 3 seed, which today is Purdue. It would be a rivalry game and after the embarrassing loss in the regular season, the Hoosiers may be due for a change.

In the semi-finals, the No. 2, 7 or 10 seeds would be waiting. In order, they are Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. The Hoosiers already beat Iowa this year and played well against Illinois and Minnesota. That's potentially three wins in three days.

In the final, No. 1 seed Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan or Northwestern. This game presents much more of a challenge. The favorite, Michigan State, will not take the Hoosiers lightly and plays all facets of the game better than IU.

This is really an unlikely scenario. IU has won only one game since Dec. 10. And in many of them they appeared over-matched. But suppose it could happen. Can you imagine the scene at Conseco Fieldhouse on March 15 if IU, a team that couldn't win 10 games in the regular season, was playing for a berth in the NCAA tournament?

A 41-year drought ends

2009-02-25T20:28:00.006-05:00

In what must be a season of several dubious firsts, the Hoosiers lost to Northwestern for the first time ever at Assembly Hall. Yes I said ever.

The Hoosiers lost by 22 points, 75-53, on their home floor to a team that had not won in Bloomington since 1968.

Whenever the Hoosiers gained a little momentum, it was quickly snuffed out by a Northwestern three-pointer or conventional basket, followed by an IU turnover or missed shot. It's a problem they haven't solved all year.

A 20-4 run in the second half was the knock-out blow.

This game was probably the last best chance for a win before the Big Ten tournament. The Hoosiers are at Penn State Saturday and then host Michigan State March 3. The regular season ends at Wisconsin March 8.

More Mt. Rushmore

2009-02-23T20:19:00.004-05:00

I made my picks for the IU football Mt. Rushmore last week. Today the ESPN.com blogger made his.

They were similar: Anthony Thompson, Antwaan Randle El, Bill Mallory, but instead of Trent Green, ESPN picked George Taliaferro, who starred for the Hoosiers in the mid-40s. Taliaferro also became the first black player drafted into the NFL in 1948.

It's a valid pick. I suppose he may be a better pick than Green. Both were great players.

My friend T.J. agreed with Thompson, Taliafero and Mallory, but suggested John Pont, Terry Hoeppner, Lou Saban, Bo McMillin, and Lee Corso.

I don't think Hoeppner coached long enough. He also never really proved he could win. Corso is more known for his TV work than his tenure coaching IU, even if he did win a bowl game in 1979.

When I asked the question on facebook, my friend Drew said Thompson, Harry Gonso, Randle El and Pete Stoyanovich. Another friend said Ogunleye, Green, Thompson and Randle El.

It was an interesting debate, even though the choices were less than stellar.

The IU Football Mt. Rushmore

2009-02-20T16:53:00.010-05:00

ESPN.com has an interesting series going asking fans to name the four best sports figures from each state -- their Mt. Rushmore.

One of my favorite blogs, the ESPN.com Big Ten football blog, is asking for the Mt. Rushmore of every school. At the time of this post, an IU football Mt. Rushmore hasn't been named. It got me thinking who are the four more important IU football players or coaches. My picks:

Anthony Thompson: The best running back in Hoosier history, he graduated with the NCAA Division I record for career touchdowns. Was runner-up in the Heisman voting in 1989. Now a member of the college football hall of fame.

Antwaan Randle El: One of the greatest running-throwing quarterbacks in NCAA history with more than 11,000 career yards in total offense. He threw for nearly 7,500 career passing yards and ran for 3,895 yards in his career. He now is a wide receiver in the NFL.

Trent Green: Probably IU's best-ever pocket passer. He is in the top five in career and single-season passing yards and completions. Also played several years in the NFL.

Bill Mallory: He had a losing record during his 12 years as head football coach, but Mallory still has the school record for career wins. He led the team to six bowl games, winning two. Top to bottom, his tenure may have been the best-ever stretch of consistent excellence.

Others I considered: James Hardy, one of the best wide receivers in IU history, holds the school record for career receiving yards and touchdowns; and Adewale Ogunleye, among the best defensive linemen in IU history and career sack leader. He now plays for the Chicago Bears.

The Horizon

2009-02-15T15:13:00.003-05:00

Big Ten basketball teams have to feel lucky.

I saw some flashes of how good this Indiana team could be today in their loss to Illinois.

Yes. I said this Indiana team. The team that averages more than 18 turnovers a game. The team that only six field goals in the first half today.

There was a 4-minute stretch in the second half where it seemed to click. The Hoosiers closed to within six points in what was a brilliant display. It didn't come from a barrage of three-pointers. It came from good play. They made good passes, took good shots and played tough defense. Their play matched the effort.

Illinois was stunned by the punch and looked out of sync. I saw the Hoosier players playing confidently, like they felt like they could win ... until Chester Frazier drilled a three-pointer to put the Illini up by nine, ending the threat. The Hoosiers reverted back to their old selves and stumbled to a 13-point loss.

While the team looked like it was intimidated, out-played and out-talented in the first half, the Hoosiers played like they belonged on the floor a good portion of the second.

Coach Tom Crean is building a team from scratch this season. But I wonder how good they could be, or could have been, if the Hoosiers could put together an entire game similar to those 4 minutes.

Maybe some of those close losses (Michigan, at Iowa, Minnesota) would have gone the other way. Confidence feeds on itself. Maybe the Hoosiers begin to believe a little more. Maybe they manage 10, 12 or 15 wins. Maybe they get a home win over an elite Big Ten team like Michigan State, Wisconsin or Purdue.

I don't want to be the coach that runs into the buzz saw if the Hoosiers figure it out this season.