Hoosiers use outside shots to earn win

Kyle Hornsby's season might depend on Mike Davis' fingers. \nThey're crossed.\nThat's how Davis will spend this season, hoping Hornsby can stay healthy and shoot the ball the way he did in IU's exhibition opener Sunday against Athletes in Action. \n"I'll just cross my fingers that Hornsby doesn't get hurt," Davis said after IU's 105-59 drilling of AIA. "He makes my offense look good. He can create some havoc."\nThe 6'5" junior did just that Sunday, hitting four of seven three-pointers, another from two-point range, scoring 14 points. Hornsby sent IU to halftime with a 30-point lead by draining back-to-back three-pointers in the final two minutes. All four of his three-point bombs came in the first half.\n"I didn't even hit a shot in the second half," Hornsby joked. "They really stressed with (senior) Dane (Fife) and I: if you're open, shoot it, and that's what I did. The worst thing that can happen is I miss a few, they take me out, put me back in a few minutes later and I start all over again."\nHornsby didn't leave the floor much, playing 28 minutes, second only to junior guard Tom Coverdale's 30. Coverdale, Hornsby and Fife spearheaded IU's three-guard attack, a system Davis said he "definitely" plans to use all season, should Hornsby stay healthy. Hence, the crossed fingers. At times, Davis employed a three-guard set that included three potential point guards -- Coverdale, Fife and freshman Donald Perry. \nInjuries have kept Hornsby from practicing sometimes, Davis said, leaving the offense muddled. That wasn't the case Sunday. IU shot 67 percent from the floor on the game and hit 11 of 19 three-pointers. Five different Hoosiers hit from the outside and four hit at least two three-pointers. \nAfter AIA closed to within 14 points midway through the first half, the Hoosiers sank three three-pointers in four trips down the floor, pushing their lead back to 22. \nThe outside explosion isn't new to IU. Last season, the Hoosiers shot 36 percent (eighth in the Big Ten) from three-point range, but hit at least seven three-pointers on seven different occasions. The outside barrage is expected to continue.\n"(Outside shooting) is definitely going to keep teams honest," Fife said. "We just have to be consistent every game. We've got some shooters." \nAnd they're not all guards. Senior forward Jarrad Odle and junior forward Jeff Newton consistently stepped outside the lane and connected Sunday. Odle missed just one shot in eight attempts and Newton was eight of 12. The outside threat opened IU's inside game and spelled the end of AIA. Freshman walk-on Ryan Tapak finished off AIA and the three-point clinic by sinking back-to-back three-pointers in the game's final four minutes. \nThe Hoosiers have adopted a shooter's mentality and it showed Sunday.\n"Fife and Hornsby have the green light," Davis said. "If you're open, shoot it, and if you miss, please don't drop your head like it's the end of the world. When you have guys that can shoot the basketball like they can shoot the basketball, why worry about it"