Senior proves tough against Big Ten field

Senior Rahman Smiley has excelled against Big Ten competition during his career. \nHe did it once again this weekend at the Big Ten Singles Championships, advancing to the quarterfinals along with teammate Tommy Bagnato.\nIn addition to his successful weekend, Smiley, 23, from Union, NJ is one of only 11 Hoosiers ever to post double-digits in Big Ten singles after posting a 10-2 record last year in conference play. He needs just two Big Ten singles victories in 2002 to break into IU's top 10 for career conference wins.\n"I think there's more at stake (in Big Ten competition)," Smiley said. "Our goal is to win the conference championship, and we need those conference wins."\nCoach Ken Hydinger has a different theory.\n"The more Rahman plays, the better he gets," he said. "Milan's (Rakvica) the same type of player. They're both guys that are a little bit high strung at times, a little bit edgy. The more matches they get, then they calm down. It's an energy they bring to the match that can be good when it's channeled. \n"He (Smiley) could excel against anybody. But our Big Ten season is towards the end of the season when he's played more and more. And that's when he's played better."\nDoubles partner and freshman Ryan Recht says playing with Smiley makes his job much easier. \n"He's got one of the biggest serves around," Recht said. "It's nice being at the net because when he serves, I get easy, high floaters to put away."\nSenior teammate Rakvica said Smiley has earned the respect of the team.\n"He's a great player, definitely," Rakvica said. "He pulls the team together. He's a good leader. He sets a good example. People respect the guy. He's a big guy (6'4", 200 pounds)."\nHydinger agrees.\n"One thing a leader has to do is stand up and say 'this is right and this is wrong," Hydinger said. "There's a lot of different ways to do that. A lot of times guys on a team in a peer group don't want to do that. It's uncomfortable for them to break out in that situation. He's willing to do that." \nSmiley plans on playing professional tennis after he graduates in December of 2002. The journalism and Afro-American studies double major plans to use his degree in the sports broadcasting field. \n"My experience at Indiana has been amazing," Smiley said. "Hopefully it'll get better if we win the conference this year"