Hoosiers in control of Big Ten fate

Sunday's game at Michigan State wasn't a must-win. \nIU lost a 16-point lead, the game and sole possession of first place in the Big Ten. \nTonight's game at Illinois is a must-win. \nIU can't afford anything else if it wants to stabilize chances for its first Big Ten title since 1993. The eternally optimistic Hoosiers have accepted that. Whether they come through on the plan will unfold at 7 tonight in Champaign's Assembly Hall when No. 25 IU and No. 15 Illinois tangle for the second time this season. IU routed the Fighting Illini 88-57 in the first meeting Jan. 26 behind a school, and Big Ten-record, 17 three pointers. \nTonight presents a totally different layout. IU (18-9, 10-4 Big Ten) has gone 3-3 over its last six league games after storming to a 7-1 start and let its stranglehold on the Big Ten champion slip away. Illinois (21-7, 9-5) has surged to fourth place in the league, lived up to pre-season hype and opened the possibility that it could tie for its second consecutive conference crown. \nA rowdy senior night crowd in Champaign and a healthy Illini squad will only add to the hurdle in front of IU. But, per usual, the Hoosiers aren't worried. They're determined.\n"We\'re still in first place," junior guard Kyle Hornsby said. "It's not over. We\'re still playing for the Big Ten championship."\nHornsby was one of the Illini killers in the first meeting, hitting five three pointers. Fellow backcourt mates Tom Coverdale and Dane Fife combined to hit 10 threes, as IU stretched and embarrassed the Illini defense. Since then, coach Bill Self has fixed that problem, as evidenced in Illinois' 56-41 win at Northwestern Saturday. In that game, the Wildcats missed all 17 of their three-point attempts. \nThe Illini defense allows opponents to shoot just 33 percent from the three-point line, fourth in the Big Ten. Since the loss at IU, the Illini have allowed just 5.6 three pointers per game and opponents have shot just 30 percent from the three-point arc. \n"(Illinois) had their hands in our faces," Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said. "We did have some open looks that we missed, but when it's that dismal, you have to give Illinois credit."\nThe improved defense has led to six consecutive wins -- five straight in the Big Ten -- and helped the Illini put consecutive losses to IU, Ohio State and Michigan State behind them. But in the final home game of the season and a surprise crack at a Big Ten crown, it's expected the Illini will remember all 17 of IU's three pointers. \n"Going into the last week of the season, I don't know if (the standings) could be any more crowded," Self said. "We're excited and looking forward to (tonight)."\nDavis said he thinks the affect of IU's thumping of Illinois is "overrated." The schedule, he said, is not. For the second time of the Big Ten season, IU will play two games in three days. The first time -- a win Jan. 31 against Purdue and a loss Feb. 2 at Minnesota -- IU blew an 11-point halftime lead and allowed Minnesota to score 51 second-half points, the most the Hoosiers have given up in any half this season. \nDavis said he isn't pleased with the scheduling that slowed IU to a 7-5 pre-conference record, and he isn't happy now. IU returned from East Lansing, Mich., Sunday night, practiced Monday, then boarded a bus to Champaign later that day. The quick turnaround permitted IU time for only a Monday practice and a walk-through at Illinois this morning. \nThe date for tonight's game was left open on the schedule, with ESPN having the option to pick it up for national coverage. ESPN did, and the game is tonight rather than tomorrow night, when it would have been if given regional coverage. \nMaking the turnaround task that much harder is the level of opponents IU has had to play.\n"Here we are competing for a Big Ten championship and TV is involved," Davis said. There's no way we can be at full strength. We definitely won't be fresh. From the standpoint of emotion, our guys are extremely down."\nShould IU's weariness reflect its play, the logjam in the Big Ten will continue to build. There is the outside chance that six teams -- IU, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State and Minnesota -- could tie for the championship. That would leave a league champion out of a first-round bye in the Big Ten Tournament, which begins March 7 in Indianapolis. \nIU could eliminate Illinois from the running tonight, and No. 18 Ohio State could put the heat on IU and eliminate Michigan State when the Buckeyes welcome the Spartans tonight. An IU win would put the Hoosiers in a good spot, with their final game Saturday at home against Northwestern. \n"We have a tough week with Illinois and not a lot of rest in between, but it's basketball season and our guys should be ready," Davis said. "Our whole team is fighting. We're still in first place. We control our own destiny"