Defense steps up, offense well-rounded

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Before Sunday the Hoosiers had at least four players score in double figures in each of their last three games. \nIU only had three players crack 10 points Sunday against Michigan, but with Kyle Hornsby going for a career-high 17 points, Jeff Newton tying a career-high with 17 points and Jarrad Odle setting a Big Ten career-high with 17 points, the Hoosiers did just fine with only three players in double figures.\n"That's the key for us -- different people stepped up," senior guard Dane Fife said. "Newton was a big surprise today, and that's how we need Newton to play all the time. Hornsby had the hot hand, so we had to give him the ball."\nWith Jared Jeffries held to only 18 minutes, the Hoosiers knew they were going to have to play well offensively. IU coach Mike Davis said Sunday's performance wasn't as good as when IU buried Illinois 88-57 Jan. 26, but the Hoosiers were able to control the pace of the game.\nIU knew it was not up against a superior defensive team Sunday, and the Hoosiers were able to pick Michigan apart to the tune of 54.5 shooting percentage from the field.\n"We knew against this team that if we executed things were going to be pretty easy for us," Odle said. "We came down and ran the plays that we were supposed to run and filled the spots that we were supposed to fill. It just worked out for us."\nSunday was the sixth time Newton was in double figures but the first occasion since he had 10 against Penn State Jan. 5. Newton helped spark the offense Sunday with his three blocks that led to some easy scores. Davis said it was Newton's best game as a Hoosier.\n"We don't put any pressure on our offensive game," Newton said. "We know our offensive game will come along. If we get stops and run in transition, then we'll be fine."\nHornsby was the most effective player on the floor Sunday, missing only once from the field out of seven attempts. He was a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. Amaker said Hornsby's shooting was relentless.\n"I don't know if he missed all game," Amaker said. "It didn't seem like it."\nMichigan was not getting such good shots offensively. LaVell Blanchard was just 3 of 13 from the field and had just eight points, almost seven below his season average. Avery Queen was held scoreless in 25 minutes of action and was 0 of 4 from the field, with all four misses coming from three-point range.\nChris Young, who had a game-high 18 points, said the Hoosiers' offense was putting more pressure on Michigan offense.\n"It makes us have to go down and get a good shot every time. You have to go down and have to have a good shot," Young said. "If you don't, they will."\nHornsby was helped by the post presence of Odle and Newton. Combined, Odle and Newton were 14 of 23 from the floor and had 11 rebounds while stretching the Wolverine defense.\n"We're one of the smallest teams in the Big Ten," Michigan guard Leon Jones said. "They just have a lot of big guys catching the ball. That's what they really did against us."\nAfter a scoreless performance against Wisconsin ended a string of three straight games in double figures, Hornsby came out strong Sunday. He had 11 straight points for the Hoosiers to help them put the game out of reach.\nDavis said he never lost confidence in Hornsby.\n"Hornsby can shoot. Sometimes he may go 0 for 4 or 2 for 10 or 8 for 10," Davis said. "He came in and worked extremely hard yesterday. (Sunday) I went out to the shootaround. He was really focused. I called his number, and he knocked them down."\nA big difference between Michigan and IU was the presence of outside shooting. After 26 of a school-record 32 three-point attempts in a blowout loss at Purdue last Wednesday, the Wolverines hit just 4-of-16 three pointers Sunday. And that was after going 0 for 7 in the first half.\nWhile Michigan still looks for shooting and some offensive balance, the Hoosiers continue to attack teams from different angles. Before Sunday, IU had a different leading scorer in three straight games.\nYesterday, the Hoosiers had three leading scorers.\n"Newton played the best game he's played since he's been at Indiana. (Hornsby's) my guy. I love him," Davis said. "We have guys that can shoot the basketball"