Hoosiers aim for revenge against No. 9 Badgers tonight

The IU women's basketball team reviewed game video of themselves after practice Tuesday instead of examining the Wisconsin squad on tape.\nCoach Kathi Bennett said she would rather expend her energy worrying about her own team than fretting about the Badgers.\nBennett has plenty of concern for the Hoosiers (8-10, 2-5 Big Ten), who have dropped their last five games and whose supply of confidence continues to hover near empty heading into tonight's rematch with the No. 9 Badgers (16-2, 7-1 Big Ten) at Assembly Hall.\nThe Hoosiers have the Big Ten's worst scoring offense, with 56.9 points per game, and this week, IU has focused on improving rebounding, transition defense and their ever-inconsistent point production. \n"We play good basketball for seven, eight minutes, sometimes even nine- to 10-minute stretches, but we lose our concentration or our way," said Bennett, whose Hoosiers play at 7 p.m. "I feel if we can become more consistent, I think that's going to help us a great deal."\nIU showed little consistency against the Badgers in their last meeting, a 74-54 loss in Madison, Wis. The Hoosiers limited Wisconsin All-American forward Jessie Stomski to two first-half points but didn't remain competitive after halftime. \nThe Badgers led by as many as 30 points after a 29-7 run and shot 51 percent for the game, while holding IU to 35 percent accuracy.\n"The first time we didn't play together," junior Jill Hartman said. "Everyone was trying to do their own thing. We need to work on a defensive plan, and we need to play together."\nBennett's comments reflected Hartman's thoughts after Sunday's 68-55 loss to Michigan. Bennett said her players stopped believing in each other and squandered their toughness. The defeat zapped the Hoosiers of all remaining self-assurance, she said.\nHartman attributed the team's downward slide to the team playing as individuals because players lost hope in each other during the losing streak. \n"When we got down and lost a couple games, we started doubting ourselves and started questioning each other," Hartman said. "We have to look for ways to come together and play together."\nDespite IU's struggles, Wisconsin coach Jane Albright said she expects a challenge.\n"I believe Kathi's team is right on the verge of breaking out of -- I'm not sure if she's figured out what exactly it is," Albright said. "On film, they're doing a lot of nice things. They haven't been able to close out games. They're certainly much better than their record indicates." \nThe Hoosiers have home turf on their side. The Badgers have struggled at Assembly Hall, going 1-20 all-time and losing 12 consecutive games there. IU shocked the then-No. 20 Badgers in overtime in their last encounter in Bloomington. The Hoosiers shot 46 percent, as point guard Heather Cassady contributed 21 points.\nThe Badgers stumbled in their last game, losing 92-85 to No. 23 Minnesota in front of the largest crowd in Big Ten women's basketball history (17,142). Guard Tamara Moore, Stomski and forward Kristi Seeger combined for 52 points, as Wisconsin shot 47 percent and Minnesota notched 59 percent.\n"It shows that they can be beaten," Hartman said. "That can give us some confidence. They'll be hungry, wanting to take a game out on us. We have some confidence after beating them last year at home."\n\nHalftime festivities\nSpecial Olympic athletes will play a basketball game and demonstrate skills during halftime of tonight's game. The 1996 state-champion Cutters will scrimmage at one end of the court, while the Indiana Hoopsters and Bloomington Raptors will participate in a skills competition. \nSpecial Olympics Indiana and Spirit of Sport sponsor the event. Admission is free with a student ID.