Hoosiers win quarterfinal game, end Badgers' tourney hopes

CHICAGO -- Bring it on.\nThat was the message interim head coach Mike Davis sent to Illinois after IU beat Wisconsin 64-52 in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament.\n"I want to play the best team in the tournament," Davis said. "I want to play Illinois, because I feel we're playing the best basketball we've played all season."\nHis players are ready for the challenge as well.\n"We respect Illinois, but we're in the United Center. If the 1996 Bulls walked out with Jordan, Rodman and Pippen we'd go at them," freshman guard A.J. Moye said. "As long as your jersey doesn't say 'Indiana' we're coming at you hard."\nThe Hoosiers will face Illinois at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the United Center in Chicago.\nWisconsin is known for its tenacious defense, but IU's defense stole the show. Wisconsin made only 37 percent of its shots and didn't score a field goal in the first nine minutes of the second half.\n"At the half, Coach Davis stressed defense to us," junior Kirk Haston said. "He wanted us to take Wisconsin out of their offense. And once we started to click offensively, they were forced to take quick shots."\nOn the strength of their defense, the Hoosiers opened up the second half with a 17-2 run that built IU's lead to 11 points and lasted nearly ten minutes. Sophomore forward Jeffrey Newton played a critical role during the run, scoring six points, grabbing three rebounds and blocking two shots in 10 minutes. Newton finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.\nSophomore guard Kyle Hornsby did not play against Wisconsin. He sprained his right ankle one week ago. Earlier in the week Davis said Hornsby would start, but his condition has been downgraded to day-to-day.\n"Newton really stepped up in Hornsby's absence," Haston said. "He made some huge blocks and played well."\nHaston led all scorers with 19 points. Three other Hoosiers reached double-figures, including Newton, freshman forward Jared Jeffries with 14 points and sophomore guard Tom Coverdale with 10 points.\n"We just want to earn some respect," Haston said. "A lot of people had us as underdogs even though we beat this team by 30 just (10 days) ago. Hopefully we'll get at least one vote in the Top 25 coach's poll"