SHOWDOWN for the CROWN

Not many people -- experts, coaches, players -- thought a late-February battle between Ohio State and IU could settle the Big Ten title. \nA lot of those people -- those who picked Illinois and Iowa to win the conference -- were wrong. \nBut when the dust settles tonight at Assembly Hall, either the No. 19 Buckeyes or the No. 23 Hoosiers will be in sole possession of first place and prime position to claim the Big Ten title. \nThe first-place clash, set for 7 p.m., is the second meeting of the season between the two teams, which were tied for first place Jan. 19 when Ohio State won 73-67 in Columbus. \nSince then, both teams have maintained consistency, endured a handful of speed bumps and set themselves up for tonight. IU (17-8, 9-3 Big Ten) fought back from losses at Minnesota and at home to Wisconsin to beat Michigan Sunday. Ohio State (18-5, 9-3) edged Iowa Saturday after losing back-to-back road games at Wisconsin and Michigan State. Tonight's game is the fourth consecutive road game for OSU, which is 6-0 in Columbus. \n"Had we lost at Iowa, maybe we'd be going into Bloomington with our tails between our legs," Ohio State coach Jim O'Brien said. "If you don't win games, confidence becomes an issue. Winning at Iowa stopped the bleeding."\nThe winner of tonight's tangle will have the upper hand in the Big Ten's final 10 days, but after tonight OSU has two home games left -- against Purdue and Michigan State -- and a road trip to Michigan. IU must travel to Michigan State and Illinois before finishing the regular season against Northwestern. \nThe schedule like it is, the Hoosiers are aware that a second home loss and third consecutive loss to OSU in Assembly Hall would leave them struggling for air. \n"We have four games left, and all four are going to be really tough for us," IU coach Mike Davis said. "We control our own destiny. Everything is going to pan out these next couple days."\nIt will, but OSU and IU being there to do the panning has caught people off-guard, including those teams behind both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers in the Big Ten race. \n"Indiana and Ohio State were going to be good no matter what, but they've played at a level that's been a pleasant surprise," Illinois coach Bill Self said.\nThe history-steeped programs with six national championships, 16 Final Four appearances and 32 Big Ten crowns between them have returned to the national spotlight after first-round NCAA Tournament losses last season. \nThis season marks the first since 1992-1993 IU has been in first place in the Big Ten this late in the season. IU hasn't won a Big Ten title since 1993, and Ohio State hit a mid-1990s lull after dominating the league in the early portion of the decade. Since O'Brien's arrival, the Buckeyes have turned the program in the right direction, finishing in the top three in the last three seasons. \nBuckeye senior guards Boban Savovic and Brian Brown, who combined for 32 points in OSU's win over IU in January, have been through a one-win conference season, then helped OSU to the Final Four in 1999. \nIU has experienced similar problems since 1993, finishing better than third only once. IU seniors Jarrad Odle and Dane Fife haven't finished better than third in the Big Ten in their careers. \nAs a result of both resurgences, crowds in Columbus and Bloomington have helped the teams combine to go 11-1 at home in the conference season. IU lost to Wisconsin Feb. 13 and hasn't lost two Big Ten games at home since 1999, when Ohio State and Michigan State both win in Assembly Hall. \nThe possibility of a third consecutive win in Bloomington is something O'Brien and Davis are excited about, but they admit they haven't paid a great deal of attention to the hype surrounding the game. \nDavis said Monday he hadn't been on campus since returning home from Michigan, and O'Brien said he was "holed up" in his home and hadn't seen his players since Saturday's game. \n"I'm thrilled," O'Brien said. "I think this is going to be an unbelievable environment. Two teams with a lot on the line. You couldn't ask for more. We know it isn't going to be easy."\nDavis and the Hoosiers are just as ready. \n"We're fighting for a Big Ten championship," Fife said. "This is a very special season for us"