Team hurt by Jeffries' ankle

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Jared Jeffries' ankle is tender. And it's a tender topic. \nIU's sophomore forward began the Big Ten season on a tear, averaging 18.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game prior to injuring the ankle before the Wisconsin loss, which he sat out. \nSince the injury, Jeffries has stumbled, literally and figuratively. He's averaged seven points and five rebounds per game in the four games, of which No. 25 IU (18-10, 10-5 Big Ten) has lost two. \nSince being injured, he hasn't scored more than 11 points (11 of 34 shooting), has reached double-figures in rebounds only once and has played more than 30 minutes only once. \nTuesday, in IU's 70-62 loss at Illinois, Jeffries sputtered again. He scored three points and collected four rebounds. He took only six shots and hit just one in 29 minutes. All that after IU coach Mike Davis said Monday that Illinois didn't have anyone who could match up with the 6-foot-10 Jeffries. \nIllinois 6-10 forward Brian Cook did. \n"They stopped him," Davis said. "Jared Jeffries played well to have a hurt ankle. There's no way I can keep putting him in this situation."\nDavis will have to if IU wants to ensure itself with at least a share of the Big Ten title Saturday when IU meets Northwestern in the regular season finale. And he'll have to play him if IU wants to make a run in the Big Ten Tournament, which begins March 7. Davis has already said IU is a "below average" team without Jeffries. \nAfter Tuesday, he had followers. \n"I heard (Davis), and it gave me a lot of motivation and had me pumped up all week to guard him," Cook said. "It was more fun because I knew if you took him out of (the game), they're a pretty average team."\nDavis said Jeffries still isn't at 100 percent, and the Hoosiers know it. Illinois coach Bill Self agreed, but Illini senior guard Cory Bradford smiled and shook his head in disbelief after hearing the diagnosis. \nIn his absence, Jeffries' supporting cast, which features four players averaging more than seven points per game, hasn't consistently pulled through. \nIt did against Ohio State and Michigan, when junior Jeff Newton averaged 16.5 points per game, but Tuesday, IU committed 17 turnovers and got too far behind to get over the top. \n"When your best player's not full speed, it makes it a little tougher," junior guard Kyle Hornsby said. "Everybody's got to chip in, and it looks like we have to do a little bit better job." \nBig (Ten) mess\nWhat began as a two-team race for the Big Ten crown between IU and Ohio State has ended in a six-team battle in the season's final games. \nIU, Illinois, Ohio State -- the Buckeyes lost at home to Michigan State Tuesday -- and Wisconsin can all clinch at least a share of the crown with wins in their regular-season finales. Wisconsin welcomes Michigan tonight, Ohio State travels to Michigan Saturday, IU plays host to Northwestern Saturday and Illinois travels to Minnesota Sunday. \nShould IU, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinois all lose, and Michigan State and Minnesota win, there would be a six-way tie for the Big Ten title. \nIf IU, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Illinos all win, IU would share the title but earn just a four seed in the Big Ten Tournament, where they would match up with either Minnesota or Michigan State.\nIf the same scenario unfolds, the tiebreaker leaves Wisconsin with the No. 1 seed.