Chances blown in loss

Before the season starts, IU's coaches scout their first four opponents. This year, Coach Gerry DiNardo circled the UConn and Kentucky games as 'big' since they promised to be closely contested. \nThe Hoosiers already lost to UConn, and Saturday, IU's offense couldn't capitalize on two first quarter possessions starting near the 50-yard line and saw a tight 13-10 halftime deficit fall apart in the third quarter into a 34-17 Kentucky run away in front of 34,829 fans at Memorial Stadium.\n"We went into this week saying this was a big game, a big rivalry and an important game," DiNardo said. "We put a lot into it. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves as coaches and on the players. I think we played a little bit better than we did at Connecticut, and I would say that is the good news."\nThe Hoosiers outgained Kentucky 446 to 352 yards in total offense but could only find the end zone twice. In the first half, they moved the ball but couldn't finish. In the third quarter, IU couldn't move the ball period as it went three and out three times.\n"It's on us to come out in the second half and perform and put points on the board," junior quarterback Matt LoVecchio said. "If we don't score points, we can't win the game. We had a great game plan coming in. Our coaches put us into position to exceed. It's on the offense to do what they're coached and execute."\nIU did not perform in critical situations, DiNardo said. The Hoosiers were 4 of 16 on the afternoon. And their two drives that started near the 50-yard line in the first quarter ended with LoVecchio incompletions.\nFollowing IU's missed opportunities, senior quarterback Jared Lorenzen and the Wildcat offense got down to business moving 87 yards in 10 plays capped by a 29-yard touchdown strike to senior Derek Abney on a post pattern to put UK up 7-0.\nIU responded with perhaps its best drive of the day as the Hoosiers drove 76 yards to the Wildcat three. But IU's red zone offense couldn't produce and settled for a 21-yard field goal by junior Bryan Robertson. \nThe Hoosiers struck again with 2:51 remaining in the second quarter. Facing third and nine from the Hoosier 37, LoVecchio found freshman BenJarvus Green-Ellis on a screen pass and the shifty running back took it 63 yards down the left sideline to give IU its first and only lead at 10-7.\n"We thought (the screen) would work," Green-Ellis said. "It just came a point in the game where we threw the screen and it worked because (Kentucky) came up the field and I just ran as fast as I could to the end zone."\nThe Hoosiers held the lead for a grand total of 21 seconds as Lorenzen utilized a free play when IU jumped offsides to go deep. His lofty floater down the left sideline found senior Chris Bernard when two IU defenders got turned around. And 51 yards later the Wildcats led 13-10 after a bad snap on the extra point kept IU's deficit at three going into halftime.\nThe Wildcats carried over their momentum and never looked back in the third quarter. Kentucky outscored IU 14-0 during the third frame as IU's offense went three and out every possession.\nWith the Wildcats leading 20-10 and driving, it appeared that IU's defense would force UK to kick a field goal as UK was penalized for offensive pass interference on third down.\nBut instead of accepting the penalty and forcing UK to face third and goal from the 22, DiNardo declined the penalty and Kentucky went for it and scored on sophomore Draak Davis' one yard plunge to extend UK's lead to 27-10.\nDiNardo said he thought the ball was spotted on the three yard line instead of the one.\n"If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't put the ball at the one-yard line," DiNardo said. "Once I realized it was on the goal line, I tried to change it and I couldn't. Fourth-and-three, I thought they would try to kick a field goal."\nIU's second and final touchdown came with 4:21 left as senior Brian Lewis scored from one yard out. Lewis eclipsed the century mark for the first time this season with 17 carries for 116 yards.\nUK added a late score for the final margin of 34-17.\nJunior wide receiver Courtney Roby said he doesn't know the answer for the offense's unproductivity. \n"Honestly I don't know what's missing," Roby said. "We've just got to score points. Coach DiNardo's always emphasizing scoring in the red zone, and we didn't do it. It's very frustrating."\nNow IU will look ahead to No. 3 Michigan, who lost this past weekend to No. 22 Oregon.\n"We're kind of down, but this game's over," Green-Ellis said. "You just have to forget about. There's nothing we can do about it. We lost."\n-- Contact staff writer John Rodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.