Hoosiers have clean-slate for Big Tens

New game, "new" season, same old opponents. The Hoosiers will have a chance to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years if they are able to defeat four Big Ten conference opponents, starting with the Wisconsin Badgers. IU will face Wisconsin in the opening game of the Big Ten Tournament at 3 p.m. today.\nThe Hoosiers come into the game with an 11-16 overall record and 4-12 record in Big Ten contests. While the Hoosiers' anemic .250 winning percentage leaves a lot to be desired, their opponents have had an extremely similar run in the regular season, finishing with a 10-16 overall record and a identical 4-12 conference record. \nDuring the regular season, the Hoosiers traded victories with the Badgers, with Wisconsin taking the most recent contest 66-62.\n"We split with them during the year and feel like this is a game that we are going to need to play well to win," sophomore Cyndi Valentin said. "They really hurt us inside last time we played them and we need to make sure we take away some of those easy looks."\nThe Badgers are led offensively by sophomore Ashley Josephson who averages 12.7 points per game. But Wisconsin will have to play without two of their starters as junior point guard Stephanie Rich and sophomore forward Kjersten Bakke recently suffered injuries. Prior to the injury, Rich ranked as the team's second leading scorer with a 10.3 ppg average.\nJunior Jenny DeMuth and Valentin's play has led to recognition of both the Big Ten conference and media as both players earned All-Big Ten accolades. DeMuth was a second team selection by the media and earned third team accolades from conference coaches. \n"Jenny is having a remarkable season and deserves all the honors she is getting," Indiana head coach Kathi Bennett said. "She has really taken her game to another level this year, and we are excited to see her continue in her development."\nDeMuth currently averages 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game, ranking her at fifth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and fifth in steals. The 5-foot-10 guard is the only player in the conference to rank in the top five in three categories. While DeMuth is proud of the accolade, she remains humble in light of the award. \n"This is a tremendous honor to receive," DeMuth said. "There are so many good players in the Big Ten this year and to be recognized as an All-Big Ten selection is very special and something I don't take for granted."\nDeMuth's right-hand woman, Valentin, earned a honorable mention nomination from the media after averaging 15.6 ppg and shooting at a .924 clip from the charity stripe. Valentin's scoring average is the top for conference sophomores, and she ranks at No. 2 in the nation in free-throw percentage. Valentin also set IU's record for consecutive free throws in Sunday's loss against Michigan State. \n"I am happy to be honored like this," Valentin said. "It really is something special and I hope that we are able to use this as a springboard going into the Big Ten Tournament."\nBennett said her team needs to treat the conference tournament as a do-or-die situation. \n"The great thing about a conference tournament is that everyone goes into (it) with an 0-0 record," Bennett said. "Our record doesn't dictate that we are going to go to the NCAA Tournament unless we win the whole thing, so we are going to have to go into the conference tournament with the mindset that this is our national championship"