Hoosiers ousted from Big Ten tournaments

The No. 61 Hoosiers (12-12, 6-6 Big Ten) continued their battle in the Big Ten conference tournament Saturday against No. 35 Minnesota (14-8, 9-2 Big Ten) in East Lansing, Mich.\nIn a match typifying the season for the sixth-seeded IU, the Hoosiers lost to the third seed, Minnesota, 4-3, which could have possibly ended their season.\nThe team will find out Wednesday, whether or not it is selected for the NCAA Tournament. \nThe last time these teams met, IU was without its No. 1 singles player, junior Jakub Praibis. \nHowever this time, Praibis made a difference as along with sophomore Dmytro Ishtuganov who won at No. 2 doubles 8-4, extending their doubles winning streak to 10. At No. 3 doubles the tandem of juniors Tom Bagnato and Ryan Recht won by the same 8-4 score, to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.\nOn the singles side, play could be characterized in one word -- chaotic. \nMother Nature reared her ugly head and forced many of the matches indoors resulting in a 35-minute rain delay.\nBefore the delay, the teams played to a 2-2 tie. Picking up the point for the Hoosiers was Praibis at No. 1 over No. 57 Aleksey Zharinov 6-4, 6-3.\nFriday, Praibis, along with 12 others, was named to the All-Big Ten team -- IU's first since 2002 when Milan Rakvica claimed the honor.\nThough Praibis (15-6, 5-4 Big Ten) was proud to receive the honor, the 4-3 loss, the sixth of the season was hard to swallow, he said.\n"It was a nice honor and great recognition for me," Praibis said. "It would have been a good victory, up next to top 10 Virginia, so it's the second toughest."\nThough matches were switched indoors, the team felt they might have an advantage over the Golden Gophers because of their quickness.\nBeing down 3-2, Recht was able to get a little revenge against No. 70 Chris Wettengel, winning in three sets 7-6, 0-6, and 6-3, after losing earlier in the season to him in a close three setter.\nThe match came down to No. 5 singles and freshman David Bubenicek.\nLike earlier in the year, IU couldn't close out, and fell 4-3.\nMoving indoors might have been a factor in the loss, but IU coach Ken Hydinger felt an injury suffered by Bubenicek was bigger. \n"Moving indoors was not a factor -- if anything, we thought indoors might give us (an) advantage," Hydinger said. "David pulling a groin during the second set was a bigger reason. I would have bet the moon on David beating that guy."\nWith this loss comes uncertainty as the Hoosiers will now wait for a decision on whether their season ends or they move on to compete in the NCAA Tournament.\nIf it is the end of the season for IU it will be a difficult way to go out, Recht said.\n"It is tough knowing that today could have been the end of the season for us," Recht said. "And not knowing whether we are going to the tournament or working toward next season makes it hard."\nIf the Hoosiers are unable to get into the NCAA Tournament, they have much to be excited about for next year as they return the entire eight man roster, and will welcome one of the top players from the state of Ohio, Michael McCarthy, brother of junior Ryan McCarthy.\n-- Contact staff writer Dan Click at daaclick@indiana.edu.