Homecourt Security

Throughout the Big Ten season, the IU men's basketball team has relied on Assembly Hall. While the Hoosiers have struggled on the road, IU's bastion of hope is a home-court advantage that has afforded them a 6-0 home record in the conference. \nThe Hoosiers will rely on Branch McCracken Court again Sunday when No. 10 Michigan State invades Assembly Hall. If IU remains unbeaten in the Big Ten at home by beating the Spartans, the Hoosiers will give something back to the hallowed facility by earning their 400th all-time victory there as well as inching closer to an NCAA Tournament berth.\nNo. 1 Illinois is the only other Big Ten team undefeated in conference play at home. Fortunately for IU, the team doesn't play Illinois at home this season.\n"Our goal this year is not to lose a conference home game," IU coach Mike Davis said. "Last year, we lost so many home games. If we can take care of home, everything will take care of itself. If we lose a home game, our backs are against the wall again."\nTo keep the Hoosiers' goal in sight in hopes of making the NCAA Tournament, IU will contend with a Michigan State team (20-4, 11-2 Big Ten) loaded with talent and balanced scoring. Heading into Thursday's game versus Wisconsin, the Spartans boast five players averaging double-digits -- senior Kelvin Torbert just missing the mark with 9.7 points per game.\nJunior Maurice Ager leads the Spartans with an average of 13.7 points per game as of Thursday. Senior forward Alan Anderson and guard Chris Hill along with junior center Paul Davis and sophomore guard Shannon Brown all get into the double-figure scoring act.\nThe six contribute to an offense averaging 78.6 points per game as of Thursday -- the most ever during Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's head coaching tenure in East Lansing.\nDavis knows the Spartans -- who boast three seniors in Anderson, Hill and Torbert among their top six players -- will bring experience and intensity Sunday. Fortunately for IU, Davis said his team's intensity is higher than ever after Tuesday's win versus Purdue.\n"From an intensity standpoint, our intensity and effort are better than ever over the past four or five games," Davis said. "If you can play like that, no matter where you play or who you play, you give yourself a chance to win."\nMichigan State's Hill is an Indianapolis native who will make his last trip to Assembly Hall Sunday. Hill is currently 4-2 against his home state Hoosiers with the last IU win coming on March 8, 2002 in the Big Ten tournament -- coincidentally in Indianapolis.\nHill prepped at Lawrence North High School. Current IU freshman A.J. Ratliff was a freshman at North Central High School in Indianapolis at the time of Hill's senior year.\n"It's going to be kind of weird at first," Ratliff said. "You're just going to take it like he's another player. He's going to come at me and I'm going to come at him.\n"We're going to talk a lot of smack."\nThe Hoosiers had perhaps their best game of the season in the win against Purdue Tuesday. The 79 points scored is the most IU has put up all season. The Hoosiers will most likely stick with sophomore Roderick Wilmont starting and Ratliff coming off the bench -- a change that's resulted in two back-to-back wins. In both games, Ratliff has scored in double-figures as a reserve.\nIU will also look to junior Bracey Wright for consecutive big games. Wright poured in 27 points against Purdue in his second game back after spraining his ankle. Wright has a history of high-scoring against the Spartans. In the Hoosiers' last game against MSU, an 84-72 loss last season, Wright had 29.\nWith three regular-season games left, IU knows time is running low. No matter where the points come from, though, the Hoosiers want to achieve their goal.\n"Sunday, we need to protect our house," Ratliff said.\n-- Contact Staff Writer John \nRodgers at jprodger@indiana.edu.