IU faces first half of must wins

Coach Terry Hoeppner said the Hoosiers have their "backs against the walls" after losing last weekend. IU will have to win its last two games of the season to become bowl eligible and end its four-game losing streak.\nAs if that wasn't enough of a challenge, IU will be confined within the walls of the Big House this weekend.\nThe Hoosiers will visit the No. 21 Michigan Wolverines Saturday -- a team they have lost 47 out of 56 games against in the series history.\n"They are a few plays from contending for the Big Ten championships and being ranked in the top five," Hoeppner said in a statement. "The advantage Michigan has is the consistency in their coaching staff and program. What they haven't done is panic and depart from the way they do things. They do things the Michigan way."\nIn addition to losing senior linebacker John Pannozzo for the season, the Hoosiers will be without senior defensive lineman Russ Richardson and freshman receiver James Bailey.\n"We have an unusual amount of bumps and bruises," Hoeppner said in a statement. "As all physical games are, sometimes it is easier for it to become an accumulative thing. Going into week 10, everybody is a little bumped and bruised. Right now, I think we will have everybody but Russ (Richardson)."\nFreshman James Hardy is also questionable for the matchup, however Hoeppner said he remains optimistic about the receiver's status.\n"I am not ever going to rule out James Hardy," Hoeppner said in a statement. "He has not been 100 percent healthy all year. He is a pretty resilient guy. He tries to find a way to play the game."\nDespite the possibility of Hardy and other starters being out Saturday, IU players remain optimistic about their teammates being able to step in and fill the voids.\n"All the coaches have confidence in the players behind (Pannozzo, Richardson and Bailey)," freshman defensive lineman Greg Brown said. "(Backup players) can't exactly fill those shoes, but we have plenty of guys that are capable of stepping up. They'll be ready to play on Saturday."\nThe undermanned Hoosier defense struggled last weekend, yielding 572 total yards from the Minnesota offense, including 347 rushing yards. On Saturday, IU will face a Michigan offense ranked near the bottom of the Big Ten in total offense. However, Michigan receiver Jason Avant is third in the conference in receptions per game and second in receiving yards behind Hardy.\n"We expect them to come out and do the same thing they've done all year -- play ball," sophomore cornerback Leslie Majors said. "They'll give us their 'A' game. It's just as important as any other game in the year. We just gotta get out there and make some plays."\nSaturday's game might not only be a factor in the Hoosiers' bowl hopes but has special meaning for freshman receiver Marcus Thigpen. Thigpen, a Detroit native, recalled his recruitment out of high school and the Wolverines' failure to show interest.\n"I'm going home, and that's a school that didn't recruit me," Thigpen said. "I'm just gonna show them what they're missing out on and kick some ass"