IU finishes in back of pack at NCAA Central Regional

The 2006-07 season is now underway, and the Hoosiers saw first-hand that high expectations don't always yield better results.\nFor the second consecutive year, IU began its season at the NCAA Central Regional Preview. The Hoosier lineup included four players -- junior Santiago Quirarte and sophomores Drew Allenspach, Seth Brandon and Jorge Campillo -- who played in the event last year. Another sophomore, Brandon Pike, filled the fifth spot.\nAfter spending last fall battling the hardships of inexperience, IU turned things around in the spring en route to its third straight regional bid. Bringing their talented roster and experiences from last season into this fall, the Hoosiers were confident that adding Pike to the lineup wouldn't be the only difference between the 2005 Regional Preview, where they finished 11th, and the 2006 version.\nBut the results were very similar. IU coach Mike Mayer's squad placed three spots higher in eighth place, but the Hoosiers again found themselves in the back half of the leaderboard. \n"We definitely came in here a little overconfident," Pike said. "The competition was too good for us to play this poorly ... It's kind of like a hit in the mouth (to their confidence)."\nThis year's Preview was held in Sugar Grove, Ill., a site that produced significantly higher totals than when the event took place in Chardon, Ohio, a year ago. Louisville, which won its second straight Central Regional Preview on Sunday, finished with a score of 895. In 2005, this score would have put the Cardinals in a tie for 12th place, one stroke and one spot behind the Hoosiers. Despite the more difficult course, Mayer said he wasn't content with the way his team played.\n"You never like to play less than your capability," he said.\nMayer said it's too soon to be concerned with the team's play.\n"We don't want to peak right now," he said. "It's early. It's not time to panic."\nThe tournament did, however, provide some positives for IU. Campillo showed little rust in the opener, finishing tied for third at 224. Brandon tied for 19th, and Pike, who hadn't competed in IU's lineup since early March, tied for 30th. Allenspach also said that being able to see and play the course will be very beneficial to the team later on if and when it returns there for regionals. \nUntil they begin play this weekend in the Gopher Invitational, it will remain to be seen how the Hoosiers handle their recent "hit in the mouth." Allenspach said he believes that it's up to each player.\n"It's a choice you make," he said. "You can either dwell on it, or you can just let it go"