During the Big Ten coaches’ teleconference Monday, IU coach Kelvin Sampson and Northwestern coach Bill Carmody were each asked what they thought the Big Ten’s representation should be in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Both coaches offered short, vague responses. \nAfter all, there’s still conference basketball left to be played.\nSampson and the Hoosiers will play two more games in the regular season, including a matchup against Northwestern at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night in Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. The IU coach said Monday that winning Wednesday’s game – and essentially ending their road woes – is a matter of the Hoosiers following through in the second half of play.\n“Well every game we’ve lost on the road this year we’ve had a lead in the second half. I think the first half we played at Michigan State last night was the best we’ve played in any one half,” Sampson said. “I just think there’s a grouping of teams – Iowa, Purdue, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, IU – we’ve all had a tough time winning at the other person’s gym. Every one of those teams has done a great job of holding home court, but they’ve all struggled winning in the other person’s gym and I think that has a lot to do with the parity of those teams.” \nThe Hoosiers’ loss last Saturday to Michigan State did more than just further the team’s struggles on the road; it bumped IU out of third place and into a frenzy amidst the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. \nNow, the Hoosiers will have to face the Wildcats in Welsh-Ryan Arena, a place where they have lost their last three games. Carmody said Monday though that despite IU’s recent road struggles, they will still provide a big challenge for his Wildcats tonight.\n“It’s a tough team for us to matchup against, and it’s very fast,” Carmody said of IU. “They shoot a lot of threes and we’ve struggled guarding guys on the perimeter this year. Then they have a good inside game, anchored by (junior forward D.J.) White (and junior Mike White), both Whites.”
Teammates: ‘Calloway will likely play’\nSenior guard Earl Calloway, who missed the last three games with a shoulder injury, could be in the Hoosiers’ lineup Wednesday night, according to some of his teammates. \nSophomore center Ben Allen said Monday afternoon that Calloway has practiced with the team, and “is looking good.” Senior guard Rod Wilmont also confirmed that Calloway is feeling better and seems more prepared now to take the floor.\n“He said he could go if we needed him to (at Michigan State last Saturday), but I guess coach and them just decided not to play him that game, just to heal him up a little bit better for the next game,” Wilmont said. “But I’m pretty sure he should be able to go on Wednesday night.”
