Sports

Capobianco: ‘I’m not worried’

With the recent pledge from 6-foot-11 center Bawa Muniru, IU men’s basketball coach Tom Crean now has six commitments from the 2009 class, although he only has room to give away five available scholarships. Muniru’s commitment last Thursday leaves 14 potential scholarship players in the fold for next year’s IU squad. But NCAA rules limit teams to 13 scholarships with the Big Ten permitting the Hoosiers to over-sign by one. Crean will be forced to make an adjustment should all six sign, but that hasn’t stopped him from recruiting for next year. Despite Muniru’s commitment, four-star recruit Chris Braswell visited this past weekend.

Rough atmosphere awaits IU men's soccer’s chance to rebound

After the team’s 2-1 loss to UC-Santa Barbara on Saturday night, IU men’s soccer coach Mike Freitag said his biggest concern was the “casualness” his team displayed on the field. The Hoosiers hope to show a more aggressive approach today when they travel to Evansville for an 8 p.m. showdown against the Purple Aces. This weekend’s loss dropped the Hoosiers to a No. 17 national ranking and 4-2-2 on the season. The Purple Aces are 6-2 and coming off their largest margin of victory this year, a 6-0 win over Centenary.

IU releases response to NCAA

In a letter to the NCAA released today, the IU Athletics Department denied that it failed to monitor the IU men’s basketball program’s recruiting practices. IU today released its response in letter form to the NCAA’s “failure to monitor” allegation leveled against the IU men’s basketball program in June.

Women's soccer team suffers rare pair of Big Ten losses at home

Losing Big Ten Conference games at home is not something to which the IU women’s soccer team is accustomed. In the previous two years, the Hoosiers have gone a combined 7-1-1 in-conference at Bill Armstrong Stadium. This weekend, however, the Hoosiers (5-6-0) dropped two home games as they opened conference play against No. 22 Penn State and Ohio State. Friday, IU lost to the Nittany Lions 1-0, and yesterday they were defeated by the Buckeyes by that same score.

IU men's golf team, new asst. head to Louisville

Two tournaments and two individual champions spell early-season success for the IU men’s golf team. Last week, the team also beat defending champion UCLA by 23 strokes. Junior Alex Martin – who won the most recent tournament, the Olympia Fields/Fighting Illini Invitational – said he hopes to gain confidence but added the team finish also meant a lot to him.

No. 6 Iowa overpowers IU field hockey team

Last November, Iowa ended IU’s season with an 8-2 victory in the Big Ten Tournament. In the Hoosiers’ first chance for revenge this season, it was more of the same. The No. 6 Hawkeyes (7-2) overpowered IU (5-4) with a 6-1 victory Friday afternoon at the IU Field Hockey Field. The Hoosiers played on their heels most of the day with only one shot on goal in the first 52 minutes. By the time sophomore Lena Grote scored IU’s lone goal in the 60th minute, Iowa was on cruise control with six scores of their own.

2 quarterback system looks promising

If you believe the Michigan State game was a must-win, you’re wrong. You’re being oblivious to the fact IU has two-thirds of its schedule left to play. Of the eight games to come, seven are Big Ten duels, including this week’s matchup at Minnesota. If you disagree, go to your local barber and rant in the chair, ’cause I don’t want to hear it.

Women's golf finishes 6th in Wisconsin invitational

The IU women’s golf team knew the course in Wisconsin was going to be difficult, but still thought it could come out on top. And so, despite falling to a sixth-place finish Sunday in the Badger Invitational, IU coach Clint Wallman still took some positives away from the tournament. “We didn’t bring our ‘A’ game, but we were still in contention,” Wallman said. The IU coach added that competing well while not at the top of their games is something good teams must do.

Men's soccer felled by Gauchos

With three losses in their past four games, the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos were supposed to be the team struggling on both sides of the ball Saturday night. Think again. The Hoosiers (4-2-2), who hoped to build on a three-game winning streak, fell to the Gauchos 2-1 after a lackluster first half put them in an early deficit too wide to overcome.

IU volleyball battles hard, but falls at home to rival Purdue

In front of one of the largest and most energetic crowds to ever watch an IU volleyball match, the Hoosiers suffered a heartbreaking loss to No. 19 Purdue on Saturday at University Gym.  With a crowd of 1,442 fans backing them up, the Hoosiers fought point for point with the Boilermakers before eventually dropping a five-set thriller.

Friday Night Tailgate visits Bloomington

Before the IU football team was handed a 42-29 loss to Michigan State on Saturday, IU fans were able to enjoy a little extra popularity in Bloomington when the Big Ten Network came to visit. The station broadcast its show, “Friday Night Tailgate,” live from the Sample Gates between 8:30 and 10 p.m. Rather than dissect the Hoosiers’ chances against the Spartans, the premise of the show is to have a little bit more fun with the school it visits.

Spartan offense outguns Hoosiers

Marcus Thigpen was the Hoosiers’ revolver in their shootout against Michigan State on Saturday. Unfortunately for IU, the Spartans brought two guns to the duel and outshot the Hoosiers 42-29.

Infractions and miscues loom large

Rather than seeing nothing but green turf Saturday, the Hoosiers saw yellow-colored flags all afternoon. In what has become a common theme for IU the last two weeks, penalties have tortured the Hoosiers, coming at inopportune times. Upset at the loss but still proud of his players, IU coach Bill Lynch did not have much to say when it came to fixing those mistakes. “We’ll work on them,” Lynch said. Against Michigan State on Saturday and Ball State the week prior, the Hoosiers combined for 16 penalties at a cost of 166 yards, none bigger than sophomore offensive lineman Cody Faulkner’s hold in the third quarter against the Spartans. Down five points and just shy of two minutes remaining in the third quarter, sophomore quarterback Ben Chappell launched a pass to sophomore wide receiver Terrance Turner over the middle of the field that resulted in a 97-yard touchdown.

Hoosiers switch up new offense to utilize Lewis

Dynamism. Something the IU football team was able to achieve amidst its 42-29 loss at the hands of the Michigan State Spartans.PODCAST: Hoosier Sidelines

Hoosiers give up 42 in loss to Michigan State

For the second straight week the Hoosiers let up 42 points, and for the second straight week, they lost. Instead of Michigan State dealing the final blow of the game it was IU who did itself in their 42-29 defeat.With 1:39 left in the third quarter, backup quarterback Ben Chappell connected with sophomore wideout Terrance Turner for a 97-yard touchdown strike. The play made both the Michigan State and Hoosier crowds stand up and cheer. The Hoosier crowd was happy because of the touchdown, the Spartans because there was a little yellow piece of cloth 108 behind Turner’s touchdown celebration.

Thigpen shines in Hoosier defeat at the hands of the Spartans

For the second straight week the Hoosiers let up 42 points, and for the second straight week, they lost.

IU looks to regain past success in Wisconsin

Two years ago, the IU women’s golf team traveled to Madison, Wis., to compete in the Badger Invitational. They did a bit more than that, as they came away with the team championship.

Muniru commits to IU

Three-star prospect Bawa Muniru gave a verbal commitment to Tom Crean and the IU men’s basketball program, Scout.com confirmed late Thursday. The commitment of the 6-foot-11 Muniru means Crean has signed his maximum allowed allotment of six players for his first full recruiting class.BLOG: Basketblog

IU prepares for Heisman hopeful Ringer, Spartans

A year ago, the Hoosiers’ weakness was their inability to stop the run. One year has passed, but not a whole lot has changed. And Michigan State knows it.

Pair of ranked rivals invade University Gym as IU opens conference schedule