The Herald Bulletin

Overnight Update

Sports

Related Photos

  • Indiana running back Stephen Houston (12) scores a touchdown during the first half against Illinois on Saturday in Champaign, Ill. Seth Perlman / The Associated Press

    a50079eecaf1a91e1f0f6a706700fbdb.jpg

Discussion

November 3, 2012

Indiana looking for some Big Ten momentum

By Jim Johnson Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. —

If Iowa wants to have any chance of contending for the Big Ten Legends Division, Saturday’s game at Indiana is practically a must-win. Same goes for the Hoosiers if they want to have a chance to play for a Big Ten title.

Neither the Hoosiers (3-5, 1-3) nor the Hawkeyes (4-4, 2-2) are happy with the way they are playing.

“I’m concerned about everything right now,” Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Offense, defense, specials teams and just how we play collectively. That’s our task.”

Iowa has lost two straight and is coming off a 28-17 loss to Northwestern in which running back Mark Weisman suffered a leg injury. Ferentz said Weisman has been taken off the depth chart this week.

The Hoosiers are coming off their first Big Ten win since beating Purdue in 2010. They beat Illinois last week, 31-17, to snap an 11-game Big Ten losing streak.

It was a win, but Indiana coach Kevin Wilson called it one of the Hoosiers’ worst performances.

“Of course it was nice that we got a win, but there are a lot of things that we need to clean up on,” Wilson said. “We had some good performances, but there are some things that we need to continue to polish if we’re going to have a chance this week and down the stretch with these remaining four games in the league.”

The rest of the way won’t be easy.

Indiana will host Wisconsin next week. The Badgers have a bye this weekend and if the Hoosiers knock off Iowa, they have a chance to tie Wisconsin in the division. Then the Hoosiers go on the road to Penn State and Purdue.

Indiana is just trying to improve day by day, a common theme since Wilson took over the program.

“We’re pushing them to improve daily and when we’ve had some shortcomings,” Wilson said. “We wanted them to keep coming, and now we’ve had a positive, but let’s not look with rose-colored glasses. Let’s look and see where our timing is off in the pass game, our protection can be better, perimeter blocking, backside reach blocking, missed tackles, getting off blocks. We created some plays, but we also missed some plays defensively. So that’s been our thing.”

The Hawkeyes host Purdue next week, but then go on the road to Michigan and host Nebraska.

But first, it starts with Indiana.

“Going to Indiana, they are a team that’s really playing well,” Ferentz said. “They’re coming off a good win. It was on the road, obviously. But maybe even more impressive, just the way they’ve played in general and how they’ve played in their losses.”

The Hoosiers have scored 24 or more points each game this season.

Iowa has won the last four meetings against the Hoosiers, including a 45-24 win last season.

Text Only
Sports
  • NBA Finals for Online James helps Heat stave off elimination in Game 6 LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7.

    June 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0619 - golf classic - DK - 39 Butler's Clarke chasing NBA chance After leading Butler in scoring this season and proving himself as one of college basketball's most dangerous shooters, Rotnei Clarke is trying to find a home in the NBA.

    June 19, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT - HB0618 - Lind photo - AP Surging Lind seeking All-Star support Former Highland star Adam Lind leads the majors in hitting since May 7.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • DelaBastide Ken Ken de la Bastide: Top Street Stock event this Saturday The marquee event for the Champion Racing Association's Street Stock Division will take place Saturday at Anderson Speedway with a 200-lap event.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • IU baseball.jpg Porter sends Miss. St. to 5-4 CWS win over Indiana

    Trey Porter surely made the home folks proud back in Hurley, Miss., population 950.
    With Porter driving in the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, Mississippi State took control of its bracket in the College World Series with a 5-4 victory over Indiana on Monday night.

    June 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0618 - PH football - DH IFCA endorses Heads Up Football The Indiana Football Coaches Association, and its counterpart in Minnesota, officially became the first state associations to endorse USA Football's Heads Up Football for their members on Monday.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Shifting tides roll through NCC With conference membership changing across the state of Indiana, the proud North Central Conference in for at least three years of upheaval.

    June 17, 2013

  • SPT - HB0618 - Taliaferro - AP IU, Golf Channel celebrities headline Children's Clinic Golf Classic

    After the Children’s Clinic Celebrity Benefit and Pairings Party Monday evening at Anderson Country Club kicked off two days of fundraising for the St. John’s Children’s Clinic, the event’s finale will tee off Tuesday with the Children’s Clinic Golf Classic, featuring teams of five golfers, pairing locals and celebrities alike.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0618 - Pagano photo - AP Pagano wins Halas Award for overcoming adversity Chuck Pagano's battle against leukemia served as inspiration for NFL fans across the nation last season as the Indianapolis Colts made a remarkable run to the AFC playoffs. On Monday, the Pro Football Writers of America honored Pagano as the 2013 George Halas Award winner. The Halas Award, in its 44th year, is given each season to the player, coach or staff member who overcomes the most adversity to succeed.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • SPT - HB0617 - Lind - AP Lind homers again as Jays sweep Rangers For the second day in a row, former Highland star Adam Lind homered as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 to sweep a four-game series.

    June 16, 2013 1 Photo