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Indiana defensive end Greg Middleton has been named a finalist for the 2007 Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award. The sophomore, who was named to the first-team All-Big Ten, is one of eight finalists. Middleton set a single-season school record with 16 sacks. He leads the nation in that department. The winner will be announced Dec. 5.
-- LaMond Pope
Jamarcus Ellis is used to doing the dirty work.
That role changed slightly Tuesday when IU asked for more offense out of the junior forward/guard.
Ellis had 15 points in IU’s 83-79 win against Georgia Tech. With Jordan Crawford serving the first game of a three-game suspension, Ellis knew he had to do more.
That he did.
Early on though, it was all D.J. White. The senior scored Indiana’s first 11 points on the way to his second-straight double-double.
Kelvin Sampson wanted more out of his post play and got it from White, Lance Stemler and Mike White.
The Hoosiers are still jelling, a point Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt made.
“I’m sure if you put Kelvin in some truth serum he’ll tell you the first few games they aren’t playing well together. Once they figure out that they all can have their individual glory if the team does well, Indiana is going to be one of the best teams in the country,” he said.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Lance Stemler returned to the starting lineup. Mike White returned to the court. And the Hoosiers showcased some zone defense.
Those were just some of the changes in the first half against Georgia Tech. IU used an 18-3 run to take a 38-34 halftime lead.
Stemler started the opener, but spent the last four games coming off the bench. He returned to the lineup, replacing DeAndre Thomas.
IU had toyed with redshirting White. But those thoughts ended when he entered early in the contest.
With Jordan Crawford’s suspension, IU was forced to play Armon Bassett and Eric Gordon the entire first half.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Just before tipoff and here’s some breaking news. Freshman guard Jordan Crawford will not play in the next three games, starting tonight, for violating team rules. The news came via a press release just five minutes before the game. Coach Sampson will have no further comment on the matter.
The loss of Crawford takes away instant offense off the bench for IU. Crawford is third on the team in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. How will IU fill those minutes?
Perhaps that means even less rest for Eric Gordon and Armon Bassett. Or they might move Jamarcus Ellis over to guard and give more minutes to Brandon McGee. We shall see.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Indiana took care of another overmatched opponent, turning up the heat defensively when it had to.
The Hoosiers big run right before halftime wiped out a 10-point lead for UNC Wilmington. The Seahawks committed 17 turnovers in the first half and 26 for the game. IU scored 43 points off the mistakes, helping the Hoosiers cruise the 95-71 win.
“It’s good to see the ball pressure, getting out on the wings,” IU coach Kelvin Sampson said. “… There was a 30-point turnaround within 15 minutes, which shows you how dominant our defense was during that stretch.”
The competition should get a tougher this weekend when the Chicago Invitational Challenge heads to Hoffman Estates. IU faces Illinois State on Friday and then either Xavier or Kent State Saturday.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Kelvin Sampson would like to see Eli Holman and Brandon McGee get a little more playing time than they did in the 95-71 win against UNC Wilmington. Holman had two points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. McGee missed both of his shot attempts and had one rebound in 11 minutes.
“It’s tough when they don’t play the first half. I have to do a better job of getting them in their in the first half regardless of the situation,” Sampson said. “Sometimes when you have some adversity, instead of making changes, I’ve always allowed kids to play themselves out of it, which is what they did (tonight).”
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
UNC Wilmington outshot and outrebounded IU in the first five minutes of Tuesday’s game and the result was a 10-point lead. But after making seven of their first nine shots, the Seahawks went 4 for 15 the rest of the way.
IU leads 52-32 at halftime after using a 21-2 run to pull ahead. Eric Gordon and Armon Bassett both have 16 points. Their combined total of 32 is the same as the Seahawks.
Lance Stemler gave IU a lift with his hustle off the bench. The co-captain has two points, three rebounds and two steals.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Pregame vs. UNC Wilmington
Here are a few notes 15 minutes before No. 8 Indiana hosts UNC Wilmington in the second round of the Chicago Invitational Challenge.
- This is the first meeting between the teams since the Hoosiers beat the Seahawks, 76-67, in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. IU holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series.
- Indiana had six players finish in double figures in the first round win against Longwood. It’s the first time that’s happened since Jan. 31, 1998 against Minnesota.
- Eric Gordon set a school record for most points in his first two games. He had 54, topping George McGinnis’ 52 he scored in consecutive games in 1970.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
As Kelvin Sampson said, IU “beat (Longwood) like we should beat them.”
The Hoosiers played lockdown defense in a 100-49 victory against the Lancers.
Indiana held Longwood to 19 points after halftime. The defense looked much better than in the opener against Chattanooga. Sampson said part of the reason is Chattanooga was better than Longwood. Another reason is just the strides the team has made on defense.
DeAndre Thomas was inserted in the starting lineup, and he and D.J. White were too much for the Lancers. Thomas had 10 points and two steals. White had 12 points while keeping Longwood’s top scorer Kirk Williams in check (Williams finished with six points. He came into the game averaging 20).
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
Kelvin Sampson congratulated the IU football team for its 27-24 victory over Purdue.
“Watching that game, especially the last four or five minutes, I don’t know if I’ve ever been as emotional, especially when they started showing Jane on the sideline,” Sampson said following the basketball team’s 100-49 win against Longwood on Sunday. “I’m just really happy for the coaches, players and coach Hoeppner’s family.”
Sampson was one of the guest speakers during the week.
IU has been nominated as one of the Pontiac Game Changing Moments for the week. Fans can vote for the Hoosiers at Pontiac.com/ncaa. The winner will be announced during halftime of the Thursday night football game on ESPN.
- By LaMond Pope of The Journal Gazette
