Some Like It Indiana Hot

Suddenly Indiana sports are hot, and it’s not just because of the searing temperatures.

Center Peter Jurkin has committed to be a Hoosier, guard B.J. has Indiana No. 1 among his five finalists, IU is set to play a three-game series with the University of Evansville and the football team looks fit, fierce and focused.

Oh, yes. That new mega-million-dollar scoreboard is taking shape, too.

The 6-11 Jurkin committed to the Hoosiers Monday night from the Class of 2012. The goal is that he will be the first in a bunch of 2012 studs to commitment. The two other main guys are forward Hanner Perea and guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera. Perea, who is from Columbia, has really emerged this summer. He’s listed by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 5 power forward and No. 13 overall player in the Class of 2012. He is long and fast and can really, really jump.

Baylor was neck and neck with IU for Perea, but now North Carolina has apparently jumped into the mix.

The football Hoosiers, meanwhile, just wrapped up Acclimation Day No. 4. With a heat index of over 100 degrees, coaches made sure players got enough to drink.

“We had to be careful,” coach Bill Lynch said. “It’s really hot. We’re going later trying to help a little bit.

“We give them as much fluid as we possibly can. We’ve got these water pumps everywhere and they’re free to drink whenever they want. We take two mandatory stops where I make sure everybody goes and one of them we go under the tent.

“The other thing we’re doing is with the linemen, who you worry a lot about with the heat. We’re going inside a lot. That gets them out of the sun. There is still some breeze in there.

“We talk to them all the time to make sure they’re (drinking). We monitor their weight loss and gain, practice by practice.”