IU Gets Williams to Commit; Football Title Hopes; Haunted Hoops

Tom Crean has not lost his recruiting touch.

He came from WAY behind to land Class of 2013 top-40 small forward Troy Williams, who committed to the Hoosiers Sunday afternoon.

He beat out North Carolina’s Roy Williams and, to a lesser extent, Kentucky’s John Calipari.

Yes, that’s big time.

Understand, the 6-6 Williams is not, say, the small forward equivalent of Cody Zeller. Williams is very athletic. He’s a strong rebounder, a good scorer with three-point range and a potentially excellent defender. He passes well and has a high motor.

Still, he’s a little fundamentally raw. He’ll need some polishing and developing, which is fine. Crean and his staff excel at that.

Crean delivered a 1-2 punch with Hoosier Hysteria (Williams was there and was VERY impressed) and by watching Williams’ Oak Hill Academy team play in a Thursday scrimmage in Virginia. Crean flew immediately from the Big Ten Media Day event in Chicago to make the scrimmage.

Don’t forget the impact of first-year assistant coach Kenny Johnson, who was hired in part to boost IU’s presence on the East Coast. He has a ton of contacts in the area and is an extremely effective recruiter, which is the No. 1 reason why he was hired. Johnson also was big in the commitment of another member of IU’s Class of 2013, shooting guard Stanford Robinson.

The Hoosiers remain in the running for another Class of 2013 standout -- 6-8, 270-pound center BeeJay Anya from Maryland. He, too, attended Hoosier Hysteria and was very impressed. His final two schools are Indiana and North Carolina State. He’s the No. 4 center and the No. 48 players overall according to Rivals.com.

Indiana now has Robinson, Williams, forwards Devin Davis and Collin Hartman, and center Luke Fischer in the Class of 2013. Adding a sixth player in this class could create another scholarship dilemma even if, as expected, Zeller leaves after this season to enter the NBA draft.

Right now 10 players are set to return next season, nine if Zeller leaves. There is a 13-scholarship limit. With Williams, the Hoosiers are one over. Add Anya and they’d be two over.

In the end, of course, it will work out. It always does.

***** 

Do you realize that if IU’s football team wins out, it wins the Leaders Division title, advances to the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis and ignites the sequence that leads to the End of Days mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Wait! Sorry. Everything is a little fuzzy in the aftermath of the Giants sweeping the Tigers to win the World Series.

Anyway, because the Big Ten stinks, because Penn State and Ohio State are ineligible for the postseason, because Wisconsin might fall apart down the stretch, the Hoosiers have a chance at what would normally be unthinkable.

Wisconsin has a 3-2 conference record. IU is second in the Leaders Division at 1-3. Purdue and Illinois are last at 0-4.

The Hoosiers end with Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue. If they sweep they’d finish with a 5-3 Big Ten record. That would mean, at the least, a tie for first in the Leaders Division with Wisconsin. They’d win the Division title by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker.

That’s the possibility. The reality is IU’s best scenario is a 2-2 finish and a 5-7 final record, four more victories that it totaled last year. That could set up a potential winning run starting next season.

Yes, the Cream ‘n Crimson faithful are focused on basketball, and rightfully so. Still, there’s now a reason to pay attention to football in November.

That’s a welcome change.

******

Look for a ton of dunks and blocked shots from the basketball Hoosiers this season. Why? Because there were a lot of those during Sunday’s Haunted Hall of Hoops scrimmage at Assembly Hall.

Crean loves basketball and, apparently Halloween. So when he arrived at IU he came up with a way to bring both of those loves together. So the Hoosiers host an annual scrimmage that includes a chance for kids to wear costumes, have a Halloween parade at Assembly Hall and then get autographs from the Hoosiers.

The scrimmage was divided into two parts. First was a 15-minute segment with a Red and a White team. The White team won 40-35 with Remy Abell, Christian Watford and Jordan Hulls scoring 10 points each.

The Red team got 14 points from Zeller and 13 from Oladipo.

The second part was a four-minute situational period. Associate head coaches Tim Buckley and Steve McClain adjusted the lineups, then gave the White team a 76-70 lead. The Red squad rallied for an 88-83 win.

Those comebacks typify the tough-minded mindset Hoosier coaches want to build.

“These guys are really competing,” McClain said. “You can tell it matters to them.”

No. 1 Again -- Indiana Picked to Win the Big Ten

Now Indiana REALLY has pressure.

The Big Ten media, specifically 24 beat writers who cover the conference, have voted IU as the preseason favorite.

The Hoosiers received 21 first place votes. That was good for a total of 285 points that topped the 12-team league. Michigan was second with three first-place votes and 256 points. Ohio State was third.

IU was already the preseason No. 1 team in the country by virtue of the USA Today coaches’ poll, plus a bunch of preseason publications.

Let’s face it. When you return a guy many believe to be the nation’s best player, All-America forward Cody Zeller, plus all-conference-caliber guys such as Christian Watford and Victor Oladipo, plus one of the country’s best shooters in Jordan Hulls, plus one of the nation’s most under-rated players in Will Sheehey, plus one of the nation’s best freshman classes led by point guard Yogi Ferrell, well, you’re going to attract attention.

The key is when the Hoosiers, who were 27-9 with a Sweet 16 berth last year, can handle the heat.

Here’s betting they can.

As far as the rest of the poll, Michigan State was fourth with 223 points, followed by Wisconsin (191), Minnesota (159), Iowa (134), Purdue (121), Illinois (90), Northwestern (89), Penn State (62) and Nebraska (25).

If you’re wondering, and even if you’re not, we were one of the voters.

******

Do you REALLY want to be scared this Halloween? Then head to Assembly Hall on Sunday afternoon to see how scary good IU basketball will be.

The Hoosiers will hold their annual Haunted Hall of Hoops scrimmage at Assembly Hall that day. The hope is all the players will participate. Sheehey and freshman forward Hanner Perea missed Hoosier Hysteria because of minor injuries. Hopefully, they’ll be able to go.

Coach Tom Crean has held this event to get his team used to playing in front of a crowd as well as to connect with the local community. Admission is free. There will be candy and games for children 12 and under. The event will end with an autograph session. Fan can have one item signed, and it must be personalized.

Also, after the scrimmage, children in costume will participate in a parade on the Assembly Hall floor. Group pictures with the coaches and players will be taken.

“We have enjoyed doing this each here,” Crean said in a university release. “This gives our players another opportunity to play in front of the best fans in the country.”

Doors will open at 1, with the scrimmage starting around 2 p.m.

*****

The Big Ten Basketball Media Day is set for Thurday. All 24 men’s and women’s coaches will be there. The event will be streamed live on BTN.com. It begins at 9 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. CT. It’s free via the Big Ten Digital Network. For more information, Visit http://video.btn.com for more information.

Fans can use twitter via @B1GMBBall and @B1GWBBall for highlights. They also can use the hash tag #B1GMD to join the conversation.

Transcripts of each coach’s press conference will be posted on www.bigten.org later that day.

IU’s Wilson Pushes Positives; Is Louisville in IU’s Future?

So what do you do when you’re IU football coach Kevin Wilson and your team has lost five straight games, including the last three by four, three and one point?

Basically, you tell your team to work a little harder and not give in to the disappointment and a program tradition that suggests consistent victory will never come.

Will the players buy it?

Perhaps. We’ll get a better indication Saturday at Illinois, a struggling team –- its only scored 21 points in conference play -- that seems the perfect opponent to get the Hoosiers back on track and give Wilson his first Big Ten victory.

Wilson used his Monday night radio show to push the theme that a turnaround is coming.

“We just keep accentuating the positives and showing them the good plays and the things that we’re doing,” Wilson said. “We had two turnovers Saturday. We had two for the year, we had two in the game. One was a costly play. But we’re taking care of the ball. We’re improving in the kicking game. We’re playing better on the offensive line. We’re making strides defensively. We’re doing things you need to do to win games. We’re showing them that. We haven’t got the result yet.

“During the course of the game, you’ve got to just keep making plays. We’re just one or two plays from adding up from being on the right side. It doesn’t always come down to the last third down stop or the last third down or the last score. It’s in the course of the game. We’ve improved against three decent teams, three very good teams, very difficult to prepare for.”

Wilson was asked if the close loses might actually be helping recruiting. IU just got a commitment from four-star defensive end David Kenney of Indianapolis Pike. Wilson couldn’t comment on that per NCAA rules, but he did say that, “There is some interest because (recruits) see improvement. There’s interest because we’ve shown that we play young players. We have some recruitis that see us gaining on it and are maybe interested in getting in on it.”

Yes, in case you’re interested, Wilson plans on using most of the rest of his available scholarships for next season on defensive players.

*****

It looks as if Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich is interested in starting home-and-home series with Indiana in football and basketball.

Both Eric Crawford of Louisville TV station WDRB and Jody Demling of Scout.com tweeted that Jurich said in a press conference that such a dual series would be “a no-brainer.”

That is Louisville’s perspective. IU’s might be a little different given the Cardinals have become a football power (they are 7-0 and ranked 16^th in the AP poll) and the Hoosiers already passed on starting a basketball series with Louisville to replace the dropped one with Kentucky.

Yes, they elected to play Central Connecticut State instead.

Don’t get us started.

For the record, IU is 2-0 against Louisville in football, winning in 1985 and ’86. It is 10-6 against the Cardinals in basketball, but hasn’t played them since 2003.

Yogi Ferrell A ‘Special Player’; Recruiting News

OK, the 15-or-so minute Hoosier Hysteria scrimmage provided only a snapshot of Yogi Ferrell's ability. It was a tease of what the heralded freshman point guard can do.

For a better public indication we’ll have to wait for the Nov. 1 exhibition game against Indiana Wesleyan. Or, if you prefer something that counts, the Nov. 9 season opener against Bryant.

For now, though, we have to take coach Tom Crean’s word. Given that how he’s turned around the program, that word should have some impact.

“Yogi is a special player,” Crean said. “We knew that when we recruited him and he has done nothing to make us believe anything less than that in the time that he has been here.”

It’s been years since IU has had a difference-making point guard. While Ferrell has struggled at times with his man-to-man defense, that’s nothing new for a freshman, especially one who basically played zone defense in high school.

Ferrell’s reputation was built on his offense and knack for helping his team win. He led Park Tudor High School to two straight state titles. He was considered one of the nation’s three best point guards in the Class of 2012 by every major recruiting service.

Still, it’s his work ethic that has given him a shot at instant impact for the Hoosiers.

“He continues to get better,” Crean said. “He is a very hard-nose young man. His energy is very good. And it's early. We are only entering into our second week of practice and he will have his down days.

“He has a gift of vision. It's incredible. He has tenacity about him. The players have great respect for him because they know he is talented, but they know he will really deliver the basketball. He comes out and he really tries to get better at what he needs to do that’s new to him. He really, really works at the defense every day. There is no question that if he continues down the road of improvement, he will be an outstanding player here."

*****

Was BeeJay Anya impressed with his Hoosier Hysteria experience?

Are you kidding? Of course he was. And if he wasn’t, his former Team Takeover teammate, Victor Oladipo, was there to set him straight.

It wasn’t enough to get a commitment from Anya, or from Troy Williams, the other top-50 Class of 2013 prospect who attended Saturday’s Hoosier Hysteria. But it was enough to get Anya’s attention.

Anya wants to play in the NBA, which isn’t shocking. He wants a program that can develop him into a pro. All Crean has to do is mention Cody Zeller, a big man who very well could be the NBA’s No. 1 pick if he turns pro after this season.

Anya is no hurry, which is what you’d expect from a guy who still has 18 schools on his list. IU took up one of his official visits. He’s set to go to North Carolina State this coming weekend. Other potential official visits sites include Ohio State, North Carolina and Duke.

It looks like a two school race for Williams between IU and North Carolina. He likely won’t sign until the spring, although indications are it might sooner.

*****

How much could David Kenney help the Indiana football team? Well, he’s a four-star defensive end who can sack the quarterback. Those kind of players are gold in college football. Heck, defensive ends who can sack quarterbacks are gold in the NFL. Those guys make big bucks.

So here is Kenney, a 6-2, 250-pound guy known for his quarterback-smacking ability. Last year he set an Indianapolis Pike record with 11 sacks. This year he has 10 with a chance at more given Pike is still alive in the Indiana state playoffs.

Guess what? He just committed to IU after de-committing from Iowa. He was at Hoosier Hysteria along with another four-star Indianapolis defensive prospect, Darius Latham. Kenney joins another four-star player from Indy, Ben Davis safety Antonio Allen, who earlier committed to the Hoosiers.

Yes, Wilson is starting to build an Indianapolis recruiting connection. He’ll need other connections – some speed guys from SEC country would be nice – but getting the best in-state guys will play a key role in building a winning program.

Neither Cold Nor Rain Stop Hoosier Hysteria Lovers

Let’s take a deep breath and consider the Indiana basketball implications.

Students started gathering outside of Assembly Hall probably 36 hours before the start of Hoosier Hysteria. It rained. The temperature dropped into the mid-50s. And still they came, dressed in rain gear and cold weather gear, exuding the kind of passion and optimism that can propel a team to beat Kentucky -- and, perhaps, win a national championship.

Amazing, isn't it?

Coach Tom Crean is no fool. He recognizes the energy and taps into it whenever possible, which is why he and his wife, Joani, showed up to support the students. Chicken wings from Scotties soon followed.

At some schools, and this might shock you, Friday nights are reserved for partying and bar hopping and, well, other activities. At Indiana on this night, they camped out to make sure they’d get the best possible seats for Hoosier Hysteria.

Understand, Hoosier Hysteria is not a game or competition. Nothing big or dramatic will happen at Assembly Hall. Players will shoot little, maybe dunk a little, maybe sing a little. There will be an autograph session. Crean will say a few words. Maybe a player or two will say a few things. The women’s team will get its moment in the spotlight. There might be a short scrimmage.

Oh, yes. A couple of dozen elite basketball recruits will be on hand to see this energy and passion for themselves, and then decide whether this is what they want for their college future.

In the meantime, more students gathered and excitement built Friday night. It all represented the buzz that surrounds this top-ranked program. There is hope and belief that, for the first time since 1987, IU will bring home a national championship, and everyone wants to get an early start on the fun.

For the record, Assembly Hall doors will open at 4 today. There will be an autograph session from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. If officials stick to that schedule, you’d better get there early because time might run out before you get a chance to get anything signed.

Remember, Assembly Hall seats a little over 17,000. Will it be packed as Crean hopes for?

We’ll see.

Anyway, here’s what Crean had to say about the impact of Hoosier Hysteria.

“I'm excited for it for a lot of reasons. Number one: because there's so much build-up for it. It's always been exciting, going back to year one, but I've never heard it talked about like it is right now. I think it will be huge for recruiting, I don't think there's any question about that. We moved it back a week with one goal in mind: to give every student at Indiana the opportunity to be at it because of the fall break (last week). I think we'll have a lot of fun.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the timeline and seeing what we need to tweak and what we need to add. I think our crew has done a great job of putting it together. We've had more crowd control conversations than we have ever had, but at the same time, there is going to be room for everybody.

“I think by the way they're opening the doors there won't be that mad dash and I hope we just absolutely pack it. And I hope that everybody that runs the fire department took a trip to the Bahamas this week so we can have standing room only in there and not have anything to think about in there. Just let them all come in and have a great time. It will be a fun night. It will be very unscripted for the players; just them have a great time. Now practice that afternoon will be a little different, but I think it will be fun."

******

Are you like me? Were you worried the Big Ten would run out of ways to make money?

Relax and chill out.

Fortunately the league now offers something called the Big Ten Digital Network. For an annual fee of $119.95, or $14.95 a month, you get hundreds of non-televised conference games and events, plus original Big Ten Network programming.

Also, IU will stream three live men’s basketball events –- Hoosier Hysteria, the Nov. 1 exhibition game with Indiana Wesleyan and the Nov. 12 game with North Dakota State.

Those games also aren’t free. You can tap into the streaming via IU’s All-Access page at www.IUHoosiers.com.

So now you know.

IU Football at Make-or-Break Brink; Replogle honored Again:P

Welcome to Indiana’s make-or-break football moment.

In the next two weeks the Hoosiers face a 3-3 Navy team and a 2-4 Illinois squad. These are, without question, winnable games. They are, potentially, season-saving games.

Win those two and you reach 4-4, two victories away from bowl eligibility.

Yes, bowl eligibility. No, we have not lost our minds. Well, maybe we have, but lets not quibble over small details.

Anyway, split these next two games and, well, it’s not high achievement, but it gives you something to work with. Lose both and you likely lose out the rest of the season to finish 2-10.

Yes, it’s that big.

The Hoosiers got a boost from playing Michigan State and Ohio State close the last two weeks. They blew a 17-point lead and lost by four to Michigan State. They had an early lead against Ohio State and wound up losing by three. Still, they showed competitiveness and fight and an ability to entertain, something that can't be overlooked in an era when there are so many entertainment options.

That momentum helps with their belief that they are close, that a turnaround is just a few tackles or big plays away.

For the record, after Navy and Illinois, IU’s final four games are against Iowa (4-2), Wisconsin (5-2), Penn State (4-2) and Purdue (3-3). A 2-2 finish won’t take Divine intervention, especially given how weak the Big Ten is this season.. It will take execution, poise, patience and an ability to stop somebody some of the time.

Is that so hard?

Anyway, the Hoosiers have reached the point where losing close isn’t good enough. They have to start winning or this season will be lost, much like it was with IU basketball a couple of years ago, when the struggling Hoosiers lost close at Michigan State (84-83) and to Iowa (64-63) and never recovered, ending the season on a nine-game losing streak for a 12-20 record.

The next year, of course, they turned it around to a Sweet 16 berth, and Cream 'n Crimson joy.

Coach Kevin Wilson continues to push the theme that it’s about winning and to heck with the close losses.

“We have to get our guys past the point of giving it the old college try,” he says. “We expect them to play hard. That’s the given. Now we’ve got to start winning. We need to figure out how to get that puppy done.

“We’re trying to address, internally, the fact that too many people around here can congratulate you for almost winning because we’ve struggled.

“At the same time, it’s a sign of confidence that you’re getting better. You should feel good about yourself, but you need to keep pushing.”

And then Wilson pushes his message just a little harder.

“I think in most people’s lives, in their careers, they’re closer to more things that they realize. Even people who are extremely successful, there’s probably a little bit more out there for them. If it’s just around the corner, keep coming.

“Even though we’re making strides, apparently it’s not enough, so we’re challenging our guys. You’ve got to dig a little deeper, practice a bit better, be committed a bit more. We’ve got to play better to get some Ws down the stretch. This one (at Navy) will be tough, but we need to get it."

It helps that the Hoosiers are down, but not out, according to offensive coordinator Seth Littrell.

“It’s disappointing not to have gotten some of the wins we felt we could have, but the energy level has been great. Coaches and players still come to work every day with a lot of enthusiasm, which is a credit to Coach Wilson and this team.

“They like each other, like playing for each other, like competing with each other. I don’t see any drop off. And I don’t expect any.”

Come Saturday at Navy, we’ll see if the Hoosiers meet those expectations.

*****

Will Adam Replogle kick the tails of USC quarterback Matt Barkely, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and a bunch of other football studs to win the 2012 Senior CLASS Award?

Anything is possible, and if the odds don’t favor Indiana’s senior defensive tackle, well, who needs odds when you have hope.

Replogle is one of 10 finalists for the award, which goes to a student-athlete who excels on and off the field based on community, classroom, character and competition. He’s also a nominee for the 2012 Good Works Team and is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

Replogle leads IU in tackles (41) and sacks (3.0), and shares the team lead with 5.5 tackles for loss. He leads all Big Ten defensive linemen by averaging 6.8 tackles per game.

CLASS, by the way, stands for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School.

The winner is chosen, in part, by a national fan vote along with voting by the media and Division I head coaches.

IU Basketball No. 1; Is IU Football On Verge of Recruiting Coup?

If you’re a stud high school defensive player and you want to play right away, you’ve gotta love what you see at Indiana.

The Hoosiers play defense like nobody wants to see it, which is bad for the present, but promising for the future if Kevin Wilson and his staff can get talent to come.

It sure seems like it will come.

As you almost certainly know by now, a couple of really, really good Indiana high school prospects, four-star defensive tackle Darius Latham from Indianapolis North Central and four-star defensive end David Kenney from Indy Pike, have de-committed from Big Ten schools and are taking strong looks at Indiana.

Already committed is four-star safety Antonio Allen of Indianapolis Ben Davis. Another four-star in-state player, defensive end Elijah Daniel from Avon, also is strongly considering the Hoosiers. So is four-star defensive back Rashard Fant from Georgia.

Daniel is considered the state’s No. 2 player for the Class of 2013 by Rivals.com, a national Internet recruiting service. Clemson has already offered him.

Latham, who just de-committed from Wisconsin, is a very intriguing prospect. He’s 6-5 and 291 pounds, yet athletic enough to play for an elite AAU basketball team, one of the Eric Gordon squads.

To emphasize, from time to time you’ll get defensive linemen who also play basketball. Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short, for instance, did at East Chicago Central. He’s now projected as at least a third-round NFL pick.

But Latham was a starter for a powerhouse travel ball program, good enough that Tom Crean reportedly gave him the option to also play basketball if he comes to IU. He can run, jump and display the kind of athleticism that could translate well at the highest levels. He’s also a very big, powerful guy. He’s rated as the state’s No. 6 football player and the nation’s No. 16 defensive tackle.

Yes, it isn’t fair.

Kenney just de-committed from Iowa. He’s a 6-2, 250-pound defensive end who is rated as the state’s No. 7 player and the No. 10 player nationally at his position.

Kenney and Latham reportedly were at the IU-Ohio State game, which the Hoosiers lost by a basketball score, 52-49. They have a huge need for defensive guys, especially if they can stuff the run and sack the quarterback.

Antonio Allen, by the way, is acting as a quasi-recruiter and trying to get Latham and Kenney to join him in Bloomington.

If he does, it would be a strong sign that coach Kevin Wilson is poised to turn this program around.

IU has 10 commitments in the Class of 2013. Allen, who is ranked No. 20 at his safety position, is the highest rated recruit. Brownsburg athlete Chase Dutra is No. 41 at his position and the state’s No. 9 player.

******

Indiana’s basketball expectations, already off the charts, just got another positive jolt with its preseason No. 1 ranking courtesy of USA Today’s coaches poll.

The Hoosiers received 21 of a possible 31 first-place votes. Second-ranked Louisville and third-ranked Kentucky each got five votes.

IU also got a seal of approval from William Hill Race & Sports Books, which released its odds to win the national title. It lists Indiana, Kentucky and Louisville as its top favorites to win it all.

*****

Here is an IU release of some more details involving Saturday’s Hoosier Hysteria at Assembly Hall. Doors will open at 4 p.m., with an autograph session running from 5 to 6.

Based on previous autograph sessions, which drew a TON of people and produced Disney World-caliber lines, you’d better get there early. If they stick to their schedule and end it at an hour, a lot of people are going to go home empty handed.

Anyway, here is the release:

The IU Varsity Shop will be selling the famous IU basketball poster calendar’s in the north and south lobby’s.  The large calendar is $5 and the small calendar is $3.

Fans may bring one item to be signed.  To keep the lines moving and to accommodate as many fans as possible, players are limited to one signature per person and the setup does not allow for fans to pose with players for photos.  Fans will have an opportunity to take picture with players at another fan event.

The IU/Navy football game is expected to be on the video board in Assembly Hall and on the TV’s by the concession stands.  Other big screen TV’s are being set up on the concourse and will feature highlights from the 2011-2012 men’s basketball season.

The women’s basketball team will have a shootaround on the Assembly Hall floor from 5 to 6 p.m.

At 6 p.m., students may register for a Big Head contest and Craziest Fan contest. Those selected by the Crimson Guard will be brought on the Assembly Hall floor as the list will be pared down for the finals which will take place in between the Hoosiers dunk and three-point contests.  Winners will receive gift certificates from the Varsity Shop.

Introductions of the teams will begin at 7.  Women’s Coach Curt Miller and men’s coach Tom Crean will both address the crowd.

There will be a dunk contest, three-point contest and men’s scrimmage following introductions.  Final participants are yet to be determined.

Two students will have an opportunity to win free textbooks from the bookstore if they can sink a shot from half court in between the skills contests.

Tickets remain on sale for the general public for four Holiday Break men’s basketball games.  Tickets are available for Ball State (Nov. 25), Mt. Saint Mary’s (Dec. 19), Florida Atlantic (Dec. 21), and Jacksonville, Dec. 28. The mini series prices for four games are $139 for main level seats and $60 for IU students.  Single game prices for Ball State are $40 (main level), $26 (balcony) and $15 (IU student).  For the other three games they are $33 (main level), $25 (balcony) and $15 (IU student).   The ticket office will be open at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Though admission is free, fans are encouraged to bring a canned food item which benefits the Hoosier Hills Food Bank.