Hungry Hoosiers set to chow down on cagers


Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1998	Hungry Hoosiers set to chow down on cagers By MATT DIFEBO Collegian Sports Writer Indiana coach Bobby Knight has quite a hunger for the game of basketball. In the Hoosiers' 95-82 win over Minnesota last Saturday, Knight and his team took a 17-point lead into halftime. But he wanted more. Knight, a known glutton for scoring, yelled at his team at the half for not having a more commanding lead.
Lion forward Jarrett Stephens rips down a rebound in a game against Minnesota on Jan. 10 at The Bryce Jordan Center. Stephens, who has been playing with added intensity of late, leads underdog Penn State into Indiana's Assembly Hall to take on the Hoosiers at 8 p.m. tonight. (Collegian Photo/Alex de Jesus - click for full size image)	"It's amazing," Knight said. "We have some really poor concentration at the defensive end. I would like to see us play really well once so I can go home and eat." After the game, Knight was able to satisfy his appetite and at 8 p.m. tonight at Assembly Hall, he and his Hoosiers (15-6, 6-3 Big Ten) will get the chance to feast on the Nittany Lions (10-8, 3-5). The Lions are coming off a 77-71 loss to Illinois last weekend. Despite the final six-point deficit, the Illini devoured the Lions throughout the game, leading by as many as 19 points. The Lions came back in the opening minutes of the second half going on a 15-6 run. Later in the half, they sliced the deficit to four, but that was as close as the Lions could get. "When we go out to Indiana, we have to continue to play like we played in the second half (against Illinois)," Lion forward Jarrett Stephens said. "It's not an easy place to play. We just have to block out the crowd and execute." Stephens is used to seeing an energetic crowd. The Lions haven't won a road game in the Big Ten so far this season. The last time the Lions went on the road, they lost to conference leader Michigan State 71-59 before a sold-out crowd.
Indiana head coach Bobby Knight is articulate in response to a reporter's question following a game at The Bryce Jordan Center in 1996. The Hoosiers find themselves nine games over .500 with Penn State headed into Assembly Hall tonight. (Collegian Photo/Tracy Senycz - click for full size image)	"We have to have situations where we can beat somebody off the dribble and be able to make a shot," said Lion coach Jerry Dunn. "Part of the problem with that (against Illinois) was we couldn't make a shot." A victory would put the Hoosiers at an even 10 games above .500 overall for the first time this season. Knight said the key to beating Penn State is stopping shooting guard Pete Lisicky. Lisicky was a paltry 6 of 18 from the field against the Illini. "He is one of the top 3-point shooters in the league and has great range," Knight said. "Our defense must be able to fight through screens and get on Lisicky and make him force his shot." Dunn said he's not worried about Lisicky's recent struggles from the field. "I don't think he's pressing at all," Dunn said. "He had some open looks and they didn't go down. I don't think Pete worries about that. It's just a matter of time with him."