IU, now 2-3, returns from the Puerto Rico Tip-Off with a losing record, but experience against better teams.
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If there was ever any doubt, IU’s eighth-place finish in Puerto Rico
pretty much confirmed it – restoring IU basketball will be a long-term
project for IU coach Tom Crean.
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For the first time this season, the Hoosiers found out what it felt
like to lose a game by falling 76-71 to the Missouri Tigers on Sunday.
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The 2009 Hoosiers preached from August to November about the changes in
the program and about how they were going to make football relevant at
IU. In a 38-21 loss to Purdue, that progress was hard to find.
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The Hoosiers (15-17, 4-14) dropped a four-set loss to Ohio State (22-9,
10-8) on Friday and nearly took two sets away from No. 1 Penn State
(30-0, 18-0) before falling in three on Saturday at University Gym.
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For one quarter, Purdue was on pace to win by more than it did against the Hoosiers in the 2008 Old Oaken Bucket game.
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IU defeated Butler on Sunday 1-0 and will move on to Round 3 of the NCAA tournament. The Hoosiers will take on No. 5 UNC next.
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For 21 seniors on Saturday, their time under the lights against Purdue
was not only the culmination of a 4-8 season. It was also the end of
their collegiate careers.
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