Most indispensable players: Ohio State

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

We're getting near the end of our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them. We're selecting two players from each Big Ten squad, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Ohio State is on the clock: Braxton Miller, QB, Sophomore It's not just that Miller is the team's best playmaker and a seemingly perfect fit in Urban Meyer's spread offense.

Big Ten chat: today at noon ET

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Just a quick reminder that we'll be chatting about all things Big Ten football today at noon ET. Let's discuss the news coming out of the Big Ten spring meetings in Chicago, how the Big Ten fits into college football's future playoff and anything else that's on your mind. See you at noon ET.

B1G quiet on expansion, watching terrain

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- Two years ago, Big Ten expansion dominated the discussion at league's spring meetings. This week, the subject barely came up when athletic directors and others got together. The Big Ten presidents and chancellors announced in August that the league "will not be actively engaged in conference expansion at this time, or at any time in the foreseeable future, barring a significant shift in the current intercollegiate athletic landscape.

B1G quiet on expansion, watching landcape

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- Two years ago, Big Ten expansion dominated the discussion at league's spring meetings. This week, the subject barely came up when athletic directors and others got together. The Big Ten presidents and chancellors announced in August that the league "will not be actively engaged in conference expansion at this time, or at any time in the foreseeable future, barring a significant shift in the current intercollegiate athletic landscape.

Spring breakout players in the Big Ten

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Spring practice is a time when coaches install new schemes or just instill the fundamentals. The most exciting part of spring practice is potential new stars emerge, with newcomers or former reserves turning heads with their performances. Some of these guys will fade back into the shadows come fall. But others will be making major contributions on a field near you. Here's a list of some players who had breakout springs: Josh Ferguson, RB, Illinois: Redshirted last year after a hamstring injury, Ferguson blew up for 130 yards and caught six passes in the Illini spring game.

Hoosiers receive commitment from guard Stanford Robinson

Source: Indy Star

Indiana University is beginning to reap rewards from the recent hire of assistant basketball coach Kenny Johnson.

Hoosier Morning

Source: The Hoosier Scoop by Jeremy Price

1. HOOSIERS HQ It didn’t take Stanford Robinson long to know he wanted to be a Hoosier, and the lefty combo guard commited to Indiana’s 2013 recruiting class Wednesday night, Dustin writes. The IU baseball team could win the Big Ten or miss the conference tournament, depending on the final series at Sembower Field, Dustin [...]

IU basketball: Stanford Robinson joins Hoosiers from where Kenny Johnson once coached

Source: Indy Star

Indiana University is beginning to reap rewards from the recent hire of assistant basketball coach Kenny Johnson.

Live Chat, 11 a.m.

Source: The Hoosier Scoop by Dustin Dopirak

We’ll be here.

Last Sembower series critical for Hoosiers

Source: The Herald-Times

Tracy Smith thinks his players grasp the gravity of the situation facing them, but he's glad they aren't acting like it.

IU golf tries to get back on course at NCAAs

Source: The Herald-Times

The Indiana men's golf team was admittedly down after a heartbreaking second-place finish at the Big Ten Championships two weeks ago in French Lick.

2013 guard Robinson commits to Hoosiers

Source: The Herald-Times

Newly hired assistant coach Kenny Johnson is apparently already helping Indiana build a pipeline to a Washington, D.C. area.

Indiana basketball lands commitment from 2013 guard

Source: Courier-Journal

Indiana University men's basketball coach Tom Crean added a fourth commitment to his 2013 recruiting class Wednesday night in shooting guard Stanford Robinson of Paul VI High School in Fairfax, Va.

Stanford Robinson joins Indiana’s 2013 recruiting class

Source: Inside the Hall by podcastonthebrink@gmail.com

As of Tuesday night, Stanford Robinson planned to reach a decision on where he would spend his college career later this week.

But as he sat down and gave it more thought on Wednesday, the junior guard from Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Virginia reached a decision quickly.

Robinson committed to Indiana just two days after taking an unofficial visit to Bloomington.

He’s the fourth commitment in the Hoosiers’ 2013 recruiting class. Robinson chose Indiana over Maryland, Texas and Villanova.

“When I was coming back on the plane with my mom, we talked about it and we felt like Indiana was the right choice,” Robinson told Inside the Hall. “So we sat down today with my coaches, my high school coach and my AAU coach, to make sure I wasn’t trying to commit off of a feeling.”

After those conversations, which included answering questions from his coaches about why he wanted to attend IU, Robinson was comfortable with his choice to become a Hoosier.

“I felt comfortable, my parents felt comfortable and my little brother also played a big part in it as well,” he said.

The left-handed guard, who has known new IU assistant coach Kenny Johnson since eighth grade, said shortly after his unofficial visit that Tom Crean had a great plan for how he’ll fit in the program.

Robinson talked about that plan shortly after making his decision.

“He (Crean) told me he wanted me to be ready to play a combo guard, to be ready to play the two and the one and just be ready to play a fast tempo,” Robinson said. “This is how he wants to play, he wants to play an up-tempo game and I feel like that will be a great fit for me because this is what we do on my AAU team and my high school team.”

Robinson is primarily a shooting guard for Team Takeover, his AAU team, but said he expects to play point guard next high school season.

BeeJay Anya, a close friend and AAU teammate of Robinson, is one of IU’s remaining 2013 recruiting targets. He said he “definitely will” get into Anya’s ear about joining him in Bloomington.

2013 SG Stanford Robinson Commits to the Hoosiers

Source: The Crimson Quarry by JustAJ

Well that didn't take long. About an hour and a half ago we learned that Stanford Robinson verbally committed to play for the Hoosiers. He is now the fourth commit for the 2013 class and the third commit for Tom Crean from the Washington D.C. area. Crean has started to establish quite a pipeline from a region of the country that I would place easily in the top ten and closer to the top five in basketball talent production.

Robinson will be a key asset and the heir apparent to Victor Oladipo whether he goes pro this next year or waits to finish his senior year with Indiana. Either way, Stanford Robinson will be waiting in the wings to prove he has

'This is all my dreams coming true' - Indiana [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

Indiana beats Evansville in ninth inning

Source: Indiana Daily Student

The final midweek, single-game series played at Sembower Field ended in dramatic fashion Tuesday as the Hoosiers (27-26, 13-8 Big Ten) got a come-from-behind victory against the Evansville Purple Aces (30-23, 9-9 MVC), winning 5-4.

Hoosiers take on Ohio State in final home series

Source: Indiana Daily Student

Heading into the final series of the regular season against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Indiana baseball team might feel a little more pressure than usual. If it wins the series, the team can clinch second place in the Big Ten and, with it, a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Track & Field team ranked 3rd nationally, highest in program's history

Source: Indiana Daily Student

On the heels of a third-place finish at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the IU men’s squad earned some lofty recognition from outside the conference.

Stanford Robinson commits to Indiana

Source: The Hoosier Scoop by Dustin Dopirak

Stanford Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard from Paul VI in Fairfax, Va., has committed to Indiana for the Class of 2013. He becomes the fourth member of the class. More on this later.

Stanford Robinson commits to Indiana basketball program

Source: Indy Star

Indiana is beginning to reap the rewards of the recent hire of assistant coach Kenny Johnson. Stanford Robinson, a 6-4 combo guard from Paul VI Catholic in Washington D.C., gave his verbal commitment Wednesday night to play basketball at Indiana.

Robinson down to final four schools

Source: The Hoosier Scoop by Dustin Dopirak

Zach Osterman of 247Sports.com reports that Stanford Robinson has pared his college choices down to four schools, including Indiana, Texas, Maryland and Villanova. More here.

Coleman talks about his Indiana, Purdue visits - Indiana [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

Video: Wrapping up the Big Ten meetings

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Adam Rittenberg wraps up the final day of the Big Ten spring meetings in Chicago

B1G launches concussion research initiative

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten is bringing together its brainpower to help gather more information about the effects of concussions in sports. Commissioner Jim Delany announced Wednesday that the league members will launch a research initiative about how head injuries affect athletes in all sports. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation, the Big Ten's internal academic consortium, which includes all 12 sports members and the University of Chicago, will manage the project and the research efforts.

Meyer reveals depth chart, talks leaders

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer met with the media Wednesday and unveiled a post-spring depth chart. It didn't contain a lot of surprises. Some of the most interesting items from the depth chart -- and Meyer's comments -- included: Doran Grant has risen to co-starter status with Travis Howard at cornerback. Spring game sensation Michael Thomas is listed as the backup to Devin Smith at receiver, with Corey Brown and Evan Spencer the other starters there.

B1G to tweak title game ticket sales strategy

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- When the Big Ten put 20,000 general public tickets on sale for the inaugural football title game in late July, they were gone within two hours. But many of those tickets -- bought by fans whose teams didn't qualify for the game in Indianapolis -- reappeared on websites like Stubhub.com days before the game, creating a soft secondary market. Some tickets were priced as low as $9 right before the game. Although the game sold out, there were several thousand empty seats at Lucas Oil Stadium when Wisconsin played Michigan State.

Video: Jim Delany on spring meetings

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany recaps the league's spring meetings with Adam Rittenberg.

Big Ten, Pac-12 pact moving forward

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- Despite a few speed bumps, the Big Ten/Pac-12 scheduling partnership is "a go," Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told his league's athletic directors this week. The details are still being worked out, which isn't a surprise when you have 24 major-conference programs with unique interests, scheduling philosophies and scheduling agreements. But Delany hopes to have a more specific idea of the scheduling models in the next few months. "We do want it all fit in," Delany said Wednesday.

College football national championship game could be at non-traditional sites

Source: Indy Star

CHICAGO -- Big Ten administrators could see a national championship game being played in cities that aren't necessarily traditional hosts.

B1G to discuss tie-in with Pinstripe Bowl

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten favors having a college football playoff within the existing bowls, which essentially pushes those games to warmer climates in the south and west. As Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said, "Let's say it is 5 degrees. Is that right for the game?" Apparently it's OK for lower-tier bowls. League commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday that the Big Ten will have discussions with the Pinstripe Bowl, played outside in late December at New York's Yankee Stadium, about a potential future tie-in.

Video Reel: Chandler White - Indiana [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

Big Ten to discuss tie-in with Pinstripe Bowl

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten favors having a college football playoff within the existing bowls, which essentially pushes those games to warmer climates in the south and west. As Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said, "Let's say it is 5 degrees. Is that right for the game?" Apparently it's OK for lower-tier bowls. League commissioner Jim Delany said Wednesday that the Big Ten will have discussions with the Pinstripe Bowl, played outside in late December at New York's Yankee Stadium, about a potential future tie-in.

Michigan's Lewan maturing into a leader

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Michigan lost some invaluable leadership on the offensive line when center David Molk graduated. A somewhat unlikely figure is volunteering to fill that void. "I definitely see myself as a leader," junior left tackle Taylor Lewan told ESPN.com. "I want to be one of the main guys that really helps through all the successes and all the bad things. I want that to be put on myself. "I'm the left tackle, the blind side. They made a movie about it.

Video: 2013 DeMatha forward BeeJay Anya

Source: Inside the Hall by podcastonthebrink@gmail.com

Via CapitolHoops.com:

An extended conversation with Stanford Robinson - Indiana [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

Hot Board - Class of '15 - Indiana [$$] (Rivals)

Source: Yahoo! NCAAB

Big Ten lunchtime links

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

The league meetings in Chicago and playoffs (cue Jim Mora clip) dominate your hump day links: The Big Ten's love of the Rose Bowl is making it act irrationally and against the league's best interests, Dan Wetzel writes. There's no guarantee on how that Rose Bowl relationship will continue. The Big Ten won't be able to use geography as an excuse for bowl performance in the future, Drew Sharp says. The league is pushing for a seven-win minimum to make a bowl game even though that may hurt some of its own teams.

Campus sites: Did B1G give up too easily?

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

CHICAGO -- When the college football playoff push kicked off, Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith planted himself in the campus-sites camp. Smith favored having the semifinals on the campuses of the higher-seeded teams. The setup would give Big Ten teams like Ohio State an advantage they've never enjoyed in the current BCS/bowl setup -- nationally significant games on Midwest soil in late December or early January. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was among the first major college football figures to stump for campus sites this winter.

Most indispensable players: Penn State

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

It's time once again for our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten squad entering the 2012 season. All together now: this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but of those whose absence would cause the most pain because of their particular value or a lack of depth at their positions. Up now: Penn State. Silas Redd, RB, Junior Although Bill Belton had a nice spring, Penn State's backfield otherwise looked very thin.

IU's Fred Glass disputes USA Today report

Source: Indy Star

Indiana athletic director Fred Glass disputes a story in USA Today this week on college athletic revenues that indicated the Hoosiers required a subsidy from school funds to avoid operating at a loss.

IU's Fred Glass disputes USA Today report, says school's sports made profit

Source: Indy Star

Indiana athletic director Fred Glass disputes a story in USA Today this week on college athletic revenues that indicated the Hoosiers required a subsidy from school funds to avoid operating at a loss.

Video: Big Ten spring meetings

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

Adam Rittenberg recaps the day at the Big Ten spring meetings, where the future postseason format and bowls were hot topics.

Big Ten chat moves to Thursday

Source: Big Ten Football Blog

I'll be covering the final day of the Big Ten spring meetings in Chicago, so my regular chat is moving from Wednesday to noon ET Thursday. Please join me then to recap the spring meetings, discuss the latest playoff developments and any other Big Ten issues that crop up. Again, noon ET Thursday. See you then.

Glass disputes report's numbers, says IU sports made profit

Source: Indy Star

Indiana athletic director Fred Glass disputes a story in USA Today this week on college athletic revenues that indicated the Hoosiers required a subsidy from school funds to avoid operating at a loss.

IU roundup: Knoblauch single lifts IU over Aces

Source: The Herald-Times

Trace Knoblauch's RBI single to right-center capped a two-run ninth as Indiana rallied past Evansville, 5-4, at Sembower Field Tuesday.

IU keeping lights on for athletic department

Source: The Herald-Times

Fred Glass takes intense pride in saying that Indiana University has a self-sustaining athletic department.