Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Indiana’s Davis resigns amid growing pressure (Big Ten Insider)

After weeks of speculation, Indiana coach Mike Davis officially announced his resignation Thursday.

Three days after suggesting that perhaps he was not the best fit for the Hoosiers, Davis made his announcement. He will receive an $800,000 settlement from the athletic department, the equivalent of one year’s pay.

“Please be happy,” Davis was quoted in an Associated Press story Thursday. “If you support me, be happy. And be happy about the program and direction Indiana basketball is going.”

Davis will continue to coach the team for the remainder of the season, including any potential postseason games.

Indiana lost both of its games last week, a 71-68 defeat at Penn State and a 70-58 defeat at Illinois. The team’s losing streak now stands at five games as it clings to seventh place in the Big Ten.

“I’m disappointed I couldn’t take this team to the national championship game every year,” Davis said in the same AP story. “These guys deserve the love and support of Indiana fans, and if that’s what it takes, me stepping away, then you do what you have to do.”

FAN INCIDENT IN EAST LANSING

An hour before Michigan State’s home contest against rival Michigan last Saturday, a Michigan reserve player shoved a male Michigan State fan, who fell to the floor.

Center Amadou Ba was sitting in the first row courtside during pre-game warmups when the fan pestered him. The student, who appeared to be intoxicated, started to walk away from Ba, but then came back, leading Ba to push him.

“We did everything we could to try and prevent it,” guard Daniel Horton said in a Saturday AP story. “But in that situation, it’s tough when a person challenges you. It’s an iffy situation.”

The fan was taken to an East Lansing hospital, but the extent of his injuries was unclear.

Ba has played only three minutes in Big Ten games and is averaging 1.8 minutes and 0.3 points this season.

On Tuesday, the Big Ten issued a statement that it has accepted the disciplinary actions taken by both schools.

Ba and the fan will both receive counseling regarding appropriate behavior. As for suspensions, Ba and the fan split a three-game sentence: the fan will not be allowed to attend his school’s next one and a half home games, and Ba won’t be allowed to participate in Michigan’s next one and a half games.

PENN STATE RISING

The bottom four teams in the Big Ten have essentially stayed put in a conference where teams seemingly change spots in the standings every week. But recently, it seems even this bit of stability is about to disappear.

Penn State, which plays tonight at Indiana, can overtake the Hoosiers for seventh place with a win. The Nittany Lions have won two in a row and three of their last five, including a 66-65 win at Illinois on Feb. 4.

In that stretch, senior forward Travis Parker has ignited the team with an average of 19 points per game, a considerable improvement from his 11.7 season average. He was the one who hit the game-winning shot at Illinois, which snapped the Fighting Illini’s two-year home winning streak.

“Travis has played extremely well for us the last few games,” Penn State coach Ed DeChellis said. “He’s done a great job not only scoring and rebounding but also passing the ball and getting other guys open shots. I think our guys feed off of him.”

However, Parker has done more than just score, pass and rebound. Being the only senior on a team with eight freshman, three sophomores and three juniors, Parker has provided leadership and maturity, DeChellis said.

“As our only senior, he really has stepped up the last five games,” DeChellis said. “Seniors sometimes get to the point this time of the year when they realize they only have so many games left, and I think that’s the same thing with Travis.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Reach Michael Schlossberg at [email protected].

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881
Indiana’s Davis resigns amid growing pressure (Big Ten Insider)