Hoosier Morning

Indiana coach Tom Crean will play host to what should be a large group of recruits in two weeks, during Hoosier Hysteria. Chris Howell | Herald-Times

Welcome to Hoosier Morning, a daily batch of links intended to keep you informed of what is going on at Indiana, in the Big Ten and throughout the college sporting world.

AT HOOSIERSHQ.COM

• In this recruiting notebook, Dustin Dopirak and I report on Bloomington South sophomore T.J. Bell, Marietta (GA.) Wheeling senior Jelan Kendrick and Asheville (N.C.) Arden Christ School junior Marshall Plumlee. Bell has an offer from IU, Kendrick’s family enjoyed the visit with Tom Crean and Plumlee has no plans yet to attend a Midnight Madness.

IT’S INDIANA

• In a blog column, the Indianapolis Star’s Terry Hutchens says the Hoosiers are in line with expectations and Bill Lynch is a candidate for Big Ten Coach of the Year.
• Indiana drops to No. 8 in the Big Ten power rankings of the Indiana Daily Student’s Nathan Hart.
• Bawa Muniru is the Super Happy Fun Time Player Profile of the day at Inside the Hall.

MERLOT OR CHARDONNAY WITH THAT CHEESE (or news on Virginia)

• Virginia coach Al Groh refused to talk about the North Carolina game, signaling to the Cavaliers that the focus is on Virginia, the Charlottesville Daily Progress’ Jay Jenkins writes.
• A quarterback dilemma was made easy, when Vic Hall told Groh that Jameel Sewell should remain the starter, the Washington Post’s Zach Berman writes.
• Sewell is best on third down, when he rolls out of the pocket and can make plays with his arm and feet, the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s Michael Phillips writes.
• Virginia gave up four sacks Saturday, worst in the country for the second-straight week. That’s a problem against Indiana, as the Roanoke Times’ Doug Doughty writes.

BIG TEN GRAB BAG

• No Michigan player played at a championship level Saturday, Rich Rodriguez said. Left tackle Mark Ortmann said he could not figure out why the team was not successful, AnnArbor.com’s Dave Birkett writes.
• Ohio State kicker Aaron Pettrey was not perfect against Indiana, and that causes concern, the Columbus Dispatch’s Tim May writes.
• Juice Williams will take a seat Saturday against Michigan State. Illinois coach Ron Zook said Eddie McGee will start at quarterback, the Champaign News-Gazette’s Bob Asmussen writes.
• Northwestern is bracing for 0-5 Miami (Ohio), the Chicago Tribune’s Teddy Greenstein writes.
• Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was the subject of praise from Rodriguez, the Des Moines Register’s Andrew Logue writes.
• Wisconsin safety Jay Valai will probably be boo-ed Saturday against Ohio State because of two big hits last season, but he’s OK with that, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Jeff Potrykus writes.
• Penn State is good once every three years, the Harrisburg Patriot-News’ Bob Flounders writes. Problem is — this is year one.
• Purdue took a commitment from a punter Monday, giving the team 14 verbal commitments in 2010, the Lafayette Journal-Courier’s Mike Carmin writes.
• Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber is on pace to set new records in passing for the Gophers, the Minnesota Daily’s Austin Cumblad writes.
• Michigan State picked up a couple of three-star prospects Monday, the Lansing State Journal’s Dan Kilbridge writes.

AROUND THE NATION

• The editorial board at Binghamton’s student newspaper gave a passionate defense of the university, though calling out Pete Thamel, one of the nation’s best college sports reporters, is probably not a good idea.
• Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is not practicing and has not been cleared, but Urban Meyer says he is perfectly healthy. Something there does not add up.

TAKE A LOOK

If basketball does not work out, Marshall Plumlee seems to have a future in acting, if this Christ School production is any indication. Plumlee stars as world-renowned adventurer Klondike Applebee.