Hoosier Headlines for December 27, 2009: holiday weekend edition.

It's been a few days, and it's been a few days since the Hoosiers played, but here's what's in the news.

Mr. (Tubby) Smith goes to the upper-half of the Big Ten? (StarTribune.com)
Big Ten preview and predictions.
Blue Christmas for IU | TIM ETHRIDGE COLUMN (Evansville Courier & Press)
"A season ago, when Lipscomb University pulled a pre-Christmas stunner, it was almost to be expected. But now the Hoosiers have a bench full of players more talented than most of their pre-conference opposition, yet stand 5-6 when they should or at least could be 8-3 with other winnable losses to Boston University (5-6) and George Mason (6-5)."
Our annual sports quotes collectible offers plenty of laughs again (Daily Herald)
Bobby Capobianco, Indiana freshman basketball recruit, explaining the coaching style of the Hoosiers' Tom Crean: "Naturally caffeinated."

How good is the Big Ten in hoops? Youngstown Vindicator)
"To see Purdue win like that on the road is a great endorsement for where this league is at," Indiana coach Tom Crean said. "And how many better comebacks will you see than what Illinois did at Clemson? There are so many things you can point to that will make this Big Ten season a good one."

Big Ten preview as the conference gets ready for play (Chicago College Basketball - Chicagonow.com)
Tom Crean's team is going to pull off at least one big surprise this season during Big Ten play. Beware every team that heads to Bloomington.

Loyola still enjoying upset of Indiana (baltimoresun.com)
"Some Loyola backers - about 20 of them traveled with the team and sat behind the bench - dubbed it the program's biggest regular-season win. "I don't think there is any question it's [coach] Jimmy Patsos' biggest win in his Loyola tenure," said Mike Kaiser, a 1973 Loyola graduate and former player who attended the game. Patsos arrived after the 2004 season."

Inside IU’s Box Score, Part II (Hoosier Hype | Indiana Daily Student)

A Hoosier Decade (Hoosier Hype | Indiana Daily Student)

Pomeroy Preview: Indiana and Bryant (Inside the Hall)