Indiana getting ready for OU this Saturday

(Lexington, Kentucky-AP) -- Oklahoma's opponent in the NCAA semifinal traveled a rocky road back to the Final Four. <br><br>Indiana players, led by guard Dane Fife, threatened to leave the program

Monday, March 25th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Lexington, Kentucky-AP) -- Oklahoma's opponent in the NCAA semifinal traveled a rocky road back to the Final Four.

Indiana players, led by guard Dane Fife, threatened to leave the program en masse after longtime controversial coach, Bob Knight, was fired two years ago.

Now Fife and the others believe the program is back and a new tradition is being built under Mike Davis.

Many thought the Hoosiers wouldn't recover after losing center Kirk Haston to the NBA.

But they found an inside presence in Jared Jeffries, Jeff Newton and Jarrad Odle and were versatile enough to use an outside game that complimented the inside game perfectly.

The combination was too much for teams such as Illinois, Michigan State, Duke and Kent State.

Indiana faces the Sooners next Saturday in Atlanta.