The summer development of big men George Leach and Jeffrey Newton will determine Indiana's chances at returning to the Final Four, let alone being a Big Ten contender for the regular-season title.

Jared Jeffries' early entry into the NBA means all the focus up front shifts to Leach and Newton. That's why Indiana coach Mike Davis, fresh from a weekend jaunt to Aruba, sandwiched between weeks of recruiting, is mapping out a series of musts for Leach and Newton.

	Jeff Newton fell short in the title game, but his development this summer is key for the Hoosiers.

"I know people will think I'm crazy, but if we get the commitment then we could be really good, maybe even better (without Jeffries, Dane Fife and Jarrad Odle)," Davis said. "George has to get off his high horse and start being a basketball player. Newton could be a real good player, a consistent player -- if they both have a helluva summer."

Yes, the potential is there for both players to be dominant in the middle. They each showed flashes of that in the NCAA Tournament. The 6-foot-9 Newton scored 19 points in the national semifinal upset of Oklahoma. Newton scored in a variety of ways, even putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket. Those numbers dwarf the average eight points he produced during the regular season.

The 6-11 Leach swatted away two intimidating blocks in the Oklahoma game in only six minutes. He averaged only 10.3 minutes a game during the season. But Davis is unclipping any reigns he held on Leach, because he's forced to go with him next season. And it might be his last if Leach doesn't earn back the fourth season of eligibility after being ineligible as a freshman.

"There's no question that both have the potential to be big-time shot blockers," Davis said. "They cover so much of the paint. But it's going to take a commitment in the weight room and offensively for them to take their games to the next level."

While both post players have to make sure the jerseys don't simply fall over their shoulders by getting more tone in their arms and chest, they also have to improve their 12-15 foot shot.

"My big guys play a lot on the perimeter (see: Jeffries and Kirk Haston the past two seasons) and we'll create better angles for them to make shots," Davis said. "But both of them have to take advantage of their post position better than last year. We'll be faster than we were in the paint last year and, remember, when George blocked shots, we dominated games.

"Those guys could be 10-times better. Newton went home last summer because he was homesick and didn't make the commitment offensively. George has had flashes, but he got hurt and Odle took over his spot. It's scary how good they could be but it's scary how inconsistent they could be."

Indiana's perimeter is set, even with the departure of Fife. The Hoosiers will lean heavily on Tom Coverdale and Kyle Hornsby, but both will get pushed by incoming freshmen Bracey Wright and Marshall Strickland. A.J. Moye will be the glue guy, the small forward who will be a defensive stopper and rebounder. That leaves point Donald Perry, who had to fill in for the injured Coverdale in Atlanta, fighting for minutes or possibly redshirting until Coverdale is done after next season.

All this would allow Indiana to have more depth over its classes. Newton and Leach will start with incoming freshman Roderick Wilmont, returnees Mike Roberts and Sean Kline and possibly incoming freshman Daryl Pegram, although Pegram is a likely redshirt candidate. Everyone but Pegram, who is already planning to attend summer school at IU, and Strickland, who will workout some at home in Maryland, are expected to stay on campus this summer.

Still, Davis is focusing on three big men for the class of 2003 with the intention that he'll have to replace Leach and Newton. But he's hopeful he'll be finding newcomers to back two of the better big men he has coached, instead of two that never reached their potential under his watch.

Meanwhile, Indiana will have a slightly more of a balanced schedule after playing only two home games in Bloomington before New Year's Eve last season. The Hoosiers are in the Maui Invitational and still have to play Kentucky in Indianapolis, not to mention games at Louisville and Ball State. But the Hoosiers do get Southern Illinois, Vanderbilt and Charlotte at home, and are working on a few more games.

Indiana will play Maryland in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in either Indianapolis or Chicago. Davis said he's hoping for 15 home games instead of the 11 home games, 13 if the two Hoosier Classic games in Indianapolis are counted from last season.

	Homer Drew passed the reigns of Valpo on to his son.

All in the family
Homer Drew said he's as healthy as ever. He said he's not burned out. And he didn't pull a fast one by trying to get Scott Drew the job. Instead, Valparaiso president Alan Harre came to him, asking him to be a special assistant to the president. Drew said he just felt like it was time this week to make the move. So he did, and his son will likely carry on a strong tradition of winning at a lower profile school.

Like Gonzaga, Valparaiso is making a wise choice by keeping the program within "the family" of coaches. Gonzaga started this by having the head coaching position handed from Dan Fitzgerald to assistant Dan Monson to assistant Mark Few and eventually to assistant Bill Grier (it's in his contract).

Scott Drew didn't have it in his contract but it was understood that he would replace his father.

"After the Kentucky game (the loss in the NCAA first round) I felt like it could be a good time," Homer Drew said. "I've got a unique relationship with the president. We came in together 14 years ago. As time went on I realized I was ready for a new challenge."

Scott Drew has been instrumental in the foreign recruiting by the Crusaders, including landing Lubos Barton, who completed his eligibility in March. Valparaiso already has three strong commitments from the class of 2003.

"It's a nice transition," said Homer Drew in his always friendly, and genuine Ward Cleaver tone. "Scott got the recruits coming in and the time is right for him to be a head coach."

The younger Drew is 31, but that shouldn't be viewed as a deterrent.

"There is always going to be pressure in any good job," Scott Drew said. "But I really care about this program."

And that's why this should work. Coaching at a mid-major should be a passion and the Drew family has made Valparaiso a consistent winner. There's no reason to believe that will wane.

'Bama appealing Winston's eligibility
Alabama is in the midst of monitoring the appeal for Kennedy Winston to be eligible after getting his release from his national letter of intent at Cal. Cal coach Ben Braun forwarded a supporting letter, in light of Winston's decision to stay in Alabama due to his mother's illness. If Winston doesn't get a waiver from the NLI then he would have to sit out this coming season and lose a year of eligibility. If he does get a waiver then he's eligible in the fall to play as a freshman.

Meanwhile, Alabama is expecting Rod Grizzard to at least test the draft process. The junior forward has flirted with the idea with the coaching staff and it's only a matter of time before he puts his name into the draft. SEC player of the year, forward Erwin Dudley, isn't expected to declare.

Point Maurice Williams is only thinking about getting stronger and working on strengthening his body, according to Alabama coach Mark Gottfried. He said Williams has been committed to coming back stronger ever since the season ended. Williams will have a marquee matchup against Texas point T.J. Ford in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York in early November.

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