Editor's note: The Weekly Word will return on the week of Sept. 30.

Forget about Mike Davis' motivational coaching and his freelance offense for a minute. Ignore Tom Coverdale's toughness, and yet another 3-point threat in incoming freshman guard Bracey Wright.

If Indiana had any shot to get back to the Final Four, let alone compete for a share of the Big Ten title with expected favorite Michigan State, senior forwards Jeffrey Newton and George Leach had to get better this summer.

	Jeff Newton needs to provide numbers like those against OU on a consistent basis this season.

They had to get stronger. They had to work.

No excuses.

If they slacked off this summer, the Hoosiers simply wouldn't be as good come this fall. It was a must, with all-everything forward Jared Jeffries leaving early for the NBA, and reserve blender Jared Odle and defensive gem Dane Fife also gone from Bloomington.

Newton and Leach knew it. Davis implored it.

And, without an independent eyewitness to verify it, they all say they did it.

The 6-foot-11 Leach gained 22 pounds, checking in at 247, although he said through conditioning he's down to a leaner 240. The 6-9 Newton added 10 pounds to get to 220.

"It's the most I've ever worked," Leach said.

"It's the most work I've done, it's not even close," Newton said.

Leach worked on his agility, tried to develop a money move, preferably a baby hook. Newton took jumper after jumper, sometimes as many as 700 a day.

Or so they say.

NCAA rules kept Davis from watching over his big men during the summer, but Davis believes what he's been hearing. If it's the truth, and it has to be if the Hoosiers are going to be where he hopes they can be come March, the Hoosiers may just survive the loss of Jeffries.

"They are the key to us having a good basketball season," said Davis said. "We would have two guys who can block shots, run the floor and give us 30 minutes of consistent play."

Newton's chore was to pick up weight and shoot the basketball because Davis' offense uses the big man to make shots facing the basket. Jeffries, and Kirk Haston the previous season, benefited from the offense. Leach, meanwhile, simply has to rebound and play defense. If Davis can get eight-plus points out of him a game, then Leach is giving him the necessary production.

And that's not too much to ask.

Newton (8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) was arguably the Hoosiers' most productive player on the court in the national semifinal win over Oklahoma. He scored a season-high 19 points, making 7 of 10 shots and 5 of 8 free throws, to prove that he can draw fouls and convert. Newton was a factor in the first two rounds, too, scoring 15 against Utah and 11 against UNC-Wilmington. He wasn't as effective, though, against Kent State (four points) in the Elite Eight and Maryland (2 of 7 for six points) in the national title game loss.

Consistency and a reliable shot from Newton will be a must prior to the Hoosiers first game against UMass in the Maui Invitational. But Newton could have taken the easy way out, gone home to Atlanta like he did every previous summer and be a bit lax about his routine. Instead, he was Leach's sparring partner every day in Bloomington, the first time both had stayed on campus all summer.

"I've gradually gotten better while I've been here but I didn't understand what it took to be good at this level," Newton said. "I could have just gone home and had fun with my friends this summer. But I saw in the postseason last year a glimpse of what I was capable of doing. I don't see a reason why I can't do that. I already know what I'm capable of and now I have to show everybody else in the country."

Having Leach as a practice partner gave Newton the most athletic big man in the Big Ten to post-up every day. Newton benefited, but Leach got just as much out of it. Still, he has always been an offensive liability. Leach (2.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.4 bpg) played six inspiring minutes in the win over Oklahoma, blocking two shots and scoring three points. He was, to put it mildly, a bit player with loads of untapped potential, which Leach says he's finally ready to tap into this season.

"I've never given myself to a sport like I did this summer," Leach said. "We both knew that we had to be ready this year."

Leach, who'll be a senior this season, has even more incentive. He wants to play two more seasons. He didn't qualify as a freshman, but can earn back his fourth season of eligibility if he graduates in a year. He said he's taking 15 credit hours this semester and six next to be on track to graduate.

Davis is counting on Leach graduating, so he doesn't have to fill his spot with a big man in the class of 2003. And after hearing the stories of his work ethic, visiting with him, and seeing him in individual workouts as school started this week, Davis isn't betting against him.

Both finished their summer homework with above average grades. But the true test won't come until Maui and beyond, including a rematch with Maryland in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge in Indianapolis.

This much we know: Coverdale will lead by example and not back down at the point. Wright will knock down shots on the wing. And A.J. Moye will defend with the best small forwards in the country. The bench is solid with scoring guards Kyle Hornsby and Marshall Strickland, along with reserve point Donald Perry. Add Newton's offense and Leach's shot-bocking and rebounding, and the Hoosiers are capable of making another run in March.

But Newton and Leach had to do their part over the summer.

The word is that they did.

UMass shaping up under Lappas

	Lappas and the Minutemen could challenge Xavier.

Steve Lappas' gamble of redshirting 6-8 senior forward Jackie Rogers in his first season looks like it paid off. Rogers is more of an offensive player and ready to be a difference maker for UMass this season.

The Minutemen could have used Rogers' likely improved scoring (6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg in 2000-01), but it wasn't worth having him ready to be a breakout scorer in 2002-03.

"He's become a much stronger player and has improved his jump shot," Lappas said. "There's no doubt he would have helped us last year with our young guys. Could he have helped us win a few more games? Yes. Would he have been a difference maker? No. But this year he could be."

The Minutemen (13-16, 6-10 in the Atlantic 10) would have had a chance at .500 with Rogers, but wouldn't have been an NCAA Tournament team. They've got a legit shot this season where they may have the best chance to challenge league favorite Xavier, or at least be the second-best team. And it's not just because of Rogers.

Lappas picked up Connecticut transfer guard Marcus Cox, too, who will give the Minutemen another experienced starter. Point guard Anthony Anderson (3.4 apg, 2.2 tpg) is making fewer mistakes in pickup games, which may or may not have an affect on his decision-making when the season starts. But Lappas is hopeful he's getting a more mature Anderson, one who is ready to be an impact A-10 player. Guard Raheim Lamb improved his shot over the summer, and if 6-11 center Micah Brand (9.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg) can find that consistent streak then "we could be pretty good," said Lappas.

UMass has the usual collection of power-rating, non-conference games that will give it a shot for an at-large berth if it takes care of business in the A-10. UMass plays Indiana to open the Maui Invitational where a game against either Gonzaga or Utah awaits on the second day. The Minutemen play host to Boston College (Dec. 7), are at Connecticut (Dec. 10), host N.C. State (Jan. 2) and play at Tennessee (Feb. 5).

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