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Facing recruiting violations, Indiana hosts Michigan State

Feb 16, 2008 - 11:27 AM No. 9 Michigan St (20-4) at No. 12 Indiana (20-4) 9:00 pm EST

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana (Ticker) - At a time most schools are preparing for March Madness, Indiana's program is forced to contemplate its immediate future.

In the wake of recruiting violations uncovered by the NCAA over the past week, the 12th-ranked Hoosiers will host No. 9 Michigan State in Big Ten Conference action Saturday.

In a report released by the NCAA prior to Indiana's 68-66 home loss to Wisconsin on Wednesday, Hoosiers coach Kelvin Sampson is alleged to have misled the school and investigators by "repeatedly" providing "false or misleading information."

Overall, the NCAA listed five major violations, including the non-observance of restrictions that were imposed on the Hoosiers because of Sampson's previous NCAA violations while at Oklahoma.

Major violations of NCAA rules - as opposed to "secondary" violations - can lead to such sanctions as a ban on postseason play.

"It is regrettable to say the least that we are in this position, to respond to these allegations which have been made principally as it relates to several of our men's basketball coaches in the conduct of their duties as employees of Indiana University," athletic director Rick Greenspan said.

While the situation has made Sampson's hold on his job tenuous, he will be on the bench as the Hoosiers (20-4, 9-2 Big Ten) look to extend their three-game home winning streak against the Spartans.

Michigan State (20-4, 8-3) also is coming off a loss in its last game - a 60-54 road setback against conference-leading Purdue (20-5, 11-1) on Tuesday.

Freshman guard Kalin Lucas scored 20 points to lead the Spartans, who could not overcome 17 turnovers against the Boilermakers.