The Associated Press

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Mike Davis knows the formula: Win at home, steal a few on the road, and a second straight Big Ten title should be within reach of his 18th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers.

Simple, yes, but not easy.

"I told our guys we have three home games in a row, and if we take care of home, we'll be 4-1 and in first place," Davis said.

He, of course, is counting on the road through the Big Ten being filled with potholes. Road teams have combined to go just 3-12 in the first two weeks of the conference season, and Davis wants to make sure his Hoosiers (12-3, 2-1) add to that statistic today.

No.8 Illinois (12-2, 2-1) already has won once on the road, a 76-70 victory at Minnesota on Jan. 7, and could take a significant step toward a Big Ten crown by winning in Bloomington.

Although it's early, the Hoosiers understand Davis' message - Indiana must protect its home court, especially against contenders such as Illinois and Ohio State, whom the Hoosiers host next week.

"Whether it's Northwestern, Illinois, Duke or Davidson, we've got to fight," A.J. Moye said. "It's no secret. You look up and down the top 10, the Top 25, and I guarantee you 90 percent of those teams play hard every night."

MOUNT ST. MARY'S: Milan Brown will become the Mountaineers' coach after Jim Phelan retires at the end of this season.

Brown signed a three-year contract that will take effect July 1.

WASHINGTON: Freshman swingman Brandon Roy was ruled academically eligible by the NCAA and can play immediately.

Roy applied for last spring's NBA draft out of high school but didn't attend predraft camps and withdrew his application before the draft. He averaged 22.3 points and 10.4 rebounds as a senior at Seattle's Garfield High School.