Virginia bound Kyle Guy will face soon-to-be Florida State Seminole CJ Walker in the first round of Sectional 10
The old guys will tell you that the one-class basketball tournament was better. Every generation, a team like Milan, Plymouth, or Delta would post an upset or four, and Indiana would rally around the underdogs.
I liked it too, but I love this one.
There would be dozens of other examples back in the day where the underdogs took their medicine and got crushed 87-12. Sad way to win, and an even worse way to end the careers of high school basketball players.
Truth be told, I would rather the IHSAA migrate to a two-class tournament, so fans of teams like New Albany and Floyd Central wouldn’t have to drive an hour to Seymour to watch the Bulldogs and Highlanders, but I still love the tournament.
Last night, the sectional draw was held in advance to the 2016 edition, and I can’t wait for this thing to get started.
Here are 10 reasons you should love the tournament too:
10 – The draw is old school cool. There are people who would like to see the tournament seeded, but I’m not one of them. The draw with ping pong balls is old school fun. The cabal of IHSAA leaders dump ping pong balls representing teams from each sectional into a lotto type machine, and read the results aloud as each ball pops up. I’m sure a computer program exists that could recreate the randomness of the ping pong balls, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. Continue reading →
Matt Painter and Tom Crean both need a win for their programs tomorrow night. Can’t wait.
The Hoosiers and Boilermakers aren’t exactly the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, but it has been a great rivalry on and off for more than a century.
Bob Knight throwing the chair, John Wooden playing for Piggy Lambert, the donkey on Knight’s TV show, Brad Miller and Steve Scheffler throwing forearm shivers to the throats of Hoosiers, Jay Edwards hitting a game-winner at Assembly Hall in 1989, Indiana winning the NIT in 1979 over Purdue and Purdue returning the postseason favor in 1980 by eliminating Indiana from the NCAA Tournament are but a few of the highlights of this historic programs.
Indiana and Purdue play basketball against each other at least once a year, and tomorrow is the lone regular season game between the two rivals for 2016
Regardless of the circumstance, it”s always fun to watch these two teams battle.
But this year, the stakes are extreme.
Here are the Top 10 reasons why this game might be the best renewal of the rivalry in 20 years:
10 – Matt Painter could use six weeks where lofty expectations are met. Purdue AD Morgan Burke is resigning in July, 2017, and that means a fresh pair of eyes will be trained on Purdue’s only athletic hope of positive marketing. In my mind, Painter should be Purdue’s basketball coach for as long as he enjoys the job, but I’m not likely to be the new athletic director at Purdue when Morgan Burke steps down. A fresh pair of eyes will be trained on Painter, and that could mean change if Painter’s resume’ doesn’t reflect upper tier status in the Big Ten. Continue reading →
Indiana is rolling right now and Thomas Bryant, Troy Williams, and Collin Hartman are happy, but the season isn’t over yet.
Indiana won again last night. They beat a short-staffed Nebraska team at Assembly Hall by 16, but a win is a win and because they have won 11 of 14 Big Ten games, the Hoosiers are tied for the conference lead with just four games left to play.
Some fans and media folks, including me, have been slow to climb aboard the Hoosier Express – a bandwagon that many are starting to believe will carry them all the way to the Final Four in Houston.
For every big win, like the thrashing of Michigan in Ann Arbor, there is a loss like the game at Penn State that perplexes.
There are plenty of questions about this Hoosiers team, but as we enter late February, there are also some answers.
Here are the top 10 burning questions about the Hoosiers – along with some answers:
10 – Has Tom Crean improved as a coach 17 years into his career? It seems he has. Gone are the complicated defensive schemes that seemed to scream, “Hey, look how smart the coach of this team is!” Cream seems to have embraced the axiom that simple strategies are easier to consistently execute. That shows confidence, which leads to improvement. Crean always seemed to be a guy who is compelled to yammer on and on as though the more he talks, the more sense he makes. This year, he’s allowing Yogi Ferrell to run the occasional timeout. That shows growth too. Continue reading →
We might have forgotten that Austin Etherington can shoot. Good thing Austin didn’t.
Going into last night’s game against Creighton, Butler’s Austin Etherington had scored in double figures exactly once in his five years as a college basketball career. Needing a win in the worst way, Etherington rained down 17 points to lead the Bulldogs to an 88-75 victory.
None of the shots made ESPN’s Sportscenter, but Etherington’s performance was among the most important and definitely the least likely of the night.
It’s not that Etherington isn’t a capable scorer; it’s that we haven’t seen him shoot like that since he was a senior at Hamilton Heights High School in 2011.
Etherington is one of my favorite guys in college basketball, and to see him enjoy a night like that in a crucial game validated my faith that good things happen to good people when they work hard and long enough.
Here are the 10 reasons I was absolutely thrilled for Etherington last night:
10 – Injury has never kept Etherington from pursuing his dream. Back issues, knee surgery, and assorted other aches and pains have never kept Etherington from pursuing his dream. Rehab is a lonely pursuit without immediate reward. It’s a painstaking process that may or may not eventually payoff. Etherington has worked through his issues not in the hopes of having a night like last night, but because working hard is what he does. A reward like last night is sweet though.
9 – Etherington is a glue guy. There are some athletes – or employees – whose primary contribution is not necessarily in what they can get done under the bright lights. They reinforce a culture of hard work and team-first behavior. Etherington has always been one of the guys who infuse a team with diligence and camaraderie.
8 – He is a testament to the wisdom of the grad transfer rule. The decision high school seniors make to attend a university and play for a coach is not always the right one. If they get their degrees with eligibility remaining, the NCAA allows them to revisit it to enjoy playing and studying somewhere else immediately. Etherington took advantage of that rule to follow in his Dad’s footsteps to Butler (where he played from 1987-1991) from Indiana, and has never looked back.
7 – Battling LeBryan Nash in an Indianapolis Summer Tournament. The first time I saw Etherington play was for Indiana Elite against a Dallas team that featured top 10 recruit Le’Bryan Nash, who went on to underachieve for Oklahoma State. Etherington was shorter, thinner, and less athletic than Nash, but he was a superior competitor who banged, poked, and prodded the highly touted Nash to the point where he virtually stopped playing.
6 – Etherington is even a good guy when lying to the media. After his last game with Indiana two years ago at the Big Ten Tournament, I asked about him being a leader for the Hoosiers next season. He claimed to be looking forward to the challenge, and then almost immediately announced his transfer to Butler. I normally don’t like being lied to, but telling the truth in that circumstance would have been ridiculous.
5 – Was generous with his time as a Hamilton Heights senior-to-be. Before hosting a radio show, I used to interview people on video for this website. After committing to IU, Etherington was very generous with his time in talking to me for almost an hour. He was open, honest, and trusted me to represent him well (see below for a piece of the talk).
4 – 17 points in 17 minutes as Etherington rises to the occasion. On a night when the Bulldogs absolutely had to have a win, Etherington reached into his long dormant offensive bag of tricks to give Butler an unexpected push. Usually a hustle guy who defends, Etherington found a way to score a point per minute like he often did at Hamilton Heights. When the story of the 2016 Butler team is written, Kellen Dunham, Kelon Martin, and Roosevelt Jones will have their own chapters, but Etherington’s unexpected offensive excellence might have been the difference between a trip to the NCAA and NIT.
3 – Etherington got a flush last night to go with his long distance calls. Twelve of Etherington’s points last night came on four three-pointers in five attempts. There were three free throws too. The two points left over came on a reminder that the white kid who can shoot and defend is also capable of occasional elevation that allows him to dunk with a little ferocity. This wasn’t an Aaron Gordon special, but it was a message that Etherington isn’t quite ready for the industrial league.
2 – In an era when one-and-dones get all the love, Etherington is a hardworking five-and-done. Etherington found a way to be the most efficient player on the court las night in a game between two major conference teams looking forward to playing in the NCAA Tournament. He got no run on ESPN for his effort as he is as unlikely as I am to play in the NBA, but there was no player in college basketball more important last night. He plays because he loves to. Nice to see people like that taste success.
1 – He’s first into Hinkle for practice. Showing up early for a chance to get better is a big deal for me, whatever the vocation. When I come to Hinkle Fieldhouse for pre-practice interviews, Etherington is always getting shots up before anyone else. Work hard, and your chance will come. Last night was Etherington’s chance, and he took advantage of it. Without him getting up all those extra shots, Butler’s chances to play in the NCAA Tournament might have taken a serious hit last night.
Here’s Austin in a piece from the interview almost six years ago.
Cam Newton and Peyton Manning have a lot of differences before we ever get to race.
Anytime a black man and white man occupy the same space, there are going to be comparisons fueled by race. Sadly, that’s what we do and who we are.
Peyton Manning and Cam Newton are NFL quarterbacks who faced off nine days ago in Super Bowl 50. Manning is white and Newton black. Manning has been named in a lawsuit against the University of Tennessee due to a 1996 incident, and Newton acted like a child when he lost the Super Bowl.
Many are claiming a double standard based on race as Manning is given a pass for his 20-year-old immature act.
Here are 10 ways Newton and Manning are dissimilar beyond their skin color that affect perception of their behavior:
10 – Manning’s goofy looking without athletic gifts; Newton is an adonis. Maybe it’s unfair, but Manning’s goofiness makes his seem more human. He runs funny, can’t throw it harder than most high school quarterbacks, and has a head the size of a Smart Car. Newton is movie star handsome, runs with the strength and grace of a puma, and can make every throw. He is physically superhuman. Continue reading →
The question isn’t whether IU has trouble early in the 2nd half or how important that period is – it’s whether Tom Crean is to blame.
Indiana lost at Michigan State Sunday, and the murmurs about Tom Crean being overmatched started again. Most of the time, I dismiss them as fans who watch and react with passion to what they see and understand about basketball, which often is not much.
I saw some tweets about second half adjustments that appear to be lacking, and thought to dig back a couple of years to see how Indiana fares during the first five minutes of the second half as compared to the rest of the game.
Many Indiana fans recall Bob Knight saying the first five minutes of the second half is the most important stretch of the game. They infer a lack of success during that period equates to Tom Crean being out schemed by his counterparts because Knight was often quite good at it. Continue reading →
Yogi Ferrell has become an effective leader for the Hoosiers as they battle for a Big Ten title.
Indiana built a 16-point first half lead last night, lost it very quickly, and righted the ship to win by seven over Big Ten leading Iowa. If you went to bed and 9:30p, you think Indiana can go to the Final Four. If you watched from 9:30p to 10:30p, you think IU would be lucky to win a game in the NIT. If you got home at 10:30p and watched the last 10 minutes, you believe the Hoosiers will win the Big Ten.
The jury of Indiana fans has always been split on Tom Crean as the leader of Indiana Universities most important vehicle for brand awareness, but this team has embodied an extension of that duality. Fans love the Hoosiers. Fans are frustrated by the Hoosiers.
Here are the top 10 reasons why Indiana is worthy of both admiration AND frustration:
10 – GO IU – Good Troy Williams. Troy is capable of highlight reel dunks, disruptive defense, and functioning as part of a team that can overwhelm opponents by quickly turning aggressive defense into efficient offense. As a rebounder, Troy can change a game. His five offensive rebounds both last night against Iowa and Notre Dame (IU’s two biggest wins) changed those games. Continue reading →
Yes, NCAA president Mark Emmert, my brain must be that big to have this many great ideas!
Yesterday, the NCAA took a step toward what I perceive to be logic as it decided the Tuesday and Wednesday games that begin the NCAA Tournament will no longer be referred to as “the first round.”
I’ve been yelping about this since 2011 when the NCAA decided the play-in games deserved the “first round” distinction. For the coaches and players of the First Four (what the NCAA is now asking people to call the play-in games), the NCAA Tournament starts on that Tuesday or Wednesday. For the rest of us, it starts on Thursday with the field of 64 as our brackets go live.
Congratulations to the NCAA for recognizing that while they might run March Madness, they cannot pull America kicking and screaming into referring to the play-in games as anything more than a cash grab contrivance that allows participation by an extra four teams.
Yesterday at 3:05p, I groused for the final time about my disdain for “first round” being used relative to the Tuesday and Wednesday games. At 3:30p, the NCAA’s David Worlock released news of the change. I have inferred from that timing that I am very powerful. Finally, someone is listening, so now I press my advantage with more ideas.
Here are 10 additional changes I am strongly suggesting the NCAA make to college basketball:
10 – Eliminate non-TV timeouts. Who enjoys and employs timeouts? Not the fans. Not the players. Timeouts are for coaches. Why is this system built for the pleasure of the coaches? When did someone decide coaches are the most important constituency in college (or professional) athletics. Players aren’t there for the coaches, or they shouldn’t be. The coaches should be there for the players. And if fans are going to have to donate tens of thousands of dollars to a university for the right to buy tickets, their enjoyment should be considered as well. Continue reading →
Myles Turner is one of many reasons we love watching basketball in Indiana this winter.
Basketball is Indiana’s game, and rarely have we enjoyed a season across levels as competitive and fun as this one.
Regardless of the level, basketball in Indiana has never given fans more reason for hope as the season heads toward its third act. The Pacers could win multiple playoff series, or miss the postseason entirely. The college teams in Indiana each has a chance to play in and advance during the NCAA Tournament – or find their way to the NIT. Area high school teams each seem to have at least one outstanding player worth the cost of admission.
Here are the top 10 reasons basketball is at its zenith in a state that has seen plenty of great basketball over the last century:
10 – Indiana could send eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. A couple of years ago, Indiana’s Division One basketball programs were shut out of March Madness. It looked like excellence in the game Indiana calls its own had escaped its borders. This year, each of the 10 programs has a legitimate chance to go dancing. Sadly, only one of the two Summit League entries (IUPUI and IPFW) can punch its ticket, and the same is true for Missouri Valley Conference teams (Indiana State, Evansville) who can win the conference tourney but will not get an at-large bid. Butler, Indiana, Purdue, Notre Dame, Valpo, and Ball State are also good enough to earn a spot in the field of 68.
9 – Matt Painter has rescued his own program. The siren song of recruiting to athleticism instead of culture was too strong for Painter to ignore a few years ago as he tried to find the right combination of players to get the Boilermakers to a Final Four for the first time since 1980. Purdue spun out of control, and appeared destined to pursue a change in leadership. Painter responded by admitting his mistake, changing focus toward high school players he was excited about working with, and the result has been worth the wait.
8 – Yogi Ferrell is finally leading at Indiana. Tom Crean figured out the best way to getting great leadership out of a young man like Yogi Ferrell is to take a step back. Bob Knight did it with Isiah Thomas in 1981, and Crean has ceded enough control over the Hoosiers to allow Yogi to flourish in that role. It might be interesting moving forward to see if the adjustment will be temporary if Indiana can’t beat Iowa tomorrow night or Michigan State in East Lansing this Sunday.
7 – Myles Turner is becoming a star. The 19-year-old first round pick has longtime fans wondering just how bright the future might be for a guy who scored a head-scratching two points in 16 nondescript minutes not quite 11 months ago for Texas against Butler in the NCAA Tournament. Turner appears skilled, dedicated, and determined as he continues to take big leaps forward in his development as a pro. The sky seems to be the limit, but fans more immediate interest is exactly what Turner might contribute during a playoff run.
6 – There is no #1 team in the country. Eight different teams received at least one first place vote in either the media or coaches poll this week. I’ve never seen that in February. Experts say there are 30 teams in college basketball capable of winning the NCAA Tournament, and that number is likely higher. The lack of a dominant team means opportunity for your favorite team no matter how unlikely success might appear today. No team in college basketball appears capable of winning six straight games against tournament caliber talent, but one will.
5 – Purdue checks all the boxes. When Purdue focuses defensively, and shoots it well on the other end – funny how those two things are connected – the Boilermakers can beat anybody. They have size unlike anyone in college hoops, and the wings are very capable on both ends. Among the 30 teams that can win a National Championship, Purdue is as good a bet as anyone.
4 – High school excellence is wide spread. Let’s not forget the high school basketball being played in Indiana. It’s stellar. There are potential Indiana All-Stars and high D-1 talent in almost every area gym working on their games right now as they prepare for sectionals. Kris Wilkes, Paul Scruggs, Joey Brunk, Zach Gunn, Kevin Easley Jr, C.J. Walker, Kyle Guy, Jaren Jackson, and many more are worth the price of admission and then some. If you get especially ambitious, head south to New Albany to see Romeo Langford, who is as good as anyone in Indiana as a sophomore.
3 – Butler players are learning about more than throwing a ball through a hoop. This season has been challenging and then some for Butler coach Chris Holtmann. Former Bulldog Andrew Smith was taken far too soon after fighting cancer, and not a month later assistant coach Emerson Kampen’s six-month old son passed away. Allowing his team to grieve while preparing to compete in the deep and very talented Big East has required a deft touch from a superb mentor and human being.
2 – Pacers could roll one way or another. The Pacers appear capable of playing basketball well enough to beat any team in the NBA, or with the indifference necessary to lose to any of the bottom feeders. Still finding a collective personality, the Pacers could head toward greatness or fall into abject mediocrity. Paul George can thrill with versatile and devout defense, or frustrate with sloppy turnovers. He’s nowhere near alone in being capable of both so much and so little.
1 – Win or lose, Hoosiers fans win. For those Indiana fans who are frustrated with Tom Crean’s leadership as coach of their program, a win means their favorite team won. A loss means that maybe Indiana fails to the point where Crean is replaced by a coach capable of getting them to the national relevance the program enjoyed when they were young. Few can argue that Crean has been more effective this season than during any of his eight years in Bloomington, but this season could bend in a variety of ways with seven games left in the regular season.
Can’t wait to see how this season is going to end.
