Sampsonite Rejects -- Where are they now?

Here's a look at nine players that were on IU's basketball rosters in the last couple years...

1. JAMARCUS ELLIS --- The 6-5 senior forward is playing at Oklahoma City University, the No. 1 ranked NAIA team in the nation. He's the second leading scorer on the team through five games with a 15.8 scoring average and he's averaging 4.5 rebounds. He has made two starts and is averaging 32.5 minutes per game. His Oklahoma City University team has a couple of other familiar names on it, too. Former Illinois player Rodney Alexander is a senior forward, as is 6-10 senior center Ricardo De Ben from Texas Tech.

2. DeANDRE THOMAS --- When he left Indiana, everyone said that DeAndre the Giant was headed to Robert Morris. There was some confusion, however, between the university in Pennsylania and the college in the Chicago area. The truth is Thomas is at Robert Morris College, an NAIA school in Chicago. The athletic department website doesn't give season statistics but a few stories on-line indicate that Thomas has had a couple of double-digit scoring nights in the early going. He had 14 against Calumet College of St. Joseph and 12 versus Indiana Wesleyan. The Eagles are 5-2 at this point of the season. The website lists him at 6-8 but doesn't give his weight. He still looks very large in the individual photo on the page.

3. BRANDON McGEE --- Brandon is at Auburn where he's sitting out this season and then will have three years of eligibility remaining. He's listed on Auburn's roster as a 6-7 220 pound sophomore.

4. JORDAN CRAWFORD --- Jordan is at Xavier, where he is also sitting out this season and then will have three years of eligibility remaining. He's listed at 6-4, 195.

5. ELI HOLMAN --- Eli followed Ray McCallum to Detroit Mercy and the 6-9, 250-pounder is also sitting out this season and will then have three years of eligiblity. There was talk that Holman might find a way to get eligible right away this season but that did not materialize.

6. ARMON BASSETT --- Bassett originally signed to play for Mike Davis at Indiana. Now, he will play his final two seasons for Davis at Alabama-Birmingham. The 6-1, 175-pounder will sit out this season and then have two years remaining.

7. XAVIER KEELING --- X played for IU in Kelvin Sampson's first season and then transferred to Wallace State (Ala.) Community College. He then transferred to Detroit Mercy when Ray McCallum became the coach, and through five games is the Titans' leading scorer with a 12.8 average. He is also averaging 6.6 rebounds. He had 21 points and nine rebounds the other night in a 62-57 victory over Saint Louis University. He's listed on the roster as a 6-7, 235-pound junior forward.

8. JOEY SHAW --- Joey played a year of JUCO ball out west after leaving Indiana following Sampson's first season. He's now listed as a 6-6, 205-pound junior forward at the University of Nevada. He's averaging 9.8 points and 4 rebounds in 21.8 minutes of playing time for the Wolfpack. He has a season-high 16 points against San Diego, and had 15 points in a 79-71 victory over Oregon State.

9. BEN ALLEN --- Allen played two seasons at Indiana before sitting out last year at Saint Mary's in California. This season, the 6-11, 250-pound center is averaging 5.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14 minutes of action per game. He hit double figures in scoring with 10 against Fresno State and 10 points and six rebounds against Vanguard. The Gaels are 5-1 this season.

via Hutch

SNL's digital short: Jizz In My Pants

Hoosiers Announce new AD: Fred Glass

It looks like the hometown hero Fred Glass beat out OregonSt's AD Bob DeCarolis and Varsity Club Dir. Scott Dolson.

► Zeke's Suicide attempt = FAIL
► Colts lose their divisional reign on MNF
► Irish Send Ty Willingham to early retirement after blowing out the Huskies
► Basketball Hoosiers are preseason-ranked 11th by everyone, which means zero expectations for a whole year. That being said, I think Pritchard and Dumes could reach All-BigTen level, but question is how soon? I'll be witnessing that sitting courtside flossin my new IU jacket
► Football Hoosiers defeated #22 ranked Northwestern during Homecoming in Bloomington this Saturday, consisting of a glorious tailgate featuring dozens of former housemates, hundreds of familiar faces, thousands of drunk coeds, an appearance by the GIN Bucket, a few hot cups of my new favorite cider: wassail, some pretty good seats and best of all: my new gf, Melissa.
More shenanigans expected this weekend with Spear, Tian, J-Dub, Jilly, Linds, and Somey all coming back to Indy to join MelD, Deter and I @ the Pacers game, the Blues Traveler concert, some drunk bowling, trick-or-treating, video games... maybe even some Denny's - I dunno if we're gonna have enough time!!

"Kanye West - Heartless" = instant classic

I Am Joe The Plumber

Witness the first 24 hours of life

With a newly developed microscope that uses a sheet of light to scan a living organism from many different dimensions, scientists were able to track the complex cellular organization of a zebrafish embryo as it grows from a single cell to 20,000 cells. "Imagine following all inhabitants of a town over the course of one day using a telescope in space..."

New school Pacers return to their roots

The Pacers begin anew tonight tipping off their preseason home opener at The Pepsi Coliseum, a house that has welcomed Mel Daniels, George McGinnis, Roger Brown, Slick Leonard, Connie Hawkins, Rick Barry, Julius Erving, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin and hoisted 3 ABA Titles. Larry Bird is actually carrying the torch of another bird... Bill Byrd. Now 62 and designing websites, IndyStar relives the past with him some 30+ years ago. Here's a nice excerpt...

After the 1973 season, the ABA champion Pacers played the NBA champion Knicks at a time when the leagues were competing for players. The Knicks of Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Willis Reed, Dave DeBusschere and Bill Bradley won the NBA title, beating the Los Angeles Lakers with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain.

"The Knicks came into town the night before and we had a little event, and Bill Bradley got up and kind of made fun of Indianapolis and the Pacers. The night of the game, Roger Brown said, 'Let me have Bradley.' "Roger hit him with 26 points in the first half and by the end of the third quarter, we had them down 17." The Pacers won and moved into Market Square Arena for the '74-'75 season. By 1976, the ABA and NBA had finally merged.

ND Irish confidence highest in 20+ moons

The Domers gained their third win in September after winning just as many games overall last season.
Sophomore Armando Allen led the ground attack and Freshman Michael Floyd emerged as a go-to receiver, all while Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate both gave dazzling performances. The defense held Purdue's Kory Sheets to just 87 yards rushing and #12 Robert Blanton even returned one of Curits Painter's passes for a TD. Coach Charlie Weis called this win "huge... even bigger than the steak I had last night".

EJ and DJ dunkfest

I'd say we're a long way from having another NBA draft in which multiple Hoosiers are chosen in the 1st Round (2011?), so I turn you to YouTube so that you may enjoy the memories...

Colts Run D just got worse

Early this morning Ed Johnson was pulled over on I-465 in Hamilton County (surprise!) for speeding. Instead of rolling down his window to speak with the officer, Mr Johnson instead tried communicating through the car's sunroof. His excuse: new tint on the windows. Reality: he just hot-boxed his whip.
Police brought in a dog to sniff the situation out and found ~10 grams of pot in his center console. This isn't the first time the Defensive Tackle has been in trouble with the law, although it is his first arrest since joining the NFL last summer. At Penn State (yeah, he's one of the 49) he was suspended 3 times including the 2007 Outback Bowl game for charges including battery, confinement, possession, etc. Obviously, no NFL teams wanted to draft the troubled All-American Honorable Mention, but Bill Polian decided to give him a chance as an unrestricted free agent. He and Tony Dungy told Ed what he needed to do, or not do, in order to remain an Indianapolis Colt.
Basically he violated the terms of his probation, so to speak. Now the Colts are left with a depleted defensive line for the 3rd consecutive year. First it was DT Corey Simon and his 'diagnosis' - not to mention the legal battle for his undeserved paycheck. Then last year it was DT Anthony 'Booger' McFarland injuring himself in training camp, forcing the Colts to place him on the IR and eventually waive him. Additionally, last year's 3rd round draft pick DT Quinn Pitcock abruptly retired before camp this summer at the tender age of 24.
DE Robert Mathis no longer has the luxury of getting rest as Raheem Brock's backup; Brock will be moved from LE back to his original position at DT, alongside 2nd-year player Keyunta Dawson. This movement allows DE Curtis Johnson to be elevated to 2nd string, and DT Darrell Reid should get more playing time other than just special teams.

Hoosiers 2009 class ranks top 5 nationally

Christian Watford joins Bobby Capobianco, Derek Elston, Maurice Creek and Jordan Hulls as incoming freshman committed to playing basketball for Tom Crean and the Indiana Hoosiers starting next Fall. Rivals had previously ranked IU in the top 10 in the nation before Watford made his announcement and now has them at #4. Bob Gibbons says they may be right there with UNC's #1 '09 class - and that's without including the addition of Georgetown transfer Jeremiah Rivers (Doc's son), who won't be eligible to play until after this season.
The depth at forward, however, will be missed this year during Crean's inaugural season of the 10-yr contract. The Hoosiers new Head Coach takes over a program in which only 1 scholarship player remains from the Sampson Error, and even he (Taber) is a former walk-on.
Hopefully no additional NCAA penalties await us from the impermissible phone calls and the alarming dropout rate.

Bonus (via InsideTheHall): BAWA!!!

Colts announce 53-man roster

Among those released were 6 players who played for the Colts last season – Aromashodu, Charleston, Condren, Keith, Toudouze and Worsley.

Devin Aromashodu caught seven passes for 96 yards last season, while Jeff Charleston started three games and had a sack. Tatt'd-up Brannon Condren, last year's 4th round selection, had 2 INTs this month but just 2 tackles total last season. Keith, a former CFL stud, rushed for over 500 yds and scored 3 TDs.

All 9 players selected in the 08 Draft – G Mike Pollak, LB Philip Wheeler, TE Jacob Tamme, DE Marcus Howard, RB Mike Hart, WR Pierre Garcon, G Steve Justice and C/G Jamey Richard – made the 53-man roster, as did 4 rookie free agents: DE Curtis Johnson, LB Jordan Senn, safety Jamie Silva and DT Eric Foster.

Wide receiver Courtney Roby, the former Indiana Hoosier and Tennessee Titan, also made the 53-man roster.

Beijing, Da Luc and motivational posters

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Colts vs. Bills

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Indianapolis Indians' Nyjer Morgan steals 5 bases

Last night's Indy Indians game was a picturesque, serene August evening complete with postgame fireworks, but Nyjer Morgan provided the real fireworks.
Approaching the plate as leadoff in the first inning, the outfielder drew a walk - then proceeded to steal 2nd base, 3rd base and eventually home. The next inning Morgan doubled and stole 3rd. Two innings later he recorded his FIFTH stolen base of the game, matching a club-record dating back to 1936. The former hockey player hit .305 last year with Indy and .299 with the Pittsburgh Pirates in September.
Eric Gordon Jr will be throwing out the first pitch tonight at Victory Field in a game also featuring future star Andrew McCutchen.

The largest sporting event in the world isn't the Olympics

Gotta love this guy's enthusiasm as he experiences the Indy 500 for the first time:

This Memorial Day, VBS and a few hundred thousand other folks crowded into the Indianapolis Speedway to watch cars whip around in circles. It's the largest single-day sporting event in the world. I certainly didn't understand why the Indy 500 drew nearly half a million folks to Indianapolis each year. We'd always kind of assumed car-racing of any sort was lame and boring, but then we took an RV out to the middle of the the Rust Belt and found ourselves in the midst of one of the biggest, most out-of-control parties of our lives. The Indy 500 is a four-day-long bender cleverly disguised as a sporting event. People show up from all over the damn place, throw their RV in a reserved spot in the endless mudpit/lot, and immediately get gravely serious about having a great time. These folks have been waiting for this weekend all year, and all the built-up excitement instantly bubbles over into a rager the likes of which makes Super Bowl week look like a tea party with stuffed animals. I've honestly never seen anything like it. And when a race breaks out in the middle of this madness, well, it's impossible not to care. You're just swept up in the whole mess and all of the sudden you're ten Miller Lights deep, screaming specific things at someone going 200 miles an hour in the loudest car you've ever heard as if he can hear you or you know what you're talking about. I no longer skip racing highlights on ESPN, nor will I ever again. Viva the Indy 500 and partying; we have a new national pastime, folks.

vbs.tv/video.php?id=1138096780

I-69 to link Mexico & Canada

Ground finally broke on the final link to North America's transcontinental superhighway, directly connecting Windsor to South Padre. And in case you were wondering, that's about a 30 hr drive.

33 Olympians with Indiana ties, including 15 from IU and ND

DIVING

David Boudia
• Age: 19.
• Hometown: Noblesville
• Note: Performing world's most difficult list, he won World Cup bronze medal in February.
• Schedule: Synchro platform Aug. 11, platform prelims and semifinals Aug. 22, platform final Aug. 23.

Kelci Bryant
• Age: 19.
• Hometown: Carmel
• Note: Illinois native was state champ for Harrison High. She and Ariel Rittenhouse won World Cup bronze in synchro springboard.
• Schedule: Synchro 3-meter Aug. 10.

Mary Beth Dunnichay
• Age: 15.
• Hometown: Elwood
• Note: Youngest U.S. Olympian won Pan Am Games bronze in synchro platform with Haley Ishimatsu.
• Schedule: Synchro platform Aug. 12.

Thomas Finchum
• Age: 18.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: Nearly made Olympics as tiny 14-year-old. He has grown (to 6-1), and so has his skill.
• Schedule: Synchro platform Aug. 11, platform prelims and semifinals Aug. 22, platform final Aug. 23.

Haley Ishimatsu
• Age: 15.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: Californian is internationally experienced despite age. Medal contender in platform and synchro.
• Schedule: Synchro platform Aug. 12, platform prelims and semifinals Aug. 20, platform final Aug. 21.

Christina Loukas
• Age: 22.
• Hometown: Bloomington
• Note: IU diver nearly medaled at World Cup, finishing fourth on springboard.
• Schedule: 3-meter prelims Aug. 15, semifinals Aug. 16, final Aug. 17.

Ariel Rittenhouse
• Age: 17.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: Californian is upholding family tradition. Her mother and uncle were Olympians.
• Schedule: Synchro 3-meter Aug. 10.

TRACK & FIELD

Amy Yoder Begley
• Age: 30.
• Hometown: Kendallville
• Note: East Noble and Arkansas grad made courageous run to qualify in 10,000.
• Schedule: Final Aug. 15.

Amber Campbell
• Age: 27.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: Pike grad was second in hammer throw at U.S. trials. She is a personal trainer in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• Schedule: Prelims Aug. 17 and final Aug. 20.

Leroy Dixon
• Age: 24.
• Hometown: South Bend
• Note: Former state champ won 400 relay gold at 2007 worlds. He is in relay pool again.
• Schedule: 400 relay prelims Aug. 21 and final Aug. 22.

David Neville
• Age: 24.
• Hometown: Merrillville
• Note: Ex-IU 400-meter sprinter trains under coach John Smith in Los Angeles. Could win gold medal in 1,600 relay.
• Schedule: 400 heats Aug. 17, semifinals Aug. 19 and final Aug. 21; 1,600 relay heats Aug. 22 and final Aug. 23.

Kara Patterson
• Age: 22.
• Hometown: Vancouver, Wash.
• Note: Purdue javelin thrower's 202-foot toss ranks No. 2 in U.S. history. She won U.S. trials.
• Schedule: Prelims Aug. 18 and final Aug. 21.

Aarik Wilson
• Age: 25.
• Hometown: Fallon, Nev.
• Note: Former NCAA indoor champ at IU. Ranked No. 4 in world in triple jump in 2007 and won U.S. trials in 2008.
• Schedule: Prelims Aug. 17 and final Aug. 21.

GYMNASTICS

Samantha Peszek
• Age: 16.
• Hometown: McCordsville
• Note: Member of 2007 world champs. Fourth in all-around at nationals and Olympic trials.
• Schedule: team prelims Aug. 10 and final Aug. 13.

Bridget Sloan
• Age: 16.
• Hometown: Pittsboro
• Note: After being alternate at 2007 worlds, she made team at final selection camp.
• Schedule: team prelims Aug. 10 and final Aug. 13.

FENCING

Kelley Hurley
• Age: 20.
• Hometown: San Antonio
• Note: Notre Dame female fencer is NCAA and junior world champion in epee.
• Schedule: Individual epee Aug. 13.

Gerek Meinhardt
• Age: 18.
• Hometown: San Francisco
• Note: Notre Dame recruit has Chinese mother. In 2006, at 16, he became youngest U.S. foil champion.
• Schedule: Individual foil Aug. 13.

Mariel Zagunis
• Age: 23.
• Hometown: Beaverton, Ore.
• Note: Defending women's gold medalist in sabre sat out at Notre Dame this year to prepare for Olympics.
• Schedule: Individual sabre Aug. 9 and team sabre Aug. 14.

SOCCER

Shannon Boxx
• Age: 30.
• Hometown: Redondo Beach, Calif.
• Note: Notre Dame graduate is among world's top defensive midfielders.
• Schedule: Aug. 6 vs. Norway, Aug. 9 vs. Japan, Aug. 12 vs. New Zealand, Aug. 15 quarterfinals, Aug. 18 semifinals, Aug. 21 medal round.

Lauren Cheney
• Age: 20.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: UCLA forward from Ben Davis replaced injured Abby Wambach. A potent scorer near the goal.
• Schedule: Aug. 6 vs. Norway, Aug. 9 vs. Japan, Aug. 12 vs. New Zealand, Aug. 15 quarterfinals, Aug. 18 semifinals, Aug. 21 medal round.

Kate Markgraf
• Age: 31.
• Hometown: Rochester Hills, Mich.
• Note: Three-time Olympian from Notre Dame gave birth to son in 2006.
• Schedule: Aug. 6 vs. Norway, Aug. 9 vs. Japan, Aug. 12 vs. New Zealand, Aug. 15 quarterfinals, Aug. 18 semifinals, Aug. 21 medal round.

VOLLEYBALL

Lloy Ball
• Age: 36.
• Hometown: Woodburn
• Note: IPFW graduate didn't expect to be around so along. This will be his fourth Olympics, and he wants first medal.
• Schedule: Aug. 10 vs. Venezuela, Aug. 12 vs. Italy, Aug. 14 vs. Bulgaria, Aug. 16 vs. China, Aug. 18 vs. Japan, Aug. 20 quarterfinal, Aug. 22 semifinals, Aug. 24 medal round.

FIELD HOCKEY

Kayla Bashore
• Age: 25.
• Hometown: Shoemakersville, Pa.
• Note: The 5-2 midfielder was Big Ten Player of the Year and All-American at IU. Born in South Korea.
• Schedule: Aug. 10 vs. Argentina, Aug. 12 vs. Japan, Aug. 13 vs. Germany, Aug. 15 vs. New Zealand, Aug. 18 vs. Great Britain, Aug. 20 pool classification, Aug. 22 medal round.

BASKETBALL

Tamika Catchings
• Age: 29.
• Hometown: Indianapolis
• Note: Fever forward rounding into shape from Achilles injury. She won gold medal with 2004 team.
• Schedule: Aug. 9 vs. Czech Republic, Aug. 11, vs. China, Aug. 13 vs. Mali, Aug. 15 vs. Spain, Aug. 17 vs. New Zealand, Aug. 19 quarterfinal, Aug. 21 semifinals, Aug. 23 medal round.

FOREIGN OLYMPIANS

Those with Indiana ties on other countries' Olympic teams (with their age and the nation they are representing):

Player	Comment
Tully Bevilaqua, 36, Australia	Fever point guard was on Aussies' 2006 world championship team.
Mariangee Bogado, 24, Venezuela	Former IU softball pitcher will open against Team USA on Aug. 12.
Thomas Chamney, 24, Ireland	Ex-Notre Dame runner, who was sixth in 800 at 2006 NCAAs, had popular blog on Internet.
Candace Chapman, 25, Canada	Former Notre Dame midfielder, born in Trinidad, won soccer bronze medal at 2007 Pan Am Games.
Sergiy Fesenko, 26, Ukraine	Third Olympics for distance freestyler. He was five-time swim All-American at IU.
Victoria Mitchell, 26, Australia	Butler graduate was NCAA champion in steeplechase, an event making Olympic debut.
Ria Percival, 18, New Zealand	Soccer midfielder for FC Indiana is based in West Lafayette.
Melissa Tancredi, 26, Canada	Former Notre Dame soccer All-American was Canada's top scorer in Olympic qualifying tourney.
Kateryna Zubkova, 20, Ukraine	IU's NCAA runner-up in 200 backstroke won two medals at swimming's short course worlds. Also Olympian in 2004.

Cut & Paste via IndyStar