Mecca of College Basketball

Strictly geographically speaking, Cincinnati could rightfully call themselves the center of the Universe when it comes to basketball. Problem is, we all know most of the basketball lore from Cincy is via an Indianapolis-native briefly providing his talents in the late 50s. The same man who the NCAA later named their Player of the Year trophy after: Oscar Robertson.
Besides that, there's not much to say about Tri-State Hoops being the capital. Much of the collegiate success over recent decades have spread out to neighboring schools Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Louisville, Michigan State... the list goes far beyond just bluebloods and powerhouses - Dayton was a top-5 school just as March Madness was about to begin, until the damn panic shut it down. Creighton was contending for a top-10 spot. Iowa & Illinois were ranked in the top-10. 

I might be so bold as to say that in any given year, at least half the ranked teams are from the Midwest. Yep, that includes NET, RPI, Sagarin, and KenPom rankings. 

So I thought, let's put together a crude lil map and then check every now and then to see how well the prediction holds up.

2021 Update: Naturally, the NCAA chose Indianapolis, and Indiana to host the entire Men's Basketball tournament this March with most games (including all elite8+ games) within covered-walking distance of Circle Center in the Circle City, just south of Carmel aka Roundabout City, which is quick drive to anywhere else around Indy, thanks to Interstate-465 highway, a circle around the city known for driving in circles (ovals). Get it yet? 🎯 

Two Mr Basketball candidates lead LC

3 years ago, the Lawrence Central basketball Bears were bounced from the opening round of the playoffs. The following year, D'Andre Davis and Nijel Pack advanced to the Sectional championship. Last year, LC posted a 22-4 overall record on their way to a Regional appearance. A loss, if you will, but still a Sectional Win. Either way you look at it is bittersweet. They're hoping to drop that bitterness when they contend for a State title in March of 2020; but right now, this dynamic duo is focused on it's annual Thanksgiving Eve matchup against Lawrence North. May the games begin. 

Speaking of rivalries, Purdue hosts Indiana at Noon in their annual Thanksgiving Saturday matchup, aka The Old Oaken Bucket game. IU who is looking for their 8th regular-season win, is hoping for a Gator Bowl invite in warm, sunny Florida this New Year... or maybe that's just me. And before you ask: Yes, I'll even take Notre Dame as a consolation prize. 

Ryan Newman wins Brickyard

Just weeks after announcing this would be his final year under Tony Stewart's ownership, Hoosier Ryan Newman won the 2013 Brickyard 400 at the IMS today.

The South Bend native followed through with today's victory after a record-setting pace that won him the pole earlier this week, at 187.531 MPH. Now closer to 40 y/o than 30, this win cements his legacy - his trophy case includes 2002 Rookie of the Year, 2003 Driver of the Year, 2008 Daytona and 2003 All-Star race winner.

Dial 317 for March Madness

Click Here for a look at 14 NBA hoopers from the Indy area. List includes JJ, Zbo, Zeller and Plumlee in addition to these TOP10.  *Jared Jeffries, not JuJuan Johnson. He'd be JJJ

Here's Indy's Sweet 16(+1):

• RJ Hunter (Pike HS) is following his dad's footsteps (former IUPUI coach Ron Hunter) by attending Georgia State, where he already leads his team in points (17 per game), 2nd in rebounds, and adds a couple steals & assists per game. He's also set the conference record with 10 treys in a game vs ODU
• Another former Red Devil, ISU freshman Khristian Smith sees 20+ mpg, 5 ppg, and 3 rpg
• Mr Basketball Gary Harris (Fishers) is the 2nd leading scorer for MSU and leads all B1G freshman
• AJ Hammonds (Carmel) is dominating the paint for the Boilermakers - 11 ppg/7 rpg/2 bpg - had his breakout game vs IU, scoring 30 points
• Brothers Ronnie and Terone Johnson (NCHS) also carry a sub -.500 Purdue squad - 3rd & 1st in points, respectively. Ronnie's 3.7 apg is 8th best in B1G.
• Another former Panther overshadowed by his big brother, ASU's Evan Gordon, had a breakout game vs USC last month, scoring 28 points
• D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (also NCHS) had his breakout game vs DePaul this week, scoring 33 for Georgetown
• Jack Isenbarger (ZHS) is helping Elon Phoenix chase a Southern Conference title by leading in minutes, while placing 2nd in both points & assists
• Andrew Smith (CC HS) is 2nd best for ranked Butler in both points and rebounds
• Another Butler standout, sharpshooter Kellen Dunham (Pendleton Heights), contributes over 10 ppg.
• Another freshman, Yogi Ferell (Park Tudor) is one of the top3 PGs in the B1G (Burke, Craft) while leading the #1 Indiana Hoosiers
• Another Hoosier from Indy, freshman Jeremy Hollowell (LCHS) has contributed off the bench in almost every game and shows tons of potential
• Another Lawrence Township product, freshman Eron Harris (LN) is 3rd on WVU in scoring
• Another former Wildcat, Justin Martin, averages 8 & 5 for Xavier
• Another former Wildcat and current Musketeer, senior Jeff Robinson gets 7 & 5 per game
• And oldest of them all, another former Wildcat, Stephan Van Treese sees action off the bench for #1 Louisville Cardinals, had a solid outing vs Duke (8 & 8)

Indiana Amateurs #1

Tonight in Brooklyn, the undefeated #1 Hoosiers take on Georgetown, who just upset #11 UCLA last night. Speaking of upsets, Butler spanked UNC Tarheels in the Maui Invitational today after pulling out a miraculous buzzer-beating 3-pointer last night over Marquette. In other Indiana hoops, Purdue's lone win so far is against Hofstra (losing to Bucknell, 'Nova and Oregon St).

Tomorrow night, LC opens the HS bball season against LN. Traditionally, the Wildcats are the perennial powerhouse but the Bears will have something to say about that.  Meanwhile, the LC Bears football team wraps up their season at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday in the IHSAA 5A State Title game vs FtWayne Snider. The coveted Mr Football award is up for grabs and some voters have QB Drake Christian on their ballot.

Another football award awaiting a victor is the Heisman, which typically goes to the QB (or RB) of the best team in college football. If Notre Dame can beat Southern Cal on Saturday, I expect LB Manti Te'o to take home the statue, even though no (primarily-) defensive player has won the award since it was named 'Heisman' in 1936. Charles Woodson was a return man and Leon Hart played Tight End as well as DE.

And finally... Purdue hosts IU in the annual Old Oaken Bucket game on Saturday. Despite Rose Bowl hopes just 10 days ago, the Hoosiers football team has nothing left to play for other than ownership of the Bucket. The Boilermakers, however, have a bowl bid on their mind.

Indiana Coaches to Lead USA Basketball

Purdue's Matt Painter was selected as head coach and Butler's Brad Stevens as an assistant for the U.S. men's basketball team that will play in August's World University Games in Shenzhen, China. USA Basketball also selected Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin, a former Purdue player and assistant coach, as an assistant. Selections were made by the USA Basketball junior national team committee, chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim.
The US has claimed a medal in every World University Games since beginning play in 1965, and captured a record 13 golds, three silvers and three bronze medals in the 19 WUGs in which a USA Basketball squad has competed. Overall, the USA owns a 131-8 record. The United States captured six of the first seven gold medals awarded in World University Games competition and strung together six consecutive gold medals from 1989 through 1999. Most recently, the 2009 team earned the bronze medal after finishing 6-1 and losing by one point to Russia in the semifinals.
The University Games will be Aug. 12-23. Training camp to select the 12-member team will be July 30-Aug. 8 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

via IndyStar

Hoosier Hoops Doubleheader

The instra-state rivalries will heat up next year with the Crossroads Classic, featuring Indiana's top four basketball programs going head-to-head in Indianapolis. Starting in 2011, Indiana University will play Notre Dame (after 69 previous contests) and Purdue will match-up against NCAA runner-up Butler. In 2012, IU will play BU and ND plays PU.

Purdue wins 3rd NCAA title

The Purdue Women's Golf team won a national championship, the third* title in school history. Although leading by 7 strokes entering the final round, that lead was squandered to just 1 after Maude-Aimee LeBlanc bogeyed hole #18.

SoCal had a chance to tie it with a 10-foot birdie attempt on the final hole but the putt missed right. Since 1993, either a Pac10 school or Duke had won every national title.

*The other two NCAA Championships were the 1999 Women's Basketball team and the 1961 Men's Golf squad. They still trail IU by 20.

Amateur All-Stars

Gene Keady, Matt Painter and Chris Kramer 

during timeout at NCAA All-Star game @ da Luc' 

Dancing with Hoosiers

After two unsuccessful tries, Randy Wittman's son Ryan has finally put Cornell into the next round. Ben Allen helped St Marys shock everyone by beating Villanova to advance to the 3rd round. North Carolina and Tyler Zeller have advanced to the NIT's Elite 8. The Butler Bulldogs took care of UTEP and Murray State, and are now halfway home. Who can forget Ohio's Armon Bassett's amazing March performance? Like Allen, Meezy played for Kelvin Sampson a couple years ago, as did Jordan Crawford - probably best known as that kid that dunked over LeBron James, now has Xavier looking to make another Regional Finals appearance.

Purdue Boilermakers have shushed all doubters by advancing to their 2nd consecutive Sweet Sixteen.
Ohio State and Michigan St are also representing the BigTen, with Northern Iowa/Tennessee standing in the way of a trip to Indy. However, not all is bright in the Schrockstar Galaxy of Stars: Notre Dame lost in the first round to Old Dominion; IUPUI lost the league championship to Oakland; and Indiana, Ball State, Evansville, Indiana State, Valparaiso and Vincenses were not even invited.

The Road to Indianapolis

Back in October, I gave you a Tri-State Hoops Preview highlighting Butler, Kentucky, Michigan State, Purdue and other area teams showing real promise to play in the Final Four. Now that the Tournament has arrived, we have a clearer view of possible Regional Finalists. If all #1s and #2s advance to the Elite 8 that would be boring - so I have Xavier upsetting Kansas State in Salt Lake City. What can I say? I'm a risk-taker!

Here's a map of those eight perceived finalists

XLiV mirror: Reggie, Pierre, Peyton, and a Purdue QB

In Superbowl 44, the Conference Champ and #1 seed will feature a Reggie (Wayne and Bush), a Pierre (Garçon and Thomas), a Peyton (Manning and Sean Payton) and a Boilermaker QB (Curtis Painter and Drew Brees). New Orleans Saints have 2 Hoosier return specialists: Tracy Porter playing CB and Courtney Roby. The kickoff return man has multiple touchdowns this season after being released from the Colts early last year. Further making Roby a local icon: he graduated from North Central (attended Lawrence North), has siblings at IU, Cathedral and Carmel - and also lives in Geist.

Tri-State Hoops Preview

Michigan State returns everybody, including Kalin Lucas. Purdue returns everybody, including E'Twaun Moore. The Hoosiers loaded up. Ohio State, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois are all ranked. Louisville's returning backcourt has been to multiple Elite Eights. Calipari has brought the swagger back to Kentucky. As far as mid-majors, Butler is primed for a big season. Dayton, Xavier and Notre Dame are also hoping to be dancing. Note to Syracuse, Duke, Kansas or any other teams outside 150 miles that are Final Four-bound: there's still a good chance of hotel vacancy.

Autumnal Equinox

Charlie Weis gets to keep his job another week as Notre Dame barely escaped consecutive last-minute meltdowns from an inferior BigTen Michigan team. The Irish head to Purdue this Saturday after the (1-2) Boilers recently lost to Northern Illinois of the MAC.

The football Hoosiers are still undefeated after rolling over Akron in the 2nd half, 38-21. This is the 3rd time in 5 years IU has started 3-0. Should they beat Michigan Saturday, it would mark the first 4-0 start since 1990. But IU hasn't won at the Big House since 1967 (our last Rose Bowl) and has just a lone victory in the past 31 meetings with the Wolverines.

The Colts return to Miami's LandShark Stadium for the first time since winning SB XLi. Peyton Manning and the Colts will hopefully be back in February for SB XLiV, possibly en route to winning a 4th MVP and solidifying himself as the greatest ever. Since 1999, the Colts have the most regular-season wins (115, the Patriots have 111) and they also have the best win percentage on Monday Nights (.750 in 12 games). After tonight's game, they have another primetime matchup on Sunday on NBC vs the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Kurt Warner just set an NFL record with the best completion percentage (92.3%) in a single game. Rookie CBs Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey will likely have their hands full with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.

"I coached Indiana 10 years - I HATE PURDUE!"

Like many Saturdays recently, there are pieces missing from the puzzle. Luckily, I have a kickass mobile flicker to save the moments I don't remember.