Biggest sports moments in Indiana history

Yesterday marked the 20-year anniversary of Reggie Miller's 8 points in 9 seconds. I started to wonder, where would that moment rank if it were played in the state of Indiana? Here are some from from recent memory:

• 2011 Indy 500: 100th Anny, rookie (JRH) leads final turn/lap, crashes; Wheldon wins again, his last
• 2006 AFC Championship in Hoosier Dome. 38-34. Cheaters lose
• 2010 Final Four: small, local school w/ half-court buzzer to beat #1 Devils
• 2011 Watshot 3-pt winner at buzzer over #1 and undefeated Wildcats
• 2001 Haston 3-pt winner at buzzer over #1 and undefeated Spartans
• 2014 AFC Divisional playoffs: Andrew Luck's 24-pt comeback win
• The NBA pipeline
• 2000 Pacers reaching NBA Finals

Last Century:

• Jeff Gordon winning inaugural Brickyard 400
• 1993 Notre Dame over #1 FSU (and '88 title)
• Bob Knight's championships, chair-toss & choke
• 1987 Pan Am Games
• Multiple ABA Championships in the 70s (and Nancy Leonard's fundraiser)
• Larry Bird
• Oscar Robertson
• Bobby Plump & Milan HS
• Hoosiers
• Rudy
• Breaking Away
• Slick Leonard
• John Wooden

Honorable mention: Tony Hulman, Mike Aulby, Isiah Lord Thomas, Shawn Kemp, Glenn Robinson, Damon Bailey, Billy Keller, Scott Skiles, Steve Alford

Coach K, Williams, Pitino... Painter, Brey, Stevens

Do NCAA coaches win games [and Coach of the Year awards] because they're that good or because they recruit Indiana's amateur talent?

Is there any doubt that this is still the mecca of hoops? Indianapolis is tied with L.A. for most consecutive drafts represented (5) and they are still killin it in the pros: EJ, Jeff Teague, George Hill, Mike Conley Jr, Josh McRoberts, Gordon Hayward, Courtney Lee, Rodney Carney and former #1 pick Greg Oden.

It can't be understated how significant a feat it is for Tom Crean to lock up all the Elite talent for the next 4 years; hopefully that translates to the same postseason success as the coaches above.

Its Indiana

With the announcement of Cody Zeller choosing to take his hoops talent to Bloomington next year, Hoosier Nation is excited for the future of Indiana basketball. In the past couple months Tom Crean and his staff have received commitments from Zeller (Mr Basketball?) and Austin Etherington to suit up in the candy stripes next fall; as well as Hanner Perea, Peter Jurkin, and Ron Petterson (Broad Ripple HS) in 2012, and two more top-10 nationally ranked recruits in the 2014 class: James Blackmon and Trey Lyles (Tech HS).
There appears to be a direct pipeline from the AAU squad Indiana Elite as they look to continue their national dominance on the collegiate level. Add another commitment from Yogi Ferrel (Park Tudor HS), it's possible that in 2 years the Hoosiers roster will feature 10 former Elite players. The chemistry of being teammates for so long will be a major advantage, as proven by Greg Oden & Mike Conley's championship reign.

Indianapolis HS amateurs #1

As of 2012, Indianapolis has been represented in 8 consecutive NBA drafts (add JuJuan Johnson + Marquis Teague to the pic below)

Indy, the king of basketball, has produced more than a dozen NBA players since 2006: Gordon Hayward, Eric Gordon Jr, Mike Conley Jr, Josh McRoberts, Courtney Lee, George Hill, Jeff and Marquis Teague. 3 more - Greg Oden, Rodney Carney and JuJuan Johnson - were drafted but currently don't see any action. Zach Randolph and Jared Jeffries do not qualify based on proximity and age. The same can probably be said for the Zellers and Plumlees. 2006 was the first year after the minimum age changed from 18 to 19. Since then, LA's amateur talent includes Mario Chalmers, Russell Westbrook, Robin and Brook Lopez, Demar DeRozan, Spencer Hawes, Chase Budinger, Jrue Holiday.

Galaxy of Stars update

Here is a rundown of the previous week's news:

First, former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis got the axe. Then the Colts win their 21st consecutive regular season game against the white-hot Titans. Then Greg Oden is done for the season and All-Star Danny Granger tears his plantar fascia. Then Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate announce their plans to enter the NFL draft. Then Tom Crean gets his 200th win, and first "big road win" by defeating Pittsburgh @ MSG in the Jimmy V Classic. Finally, Notre Dame hires 2009 Coach of the Year Brian Kelly as the new coach.

Now I'm left contemplating this site's new banner.

§ Indy Amateur Basketball Stars Shining Bright

[click to reveal Football Stars]

1.1* - Mike Conley (LN)
Averaging 8/3/3 for Grizz
1.1 - Greg Oden (LN)
An NBA veteran in the rookie game??
4.6 - Eric Gordon (North Central)
Attempted at least 10 FG in every game since Xmas/bday
5.6 - George Hill (Broad Ripple)
Averaging 6.6 ppg for Spurs
9.1 - Josh McRoberts (Carmel)
Can he blossom into starter for Pacers?
11.3 - Courtney Lee (Pike)
Magic SG lost starting spot to Mickael Pietrus now that AJ has taken over PG
11.3 - Robert Vaden (Pike)
Blazin away in Alabama, will he be drafted?
11.3 - Jeff (& Marquis) Teague (Pike)
Both are amazingly hot right now - elder is All-ACC
13.0 - Rodney Carney (Northwest)
Former Highjump Champ averaging 5 ppg for T-Wolves

* = distance (in miles) from their HS to Exit 200 of  I-69

Dear Mr Oden,

When you hear your dad say, "Why wait when there's a chance of getting hurt?" know that it's his paternal duty to support you. He also thinks you're getting your degree in your off-season (haha). But then I read your ex-coach's comments:

"He's averaging like nine shots a game, and he's shooting 60 percent or better. It's frustrating for him," Jimmy Smith, Oden's first coach and one of his closest friends, said prior to the Final Four.

"They want him to play all this defense, then they want to go down and shoot the 3," Smith said. "By talking to him, I know it's frustrating to him that he doesn't get the ball as much as he should."

So you're frustrated about not getting more shots per game? What makes you think you'll get more shots in Memphis? or Boston? For as mature as you look, you surely aren't showing any wisdom. Nobody believes what your dad said, except maybe you.

W.T.F is going to make your draft status drop???

You & your best friend create the best 1-2 combo in the nation. Where is your competitive desire to win? You lost (maybe) ten games in 5 years and you're tossing aside W's for ½ the salary you'd be making if you waited til after you graduate. Thad's elite classes will continually provide title aspirations... while Paul Pierce and Damon Stoudamire will keep your wins at a minimum. I didn't know if you noticed, but being on national TV a couple dozen times per year aint bad. But hey, at least now you're rich!

Hi! You may or may not know me that well, but you found your way here and now you're stuck with me. You're gonna read this whole post, if not scroll down further. You still here? Good.
My name is Pete, people call me SchrockStar. I will call you... later. For now, let me tell you about me. I recently moved into a house in Fishers/Noblesville near Deer Creek. I just started a new job at Walker Information doing IT stuff. I just spent a 5-day vacation in Bloomington that can only be retold w/ pictures. On Monday, I had a first-date w/ a waitress I met on Valentine's Day. The McD's PoY sat 5 ft from us at dinner. He wore a bib. She wasn't wearing any panties. And last night, J-O gave me his armband after sitting courtside in his career playoff game vs the Nets. These things make me happy. I also love music, women, Hoosiers and life; and I couldn't care less if I suddenly died tomorrow. I've lost count how many times I've blacked out in 2006 and it's only April. I don't make plans on Sundays, other than to watch my Colts. I'm not cocky... unless it's stuff I'm great at, like having sex with your girlfriend. At some point in my life, I'll act responsible and sane - if I make it that far. Until then, holler if ya hear me.