One Month Until March Madness!

             Four weeks from this Sunday, 68 teams will be selected to play in the NCAA Tournament. You may know this better as the March Madness Tournament, or that big bracket people fill out to win tons of money. With a month of games left, how many schools from Indiana will make it?

            The college basketball season began with a lot of hype and hopes for Indiana teams. Butler, Purdue, and Notre Dame were expected to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament. Indiana State, Valparaiso, and Ball State were also expected to have strong teams. Then the success of Indiana University had the whole state buzzing. Most of us Hoosiers thought that four or five teams would be representing Indiana and showing why we love basketball.

            That was back in November. Now, three months later, our expectations have dipped just a bit. The only teams that still have a legitimate chance of making the Tourney in March are: Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana and Valparaiso. Sure, the rest of the teams could win their conference tournament and earn an automatic bid, but that is going to take a lot of work, and some luck.  

-Note: Rankings are as of the Week 14 (February 6^th) polls. Records are as of games played through February 9^th.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (16-8, 8-3)

Best wins: #19 Marquette, at UConn, vs. #2 Syracuse, at Seton Hall

Worst losses: Georgia, Rutgers, Maryland

The Irish started the season 9-6. The train of thought around the program was the Irish would be playing in the NIT Tournament in March.  They had been blown out by Missouri and Gonzaga, and tough losses in winnable games against Maryland and Georgia. It didn’t get any better as the Irish went 2-2 in their next four games, but now they are on a five-game winning streak and in third place in the Big East Conference. They still aren’t getting much respect (Joe Junardi of ESPN has them projected to get a #8 seed in the NCAA Tourney) but they could earn another runner-up spot in their conference.

Remaining games: vs. DePaul, vs. Rutgers, at Villanova, vs. West Virginia, at St. Johns, at #11 Georgetown, vs. Providence.

Indiana Hoosiers (19-6, 7-6)

Best wins: #1 Kentucky, #3 Ohio State, #25 Michigan

Worst losses: Minnesota, at Nebraska,

Can you believe this team was once 15-1 and was flirting with a very real chance of getting a #1 seed in the Tourney? It’s been a rough January for IU as they went 4-4 with losses to Minnesota and Nebraska. It was a nervous time when the Hoosiers were 17-6 and facing two tough games against Purdue and Illinois. They won both of those games and set themselves up for a great chance to finish with at least 22 wins.

Remaining games: vs. Northwestern, at Iowa, vs. N.C. Central, vs. #12 Michigan State, vs. Purdue

Purdue Boilermakers (15-9, 5-6)

Best wins: Temple, Miami, Illinois, Minnesota

Worst losses: Butler, Penn State, Alabama

The biggest problem with the Boilermakers is they don’t have any great wins, particularly any against a ranked team. They will get three chances in their final seven games though. They played great at Ohio State on February 7^th and almost won there. If they play like that in the final month, they will get to 20 wins no problem.

Remaining games: vs. Northwestern, at Illinois, vs. #12 Michigan State, vs. Nebraska, at #25 Michigan, vs. Penn State, at #23 Indiana

Valparaiso Crusaders (18-8, 11-3)

Best wins: Cleveland State (twice), Butler, Milwaukee

Key losses: IPFW, IUPUI, Green Bay

The Crusaders are one of the best shooting teams in the country as they average a 47% field goal percentage each game. That contributes to the fact they have scored more than 70 points in 15 of their games. They are also in first place in the Horizon Conference. If they win the regular season title, there’s a good chance they will be in the NCAA Tournament, regardless of what happens in the conference tournament. The only tough games left are a trip to Youngstown State and a home bout against Butler.

Remaining games: at Youngstown State, vs. U.I.-Chicago, at Loyola Marymount, vs. Loyola, vs. Butler

Butler Bulldogs (14-12, 8-6)

Best wins: Purdue, Stanford, Youngstown State (twice)

Worst losses: Evansville, Green Bay, Detroit

I may have Butler too high, but let’s not forget this is a team led by one of the best coaches in America. It’s also a team that’s been in the championship game the past two seasons. The Bulldogs are a young team, but one that you can never take lightly. It’s a long shot, but they could win out and sneak into the NCAA Tourney as a #13 or #14 seed just on the strength of what they have accomplished the last two years.

Remaining games: at Cleveland State, vs. Loyola, Indiana State, U.I.-Chicago, at Valparaiso.

Indiana State Sycamores (14-11, 5-9)

Best wins: Ball State, at Vanderbilt, Northern Iowa (twice)

Worst losses: Bradley, Southern Illinois, Boise State

Like Butler, the Sycamores could win the rest of their games and make a case to be selected as a high seed for the Tournament. That’s a huge longshot though, esp. since four of the last five opponents have winning records.

Remaining games: vs. Southern Illinois, vs. Illinois State, at Butler, at Missouri South, vs. #15 Creighton

Ball State Cardinals (12-10, 4-6)

Best wins: Butler

Worst losses: Miami (OH), Eastern Michigan

The Cardinals are in the midst of a five-game losing streak. Before the streak began they were 12-5 and in contention for a conference title. Now their season is all but done. The good news for Ball State fans is the schedule does get easier.

Remaining games: at Kent State, vs. Toledo, vs. Southern Illinois, at Western Michigan, at Eastern Michigan, vs. Central Michigan, vs. Northern Illinois

These bottom three teams are just playing for pride.

Evansville Aces (12-12, 7-7)

IUPUI Jaguars (10-16, 4-10)

IPFW Mastodons (10-14, 4-10)

-each team has five games left.

2011 Pacers Post-Draft

The scoreboard at the 2011 Pacers Draft Party at Conseco Fieldhouse.

           The Indiana Pacers hit the jackpot Thursday night during the 2011 NBA Draft. Going into the draft, the Pacers needed a guard that could score and add depth to the roster. They got that, and then some.

            

With the 15^th pick, Indiana selected Kawhi Leonard, a forward from San Diego State. Kawhi is known for his big hands and rebounding skills. For me, this pick didn’t make any sense; the Pacers did not need any more forwards trying to compete for a starting position.

            

A few minutes after this, it was announced that Leonard was being traded to the Spurs, for guard George Hill. Jackpot! Needless to say, I was ecstatic after hearing this.

            

George Hill was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. He went to my alma mater, Broad Ripple High School, and went to college at IUPUI (Indiana University -Purdue University- Indianapolis). He was drafted by the Spurs and has been a member of that club for three seasons.

            
            Here’s what some experts are saying about the Pacers picking up George Hill.

Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows: “He’s (Hill) not a backup point guard or an undersized shooting guard – Hill is a player. Hill can play either guard spots with any of the other guards on the current roster. But more importantly, Hill is a productive, professional player. Put him on the court and he will consistently play hard at both ends, giving the Pacers playing rotation a much needed boost in reliability and leadership.”

Chad Ford of ESPN: “(Hill's) versatility, toughness and playoff experience on a veteran roster all help accelerate the Pacers’ rebuilding project. He can step in immediately and give them something they need: a guard who can create his own shot and defend.”

Tom Ziller of SB Nation: “The Indiana Pacers were in the fortuitous spot of having a No. 15 in the 2011 NBA Draft in which a number of prized talents slipped out of the lottery. The Pacers struck gold with … George Hill. Did I say gold? I meant, uh, George Hill? They struck George Hill … The Pacers now have Darren Collison, Hill and A.J. Price under contract. Am I missing something? Is Indiana planning on merging Collison and Hill in a grand science experiment?”

Zach Lowe of SI.com: “The numbers peg Hill more as a shooting guard with nice ball-handling skills than someone ready to run a team full time. Luckily for the Pacers, they have a young point guard ready to run an offense full time in Darren Collison, and they have a major need for consistent scoring on the wing. Hill, an Indianapolis native who starred at IUPUI, can fill the same role with the Pacers that he played in San Antonio. He’ll be an immediate upgrade over shooting guards Dahntay Jones, Brandon Rush and Paul George.”

All these quotes were found by www.eightpointsnineseconds.com, an ESPN affiliate that covers the Indiana Pacers.

            
            This is my favorite thought on the acquisition of Hill.

Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star:  “Hill isn't a terrific pickup simply because he's a local guy, although that isn't going to hurt any at the box office. (Think owner Herb Simon was loving this move?) Hill is a terrific pickup because he's a proven commodity, an established, grown-up, NBA guard entering his fourth season who can play the point and the two-guard. He makes the Pacers bigger and deeper and more formidable in every conceivable way, leaving absolutely no reason this team shouldn't be better than .500 next season and for years to come.”

            

            Not trying to suck up too much, but this is why Kravitz is my favorite writer. Great minds think alike!

George Hill's tattoo of the state of Indiana. You think he's happy to be back?

            

            The Pacers still have some work to do if they hope to win the NBA Championship, but there is plenty of time and money to do that. The Pacers are way under the salary cap and have players to get rid of. I could almost guarantee that the Pacers are not done wheeling and dealing. It should be a very exciting 2011 season. Go Pacers!