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(09/05/13 2:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When IU released the full 2013-14 men’s basketball schedule, the prevailing thought was just how weak and unimpressive the Hoosiers’ non-conference slate is. It’s truly a travesty that the highest quality non-conference home game for students and fans to take in is against Evansville Nov. 26. That’s correct, Evansville. I fully understand the difficulties encountered in attempting to piece together non-conference games against quality opponents, but the brain trust of IU basketball botched this season’s non-conference gamut. Luckily for the Hoosiers, they play in the best college basketball conference in the country, which will aid in bolstering their NCAA Tournament résumé. Looking at the full scope of the schedule, a handful of games both in and out of conference do exist that should pique the collective interest of the Hoosier fan base. vs. Syracuse, Dec. 3The Hoosiers will travel north to the Carrier Dome the first week of December to take on a likely pre-season Top 10 Syracuse team in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchup. Although the game would be of the marquee variety during any given season, this contest has an added level of intrigue because of the Orange having knocked IU Coach Tom Crean’s Hoosiers out of last season’s NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16. Equipped with the knowledge that the Hoosiers struggle in slow-tempo, low-possession games, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim slowed the pace and suffocated the Hoosier offense with his vaunted 2-3 zone defense, resulting in a 61-50 victory. Have Crean and Co. cracked the code that is the Syracuse 2-3 zone?vs. Wisconsin, Jan. 14 (home) and Feb. 25 (away)The Badgers have arguably become the one persistent thorn in IU’s side. More so, they’ve haunted Crean during his tenure in Bloomington. The Hoosiers have lost 12 straight games to the Badgers. The common theme among those 12 losses has been Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan’s desire and philosophy of playing a monotonous, low-possession, half-court style. That approach has been IU’s kryptonite, as other opponents (see Syracuse) have adopted that plan of attack when playing IU. Additionally, the Badgers eliminated the Hoosiers from the Big Ten Tournament the past two seasons. Will 2013-14 be the season that Crean finally gets the monkey that is Wisconsin off his back? That’s one of a handful of burning questions facing Crean and Co. this season. vs. Notre Dame, Dec. 14 (Bankers Life Fieldhouse)One of the more interesting non-conference events in the country is the Crossroads Classic, which annually brings together four programs within the state of Indiana: IU, Purdue, Butler and Notre Dame. IU gets Notre Dame for the second time in the past three seasons, with the Hoosiers having defeated the Irish, 69-58 in their previous matchup in Indianapolis. Crean is a proponent of the event, as it presents him and his program an opportunity to assert their dominance within the state. But Notre Dame isn’t an inferior opponent. The Irish are a likely pre-season Top 25 team and contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference.Along with the game against Syracuse, this contest could be a post-season résumé booster should the Hoosiers earn a victory. vs. Ohio State, March 2The Buckeyes entered Assembly Hall last season and spoiled IU’s Senior Day, upsetting the Hoosiers 67-58. While this season’s contest doesn’t fall on Senior Day, it’s the lone matchup against Ohio State during the course of Big Ten Conference play. The contest also will be played at Assembly Hall, where the Hoosiers are 1-4 against the Buckeyes during Crean’s tenure in Bloomington. He and the players won’t buy into any sort of “revenge” factor, but the sour taste from last season’s spoiled Senior Day has likely stuck with the members of last season’s squad. Follow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @IDS_CGKilloren.
(08/30/13 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Believe it or not, IU Coach Tom Crean has a distinct challenge awaiting him.With the outset of the 2013-14 campaign slated Nov. 8 against Chicago State at Assembly Hall, the memories of the Hoosiers’ journey to last season’s Sweet 16 are but distant specks in the rearview mirror. Not only is that collection of memories a thing of the past, so too are former Hoosiers Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller, two cornerstones of IU’s storied resurgence who were drafted No. 2 and No. 4 overall, respectively, in the 2013 NBA Draft.Along with Remy Abell’s decision to transfer to Xavier, Crean was left with what should be considered a brand new team. Sure, stalwarts Yogi Ferrell and Will Sheehey remain, but what’s left of this season’s nucleus is largely untested and unproven. Of the 18 players listed on the official 2013-14 roster released by the University Wednesday afternoon, only four — Sheehey, Evan Gordon, Taylor Wayer and Jeff Howard — are upperclassmen in terms of athletic eligibility. And among that quartet, only Sheehey and Gordon will be fixtures in the main rotation. So, Hoosier fans will experience firsthand the live maturation and development of a young, inexperienced club. Although there exist pockets of Crean doubters and detractors, I’m not among them. In fact, I find it silly and naïve to bet against the 47-year-old head coach in his sixth season at the IU program’s helm. You’ve heard and read it a million times, but Crean’s rebuild of a devastated Hoosier program can never be overlooked, nor should it.Quite literally, Crean built his program from scratch — remember that 2008 team consisting of Tijan Jobe, Brett Finkelmeier and Kyle Taber, among others?When he had finally acquired the amount and type of talent to finalize his winning formula, the results followed. Crean’s past two Hoosier squads have combined for an overall record of 56-16 with two consecutive trips to the Sweet 16. Although it’s certainly a stretch to expect a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, this season’s bunch, at the very least, should contend for a spot in the field of 68. The key for these Hoosiers receiving an invitation to dance will come down to two components: How will the heralded group of freshmen mesh with the rest of the team? And how effectively will the team replace the 14.6 rebounds per game provided by former Hoosiers Christian Watford and Zeller? The latter question might be the most pressing, as there isn’t much in the way of frontcourt depth. Sophomore center Peter Jurkin is still very much an unfinished project, and sophomore forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea continues to be an enigmatic forward loaded with potential.That leaves two freshmen — Noah Vonleh and Luke Fischer — as, perhaps, the Hoosiers’ one-two punch in the paint. That likely speaks to the alarming youth of this season’s team, which is tasked with running through the gauntlet that is the Big Ten Conference schedule. Can the team come anywhere close to last season’s 7-2 conference road record? Probably not, but if it can achieve a .500 mark away from Assembly Hall beginning with a New Year’s Eve tilt at Illinois, a respectable conference record could be in store.Another quandary facing the Hoosiers is reloading an offense that lost its four leading scorers from a season ago. Zeller, Oladipo, Watford and Jordan Hulls combined to pour in 1,876 of IU’s 2,831 total points last season. Sheehey is poised to become the Hoosiers’ leading scorer after finishing fifth on the team last seasonand averaging 9.5 points per game. But it’s unclear who will come to Sheehey’s aid on offense. Sophomore forward Jeremy Hollowell is a prime breakout candidate, after contributing just 93 points as a freshman last season. His 23.9 points per game average as a senior at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis is a beacon of hope for an offense starved for proven playmakers. Ambiguity persists in the form of freshmen Vonleh, Troy Williams and Stanford Robinson, who might fall short of their collective billing as lethal scorers. Though, no matter how you frame it, expectations should lower from last season’s lofty Final Four aspirations. A 21-10 regular season record — including an 11-7 mark in conference play — and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament should prove a realistic season outcome for Crean and Co.Follow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @ConnorKilloren_IDS
(08/21/13 3:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whether you like it or not, change is an inevitable aspect of life that must be dealt with.The IU basketball program is no exception to that condition. When former commit Ron Patterson — now enrolled at Syracuse — pledged to IUthree years ago, he deemed the 2012 recruiting class “The Movement.”Not much thought was given to what exactly that movement entailed, other then returning the Hoosiers to their past glory. Awaking a slumbering giant was the task at hand for Patterson, Yogi Ferrell, Jeremy Hollowell, Hanner Mosquera-Perea andPeter Jurkin, though that was simply just one aspect of the so-called movement.Not only were those five key cogs in the process of revitalizing a program devastatedby former IU Coach Kelvin Sampson’s transgressions, but they were also a symbol that the Hoosiers had built an imaginary, yet secure, perimeter around the state of Indiana and its plethora of elite prep talent.Patterson, Ferrell, Hollowell and Mosquera-Perea each spent their high schoolplaying days in the Hoosier state and were the first group of heralded in-state recruitsto continue their careers at IU since the Sampson era. Having joined five-starcenter and Washington, Ind., native Cody Zeller, “The Movement” signaled that IUwas, once again, the premier destination for the state’s best high school players.The effect of that philosophical change was far reaching, as two of the state’s top 2014 prospects — Trey Lyles and James Blackmon — committed to IU prior to havingplayed a single minute of high school basketball. But as the wild world of college basketball recruiting goes, both have since decommitted to consider other options.Neither Lyles nor Blackmon should be demonized for making their respectivedecisions to cut ties, though. All prospects, regardless of ranking, should be encouraged to do what they feel is in their best interests. However, Lyles and Blackmon de-committing may, in fact, be a representation of the shifting college basketball recruiting landscape.With high school prospects across the nation playing for AAU programs participatingin tournaments nation-wide, those same prospects have the distinct opportunity of forming friendships and relationships with individuals in the basketball community all over the country.For reference, consider the schools in the running for Lyles’ services: UCLA, Florida,Kentucky, Duke, Louisville and Butler.With those elite programs joining virtually all others in flocking to the state of Indiana,is it realistic for IU Coach Tom Crean to make a conscious eff ort to secure the border?Not exactly, and that has become evident in the program’s recruiting tactics. Four members of the Hoosiers’ freshman class hail from Germantown, Wisc.; Henderson, Nev.; Haverhill, Mass., and Mouth of Wilson, Va.It’s simply not realistic to have Indiana natives form a significant portion of eachrecruiting class. But the good news for IU is that it has reestablished itself as a topflight program, allowing it to pursue elite talent in all corners of the country.Three of the Hoosiers’ top 2014 targets — Isaiah Whitehead, Robert Johnson andGoodluck Okonoboh — hail from Brooklyn, N.Y. , Richmond, Va. , and Wilbraham,Mass., respectively.It’s a continuing trend of a national recruiting approach, rather than a narrow intrastateapproach. Will the Hoosier coaching staff cease recruiting the bestIndiana has to offer?Of course not, but the reality fans have to live with is that not every class will havethe identity of the 2011 class. Rounding up a group of Indiana natives a la Patterson,Ferrell, Hollowell and Perea is a rarity, but when victories begin to pile up from the labors of players from around the country, securing the border will be an afterthought.— ckillore@indiana.eduFollow columnist Connor Killoren on Twitter @IDS_CGKilloren.
(07/25/13 1:23am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As badly as he might desire, Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer can’t retreat or hide from the truth.When the news broke that one of his former players from his tenure at the University of Florida, tight end Aaron Hernandez, had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder June 26, inquiring minds and eyes immediately shifted to two parties: Meyer and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.While shifting the blame for Hernandez’s transgressions solely to Kraft is easy, the light should be shed on Meyer, a college head coach responsible not only for winning football games, but for shaping and molding young men.Yet it’s not the least bit surprising Meyer isn’t man enough to recognize his own failure in the latter responsibility. In his typical bravado, Meyer hid behind the veil of a text message to the Columbus Dispatch regarding the Hernandez case: “Relating or blaming these serious charges to the University of Florida, myself or our staff is wrong and irresponsible.” So just like that, Meyer displayed the type of holier than thou attitude that has earned the 49-year-old such a tarnished reputation during his career as a head coach at both Florida and Ohio State, among other places. But what should cause alarm to the parents of any prospect being recruited by Ohio State is the following set of circumstances.Following Meyer’s first text message to the Columbus Dispatch, he followed up with a lengthier statement, a sad attempt to save face in light of the Hernandez scandal. “Our program, in my opinion, does as good of a job as anybody in America in involving families, making it a family atmosphere, getting to know our players and trying to develop our players in all areas of life — social, spiritual, athletic everything,” Meyer said. “Our coaches coach, but that’s a small part of it ... It’s why we work so hard on life after football with these kids.” Don’t be duped or convinced by that statement. Per a New York Times report published last month, 41 of the 121 players who were on Florida’s roster during the Gators’ run to the 2008 BCS National Championship Game were arrested either during college or after having left the school. Let those numbers sink in. Forty-one players from a single Meyer-coached team have run afoul of the law either during their time with the perceived “mentor” or after his many life lessons had been engrained in them. And the evidence continues to kick Meyer deeper into a pit of hypocrisy and shame. Ohio State cornerback Bradley Roby, widely expected to be the Buckeyes’ best defensive player in 2013, was arrested during a weekend in Bloomington and faces preliminary charges of battery resulting in bodily injury.Roby’s teammate, running back Carlos Hyde, has been cleared as a person of interest, after it was originally reported that he had allegedly struck a woman at Sugar Bar 2 near the Ohio State campus in Columbus, Ohio. As for Meyer’s statement concerning these two incidents? He gave yet another shallow, meaningless statement that is nothing but pure spin. “I have a clear set of core values in place that members of this football program are constantly reminded of and expected to honor,” Meyer said. “There are also expectations with regard to this behavior. I expect our players to conduct themselves responsibly and appropriately and they will be held accountable for their actions.” This is just another strand in Meyer’s tangled web of lies. Maybe one day he’ll be the man he purports himself to be and own up to the fact that he has failed as a mentor of young men. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(07/18/13 12:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I distinctly remember the first time I heard this newly coined nickname. Late in the evening of Oct. 13, 2012, “Johnny Football” began appearing as a trending topic on Twitter, which sent my brain into rapid think-mode in the hopes of linking the nickname with a face. Typically priding myself on my quick knowledge of anything sports-related, I felt ashamed to know that an unknown budding celebrity was on the verge of a national popularity explosion. Indeed, the overnight celebrity born was Johnny “Football” Manziel, at the time a redshirt freshman hailing from Kerrville, Texas. His stardom was born of a herculean performance on the gridiron, as Manziel accounted for 576 total yards of offense and six touchdowns in a thrilling 59-57 victory at Louisiana Tech on that October evening. But what should be noted about Manziel is his overnight stardom and fame were never requested or asked for by the small town, 20-year-old quarterback. Ranked as a 3-star recruit per rivals.com, Manziel didn’t make any headlines during his recruitment, other than quietly de-committing from Oregon in favor of the new regime at Texas A&M. But after a collection of explosive performances earned Manziel the Heisman Trophy, he was directly under the harsh microscope that is life as a college football celebrity, particularly in the football-crazed Southeastern Conference. And in the Twitter age, any tweet posted by a celebrity is pored over and dissected by fans and media personnel, oftentimes bordering on psychotic over-analyzation. Manziel knows a thing or two about the world’s most actively used social media site, as he claims more followers than the Twitter accounts of Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Football and his head coach, Kevin Sumlin, combined. So when Manziel tweeted, “Bullshit like tonight is a reason why I can’t wait to leave college station...whenever it may be,” on June 16, anyone with a vested interest in the Heisman-winning quarterback rushed to speculation and judgment.Wouldn’t they feel so utterly stupid if they knew that it has since been reported by the San Antonio Express-News that Manziel’s angry tweet was in reference to a parking ticket he had received that evening?The question I ask is simple: Is Manziel, unlike any other college student, not allowed to freely express his normal, everyday thoughts via social media? It would be an entirely different situation altogether if Manziel tweeted something inappropriate or offensive, but the fact remains that he didn’t and never has. Being a college student myself, I empathize with Manziel’s frustration with his parking ticket and the desire to vent about it (I’m looking at you, IU Parking Services). Is it so wrong for Manziel to desire the same right to express himself as any other 20-year-old would? And without the rapid overreactions of people who don’t even know him? Next time you consider attacking a person such as Manziel because of something so trivial as a simple tweet, remember that you’re the problem. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(07/14/13 11:41pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While the Most Valuable Player award in the four major professional sports leagues is celebrated by fans, no other individual award encapsulates as much fascination as the Heisman Trophy. Awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football, the Heisman has developed an intense following oftentimes referred to as the “Heisman race.”Last season’s winner, Texas A&M quarterback Johnny “Football” Manziel, took the college football world by storm, becoming the first freshman — Manziel redshirted his first season on campus — to win the award in its 78-year history. Winning the prestigious award transformed Manziel into an overnight celebrity, perhaps shoving the 20-year-old into a limelight he wasn’t prepared for, as he revealed his desire to leave College Station, Tex., via his Twitter account.Such is the life for a Heisman Trophy winner, and a player out there will experience the same rapid path to stardom this season. With Manziel returning for another season at Texas A&M, he should be the frontrunner for this season’s crowning. Here’s a list of my front runners for the award before the season starts.Johnny Manziel, quarterback, Texas A&M: Manziel began the 2012 season with a bang, completing 23-of-30 passing attempts for 173 yards, while rushing for another 60 and a touchdown in a 20-17 loss to then-No. 24 Florida. The performance was the catalyst for his Heisman-worthy season that ended with 3,706 passing yards, 1,410 rushing yards and 47 total touchdowns. The redshirt sophomore has two contests against Rice and Sam Houston State to begin the season, before a showdown with Alabama, a contest that could make or break his Heisman hopes. Braxton Miller, quarterback, Ohio State: Owning the right to call Urban Meyer his head coach was the ultimate blessing for Miller. A dual-threat quarterback, Miller is an ideal fit in Meyer’s zone-read offense. The Huber Heights, Ohio, native passed for 2,039 yards last season, and was the team’s leading rusher with 1,271 yards on the ground. His 28 total touchdowns were also a team high. The success of his Buckeyes in a down Big Ten Conference will likely be a major influence in his Heisman campaign. Marqise Lee, receiver, USC: The argument can be made that Lee was the nation’s most explosive playmaker last season. Lee amassed 1,721 receiving yards, second nationally to Baylor’s Terrance Williams. However, Lee had an excellent quarterback in Matt Barkley, who has since been drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. The ability of Barkley’s successor will play a major factor in Lee’s race for the coveted award. Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback, Louisville: After an up-and-down freshman campaign in 2011, Bridgewater broke onto the scene last season, passing for 3,718 yards and 27 touchdowns. His season was validated after passing for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-23 victory against Florida in the Sugar Bowl. The Miami native has skyrocketed up NFL mock draft boards, and an even more impressive junior season could solidify Bridgewater as a consensus top-five selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. T.J. Yeldon, running back, Alabama: Yeldon has become the latest running back to take the torch in an illustrious line of players in his position at Alabama. From Mark Ingram to Trent Richardson to Eddie Lacy, the time is now for Yeldon. After a freshman campaign in which he split reps with Lacy, the Daphne, Ala., native is looking to improve on his 2012 campaign in which he rushed for 1,108 yards on 175 carries with 12 touchdowns. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(07/11/13 12:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The dawn of a new college football season is upon us. More than six months removed from a forgettable BCS National Championship Game — Alabama trounced Notre Dame, 42-14 — the race to the 2014 title will begin in earnest Aug. 29 when North Carolina visits South Carolina.The 2013 season should also be a celebration, for it is the last hurrah of the crooked Bowl Championship Series system, which, for a decade, has been the target of heaping amounts of criticism concerning the proper crowning of a true national champion. Thus, a four-team playoff was created, simply titled the College Football Playoff, that will take effect beginning with the 2014 season. That leaves fans to wonder how the current season would have played out had the College Football Playoff started this season. It’s certainly a fair question deserving of exploration, as the preseason top 25 seems wide open aside from the dynasty that continues to churn at the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide have won three of the past four national championships. Yet to gain clarity surrounding what a four-team playoff would shake out this season, paring down the rankings to a top 10 is necessary, and the following are my own preseason top-10 teams:1. Alabama2. Ohio State3. Georgia4. Stanford5. Oregon6. Texas A&M7. Louisville8. South Carolina9. Clemson10. TCUMany will likely scoff at this notion, but I sincerely believe that four (yes, four) teams could finish with undefeated records this season: Ohio State, Louisville, Stanford and Clemson. Ohio State: The Buckeyes face only one true road test during the regular season, traveling to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face bitter rival Michigan the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Should Ohio State win that final contest and win the games it should before that, the Buckeyes would head to the Big Ten Conference Championship Game, which I also have them winning, regardless of opponent. Stanford: For the Cardinal to traverse its 2013 schedule unscathed, it must pass three looming obstacles: UCLA, Oregon and Notre Dame. Luckily for Coach David Shaw, each of those three contests will be played at Stanford Stadium. The Cardinal’s matchup against Oregon could very well turn out to be a season-altering game on the national stage, as I’ve predicted the Ducks to finish 11-1, with the lone loss coming at the hands of Stanford. It will also likely decide which team represents the North Division in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Should Stanford advance to that title game, it would likely face a rematch with UCLA, which is poised to win the Pac-12’s South Division. Louisville: The Cardinals of Louisville have been blessed with a very fortunate set of circumstances. The school’s new conference, the American Athletic Conference, is in its first season as a BCS bowl affiliate. And with Louisville’s watered-down schedule as a result of its new conference, it would be considered a shock if the Cardinals didn’t finish undefeated. Should that scenario play out, Louisville would top last season’s Sugar Bowl victory against Florida. Clemson: The Tigers are a surprise selection to finish undefeated, though it’s certainly not out of the question. The Tigers have the opportunity to establish themselves early, playing Georgia at home to begin the season Aug. 31. The other evident road bumps appear to be Florida State and South Carolina, the latter being a road date in Columbia, S.C. Because Florida State has a history of entering a midseason lull, the Tigers should be the favorites in that contest, leaving only the matchup with intrastate rival South Carolina as a barrier between the Tigers and an undefeated season.A date in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game would await against a bottom tier conference team from the Coastal Division. College Football Playoff: By way of strength of schedule, the seeding order would begin with No. 1 Stanford, followed by No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Ohio State and No. 4 Louisville. That order would set up playoff games between No. 1 Stanford and No. 4 Louisville, along with No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State. With Stanford’s seemingly impenetrable defense peaking at the right time, the Cardinal would easily defeat Louisville. And with Urban Meyer and his big-game experience leading Ohio State, the Buckeyes would earn a hard-fought victory against Clemson. That would leave America with a national championship matchup of Stanford against Ohio State, a game that would certainly be more entertaining than last season’s bore of a title game. While Stanford’s defense is a notch above Ohio State’s, the Buckeyes’ explosive offense, led by quarterback Braxton Miller, would put enough points on the scoreboard to squeak by the Cardinal. But for now, we’re stuck with one more season of the BCS, though a date between Ohio State and Stanford in the Vizio BCS National Championship Game could certainly become a reality. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(07/08/13 12:11am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the Fourth of July festivities carried on all-day Thursday, I was reminded how each of us has a civic duty to fulfill. Recognizing and celebrating the sacrifices made by the men and women of our country’s Armed Forces is a patriotic obligation.It’s something that shouldn’t be done for just a few fleeting moments every summer, but consistently throughout the calendar year. While there are multitudes of ways to display thankfulness for those courageous warriors, the manner in which the sports world accomplishes it transcends the power of words. While each individual civilian has his or her own unique memories of such moments, having the opportunity to share my own on such a broad platform is something I simply can’t bypass. Growing up in Elkhart, Ind., a small town roughly 20 miles east of Notre Dame’s campus, a weekly tradition each fall was to attend the Irish’s home games with my father, a 1980 Notre Dame graduate. I became familiar with common opponents such as Purdue, USC, Michigan, Michigan State, etc., but there was something inherently special when the service academies — Navy, Air Force and Army — visited Notre Dame Stadium. My first detailed memory of the mystique of those academies was a game on Nov. 8, 2003, when Navy was in town for a late season match up. Typically, fans would “boo” the opposing team when it ran onto the field, but, that day, fans cheered wildly as the lead player proudly carried and waved an oversized American flag out of the tunnel and to the visitors’ sideline.Yet the moment when the collective patriotism of those 80,795 fans became palpable had yet to arrive. As the national anthem was sung, a trio of military planes made an idyllic flyover that brought tears to the eyes of many around me. As an 11-year-old, I couldn’t comprehend that reaction, but 10 years later, it all makes sense. The 2006 season provided another spectacle, this time with the cadets of West Point in town. In an unforgettable act of solidarity, fans of both teams lined the street around the stadium to cheer the Army bus as it made its way to the player entrance gate. How often do moments such as that occur in sports? I’d like to say nearly never. But that’s the power of patriotism in action.Prior to that afternoon’s game, during the singing of the national anthem, the focus wasn’t on the words being sung, but the paratroopers with bright orange parachutes falling through the sky. And perfectly on cue, one by one, each landed on the field at the 50-yard-line. Chants of “U-S-A” broke out in a rapid fervor, which, for the first time, brought tears to my eyes.It was a moment I’ll not soon forget, one that evokes a deeply personal appreciation and gratitude for the sacrifices that the men and women of our nation’s military branches make on a daily basis so that we, the civilians, may enjoy freedom. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/30/13 11:28pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The champagne-soaked jerseys, shorts and championship t-shirts of the Miami Heat weren’t given ample time to dry before future-gazing fans and bettors latched on to stakes of the 2013-14 NBA season. In this society of instant gratification, sports fans often find themselves day dreaming about the following season immediately after, if not before, the current season ends. Odds makers of the various casinos that operate the sports betting industry were quick to crown the Heat as next season’s favorites, though the team may have a true obstacle in the Eastern Conference following a blockbuster trade that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the Boston Celtics to the new look Brooklyn Nets. Whether the Heat will hoist the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy for the third consecutive season next summer remains to be seen, though bona fide title contenders have been set (odds courtesy of www.betvega.com). Miami Heat (2/1): With LeBron James in tow, the Heat’s capability of winning a third consecutive title goes without question. The pieces of James’ supporting cast — key to another championship run — will gain clarity once the NBA’s moratorium period lifts July 10. Floor spacer Ray Allen has exercised his player option for next season, and the possibility of the team shopping forward Chris Bosh remains in play. Oklahoma City Thunder (11/2): During this season’s playoffs, Oklahoma City experienced the plight of the 2011-12 Chicago Bulls, as star point guard Russell Westbrook suffered a torn meniscus in the first round, which ultimately derailed the team’s championship hopes. But with a healthy Westbrook and a scoring champion in Kevin Durant, the Thunder will be the top dog in the Western Conference. Los Angeles Clippers (10/1): For the first time in the modern era, the Clippers will be the only title contender in their home city. With new head coach Doc Rivers joining point guard Chris Paul and forward Blake Griffin, the Clippers have become a force to be reckoned with. The only loose end for the franchise to tie up is securing the services of a legitimate scoring threat on the wing to solidify the backcourt. Brooklyn Nets (10/1): Brooklyn has become the new kid on the block, having become the first team to hire a head coach immediately out of his playing career, Jason Kidd. The team also made the bold move of proposing and accomplishing a blockbuster trade that allowed it to acquire the services of two all-star caliber players in Pierce and Garnett. With a backcourt that includes Joe Johnson and point guard Deron Williams, the Nets may possess sufficient firepower to dethrone the Heat as the favorites in the Eastern Conference. Chicago Bulls (11/1): Had point guard Derrick Rose not gone down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the first round of the 2012 playoffs, the NBA itself may have looked entirely different than its current form. Rose’s Bulls may very well have eliminated the Heat, becoming the kings of the league. With a healthy Rose and more formidable core around him, Chicago has established itself as a contender once again.My pick: Heat
(06/27/13 12:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU Coach Tom Crean deserves a few moments to recline in his office chair, exhale and bask in the accomplishments of his player development program. After five seasons in Bloomington, Crean will, at long last, hear the names of at least two of his IU players — Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller — called on Thursday evening during the 2013 NBA Draft. While some may wonder why this is viewed as such a tremendous feat, they simply need to understand where the IU program was five seasons ago. Former head coach Kelvin Sampson crumbled the foundation of the program to its core through major NCAA violations, leading to a harrowing rebuilding effort on the part of Crean and his staff. Fast-forward five years, and the Hoosiers have two players pegged as sure-fire lottery picks. It’s unthinkable and makes Oladipo and Zeller’s time in the limelight that much sweeter. In my 2013 mock draft, I predicted Oladipo to be selected by the Phoenix Suns with the fifth overall pick, and Zeller to be taken by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 10th overall pick. Oladipo’s journey has been a special one, as he flew under the radar as a high school prospect, earning a 3-star rating from Rivals.com. But with the amount of work he put in during three seasons at IU (just ask Crean about how Oladipo and rising senior Will Sheehey changed the “work” culture within the program), he transformed himself into a lottery pick. That transformation came full circle during the Hoosiers’ road contest at the Breslin Center against Michigan State, which was televised by ESPN. Earvin “Magic” Johnson was on the call, and, at one point, declared Oladipo a combination of Dwyane Wade and Michael Jordan. Did you hear that, kids? Crean developed an undervalued high school prospect into a player worthy of that type of acknowledgment. And that’s where the concept of Oladipo and Zeller’s draft statuses become the gifts that keep on giving; recruits are going to see and remember Crean’s ability to develop these two players into lottery picks. Regardless of which teams select these two players, what they’ll be receiving is a direct reflection of the IU program. Hard work, dedication, selflessness and a team-first attitude are each qualities possessed by both Oladipo and Zeller, qualities that have become a rare breed during the prima donna AAU era. Teams will also be receiving franchise-altering players. In Zeller, a team will have a post presence that alters shots and runs the floor like a guard. With some polishing of his post moves and mid-range jump shot, Zeller may just become an All-Star caliber player. And in Oladipo, a team will receive an immediate rotation player who will provide the type of lockdown defense that has earned him his reputation. If he develops his perimeter jump shot, the Upper Marlboro, Md., product could become a regular starter at the small forward position. Not bad for a program that was in the dark ages as recently as 2010. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/27/13 12:37am)
Columnist Connor Killoren offers his picks for the 2013 NBA Draft.
(06/23/13 11:10pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When the dust settled on the Miami Heat’s 95-88 victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 7 of the NBA Finals Thursday evening, the ongoing debate concerning LeBron James’ legacy only intensified. And the discussion continues to be centered on one particular question. Is James the greatest player of all time? It’s a question that formed soon after the Akron, Ohio, native jumped straight from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to the NBA, spending his first seven seasons in the league with his home state Cleveland Cavaliers. Since his entry to the professional ranks, the comparisons to Michael Jordan began. James’ selection to wear the No. 23 only added fuel to the fire, as did his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a prep star with the phrase “The Chosen One” attached. What began as simply a comparison for conversation’s sake has transformed into a media circus, the scrutiny of which has reached unparalleled heights (see “The Decision”). Along with Tiger Woods, Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant and Tony Romo, James has joined the club of the most scrutinized individual athletes on the planet, though he may be the most polarizing of them all. Fair or not, the most overlooked conclusion that no single individual even seems to consider is that James truly cannot be compared to Jordan. The two, while both rare breeds, play two distinctly different styles of basketball with two significantly contrasting attitudes. Jordan, like Bryant, possessed a killer instinct that was unmistakably intimidating to opponents. Jordan was going to will his team to victory and he achieved that feat countless times by slashing the proverbial jugular. James does not possess that trait. The 28-year-old reminds many of a combination of Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Oscar Robertson. James enjoys facilitating and setting his teammates up to score. Perhaps no other all-star enjoys passing the ball as much as James. And when James is in assist mode, you’d be best served to pay close attention because the aesthetic beauty of his setups is unlike anything the NBA has ever seen. One of those moments arrived during a Team USA exhibition game against the Dominican Republic last summer. After corralling a turnover at his team’s end of the court, James fired a 70-foot bounce pass to a streaking Kevin Durant, who threw down the dunk at the other end. While James certainly could have barreled down the court for his own slam like a freight train on the loose, the 6-foot-8, 250-pound freak athlete finds a unique joy in tossing a perfectly timed lob or firing the most precise pass so that a teammate can score. Whether James truly wants to be Jordan will never be known. But if that was a desire of James’ at any point, he permanently destroyed his chances of doing so by ditching the Cavaliers to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami. The so-called “Big Three” have now won back-to-back NBA championships, with James being honored as the Finals MVP each time. But regardless of how many titles the three may win together, they won’t elevate James to Jordan’s pedestal in NBA lore. The media will continue to make the Jordan comparisons because that’s what attracts readers, listeners and viewers, but if you’re among those who understand the comparisons can’t be fairly made, you’ll be able to simply enjoy the beauty of a tremendous basketball player’s game. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/20/13 2:32am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It has often been said that the summer months are the most monotonous, dull stretch in sports.Such is typically the case with IU students, many of who leave campus for the summer with nothing but dancing visions of Hoosier basketball permeating their collective subconscious. It is, perhaps, the only member school of the Big Ten Conference that values one sport so much more than all others. And that should make students here on this campus feel quite guilty considering the astronomical ascent IU baseball has made in the past two weeks. If you weren’t aware, the Hoosiers became the first Big Ten Conference team to earn a berth to the College World Series since 1984, and did so after a season in which IU Coach Tracy Smith and his team accrued a slew of honors. They won the regular season conference championship, conference tournament championship and earned the right to host a regional at Bart Kaufman Field. The Hoosiers’ Big Ten Conference Tournament championship was the first won by the team since 2009. Following a sweep through the regional, the Hoosiers travelled to Tallahassee, Fla., for the super regional and defeated the favored Florida State Seminoles at Dick Howser Stadium. By way of those two victories, the Hoosiers earned their first-ever trip to the College World Series.If you’ve been tuned into ESPN to watch the Hoosiers in their first two College World Series Games, you’ve seen the rather pleasant showing of crimson and cream in the stands. How many of those fans in attendance are students is an undeterminable question, though the fan turnout has been nothing short of spectacular to see. It isn’t often that IU athletics are represented on a national stage, as the basketball Hoosiers are the only team consistently playing in front of a national television audience. And for the players themselves, playing in the College World Series is the reward of a lifetime. For some, it will be the last hurrah wearing the cream and crimson uniforms. They should feel proud for the tremendous way they have represented IU.This team might go down in the history books as the best baseball team the school will ever see.
(06/13/13 12:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If you were paying even the least bit of attention to IU athletics during the 2011-12 season, you were aware of Hoosier basketball’s “resurrection.” However, something of even greater magnitude has transpired during the past week. The Hoosier baseball team has advanced to its first College World Series appearance in school history, which is even more astonishing in the proper context. The Hoosiers have become the first Big Ten Conference team to reach the College World Series since 1984 and did so by defeating Florida State twice during the super regional on the Seminoles’ diamond last weekend. Keep in mind that IU entered that series as the undeniable underdog, particularly against a team that had posted one of college baseball’s most gleaming home records at 35-3. The Seminoles also earned the No. 7 national seed from the NCAA.The combination of those conditions forecasted what was destined to be a bitter end to the Hoosiers’ dream season, but they continued to distort the concept of fate. Yet the one piece of information that is absolutely jaw-dropping — for lack of a more effective phrase — is the fact that prior to the current season, the Hoosiers had recorded one NCAA tournament victory through 118 seasons. Consider that figure. One victory in 118 seasons. IU Coach Tracy Smith and his team have defied not only the historical odds, but all types of odds imaginable within collegiate baseball. First and foremost, the Hoosiers have disproved the theory that teams located in the “cold” regions, specifically the Midwest, aren’t legitimate contenders once postseason play arrives. There is some truth to that statement, though. The Big Ten Conference is considered somewhat of a “mid-major” in baseball, meaning that it’s extremely rare to see one of its members advance deep into the NCAA Tournament. And considering the conference’s struggle to make any noise in the tournament lately, the trajectory of the Hoosiers’ season has an air of added significance. A cross section of the team reveals an unmistakable winning formula. It all begins with pitching. Of the Hoosiers’ four main starting pitchers — freshman Will Coursen-Carr, sophomore Aaron Slegers, junior Joey DeNato and sophomore Kyle Hart — not one has an earned run average higher than 3.01. The group’s combined ERA rests at a sparkling 2.43. The Hoosiers have also been equally as dominant at the dish, posting a team batting average of .306 that includes 197 extra base hits, 18 of which have arrived from sophomore catcher Kyle Schwarber’s spectacular 18 home runs. Don’t believe that the success the Hoosiers have enjoyed is smoke and mirrors, either. Coursen-Carr, Slegers, DeNato and Hart each have eligibility remaining beyond the current season, although Slegers is likely to go to the MLB, where the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the fifth round. And of the Hoosiers’ primary batters, only two — senior shortstop Michael Basil and senior center fielder Justin Cureton — will see their eligibility clocks expire at the final out of the current season, with junior third baseman Dustin DeMuth also probably departing to join Slegers, as he was selected in the eighth round by the Twins. This may just be the beginning of a potential dynasty in Bloomington. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/10/13 12:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The joyous resurrection of the IU basketball program, while just cause for celebration, has nearly drowned out the quiet, yet undeniable rise of another program on campus. The IU football team recently released five new helmets, catapulting the team into the news cycle.While some will scoff at the notion that IU football should be taken seriously, the program, led by third-year head coach Kevin Wilson, has seen rapid improvement during his first two seasons. Some may say this point is moot by referencing Wilson’s record at IU, which currently stands at 5-19. It’s understandable why you would step away from the discussion at that point, but you’re doing yourself a disservice by not delving deeper into the facts. Wilson inherited a Hoosier program that was in a state of utter disarray. What was Wilson’s solution to the problem? He cleaned house. Any individual associated with IU football who had a personal agenda was sent away, most notably former receiver Damarlo Belcher, who was dismissed from the program late in the 2011 season after a drug-related charge. Yet Wilson’s decision to start from scratch has paid dividends. Entering the 2013 season, the Hoosiers feature 19 returning starters, largely due to Wilson’s choice in 2011 to start a slew of freshmen he had recruited. These were his players, rather than holdovers from the Bill Lynch era. Because of Wilson’s “win today” attitude, he began his tenure at IU by constructing the type of spread offense he ran at Oklahoma, and one that gained him enormous respect as one of the most brilliant offensive minds in college football. Most importantly, the 2013 edition of Wilson’s offense will be anchored by a veteran offensive line that includes four returning starters: sophomore tackle Jason Spriggs and junior tackle Peyton Eckert, as well as junior guard Bernard Taylor and sophomore guard Dan Feeney.As is typical in a no-huddle spread offense, this group is tasked not only with providing consistent pass protection, but also with winning the battle at the line of scrimmage to spur the zone read rushing attack. And despite Wilson’s desire to throw the football, his offense must improve its running game, as the Hoosiers finished 96th nationally in rushing yards per game last season. The experienced offensive line and redshirt senior running back Stephen Houston, along with sophomore quarterback Tre Roberson, should bring about a marked improvement in that facet of the game. And while putting points on the board is a necessity in itself, the Hoosiers require even more work defensively. The porous defenses IU has produced on an annual basis have been the sole reason why the Hoosiers have failed to truly compete in the Big Ten Conference for the better part of the past decade. The cornerstone of any successful defense is stopping the run. Yet the Hoosiers allowed a woeful 231.33 rushing yards per game last season, finishing in the basement of the Football Bowl Subdivision at 116th. For IU to become a legitimate competitor within its own conference, vast defensive improvement is paramount. The key aspect of that effort will be the implementation of Ralphael Green and Alex Todd as starters at defensive tackle in the Hoosiers’ 4-3 alignment. If they get bullied by opposing offensive lines, IU’s defense will have a very long season ahead of it. Yet the outlook for the Hoosier team in 2013 is bright, especially considering the schedule layout; the Hoosiers’ first five games of the season are in Bloomington, four of which are winnable games: Indiana State, Navy, Bowling Green and Penn State. The other is against SEC foe Missouri.Should the Hoosiers win each of those four contests, they would only require two more victories the remainder of the season to become bowl eligible. Now that’s winning today. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/05/13 11:40pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s not often that societal values and sports become intertwined. But in recent years, that mixture has become increasingly relevant in the realm of collegiate athletics, specifically football.The matter at hand is recruiting, which has become a sideshow — circus is the truly appropriate term — all its own. The first Wednesday in February is known to recruiting junkies as National Signing Day, which, in my mind, has been elevated to holiday status. It’s sickening, really. Fans anxiously wait to see their beloved team’s commits sign national letters of intent, which, mind you, is a binding contract. It’s not simply a piece of paper, though to some prospects, that’s exactly what it is. During the most recent recruiting cycle, America was shown the leniency with which these prospects treat the word “commitment.” Perhaps the most visible example involved college football’s most recognized program — the University of Notre Dame. Fresh off an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game, the school’s first trip to the title game in 24 years, the Irish were, for lack of a better phrase, seemingly secure in their ability to lock up a top-five recruiting haul. Yet two rather damaging occurrences transpired between then and now. First, five-star linebacker Alex Anzalone, who had been “committed” to Notre Dame since June 2012, spurned the Irish for Florida one day prior to his expected arrival in South Bend, Ind., for the spring semester as an early enrollee. Where’s the sense of true commitment in that scenario? No matter the reasons behind Anzalone’s decision to leave Notre Dame in the dust, the residual effect of the decision is a lessening of the meaning behind the concept of commitment. It gets worse, though. Eddie Vanderdoes, a five-star defensive tackle, “committed” and signed a national letter of intent to Notre Dame on National Signing Day in February, but had an apparent change of heart at some point following that day. Because Vanderdoes had signed a binding contract, he couldn’t simply cut ties with Notre Dame. The school could have simply released him from his national letter of intent, but it stepped up and did the right thing. It held Vanderdoes to his contract, not allowing the heralded prospect to play at UCLA this season. Now, if Vanderdoes had provided a legitimate reason as to why he no longer desired to attend Notre Dame, such as a family issue, the school would have gladly released him. But Vanderdoes’ statement that he gave to ESPN.com was vanilla, at best. “Over the past four months, circumstances have changed for me and my family. For very personal reasons, I feel a strong need to remain close to home and near those who are most important in my life.”It was the right choice to make, and not just on a micro level. It was reported that a multitude of coaches across the country reached out to Notre Dame, asking the school not to release Vanderdoes, so as to not set a precedent. It should also send a message to these kids that once a commitment is made, it should be binding. Backing out shouldn’t be an option. Maybe the parents of these kids are failing them in this regard. Maybe it’s simply a minute example of the fabric of society tearing at the seams. Whatever the case may be, Notre Dame took the first step in fixing a problem that has gone too far. Let’s hope it was the first of many. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(06/03/13 4:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>NBA Commissioner David Stern and league executives have to be riddled with fear. When the dust settled on Saturday evening’s Game 6 matchup between the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat, the teams found themselves deadlocked at three games apiece, with a pivotal Game 7 set for Monday night at American Airlines Arena. The Heat, the NBA’s rating kings, were pegged as overwhelming favorites to dispatch the Pacers and advance to their third consecutive NBA Finals. And that’s what will make Monday’s Game 7 such a spectacle. Should Indiana defeat the Heat and megastar LeBron James, the NBA would be faced with a matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and the Pacers, a ratings nightmare for the league. But shouldn’t that be satisfying to not only Pacers fans, but to NBA fans as a whole? Despite the aesthetic beauty of James’ game — perhaps the most integral selling point for the league — the masses view him and his team as an evil empire. James has become public enemy No. 1, making a potential early exit from the playoffs such a compelling storyline. To make matters worse, James and his teammates wholly understand that the pressure is squarely on their shoulders, but such is the life for defending champions. And they couldn’t have asked for a peskier, undying opponent. As has been the typical nature of this Eastern Conference Finals matchup, the team with its back against the wall has responded with a profound sense of urgency and aggressiveness, which the Pacers displayed at Bankers Life Fieldhouse during an eventual 91-77 victory Saturday evening. How the team responds to evening the series is paramount, and will be a popular topic of discussion, win or lose. With momentum on their side, the Pacers must take advantage of the predicament the Heat find themselves in. James has become a one-man show, as Chris Bosh has been nonexistent against Roy Hibbert, and Dwyane Wade has been playing on one leg. The two combined for just 15 points in Game 6, reminding fans of the days when James was forced to be a hero night after night with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The circumstances have set the table for what will be, perhaps, one of the most memorable game sevens in league history. Yet the most effective way to describe what will transpire in Game 7 is a David and Goliath comparison. Here, we have James, who has been pushed to the brink, against a group of players with no star power. Sure, Paul George’s name is increasing in popularity exponentially with each graceful scoring performance, but the average NBA fan still doesn’t have the slightest clue who he is. Outside of Indiana, the Pacers are viewed as a team of no names who have overachieved at maximum efficiency. But with a victory in Game 7, that perception would quickly fade. But that’s not the only outcome of a win. The Pacers would put a lasting dent in the legacy and image of LeBron James and the so-called “dynasty” of his Heat team. So prepare yourself, Mr. Stern. David is on the verge of defeating Goliath and throwing a wrench in the inner workings of the NBA.— ckillore@indiana.edu
(05/30/13 12:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Three short years ago, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh appeared on stage during a celebration of the newly formed “Big Three” in downtown Miami. It was there James declared his new team — the Miami Heat — would win “not one, not two, not three, not four,” and so on in a proposed streak of NBA championships that would theoretically push the franchise into the most rarified air in the history of the league. The trio won its first championship last season, defeating the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, along the way. Yet it was during that series that the Heat first appeared truly vulnerable, rather than as the “invincible” bunch the team seemed to have become — the Pacers held a 2-1 series advantage before dropping three consecutive decisions. It was at the conclusion of that three-game losing streak when the Pacers had a fire lit beneath them. They knew they could not only compete with the Heat but also throw a wrench into their reign of dominance. After cruising through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Heat met a Pacers team riding high after upsetting the favored New York Knicks in six games. Despite the perceived upset in the previous round, the critics weren’t buying the hype, predicting the Heat needing only five, or six games to advance to the NBA Finals for the third consecutive season. But after the Pacers’ 99-92 triumph in Game 4 on Tuesday evening, the series entered a 2-2 deadlock heading back to Miami. But the Heat are simply toying with the Pacers, right? They’ll stop fooling around and finish this series in six games, right? While that scenario may very well play out, you’d be foolish to count the Pacers out, especially considering the declining health and contributions from James’ partners in crime, Bosh and Wade. The two combined for just 23 points and six rebounds in Game 4, which is, undoubtedly, a fatal shortcoming for a team with its back against the wall and everything to lose. Let’s assume both Bosh and Wade remain at their current physical status in Game 5. If the Pacers continue to effectively keep James out of the lane and force the Heat to settle for jump shots, I will be adamant about the Pacers’ chances of pulling off what would be considered the most shocking upset in recent NBA playoffs history. However, the Pacers can’t allow themselves to be content. A true hunger must exist for the team to knock off the defending NBA champions, and that begins on the glass. The Pacers outrebounded the Heat 49-30 in Game 4 while also dominating the lane offensively, pouring in 50 points in the paint to the Heat’s 32. Indiana also must take care of the ball, which has been, perhaps, the team’s most glaring weakness. But most importantly, Indiana head coach Frank Vogel must preach to his team to play to its identity: playing lockdown defense and crashing the boards relentlessly. If that’s executed consistently, fans will be treated to an unexpected trip to the NBA finals to meet the San Antonio Spurs. And James, Wade and Bosh will be delayed in their declaration of multiple championships.— ckillore@indiana.edu
(05/22/13 11:14pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>I’ve heard and digested the same proclamation on more occasions than I care to remember. “LeBron James is the best player to have ever played the game of basketball.” If that’s your opinion, then more power to you. It’s your constitutional right, but I’m inclined to tell you your opinion is as false as can be. Let me take you back to the evening of June 19, 1984.It was during that evening’s NBA Draft that the greatest player of all time was inducted into the world’s most renowned professional basketball league. Both the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers passed on Michael Jeffrey Jordan, opting instead to select Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie, respectively. Such a perceived slight didn’t faze Jordan; he had failed to make the varsity squad at Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, N.C. as a sophomore because he was deemed too short — Jordan stood 5 feet 11 inches — to play at the varsity level. Fast-forward 18 years after the 1984 draft, and Jordan had become not only the greatest of all time, but a transcending figure on a global stage. He retired for good in 2003 as a six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, 14-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, among a treasure trove of other awards. While those accolades alone confirm Jordan’s legacy as the greatest of all time, consider his humble beginnings as a professional. His first six seasons in the league — each with the Chicago Bulls — ended without a championship. Yet Jordan’s patience paid off, as the Bulls went on to win championships in six of the next eight seasons, and likely would have won seven had Jordan not retired from the game prior to the 1993-94 season to pursue a career in baseball. Jordan allowed the Bulls’ front office management to build a championship-caliber team around him. Jordan’s first season with the Bulls included a rotation of players such as Dave Corzine, Dave Greenwood, Steve Johnson, Caldwell Jones, Wes Matthews and Ennis Whatley. Have you heard those names before? I certainly haven’t.Fast forward to Jordan’s final championship season with the Bulls — 14 years after his initial season — and the realization that his patience had paid off sets in: He was surrounded by the likes of Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Luc Longley and Bill Wennington. “His Airness” slowly but surely built a legacy throughout his career. He accomplished it brick-by-brick, day-by-day and season-by-season. Jordan’s heir-apparent, James, who is also known as “King James,” had no such patience or willingness to build the same type of legacy as the player and man he grew up idolizing as a kid on the courts in Akron, Ohio. After spending his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, James packed his bags and headed for Miami, where he joined up with All-Stars Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Heat in a rather distasteful incident known as “The Decision.” Shortly thereafter, James’ idol, Jordan, broke his silence on the matter. “There’s no way, with hindsight, I would have ever called up Larry (Bird), called up Magic (Johnson) and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’” Jordan said during an interview with NBC. “Things are different. I can’t say that’s a bad thing. It’s an opportunity these kids have today. In all honesty, I was trying to beat those guys.” I’ll say what Jordan truly wanted to say during that interview: James didn’t have the guts or the courage to remain in Cleveland and build a legacy there. He couldn’t do it on his own. He didn’t have the resolve or the toughness to accomplish what Jordan did in Chicago. Instead, James chose the easy path to championships by joining players he should have had a hunger to defeat, to echo Jordan’s sentiments. It was a wise choice to change your jersey number from 23 to 6 when you joined the Heat, LeBron. You’ll never be Jordan. — ckillore@indiana.edu
(05/19/13 11:49pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>You didn’t expect this, did you, Pacers fans?With a 106-99 victory against the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Paul George, Roy Hibbert and company advanced to the conference finals for the first time in nine seasons. It’s a rather shocking revelation, considering the trajectory of the regular season. Danny Granger, arguably the franchise’s premier player, was active for only five games, placing head coach Frank Vogel and his staff in a rather precarious position. Questions arose surrounding the team’s scoring punch without Granger, leading to the consensus belief that the Pacers were a season away from contending in the Eastern Conference. With the Knicks, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls each considered legitimate contenders, the Pacers were shoved aside as a mere afterthought in the rampant playoff discussion. That attitude allowed the Pacers the luxury of flying under the radar throughout the regular season, as ESPN and the vast majority of media outlets spent countless hours fawning over New York and Miami and the potential of a matchup between the two teams to determine the East’s representative in the Finals. But that’s exactly what the Pacers required — time outside the spotlight to allow the rotation to gel in the absence of Granger. It’s a testament to the wise decision-making of the team’s front office management. Current General Manager and former Director of Player Personnel Kevin Pritchard, along with Vogel, understood that to contend with the likes of Miami and New York, defense would be the foundation upon which the team was built. That belief paid dividends, as the Pacers finished the regular season as the league’s best rebounding team, at an average of 45.85 boards per game. Add in the team’s second place finish in points per game allowed, and you have a lethal combination capable of knocking off any opponent. It all begins in the frontcourt with Hibbert, a 7-foot-2-inch, 280-pound center. His length alone in the post changes shots and alters the offensive strategies of opponents — see the Knicks’ frustration with supposed defensive “no calls” in Hibbert’s favor during the previous round of the playoffs. The addition of ferocious on-ball defense from Hill and Lance Stephenson in the frontcourt has made life extremely harrowing for opponents, and will be paramount against the Heat’s style of slashing play at the offensive end. However, containing LeBron James — the key in dethroning the Heat — is the task at hand. Choices must be made surrounding how to defend him, as George, the Pacers’ main scoring threat, would be matched up with James at small forward. But with the team’s scoring inconsistency, placing George in a position to pick up quick fouls may not be the ideal scenario. This is where switching, a tenet of NBA defense, becomes quintessential. How effective the Pacers are in that facet of the game will likely determine the trajectory of the series. If it’s a job well-executed, the Heat may be denied a third consecutive trip to the NBA Finals. My Prediction: Heat in 7— ckillore@indiana.edu