Bittersweet Farewell

This week has been very emotional week for IU fans as their two superstar Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo decided to enter the NBA draft. Though it is sad to see two players that Hoosier nation has enjoyed watching for the past couple years, it is also sweet to see players that we have watched grown and mature into the young men that they are. All we can do as fans now is wish them goodluck and support them in their NBA careers. Both players are expected to be selected in the top 10 so we cant blame them for wanting to leave school early.

Cody Zeller is NBA-bound.The 7-foot Indiana sophomore announced his decision to enter the draft. Throughout his career as a Hoosier Zeller, an All-America pick by the Associated Press, scored 1,157 points in 72 games in his Indiana career, a 16.1 average. He also averaged 7.3 rebounds. Here are some highlights of Zeller’s career at IU.

Tuesday’s news conference at Assembly Hall simply made it official: Victor Oladipo is headed for the NBA. Oladipo leaves Indiana with 1,117 career points in three seasons and career averages of 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. He ranks third in career steals with 161. Here is some highlights of Victors career.

Her Final Game

Sklyar Diggins the hometown star couldn’t have asked for much more in her four years playing for the Irish. She just couldn’t deliver a national championship as Notre Dame fell short for the first time this season in her final game against UConn, losing 83-65 in the Final Four.

Diggins’ basketball career isn’t over quite yet as she will enter the WNBA draft. According to ESPN mock draft she is predicted to go number two to the Chicago Sky. In any other draft class Diggins would be a for sure number 1 selection but will have to settle for number 2 with the highly talented Brittney Griner being in this years draft class. Griner was recently discussed by IU alum Mark Cuban about being selected by the Dallas Mavericks if that doesn’t tell you how talented Griner is I don’t know what will. But wherever Digs goes she will have a influential impact on and off the court because she is a great role model, scorer, teammate, and leader. 

 

Colts Prospect Watch: Desmond Trufant

With the NFL Draft under three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts have been busy sifting through all of the NFL hopefuls in hope of adding them to their roster.  Today we will examine a prospect that the Colts have likely identified that will be available at their 1st Round pick.  Today’s prospect watch is cornerback Desmond Trufant of Washington.

Trufant has been one of college’s top cornerbacks since his sophomore season.  Throughout his career, Trufant has accumulated 6 interceptions and a whopping 38 passes defensed.  Trufant has prototypical size at 6’0″ and 190lbs and boasts a complete game.  He can play either as the boundary corner while also can cover well as a nickel corner.  Trufant also ran a 4.38 Combine 40 yard dash while also posting a Combine best 3.85 second 20 yard shuttle time.

While the Colts have made several moves in free agency, the Colts did not defend the deep half of the field well last season.  The team owned the 21st ranked pass defense and the 26th ranked defense overall.  While resigning Darius Butler and signing free agent Greg Toler, there is no question that the secondary could add a talent like Trufant to its backfield. Trufant would also likely provide good competition and push for early playing time across from incumbent starter Vontae Davis.

Here is an example of how big of a nuisance Trufant can be:

Presley Impresses

LF Alex Presley (Image by Bill Gentry)

After dropping the first two games of the season, the Indianapolis Indians have found their stride and won the past three games, putting their overall record at 3-2.  The Indians split the home series against the Columbus Clippers to start the season and began their home series against Toledo Mud Hens last night with a victory 3-1.

The highlight to the start of the Indians season has been left fielder Alex Presley.  With 17 at bats so far this season, Presley is hitting .412, with one homer run, and 2 rbi.  Not numbers that will put fear in opposing pitchers, but it is the best start so far for an Indians players and worth noting.  Presley actually played in 104 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year, but only hit .237 and had 72 strikeouts in 346 at bats. He signed a one year deal with the Pirates before the start of this season.

On the other side, the Indians pitching staff as a whole has pitched well with only one starter giving up more than 4 hits with at least 5 innings pitched.  The highlight of the staff has been Vin Mazzaro. He has only pitched 5 innings so far but has done multiple roles in doing so. He pitched one inning in relief on opening day against the Clippers and struck out two. Just days later, Mazzaro started pitching against the Clippers, giving up only two hits, dishing out 6 strikeouts, and giving up no runs in 4 innings of action.  Vin Mazzaro came to the Indians last year in trade with the Kansas City Royals, where he appeared in 18 games of relief last year, pitching 44 innings with a 5.73 ERA.

The Indians next game is tonight at Victory Field at 7:05 against the Toledo Mud Hens.

Keep Calm, Hoosier On

Monday proved to be a solemn day for Hoosiers everywhere as former IU soccer star and current New England Revolution defender was diagnosed with leukemia. Alston took an immediate leave of absence form the team for treatment. He is a five year MLS veteran and has been a mainstay for the Revo backline having never missed a game. 

Alston’s time at IU included a two-time All-Big Ten selection in 2007 and 2008, and a 2008 NSCAA All-Great Lakes region selection. He received a call-up to the national team for Bob Bradley in 2009 against Honduras but was unable to participate due to an injury. 

Alston’s leukemia is somewhat rare but treatable. However, the Revolution have no current timetable for his return.

Ten Long Years

The Pacers were able to do something tonight that has eluded them for a decade, become Central Division Champions. The news came following the Bull’s loss to the Pistons. This came as consolation following Indiana’s loss to the John Wall-led Wizards. Shortly after this a war of words began between Wall and, big man, Roy Hibbert with Wall calling the Pacers soft and Hibbert replying that the only thing the Wizards are chasing is the number 1 pick.

Trash talk aside, the Pacers currently sit 2 1/2 games behind New York for the second spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They continue their quest for glory on Tuesday against the Cavs at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse.

Maybe Michigan would have won…if they had more Indiana players

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images North America

The Michigan Wolverines lost a thriller last night in the National Championship to the Louisville Cardinals 76-82. Two of the starters and main contributors on the hardwood for the Wolverines were freshman forwards, Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary. Robinson finished the game with 12 points, shooting 75% from the field and McGary had 6 points, shooting 50% from the field, respectively.

Why single out Robinson and McGary when their teammate Trey Burke had the better game? And especially considering their performances were in the losing effort? Because even without the Hoosiers in their rightful place on the court in Atlanta last night, Robinson and McGary were there to represent Indiana basketball proudly. Robinson is from St. John, Indiana and McGary is from Chesterton, Indiana. Both actually played AAU ball together during their high school years here in Indiana.

Although it was not enough to hoist the trophy, Robinson had a solid performance as the second leading scorer for Michigan, and McGary was well on his way to adding to his terrific individual tournament run (avg. 16 pts, 12 pts going into the final game) until he got into foul trouble. For those who appreciate Indiana basketball, it was the slightest, smallest compensation to hear two starters from Indiana announced at the start of the biggest college basketball game of the year. We all know those Indiana names announced should have been Yogi Ferrell, Cody Zeller, and Jordan Hulls, but you know, who really knew Syracuse played a 2-3 zone before that sweet 16 game anyways?

With Robinson and McGary as Indiana natives playing in the National Championship, albeit for f’ing Michigan, it serves as another example to the superior basketball talent Indiana produces. Unfortunately, this talent was not able to stay in state for the collegiate level, but that’s partly the fault of Indiana schools. McGary, who was listed as a 4 star recruit and played his final two high school years in New Hampshire, was not offered a scholarship by any Indiana schools. On the other hand, every school in Indiana, including IU, Purdue, IUPUI, Indiana State, and Valparaiso, recruited Robinson, who was considered a 5 star recruit.

Since McGary went out of state to finish high school, it is almost understandable no Indiana schools recruited him. Robinson however, is the son of one of Purdue’s greatest players and still did not stay in state. Although its great he didn’t go to Purdue, it’s still a shame he went to Michigan. Either way, both McGary and Robinson are great players who will always be considered Indiana talent no matter where they play.

Colts Prospect Watch: DeAndre Hopkins

With the NFL Draft under three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts have been busy sifting through all of the NFL hopefuls in hope of adding them to their roster.  Today we will examine a prospect that the Colts have likely identified that will be available at their 1st Round pick.  Today’s prospect watch is receiver DeAndre Hopkins of Clemson.

Hopkins was the Clemson Tigers leading receiver this past season, accumulating 82 receptions for 1,405 yards and an astounding 18 touchdowns.  While Hopkins doesn’t boast the impressive speed of former teammate Sammy Watkins, Hopkins boasts a complete game.  Hopkins has some of the surest hands in this class and runs impressive routes for someone who won’t turn 21 until June.  Lastly, Hopkins is not afraid to get hit and cross the middle of the field and make the tough catch.

Once again, this is a position that the Colts have several playmakers already.  Reggie Wayne continues to amaze despite getting older every season.  Rookie sensation T.Y. Hilton gave Andrew Luck the vertical threat and second year pro La’Von Brazill started to develop as the season went on.  However, Hopkins would give Andrew Luck another dangerous weapon to build on his impressive rookie season.  It is unknown  how long Wayne will be able to keep up his Pro Bowl level of play and giving a young quarterback another weapon on offense is never frowned upon.

Here is just a sample of how disruptive Hopkins can be against opposing defenses:

Colts Prospect Watch: Jonathan Hankins

With the NFL Draft under three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts have been busy sifting through all of the NFL hopefuls in hope of adding them to their roster.  Today we will examine a prospect that the Colts have likely identified that will be available at their 1st Round pick.  Today’s prospect watch is defensive linemen Jonathan Hankins from Ohio State.

Hankins will be looked at as a nose tackle in the Colts new 3-4 defensive alignment.  Hankins stands at 6’3″ 320lbs.  What Hankins brings to the table is not only his natural girth, but the ability to play both in a one gap and two gap.  For those of you don’t understand this concept, what this basically means is that he can either handle blockers or he can use his quickness to shoot into gaps to disrupt the offense’s play. While he will never be an every down linemen for the Colts, the 3-4 defense is predicated on allowing the linemen taking on blocks to allow the linebackers to make the big plays.

While the Colts have decent linemen who can play nose tackle, they can certainly afford to add someone of Hankins talent.  Bryant McKinnie ended the season on Injured Reserve.  Eleven year veteran Aubrayo Franklin was recently signed as a free agent and last year’s rookie Josh Chapman didn’t play a down due to a torn ACL his senior year at Alabama. While there are some bodies there, all have question marks heading into the season leaving Hankins as a legitimate option for the Colts.

Here is just a sample of how disruptive Hankins was this past season for the Buckeyes:

Little MIss Muffet

Notre Dame women’s basketball head coach McGraw once again has been honored for her team’s success this season, earning the Associated Press National Coach of the Year award.This marks the second time in less than a week McGraw has received a major national coach of the year honor, following on the heels of her selection as the United States Basketball Writers Association Women’s National Coach of the Year on Thursday. 

Under McGraw’s tutelage, the Fighting Irish have reached even greater heights this year, posting a 35-1 record, tying last year’s school standard for wins in a season and two victories better than last year’s team through the same number of games played. Notre Dame also has advanced to the NCAA Women’s Final Four for the third consecutive season, and the fifth time in program history.