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Archive for December, 2009

A fond farewell

by in Site News | December 18th, 2009

Gents, ladies, friends of the ITH blogging republic. Today I meet you at an impasse. Today I greet you with somber news. For today is, unfortunately, my last day on the site. I know, I know. You’re devastated.

In fact, many of you probably won’t even notice. With the way my non-ITH work has bundled in the last few months, I haven’t made much of a contribution to this fine site in a while. And now, thanks to a new job blogging college basketball at ESPN.com, I can safely linger on the fringes no more. I must leave.

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Bob Knight is not a fan of John Calipari

by in Media | December 18th, 2009

Knight talks to players

Speaking at a fundraiser for the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame on Thursday night on the southside of Indianapolis, former IU coach Bob Knight voiced his displeasure with the lack of integrity that exists in college sports today. That included this gem of a quote about first-year Kentucky head coach, John Calipari:

“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching. You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky (John Calipari), who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

“And very few people know this, but a kid can play the first semester as a freshman, pass six hours of anything and play in the NCAA tournament without ever attending a class in the second semester. I don’t think that’s right.”

The second part of Knight’s quote is precisely what was running through my mind as I sat in Calipari’s postgame press conference last Saturday and listened to him talk about John Wall as if he was a Rhodes Scholar.

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Royce White peaces out from Minnesota via YouTube

by in Opponents | December 17th, 2009

You may or may not know the name Royce White. If you follow recruiting around the Big Ten, you’d know him as the top incoming freshman in the conference.

If not, you’ll now know him as the kid who pleaded guilty to shoplifting at Mall of America, reportedly stole a laptop and in perhaps the most bizarre development of this young college basketball season, announced he was leaving Minnesota via YouTube:

I’m pretty sure this isn’t what Tubby Smith envisioned when he signed the No. 19 recruit in the country, but White clearly has problems beyond basketball that need to be addressed. So, what’s next for White? Most likely a program willing to give him a second chance (where have you gone, Jerry Tarkanian?) or if he tries to go pro, presumably the NBDL.

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Visuals of Basketball Development Center construction

by in Media | December 16th, 2009

bdl1

It’s been lost in my mind — as things often get — since the last time I visited Bloomington and saw it over the summer, but yeah: Indiana is still constructing the new basketball practice facility. According to a release from IU Athletics yesterday, we still have some time to wait till this puppy is complete. Construction is scheduled to run for several more months, and they’re looking at a spring 2010 completion date.

The Basketball Development Center isn’t going to make every top recruit rush to IU, but the Indiana mystique, Tom Crean’s charm and an improving team can only go so far: at some point, you have to show a teenager something fancy. This practice facility is it, and it’s a facet the Hoosier basketball program has lacked. Other top programs can bust out the trump card with one of these facilities. Right now, IU only  has a virtual tour to show off. Actually taking a kid inside this thing when it’s complete is a whole other level.

I included a few more photos after the jump, but you can see a whole gallery of the progress on IU Athletics’ Web site, which I would recommend you peep as well.

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Around the Hall: Big Ten expansion

by in Media | December 15th, 2009

Big Ten Tournamnet: Illinois Fighting Illini v Purdue Boilermakers

Around the Hall is recommended reading from the Inside the Hall crew.

+ The Big Ten’s statement on possible expansion. (BigTen.org)

+ Brian Cook presents the ‘Grid of Judgment’ for Big Ten Expansion. (MGoBlog.com)

+ Hugh Kellenberger breaks down seven possibilities for the 12th Big Ten school. (The Hoosier Scoop)

+ Stewart Mandel writes that the Big Ten is serious about expansion, but the risks could outweigh the benefits. (SI.com)

+ Adam Rittenburg writes that the Big Ten may expand, or it might not. But the conference will explore its options. (ESPN.com)

+ Dennis Dodd thinks that an expansion to a ‘large dozen’ makes perfect sense. (CBSSports.com)

+ Would the Big Ten look to the Big 12 to snatch a 12th member? (ESPN.com)

+ Big Ten considers desperate plea for attention. (Deadspin)

+ The Detroit Free Press looks at who might fit if the Big Ten expands. (Freep.com)

+ Will Rutgers be in the mix with the Big Ten seeking to add a 12th school? (NJ.com)

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Austin Etherington erupts for 35 in Saturday win

by in Recruiting | December 14th, 2009

etherington070609Throughout the season, Inside the Hall will keep you posted on how Victor Oladipo and Will Sheehey and 2011 commitments Austin Etherington and Matt Carlino are performing at their respective schools. Here’s our latest update:

+ Victor Oladipo: DeMatha moved to 6-0 with a pair of wins over Carroll (10 for Oladipo) and Benedectine (9 for Oladipo). The Stags are ranked No. 15  in the USA Today Super 25.

+ Will Sheehey: Playing in his first season at Sagemont, Sheehey returned from an ankle injury recently and scored 35 points in a 75-65 win Friday over Palmetto and had 10 points in a Saturday win over Gainesville Bucholz. Sagemont is 5-1.

+ Austin Etherington: Hamilton Heights (3-2) snapped a two-game skid with a pair of weekend road wins over Lewis Cass and Tri-Central. Etherington scored 35 in Saturday’s win over Tri-Central.

+ Matt Carlino: Bloomington South continued its winning ways with a 72-43 win on Friday at Southport and a 54-42 win at home over Terre Haute North on Saturday. Carlino scored 18 points on Friday and five points on Saturday. The Panthers are No. 1 in Class 4A and No. 10 in the USA Today Super 25.

Other notables:

+ Cody Zeller: The Hatchets, No. 2 in Class 3A, moved to 5-0 with a pair of wins — 61-37 on Friday at Edgewood and 67-46 on Saturday against Forest Park. Zeller had 19 points in the Edgewood win.

+ Jeremiah Davis: The Muncie Central guard returned from a one-game suspension to score 14 points in a 70-64 home loss against Kokomo on Friday. The Bearcats are 2-2.

+ D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera: Smith-Rivera scored 10 points in a 83-79 North Central loss on Friday at Carmel.

+ Ron Patterson: The 6-3 Broad Ripple sophomore had 17 points and seven rebounds in a 82-48 Friday win over Indianapolis Ritter.

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