According to a report in the Indianapolis Star, a decision from the NCAA in response to recruiting infractions at IU could be announced Tuesday.
We’ll have more on this story as it becomes available.
Update: The Hoosier Scoop reports that the announcement will be made at 4pm.
Sorry to disappoint, but there will be no The Morning After feature this morning. I’m currently in the process of my first week of vacation in more than a year, and I plan on using it by staying away from the computer as much as possible. Also, I was traveling yesterday and didn’t see the game. Trying to do a TMA on a game I didn’t watch would be both unprecedented and pretty silly.
So instead, if you wish, use this as an open thread to comment on the game, things you saw, things that bear some further reflection after a night of sleep. I’ll be reading. That’s a nice little reversal; instead of me rambling on about whatever, you guys do the rambling, and I’ll do the reading. Deal?
And … go.
Indiana got its first taste of a nationally ranked opponent Monday night in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. The result? An 88-50 throttling at the hands of No. 9 Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish (3-0) shot 51 percent, hit ten 3-pointers, out-rebounded IU 40-23 and forced 20 turnovers.
Tory Jackson paced the winners with 21 points and Kyle McAlarney scored 18. Reigning Big East Player of the Year Luke Harangody added 14.
Mike Brey’s club opened a 13-point lead on a 3-pointer by McAlarney with 6:02 remaining in the first half and the Hoosiers (2-1) could not recover after that point.
Tom Pritchard continued his stellar early season play with 14 points and six rebounds. Two other Hoosiers — Devan Dumes and Nick Williams — hit double figures with 10 points each.
Indiana will continue play in the Maui Invitational Tuesday afternoon against St. Joseph’s. That game will be televised at 1:30 EST on ESPNU.
Once again, we’ll be teaming up with The Hoosier Scoop, Hoosier Nation and the Indiana Daily Student for a live blog. As you may have heard, the Hoosiers will face No. 9 Notre Dame in the opening round of the Maui Invitational. The festivities kick off at 5:00 EST and the tip is at 5:30 EST. We hope you’ll join us. In the meantime, feel free to sound off with your predictions in the comments.
Nothing against Northwestern State or IUPUI, but IU will get its first true test Monday afternoon in Maui when they face off with Notre Dame.
Led by Luke Harangody and a stellar cast of upperclassmen, I think it’s fair to say the Hoosiers are going to be in for a long day. And by long day I mean that not losing by more than 20 will be considered a success.
Mike Brey’s club can absolutely light it up from the perimeter and Harangody is as good of a post player as there is in college basketball (sans Tyler Hansbrough).
With that said, I encourage you to check out John Gasaway’s preview of Notre Dame over at Basketball Prospectus. Here’s a short excerpt and you can read the entire preview here:
Luke Harangody’s a star. Long before I started watching basketball-I know not when, exactly-it became the custom to refer to a team not simply as, well, the team’s name but rather as: “(Star) and the (team).” For instance, I might say simply “Notre Dame,” but if you’re seeing their game plugged on ESPN you better believe they’re going to be “Luke Harangody and Notre Dame.”
Rightfully so. Michael Beasley was the only major-conference player in the country last year who played a more prominent role in his team’s offense than did Harangody, who alone took about one-third of his team’s shots during his minutes on the floor. Notre Dame’s single-minded feed-Harangody compulsion on offense is surprising, imbalanced, and extreme. It also works beautifully.
The Irish came within a few baskets of beating out Connecticut for the title of best Big East offense in 2008. It’s not that Harangody’s another Beasley. Far from it: Beasley was vastly more efficient on offense last year while being even better than Harangody on the defensive glass. It’s just that by assuming a role of Beasley-esque proportions (Mike Brey’s workhorse attempted 509 two-point shots last year), Harangody allows talented teammates the luxury of functioning as ruthlessly efficient supporting players.
Poor Tom Pritchard. He was playing so well. The reality of this situation is that IU is out-manned at every position and Harangody is going to have a field day in the paint. But hey, look at the bright side, we might beat Chaminade on Wednesday.
Thanks to ITH reader Matt for the tip.
On top of the blogging I do on these here Internets, I also throw on the Real Journalist cap here and there at ESPN the Mag as a contributing writer. I had the opportunity to speak to Tom Crean last week, and the interview ran today. Here’s a quick quote from Crean on his relationship with T to the Izzo from it:
I’m in (Tom Izzo’s) backyard if I’m at Indiana, but when he’s at Indiana, he’s in our backyard. It’s just one of those types of situations. Nothing will ever change or affect our friendship. That’s one that always has, and always will, stand the test of time. I’m sure it will be different when we compete against each other, but we go to Big Ten meetings and it’s not like we’re on the other side of the room, it’s not like we don’t talk; we’re together like we’ve always been. He’s been remarkable for me in the short period of time I’ve been here in just trying to get acclimated.
Again, you can peep the whole thing here. Also, Crean recently spoke with the Wall Street Journal. Get at that interview here. (Thanks to those of you who e-mailed that link in.)
Candy Stripes is an IU basketball comic by Shane Johnson Studios that will appear bi-weekly on Inside the Hall. You can purchase prints or original artwork by contacting Shane at ShaneJohnsonStudios@gmail.com. Welcome to ITH, Shane.
