by Wayne23 » Sun Apr 01, 2018 3:28 pm
3/7: We play #9 seed UConn, 13-15, 9-9, in the 1/4 finals. They’re the only team that beat us all season- by 2, there. We don’t plan on letting it happen again.
3/8: 96-66. 24, 10 for Babu, 20, 10, 4 for Dele, 19, 9 for Brow. 4 starters had 10 or more RBs. As a team we had 61 (+40).
#5 seed Maryland, 19-10, 10-8, in the semis. We won by 8 there, 19 at our place.
3/9: 81-62. 28, 8, 5 for Babu, 18, 12 for Brow, 12, 9 for Star. +13 RBs.
#3 seed Michigan ST, 21-8, 11-7, for the title.
3/10: 96-74. We waltzed through the Big 10 tourney. 20, 9 for Brow, 13, 17 for Star, 10 or more for each of the other starters. +12 RBs, 10 TOs.
31-1, 17-1, #1, RPI #1. We have to be #1 overall.
3/12: #1 overall. It looks like an easy bracket.
We play Princeton, 19-12, first.
Red Lucas, Indy Times: Hey, Indianapolis, I’m back! Yeah, as you probably know I spent the last few years at EPNS, the sports network. The money was good, they treated me right, but I’m a writer, not a talker. It’s nice to be back!
I’m talking with my favorite hoops coach, Joe Indy, of the Indiana Hoosiers.
“Coach, life’s been good to you lately. 2 national titles, and what looks like a third one coming right up.”
“Don’t jinx me, Red.”
“Coach, you’ve got an incredible team. How can you lose?”
“Yes, this is the best team I’ve ever coached; better than either of the teams that won it all. BUT… we can lose.”
“How?”
“A key injury. A night when the shots won’t drop. A night when we’re just flat and can’t get anything going. A red hot three point shooting team that can play some D- lots of ways.”
“Even with all your talent?”
“Yep. If you look at the history of the tournament, the best team doesn’t always win. Matter of fact, they don’t win nearly as often as you’d think. Somewhere along the way, usually in one of the last three games, there’s a challenge to overcome. It might be that off night against a hot team, or it might be a very close game where it comes down to one possession or one rebound. You make the play or you don’t and that decides it.”
“Well, Coach, the whole state of Indiana is solidly in your corner.”
“Thanks, Red.”
3/16: 92-61. A walkover. 28 for Babu, 16 and 21 for Star, 14, 10 for Brow. +22 RBs, 9 TOs.
#8 seed Iowa, 21-10, in Round Two. We won by 12 there. They’re good outside.
3/18: 79-54. Never a game. 31, 6, 4 for Babu. 19 for Dele but a career worst 10 TOs. He couldn’t hang onto the ball. Better tonight than later in the tourney. +22 RBs.
#12 seed Charlotte, 23-11, has been red hot. They’re up in the Sweet Sixteen. They’re very good at SG and SF, and they can hit the three. This kind of team can be worrisome; yes, we’re easily the better team, but if those threes drop all night…
3/23: 91-65. We scored 59 in the 1st half, and never let them get started. 28, 15 for Brow, 28, 6, 4 for Babu, 10, 9, 10 for Dele, just missing a triple double, and only 2 TOs! +28 RBs, and only 4 TOs.
Another red hot underdog in the Elite Eight, #11 seed Purdue, 21-11, beat #2 seed, #6 ranked Syracuse. We won by 17 at our place, but only 3 there, on a night when their threes were falling.
3/25: 87-75. We got 51 in the first half. 28, 7, 4 for Babu, 21, 9, 4, 4 for brow, 13, 4, 10 for Dele, and we’re back in the Final Four.
We play #1 seed, #4 ranked Arizona, 31-2, in the national semifinal. On the other side it’s #9 seed, unranked BC vs. #6 seed, unranked Michigan ST, from our conference. Looks like the winner of our game is a solid bet to win it all- but don’t bet the ranch.
Arizona is yet another perimeter team. We need to stop the three. We think we have a big edge inside, but we will need to execute.
4/1: 77-52. Our D was stifling! 25, 16, 4, 6, 2 for Brow, 22, 8 for Babu, 10 assists for Dele, 11, 7 for 6th man Eric Myra.
It’s an all Big 10 final as we face #6 seed Michigan ST, 26-9. As was every other team we faced in the Big Dance, Mich. ST is a perimeter team. We beat them by 28 at our place, then only 3 there, then 22 in the Big 10 title game. We’re a big favorite, but again, you need to execute.
4/3: 85-67. 50 in the first half. We were incredible in this tournament. Never trailed in the second half, and rarely at all. Title #3!!!34 for Ken Babu, 15, 13 for Brow, 11 assists for Dele, 11, 10 for SF Rudy Snow. +18 RBs.
4/4: Awards: Babu wins the Norton Award, Final Four MOP, 1st team All American. How TF was he NOT national Frosh OY? Makes no sense. Cass Brow also makes 1st team All American. Mike Dele, who will be back, makes 2nd team All American. I get National COY. In Conf., Babu is POY, Frosh OY, and 1st team, along with Brow, Dele, and Jaq Star, who will also be back.
4/23: I ask for $. Got $25,000.
37-1, 17-1, national title. Overall, 510-112, .820.