In October, 347 schools and some 3,500-plus division 1 basketball players begin a journey. Each vying to make a name for themselves, hoping to obtain the ultimate goal — the NCAA tournament. Five months later, the entire season boils down to three weekends. This year, the first round had 11 games decided by five points or less, two overtime games, one double overtime, and 10 seed upsets. Some analysts went as far as referring to the opening Thursday as the best day ever in the NCAA Tournament. With seven games decided by three points or less, three overtime contests, and seven seed upsets — it’s hard to argue with them.
As fans, we were riding high, eagerly awaiting the round of 32 to see what happened next. While many expected a return to normalcy, underdogs like UNI had other ideas. The round of 32 did not disappoint. Ten games decided by less than 10 points and major upsets such as UNI over top-seeded Kansas, Cornell dominating Wisconsin, Washington trouncing New Mexico, and Saint Mary’s manhandling Villanova.
Enter the Sweet 16. Time for the bigger teams, the bigger conferences to win out. No more upsets. The Cornell’s and UNI’s could not compete at this level. Or could they? In the South, Duke and Baylor won handily. Same in the East with Kentucky and West Virginia. The Midwest and West, however, kept the upset trend going. Of the four games, the largest margin of victory was seven (and that was mostly because of free throws at the end). MSU scraped by UNI with a couple big offensive rebounds at the end. Tennessee halts Evan Turner and the OSU Buckeyes, preventing Turner from releasing a potential tying three as time expired. Kansas State vs Xavier was a double-overtime gem, with Jordan Crawford keeping the Musketeers in it with 30-ft bomb to force double-OT. And lastly, the story of the tournament, the Butler Bulldogs lead from start to finish, dismantling a much bigger and more talented Syracuse team.
Had enough yet? The tournament was far from over. In the Elite Eight, no game was decided by double digits. West Virginia reaches the Final Four by out-toughing Kentucky’s young and dynamic team. Duke, the lone remaining one-seed by this time, finishes off a fiesty Baylor club. Butler keeps chugging along, proving they deserved their top-ten preseason ranking, besting Kansas State by seven, but showing again that they can control the action from start to finish. Final Four mainstays Michigan State (I say that because any person who’s entered Tom Izzo’s program and stayed for four years has competed in the Final Four) used a last second free throw from Raymar Morgan after Tennessee missed their opportunity to take the lead from the line moments earlier.
It’s six months later after the season began. We’re now down to four teams with just over 50 athletes. What better place to host such a crazy tournament than back home in Indiana? Back to the homeland, basketball. After such a stunning season, you deserve it.
Believe me, I know basketball was invented in Massachusetts. But the extended history of the game lies in Indiana. Inventor James Naismith recognized this himself in 1936, “While it was invented in Massachusetts, basketball really had its beginning in Indiana, which remains today the center of the sport.”
Ok, fine that was 1936. A lot changes nearly four scores later, right? Not if you pay attention.
People love giving credit to NYC for pushing basketball to new boundaries. Madison Square Garden serves as the “mecca” of basketball because of the great Knicks teams, the city’s sheer size (media and talent pool), Michael Jordan demolition of Ewing, Starks and Spike, and the popularization of streetball.
All very valid points. But no one has history like Indiana. The who: Tony Hinkle (Hinkle Fieldhouse anyone?), John Wooden, Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, and Bob Knight. The where: Assembly Hall, Mackey Arena, the Wigwam, Hoosier gym, and the aforementioned Hinkle Fieldhouse. And look at the schools. Powerhouses like Indiana University, Notre Dame, Purdue, and now Butler remain in the national discussion. Historic teams such as Valporaiso and Indiana State will never be forgotten. When I see those names, I think Bob Knight patrolling the sidelines (and throwing chairs). Digger Phelps with his ugly ties and hard-working teams. Gene Keady’s hair (more specifically the combover) and his sideline-scowls. For Butler I think of Hinkle Fieldhouse, my favorite court to have ever played on, the movie Hoosiers, and all the history surrounding the hollowed building. Valporaiso and Indiana State will always bring to mind the heroics of Bryce Drew and Larry Bird, willing their underdog teams into NCAA Tournament lore.
That is Indiana basketball. Its history. Its passion. It is everything that’s good about the game. Truly, there could be no better setting for a tournament filled with as much intrigue, as many upsets, and all the underdog stories we witnessed during this year’s tournament.
Come home, basketball. After such a stunning season, you deserve it.
Adam Emmenecker 