With the girls’ teams kicking off the post-season next week, the boys will be heading into the final stretch, and it might be a good time to shine a more little light on them.
I think we have had a little more balance individually this season, without any one player standing head-and-shoulders over anyone else. I would say that teams have also shown some balance as well. My guess is this year, when we talk about the Player of the Year, scoring might not be the biggest factor.
Barr-Reeve has had a great season at 13-1, but they have been on the right side of some very close wins. Their biggest wins, over potential sectional foes Orleans and Loogootee, were only by a total of five points and I would say that sectional is still wide open. Washington, on the other hand, has had seven of eight losses by five points or less. North Daviess is certainly a surprise at 11-4. They essentially lost all of their scoring and rebounding from last season. However, there is something to be said for the kids who play against a championship caliber team every day in practice for two years. The teams that they have lost to have only lost a total of 14 combined games, and all four are ranked in the Top 7 of their respective classes (with three of them in the Top 4). I would say that Sectional 31 is just as much up for grabs as Sectional 63.
The Hatchet Wrestling team travels to Castle on Saturday for sectional with the top four advancing. Brady Byrd is still undefeated and won the PAC last week, while Jack Whitehead finished second in the PAC. All four rounds of the tourney will be in the Evansville area, including the state finals. Please remember all tickets are electronic and they are encouraging buying them in advance.
Although I’m by no means an expert where college basketball is concerned, Indiana fans seem to be on the edge. However, before Mike Woodson goes on the chopping block, remember Archie Miller cost donors $10.35 million to make him go away, and Tom Allen cost IU $15.5 million to take his hands off the IU football program. If IU decides to go in a different direction with Woodson, he would be owed $4.2 million a year through 2027. Currently his buyout before April 1, 2025, is 100% of the money left on his deal. I realize that most of this payoff money comes from anonymous donors and benefactors, but ultimately those donors might not be willing to foot the bill for what might have been a bad hire by the university.
Another issue is that perspective on success changes as years go by. It has been more than 20 years since IU’s last run to the Final Four and more that 35 since its last championship, meaning winning is less of an expectation for each successive generation.
I have a feeling from a fiscal standpoint, Mike Woodson will be safe for at least two more years.
So, it looks we have about two more months of basketball to keep us busy and in spite of miserable weather, it’s always warm on Friday and Saturday nights in the gym.
