What a way to go out.
Indiana finished the regular season 24-7, doubling last year’s total. On Sunday, for one last time, a special group of five seniors played on Branch McCracken court in front of a sell-out.
These players, alumni and students have gone through turmoil to which there was no idiots guide to follow. From 6-25 to 24-7 in four years. Indiana has done it, the players, coaches, and all involved in the Hoosier basketball program.
They won the state, as no in-state team came within single-digits of IU this season. They frightened teams that came in their path, re-established the home court advantage and have returned to be one of the elite programs in the country.
Seniors Kory Barnett, Verdell Jones, Daniel Moore, Tom Pritchard, and Matt Roth. Thank you for all you have done, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes. (More on the seniors in the coming days.)
The streaks continue. Every four-year player since 1973 has played in the NCAA Tournament and have been on a ranked team since 1950.
Next up is the Big Ten Tournament in their backyard, in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Hoosiers are the fifth-seed, playing No. 12 Penn State Thursday around 2:30 p.m. The winner plays Wisconsin and then probably Michigan State.
We’ll continue to follow this journey. The book is not complete. As Coach Crean said, there is no closure yet because there are more chapters to be written.