Victor Oladipo will be back in Bloomington Sunday to take in the in-state rivalry between IU and Purdue basketball. It will be his first game back since 2013, when he turned pro after his junior season — and graduating.
Doors at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will open at 1:30 pm ET, two hours before tip-off against 20-2 Boilermakers. The first 3,000 fans will receive a commemorative Oladipo/IU poster.
Then, IU will honor Oladipo, the second overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Orlando Magic, about 10 minutes before the game tips off, scheduled for 3:30 pm. The game will air nationally on FOX.
“I’m going to be Hoosier’d out from head to toe,” Oladipo said Saturday night after the Pacers’ 114-112 win over Orlando (via @CoreyElliot).
“That’s what I’m going to do. And I’m going to be ready. And I’m going to be talking big smack. All you Purdue fans that cheered for me tonight — you don’t have to cheer for me tomorrow. I don’t want you to.”
Oladipo, in his fifth NBA season, is having an outstanding year. He has helped the Pacers to a 27-23 record, good for sixth curretnly in the Eastern Conference. Individually, he is averaging 24.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game — and last week was named to his first NBA All-Star game.
“I love the rivalry,” he continued, with a big grin and clapping his hands in excitement. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun, though. It’s going to be a great environment. It’s my first game back to an IU game since I played. I know it’s going to be a great environment and definitely going to make me miss it. I’m looking forward to seeing all my Hoosier fans, the student section. It’s going to feel like old times.”
Oladipo, 25, had hoped to attend IU’s homecoming football game against Michigan on Oct. 14 but he had a mandatory team event that kept him away.
https://twitter.com/CoreyElliot/status/957447081312116736