Purdue’s season ended sooner than they had hoped. UConn, a team that has a great chance of becoming this year’s national champs, sent the Boilers back home. BUT Purdue fans don’t be too disappointed, every starter from this year’s team will be back and if everyone stays healthy, watch out. Lets not forget next year’s final four will be held in Indianapolis (Add in Butler and how sweet would that be?) The possibilities are endless.

Congrats to the Boilers for a great season.

This is the best month of the year. (Yes, I’m a tad biased, I was born in this great month but it’s a month filled with college basketball – One shining moment, enough said) I just got back from Greensboro, North Carolina where Butler was playing. Unfortunately, it was a short trip. The Bulldogs lost to LSU but, my friends there is a silver lining; the entire team will be back next season. They are a great group of guys who are not only talented basketball players but smart, well-mannered young men. It was a pleasure covering the team.

On a side note – I ran in the Will Power 5K race Saturday morning. It was to help raise money for the Riley Children’s foundation. I’ve had the honor to be the official race starter the last three years and it’s been terrific.  There was a great turnout and I won my age group! I love March.

Calling all Big Ten Fans! Come support your team in the 5K run, Sunday at 11:00pm in front of Conseco. Even if your team is out of the tourney, your school can still win at least one thing in Indianapolis. I’ll be there (running it) and then after join me and Chris Widlic for the pep rally. That’s right, we will be hosting the championship pep rally! It’s a fun filled day on Sunday March 15th;  A run, a pep rally and of course the championship game!

I have been blessed to have played for some pretty incredible coaches, I also have been able to cover some pretty incredible coaches. But unfortunately, I have been privy to the opposite.

Yes, I was an athlete back in the day. I was an all-state volleyball and softball player and all conference in soccer and gymnastics (granted, I did attend a very small school in upstate New York, but still!) And the coaches that pushed me and guided me as well as encouraged me were the ones I was most successful with. Yes, they did yell when I made stupid mistakes but I respected and trusted them because I knew they always wanted the best from me. They never just yelled to yell, never tried to intimidate me or make me feel less of an athlete because I made a mistake.

Coach Tony Dungy (you know how I feel about him!), Felisha Legette-Jack, and Brad Stevens …to name just a few…are coaches who are teachers. They don’t need to berate or belittle their players to get the best from them. And they have all proved it’s a winning formula.

After Legette-Jack’s team lost to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament she said she believed her players are prepared for a bigger stage: life. And I have no doubt they are. I haven’t spent a lot of time with Jack and her team but what I’ve seen she encourages, pushes, and expects a lot, and her players truly respect her, which means they will do anything for her. And guess what?  She doesn’t have to be a bully.

I’m not saying coaches should coddle their players and I know some athletes prefer the Bob Knights and the Jon Grudens, but I’m not a big fan of it.

What do you think?

I know, I know WWE isn’t real. But that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it. Yes, I went to the showing here in Indy and could be seen cheering for the Undertaker. Let me explain, I was a HUGE WWF fan back in the day. Actually, went to the steel cage match between Hulk Hogan and Big Boss Man in Montreal when I was a kid. My brothers and I loved it. So in fairness to me, it brought back a lot of memories. Macho Man Randy Savage, Demolition Men, Ultimate Warrior, Hulk Hogan, Junkyard Dog … Oh, I could go on and on but I won’t bore you.

I’m not scared to admit it … so come on… share with me … let me know who’s also a WWE fan (or WWF — for us old schoolers!)

Congrats to Cathedral’s boys basketball team. For the fourth straight year the Fighting Irish were crowned champs.  The first two quarters we had a game. Arlington was making it interesting behind the play of Steve Malone. He’s a quick, little player and he’s only a junior.

But Malone’s play was overshadowed by Mr. Kelsey Barlow (he’s headed to Purdue). In the third quarter Barlow took over. He’s never lost the city tourney and he made sure he never would. Congrats to Cathedral.

Coach Brad Stevens and the Butler Bulldogs are having another great season. They have only has one loss and are undefeated at home and in the Horizon League. Winning against Milwaukee by 30 was impressive, but more importantly 40 of the Bulldogs points came off the bench. Talk about a ‘team’ win. Oh, and did I mention Coach Stevens got a technical foul today?

This is definitely going to be a team to watch out for in March. So with that said another impressive team effort by the Butler Bulldogs.

There is no better way to win a game than in the final seconds, but there’s also no worse way to lose a game. That’s the way Carmel and Terre Haute South ended. The Greyhounds were the ones that left with the victory. It was a great battle between two MIC teams.

Thanks to Beth from the concession stand at Carmel. You are a great sport!

…and AC nicely done on the women’s basketball blog!

Well, it’s official — the Colts have a new head coach: Jim Caldwell. I believe he was the perfect guy to replace Tony Dungy. I can’t imagine having to follow in the footsteps of Tony Dungy (I still can’t think about him without tearing up) but if anyone can do it and do it well, it’s Jim Caldwell.

He made it clear, he doesn’t want to be the next Tony Dungy … he wants to be Jim Caldwell. He’s got a great foundation and I don’t think the Colts will skip a beat.