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Analysis: It's time for Indiana-Kentucky to be an annual event again

IndyHutch

By IndyHutch

    • It's good that the NCAA Tournament committee found a way to get Indiana and Kentucky back on the hardwood again but it's time for both schools to find a way to make this an annual event once again. Here's my take.

I’m looking forward to finding out if we see Indiana-Kentucky intensity Saturday afternoon in Des Moines.

 

I know we’re going to see second-round-of-the-NCAA-Tournament intensity and with a trip to the Sweet Sixteen on the line that much is a given.

 

And the crowd that will be on hand should make it seem closer to IU-Kentucky intensity.

 

But here’s the reality of the situation. There is not a player on either the Kentucky or Indiana roster that has ever played in an Indiana-Kentucky game. Not one Indiana player knows what it feels like to play the Wildcats in Rupp. Not one Kentucky player knows what it feels like to play in front of 17,000 plus at Assembly Hall.

 

And when you experience it, that’s when I think you truly understand Indiana vs. Kentucky basketball. I still remember those days when they would play on a neutral site at Freedom Hall and the court would be split right down the middle with a sea of red on one side and a sea of blue on the other. Each side would have 10,000 fans. And it was a spectacle. It was a college basketball rivalry at its best.

 

But I just don’t it’s the same when your knowledge of IU-Kentucky is from watching replays of the Wat Shot. Troy Williams said he watched that game from home. So did OG Anunoby. Yogi Ferrell said he had a game that day but he taped it and watched it later.

 

The Indiana and Kentucky kids that played in the annual Indiana-Kentucky high school series get it a little bit more than those who didn’t. But to expect everyone else just to get mega-hyped because it’s Indiana-Kentucky may be asking a bit much.

 

They’ll get mega-hyped because a trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line. But asking this game to mean as much to the players as it does to the fan bases I think is asking a lot.

 

Now I’ll admit I hope that these players grow to love that rivalry once again after the powers-that-be finally come to their senses and end this silliness and find a way to re-instate the IU-Kentucky rivalry. There has to be a compromise. To just say there’s no way to resolve the differences in philosophy here is a cop out.

 

It’s time for the two schools to quit relying on the NCAA Tournament committee to do their work for them and find a way for these two historic programs to play on an annual basis.

 

I’m happy to see IU-Kentucky facing off again Saturday in Des Moines.

 

But it’s time for this to become an annual event, too.

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Hovadipo

If we are going to compromise and go neutral I would prefer to keep them out of Indy. Do the neutral games in like New York or something.


Which cuts off both fan bases......why?

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Brass Cannon

Which cuts off both fan bases......why?

 

I was under the impression that we have a fairly sizable fanbase in New York and Cal cares more about recruiting than his fanbase. 

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Hovadipo

I was under the impression that we have a fairly sizable fanbase in New York and Cal cares more about recruiting than his fanbase.


We do have a good NYC fanbase, but since the schools are only a couple hours apart, not sure why you would send them hundreds of miles out east away from the centers of the fanbases.
FortWayneHoosier reacted to this

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Brass Cannon

We do have a good NYC fanbase, but since the schools are only a couple hours apart, not sure why you would send them hundreds of miles out east away from the centers of the fanbases.

 

So that Cal can't use the trip to poach our high school players like he wants to do. 

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Hovadipo

So that Cal can't use the trip to poach our high school players like he wants to do.


I just don't think that's going to matter. He's pretty much proven that if he wants someone, he can get them. He can make the trip up to Indy/Chicago/etc. whenever he wants to.

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Brass Cannon

I just don't think that's going to matter. He's pretty much proven that if he wants someone, he can get them. He can make the trip up to Indy/Chicago/etc. whenever he wants to.

I think his luster might be fading, seems like the last couple years hes been losing more recruiting battles than he used to

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Hovadipo

I think his luster might be fading, seems like the last couple years hes been losing more recruiting battles than he used to


This class didn't end up being as great as some in the past, but he's still bringing in #'s 3, 5, 11, 13, and 26 for 2016. Overall point, I don't think it matters that much whether we play a neutral game in NYC, Indy, or Beijing. Cal will still bring in stacked classes and get big time local kids (however he does it) as long as he's coaching.
Bobman1, Dalton26 and IUsafety reacted to this

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HoosierAloha

This class didn't end up being as great as some in the past, but he's still bringing in #'s 3, 5, 11, 13, and 26 for 2016. Overall point, I don't think it matters that much whether we play a neutral game in NYC, Indy, or Beijing. Cal will still bring in stacked classes and get big time local kids (however he does it) as long as he's coaching.


PayPal Cal's success is often dependent on the overall strength of the recruiting class. If the class is down kensucky won't be as good. Agree about he'll pay, I mean get, whoever he wants regardless of where IU-puke play. That said, I don't want to play them in Indy unless we're also play home-home.
Bobman1, Hovadipo, IUsafety and 1 other reacted to this

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Hovadipo

They don't have big time locals because they don't have them. Hillhacks can't catch, jump !!! They are good at poaching other states.


Local kids = Indiana, Illinois, etc. Kids in our "bread basket".

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TheWatShot

Calipari makes it sound like UK already has too many "big time" games. His ego is the reason this series is gone and will be until he retires. 

ALASKA HOOSIER reacted to this

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MoyeNeeded
I don't care if they ever start the series back up or not. I kinda like seeing them in the tournament every few years with a chance at sending them home. They don't consider us a rivalry anyways. That's Louisville.
ALASKA HOOSIER, TrueHoosier62 and theriverpilot reacted to this

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hoosiers25
There's a thread about this on Rupp rafters they are saying that fans in assembly hall are hoodlums for rushing the court, that we were the ones who canceled, and that they have all the power in this decision. I forgot how delusional and high and mighty acting their fan base was.
HoosierAloha, theriverpilot and southsidehoosier reacted to this

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CrossboneIU22

I don't care where the game is played, it just needs to be played.  If Cal wants it in Indy, so what, closer to our fan base then his.  I loved the match ups in the ole Hoosier Dome.  Bus the students up every 2 or 4 years and include it in the season tickets on those years.

 

 

Another idea:

 

Indiana/Kentucky Shootout  (Or Battle of the Ohio)

 

These three games played on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday at Bankers Life  (or if on winter break, all 3 on Friday)

Indiana State vs Northern Kentucky

Evansville vs Morehead State

Valparaiso vs Murray State

(You could even rotate in the other 3 indiana D1 schools if need be every other year, IUPUI, IPFW, Ball State)

 

These four games played on Saturday at Lucas Oil

Butler vs Eastern Kentucky

Notre Dame vs Western Kentucky

Purdue vs Louisvillve

IU vs Kentucky

 

Winner takes braggin rights! (Or have some kind of trophy with the winning state outiline imprinted or engraved on it)

HoosierAloha, BtownBanner6, Alford Bailey and 1 other reacted to this

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theriverpilot

Right now, I'm just enjoying on IU winning the last meeting and the fact that the win knocked UK out of the tournament.  I might be able to enjoy this for a few years since the annual meeting is off.

Alford Bailey reacted to this

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BtownBanner6

There's a thread about this on Rupp rafters they are saying that fans in assembly hall are hoodlums for rushing the court, that we were the ones who canceled, and that they have all the power in this decision. I forgot how delusional and high and mighty acting their fan base was.

Yeah I was reading that, they also said one of our fans went up to Grandfather and Grandson and poured a beer over the the 4yr old grandson.
Alford Bailey reacted to this

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