LamarCheeks

First pitch at 1 this afternoon ...

Not really IU news per se -- but figured this was as good a place as any to post ... Dan Fife, a legendary high school coach in Michigan -- and Dane's father -- died Thursday. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/05/31/dan-fife-hall-of-fame-clarkston-boys-basketball-coach-dies-at-74/73919069007/

That's kinda early for such a "big" game. Nov. 16 last year was just our third regular-season game.

There are a million Bill Walton stories being circulated -- but this one from Mike Breen is really cool. https://x.com/ESPNNBA/status/1795556844770926700

Baseball just got a little better. Angel Hernandez, one of the worst umpires the game has seen, is being nudged into retirement. Here's a classic rant from Schwarbs -- his ejection took less than a second! https://x.com/MLBMetrics/status/1795266140102672450

The schedule for the regional ... NCAA Knoxville Regional Schedule A full schedule for the weekend action can be found below, game times and TV designations will be updated as they become available: Friday, May 31 Game 1 – [2] Southern Miss vs. [3] Indiana, 1 ET (ESPN+) Game 2 – [1] Tennessee vs. [4] Northern Kentucky, 7 p.m. ET (SEC Network) Saturday, June 1 Game 3 – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, Noon ET (TBD) Game 4 – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 6 p.m. ET (TBD) Sunday, June 2 Game 5 – Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, Noon ET (TBD) Game 6 – Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 4, 6 p.m. ET (TBD) Monday, June 3 Game 7 (if necessary) – Winner of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 6, TBD (TBD)

Bracket is set -- double elimination until the championship. We're the No. 3 seed and open at 11 a.m. (ET) Tuesday against No. 6-seeded Little Brother. Winner plays Nebraska-O$U winner at 3 p.m. (ET) Thursday; loser plays Nebraska-O$U loser at 8 p.m. (ET) Wednesday in elimination game. BTW -- game times are Central time. (Could've the B1G made this bracket -- or the type -- any smaller? Damn, these old eyes need a magnifying glass!).

With Bill Walton, you just can't help but think of those somewhat damning words -- What Could Have Been. Dude was a phenomenally talented player. But once he got into the NBA, he just couldn't stay healthy. I know there were lawsuits and reports of misdiagnoses and all that, I also know the guy could ball. Probably would've been a top 5 all-time center had he not been hurt all the time. Just had a feel for the game most big men don't have.

Once they got past the top 16 seeds, which already had been revealed, I think we were the second team mentioned -- after Northern Kentucky. https://x.com/IndianaBase/status/1795134646000226466

WE'RE IN!!! Headed to Knoxville.

Jeezus -- just turned to the title game for a second to see a score. As soon as I do, Josh Caron hits another bomb. Guess we're not the only ones who can't get him out. BTW -- it's 1-1 in the 7th.

And that's all she wrote. We go down with barely a whimper. Nebraska wins 10-4. Wait till next year!

They've had it there for the past seven years or so. Don't know if it's considered a permanent site by now or not. It's better than a few years back, when they had it at Target Field (where the Twins play). It was ridiculous having it at a big-league park. There was NOBODY there.

Had a feeling if we didn't win this morning, we'd be in trouble tonight. Not exactly an earthshattering revelation there, but still ...

Game over. Season over.

Any particular reason we keep giving Josh Caron meaty pitches? That's three friggin' bombs today. No excuse for that.

And we'll see ya tonight. IU loses 4-2. Two Cornshuckers bombs by Josh Caron did the trick. Elimination game at 6 p.m.

Call should stand. He didn't leave early. IMO -- kind of a foolish decision from Nebraska. You should be 100% sure before potentially losing a challenge, especially on a call like that. That said -- tagging up to go to third with two outs isn't the smartest move in the world. I get that it can eventually score you a run on a passed ball/wild pitch, but as the old axiom goes: you never want to make the first or third out at third base.

Nebraska eliminates O$U 12-5. Cornshuckers need to beat us twice tomorrow. First game is early -- 10 a.m. (ET) Second game is ... hell, we won't need no stinkin' second game (but if we do, it's at 6 p.m.) Winner advances to championship against Michigan, Illinois or Penn State.

Michigan State 6-foot-5, 255-pound DL Andrew Depaepe expected to head south -- and land in Bloomington. A top-125 recruit from the Class of 2023, he played all of 11 snaps last season, so took a redshirt. Would have four years remaining. His brother, William -- also a DL -- will be a true freshman at IU this fall. https://x.com/mzenitz/status/1794087633745826266

She did some work for Peacock this past season as a studio analyst for B1G women's games. She wasn't bad, either. But I'm wondering if she perhaps focused on that too much -- as opposed to getting ready for the WNBA season. IMO, there was absolutely no excuse for missing the layup the other night that would've tied Connecticut. I think about any other post in the league makes that shot -- easily.

Also hit a batter and balked in a run. Winnin' ugly -- but it's better than losing!

Hoosiers win 14-7 to stay in the winners' bracket. We need to beat O$U or Nebraska once to reach the championship. The Cornshuckers or Hairless Nuts would need to beat us twice.

Taylor with a four-base hit! Hoosiers up 9-5!

Somehow, we get out of it with no more damage. 5-5 after 5.