Crossroads Classic Extended Through 2019

[ccgeneral 38,084]

One of college basketball's premier non-conference events will continue to be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The additional dates and matchups are Dec. 16, 2017 (Purdue vs. Butler and Notre Dame vs. Indiana), Dec. 15, 2018 (Purdue vs. Notre Dame and Butler vs. Indiana) and Dec. 21, 2019 (Purdue vs. Butler and Notre Dame vs. Indiana).

 

The three-year cycle is in addition to previously-announced games on Dec. 19, 2015 (Purdue vs. Butler and Notre Dame vs. Indiana) and Dec. 17, 2016 (Purdue vs. Notre Dame and Butler vs. Indiana).

 

"We are thrilled to be the home of the Crossroads Classic through 2019," said Rick Fuson, chief operating officer of Pacers Sports & Entertainment. "The Classic has become a popular and prestigious annual doubleheader bringing together four great in-state institutions. We are grateful for Bankers Life Fieldhouse to remain the host venue for this event, and we take pride in sharing a great tradition with Butler, Indiana, Notre Dame and Purdue."

 

Barry Collier of Butler, Fred Glass of Indiana, Jack Swarbrick of Notre Dame and Morgan Burke of Purdue announced the creation of the Crossroads Classic in August of 2010. The initial two-year contract was followed by a two-year extension in May of 2012 and another extension in July 2013.

 

More than 19,000 fans have attended each of the first three Crossroads Classics. This year's event is set for Dec. 20 and will feature Notre Dame vs. Purdue and Indiana vs. Butler. Notre Dame will serve as the host school.

 

The coming together of the four most-storied college basketball programs in the state of Indiana, the Crossroads Classic is a nod to the Hoosier Classic of years past, when the schools played a doubleheader non-conference showcase at Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse. 

 

http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/081414aaa.html

[Hovadipo 59,861]

Eh....I want this to expand. Bring in more Indiana schools and give the big schools a home game or two to begin the tourney, like the 2k tourney we've been in. Then have a 4 team knockout at Banker's Life. Just a thought. I'm sure it has holes, but it's MY DREAM!!!


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BubbleKnuts 569]

Eh....I want this to expand. Bring in more Indiana schools and give the big schools a home game or two to begin the tourney, like the 2k tourney we've been in. Then have a 4 team knockout at Banker's Life. Just a thought. I'm sure it has holes, but it's MY DREAM!!!<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

<br /><br />Agreed! Ball State and IN State? <br /><br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[Hovadipo 59,861]

[quote name="BubbleKnuts" post="78570" timestamp="1408048783"]

Agreed! Ball State and IN State?



Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners[/quote]

And throw in Evansville and Valpo. Make it a party.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BubbleKnuts 569]

Yes!! That would be ideal.<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[Parakeet Jones 3,882]

Eh....I want this to expand. Bring in more Indiana schools and give the big schools a home game or two to begin the tourney, like the 2k tourney we've been in. Then have a 4 team knockout at Banker's Life. Just a thought. I'm sure it has holes, but it's MY DREAM!!!


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

In your scenario Indiana St. should replace PUke as one of the big four. 

[323SGrant 1,176]

Too bad they can't get the IU/UK game back on each campus. Additionally, I always enjoyed the IU/ND games on each campus. I do like the competition level of the Crossroads game. At least we're playing a good team in this event. Appreciate the update.

[Hovadipo 59,861]

[quote name="Parakeet Jones" post="78598" timestamp="1408055607"]In your scenario Indiana St. should replace PUke as one of the big four. [/quote]

I'm on board with that. Hasn't ISU been to the tourney more recently than Purdon't? If not, it's close.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BGleas 8,471]

I hate that IU is in this! Always have. IU should be in one of these nationally prominent classics with the likes of Duke, Arizona, UK, Kansas, UNC, MSU, etc. these schools are playing in these things all over the country at the national level and IU is playing in this lose/lose Crossroads Classic.

[Hovadipo 59,861]

[quote name="BGleas" post="78637" timestamp="1408068557"]I hate that IU is in this! Always have. IU should be in one of these nationally prominent classics with the likes of Duke, Arizona, UK, Kansas, UNC, MSU, etc. these schools are playing in these things all over the country at the national level and IU is playing in this lose/lose Crossroads Classic.[/quote]

You mean something like the Champions (or is it Legends?) Classic in Chicago? With Duke, Kansas, MSU, and UK? Because we have done nothing to deserve to be in something like that. I could see us doing an event like the Battle for Atlantis, though.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BGleas 8,471]

Yes, something like the Champions Classic. I'm not sure agree with you on "deserving" it, but it's not even about that. Those things are about bringing money, fannies in the seats and exposure to advertisers on the TV. IU checks all those boxes and then some.

You mean something like the Champions (or is it Legends?) Classic in Chicago? With Duke, Kansas, MSU, and UK? Because we have done nothing to deserve to be in something like that. I could see us doing an event like the Battle for Atlantis, though. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[Hovadipo 59,861]

[quote name="BGleas" post="78646" timestamp="1408070120"]Yes, something like the Champions Classic. I'm not sure agree with you on "deserving" it, but it's not even about that. Those things are about bringing money, fannies in the seats and exposure to advertisers on the TV. IU checks all those boxes and then some. [/quote] The teams that are in the Champions Classic have been successful in the last 10-15 years. We absolutely would bring a great crowd and money and all that, but they also want teams with some recent success in an event like that. We've had a national runner-up, a B1G championship and really nothing else recently. Last year you had Wiggins and a loaded Kansas team vs. Jabari and a very good Duke team. On the other side the eventual runner-up played MSU, who also travels well and is always in the mix in the B1G and nationally. I just think with an event like the Champions Classic, we aren't on that Duke, KU, UK, etc. level at this point. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BGleas 8,471]

Who is "they"? I don't think that has anything to do with it. There was actually a rumor that IU was approached to be in the new one that OSU is in, but we couldn't do it because of this Crossroads thing. We were #1 in the country for most of the year two years ago and won the best conference in the country. We're an historic Blue Blood that brings, eye balls, money, etc. if we wanted to be in one we would.

A lot of times it's the AD's putting things together anyways. MSU's AD came up with the aircraft carrier thing. He also came up with the new one where MSU and a few other schools are playing a round robin in NYC, Chicago and LA over 8 days. You really thing IU couldn't get involved in something like that with Arizona, UNC and Kansas? Play games in NYC, Vegas and Dallas.

It has nothing to do with our recent history.

The teams that are in the Champions Classic have been successful in the last 10-15 years. We absolutely would bring a great crowd and money and all that, but they also want teams with some recent success in an event like that. We've had a national runner-up, a B1G championship and really nothing else recently. Last year you had Wiggins and a loaded Kansas team vs. Jabari and a very good Duke team. On the other side the eventual runner-up played the MSU, who also travels well and is always in the mix in the B1G and nationally. I just think with an event like the Champions Classic, we aren't on that Duke, KU, UK, etc. at this point. Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BubbleKnuts 569]

Well, since UK isn't an annual opponent, let's make Louisville an annual opponent.. It's the game I'm lookin forward to this preseason, since my lady friend is a Cardinal fan. It'd be (year in year out) a more interesting challenge than a Kensucky game. But honestly, I was so upset about the IU/UK seasonal fizzling out after SO many years. something has to take it place. Anyone agree? Just a game against a top (1-5 seed rank) somewhat opponent would be ideal for this program.<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BubbleKnuts 569]

^'Local'^ not "somewhat" lol.<br /><br /><br />Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[Hovadipo 59,861]

[quote name="BGleas" post="78652" timestamp="1408071028"]Who is "they"? I don't think that has anything to do with it. There was actually a rumor that IU was approached to be in the new one that OSU is in, but we couldn't do it because of this Crossroads thing. We were #1 in the country for most of the year two years ago and won the best conference in the country. We're an historic Blue Blood that brings, eye balls, money, etc. if we wanted to be in one we would.

A lot of times it's the AD's putting things together anyways. MSU's AD came up with the aircraft carrier thing. He also came up with the new one where MSU and a few other schools are playing a round robin in NYC, Chicago and LA over 8 days. You really thing IU couldn't get involved in something like that with Arizona, UNC and Kansas? Play games in NYC, Vegas and Dallas.

It has nothing to do with our recent history.

[/quote]

"They" are the people putting these things together. We disagree on this, but I think that recent success plays into who gets the invite to the select few events on this scale. Try looking at this with another person's point of view that has no ties at all to IU. You're putting one of these together, or you're an AD at another school. Would you rather have A) IU, who has had 2 or 3 pretty successful seasons in the last 25 years, but would bring a great fanbase or B ) a UConn, MSU, Florida type of team who has had more success recently that could bring a smaller, but most likely similar following? As an outsider, I'd rather watch the 3 I just named, or the 3 you named at the end of your post.

Obviously I'd LOVE for us to be in one of these things, and if that rumor is true, then I guess I'm wrong, but I don't see us fitting in to one of those with where we stand right now. If we sustain some real success though, absolutely.




Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BGleas 8,471]

Again, the rumor was we were invited to one of these and couldn't do it because of the Crossroads thing. So, I don't think our history is the issue at all. We're good enough to be invited to the Jimmy V thing. We're good enough to be invited to the think in Brooklyn last year with UConn.

I hate this phrase, but agree to disagree I guess.

[Hovadipo 59,861]

If agreeing to disagree ends our debate without any personal shots being fired, then I can agree to that. :)


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners

[BGleas 8,471]

Why would there be personal shots? We're just having a discussion. It's all good, except this dumb Crossroads things :)

[Hovadipo 59,861]

Lol sometimes getting into a real debate on here is scary. Insults end up flying. I cry. It's a total mess.


Sent from my iPhone using BtownBanners