Crikey, would you look at that Sheeladipo!
Some may think I’m crazy for what I’m about to say, but there’s a part of me that believes the 2011-12 version of the Hoosiers might have been a stronger team than the year that followed. Sure, the metrics don’t lie with the defensive leap made from one season to the next that placed Indiana in the conversation of a national contender. The 2012-13 squad gained a solid contributor with the freshman version of the future stud in Yogi Ferrell, along with some seasoning for the core of returning players, highlighted by Victor Oladipo’s ascent to national acclaim. Despite that, I’d argue the team from the prior year personified some intangibles that made them a more dangerous team to play. While they weren’t a #1 ranked team or #1 seed in the NCAA tournament — this team had a slightly different edge about them. The early stages of “The Movement” had begun…and you could see the hunger…the grit…the swagger…ooze from game to game.
Ultimately, both teams escaped second round scares in the NCAA tournament. Both teams exited after reaching the Sweet 16. Sure, matchups are extremely important to a deep tourney run and reflecting back, there’s many I’m sure that feel things might have turned out a little differently had IU not been paired up with Boeheim and his zone defense in 2013. However, IU didn’t look like a contender against Temple and certainly didn’t against Syracuse.
Dial it back a year. Look me in the eye and tell me that game with eventual national champion Kentucky doesn’t turn out differently if Zeller isn’t whistled for two ticky tack, bullshit fouls in a span of four seconds with nearly 14 minutes to go in the first half that forced him to the bench. This felt like divine referee intervention after Anthony Davis took an even earlier seat due to foul trouble. Indiana’s ferocity and edge were on display throughout the first half and you could sense the pendulum was swinging in Indiana’s favor, but they were quickly robbed of exploiting that. I believe those calls proved pivotal — and fatal — in the eventual outcome. Throw in the Wildcats’ ridiculous 35-37 performance from the charity stripe in ‘Catlanta’ and you get the perfect storm of incredulous circumstances that ended IU’s chance to dance deep into the tourney.
Now that I’ve said some of my peace…onto memorabilia talk. I have to admit I was doing some dancing of a different variety when I came across this ball. It’s ALMOST a fully team signed — and fully team signed balls are a rarity in the realm of IU memorabilia, Even rarer if you’ve got the head coach…and even rarer if you’ve got one with assistant coaches. Jeff Howard, if you’re out there — can we connect for a sig? Nonetheless, this Sheeladipo looks as good as any, in my humble opinion.
Until next time, GO HOOSIERS!