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Indiana Forward Miller Kopp returns to Northwestern for showdown with Wildcats
For Three Seasons Miller Kopp played at Northwestern and was an impact player now he returns to where it all began but this time as a member of the Indiana Hoosiers as they take on Northwestern at 9 PM this evening inside Welsh Ryan Arena. Kopp a Houston Texas native played for Northwestern from 2018-2021, he averaged 9.6 points in 87 career games. He averaged 13.1 points as a sophomore and 10.3 points as a junior. He shot 36.0% from long range for Northwestern. Kopp decided it was time to move on and he decided that Indiana was the place for him as he loved playing in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as a visitor he could not wait to play for the Hoosiers. Kopp has started all 22 games for Indiana he has scored 137 points for 6.2 points per game average, pulled down 52 rebounds, 25 assists, 10 blocks and 5 steals. Kopp has hit 24 three pointers this season and scored a career high 28 points at Syracuse November 30. When asked about seeing Miller Kopp in Indiana uniform Northwestern Head Coach Chris Collins Said during the Big Ten Basketball Media Days in October “It will be different for sure but we have a great relationship, I will shake his hand wish him all the best of luck and root for him in every game except when we play them”.
Indiana is 16-6 overall and 7-5 in Big Ten. The Hoosiers are coming off a 74-57 loss at home to 18th ranked Illinois Saturday afternoon. Indiana led by 36-34 at the break but were outscored 40-21 in the 2nd half. Trayce Jackson-Davis is averaging 17.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Jackson-Davis scored just 6 points Saturday against Illinois after picking two quick fouls and no blocks while going up against 7-0 All American Center Kofi Cockburn who finished with 17 points. Jackson Davis leads the team with 57 blocked shots this season. Race Thompson is averaging 11.5 points. Xavier Johnson is averaging 10.6 points while leading the team with 100 assists and 24 steals this season. IU is first in the Big Ten and seventh in country in field goal percentage defense (37.7%). The Hoosiers also lead the league in scoring defense (63.5) overall and in conference play (64.7). IU is second in the league in blocked shots per game (5.5).
Northwestern is 11-10 overall and 4-8 in the Big Ten. Northwestern is riding a two-game winning streak after defeating Nebraska and Rutgers last week. Pete Nance leads the team in scoring at 15.6 points and rebounding 6.8 per game along with team high 24 blocked shots. Boo Buie is averaging 15.3 points and leads the team with 106 assists. Chase Audige averages 11.6 points but has only played 14 games since missing the start of the season with injury. Chris Collins is in his 9th season at Northwestern with 128-143 record. Collins took the Wildcats to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017 beating Vanderbilt in the first round before losing to Gonzaga in the second round. Collins is from Northbrook Illinois native who was the 1992 Illinois Mr. Basketball award winner and played for Duke University from 1992-96.
Indiana leads the all-time series with Northwestern 120-52. Last year, the teams split with IU taking a 79-76 2OT victory in Welsh-Ryan Arena and this will be the only meeting between the two teams this season.
Indiana Pacers trade Caris LeVert for Ricky Rubio
The Indiana Pacers Traded Caris LeVert to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Ricky Rubio. The Cavaliers beat the Pacers 98-85 in Cleveland Sunday evening and LeVert was informed by Indiana Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle that the trade was happening and sat the game out. The Cavaliers get a 2022 second-round pick via Miami for Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks.
The Pacers get a 2022 second-round draft pick via Houston that is likely to be in the low 30s. The Cavaliers are also sending a 2027 second-round pick via the Utah Jazz. The Pacers are beginning what is expected to be a roster makeover, with big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner prominent in trade talks. Rubio’s expiring contract (worth $17.8 million) will drop the Pacers to $94 million in payroll this offseason and move them $26 million below the cap. The Pacers join the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs among teams with significant cap space in free agency. Rubio is lost for the season with an ACL injury.
LeVert provides the Cavaliers, one of the surprise teams in the league a much-needed scorer with the ability to get to the rim. LeVert is averaging 18.7 points this season, including a 42-point performance against Chicago last Friday. The Cavaliers are 33-21, just one game behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference. LeVert, 27, fits well in a young roster that includes first-time All-Star guard Darius Garland, Rookie of the Year favorite Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. LeVert will enter the final year of his contract at $18.8 million next season, making him extension eligible. It’s expected that Cleveland will want to engage LeVert and his agent, Austin Brown, the co-head of CAA Basketball, on a long-term extension in the offseason.
Indianapolis Colts hire Gus Bradley as Defensive Coordinator
The Indianapolis Colts hired Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator. Bradley replaces Matt Eberflus, who is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Bradley is taking over a defense that’s led by linebacker Darius Leonard and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. The Colts finished second in the NFL in takeaways last season with 33. They were ninth in the league in points and 16th in yards allowed per game in 2021. Bradley will have to find at least new defensive line, linebackers, defensive backs and assistant defensive backs coaches because those staffers were either not retained or went to Chicago with Eberflus.
Bradley spent last season as defensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders. He helped that unit go from 25th in yards allowed in 2020 to 14th last season. Prior to the Raiders, Bradley spent four seasons as defensive coordinator of the Chargers. It was in Seattle that Bradley got his reputation as a defensive coordinator. He was the coordinator of the Seahawks (2009-12) when the secondary, led by cornerback Richard Sherman, was known as the Legion of Boom. Bradley’s success in Seattle helped land him the head-coaching job in Jacksonville, which he held from 2013-16.
University Of Southern Indiana approved for Division 1 Athletics
The University of Southern Indiana in Evansville approved a move that will make the jump to Division 1 Athletics becoming the 11th university in the state of Indiana to compete at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics. The announcement was made Monday Afternoon following a unanimous vote of the school’s board of trustees at a special session on campus. At this point, it’s still unclear which conference USI will join.
School officials first announced the exploration into Division I athletics in September. The Screaming Eagles currently compete in Division II as a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. USI has 17 athletic teams (eight men’s teams, nine women’s teams) with swimming & diving set to begin competition next year. Even before USI made the exploration into Division I public, it was often rumored that the university would look to make the jump. The $66 million construction of new athletic facilities such as Screaming Eagles Arena, the Screaming Eagles Complex, and the USI Aquatic Center only further fueled those thoughts.
The NCAA’s process for reclassification begins with a four-year transition period. During this time, the Screaming Eagles can still compete like normal but are ineligible from participating in NCAA postseason tournaments. A move to Division I wasn’t originally in the plans. But then several Division I conference began to reach out to USI to find out their interest level. It was then when they knew it had to at least be considered and will cement a rivalry with the University of Evansville.
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