Local Sports Headlines: March 8, 2023

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Trayce Jackson Davis named All Big Ten First Team, Jalen Hood-Schifino named Freshman of the Year Senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis and freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino were honored by the Big Ten Conference, the league’s coaches, and the conference media as All-Big Ten selections and specialty teams were announced on Tuesday afternoon. Jackson-Davis was one of two players (Zach Edey, Purdue) unanimously selected to the All-Big Ten First Team for both the coaches and the media. TJD was also named to the five-player All-Defensive Team. The first team honor comes a season after earning second team accolades across all three voting outlets as a junior. Following his sophomore campaign, he was tabbed an All-Big Ten First Team performer by the media and a second team choice by the coaches. He was a third team honoree and was included on the All-Freshman Team after his rookie season. The last Hoosier to be named to an All-Big Ten Team in four-straight seasons since Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell (2013-16). He is the first Hoosier since Victor Oladipo (2012-13) to be named to the All-Defensive team in consecutive seasons.

The Greenwood native averaged 20.5 points (tied for 2nd in the Big Ten), 11.0 rebounds (2nd), 3.9 assists (7th), and 2.8 blocks (1st) per game. Jackson-Davis finished second in the league with 16 double-doubles. He produced 21.8 points (2nd), 12.4 rebounds (2nd), 4.7 assists (5th), and 2.9 blocks (1st) per game in 20 conference games this season. During his senior season, Jackson-Davis moved into fourth on the Indiana all-time scoring list (2,163) and broke the school records in both career rebounding (1,105) and blocked shots (255). He ranks fourth in career double-doubles (48). He is the fifth player in Big Ten history to record 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Hood-Schifino was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by both the coaches and the media, an award not won by a Hoosier since Noah Vonleh (2014). The Pittsburgh, Pa., native also picked up enough votes to be named to the All-Big Ten Second Team by the media and the third team by the coaches. JHS averaged 13.4 points (3rd among Big Ten freshmen), 4.1 rebounds (5th), 3.8 assists (2nd), 0.9 steals (3rd), and 1.2 made 3-pointers (7th) per contest this season. His scoring average increased to 14.9 points (2nd) per game in conference games. 

Fifth-year senior Miller Kopp was selected as the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award Honoree for Indiana. In his final start at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, Kopp broke the Big Ten record for conference games played with 99. He was one of three Hoosiers to appear in all 31 games this season and the only player to appear in the starting lineup each game. The Houston native averaged 7.9 points per game and made a team-best 56 3-pointers.

Indiana University Men’s Golf ties for 8th place in South Carolina The Indiana men’s golf team tied for eighth place after shooting an 844 (283-271-290; -20) at the Colleton River Collegiate at the Nicklaus Course on Tuesday afternoon. No. 24 Georgia Southern (-34) made a late push to take the team title over No. 21 Kansas State (-32), and Michigan State (-26).  Indiana will head to Tallahassee, Fla., for the Florida State Invitational beginning on March 13 before playing hosts to the Hoosier Collegiate from the Pfau Course on April 8-9. The regular season finale will be played at the Fighting Illini Collegiate from April 22-24.

Fifth-year senior Mitch Davis played a final round scorecard of 69 (-3) with a team-best five birdie conversions. He was Indiana’s top finisher at t-eighth after a three-round card of 208 (71-68-69; -8). Davis finished fourth among all Big Ten competitors in the field.
Junior Drew Salyers played an eagle and three birdies on his final round scorecard of 74 (+2). He tied for 13th in the overall standings at 209 (69-66-74; -7). Senior Noah Gillard saved his best round for last with a 69 (-3) on Tuesday. He carded one eagle and three birdies. He finished t-34th overall with a scorecard of 213 (74-70-69; -3). Senior Eric Berggren provided three birdies in an otherwise up-and-down final round of 78 (+6). Fifth-year senior Harry Reynolds closed the tournament with a 79 (+7). Junior Robbie Bender III playing as an individual, nabbed a pair of birdie conversion in his final round of 77 (+5).

Trayce Jackson-Davis named Sporting News first team All American The Sporting News selected senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis to its All-America First Team, the publication announced on Tuesday morning. The Center Grove product is the first Indiana player since Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller in 2013 to be named First-Team All-America. Jackson-Davis ended the regular season averaging 20.5 points (2nd among Major Conference players), 11.0 rebounds (4th), 3.8 assists (2nd among players 6’9 and taller), and 2.8 blocks (3rd) per game. His 16 double doubles ranked fifth among Major Conference performers.

TJD was one of two high-major players (Zach Edey; Purdue) to average at least 20.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game in the regular season. Jackson-Davis posted 25 points, seven rebounds, and five blocked shots in Indiana’s 79-74 victory over No. 1/1 Purdue on Feb. 4. He became the first player to produce at least 25 points and five blocks in a win over the AP No. 1 team since Marcus Camby in UMass’ win over top-ranked Kentucky on November 28, 1995. On Jan. 25 he compiled 25 points, 21 rebounds, and six blocked shots against Minnesota. The game marked the first 20-20 game from a Hoosier since D.J. White on Jan. 8, 2008. He also became the first high-major player to post a 25-20-5 game since UConn’s Hasheem Thabeet on Feb. 14, 2009.

In a Dec. 7 victory over Nebraska, he recorded the third triple-double in Indiana basketball history with 12 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 10 assists. He added three blocks and three steals in the win to become the first player in men’s college basketball to post a triple-double and at least three blocks and three steals since Luke Walton (Arizona, 2002). The Sporting News All-America team is one of four used in calculating the NCAA consensus All-America squad.

Indiana University Wrestling lands four in the NCAA Championships The NCAA announced the remaining 47 bids to the NCAA Wrestling Championships field on Tuesday afternoon. Indiana received one at-large bid as redshirt junior Donnell Washington was named an NCAA Qualifier at 174 lbs. Washington’s bid brings Indiana’s qualifier count to four. Redshirt senior Graham Rooks, junior Derek Gilcher and senior Jacob Bullock all earned automatic qualification bids at the Big Ten Championships over the weekend. Rooks and Washington are each making their third career appearance in the NCAA Championships field while Gilcher and Bullock are both making their first appearance.

The bracket placements for the entire field will be announced tonight at 8 p.m. on NCAA.com. Indiana’s four qualifiers are its most since the 2018 NCAA Championships when it also qualified four wrestlers. The four national qualifiers are the most in a season Angel Escobedo’s coaching tenure, too. The NCAA Wrestling Championships will take place on Thursday March 16 through Saturday March 18.

Indianapolis Indians announce broadcast production agreement with ISC Sports Network The Indianapolis Indians announced Tuesday that ISC Sports Network will produce and direct the team’s 75 home games during the 2023 season. All 150 games are set to air on Fox Sports 1260 and the iHeart app and may be viewed on the Bally Live app or MiLB.tv. “For nearly a decade, ISC Sports Network has established itself as a sports-industry leader in producing high-quality broadcasts,” said Randy Lewandowski, Indianapolis Indians president and general manager. “We are excited to partner with ISC to bring the sights and sounds of the Indianapolis Indians and Victory Field to home in central Indiana, the entire state and across the nation.”

Howard Kellman is set to begin his 47th season as Voice of the Indians with his broadcast partners Andrew Kappes and
Jack McMullen also returning to the booth. Kappes has been part of Indians broadcasts since 2015 while McMullen enters his second year with the club. “We’re thrilled to partner with the Indianapolis Indians and bring Triple-A baseball to our portfolio,” said Greg Rakestraw, vice president of ISC Sports Network. “The Indians have been a staple for central Indiana sports since their inception in 1902. The opportunity to bring our high-quality broadcasts to the Indians faithful is one we could not pass up.”

Founded in 2014, ISC brings professional broadcasts to local sporting events including high schools, colleges and professional sports teams in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. ISC works with local provides to bring sporting events to television and web-streaming platforms around the Midwest including MyIndy TV, NKTelco, Endeavor Communications, Mulberry Telecommunications, Great Plains Communications, NITCO and RTC Fiber Communications. ISC Sports Network offers a monthly subscription service on its website, www.iscsportsnetwork.com. ISC is also available on mobile apps and OTT devices through Apple, Android, Amazon and Roku.

Group and premium reservations are available along with full season, half season and mini plan packages. Single game
tickets are also available for purchase. The Indians open the 2023 season on Friday, March 31 against the Omaha Storm
Chasers at Victory Field. For more on the Indians, visit IndyIndians.com or contact the Victory Field Box Office at (317)
269-3545 or Tickets@IndyIndians.com.

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