Yarden Garzon Named to the Cheryl Miller Award Top Ten Watch List
Sophomore Guard Yarden Garzon has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2024 Cheryl Miller Award by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday. The Ra’anana, Israel native averages 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and shoots 46.7% from the floor for the Hoosiers in her sophomore campaign. She has scored in double figures nine times and is shooting 44.9% from the 3-point line (31-for-69). Garzon set a career-high 30 points when she went 12-for-14 from the floor against Evansville and put up 23 points in a victory over No. 19/21 Tennessee. She has dished out multiple assists in 15 games and multiple rebounds in 16 games this season. This is the fourth-straight year a Hoosier has appeared on the Cheryl Miller Award Top 10, as Grace Berger was a finalist in three-straight seasons from 2020-23.
Fans can support their favorite players in the remaining rounds by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting Friday, January 26, on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process. In March, five finalists will be presented to Miller and the Hall of Fame’s selection committee. The Selection Committee for the Cheryl Miller Award is composed of top women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.
Indiana University Swimming and Diving collects Five of the Six Weekly Big Ten Awards
For the first time in nine years, Indiana men’s and women’s swimming combined for five of the six available Big Ten weekly awards in a cycle, the conference announced Wednesday. The haul includes sweeps of the men’s honors as well as the swimmer and diver of the week awards. Oct. 14, 2014, was the last cycle that Indiana had five weekly award winners. Anze Tavcar, James Connor, Ali Khalafalla, Brooklyn Snodgrass and Kennedy Goss all secured honors after they led IU to season-opening wins over Auburn. IU athletes have combined for 11 swimming and diving awards this season. All five Hoosiers featured this week are previous award winners, though four earned the honor for the first time this season. Last Friday, the No. 5/7 Hoosiers defeated No. 17/16 Michigan at the Wolverines’ home pool in Ann Arbor. The men dominated U-M 182-118, while the women showed grit to triumph 152-148; a result decided by wins in the last two events – the 400-yard freestyle relay and 1-meter diving.
Big Ten Women’s Swimmer of the Week – Anna Peplowski Junior Anna Peplowski is the Big Ten Women’s Swimmer of the Week for the third time in her career and first time this season. Peplowski led the Hoosier women in the pool, winning two individual events and contributing to a winning relay. Peplowski doubled up in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.14) and 200-yard backstroke (1:56.46), winning both by over 1.5 seconds. Individually, she also finished third in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:48.70, under a second shy of first place. She also led off IU’s 400-yard freestyle relay victory that the Hoosiers needed to secure the team victory. Her 49.01 split was the quickest leadoff split of anyone in the race, as the Indiana’s quartet touched in 3:16.68.
Big Ten Men’s Swimmer of the Week – Brendan Burns Senior Brendan Burns is the Big Ten Men’s Swimmer of the Week for the sixth time in his career and first time this season. Burns was Indiana’s lone three-event winner, sweeping the backstroke events while also touching first in the 200-yard butterfly (1:44.37). He won the 100 back in 46.83 and the 200 back, by three seconds, in 1:43.99. The two-time NCAA Champion also led off Indiana’s victory in the 200-yard medley relay in 21.87, the fastest backstroke split in the event.
Big Ten Women’s Diver of the Week – Anne Fowler Senior Anne Fowler received her sixth-career Big Ten Weekly award, fifth Big Ten Diver of the Week award and first weekly award of the season. Fowler completed one half of Indiana’s sweep of the diving events inside Canham Natatorium, winning both the women’s 1-meter (323.85) and 3-meter (353.78) springboard events. IU had the top four finishers on 1-meter, an event which would end up decisive in the team score. Fowler also led Indiana in posting three of the top four performances on 3-meter.
Big Ten Men’s Diver of the Week – Carson Tyler Junior Carson Tyler received his sixth-career Big Ten Weekly award, fifth Big Ten Diver of the Week award and first weekly award of the season. Tyler was the men’s half of IU’s diving sweep, also winning the 1-meter and 3-meter events. The junior had a career performance on the 3-meter boards, posting a personal-best 466.35 to win the event by 116.55 points and setting the top mark in NCAA Division-I this season. All six of Tyler’s 3-meter dives scored at least 69.75 points, and he had two scoring above 80 – including an 86.63-point final dive. Tyler won the 1-meter event with a 383.85 score, 10 points better than the runner-up.
Big Ten Men’s Freshman of the Week – Mikkel Lee Mikkel Lee received his second Big Ten Freshman of the Week award. Lee had one individual win, two relay victories and an individual runner-up finish on Friday. The freshman just out-touched junior teammate Rafael Miroslaw in the 100-yard freestyle with a 43.53 time to Miroslaw’s 43.77. He finished second in the 50-yard free in 19.84, just 11 seconds off the winning time.
Tony Kannan and Juan Pablo Montoya to be inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame
According to a news release from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya will be inducted in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame on May 23 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. located at 140 W Washington St. The release said that Kanaan and Montoya were chosen from a ballot of 14 nominees from a national panel, consisting of more than 150 journalists, participants and historians. Lee anchored both relays, as Indiana’s men bookended their meet with victories in the 200-yard medley relay (1:25.86) and 400-yard freestyle relay (2:53.92). He posted the second-best 50 free split in the medley, going 19.37, and was one of four under 44 seconds with second-best split in the freestyle relay, going 43.43.
Throughout his career, Kanaan had 389 career starts, which consisted of 79 top three finishes and 134 top five finishes. Kanaan won the Indianapolis 500 in 2013 and was also named the series’ Most Popular Driver in 2013. Montoya was a rookie winner of the Indianapolis 500 in the year 2000, leading 167 of the 200 laps and earning the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award. Montoya also won his second Indianapolis 500 in 2015. The release said Montoya has also competed in Formula 1 racing. During the ceremony, the museum will also celebrate Mark Miles, the chief executive officer and president of Penske Entertainment, “for his contributions to the racing industry, support of the museum and as a leader in the community. The release said that tickets start at $250, and $2,000 for a table of eight. Tickets for the event are available to purchase on the museum’s website.
#2 Purdue Men’s Basketball dominates Michigan in Mackey Arena
Purdue’s 7-foot-4 All-American Zach Edey didn’t score for more than 12 minutes. No matter, No. 2 Purdue still got off to a fast start. “It’s so much bigger than me,” Edey said. “We’re not the Purdue Zach Edeys, we’re the Purdue Boilermakers. We have so many guys that can really score and everyone made plays.” Lance Jones scored a season-high 24 points and Edey added 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead Purdue to a 99-67 rout of Michigan on Tuesday night.
“I didn’t force anything,” Jones said. “I felt good. I think the big thing for me is playing with confidence.” Jones, a fifth-year transfer from Southern Illinois, sank 5-of-9 3-point shots for the Boilermakers (18-2, 7-2 Big Ten), who won their fourth straight game. Purdue’s Braden Smith contributed 11 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Jaelin Llewellyn led Michigan (7-12, 2-6) with 16 points. Terrance Williams II and George Washington III each scored 10 points. The Wolverines connected on just 34% of its shots. The Wolverines played without leading scorer and point guard Dug McDaniel, who is suspended indefinitely for road games. Coach Juwan Howard has not given a reason for the suspension.
“So they were missing his quickness and someone who can put pressure on the ball,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “I thought our guys did a good job of moving the ball and taking what the defense gave us and trying to establish our guys in the interior. We missed some shots around the rim in the first half. But we kept getting quality shots.” The Boilermakers made 14-of-21 3-pointers for 67% and shot 52% overall. Purdue freshman Myles Colvin hit all three of his 3-point attempts in the second half, finishing with nine points. Fletcher Loyer opened the scoring with a 3-pointer and ended the first half by hitting another 3-pointer with 3 seconds left. Those were Loyer’s only points in the first half, but it set the tone for Purdue’s 49-25 halftime lead. In between, the Boilermakers, who never trailed, dominated despite a show start by Edey, who was 2-of-7 from the field in the first half. The Boilermakers shot 47% in the first half while holding the Wolverines to 29%. Purdue didn’t commit a turnover in the first half. Painter said it was good to see to a lot of bench players see action. Painter said this is his deepest squad. “It’s a good problem to have,” Painter said. While Purdue held a 46-37 rebounding edge, Painter said it wasn’t one of the team’s better rebounding games. Two Michigan post players, Tarris Reed Jr. and Will Tschetter, fouled out.
Kokomo HS Basketball Senior Flory Bidunga named 2024 McDonalds All-American
Flory Bidunga, a senior at Kokomo High School, has been named a McDonald’s All American. The 6’9″ center was named to the team in an announcement Tuesday afternoon from McDonald’s. He will now battle against the top US high school basketball players on April 1 in Houston at the All-American Games. Chosen by some of the nation’s top analysts, prep scouts, media and coaches, McDonald’s said Bidunga was selected from a list of 729 nominees. For a complete list of 2024 All Americans and more information on the game, visit mcdaag.com.
A consensus five-star recruit and ranked as the number-one center in the country by ESPN, Bidunga is committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks next year. Last season, Bidunga was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 20 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game. The McDonald’s All American Games will be broadcast starting at 6:30pm on April 2 on ESPN2 with the Girls Game and 9pm on ESPN.
Rick Fuson announces retirement as President of Pacers Sports and Entertainment
Longtime Pacers Sports & Entertainment executive Rick Fuson plans to retire in June after spending 40 years showing how basketball can impact communities in Indianapolis and around the state. Pacers Sports & Entertainment announced the move Wednesday and said current chief executive Mel Raines will take over as CEO. “My entire career has been, in some form or fashion, an effort to leave my city and state a stronger and more inclusive place than I inherited it,” Fuson said in a statement released by the team. “I am so fortunate to have spent four decades working for and alongside amazing people who share that commitment. (Pacers owner) Herb Simon and the Simon family have given me the opportunity to help lead this company and grow Indianapolis, and words could never express my gratitude to them.”
Fuson began his career with the Indiana Pacers in 1984, joining the team as director of special events. He methodically worked his way up the company ladder, taking over president and COO in 2014 and receiving the CEO title in 2022. He intends to remain an advisor to Simon. But Fuson wasn’t just a familiar face in Pacers circles. He also became a familiar face around the city’s various organizing committees. He’s helped plan both of the city’s NBA All-Star Games including the one scheduled for Feb. 18, the 2002 FIBA World Championships, the 2004 FINA World Swimming Championships and the 2012 Super Bowl village and the 1987 Pan-Am Games that helped change the city’s image and helped coordinate special events at multiple Final Fours. “People from around the country marveled at how Indianapolis could creatively preserve so many of the elements that make college basketball in March special,” Fuson said, referring to the 2021 NCAA Final Four played entirely in Indiana and that he helped coordinate. “That simply does not happen by accident.” Fuson also was worked with city officials to help design the Pacers’ new facility, now known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse, and oversaw the team’s move into the building in 1999.
Raines, a native of South Bend, Indiana, joined the Pacers in 2015 after helping with operations and government relations for the 2012 Super Bowl and serving multiple politicians including as an assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney and former U.S. Senator Dan Coats. She’s also president of the 2024 NBA All-Star Local Organizing Committee. Replacing Fuson will not be easy. “Nobody cares more deeply for this company, our people, or this city than Rick,” Simon said. “That above all is what has made him such a transformational leader and effective advocate for four decades.”
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