Purdue University Men’s Basketball beats North Carolina State to advance to the National Championship Game
The Purdue men’s basketball team took advantage of its first trip to the NCAA Tournament Final Four in 44 years, beating North Carolina State, 63-50, in the first semifinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to advance to Monday night’s national championship game. The Boilermakers took a 12-point lead with six-and-half minutes to go in the first half on a Zach Edey free throw. The Wolfpack then rallied to cut the deficit to three with under a minute to play in the first half.
Guard Fletcher Loyer hit a 3-pointer with less than 10 seconds left in the first to push Purdue’s lead back to six before halftime. Purdue led, 35-29, despite a rough first half from guard Braden Smith. The sophomore went 0-of-6 from the field while committing five turnovers. Both teams started the second half slow before back-to-back 3-pointers from senior Mason Gillis and fifth-year transfer Lance Jones put the Boilers back up by 12. Smith’s first points of the game a 3-pointer with just over three minutes to play put Purdue on top by 18 and pushed the game completely out of NC State’s reach.
“I thought we were very competitive. I thought we played hard,” said Purdue head coach Matt Painter. “We just didn’t play great. I don’t think either team played great. If you look at their run to get here and our run to get here, both teams were way better offensively than you saw today. That happens in basketball at times, so you have to give our guys credit for hanging in there and grinding one out.” “I think that’s just kind of how we’ve been all year. We got vets,” Edey said. “We got people that have been in a lot of important moments throughout these two years. You kind of see it when teams make a run and when we go on a run, we stay even. We stay the same team.” Edey, a two-time national player of the year, led the Boilers with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Jones and Loyer contributed 14 and 11 points, respectively. Jones and Loyer shoot 50% (7-of-14) from 3-point range to help mitigate Smith’s struggles.
“In a game like that when shots aren’t falling, they’re still encouraging me to play better defense, rebound, get assists, take care of the ball,” said Smith. “Everybody has to contribute, if not, you’re not doing your job,” Loyer said. “Everybody has to help out. Everybody has to play hard. Us continuing to trust one another for one more day, for 40 more minutes, it’s what we need to do and what we will do.” Purdue is trying to win the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The 1932 team, led by legendary John Wooden, won the Helms Foundation national championship. The last time a Big Ten team won the tournament was Michigan State in 2000 at the RCA Dome. This is the second time the Boilers have been to the title game, losing the 1969 final to UCLA. They’ll play UConn tonight at 9:20 p.m. The Huskies beat Alabama, 86-72 in the second semifinal. They’re looking to become the first back-to-back champs since Florida in 2006-07.
Indiana State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Josh Schertz Resigns and takes over at Saint Louis University
Indiana State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Josh Schertz has resigned after three seasons in the position, according to a press release from the university. ISU had offered Schertz an extension to stay through the 2029-30 season, but he turned it down and Saint Louis University announced in a separate release that Schertz will be its next head coach. “Coach Schertz’s leadership has been the driving force behind rebuilding and elevating our NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball program and the team’s success this year,” ISU President Deborah Curtis said in the release. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
A national search for Schertz’s replacement will begin immediately. Sources confirmed that Indiana State offered Schertz a 6-year contract extension through the 2029-2030 season worth $850,000 annually. It would’ve made Schertz the highest paid coach in the history of Indiana State athletics. He declined to pursue the Saint Louis opening which will pay him $2 million per year over 6 seasons. Schertz departs after 3 seasons as head coach of the Sycamores, compiling an overall record of 66-40. He led the Sycamores to a 32-7 this season, their most wins in a season since 1978-79. Schertz also led ISU to its first Missouri Valley Conference regular season title since 2000 and an appearance in the NIT Championship game. Matthew Graves was named the interim head coach by Indiana State and will handle day-to-day operations for the program while the national search is conducted.
Retired Live Butler University Bulldog Mascot passes away on Saturday
The retired Butler University live bulldog mascot has died. Butler Blue III, also known as “Trip,” was an English Bulldog who served as Butler’s live mascot from 2013 to 2020. He died Saturday morning after a brief illness. Trip passed at the age of 12, surrounded by family. “Trip will long be remembered for his spirit and passion. He reveled in his work and relished the limelight, taking great pride in his role as mascot. As we mourn his loss, we do so with fond memories and a debt of gratitude for his service,” said Trip’s “Pops,” Michael Kaltenmark ’02, who served as Trip’s handler and caretaker.
According to a press release from Butler University, Trip began working as a mascot at just one-year-old on March 9, 2013, during a changing of the Collar Ceremony at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He retired on May 31, 2020. Adored by the community, Trip amassed a staggering 100,000 followers. During his life, he traveled to 22 states, personally went from door-to-door to paw deliver Butler admission decisions, and famously barfed on the court at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
His distinguished personality was also featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News, and CBS 4 Evening News. Trip’s star power even landed him a role in the Netflix series called DOGS. “I want to thank Michael Kaltenmark, his wife, Tiffany, and their sons Everett and Miles for pouring their love and time into Trip and the live-mascot program here at Butler. Butler’s live mascot program serves as the standard among other universities largely due to their efforts,” said President James Danko. Butler Blue III’s official portrait will be displayed in the Butler Bookstore inside Atherton Union today through Sunday, April 14, for tributes. More details will be announced on Trip’s memorial service on his social media channel, @TheButlerBlue.
Indiana Pacers Owner Herb Simon Selected for the Nasmith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024
The owner of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Herb Simon, was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Simon, the longest-tenured owner in NBA history, was named a finalist under the Contributors category in February, recognizing those who have been vital in growing basketball worldwide. Simon, along with his brother Mel, purchased the Pacers in 1983. “As the longest-standing governor in NBA history, a founding member of the WNBA, and a former Chairman of the NBA Board of Governors, Herb Simon has been instrumental in every significant NBA and WNBA development over the past four decades,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“While Herb has never sought credit for his truly influential role, it is wonderful to see his steady leadership and service to the game of basketball recognized by the Hall of Fame.” He will join Pacers icons Reggie Miller, George McGinnis, Bobby “Slick” Leonard, Roger Brown, and Mel Daniels along with Indiana Fever legend Tamika Catchings in the Naismith Hall of Fame. “For decades, Herb has been a model owner in the NBA, as well as one of its most respected voices,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “He cares deeply not only about our franchise but about the future of our sport and our League, and there is no one is more deserving of this amazing recognition.” The Naismith Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was recognized at the halftime of Saturday’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament semifinal game between Purdue University and North Carolina State University. Simon will be recognized in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Aug. 16-17.
Mackenize Holmes and Sara Scalia named WBCA All American Honorable Mention
Indiana’s Mackenize Holmes and Sara Scalia have been selected as 2024 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America honorable mentions. Holmes finishes her IU career as a three-time WBCA All-American honoree, including first team honors in 2023 while Scalia pulls in her first All-American honor of her five-year career. They are the 10th and 11th WBCA All-American selections for the Hoosiers in program history.
A unanimous All-Big Ten First Team, All-Big Ten Defensive team and USBWA and AP All-American this season, Holmes Maine led Indiana (and second in the Big Ten) in scoring with 19.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and shooting a league-best 65.0 percent from the floor in 31 games. She scored in double figures in 30 of 32 games including 17 20-point games and two 30-point efforts along with a team-high six double-doubles. Nationally, Holmes ranks third in field goal percentage, 12th in field goals made (260), 24th in points per game and 31st in points (633). She is a finalist for the 2024 Lisa Leslie Award, which honors the nation’s top center and appeared on a variety of national player of the year lists as a candidate including the Wooden Award, Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy and USWBA Ann Meyers Drysdale award. The Gorham, Maine native finished her IU career as the program’s all-time leading scorer and second leading scorer between the men’s and women’s program with 2,518 career points. She also finishes with the program’s best field goal percentage for a career, shooting 64.0 percent from the floor while pulling down 986 rebounds and finishing second in all-time blocks with 256.
One of the nation’s best 3-point shooters this season, Scalia knocked down an IU single season record 103 triples in her final season with the Cream and Crimson. She ranks fourth in NCAA Division I in three pointers made, fourth in 3-pointers per game (3.22) and 12th in 3-point percentage with a 43 percent clip. The Stillwater, Minn. native was IU’s second leading scorer this season with 16.3 points per game and had three or more triples in 21 times. Scalia scored in double figures in 28 games with 10 games with 20 points or more and a season-high 32 points against Bowling Green. A 2023-24 All-Big Ten first team honoree, Scalia finished her five-year career as a five-time All-Big Ten selection. She was also a Top 10 finalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale award for nation’s top shooting guard while also earning WBCA All-Region honors and was the Big Ten Player of the Week on Nov. 20.
Indiana University Rowing wins four races in Columbus Ohio on Saturday
No. 16-ranked Indiana rowing won four of seven races Saturday on the Griggs Reservoir in Columbus, Ohio. The Hoosiers raced No. 18 Oregon State head-to-head in five races, winning four of those matchups. IU was originally slated to race all four teams present at the regatta – including host Ohio State and Minnesota – but the program was adjusted early Saturday morning. “We had a lot to learn from the past few weeks, and I think we did a great job stepping up to the challenge and laying it all out there,” senior Sofia Sperduto said. “We are looking to keep this momentum and energy going into the next few races leading up to the Big Ten Championships.”
Indiana’s Varsity Eight showed composure in IU’s final race of the day, beating the Beavers by one second in a time of 6:00.4. The Hoosiers led for most of the race and held off a late surge to win by three seats. “It was a good step forward for both our boat and the team, and I’m really excited for the rest of the season,” sophomore Emily Bowden said. IU’s Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four both won by at least seven seconds. The Novice Eight dominated its contest, finishing with a time of 6:25.0 ahead of Oregon State’s 6:42.7. “The 2V8 has been working really hard during practice for a weekend like this,” junior coxswain Lilly Gintert said. “It was so rewarding to see all the girls’ efforts pay off in such a huge way, and we couldn’t be more excited.” “Today the varsity four had a tenacious race,” senior Mikayla Messinger said. “It’s exciting to have the opportunity to race other universities and see what everyone is capable of. I’m excited to see how much we will continue to grow this season.” Indiana returns to action April 19-20 at the Big Ten Invitational in Sarasota, Florida.
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