Do the Butler Bulldogs compare to the "Hoosiers" team?

Butler University Police Chief Benjamin Hunter described the increasing interest in the Northside campus via Twitter this morning: "Looking forward to a busy week at Butler. Never seen so much media on campus. Go Dawgs!"

Why is Butler a darling of the press? The small private school is making its first appearance in the Final Four and is the first school since UCLA in 1972 to be playing in the Final Four in its hometown.

But there's more: the players are bracing themselves for a week full of "Hoosiers" references. They are piling up.

See the comparisons?

Georgetown out!

I know I should be ashamed to have picked Georgetown over Ohio University since I'm a native son of the Buckeye state, but honestly, who would have thought it? I'm not alone.

Happy March!

I am so very thankful whenever March gets here, because Spring is three weeks away!

And, of course, there's this:

"We were teenagers—we didn't want them knowing everything that we were doing."

William Gates and Arthur Agee, the two main characters of the best film of 1994, still keep in touch with each other. Gates pastors a church in Chicago's Cabrini-Green area, and Agree hasn't had steady work but does have a Hoop Dreams clothing line and the Arthur Agee Jr. Role Model Foundation.

Have you seen Hoop Dreams? You need to rent it - now! - if you haven't. When you consider the number of athletes who achieved their dreams by joining a professional team, there are untold numbers who did not.

The Final Four

We now know the four teams that will play for the NCAA basketball championships - the #1 seed from each section. North Carolina will play Kansas, and Memphis will play UCLA. I was hoping that Davidson, this year's Cinderella, would make it through to the end, but it was not to be. San Antonio plays host to the games this year.

Spurs in 4

NBA Rookie of the Year LeBron James and his Cavaliers proved they were worthy of making it to the NBA Finals. However, they were no match for the San Antonio Spurs, who swept them in four games. The Spurs have won their fourth title in nine years. Can anybody say dynasty?

Sweet Sixteen

How are your brackets for the office pool? (A non-gambling one, of course....)

All four #1 seeds are still alive, as expected. No Cinderella teams this year, with the lowest seed being Vanderbilt (#6). What happened to you, George Masons of the world?

Those Purdue guys may have acted tough when they met with Indy Star reporters over the weekend, but Florida showed them how to play a game in the Big Dance: you play tough and you win it. Will Florida go all the way like they did last year? First, they have to get past the Butler Bulldogs, the only Indiana team remaining in the tournament.

OSU is the only Ohio - and Big Ten - team to make it, beating out fellow Ohio university Xavier in overtime. My Wright State Raiders didn't get past the first round.

March Madness brackets

The brackets have been filled. The office pools will start later today.

I find it humorous how they decide to place teams in the location categories: Midwest, West, East, and South. Maryland is close to the Atlantic Ocean and Oregon is close to the Pacific, but somehow they both are in the Midwest section. Wright State, one of my two alma maters, is in the West section - I suppose there was a time when Ohio was considered Out West, but that was 150 years ago or so.

I'm from Ohio but I currently live in Indiana, so let's see how teams from those states fared:

Ohio: OSU (#1-South), Xavier (#9-South), Wright State (#14-West), Miami (#14-Midwest)

Indiana: Butler (#5-Midwest), Notre Dame (#6-Midwest), Indiana (#7-West), Purdue (#9-Midwest)

Raiders defeat Bulldogs

Living in Indianapolis, I'm surrounded by Butler fans. I hope they don't mind that I am rejoicing in this victory! Special congratulations to DaShaun Wood.

For those who don't know: I received an M.S. in mental health counseling from Wright State in 1995. And I was only 8 years old!

I wonder if the Bulldogs like seeing this banner in Hinkle Fieldhouse now!

Final Four in Indy

It has been an eventful weekend here in Indianapolis. As you know, Indy is playing host to the NCAA Final Four this year. The stage has been set for the final game this evening, between the Bruins of UCLA and the Gators of Florida. I was disappointed in George Mason's performance in the game against Florida, but they had quite a ride and knocked out some amazing team. What George Mason did will not be forgotten, and speaks to the huge heart of smaller college teams.

I didn't attend any of the downtown festivities this year. I didn't even buy a T-shirt, like I did when the finals were played in Indy in 2000. There was quite a wash-out at the end of the My Coke Concert last night, which featured performances by John Mellancamp, Carrie Underwood, Michelle Branch, and Chris Brown (no relation). A powerful storm moved through Indy (and a greater part of the Midwest) and caused some damage.

The game is set for 9:21 PM in the RCA Dome. Some people like Florida for the title, but we'll see what happens.

All eyes turn to Indianapolis now

LSU vs. UCLA

George Mason vs. Florida


Boy, the Madness has been crazy this March, no? Who would have thought there'd be no #1 teams in the Final Four, and that we'd have a #11 team? I must say, it is down right fantastic that Duke, UNC, and UConn are not in the mix this year.

College basketball fans - welcome back to Indy.

UPDATE: Who are you rooting for? I think I know which team my Florida relatives will be cheering. Personally, I'd like George Mason to win.