Today's View From the Unemployment Line
I spent the weekend in Indiana, where the sports culture buzzed in anticipation of two games: Purdue vs. Indiana in college hoops, and the Colts vs. Pats in the NFL playoffs.
Lucky for me, I had first row tickets to the basketball game for the second year and a row. Two overtime periods later, the Hoosiers finally put away the Boilermakers after an intense and well-paced game. With score at 2-1 after several minutes of play in the first half, I shook my head and dreamed about the frenetic scoring pace of a typical ACC game. Even the halftime score, 28-22 Purdue, did not foreshadow the excitement yet to come. I'll let the AP recap do the talking:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- D.J. White scored six of his 16 points in the second overtime to lift Indiana to a thrilling 75-73 victory over intrastate rival Purdue on Saturday.
White's size and athleticism was too much for Purdue underneath as he hit a short jumper and two layups to give the Hoosiers control after a wild finish to the first overtime period.
After a questionable foul call on Purdue's Andrew Ford in the first overtime, Marshall Strickland hit two free throws with .9 seconds left for a 63-61 lead.
Ford then heaved a pass the length of the court to Carl Landry, who caught the ball in between two IU defenders, was fouled and made a layup. After reviewing the play, officials determined that Landry was fouled before the buzzer sounded and gave him continuation on the layup.
Indiana coach Mike Davis was furious with the ruling, tearing off his jacket and having to be restrained by Bracey Wright as he shouted at officials.
Landry then had a chance to win the game, but his free throw was off the mark.
After opening the second overtime with a jumper by David Teague, who led Purdue with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Indiana went on a 7-0 run to take a 70-65 lead with 1:25 to play.
The Boilermakers refused to go away, getting 3-pointers from Xavier Price and Teague to close the gap to 74-73 with 5.7 seconds remaining.
Wright, who finished with 23 points, then hit one free throw, and Brandon McKnight missed a desperation heave at the buzzer, giving the Hoosiers (7-7, 2-1 Big Ten) their fifth win in six games after a six-game losing streak.
From my perspective, the shot with 0.9 seconds left in the first overtime that tied the game did not leave Landry's hand until well after the buzzer sounded. I even put my coat on and was ready to leave. But they counted it, so what do I know? Had Purdue made even a quarter of their shots from in the paint, however, they would have won in the game in a rout. I have never seen so many shots missed from inside five feet.
But I won't complain. In the end, everyone in Mackey Arena left the game with a huge smile on his/her face, even though the hometown Boilermakers failed to get the W. It was impossible to feel low after enjoying such excitement!
The same, however, could not be said of Colts nation after the snowy playoff loss in Foxboro. It's still a fresh wound for many, so I won't speak further about it.
Lucky for me, I had first row tickets to the basketball game for the second year and a row. Two overtime periods later, the Hoosiers finally put away the Boilermakers after an intense and well-paced game. With score at 2-1 after several minutes of play in the first half, I shook my head and dreamed about the frenetic scoring pace of a typical ACC game. Even the halftime score, 28-22 Purdue, did not foreshadow the excitement yet to come. I'll let the AP recap do the talking:
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) -- D.J. White scored six of his 16 points in the second overtime to lift Indiana to a thrilling 75-73 victory over intrastate rival Purdue on Saturday.
White's size and athleticism was too much for Purdue underneath as he hit a short jumper and two layups to give the Hoosiers control after a wild finish to the first overtime period.
After a questionable foul call on Purdue's Andrew Ford in the first overtime, Marshall Strickland hit two free throws with .9 seconds left for a 63-61 lead.
Ford then heaved a pass the length of the court to Carl Landry, who caught the ball in between two IU defenders, was fouled and made a layup. After reviewing the play, officials determined that Landry was fouled before the buzzer sounded and gave him continuation on the layup.
Indiana coach Mike Davis was furious with the ruling, tearing off his jacket and having to be restrained by Bracey Wright as he shouted at officials.
Landry then had a chance to win the game, but his free throw was off the mark.
After opening the second overtime with a jumper by David Teague, who led Purdue with 21 points and 11 rebounds, Indiana went on a 7-0 run to take a 70-65 lead with 1:25 to play.
The Boilermakers refused to go away, getting 3-pointers from Xavier Price and Teague to close the gap to 74-73 with 5.7 seconds remaining.
Wright, who finished with 23 points, then hit one free throw, and Brandon McKnight missed a desperation heave at the buzzer, giving the Hoosiers (7-7, 2-1 Big Ten) their fifth win in six games after a six-game losing streak.
From my perspective, the shot with 0.9 seconds left in the first overtime that tied the game did not leave Landry's hand until well after the buzzer sounded. I even put my coat on and was ready to leave. But they counted it, so what do I know? Had Purdue made even a quarter of their shots from in the paint, however, they would have won in the game in a rout. I have never seen so many shots missed from inside five feet.
But I won't complain. In the end, everyone in Mackey Arena left the game with a huge smile on his/her face, even though the hometown Boilermakers failed to get the W. It was impossible to feel low after enjoying such excitement!
The same, however, could not be said of Colts nation after the snowy playoff loss in Foxboro. It's still a fresh wound for many, so I won't speak further about it.
posted by Mike C | 8:55 PM
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