TERRE HAUTE —
It was a very interesting week in men’s college basketball, especially in the Big Ten.
Michigan State finally lost a game, Indiana and Purdue both lost games at home, and Minnesota not only won for the first time in the league but won twice on the road.
Ohio State, meanwhile, rebounded from its second setback on the road to flex its muscles against IU.
Going into the week, Michigan State and Illinois are tied for first with 4-1 marks. Ohio State and Michigan both are 4-2 and Purdue is fifth at 3-2.
Illinois’ victory over OSU was one of the best college games I have seen in some time.
Brandon Paul had a career night, hitting 43 points — going 8 of 10 from 3-point range — and snaring eight rebounds. His point total ranks third in the Illinois record books and was the most scored by the team in a Big Ten game since 1999.
Illinois and MSU both have one game on the road this week and face tough opponents at home. The Illini go to Penn State and meet Wisconsin in Assembly Hall, while the Spartans are at Michigan tonight and entertain Purdue on Saturday.
Purdue also faces Iowa at home tonight and will play host to Michigan next week. IU plays at Nebraska for the first time on Wednesday and returns home to face Penn State on Sunday.
Meyers Leonard of Robinson, Ill., is having a super season with the Illini. He’s averaging 29.8 minutes per game, is tied for second in scoring with a 13-point average and has averaged 7.8 rebounds per game while blocking 38 shots.
• Tourney time — Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference boys basketball teams were tournament winners last week.
Indianapolis North Central bested league rival Ben Davis 65-61 to win the Marion County Tourney. Center Grove defeated Class A power Edinburgh 68-55 to take Johnson County Tourney honors.
Little Illini Conference boys and girls teams commence conference tourney action this week at Red Hill and Lawrenceville.
Flora’s boys handed Casey its first conference setback of the season last week and are 18-2 for the year.
• Tom-Cattin’ It — Tyler Talpas of Union hit the 1,000-point mark on Saturday against New Harmony when he scored 33 points. He has been among the state scoring leaders all year and will be there again this week.
• The NCAA will reconsider its legislation that would provide for a $2,000 expense allowance for student-athletes. Any high school seniors who were promised the amount when they signed last fall will receive whatever was promised.
• We did OK on our NFL picks last week considering the upsets. We went 2-2, losing on both of the NFC games.
We like the Giants and Patriots to win this week, but both title games could be close. It would be neat to see an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl with the Ravens and 49ers making it to Indy.
• In last week’s USA Today prep girls basketball poll, Hamilton Southeastern was ranked 16th in the nation and third in the Midwest Regional. The Hamilton Southeastern boys were seventh in the Midwest list.
• Towson recently set an NCAA mark in men’s basketball, losing its 35th game in a row.
• Indiana State fan Charles Uhl marked a milestone last week. He turned 90.
• Shalene Flanagan was the winner in the U.S. Olympic marathon trials last week in Houston. She is one of the athletes who competed in college in NCAA meets in Terre Haute and is the daughter of ISU Hall of Famer Cheryl Treworgy.
• Andy Carey, former major leaguer in baseball, died recently. He played for Kansas City, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and for the New York Yankees from 1952 to 1959, and was part of four double plays in one game.
He also was at third base when Don Larson hurled his perfect game in the World Series in 1956.
• Matt Carlino is a former Bloomington South cager who went to UCLA after leaving BHSS after his junior season. He recently became eligible at BYU and has been doing well on the court.
Tom Reck may be contacted by telephone at (812) 232-3231, by email at tm_reck@yahoo.com or by mail at 4284 South 5th Street, Apt. 3, Terre Haute, IN 47802.
Ramblin' Reck
RAMBLIN' RECK: Big Ten shaken up last week
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things
Catching up — on all-state softball honors and a new basketball coach in Illinois.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: South grad helps VU to national golf title
Vincennes University’s men’s golf team claimed the junior college national championship last week with a Terre Haute South Vigo grad in the lineup.
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Ramblin’ Reck: Indiana gave Heat ‘all-stars’ all they wanted
The prelims are over and the finals begin Thursday in the National Basketball Association with Miami going for a second straight title against San Antonio, looking for its first championship since 2007.
The Indiana Pacers gave the all-stars from Miami all they wanted and then some before the Heat took charge to win the seventh game Monday. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Each lead change made Indy a thrill
The 97th running of the Indianapolis 500 and will be remembered as one of the best races in recent history.
It won’t be memorable for a close finish but rather for a record 68 lead changes and 14 different drivers taking their turn at the front of the pack.
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Tom Reck: Sycamore’s track feat something to be proud of
The Sycamores reign. Congrats to Indiana State track and field athletes and coaches for capturing men’s and women’s championships in the Missouri Valley Conference competition in Iowa.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers having a ‘Garden Party’
The Indiana Pacers are back in form and looking good.
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Ramblin’ Reck: Sato first Foyt winner since 2002
Takuma Sato made Izod IndyCar Series history Sunday when he won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Pacers closing out a nice season
In case you hadn’t noticed, the final games of the regular season will be played this week in the National Basketball Association.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Louisville gets two shots at NCAA title
Louisville met Michigan in the championship game of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Monday. Louisville faces Connecticut in the title tilt of the women’s tournament tonight.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Out with the hoops, in with the bats
It’s a super week for sports fans — college basketball comes to a close and the first baseball games are played in the major leagues.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Field down to 16 — but one No. 1 is out
The field is down to 16 in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship with most of the top teams still in the field.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK:Brackets are set, now make your picks
Get your brackets filled out — the first games in the 75th NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship will be played this evening.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Clay City, Rockville, Linton remain alive
Another busy week of Indiana boys basketball sectional action is history, and three teams from the area now are preparing for regional games on Saturday.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Successful girls hoops season ends for Valley
The season has ended for girls high school basketball teams in the area and is winding down for the boys teams.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Indiana State men receive votes in Associated Press top 25 poll
Wild and wacky best describe the week of college basketball that ended Sunday.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: With the Super Bowl done, it’s time to focus on hoops
Now that the Super Bowl has been played, it’s time for what could be some super basketball games.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: ISU men enter RPI Top 50
Last week’s success is paying dividends for Indiana State’s men’s basketball team.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Tourney games, key matchups this week
Tournament games and key conference matchups highlight high school basketball action this week.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: A big week of hoops passes and another awaits
Big high school boys and men’s college basketball games were played last week and more of the same is on the schedule this week.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Another unforgettable tournament
Another Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic is history and, once again, was a smashing success.
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RAMBLIN RECK: ISU looks ready to begin Missouri Valley Conference play
The first big snow has fallen in the Valley just in time for the return of Indiana’s State’s basketball team from the sunny climes of Hawaii.
The Sycamores had a great showing in the Diamond Head Classic, beating two good teams and losing a tough one to a tough, ranked San Diego State team. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Marian reigns in NAIA; 3 unbeaten preps remain in Valley
Rockville has a date with Frankton this week.
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RAMBLIN' RECK: Gonna be tough going in MVC, Big Ten
To no one’s surprise, really, competition should be tough as ever for men’s basketball teams in the Big Ten and Missouri Valley.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Hoops are hot this week in Valley
High school basketball — boys and girls — is off to a nice start in the Valley, and some interesting games are on this week’s card.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Interesting postseason football awaits fans
The season has ended for most college football teams and the postseason has already begun, with some interesting games on tap this week.
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Ramblin' Reck: Irish lead the way in successful college football week in Indiana
Last week was a good one for several of the college football teams in Indiana.
Notre Dame, of course, had the nicest week of all, beating Wake Forest 38-0 and moving into No. 1 in the polls following losses by Oregon and Kansas State. -
RAMBLIN’ RECK: Linton the last Valley team standing
Then there was one … and it is Linton.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: North Vermillion, Linton, Casey remain unbeaten on gridiron
It’s a busy sports week for high schools in the Valley.
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Indiana sports fans treated to a successful weekend
Lots of sports fans around Hoosierland should have been in a good mood Monday morning as a result of action in Indianapolis on Sunday.
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Football teams post strong regular season finishes
Time to check the results of the final week of the regular season for Indiana high school football teams: - More Ramblin' Reck Headlines
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RAMBLIN’ RECK: Catching up on some things




