I can only imagine how much Braden Smith turned down an NIL. There are rumors of multiple millions. Why are Braden Smith and TKR working out for the Pacers? You have people in comments saying, "Oh, they should fire Matt P." But what are you hoping for? Let's look ahead to the 2026 IHSAA Baseball State Finals.
31-1, 31 straight wins. They're hot. They got no hit and they won one to nothing. Not everyone is going to go on to the big leagues, so this is their major league moment. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you are, however you may be listening. Thanks for tuning in to the Get Indiana podcast network.
My name is Dominic Miranda and I've been covering sports for nearly a decade. Most of which right here in Indianapolis. This is the Get In Sports Podcast. We're going to be covering everything in the Hooser State, high school, college, pro, in the sports capital of the universe in the greatest state on planet Earth. Thanks so much for coming on this journey with us. Let's get into it.
On today's episode of Get In Sports, we're talking the Indiana Fever. There's been a lot of noise from the outside. Are the Fever okay? Is there drama within the locker room? No. The answer is a resounding no.
It's about the play on the floor and the Fever have a bit of a win streak here at the time of this recording. Number two, the New York Knicks after years and years and years are champions of the NBA. Much to the chagrin of Pacers fans everywhere. I don't think you could have scripted a worse year for the Indiana Pacers. It's all pain right now, but the redemption arc, it is possible in the year 2026, 2027. We'll break down the NBA finals and what it means for the Indiana Pacers.
How about IHSAA softball wrapping up state championships over the weekend. We push ahead to IHSAA baseball coming up quick, fast, and in a hurry. And how about the team USA men's national team? Absolutely resounding opening win in the World Cup over Paraguay. Everyone in the nation needed that. We all knew it was possible, but here we are.
This is Get In Sports. It's going to be a fun fun episode. Summer is in full swing. And we'll of course start with the Indiana fever. Hot hot hot. You know what I find interesting is when I'm having a meal with my wife, we'll be in a discussion for like five minutes and my meal will be completely finished and she has barely had a bite.
She likes to play with her food and I don't quite understand it, but that's exactly what the Indiana Fever have been doing of late. Now, winning is the name of the game, and the Fever continued to find ways to win. However, they blew a 12-point lead against the New York Liberty. They blew a however many point lead against the Washington Mystics, 14, I think, a 19-point lead against the Chicago Sky. The Chicago Sky came in with four wins at that game. The Connecticut Sun have two wins, and the Fever needed 11 straight points out of Sophie Cunningham to win that basketball game.
But what's the common denominator? They've won four of their last five at the time of this recording. and two very good opportunities this week as well to get wins for the Indiana Fever who seem to be finding their stride. Look, there's something to be said about winning even when you don't play your best, even when it's ugly. Even when the opponent maybe maybe you are playing down to your opponent, but if one thing remains consistent and that is winning, that's all that matters. So, yes, questionable means to desirable ends for the Indiana Fever.
You don't like blowing a 12-point lead, a 14-point lead, a 19-point lead, and needing 11 straight points by Sophie Cunningham to win a game. Not exactly how you draw it up, but winning four of your last five, proof is in the pudding right there. And I do think learning how to win down the stretch, maybe when you do have a lead, you blow it. I mean, would the San Antonio Spurs like to take some notes from the Indiana Fever? Probably. And maybe they would be NBA champions right now.
But the Indiana Fever like to play with their food. Need to figure out identify the issue. Why are we blowing these big leads? Why do we enjoy playing with our food? You know, going into OT against the Chicago Sky and then winning by 10 on the road against the Connecticut Sun, two teams with a combined six wins at the times of those basketball games. Not exactly what you like to see, but again, I can talk till I'm blue in the face about how you win.
It's about winning and the Fever continued to do that. And I would also like to say the big three are doing exactly what the big three need to be doing. All three averaging about 20 points. Kelsey Mitchell just a little shy. I witnessed Aaliyah Boston have one of her best games against the Chicago Sky. It was a fantastic watch.
34 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, 50% from the field, finishing down low, contested rebounds, finishing through contact. She she was just possessed during that game and it was so impressive to watch because I truly believe Aaliyah Boston is one of if not the best big in the WNBA. There's no question about that. Her and Caitlin Clark, Caitlin Clark even said after the game they have this little telepathy going on. I mean it's year three for Caitlyn Clark. Aaliyah Boston now you can consider a vet and she's just getting better and better and better.
She's taking and making more three-pointers if she adds that to her arsenal. Again, one of the best bigs in the WNBA. for Caitlyn Clark against the sky, 32 points, seven rebounds, 10 assists. Against the Sun, 25 points, five assists, 50% from beyond the ark. Look, not great teams, but if you can get your stride here, win these basketball games, get everybody stop talking about what's going on off the court, talking about what's going on on the court, I like where the Fever are at. Will, I agree.
Uh, one of the big things that I've thought about is, to your credit, talking about, you know, do the Fever have these problems off the court? Are they still struggling on the court? All that gets put to rest when you continue to win basketball games. And it doesn't matter how you win them. If you see a W on the stat sheet, that's all people are going to care about. Kaylin Clark's been amazing.
Uh Aaliyah Boston 40% from the three-point line against Chicago Sky, too. Who would have thought? Yeah. If you would have told me that Aaliyah Boston was going into that game and it's shooting better at the three than Caitlyn Clark would have, I would have thought you were insane. But um I also want to give a big shout out to Monique Billings. She's been playing really well as of late.
uh kind of serving as that backup for right alongside Aaliyah Boston and doing everything that we need to. You know, it doesn't show up in the stat sheet a ton, but I want to give a big shout out to her. And yeah, the the fever looking good. I think we can go on a nice little streak here. I I think this mid-season run before the All-Star break is going to be crucial for this team. I mean, it's no one's going to remember starting the year 500 through 10 games if you just continue to stack wins no matter who you're playing.
Now, when you play the Atlanta Dream, when you play the New York Liberty, when you play the Las Vegas Aces, I need you need to match that moment as well. You need to match that energy. But yeah, it's going to come down to this supporting cast, and they've impressed me. Lexi Hull is a winning player on the Indiana Fever. She is a glue player for this team. She gets consequential rebounds.
She's diving on the floor for loose balls. She's going to pour in a huge three to change the momentum of the game. She's an excellent defender for a team who's maybe a little below average on the defensive side of the basketball. Lexi Hull cannot stress her importance enough. And then you have Sophie Cunningham who slammed the door shut against the Connecticut Sun. You need a player like that coming off the bench.
She is like epitome of sixman for this team for this in the league in the game of basketball. She's awesome off the bench. 11 straight points coming off a game that she didn't play because of a right elbow. She looks great. need her to be clicking on all cylinders. No question about that.
And then Hines Allen, unbelievable energy out of her. Love the way she plays the game. She gets contested rebounds. She's blocking shots. You know, she's bringing energy, defending, finishing down low. Just when the Fever playing fundamentally sound basketball, it's really, really impressive.
And I do to your point about Aaliyah Boston averaged under one attempted three-pointer per game the first three years of her career. She averaged 0. 1 makes from beyond the three-point line. So barely took any, barely made any. She's taking over one three a game. She's taking almost three three-pointers a game and making over one a game now in 2026.
That is remarkable improvement. You may think, "Oh, 0. 1 to 1. 1, that's not much." Over the course of a 44 game season, that is impressive for someone who has clearly worked on that part of her game, and it makes her that much harder to guard. She's already a force down low.
But I cannot say enough good things about Aaliyah Boston. So, the Fever, it's in the summer. We're going to be talking about the Fever a lot. It it I they're trending in the right direction right now. We need to keep that going for the Indiana Fever. Let's keep it on the basketball floor.
And it's going to get tough here, Pacers fans. I'm sorry, but we got to talk about it. The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since when, will 53 53 years? Yeah, I think you're absolutely right. 53 years. The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time in 53 years.
Look, cover your ears, Pacers fans. I think this is an excellent story. I mean, Madison Square Garden throughout this series was absolutely incredible. Primarily the game that the Knicks came down from 29 points. The Knicks trailed in game one by 14, in game two by 12, in game four by 29, and in game five by 16, and won every single one of those games. The San Antonio Spurs, I think their head coach said this after the series, we weren't ready, nor did we deserve to win an NBA Finals, and that is 100% correct.
I mean, you need to know who your star is. It's not Darren Fox. It is Victor Webeimyama. Webeamyama needs to get thicker skin. All right? All right.
And he needs to hit a treadmill. Also, my guy is blowing wind every fourth quarter. I've never seen a team consistently lose in the fourth quarter, collapse in the fourth quarter like the San Antonio Spurs did this series. How How does this relate though to the Indiana or the Indiana Pacers? The Pacers could argue they would be right there and could have won an NBA championship this year. I'm not saying it's true.
I'm saying you absolutely could argue it because since the Knicks acquired OG Anobi, we talked about it with Tony East last episode, the only team to beat them in a series in the playoffs since 2023 would be the Indiana Pacers. Didn't have to play them this year. They won an NBA championship. Now, the the postseason this year for the Knicks, they were on a different level. They were playing extremely well. Clearly Mike Brown knew what he was doing.
But Pacers fans, this is heartbreaking between Hallebert and tearing his Achilles, the NBA draft lottery debacle when you did not get a top four pick after the worst season you've had in years and you told yourself it was okay because you get a top 10 pick. It did not happen and then the Knicks winning the whole thing. A tough 365 days for Pacers fans. Will I just you can't script it any worse, but hopefully this is setting up for a redemption arc. Yeah, redemption arc to say the least. One of the things that I did want to take away from the playoffs is one, the Thunder looked beatable.
The Thunder were beatable and that's very good news for the Pacers. Yes, the team that won it all, to your credit, we've beat for the last couple years in the playoffs. Uh, obviously went to six games and then it went to seven games. But the fact of the matter is we can beat these teams. We played the Spurs a few times. We played them in the NBA Cup and it was a close game throughout.
I genuinely think that if we were in the position that we were in last year facing the Knicks in the conference finals, we could have beat them. And if we got the Spurs, this Spurs team against last year's Pacers team, I don't I don't think they would have stood a chance. Well, you know, as I always say, ifs and buts for Candy and Nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. I don't know. You can say do these hypotheticals all you want. It's It's very upsetting, though.
It is so upsetting and disappointing for Pacers fans this year. you, you know, we all were okay with it because we were going to get a top four pick. It did not happen. That stings so badly. Tyresese Hallebertton, the whole thing and then the Knicks win it all. If I could really quick, I do want to give I do want to give a nice little shout out to former Indiana Hooser Obi.
Yes. I mean, absolute legendary performance. That game four game winner was insane. He played like one of the best players on the court that whole series and he cannot get enough credit. Just wanted to give a nice little shout out to our Indiana guy, Indiana who's your OG and Obi NBA champion and for that we are excited for you sir. The Hooers in the on the basketball floor running deep.
Hey, let's recap IHSA softball state championships. Just really quickly wanted to tell you who in the state of Indiana is hoisting the state championship trophy for softball. Let's start in class 4A Lake Central. The region, man. It up north. I mean, the region, Fort Wayne, Southbend, Elcar areas.
They're always representing. There's no question about that. Lake Central 9, Teroot North two. Very happy for Terote. I lived in Teraho for two years. Happy that they were representing the Patriots over there.
Tegan Trip, three hits and a homer for Lake Central. Very impressive in route to a state championship for Lake Central. Mattie Strange receives a mental attitude award. How about this? Fourth state championship for Lake Central. First since 2004, so over 20 years had to wait for another state championship.
Good stuff from Lake Central in class 3A. Handover Central. Unfortunately for people here in Indie now congratulations to Handover Central beating New Pal 6 to4 second overall championship again first since 2004. So two teams with their first state championship since 2004. Jillian De Young sophomore 11 strikeouts in seven innings. That is impressive stuff.
Tough for new pal but congratulations to handover central in class 3A. Let's talk about class 2A. Tecumpsa beating Western Boone seven-2. Audrey Cellar six strikeouts, two earned runs over seven innings pitched. Really impressive. You want your ace on the bump in the state championship.
Am I right? To come. So repeats as 2A state champion. Wins record tying seventh softball state championship. So we got a dynasty powerhouse softball giant to comes up winning yet another state championship. Western Boon's Dy Wilson with the mental attitude award.
That is an important honor as well. And last but certainly not least in class 1A, Bar Reeve Blanken South Central 6 nothing. Bar Reef covered them while I was in Terode as well. Great sports high school. Bar Reef. Love it.
First softball state title for Bar Reeve. School's third state championship of the year. Wow. How about that? Look at that. Big time year for those that senior class especially.
Congratulations to Bar Reeve who finished the season 32 and1. Vikings shortstop Addison Jones wins the mental attitude award. How about that for a little state championship rap? Love it. Good stuff right there. Congratulations to all of our state champions.
You I was just talking to somebody. Indiana does state championships so incredibly well. You should be very proud to be a high school athlete or support high school athletics in this state. It's very impressive playing at Lucas Oil, playing at Gamebridge Fieldhouse, playing at Biddinger Stadium, playing at Victory Field, and then all the other sports, too. They do it really, really well. Tip of the cap to the IHSAA and all of our state champions for softball.
Hey, we got baseball coming up as well. Stick around. We're going to do a little little baseball preview. I'd be remiss though if I didn't mention Team USA soccer. By the time you're listening to this, we're hopefully beating and or have already beat Australia as well. the Aussies.
But I gotta tell you, I have not felt things. I've watched the World Cup since 2010. All right, look, I'm not that old. I'm almost 30, so like don't hate me. It's not like I've watched like all the World Cup since 1958. But I have never felt the way about a US men's soccer team cuz you always get into it.
I don't know about you, I always get into the World Cup because why wouldn't you? It's kind of like the Olympics. Do I follow curling year round? No. But if the US is in a gold medal match, I'm going to watch and I'm going to be very disappointed if they lose and I'm going to be pumped up if they win. No.
Yeah. Yeah. You can call me a casual fan of US soccer, but it's awesome what I witnessed on Friday night beating the pulp out of Paraguay, who by the way took didn't allow a goal through World Cup qualifying and played the likes of like Morocco and Brazil who were in the FIFA rankings are two top 10 countries. It's just four to one is crazy. Christian Pissic played like a superstar. It I'm just so incredibly impressed with what I saw.
I mean, you got guys who can who can create and just score from anywhere. Weston McKini, Tyler Adams, unbelievable midfielder. Fuller and Balagan, two goals, one of which was absolutely nasty. Super interesting story about him. His parents are Nigerian. He was born in the United States, grew up in England.
All three countries wanted him on their team, and he chose the United States, and boy are we happy. They have been wanting a player like him for a while. I mean, obviously, they have Pissic, but a guy who can just finish. I mean, you got Dest, you got McKenna, you got Pissic, you got Balagan. All guys who can create and score. They were just aggressive the entire game.
I've never watched a game like that. That was so much fun. I had so much fun watching USA soccer 4 to1. Absolutely belt the you know what. Getting this thing started on your home turf in Los Angeles. You're going to play Australia and Seattle.
Australia with a really impressive win over Turkey, too. So, um Australia and Turkey both top 30 teams in the FIFA rankings. So, it's not going to get easy, but you have to be encouraged about it. Just wanted to mention it briefly. I know not a not an Indiana tie there, but really impressive stuff. Joining us on today's episode of Get In Sports is a very, very special guest.
We're talking about Matt Carroll. Let me tell you a little bit about Matt Carroll because I know you might be asking, is he the one from Notre Dame or is he one from Purdue? Because I know I thought he was the Matt Carroll from Notre Dame basketball. However, he is a former division one basketball player at Purdue University. He is very unique because he played under both Jean Katy and Matt Painter. All right.
Coming out of high school, Matt was ranked among the top 100 players in the country and received 22 division one scholarships. That's only 22 more than I received. Uh ultimately choosing Purdue was in Lafayette. He was a four-time academic all big 10 selection and that's why he's been successful later in life. Following college, Matt built a successful global career in logistics, warehousing, and supply chain management, leading operations across the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Canada. today.
He's a commercial real estate broker and advises warehouse occupiers, logistics companies, investors, and developers on real estate strategies, site selection, and growth initiatives. All right, but Matt's unique background has recently led him into the media and entertainment space. I'm excited to dig into this with him, but he was a contestant on the most recent season of ABC's most popular dating show. You may know the one. It's received some notoriety of of late because of that. Uh he's increasingly become involved in hosting, interviewing, broadcasting, and public speaking.
most recently participated in the final four weekends festivities here in Indianapolis. Oh, by the way, with sports personalities Chris Brousard, Wally Zerbiaak, he interviewed coaches, athletes, leaders, and he's going to become a presence in sports media. But most importantly, Matt, proud father of three children, passionate about leadership, personal growth, resilience, and helping others navigate life's unexpected transitions. How about that for an intro? Welcome, Matt Carroll to the studios of Get in Sports. Appreciate you being here.
We should keep going. Is there any more? of it. Oh, here we go. His journey from growing up Latin America to division one athletics. I know.
I thought I thought I would just cut it short there. But Matt, seriously, thanks for joining us. This is a really cool uh guest. You you have you're very accomplished in life. Thank you. Well, I live seven lives.
And oh, by the way, founder of Get In. Hi, Nate Spangle is here as well. Hello, friends. I'm back and I'm in the I'm in the guest side. This is fun. Yeah, I know.
This is This is kind of weird. No, I love it. Come on, man. In the captain's chair. Yeah. Well, this is all things sports and I'm I'm pumped for today.
Yeah. Thanks for setting this up. How did you guys I want to know how you guys got together. See, I'm in the business of knowing who's trending and who's popular in the state of Indiana and Matt Carol is is trending is popular. And then I got to sit down and get lunch with him and I was like, "Oh, dude, this guy's nails." Like, we we've got to come chat.
And I was like doubly impressed because obviously looking into next week, a lot of Purdue guys, you know, there's a couple Purdue guys that we need to dive into. We needed a subject matter expert that knows the uh the ropes around West Lafayette. And I thought, who better? The Worlds Collide. People put them uh right in front of you and let's set this thing up. Let's set this thing up.
Love it. Thanks for having me, guys. Absolutely. So, Nate, thanks for being next to me today. I I feel so honored. Yeah, come on.
Let's go. I know. This is a fun connection. Just talking to Matt 10 minutes prior. I There's a lot we can get into here, but I want to start. Are you aware that Notre Dame basketball had a Matt Curl when you were at at Purdue?
Yeah, absolutely. And it's funny because back then there were times where people would confuse the two of us, right? Yeah. And and we're similar in age and he had a very accomplished career there. So the irony is that so I grew up in Latin America. Yeah.
And I actually grew up playing B or not basketball but baseball and soccer. I eventually found basketball later around 13 years old or so. Yeah. When they were like the who's like the the seven foot kid out there trying to trying to the seven foot Guatemalan but uh for for the record I'm 6'8. But um but when I moved to Denver when I was about 14 um my high school coach was actually Pat G's high school coach. No way.
Yeah. The great Pat Gity that played at Notre Dame, went on to be an all-American and then played in the And so I grew up while I was in Denver wanting to play, of course, for the Dukes of the world, but also Notre Dame. And so the irony is that I ended up in Indiana, right, but at Purdue, but then there was another Matt Carroll at Notre Dame. What are the odds? That is so funny. So you were you were itching to come to the Hooser State.
Apparently apparently it was fate. So talk to me about growing up in Latin America. I guess I guess I wasn't aware of that. Can take I don't even know how to start this question, but where where to start? Can you tell? Well, my dad's half Guatemalan and again one of the tallest Guatemalans, right, that you can think of.
So yeah, I mean who would have thought, but yeah, but my dad's half Guatemalan. My grandmother was from there. We were down there for my dad's work. We spent two years in the UK as well. So, not to confuse the situation here, but yeah, but main mainly in Guatemala City and so we have a lot of family down there still, but uh but yeah, one of those things where all of a sudden we were about I was 14, my brother was 12, my parents wanted us to go to high school and college here in the US and take advantage of that. So they thought that that was the right age to come back and because my parents were born and raised in Houston and so when we moved back Denver was the place my dad had a job and it was never in the cards to say we're going to move back strategically for the the kids me and my brother to play sports because my brother ended up playing uh football at Holy Cross and in Boston.
Oh, very nice. And so he's built very differently than I am. He's, you know, shorter and stockier. I'm kind of taller and leaner. But um as fate would have it, all of a sudden things just took off, right? I had this amazing coach.
He believed in me. Uh I had the work ethic to match. He challenged me one day and actually my dad sat me down one day and he said, "Matt," or son, I guess, at that time. He said, "Son, uh, we don't have the means to send you to college, but so you have a choice. You can either go get some internships and jobs to, you know, start making money to help pay, or you can try to do the basketball thing." I chose the basketball thing and as any kid would.
As any kid would. And uh but my high school coach said, "Matt, you're going to have to give up partying and weekends and nights and all the things if you want to do this." And I took on that challenge and I gave up certainly a lot to be able to do this. But it was very rewarding. And before I knew it, here I am at 17, top 100 in the country going to places like Nike Camp that used to exist and it used to be here in Indie. No way.
Absolutely. And so I actually, the irony, as the story goes, I came to to Indianapolis as they invite the top 200 players and my team was stacked. My Nike team was, I mean, future NBA Hall of Famers and all the things. It was pretty crazy. Amari Starttomire was on my team and Dwan Wagner for those basketball nerds of you guys that you guys know. And then uh had a guy that went to North Carolina, a guy that went to Yukon.
It was pretty insane our team. David Lee were the kind of guys you were playing against and all the guys. But so here we are and I went in kind of as this although I was top 200 at the time unknown guy from Colorado. But what changed my world was I came out of that as ranked as one of the top 10 at my position. And when I was there uh the team from or the coaching team for Purdue said, "Hey," or the staff said, "Hey, you should come up to Purdue after after all this is done." So my dad and I drove up to uh to West Lafayette.
Mhm. I had no idea. This might sound naive to you, but I had no idea who who Purdue was and West yet and all the things that that that checks out, especially for a guy. So, I knew what Colorado State was, Colorado, and all the West West uh schools, right? Like UCLA, Arizona at the time, which was, you know, they're still good, but back then they were legendary. And so, here I am in West Lafayette, and I'll never forget, Coach Katie walks in, sits down, and goes in his voice, you know, tells me, "Matt, you know, I love how you play defense and how hard you play.
I'd like to offer you a scholarship to come and play at Purdue. So that started the journey as uh as me trying to see what would what would happen with Purdue. What number was Purdue? So you totaled 22 division one offers. Where was Purdue in the mix? Well, obviously at the end they were number one.
Yeah. Yeah. But like like what number were they in the beginning? You mean like like they were like the 16th offer? Oh, I see. Uh they were they were close to being one of the first.
Utah was probably the first. So Purdue is an early mover. early. I uh before we get into all things NBA draft, I do want to know what were the three hats on the table for you like when you were at your side like where were you down between and how did Purdue end up winning it? Yeah. Well, I would tell you UCLA Steve Lavin was there.
Oh, nice. Yeah. So, coach Lavin became a very dear friend and mentor of mine who to this day we still take Absolutely. wonderful guy. We were just texting actually a couple days ago. Um, and the other one, although so Stanford was in the mix, Vanderbilt, but the top three would have been UCLA, Purdue, and then Utah because Rick Majaras was at Utah at the time.
Oh, man. We're talking legends here. Legends. And so all these guys sat my living room and all the things. And I was very fortunate. You mentioned a coach that was well known back then.
He either sat in my living room and I was on the phone with him. And it was a really for a 17-year-old kid back then, it was like, you know, what do I do with all of this, you know? So, it's been amazing. How do you how do you manage that not thinking, "Oh, I'm the man. I have 22 scholarships from D1." And like really, it's funny.
I was just talking to I think my wife about this, but the most one of the most important decisions you make is when you're 17, 18 years old to spend your next four years that ultimately shapes your life. So, how do you how did you balance that? I guess it's a great question. I had really great people around me. My high school coach almost I consider him almost like a second father, especially at that time. and a guy who's got a lot of wisdom.
He was putting us as the players first, not his ego. And so that was really helpful. He had navigated all this with some of his other players like Pat Gary for example. And so that was helpful. Uh my parents were really instrumental in all this. And then I had some really great teachers and I just had a community around me.
Yeah. And honestly at the time I did not understand this but it's an important point uh that I wish I knew back then but pressure is a privilege. And back then I didn't understand that concept. Back then it was like, "Oh my god, I don't know what to do with all this. I'm 17 like you said. I'm about to make this big decision, which at the time I didn't realize how big it was."
Exactly. I mean, when you think about it, I'm still in Indiana. Right. Exactly. And so I could be on Utah. You don't realize that on the Get You show.
Get That's right. But uh but anyway, that's it. There it is. Land a minute. But yeah, I got But uh No, it's it's funny how that works. And so it was hard to do all of that at the time.
And also someone asked me recently uh they said, "Matt, was it hard at 17 to say no to all those other schools?" And it it was I mean because a lot of these guys recruited me for so long, I became close to some of them. Yeah. Did you pick up the phone and call all the coaches? I I did. Now that's classy.
Yeah. And my parents made made sure that I did because some of them we had been in touch for quite some time. And back then this sounds like I'm 72 years old, which I swear to God I'm not. um dialing his landline phone. Landline, don't be using the long distance minutes. That's the road.
But uh no, but it was one of those things where a lot of these guys were on the phone with me weekly, some of them daily at the time, and sending me letters and all the things. And they couldn't text you. They couldn't text me. Exactly. So, it was it was a different era, of course. Now, it's changed, right?
You've got social media, you've got uh texting, you've got all the things that have changed the landscape of it all, right? You've got the NIL, which we can get into as well. Uh, which maybe, you know, ages me, but it wasn't around back then, right? So, the things that you hear now about those things have changed the landscape, of course. Um, and you could argue for the better, for the worse, you know, we can get into that, but at the time, yeah. So, it was hard to say no to a lot of these coaches.
But at the same time, some of them became dear friends, like Coach Lavin. I mean, I've stayed with him in his home in California multiple times. We talk a lot. We text a lot. Um and and I've actually gone out to visit him when he was at St. John's out in New York.
Nice. Uh so all these small world things, right? Coach Katie ended up being his assistant at St. John's for a little bit. People forget about people do forget that. And so there's all these small world things, but the thing about it, and we can get into this, you talk about coaching trees, right?
You think about ISO, you think about Shasheeski and these coaching trees that exist. Coach Knight, Katie is no different, right? You've got Quanzo Martin, right? He's had an illustrious career. Um, and then you have people like Steve Lavin and and some others. But, uh, when you think about these different coaching trees, Katie's one of them.
Yeah. And so all of a sudden it becomes a small world, right, where I graduate and I'm still staying in touch with guys and coach Katie's over there, you know, helping Steve Lav and I'm still friends with him. I It's all amazing how it all works. That's that's really really interesting. And I want to kind of get to I and feel free we can we can go to draft first if you want but I kind of wanted to go through his Purdue experience first. First of all just going to Indiana cuz you you name all these West Coast teams.
Okay. You're from the West Coast. I guess you would claim it, right? Were you happy that you went outside of what you were familiar with for college? That's a good question for me. It's it's a it's very situational, right?
So, I'd have a different answer for you today, but back then, the Big 10, it's returned to this, but the Big 10 back then was outside of the ACC was the biggest conference at the time and arguably the biggest, right? When you think about my freshman year, IU went to the national championship, for example, that was when Jared Jeff was there. So, there was a lot of things going on with the Big 10. So, and it was not just isolated to basketball. It was about academics. It was about playing for a future Hall of Famer.
it was about the way I fit into their system. So, it wasn't purely just Purdue for the sake of Purdue. And so, uh, and that's a lot of what you see right now in the portal and NIL uh, situations, right? It's that it's about the right fit to the system just like it would be in the NBA, right? Why do some guys get drafted over others? Well, a lot of it has to do with fit.
So, that's what it was for me. That's really interesting. Okay. So, we mentioned this off the top and you were at Purdue 2001 through 2006, correct? I red shirted one year. Yeah, red shirted one year.
And you are uniquely positioned and you said one of four players to play under both Jean Katy and Matt Painter. That's right. That's really really interesting. So I guess talk about your experience. You signed up for Jean Katy. You get Matt Painter.
Both legends in their own right. Today like at the time was was Painter was Painter positioned like were people excited? Were you nervous? Did you know he did they know I mean it's it's impossible that they knew he was going to be what he is today but at the time like what were the feelings in the locker room around that? Yeah because they brought him in as coach and waiting essentially. I mean so yeah how was that transition?
Well it was it was interesting the way it happened because when I got there there were already coaches I tell this to a lot of people and they ask me about getting recruited. Coach Katie was one of the few that did not negatively recruit other coaches. And what I mean by that is I had a lot of coaches come in and say, "Hey, you shouldn't go there because, you know, that guy is this or that or that program is, you know, whatever." Coach Katie didn't do that. He came in and just elevated Purdue for Purdue's sake and didn't put other people down. I love that.
So, when I got there, I got there excited about the program, about Katie. So, it's a very interesting question because all of a sudden, we had a very good, well, arguably a pretty good year my freshman year and my sophomore year we went to the NCAA. But then my uh my junior year um it didn't go as well and that's when we started to hear rumors about coach Katie maybe retiring and maybe getting out of this and as a player back then especially because back then you were almost penalized for for transferring you got to sit out a year and all the things right so it was almost like well what do you do with this right and you have to almost write it out and see where this goes and and then coach painter was announced as the air apparent right and that air apparent honestly that's what he was that's what he does. And it also became one of those things where all of a sudden he's in the locker room and he's there with us as the head assistant.
And that was an interesting an interesting shift because even though Katie was still very much in control, there was painter there and you were trying to prove yourself not only to Katie but the painter. And was he taking over certain elements or was it still very much Jean Katie? It was very much Jean Katie show and rightfully so. And Coach Painter was very respectful of that. Right. Okay.
And I always thought that was a very very good move. Uh so Ka K Katie was always at the helm coaching and strategizing but then Painter was was there at practices and he was Painter is a very good X's and O guy and he also is a very detailed person. He's he gives the best answers ever sports journalist. Unbelievable. It's unbelievable. He's a savant.
He honestly is and he's very shrewd in terms of how to deal with people and he knows how to motivate individuals. Katie was very good in at motivating a group painters as well, but he's very good at indiv individual motivation as well. So, a guy that played with me back then was Carl Andry, right? He went in on Oh, yeah. Yeah. He played in the NBA, had an illustrious career there, but he knew how to motivate Carl and then also motivate me.
We're very different archetypes, right? Very different players. So, I always liked that about him. But he left Katie alone. he did his own thing. Uh but it was a it was a very strange time as a player, right?
As you're trying to figure out where do I fit into all this, right? And to your point about Matt Painter, I mean Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman Ren, Fletcher Lawyer as recent examples were not these five-star, highly recruited Duke, North Carolina guys, but at the end of their careers, some of the most accomplished Zack Edit, Zack Edit, some of the most accomplished college basketball players ever and produce won 100 plus games in four years or whatever it is. Yeah, it's incredible. So, Zach Giddy was what ranked 400th coming out of high school. He was drafted ninth and I mean it's incredible the arguably statistically one of the greatest basketball players ever to come out of college basketball. Dominant.
Dominant. People people aren't didn't appreciate during the time just how dominant I mean when you watch highlights. Yeah. It's incredible. You dump the ball down there and it's automatic. Yeah.
Um, on this transition from Jean Katy to Matt Painter, I think anybody who goes through a coaching transition, and this seems like a positive coaching, a lot can be like animosity, contentious, not good. Uh, this seems like a positive thing and Jean Katy very much celebrated for his time at Purdue and Matt Painter. Obviously, that was the correct choice and the right move. But the the last year of Jean Katy, the first year of Matt Painter, when you understand as a player that you're going through a transitional year, it's not like you're going to a final four a lot of times. And you I think we said before the show two of the statistically record-wise worst seasons in Purdue. What I apologize to coach Painter all the time.
Hey man, I am really sorry that you couldn't get the 500 sooner. I was in the way of that. The guys there at the time caused you to delay that. But yeah. Well, he's getting his footing as a head coach for a Big 10 team, his his alma mater, right? And and you guys are the foundation basically.
What was that juxiposition kind of, okay, I know it's not going to be great, but we are the foundation of this new era. Good question. And I was an upper classman at the time. So we had a lot of new players. So Matt Painter's first year, we had eight new guys. And back then, a lot of it had to do with like Jo stuff, right?
Junior college stuff. So we had a lot of junior college guys, a lot of freshmen, which back then, and this might sound kind of crazy to some people listening, but back then it was very much of you gave way to your upper classmen, and then the the guys who were younger coming in were kind of in learning, if you will. And every once in a while you'd get like a a super freshman that would change that dynamic, but that really was you'd pay your dues kind of situation, right? And so to have all these new guys come in and feel this shift culturally, not not crazy in a crazy way, but there was a shift, right? Yeah. and and all positive, but nonetheless, as a as someone who was there already for two or three years, um it was different and an adjustment.
So, and Coach Painter back then, we joke about this all the time. Coach Painter will tell you that he was a different coach back then, right? Well, I'm sure. I mean, no, not just physically, right? He had, you know, dark hair, glasses, and everything, but uh but no, he was very boisterous. He was very engaged.
Now, when you watch Coach Painter, he'll kind of get animated at times, but a lot of the times he's kind of sitting back and leaning up against the the scores table and all those kind of things. He picks his spots for sure. Picks his spots. You go to practice, he lets his assistants do a lot, right? And he'll kind of pick his spots. But, um, so he's very much in control, but he's not as boisterous as he once was.
And so, we were he was trying to figure out at the time, people forget he was only 35 years old. Think about that. I mean, when you to lead a legitimate program like that, I mean, it's incredible. So you talk to these top tier coaches, you know, Lav and I Lav and I were talking about this at one point when he was running UCLA. He was talking about how this you are the CEO of like a Fortune 500 company. Yes.
Right. When you think about the the media, when you think about the people in the stands and you're heading a program, you're recruiting the coaching, the donors, the donors, you're raising money, it's it's so incredible that coaching becomes a very minute part of it almost, right? And then you add in recruiting and then NIL these days it's a very complicated organism, right? And so he was trying to figure out where he fit into that. And of course he did, right? In hindsight, we look back and go, "Wow, how did he do it?"
But and I I think the most amazing thing about Coach Painter, though, is that he was able to insert himself into that. It's not easy to follow a Hall of Famer. To then create his own brand of basketball. It didn't seem like he like res a lot of people resent it, almost go extreme the other way. I have to be myself. I have to match this.
And it seemed like he just kind of seamlessly took the baton. He did. The the most recent example would be Shy at Duke. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, absolutely.
That that's a really good example. What uh what has it been like for you? I'm assuming that you take a lot of pride in being a Purdue Boiler Maker. Absolutely. Just after your experience under the two to the two greats. But just seeing the the recent success, I feel like Matt Painter is like the epitome of consistency and Purdue as a program, right?
But, you know, getting to the national championship game, Sweet 16, Elite Eights, they've been so close. Um, but yeah, just just the consistent success, I imagine that's just a great feeling as an alum. It it is. And one thing that people don't realize is how rare it is in today's day and age especially to have the continuity that he has brought. Yeah. So you talked to and no shade thrown to IOU uh not because of the rivalry but it's an immediate example I have right where you talk to those guys and when you talk about all the coaching changes that have happened there there's not a lot of continuity there and so what he's brought to the table is that when you look at it now there's been 50 years of just two coaches at Purdue.
So that's incredible right about that. So when you think about that, then you start to back into an idea that is overplayed and and overused a lot of times, but this idea of family, this idea of what it means to belong to something bigger than you. And Purdue has allowed that to happen. And that's what you see. So there's a lot of pride there. And uh there's a lot of pride in knowing that you were a part of building what started, you know, the beginning of what we see now.
Exactly. You look back at probably during the first year of painter, not fun going well at all. nine and 19 or something like that. I have a great story, by the way. Well, I was gonna ask you your favorite uh Matt Painter and Jean Katie story, but I want to hear I've got a lot of Coach Katie stories. Yeah.
Well, here's my Katie story. I was a freshman and we had 72 plays, guys, my freshman year. 72 plays. I I was with Coach Katie about two weeks ago having dinner with him and his wife. Oh, no way. And I told Coach Katie, I said, "Coach, do you remember this story?"
I said, "We had 72 plays my freshman year." And he was like, "Ah, you know." So, but his wife was laughing and I told him, I said, "Coach, I don't know if you remember this, but my freshman year as I'm trying to learn 72 plays." Uh, this of course included out- of- bounds plays and everything, but right, uh, here we are in practice and when you're trying to learn that much, you all of a sudden start running the spots instead of when you're screening, you screen a person. Yeah. But I'm running the spots, you know, because I'm just trying to keep up.
So, this happens early on in practice, uh, my freshman year, and, uh, he blows the whistle and starts yelling at me, you know, Carol, what are you doing? You know, who are you screening? And I'm just like, in my mind, I'm thinking, I ran the play. I ran exactly where I'm supposed to go. And he goes, who are you screening? And before I could answer, he goes, you're screening Harvey the Rabbit.
And everyone starts laughing. And I'm looking at him and he goes, "Do you know who Harvey the Rabbit is?" Like, "No, coach." He goes, "He doesn't exist. So yeah, it was a great story. But my favorite I love that.
Ain't it great? So that's old school. Old school right there. Yeah. But Matt Painter was Matt Painter wasn't, you know, funny in that way. Although Matt Painter is very funny.
He's witty. He's very witty and very very quick. But my favorite story with Painter and I always give him a hard time is that my freshman year we we were losing, you know, a couple in a row and we get into practice. Some of these freshmen didn't understand what it meant to to do the things that we needed to do to win. And they were goofing off in practice. And coach, I could just see it coming.
I'm like, "Oh my god, here we go. Here we go." As an upper classman, too, you could just feel it. You could sense it. And so coach blows the whistle. We're we're these are three-hour practices, right?
And tells the the managers to put all the balls away, keep one out. And I'm just going, "Oh my god, here we go." And so he lines us up freshman to seniors and said, "Starting with seniors, I'm going to shoot a one and one for the rest of practice for the next three hours. And if you make both, we run up and down all timed. If you make one and miss the second, we run up and down twice." Mhm.
If you miss both, four times up and down. All timed. We did this for three hours. Yeah. At some point, you just like disassociate, you know, but what am I going to do when I get out of this? What am I going to do?
I'm going to be a changed person. I think I lost 10 pounds that night. That's wild, dude. You talk about um like the the coaches and continuity, I think was the word you talked about. I just looked it up between both of them. 17 uh 17 tournament appearances each over 50 years or however many seasons, 1980 to 2026.
Pretty wild. 34 Tur people would I mean they'd go crazy if their team was in the tournament 34 times in that you know ask IU how they would feel about consist also an Irish fan and like ask Dom you know come on going to the tournament I mean yeah Mike Bray I mean doesn't hold a candle to to Shberry certainly you know you start getting you you get a little high on the hog and people are like oh I don't know we're not winning the big one like you're forgetting that you're in the tournament and you at least have a chance they're a victim of their own standards. Absolutely right. I mean I mean people people come at Matt Painter all the time. Oh they choke this and that. It's like I don't even remember the North Texas loss or this.
I mean they've gotten to a national championship. The last time they didn't make the tournament outside of COVID was 2013 2014 and since then they made it every single year and and they you believe they have a chance to win every single year. Well and think about how wild this is right and I coach Payne and I laugh about this when whenever we talk about it but think about how wild it is that all of a sudden you have people in comments saying oh they should fire Matt Painter. That's just insane. I was thinking about that this morning and I thought to myself, well, what are you what were you hoping for? What is it that you're hoping to to to substitute with?
What's better? I mean, winning national champ. I mean, gez, even the best programs don't do that. What Yukon did is doesn't happen anymore. Well, and think about IU again, not to pick on them, but IU, please, please, let's pick on them. But, you know, don't no comments please, my way.
No negativity here. But honestly, I think about who they've fired over the years. Kelvin Samson. Yeah. I mean, look what he's done at Houston and and what everything now. Yes, I saw your look.
What? Everything he did probably like legal today also. Absolutely. But at the time, what I mean, what are you supposed to do? You know, what are you supposed to do? But then you look at this just illegal cuz he got caught like, you know, at the time.
Yeah. You know, will we wade the nation? But then you look at the fact that they fired a lot of other coaches who honestly are were I I believe to be very very good. And so there is something to be said about that continuity. And again, for the average Purdue fan, it's like, well, what do you what is the standard? We are not Duke and UCLA and and now Yukon, I guess, with all these national championships under our belt, right?
We are a different program, which is we are still one of the most elite programs, but you can't have the expectation of national championship or bust, right? There needs to be a different expectation there. And the thing that I think is the broader point here is this. Matt Painter, if you fire him, you get somebody else that then recruits different kinds of players, right? Then has to build something different, right? With the the program that we know now is because the continuity and because of what coach does to help players understand not only develop them but understand where they fit in, everyone knows their place in that program.
And that is very key and and rare and rare. And I want to go to that right now because you don't get guys like Braden Smith, one of the best players in college basketball history by the way, Trey Kaufman, Red, Fletcher Lawyer, who are that good for that long, that consistently, who stay at the same place nowadays. I mean, I can only imagine how much Braden Smith turned down and NIL money to go elsewhere for his final. There are rumors of multiple millions more than what he got at Purdue. And and that's what makes Purdue special because Duke, you know, North Carolina, Kentucky, UCLA, they're getting fivestar players in the in the and the expectation is national championship or bust. Purdue is getting three stars and still making it just as far if not deeper in the tournament every single year.
These three guys, great examples. watching them not only have such success that they did, but in the era of transfer portal and NIL, right? Does that not just epitomize exactly what you just said about Purdue and Matt Painter and everything like that? Well, it also Yes. First of all, yes. But I think it also goes to show you that there is still room for coaches like that in the game and there's still room for programs like that where you can sit down and say, "We're going to be patient.
We're going to develop you and we're going to recruit the right guys." is, you know, Coach Painter and I were talking about this where it's so important to understand that every guy on a roster has a place. When you think about a movie set, you might you might have a star actor, let's say Tom Cruz, right? Yeah. And but the movie doesn't work without all the other guys in the room who are doing lights and doing the the production and all the the sound. One of those things falls apart.
The whole thing falls apart. So, the idea is although you have a guy who's the face of it, like a Tom Cruz, let's say, everyone involved is as is important and has a role to play and he has been able to communicate that to the guys that hey your role is just as important as the guy who's the 15th guy on the bench is the guy who's the face of the program. We're all a part of something. It all falls apart if we're not together. And when you go to that program, he talks a lot about this about how if you are a star athlete coming out of high school, right? And we we're getting one right now, right?
this freshman point guard who is uh he is a stud. I've had a chance to watch him play a lot and he is he's the real deal. Well, he's ranked as high as 38 and maybe even higher in some polls of in rankings in terms of where he is nationally uh player-wise, but he'll sit down with guys like that even say, "Listen, you got to come and still prove yourself. Nothing is guaranteed, but if you come here and do your job and do things well, you have a chance to become fill in the blank." Right? Braden Smith.
Braden Smith or whatever the case might be. So now, but he sets that expectation at the beginning. He's not promising you, hey, you're going to do this, you're going to do that, you're going to be starting every game, which a lot of coaches do. Yeah. So, is Erdle the air apparent? I think so.
Just to call back that one. I I had a chance to watch him throughout the regular season and then really in the state tournament. Um the way he gets to a spot, he's just different. You know, I watch high school kids and they're just different. like the way he handles the ball. He can get to the rim.
He can shoot threes. He can he's pass first which is impressive because he could score every time if he wanted to. Um he's a lefty which is kind of interesting too. But between him and Mayor I think uh back court can be solid. I agree. That that's what do you think all these three guys depart?
What's the future? Because people are like oh man if we can't win it with them then what's going to happen? Well, I think right, but I think the key here is understanding that Purdue has never been a program of just replacing guys with all-ameans. Right. Right. It's been a and I still think that they have a chance to win the Big 10.
I still think that they have a great chance to make the tournament and actually uh do something there, too. Instead of looking at it as we're going to replace these guys, it's better to look at it from the standpoint of you who the guys are going to step up and and produce as a team because there there are guys like CJ Cox and uh we've got other guys who um you know Jacobson who's 74. I stand I stood next to him recently by the way in an event up in West Lafayette and I'm not used I'm 6'8. I'm not used to looking up at guys and I was really looking at this guy. This is what it must feel like for the guys with me, right? But I mean I stood next to him and it was crazy.
74, right? Huge. He's Yeah. So, it's like death, taxes, and Purdue having a a sevenfooter. That's right. So, I I think that and and Jacobson, everyone was very high on him until he got hurt.
And so, he's not being asked to replace Edy, but he can come in and and certainly fill a gap when it comes to height and versatility. He's a lot more mobile than Edy was. So I think that you've got all these different components that Burg is another one right where I think that uh he's a great example of someone who's kind of an upandcomer. So when you put I think it's going to be more about them being a unit this year than it is individuals right and so that's how it always is. It always is especially with Painter but when I look at I don't think it's about replacing Braden Smith. I I don't think that's ever going to happen.
How that's it's kind of like saying we're going to replace Edy but I think it's about who we can replace in terms of leadership. Yes. And toughness because that part is honestly a lot of what those guys brought. Yeah. And so when you have a floor general, a guy who is able to get everyone coralled and say this is where we're heading or or you know guys who are able to maintain calmness in in the midst of the storm is really key. And I think when you look at he's tough, he's productive, he's competitive.
Um he's just a guy that gets it and he's a prototypical Purdue guard. You don't see a lot of programs who can lose to a 16 seed, eat it, and listen to it all summer, all season, and then go to the national championship. I mean, Virginia did it and then Purdue, you know, nearly did it, but that just speaks to leadership. I mean, how how do you do that? Cuz you're hearing it every day. Absolutely.
Right. I mean, it's crazy. Two questions. One, will uh will Luke Erdle be the be a starter first season as a freshman? I I think yes. You would know better than me, but I I think he's good enough.
I think that's the answer. I don't know if he will be. I I'll go back to what I said earlier. I'm sure the conversations that are happening behind closed doors are you have the chance to be. Yeah. Right.
And you just need to go out there and prove it. And so he's going to have to compete against guys that uh I mean Moyer is very I he's incredibly he's very built. If you're around him, this dude is he's jacked. He is jacked. I mean he's like a built like a square, right? And uh he is he really is.
Yes. And uh and so I think that and I think he's an example of someone who can in time lead that program as well. And so he's going to have to come in and compete and nothing's ever promised there. So but I think a lot of it will be determined on his growth this summer and how he does in practice and how it translates from where he's where he's coming from. So if we if we were placing bets, are you Yes, he's starting. No, he's not.
I think he does. I think he does as well. All right. I also think he does. Question two. By the time he graduates from Purdue, will he have a large forearm tattoo?
Uh, no. On the second. I don't I'm just wondering. I'm just wondering. Purdue Purdue changes you. Changes.
Come on. You never know. Interesting. Uh, what what do you make of And then we can get to the draft after this, but what what do you make of how college athletics has changed? I mean, NIL is just crazy. football I feel like is its own thing but uh transfer portal NIL it just it just feel I I think it's got to feel good as a Purdue alum that it feels like they've removed themselves from the craziness of it while embracing it still does that make sense I don't know it does a lot of coaches and I have talked to a fair amount hate it a lot of guys who are in the game still who are legendary uh wish that this was even though they embrace the fact that they have to adapt to it wish that this was not a part of it.
Yeah. And um and it and it's it's essentially I mean let's call it what it is right. It's it's now we're talking about pro sports and it's pay to play. It's pay to play. And now there's a lot of talk right now and I'll get to my opinion on it, but there's a lot of talk right now about there just needs to be better parameters around it and more uh if you transfer for for I mean right now you got guys who've gone to four schools in four years, right? So what do we do to keep kind of keep that in check, right?
Because what happens too is that you guys get some of these guys are getting paid. They might not even play and then they're transferring again. So what what what can we do to have some checks and balances that mirror the NBA for example? Yeah. So that that I think if we can put some some guidelines in place that are a little bit more maybe strict is not the word but just something that everyone can follow and that makes a little bit more sense because right now it's a little bit of the wild west. It is.
Yeah, dude. But here's the cool part. When I think about Purdue, you talk about the the three you've been talking about. Fletcher Lawyer, TKR, Braden Smith. Yes. All Indiana high school basketball players.
So like it actually if you go like way down the chain it starts by developing the best high school basketball players early on getting them on campus for camps or whatever it is getting them bought into the Purdue way and then like building that loyalty from the time that they're like 10 years old cuz like you know all those guys could have gotten bags going somewhere else you know and they just bought into a bigger vision which is I think something that Matt Painter is spectacular at is you're there's something bigger Purdue basketball is bigger than you it's bigger this million bucks because I know that that sounds crazy that you know Braden Smith what forego $3 million or whatever it was to go somewhere else in the state of Indiana he will make more than $3 million because he stayed like in the state of let's say the NBA dreams maybe one day don't work out any company would hire this guy any Purdue alum would be like have him sell anything have him do whatever like you're going to make more than $3 million because you were loyal to the home crowd in the long run.
Not in the short run, but in the long run, I believe it will pay off in spades. I couldn't agree more. I don't know what you think, but 100%. I I think Purdue, what's unique about it is that program has been able to adapt the mindset of one guy can tear the whole thing apart. Yeah. It takes one guy, right?
You can have the greatest athlete in the world and you bring them in the locker room, but he's a cancer and it tears the whole thing apart. Yeah. So, you you have to recruit the right Purdue kind of guy. Yeah. And and a lot of times that goes hand in hand with getting Indiana guys like you said. And I just think that loyalty goes so such a long way.
And that ties perfectly what we're talking about with NIL because that just doesn't happen without the seedlings four or five years prior before NIL was even a thing. What they wanted to end their career as Purdue guys and and they did. And that to your point, Nate, I just think it's so rare. Look at the guys that left. Like you know what I'm saying? Besides Mason Gillis was a he was an Indiana guy.
He was a a grad transfer. Yeah. So, like take that one kind of out of it, but like he's a good kid. You know, the Indiana guys largely are are all in on Purdue. Yeah, absolutely. Well, and if you look historically, what are the healthiest programs, right?
Well, Michigan State's one of them. And what do they do? They recruit a lot of instate guys or guys who are just around that area. And that to me, I always have heard the healthiest programs tend to do that, right? So the ones that are the ones that are tougher to maintain, although there's a couple of them like the Dukes of the world that have been able to do this, are the ones that go out and recruit from all over the country and they're kind of always peacemailing something with these big players and big names. That's hard to sustain though or starting like three or four freshman also.
That's right. And you're managing personalities, you're managing egos when you're doing it at that level, right? Uh Caliperry did it at Kentucky well until he left to go to Arkansas. But when you think about what that is, it's essentially managing a roster of pro players at that point. And that's where we're at right now. So what do I think about it though?
I think that we were inev inevitably we were heading in this direction even when I played. We were always being t or there was always conversations about are we going to get paid. I mean I remember counting pennies to play pay for dinner at times, right? And so that was the other extreme, right? Now it's swung the other direction. I'd like to see something that brings it a little bit more into check, but now the crazy thing is is that I'm hearing about this going down into high school.
Yes. Personal branding activities. That's right. It has to be removed from the school essentially. Hey, we are in the market. Let me just tell you.
We want We want to keep We want to sign some athletes. Let me just tell you. But I do think just on its face that's that's crazy. I think to me that's crossing a line a bit. Now I I do appreciate that the school is kind of removed from it. if they go out on their own and they get a deal, whatever.
It's the same thing, too. Like, if you were a high school kid and you, you know, posted every day and got a 100,000 followers to follow your journey to becoming a varsity athlete online. Like, that's cool. And you should be able to monetize that for sure. Well, I'd like to think that all money-making activities were that innocent for these high school kids. That's what I think it's it's meant for like NIL was meant for if for players on the roster to go be the spokesperson for a car dealership and make $60,000 which is a bag by the way.
Forget these millions. When do we get to a place where we're talking about how it's not right? But now it's like come to our school and we'll pay you and you don't have to play it down. That that to me is where we got the wires crossed. We're building super teams at high school level. Yeah.
And then it gets down to the high school level. like it. I don't think it was ever supposed to be in this the parameters like you said. Well, the question now for me so I have kids, right? And and boys who are are are playing basketball, they're 12 and 10. I have a little girl who's eight.
Are they are they looking for for uh and I I am. I am. Let's make Yeah, that's right. Let's make it middle school now, too. But the thing that I I fight now is this idea that are you playing basketball because you love it or because you're thinking about the money and the fame. See, and that's the thing that's sad for me to watch is that I came to basketball.
Of course, I wanted to play in the NBA one day, but I came to because I love the game first. And you see a lot of these players who show up to the gyms now decked out in their gear and you're going, "Okay, what?" And you can tell already who the players are and who they aren't just by how they show up, right? But that's the sad part to me is that the game is changing and evolving into that. And by the way, I do believe that that is a reason why we were talking about this before the show started. There are so many foreigners uh and I don't mean this in a negative way that they're foreigners.
I just mean that there is a cultural difference overseas. Yes. In terms of how these players are developed and so when you look at a lot of the the famous NBA players now are Eastern Europeans and I mean Wemi is not Eastern European but he is French. You look at the Joker, you look at Luca, you look at u Giannis, I mean all he's from Greece. I mean, all these different players are now the ones that we look at as the ones who are the in the NBA doing well. You just named what, five of the top eight stars NBA, right?
And they're all Yeah, they're all European or not US. You know, that's that's basically what it is. Well, the head coach of Yukon women, uh the great coach there talked about this uh recently. and he said, "You know what we're getting wrong in the United States right now is that we are playing five times and practicing once." This is at the high school and middle school level where overseas what they're getting right is that they're practicing five times and playing once. That's profound.
I like that. And so that's that's the whole shift that we're seeing right now too, even at the college level, right? Which is here we are talking about guys who are getting paid and all the things when overseas although they are playing at a younger age in the big leagues, right? because there these these super leagues up there and Luca is an example, right? He was playing at like 14 for like Barcelona or something like that, right? Yeah, he was.
And so and dominating and dominating by the way. So it's not the absence of them not making money or being in these developmental leagues, but at the same time they just approach the game a little differently, right? And I think that's what we're seeing now uh here in the US in terms of not only at the collegiate level, but also the NBA. What's that movie with Adam Sandler where he is like a talent scout for basketball? Have you seen this? Hidden gems.
Is it hidden gems or is that I thought that's uncut gems or uncut gems. Not hidden gems. I can't believe I just said hidden gems. You should ask if by the way. Uh um but yeah. No, I think that that uh that European verse US goes in so well culturally to what you're talking about.
It's called Hustle. Hustle. And he's like he like finds like a guy playing basketball at a local park and like becomes kind of his like deacto agent. And like he that was everyone's dream growing up. Someone's going to drive past me in the driveway and recognize my talent. That's what I'm uh that's what I'm looking for when we're looking for uh personal branding activities with high school kids.
Like who do we see out there? Yeah, just kidding. That guy just stayed away while I was driving by. I was going to say we are not doing that. We're not we're not doing that. Guys, I have a question that's going to lead us into NBA draft stuff, please.
Why Why are Braden Smith and TKR working out for the Pacers? Uh, I think it's just you just go around and because the Pacers don't have a draft pick. No. Okay. But, uh, in TKR's case, I'd be interested to get your opinion on this. Um, probably undrafted if I had to guess.
Trick Hoffman Ren. So, the Pacers can always work out guys for that. But, you never know what could happen. They could trade back into the second round. They could do something where it's absolutely advantageous. I mean, just like did not bury the lead on that.
You just don't think he's going. I do. I don't believe Tob will be drafted. I think Brain Smith certainly will be. I think Brain Smith can be really good in the NBA. I think if someone takes a chance and just gets past the height situation.
Um, but they both worked out for the Pacers. I was there. Um, and Brain Smith said every team is talking to him about his height, about his height. Trey Coffman Ren's extremely skilled. He's trying to show teams they can shoot threes, but he his style of play is very like 1950s kind of. They're also talking to him about both of these guys are talking about their height.
Yeah. Yeah. I mean, true at Trey Coff and rest position, too. What do you think about these two guys and their Well, let me give you my opinion. I think that the NBA is a league that looks at a couple different factors, right? It looks for certainly I mean you talked about height, so that's obviously a factor.
Uh but I also think that when they're looking at height, they're not just looking at from standpoint of does he pass the eye test, right? And is he tall enough to be able to get a shot off, let's say. It's also look at the the other way. Is he big enough to defend elite players? Right? It's not just about the offensive end, right?
So, but the NBA loves players who have unique skill sets and the NBA will love, in my opinion, Braden Smith's ability to find. He's like a Jason kid, right? Jason King was never the greatest shooter, although he became one later. But he was just a guy who surrounded by the right kind of guys. Could had a knack of course for for finding guys at the right time, right place to score and to do all the things they ended up doing and actually creating careers for the guys that without him there may have not have been as successful. Right?
So I think that Braden Smith falls into that category. Unfortunately, he's just undersized. But here's the thing. You think about Edy, 400th ranked guy coming out of high school. Everyone was talking about how well this guy's big butt but butt but butt, right? Yeah.
And all of a sudden he's picked ninth and he's doing great things before his injury, you know, in Memphis. So, and everyone was talking about how he's too slow and hey, he's this guy who plays down low. Does it translate into the NBA? And the answer he came, it did, right? And had he not gotten injured, I think we would have been having a very different conversation, maybe even potentially rookie of the year type of conversation with him. So, I think with Braden Smith, it's similar.
His entire career, it's he's too small, too short. Is he tough enough? He proved all those things in college. Oh, and by the way, he's now the all-time leading scorer, not scorer, sorry, passer, assist man ever. So, you sit back and go, well, there there we are. I mean, there are guys that have lived a life proving others wrong, and I think he'll do the same in the NBA.
I think Braden Smith could go as high as maybe like let's say uh late first, early second. Yeah. And I think with TKR, I actually believe he will sneak into the draft. Okay. But I think he'll be, you know, kind of the one of the last guys there. How uh how tall do you guys think Braden Smith is?
He is I want to say he's listed at six foot. I don't think he's 6 foot. He is listed at six foot, but he had his uh the official NBA draft combine. What do you think he measured? I'm going to go 510 and a quarter. 510 and 510 and a quarter cuz I was like okay you know that small I was I mean it's not that big.
No in the NBA. No it's not. I mean like yo that's like the classic. But you know the the the thing about it though is that you look back at the NBA and you think to yourself there's been a at least a proven track record of guys who are shorter much shorter than him who have actually made a career out of it. Right. Oh yeah.
And and and the difference though with him is that he is not a scorer first. And I think that if if we were talking about a guy who was only a scorer, then I think I' I'd be a lot more concerned. But he is a pass first guy. And not only a pass first guy, but he understands how to be the engine of a team, right? And run a team and understands how to to drive those different factors to make other guys success during the tournament. He didn't come out of the game.
I mean, he just doesn't like and he was diving for loose ball. I mean, he was an all-American doing those things. That was impressive. I keep trying to find like comparisons for Braden Smith and I keep just thinking of like hustle like you know the TJ McConnell style. I mean I mean Brunson just won a I mean he's championship like he's I was like Steve Nash and he's like he's six what? He's 63.
Like I don't know. I think that's on a good day. Yeah. Right. Right. Right.
Right. No, it'll be it'll be curious uh to see how that ends up shaking. Well, here's the deal. I think both of them make an NBA roster better. I think that's just the bottom line. Yeah, absolutely.
100%. I think TKR, remember, we we don't think about some of these guys anymore, but think about Car Malone, right? I think TKR, and he was up for that award this year, by the way, the Car Malone award, but I think that's a very, very fitting comp right there, is that, you know, Car Malone, I think, was a little bit more athletic than him and obviously a little bit more built by the end of his career. Uh, I would not have liked uh to have gone up against a guy like that when you think about how big he was. Uh, and that was that era, too. But to your point, TKR is almost like in a different he's an era that has is a a bygone era.
I think he would have just dominated the NBA just 20 years prior maybe. You know what I mean? Like that's that's so true. But I think that now to your point, he makes an NBA roster in my opinion because he makes everybody around him better. Yeah. And you need a guy that can go out there and rebound, a guy who can defend, a guy who's going to do the things that he does.
Yeah. Those are indispensable. So, uh, I think right now it seems to me when I watch the NBA, we're starting to see a little bit of a shift, uh, in recent years, going back a little bit to where not every guy on the floor needs to be scoring and shooting all the time, but there are guys out there that play roles, and they might not be out there for the entire game, but they're out there in spurts when they need to be out there, and I think TKR feels that role. Yeah, 100%. Well, I only got two more questions for him, Nate. Well, I want to know, well, at the end, we got to get the takes.
Well, Rick, right now, we got to get the takes drafted or not? Braden Smith drafted or not? I'm saying Braden Smith drafted TKR notes but signs immediately with somebody. Really? Okay. He says both.
Yeah. Do you have a number? Do you like I want a Braden Smith number? I want a I want a TKR number. Okay. I think Braden Smith in the second round somewhere.
How many teams are there? 30 or 32? 30. Right. I'll go second. Is there 60 picks total?
There's 60 picks total. So 30 teams. All right. Braden Smith, second round 40th overall pick. Oh, okay. How about that?
40th. 40th overall pick. I I don't mind. I'm going to take the uh under on that. I'm going to say he's going above. I'm going 40 or below.
Okay. I like it. Yeah. And then you he thinks late first round, which I love. You know what? I think he sneaks into the first round.
Although I think it comes down to or I know it comes down to the the gap that he's going to fill for a team. if a team needs a point guard and a pass first guy. What I believe there's a lot of chatter right now about Giannis going to over to Boston. So when you think about a team like that, they don't need another scorer. They don't need another guy who's going to come in and try to hog the ball, if you will, right? They need a guy who can run that system and distribute.
Maybe another Peyton Pritchard. That's right. I think a team like that could use a Braden Smith, right? guy would come in, does not need to shoot, but can when need when he needs to, knock down a three when he's open, but then distribute the ball really well. I think that's a place where he could fit in. I think that's a great call.
And I also think he's better this kind of is like duh, but he is better on like a good established team. Absolutely. He's not the guy. Absolutely. He's not the guy that's going to come in and and uh have the burden of what we saw last year with uh with Cooper Flag, for example, who's expected to come in and like elevate Dallas to a place where all of a sudden he's expected to get them to a place that that's I don't know if that's really fair for a guy like that, right? He's a couple of years away from being that guy, but for a Braden Smith, he absolutely you fit him into a system that's established with other guys, he fits in well, 100%.
the uh the ESPN mock draft has him at 38 to the Bulls. 38 to the Bulls. There you go. It was kind of close. Yeah. All right.
We'll see what happens. All right. Well, I got two final ones for you. This has been awesome, by the way. This has been a great great conversation. Um but for you who didn't grow up in Indiana, um several different places now that you kind of I would say are a hooer um by transplant.
Okay. I think I am. But what do you think makes sports special in Indiana? I tell people all the time, Indiana, it's so funny. Let let me back up for for a second. When I came here, I didn't know much about Indiana, right?
And when you get outside of Indiana and go to places like Texas or the West Coast, whatever. People think of Indiana as this place of where they don't understand it, right? And I always tell people Indianapolis is the 12th largest city in the country. People forget about that. Yeah. you know, here we are two and a half hours away from Chicago and multiple hours from Tennessee and Nashville, etc.
Louisville, Cincinnati. So, we are uniquely positioned uh around all these places that are a little bit more well known for for certain things, but Indianapolis, in my opinion, is one of the great sports cities in our country. We just had the Olympic trials here for swimming. We have the Indie 5 uh Indianapolis 500 here, uh which is, I believe, still the largest single day uh sporting event when it comes to attendance, right? 400,000 people. We just had the Pacers in the final uh or the finals of the NBA last year.
Uh not this season, but the the prior season to that. Uh we had the NBA All-Star game here. I mean, I could go on. We have the Indiana Fever, right, with Caitlyn Clark. Seriously. I mean, it's we could go on and on and on, right?
And then you have final four. Final four. Indiana just won the football national championship not that long ago. Not Notre Dame was in the national championship. And people forget oftentimes when when people are not in Indiana, they think of Notre Dame being in like a an East Coast town or city. They do.
They really do. They really do. So, but so you look at all this stuff stacked and you realize that Indiana is an incredible sports, not only Indianapolis city, but Indiana is a state, right? And uh when we think about even the Hooers as a basketball powerhouse, right? I mean, Bobby Knight and all the things. We just celebrated the 50th anniversary of that undefeated team, right, this year in the Final Four.
We actually highlighted them, you know, during one of those events. Very cool. So, I mean, we could go on and on and on here. And to realize how much of Indiana is in the uh consciousness and subconsciousness of sports fans, it's pretty wild. Yeah, that that is a very good answer. I have uh uh one thing that I have to say before we end the show.
Okay. Okay. Well, I want you to ask him his hidden jump. I will ask him his hidden gem. But guys, I would be remissed if I did not talk about this cuz we did skip over it in the uh at the bottom of our our thing. We have to talk about the Luke Ellerman kid.
Okay. Have you seen this? No, I haven't. D3 kid going from Waw Bash. The kid that's going from Waw Bash to Evansville after so freshman year at Waw Bash, uh he averaged 16. 6 uh points and he shot 40% from free from the three.
He's going to Evansville as a sophomore. And I just want to plant the seed. Who is the guy from Huntington that went to Evansville that then played for Illinois? House. Hummer house. Ben Hummer.
From Typton, went to Huntington, then down to Evansville, then made it to Illinois, then got into a final four and played minutes. This Luke guy, Luke Ellerman, I bet uh I bet Dunk knows who he is. Uh Luke Ellermanman transfers from Wawash to Evansville, which is D1. He is from Memorial High School down in Evansville. What? 16.
6 points, shooting 40% from the three. I think after a season or two in Evansville, we might see this guy on a bigger roster. I'm calling it here in what is it? June of 2026. You heard it here. Can you going from D3 to D1?
Well, so let's let's that's an important point. I actually had that written down as one of the most impressive stories from today. It's one of my favorite stories. Everyone talks about major transfers and all the NAL talks, but we forget about these guys, right? I mean, what an incredible story to be essentially not recruited, right? And to go to a D3 school.
Hey, there's still there's a lot of honor in playing D3 sports. Absolutely. Absolutely. No shade to that. But when you think about making that jump, what it shows you that though is that and this is why people should love this story and and this is why we love sports is that you I had this great uh my high school coach used to say this, if you're good enough, they will find you. Yes.
And that's exactly what's happening here. And I think that although there are negatives with NAL in the in the transfer portal, this is one of the positives. Yeah. Where you can sit back and say, hey, now it opens up the opportunity for anybody to have an opportunity. If you are good enough and you felt because what happens when you go to D3 schools or NI NI schools, what happens is that what you find out is that a lot of those guys are very good players. They're just an inch or two shorter than the guys who at the D1 level.
Exactly. And then you find the same thing. By the way, when you go to the incident blade tournament, why all of a sudden people ask themselves this, oh my god, why are these Cinderellas doing what they're doing? It's because they're just as good as the the big guys. It's just that they're undersized. They have the same skill set.
Sometimes they jump as high or higher. They're just a few inches smaller and they weren't therefore recruited to some of these bigger schools, but they're just as skilled. And there you go, dude. I love that. If you're good enough, they will find you. Too many people are worried about getting found before they get good or they develop late.
And they develop that can happen. Blake Bloomer, man, that think about you know what? You know what my favorite story about that is? Is Scotty Pippen. Scottie Pippen. Yes.
Think about where he played and he did not play at a major school and that he became one of the greatest players ever in the in NBA history. My favorite recent one is Bennett Stirts over at Iowa. I was going to I thought that's who you were talking about, too. Uh I don't think he was D3, but watching him with Ben McCullum just tear up D2 and then come and now he was he's a top five draft prospect. Top five, seven, 10, something like that. Like just really impressive stuff.
It is impressive and and that's what gives me those are the positives that I that I hope we focus on, you know, moving forward is is how that can give an opportunity and a platform to players who otherwise would not have one. Exactly. I do think stuff like that makes me feel like the intent was good behind a lot of what's going on in college, but there's just people who make you warp it and make it not great. Well, whenever you involve that kind of money, inevitably, guess what's going to happen? I mean, look at Texas Tech. But anyway, um, okay, Matt, last thing for me and then I'll let Spangle take us home.
But what would you give or what would you do for Purdue to win a championship? What would I give? What would you do? I mean, what how much does that mean to you, I guess? Oo, good question. I think that Well, what does it do for me personally or or like what would you like like you know the classic story like oh man I'd cut off my pinky toe like like what would you do for a Purdue national championship?
Yeah. Oh, see I I look at it differently for me they've accomplished so much that I I salt of the earth guy. Yeah, that's true. We love it. We love it. No, but I I think at the end of the day we're not talking about a program that isn't already accomplishing great things.
Uh, so for me, I I I actually would answer it this way. I I think I would give quite a lot to see them actually be successful this year for Coach Painter's sake to show that this program is successful even without those guys who are who have been leading the helm because that to me would prove out a lot of what's wrong with college basketball and that it's it's bigger than any one of them that that can work that that can work still. That to me is the bigger story is what can he do with this group that's coming in right now and and and uh coming in after these guys who have left who have been the staple for the last, you know, not only four but five years. To me, that's the bigger story. Uh but yeah, I would give a lot to see that happen. All right, I love it.
We'll take it home with the final question. Uh this is your opportunity to shed some light on a part of the state that more people need to be talking about. What is a hidden gem in Indiana? Oo, that's a really good question. That's his question. It always gets him.
It always gets him. It always gets him. You know, I spent a lot of time in Cooko. Oh, and um I think that there's a lot of interesting things happening up there. Uh we used to have the car plants that uh unfortunately have kind of eb and flowed uh over the years, but there's a lot of interesting things happening up there with the EV plants that are being built. Oh, yeah.
Billions of dollars are being invested into that area. They're revamping that downtown. Uh we just we were talking about one of the guys we didn't highlight him here today, but you know there's a guy from Cooko who uh you know is now going to be playing at Louisville after transferring uh Flory. Yeah. So there they they're there there's some sports history there and there's a lot of things happening where I think they're going to be kind of the next up and cominging. We talk a lot about Lebanon right now, what's happening with the Leap District up there, but I think Cookamo is is someone that we should be talking about.
I've I've heard that. K Town. Yeah. Shout out Blaine Brutus. Yes, man. Th this has been awesome.
Seriously, really appreciate your insight just on all things basketball. And we should do it again. We should I want to get more into growing up in Latin America, actually. I mean, we got to get into this this big dating show. Well, yeah, that show. Well, just wait.
We'll uh we're going to do like a live react if they ever uh if they ever air the episode. Well, the the the rumor is that it will, but uh yeah, so looking forward to that. But yeah, in the meantime, would love to come back, talk all things sports and continue to talk basketball. That's awesome. Matt, Carol, really appreciate your time. Go Boilers.
We'll see if season 22 22 is released of this stating show. We don't What's it called? We don't know. Awesome. Back to you at the weather. Nate Spangle, Matt Carroll, Dominic Miranda.
This is Get In Sports. We'll be right back. Hey, let's look ahead to the 2026 IHSAA baseball state finals going on this weekend at Victory Field. The Vic, one of the best hosts. I said it off the top. Indiana does state championships.
So incred incredibly well. Victory Field, an awesome host for the baseball state finals. We got some great matchups in all four classes. Shane Ryder joining us with a preview. Shane, let's talk about these matchups. And I want to start in class 3A because Andrean, one of the big time baseball powerhouses in the state.
Yeah, they uh they basically have like part-time ownership, I think, of Victory Field or or part-time real estate. Uh they are making their state record 12th appearance since 2004 at the Vic. Wow. So I think that's a tw you take out co year it's like 22 seasons and they've been there 12 times. So over half the time they're there in the 3A final just ready to to usually take out whoever their opponent is. They've won nine of those previous 11 times uh making it downtown.
So they're no stranger. They are 30 and3 this season. couple of top 10 wins in the postseason, knocked out uh number 10 New Prairie, number five to Calb. Um and they've just got a resume that not really any other program in the state can match. Maybe one in class 1A that we'll get to later on that actually didn't make it this year. They got knocked out in semi-state, but really there's only one other school that has been downtown, been in this moment fighting for a trophy to cap a school year uh and send some seniors off.
happy. That is impressive. Andre and growing up it was always Andre and this, Andre and that. They have a very proud tradition. Should be very very impressed particularly post 2000 it looks like. Um so very recent in the last two decades.
So great stuff out of the region. Garen Catholic making its first trip to the baseball state finals. So some indie flavor. Garren Catholic having a great sports year too. Won the boys soccer state championship. But does do they have a chance here?
I I would give them a fighting chance. And I'll tell you why. They've got a pitcher going to Alabama, Tate Traxel, through a shut out, nine strikeouts in the semi-state semis against number 12 Providence. He's going to Bama. They've also got three other D1 commits in their lineup. You go top down, Ian Taylor's going to George Mason.
He's got nine homers in OBP close to 600. Carson Kale heading to Dayton. He's a catcher. He's batting . 432 to lead the team. and Ben Canada going Big 10 baseball Northwestern.
He's got a team high 37 hits. So, they have the the star power that if anyone was going to take out a juggernaut or a a dynasty like team or program like Andrean, I think this guarant team, the Golden Eagles, they got a chance. Wow, that is supremely impressive. Tate Troxel, look, if you're going to SEC baseball country, the real deal out of Indiana. Bama Bama's in the College World Series. They just got bounced, but hey.
Hey, matter. Yes, that is awesome. Awesome stuff. Well, good luck to both Andrean and Garren Catholic. Let's dip down to class 1A. Shane mentioned it just a little bit.
We got Couts in Northeast Dubo. The Jeeps. Is that their name or is that one of Nate? That's one of Nate's favorite mascots. The Jeep. The Jeeps.
I love it. He'd have the full history of it for sure. I'm sure he would. All right. But it looks like Couts is 31 and one. What do you make of this matchup?
They uh they are making a repeat appearance in the 1A final. They finished runner up last year to Indianapolis Lutheran. Lost 13 to1. Then actually started this season their only loss. They started 0 and1. They lost to Garen Catholic who we just we just talked about.
Yeah. So you've got the 3A finalist Garen Catholic handing a 1A finalist and state runner up from 2025 to the Couts Mustangs. Their only loss of the season. So you start a season with a loss, you're 31-1. What's that add up to? 31 straight wins.
That is correct. They're hot to say the least. They're rolling. And uh this this postseason uh they've really just carried over the momentum of what would that have been? 25 straight wins to cap the regular season. In six games, they've outscored opponents 60-6.
So, they're not just winning, they are bludgeoning teams. Uh a couple of top 10 wins in the playoffs over Morgan Township, they were number seven, number 10 Rosville as well. And they've actually got a sophomore sensation that does a little bit of everything. Billy Miller is his name. Billy Miller. He leads the team in basically every offensive category.
And he's a heck of a pitcher, too. A 0. 42 ERA. Three earned runs in 49 and two/3 innings pitched and 83 strikeouts. So, Billy Miller can hit, he can run, and he can pitch. That is uh I'm curious to see how they'll they'll use him.
He's he's their weapon. And this is typically, you know, the case in class 1A. A lot of times in the small schools, if you've got an athlete or two that is just a stud and would be probably a star player on one of the larger class teams, uh, if you plug them into a 1A lineup or a 1A roster, you can ride their coattails all the way to the finish line. Paging Jack Kaiser, right? Uh, that's awesome. Billy Miller, that's a good Indiana name.
great baseball name also just like oh I remember old Billy Miller back in 2026 uh that's awesome but hey Northeast to boy the Jeeps also just like Garen Catholic making their first trip to the baseball state finals I love stories like this kind of David and Goliath almost but they're here for a reason seems like they got a fighter chance as well here in the class 1A state finals they do they're trying to bring home not just a baseball state title but the first state state title in school history. So, they have a a lot on their shoulders going into that game on Friday night, but they are 23 and five. They've knocked out three uh top 15 teams, Shakamac and regionals, and then in uh semi-state, both Greenwood Christian Academy and Hower, number 13 and 11 programs in class 1A. They've got a guy, you got Billy Miller on one side, Sam Beck. Sam Beck. Sam Beck is the name to watch.
He's a junior hitting 470s, seven bombs. Uh, so that's what Northeast Northeast Boy is riding. One out of every two times he gets a hit at the plate essentially. That's not bad. That's just not bad. That that's going to do well.
All right. Couts in Northeast Deoid Jeeps. All right. The 3A state championship 4:30 on Friday. 1A state championship 8:00 p. m.
on Friday. I'd love to play under the lights as a high schooler. And that's that's what Victory Field uh when I was there. That's what we talked about most when we were hosting like we got the IHSA crew in the press box and the radio in one booth and TV in another and all you talk about is like not every one of these guys is going on to play college ball or not everyone is going to go on to the minors or the big leagues and so this is their major league moment. They get to play on aa baseball field in the heart of downtown Indie with the skyline behind it. The lights are on.
You are the star. uh in communities rally. It's so fun uh to see Victory Field pack out whether it's a historic program like Andrean and they're traveling down 65 every other year or you've got uh like legacy schools like Jasper Scott Roland playing there back in the early 90s uh Mr. Baseball and going on to a Hall of Fame career. So you have just these these schools that live and die by the success of their athletics and baseball carries a lot of these schools that are here and then the first timers too. That's fun.
It's like man we've never been here before. What's this all about? And they get to come down and see Victory Field. just like you said. I mean, Indiana just does it so well and they put the the high school athletes first, student athletes first and it's uh it's a credit to the IHSAA and and they do s I mean you've been to state championships like it's so wellrun also. It just it impresses me every time at the football state championships, basketball state championships, baseball, softball, swimming, whatever.
It's so impressive. So kudos tip of the cappa. Let's talk 2A state championship. Evansville Modern Day versus Bluffton. I mean, look, when you're talking Southern Indiana, Evansville, man, they got a proud tradition of sports down there. And I know every time they're going up against indie schools or anyone like that or just representing Evansville, it's a big deal.
All right, so Evansville Modern Day number one here in class 2A. What do we think about this, Shane? This is one of those David verse Goliath matchups. Modern Day is 29 and3. They're making a second straight trip to the 2A final. Finished as runner up last year.
They've been there six times previously. They've only won once. Way back in 1999, they beat Gym Town in class 2AI. But this year's team is looking to join that championship team uh from what's that 27 years ago. Uh they've won 16 straight games in semi-state. They took out number nine University in the semis, then outlasted number 11 Sullivan in a thriller.
They needed nine innings to complete that one, but the Wildcats won 52. And now they come and meet Bluffton. And I go to Bluffton here. This is of all eight participants through all four games. Um, they are in a true Cinderella run. Okay.
And that's what's fun is that whatever you do in the postseason, everyone gets into the bracket. It's just like everyone's in. It's not like you got to finish in the top four in your conference or district or whatever it is. It's just like, hey, you're in and it's a clean slate. Forget what happened in the regular season. Well, they started the season six and six.
They dropped their last three games in the regular season. So, they roll in with, I would just say, about zero momentum. I mean, their tails between their legs wondering what's going on. And now the Tigers have won well, five straight in the playoffs, three by shutout. Uh they beat 1A power Lafayette Central Catholic. When we talked about Andrean earlier, yeah, nine state titles, the only other school that can say they have that amount in Indiana history is Lafayette Central Catholic.
They beat him at semi-state. Okay. So, that's a monumental win. And then, uh, they've got a couple of guys, Griffin Morgan, and Junior Axton. Axton best, I'm going to say. Uh, they've got a combined 18 home runs.
So, they've got a a powerful lineup. Bluffton is up just south of Fort Wayne. Uh, so you've got a little Evansville, Fort Wayne. uh rivalry, I guess, if you want to call it that. Meeting in the middle. Yeah.
In Indianapolis. It's going to be a lot of fun. Okay. I love this. David and Goliath, Evansville, Modern Day, Bluffton. I I got a soft spot for Bluffton right now after hearing that.
That is some good stuff. All right. And then the biggest class in the state of Indiana, 8:00 p. m. under the light Saturday, Bloomington South versus Lake Central. We got Southern Indiana and Bloomington against the region.
That's good stuff right there. All right. Bloomington South third state finals appearance. First since 1972. It's been a minute. Okay.
72 and 1969 was the other one. The Panthers. The Panthers. Can they get it done, Shane? I believe they can. Uh this is not like we've got uh two of the top, let's just say top four or six teams.
Bloomington South is ranked number 10. Lake Central comes in unranked. The last poll in late May, they weren't in the top 15 in class 4A, which is a pretty incredible run for them as well. Um 4A is tough. 4A is tough. It's deep.
Uh there's a lot of talent, a lot of kids that are going on to play it D1, D2. And uh if a pitcher has an off night or if a guy going maybe D2 just shows up one night, shuts a lineup down, you can win one- nothing. And uh Bloom Bloomington South did just that. I'll get to this in a moment, but they're 25 and six. They've won nine straight in the the 10 victory came in the semi-state final. They knocked out number three Evansville North.
Crazy thing about this, they didn't have a hit. They didn't have a hit. They got no hit and they won one to nothing. They got no hit. How did they score their run? They got they got their only run.
First two guys in the fourth inning retired. They were facing a pitcher that's heading to IU. So it wasn't like they were facing a slouch, right? And uh so they got a two-out walk and then a ground ball to third, thrown wildly past first, and a pinch runner scored all the way from first. No. Yeah.
play at the plate, beat the throw to the plate, and two pitchers, Xavier Hemingway, a senior, and fellow senior Tyler Morris, a four out save to win it one- nothing. So, that's like I love baseball. I just I love baseball so much, Shane. This is so awesome. All right, Lake Central making their third trip to the 4A state title. Uh, pretty successful here recently.
Um, just won two years ago and then in 2012 as well. Two state championships in the last oh 15 years, we'll call it. Um, let's see what they can do. Again, 4A tough. I imagine this might be a lowcoring affair. Yeah, I would think so.
The Indians are 27 and eight. Cool thing about this is that just this past weekend, Lake Central softball Tacoma title. So, you could just double down on the diamond. Let's bring home a couple of trophies to finish the school year. Uh, that'd be a lot of fun for them. Their road to victory field, they had some serious uh mention that they were unranked.
They had to earn their way here. I mean, it wasn't like they just had a a cakewalk to the finals. They beat number five monster in Crown Point in sectionals. Yeah. So, two top five teams and then number 15 Gan in regionals and number seven Penn at semi-state. Four top 15 wins.
It's like, hey, you you want to show up, you want to go to victory field. Well, take out boom boom boom boom all the way through the postseason. when you're talking 4A in northern Indiana especially I mean you are talking monster crown point and then you know Penn and Penn is like a reg I mean they come they make it to the finals frequently in the biggest class to say nothing of the uh Fort Wayne schools as well. So just really impressive stuff out of both these teams. So we'll see what happens. Here's the rundown.
Shane, great work on this preview. This is awesome. Um but who's going to do it? You know, Andrean, we got the powerhouse. the dynasty win a fourth back-to-back title and record 10 10 Gino Ariana status championships or can Garrett Catholic win their first ever state championship? Can Northeast Dubo win their first ever state championship or does Couts have a 30 plus win streak to get it done?
Bluffton Cinderella Story against Evansville Modern Day and then Bloomington South and Lake Central. Bloomington South probably will never forget that semi-state game. But you know what would help me forget that semi-state game is winning a state championship. I'd forget about that pretty quick. Really awesome stuff, Shane. Thank you so much.
But uh if there's one game you want to attend, yes, it's the the one that leads off on Friday. You think so? Number one verse number two. That is if you've got like the the dynasty of Andrean and the 59ers like, "Hey, we've been here. We win pretty much every time we show up." Oh, you've got to face Alabama commit Tate Traxxel three other D1 guys in the lineup.
You have the dynasty. Okay. But team has like four D1 players and your starting pitchers going to Bama. It's going to be a heck of a match. That's awesome. All right.
Well, on that note, Shane, I think we have some IHSA baseball state finals trivia to to take us home here for this podcast episode. Am I correct on that? You are. I have no notes. I have not looked at this. Okay.
I really haven't. So, I'm But I have a good hints after this preview. Yes, you should be able to pull a few schools, I think, after the preview. All right, let's hear it. And here's what I've got for you. We're going to see if you can name the nine schools that have won at least three baseball state championships since 2000.
Nine schools have won three or more state championships post 2000. Yep. Who are they? So, we have 26 years, nine schools. All right. We can do this.
Well, in our in our talk and just like growing up, there's two schools growing up in the state of Indiana understanding baseball that are baseball powerhouses. So, I have a feeling I could get two off the bat. We're going to go Andrean. Boom. And Jasper. Boom.
Oh, you got Okay. Andrean has nine. Okay. Jasper has three. Okay. They won it in 2003A, 3A title in 2006, and then 2021 in class 4A over Fisers, home of Scott Rolling.
Okay, you have to include Jasper. All right, so there's two uh with per our preview, we're going to go to Lafayette, Lafayette Central Catholic. You got it. They're the other school with nine. Yes, that's correct. We did just talk about that.
So that's called memory, folks. Okay, there's three. There's three. Um Okay. Also growing up in northern Indiana, I have a fair amount of confidence since I was born in 1997. So most my life has been post 2000.
I'm going to go with the Penn Kingsman. Got it. They've got four. 2001, 15, 22, and 23 backto-back titles in 4A. Okay, we're cooking with gas right now. Four out of nine.
Am I right on that? Yes. So you've got another one with four titles. And then the other four schools you need to get all have three. So you've knocked out the heavyweights. Heavyweights.
Okay. Good. Well, okay. Uh, all right. I'm going to go I'm going to Fort Wayne feels like not a bad area to guess. There's a Fort Wayne school.
Yes, there is just one. Do you know there's just one Fort Wayne school? Are there multiple Fort Wayne schools? Cuz I'll roll through them right now. I'm just going to roll through them. I'm going to go with small school.
Oh, small school. Small school. Private. Not lures. No. How about Fort Wayne Snider?
Mm-m. That's not a small. No, that's big. That's a That's a large. Oh. Oh.
Oh. Oh. How about the Fighting Caleb firsts? How about Blackhawk Christian? Bang. Yeah.
All right. 2002, 2005, and 2006 in class one. I don't think he played uh baseball, but that's okay. Um, is that the only Fort Wayne school that at least has Fort Wayne in the name? Yes. I was going to go Carol.
Mm-m. No, Carol. No, no, Carol. No, I don't believe any other Okay. Okay. Okay.
Okay. Back to the drawing board here. We got five of nine. You've got um Well, let's let's go close to home here. Let's go close to home here. Yeah.
I'm just going to off the top of my head athletic prowess. How about uh Cathedral? Very good. Really? Yes. 2001.
2007 and 2017. Okay. One in 3A and two in class 4A. Okay. Wow. Wow.
You're doing very good. You have three left. Okay. Three left. Any or let's go area to stay. Is there more Indianapolis here or no more Indianapolis?
No more Indianapolis. Okay. Three left. You've got one or actually two of them exclusively in class 2A. Okay. And then one exclusively in class 3A.
Okay. What areas of the state? Help me out. I knew you were going to ask me that. Uh, let's see. Do I know these high schools?
Are they Are they known? One one just won it two years ago and actually had been, I would say, a state finalist a couple other times. Also won it in 2021 in class 2A. Okay. Uh, let me 2A 3A. Southern Indiana.
Uh, this is a this is a college in the Big East. Providence. Yeah, Providence. Oh, I knew that. Come on, Dom. Okay, that was a great Oh, I like that.
That was Okay, thank you. See, I I Okay. All right. You That was a great hint. Is it uh Just cuz I'm looking at a map here. Is it South Spencer High School?
Yes, it is. Oh, no way. What? South. I would not have this is okay these last three these are niche man these are this is good I'm curious to know you'd really have to do some research but like the coaching all these head coaches at these southern Indiana schools yeah they always have multiple representatives coming downtown like it's not just like the metro dominates right and it's a bunch of indie schools like southern Indiana in baseball like for whatever reason and they produce at Don Mattingley, Scott Roland, we mentioned him earlier. Like there's big league stars that come out of Southern Indiana.
And so you've got Modern Day as a finalist this year. South Spencer with some history. Totally agree, man. It's impressive. So I just wonder if Yeah. if there's like alumni from those programs that they stay in Southern Indiana and then they start coaching somewhere and they just turn insert small school into a power, right?
Uh very impressive. All right. One more to go. One more. The biggest Cinderella. So, by Bluffton.
Yep. The school name is um it's not the like the town or the community that it's Is it in Yodor, Indiana? They had This is where Jared Parker, you know that name, pitcher? Yeah. Big leager. Yeah.
This where he played. He was on the 2007 team. And actually I remember when I was down at Victory Field with the Indians and a player had come through that played Norwell in the state championship in '07 and he's like Norwell. Yeah. Oh you said Norwell. Oh he's like he's like we had to play Norwell.
Josh Van Meter went there as well. That's who it played him. Oh my word that is embarrassing. I knew Van Meter played for the Indians. I forget. I want to say it was I want to say it was Hunter Owen.
I wonder I'm going to look at that something. Yes. Well, I'm going to look at who they played in the 2007 final, dude. Uh I knew that. That's so funny. I want to say it was Modern Day.
It was but it was Modern Day. Yeah. So it was Hunter Owen. Yes. Played at Modern Day. Was on the Indians team for like four seasons, something like that.
Okay. And we had talked about whether it was Modern Day and made a repeat appearance downtown and he's like wishing them luck or whatever it was. And I'm like, "Did you play in the state finals?" He's like, "Yeah, we had to face Jared Parker." He was throwing like 97. Yeah.
From the left side. Like he had a he had a decent big league career. You're not hitting that. No. Norwell, South Spencer, Providence, Andrean, Penn, Fort Wayne, Blackhawk, Christian, Jasper. Two more.
Why is my recall failing me at this moment now? Uh, one indie school, Lafayette, Central, Catholic, and Cathedral. There you go. Those are your nine state champions who've won three or more post 2000. That was excellent. Really enjoyed that.
Shane Ryder, everybody, thank you so much, sir. Thank you for listening, watching, however you're tuning in. We appreciate you. Get in Sports is off and running this summer. Subscribe on YouTube. Follow us on Instagram.
Follow us on Facebook. Do Miranda TV on Tik Tok and Twitter. There's a lot of ways to get and we're growing. We're growing fast everybody. Get on rocket ship or get off the tracks. All right.
All right. We'll see you next time. I can only imagine how much Braden Smith turned down in NIL. There are rumors of multiple millions. Why are Braden Smith and TKR working out for the Pacers? You have people in comments saying, "Oh, they should fire Matt P."
But what are you hoping for? Let's look ahead to the 2026 IHSAA baseball state finals. 31-1. What's that add up to? 31 straight wins. They're hot.
They got no hit and they won one to nothing. Not everyone is going to go on to the big leagues. So, this is their major league moment. Why are Braden Smith and TKR working out for the Pacers?
