It took 41 years, but the Hoosier Classic is back. Only it’s now called the Crossroads Classic. Whatever.
The important thing is Indiana’s hoops powers - Butler, Indiana, Notre Dame and Purdue - will play each other. It’s Purdue vs. Butler and Notre Dame vs. Indiana in 2011, and Indiana vs. Butler and Purdue vs. Notre Dame in 2012. All the games will be at Canseco Fieldhouse.
As appealing as those matchups are to fans, it took quite a bit of wrangling to make it all happen. And for that, we have Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke to thank.
“Morgan deserves the credit,” Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick told the AP. “He provided the leadership for it, reached out to all of us and helped develop the idea.”
Well, update the idea. The original event was played at Butler Fieldhouse (now Hinkle) in 1948 and was held seven more times until 1959. Then everyone just scheduled each other when they could. For the updated version, each school will have equal ticket allotments. Revenues and expenses will be shared.
“Morgan and I talked about the importance as public universities to provide the public what it wants,” Indiana’s Fred Glass told the AP. “To have four programs like this in one state, I think, is unparalleled. I can’t think of another state in the union that has four programs of this quality.”
Hmmm. That sounds like a challenge to the state of North Carolina.
Mike Miller’s also on Twitter @BeyndArcMMiller, usually talkin’ hoops. Click here for more.