Basketball is back…and so is swimming!

And we’re back! (Later than I planned!)

Okay, so my break went a little longer than I had originally said. I originally put the wrong date in my last article about when I was going to return and then some things happened last week that made me put this on the back burner. But now I am here to stay! (Until all of our teams go on Christmas break)

I hate picking games this early in the season for any teams, but it must be done so I will do my best. It just won’t be that in depth for a week or two.

Before that let me rant about IU basketball. The Hoosiers lost at home to Eastern Washington Monday night. Eastern Washington. I don’t even know where to begin with the issues of that loss. I can say, however, that Tom Crean might want to update his resume because this team has regressed over the past year.

Overreaction? Probably. But that’s what being a fan is all about, overreacting! So, I just thought I would pass along my head coach wish list to IU AD Fred Glass. In no particular order, here we go:

• Dane Fife. IU grad. Current Michigan State assistant.
• Brad Stevens. Former Butler head coach. Current Boston Celtics head coach.
• Steve Alford. IU grad. Current UCLA head coach. Don’t really want him, but how can he not be on the list?
• Brad Stevens. Good looking guy. Has a house on Wawasee.
• Gregg Marshall. Current Wichita St. head coach. Hot name for any major coaching position.
• Brad Stevens. Grew up an IU fan. Has two first names.
• Pat Knight. HA! Can you imagine? Whew, that would be a story.
• Brad Stevens. Boston isn’t that great of a town anyway.
• Jim Hayford. Current Eastern Washington head coach. He wins at Assembly Hall.
• Brad Stevens. Brad Stevens. Brad Stevens.

Last Week: 6-2
Overall: 59-33

High School Girls Basketball 11/28

Warsaw (1-3) at Whitko (2-2), 7:45 p.m.
The Scoop: Most of our other girls teams are playing in tournaments this weekend, best of luck to those squads.
It’s a birthday showdown! I turn 24 on Friday and these two teams decided to play in my honor!
*assistant walks into my office, mumbles in my ear*
I’ve just been informed that this game was scheduled without my birthday in mind. That’s disappointing. Moving on.
It has been a rough start to the season for Warsaw. The Tigers lost a heart breaker to Tippecanoe Valley and have only cracked the 40-point threshold once in four games. Whitko is averaging nearly 50 points per game and has a nice, budding program under coach Brandon Bradley.
It’s early in the season so, like I said, I hate making picks right now. That being said, Whitko looks like the better team at this point and home court can’t hurt.
The Pick: Whitko 61, Warsaw 49.

High School Boys Basketball 11/25-11/26

Caston at Lakeland Christian, 7 p.m., 11/25
The Scoop: Caston rolled LCA 69-31 last year. Those kind of scores come with the territory of being a young IHSAA program. LCA is going to have another rough season, but things are looking up for first-year head coach Chris Hohm’s team. There are some talented young players, but they are a little too young right now. LCA needs to use this first game to figure out who its go-to scorers will be.
Some wins will come this season, but not tonight.
The Pick: Caston 64, LCA 42.

Fairfield at Wawasee, 7:30 p.m., 11/25
The Scoop: The Falcons gave Wawasee a 78-57 smacking to start the season last year in Goshen. This year’s Wawasee squad is much better and is in a much better spot now than it was at the start of last season. But, Fairfield is a very good team. If I had a preseason pick to win the Class 3A Sectional 21, it would be the Falcons.
This game could go either way. Wawasee usually has a great home crowd, so that will help. I have zero concerns about Wawasee’s defense, but I need to see what Wawasee can do offensively before picking the Warriors in a game against a talented team like Fairfield.
The Pick: Fairfield 62, Wawasee 50.

Tippecanoe Valley at Warsaw, 7:45 p.m., 11/26
The Scoop: These two rivals played a fantastic game last season that came down to the wire. Valley won on a last second shot and I guarantee every player on Warsaw remembers that game.
Valley lost a lot of talent last year, including a player that moved away. Warsaw lost some pieces, but still returns a lot. Who knows how a season opener will go against a rival team, but I’m taking the Tigers.
The Pick: Warsaw 69, Tippecanoe Valley 57.

Whitko at Columbia City, 7:45 p.m., 11/26
The Scoop: Whitko went 1-20 last season. But its best player, Nate Walpole is back, so there is a scoring option for the Wildcats. New head coach Roger Fleetwood brings in a lot of coaching success with him, but will it take in game one? Probably not. But, this should be a better Wildcat team than what we saw last season.
The Pick: Columbia City 58, Whitko 42.

Triton at Oregon-Davis, 8 p.m., 11/26
The Scoop: Never been a big fan of Northridge fans, but O-D fans are the worst of the worst. Even worse than insufferable IU basketball fans, insufferable Notre Dame football fans and insufferable Purdue sports fans.
Triton had no problems with O-D last season, I honestly expect no difference this season. Jason Groves will have his team ready for this game. 1-0.
The Pick: Triton 71, Oregon-Davis 58.

Swimming and Diving…Heck yeah! 11/29

Girls: Warsaw at Wawasee, 9:15 a.m.*
The Scoop: Why not throw some love to our swimmers and divers?
Wawasee boasts one of the best teams north of Indianapolis. When I say “Indianapolis” I really mean “Carmel.”
The Lady Warriors are led by swimming stud Breanna Robinson. A great supporting cast gives Wawasee its muscle and this meet will just not be close.
Warsaw has a stud of its own in sophomore Brenna Morgan. Robinson and Morgan are reason alone to be at the Wawasee Middle School pool on Saturday.
The Pick: Wawasee over Warsaw. (No, not going to do swimming scores.)

Boys: Warsaw at Wawasee, 9:15 a.m.*
The Scoop: Basically this is the exact opposite for the boys meet.
Warsaw is led by studs Jayden Parrett and Spencer Davidson. They will rule the pool in whatever they choose.
Wawasee will be led by Logan Brugh, but lack the supporting pieces to compete with Warsaw. These meets are always fun and worth heading out for.
The Pick: Warsaw over Wawasee.

*Diving starts at 9:15 a.m.