It goes all the way back to April. Headlines throughout northern Indiana and Michigan read, “Fife Leaves IPFW” and “Dane Fife to Michigan State.” It’s taken a little time, but now headlines are beginning to include “Tony Jasick” and “Big Move.”
Walking around campus, a student passes Gates Sports Center and out walks assistant coach Dan Bere and a very sizeable athlete someone who makes eyes as wide as dollar coins and hair stand tall imagining him fee-fi-fo-fuming his way down the hardwood.
Speaking of giants, Trey McCorkle got taller. Nobody is quite sure how it happened, but it did. McCorkle has inched higher yet again, as if he couldn’t dunk easy enough already.
The Dons are bigger. They didn’t lose any size. What they did lose, though, is very important.
IPFW graduated two very important front-court men in Ben Botts and Zack Plackemeier. Coming in are two very good and very young ball handlers. Frank Gaines and Justin Jordan will be seen in the guard positions this season, both with little but valuable experience. Also, Gaines can fly.
Like the past few years, IPFW has multiple games that catch the basketball fan’s eye.
First, the exhibition game on Nov. 7. Trine University comes to the coliseum. On paper it doesn’t seem to make much noise, but these two school just an hour apart will make for fun entertainment in the first ever meeting.
Next, the second game of the regular season, Nov. 15 at Xavier. Last season, the Dons took Xavier into overtime before falling 10 points short. With faster guards this season, IPFW is looking to compete even better with Xavier.
Eleven days later, they’ll travel to Iowa City for their first ever game with the Big Ten’s Iowa. This game is very winnable.
Of course, five days before Christmas is the big battle against national powerhouse Purdue University in Mackey Arena, West Lafayette. This tough match-up is worth the trip.
Then, of course, you can’t miss the home-away series against IUPUI, one of IPFW’s biggest rivals.
