Frontline workers grateful for spotlight at Final Four concert
About 2,000 health care, public safety and hospitality workers were on the floor or seated nearby for Miley Cyrus’ musical tribute on Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Rebound
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John Feinstein: Indianapolis has long history with Final Four, but this chapter is one to forget
This is the 41st time I have attended the Final Four. I have never seen anything like this version. And I hope never to see anything like it again.
Bearing down: Baylor routs Houston 78-59 to reach title game
Led by Jared Butler and the rest of their brilliant backcourt, a defense that refused to give Houston an inch, and a coach intent on making the most of his first trip to the Final Four, the Bears roared to a 78-59 victory Saturday night in their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament semifinals in 71 long years.
NCAA fan’s death prompts contact-tracing investigation in Indiana
Health officials said Saturday they are investigating whether anyone was exposed to COVID-19 by Alabama residents following Friday night’s death of a fan who had been in Indianapolis for March Madness.
Diaper dandy: After stay in NICU, infant will make debut among Final Four cutouts
After a surprise delivery five weeks early in December, feisty 3-month-old Molly Skolnick of Carmel will be represented at the Final Four by a seat-filling cutout as part of an April Fools ruse concocted by her parents.
Final Four ticket prices setting records due to limited capacity
Fortune magazine reported that ticket prices are 145% higher than any other Final Four in history. Brokers say the prices would be even higher if a Midwestern team was in the final rounds.
Volunteers key to city’s March Madness efforts
Volunteers are coordinating bus transportation for teams, running to the store for toothpaste for players, sanitizing practice courts, doing laundry for the teams, beautifying the city with new trees, picking up trash, setting up seating pods in the venues and assisting out-of-town media and other guests with just about anything they may need.
5 Indiana connections to this weekend’s Final Four (other than location)
Indiana teams were noticeably absent from the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this year—only Purdue even made the field of 68 teams. But there are still some Indiana-related reasons to watch the Final Four. Here are five of them.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson gets emotional talking about his father
John W. “Ned” Sampson, the longtime coach of Pembroke High School in North Carolina, once went toe-to-toe with members of the Ku Klux Klan.
NCAA has not tested for drugs at championships, sources say
Although athletes may have been tested on campus, the NCAA has not ramped up its usual testing program at national championships such as March Madness, sources tell AP.
March Madness teams get concierge help to survive bubble life
The NCAA and local organizing groups set up expanded ambassador and item-delivery services relying on volunteer help to take care of needs for players, officials and others working inside.
Health department cites two downtown bars for COVID-19 violations
The South Meridian Street bars, Tiki Bob’s Cantina and The Patron Saint, were cited for multiple violations including not requiring masks and social distancing. Both establishments corrected the violations, the health department said.
Four numbers that will decide the men’s Final Four
Gonzaga is chasing a perfect 32-win season. That’s not the only number worth focusing on for this year’s Final Four. Here are a few more that are sure to factor into the chase for the national championship.
Pop-up vendors, in search of big March Madness sales, find modest crowds
Downtown crowds are thin this year amid a pandemic that’s putting a crimp in sales for pop-up businesses, which normally count on throngs of fans to attend games and stop in for souvenirs to or from the game.
Mark Miles: March Madness is steering Indy back on track
The NCAA Tournament has provided a much-needed rallying cry to support our downtown. It reminds all of us of the importance of getting back on track.
Will pandemic’s tourism slump return after NCAA Tournament ends?
Hospitality leaders say no, although it will be some time before occupancy rates are back to normal.
Players hear ‘a lot of talk’ from NCAA’s Emmert about Title IX, NIL
A trio of men’s basketball players asked NCAA President Mark Emmert to abide by, and enforce, Title IX gender equity rules and to create a waiver that would let college athletes start earning money from use of their names, images and likenesses this year.
The last perfect team: Recalling Indiana University’s 1976 title run
The 1975-76 IU Hoosiers refused to let anything—injuries, pressure, a brutal schedule or distractions— derail them from going undefeated. Forty-five years later, Gonzaga (30-0) needs two more wins to duplicate the accomplishment.
Survey of athletic directors shows worries about women’s college sports
The most striking of the results: 94% of respondents said it would be somewhat or much more difficult to comply with Title IX gender equity rules if their school were to compensate athletes in the biggest money-making sports.
Thomas Cook: Indy leadership continues to move boldly
By enjoying an unbroken winning streak of mayoral leadership, Indianapolis has made boldness, well…boring.