The middle of December is a good time to check in on the local sports teams and preview what’s still to come. The NBA and NCAA basketball seasons are a little more than a quarter of the way through their schedules, while the NFL is entering their final month before the Playoffs. Where do these teams currently stand?PacersAfter finishing in 2nd out of 30 teams in the in-season tournament, the Pacers have turned some heads and put themselves back in the national conversation again. They’re currently on a 50+ win pace, while Tyrese Haliburton is playing at an MVP/historic level. They still have major issues with defense and rebounding, which could prevent them from going deep in the Playoffs. But they’re also interested in adding to their team via trade at some point this season. Look for the Pacers to make the Playoffs and be a dangerous team once they get there. Their ceiling this season probably depends on what trade they do (or don’t) make.HoosiersIndiana is 7-2 overall and 2-0 in conference play so far. They host #2 Kansas on Saturday in what should be a crazy atmosphere in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are still trying to find their identity without Trayce Jackson-Davis. By some metrics, they’re the worst 3-point shooting team in the country. Despite having strong play in the post, if you can’t shoot in today’s game, you’re going to struggle. Indiana is lucky that the Big Ten Conference is a little down this year, and because of that, they could still wind up in decent position.. maybe in the top six or seven in the conference when it’s all said and done. I can see things going either way with this group the rest of the year. There’s a lot to be determined with this team.BoilersLed by the monster Zach Edey, Purdue is one of the top teams in the nation once again. They’re currently ranked #3 and will play #1 Arizona in Indianapolis on Saturday. Despite the loss to Northwestern, the Boilers are heavy favorites to win the Big Ten again this season. They’ve got balance. They’ve got good coaching. They can shoot. And they have Edey down low. Now to address the elephant in the room: Can they win in March? This question will linger over the program and fan base all season long, no matter how many wins they rack up. Will this be the year Purdue makes a Final Four run? Or will it be another heartbreaking finish in March?ColtsIt’s been an interesting year for the Indianapolis Colts. Many expected a rebuilding year with a rookie Head Coach and rookie Quarterback. When you have the number 4 pick in the draft, it’s usually a good indication you have a ways to go before you become a contender again. Now consider how bleak things should look when you use that number 4 pick on a QB, and he barely plays due to injury. Yet here we are in mid December, and the Colts are squarely in the AFC Playoff race. Coming off a terrible performance in Cincinnati, the Colts find themselves at 7-6 with Pittsburgh coming to town on Saturday. After playing the Steelers, the Colts will finish the season by playing the Falcons, Raiders, and Texans. All four games are winnable, and the Colts control their own destiny. A 4-0 finish would put them in the playoffs, while a 3-1 finish should give them a solid chance as well. If the Colts fall short of the playoffs, you can still count this as a successful season. Coach Steichen appears to be the real deal. And the Colts look to be headed in the right direction.Overall, Indy sports teams are in a decent spot. The Butler Bulldogs are on the upswing as well, and the Lady Hoosiers are ranked in the top-15. The Indiana Fever will have the number-1 pick in the next draft, which could mean it’s Caitlin Clark time.We’ll see what 2024 brings the great state of Indiana.
Tyler Smith covers the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosiers for IndySportsLegends and is a frequent contributor to the Journal Review. He is also the youth and sports pastor at New Hope Christian Church.
