Around Indiana.

I'll be getting into a closer look at IU's returning and incoming players as the season approaches. Nineteen days from now, IU's opener will be in the books. For now:

• While the season approaches for the football team, basketball-only Inside the Hall is in the middle of the offseason. Fortunately, ITH is passing the time with a countdown of the top ten all-time basketball Hoosiers, as voted on in comment threads and by ITH contributors. So far, ITH has listed two from the 1970s, one from the 1990s, and one from the old days who should be ranked much higher than he is.
• Also from ITH, the Maui Invitational bracket has been released. IU plays Notre Dame in the first round. The two schools last met in December 2004; Notre Dame won at Assembly Hall for only the second time, 55-45. The four years between games is the longest break in the series since 1932-1947. The Maui game will be only the third time the two schools have played outside the state of Indiana. ND won both such prior matchups, which were NCAA Tournament games in 1954 (Iowa City) and 1958 (Lexington).
• I drove through Bloomington a couple of weeks ago, and I really regret not taking any pictures. Ken Bikoff of Inside Indiana has done a really excellent job of documenting the construction up close, but it's hard to believe just how good the construction looks from a distance, particularly from the north, at the intersection of Dunn and the 45/46 Bypass. It will present a nice image to fans and recruits approaching campus from the north.