Indiana

Indiana Pacers young wing Ben Sheppard impressing in training camp, studying his own teammates to improve

Published

1 year ago

October 6, 2024

Indiana Pacers young wing Ben Sheppard impressing in training camp, studying his own teammates to improve

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton was speaking to reporters after the first official day of practice for his team in 2024-25 when he was asked a simple question: have any of your teammates stood out so far during minicamp and training camp?

With less than a second required to think, Haliburton replied. “Ben Sheppard has been ballin’,” he began. “Ben Sheppard has looked really good. I think he just looks more comfortable in his skin, more comfortable as an NBA player. I told him, ‘I don’t know what you did this summer, but keep doing that’.”

Sheppard, a second-year wing, was a late first-round pick in 2023. He steadily rose through the ranks with Indiana last year, starting the season as a deep bench player with most of his playing time coming in the G League. He then became a depth piece after Bruce Brown was traded away, then moved up the rotation ladder again after Buddy Hield was dealt. By the All-Star break, he was playing basically every night. When his teammate Bennedict Mathurin went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in March, Sheppard became a mainstay in the rotation, averaging over 19 minutes per game the rest of the regular season.

Even as a first-year player, he was relied on in the postseason. He played in all 17 of Indiana’s playoff games, including two starts during the Eastern Conference Finals. He knocked down 38% of his threes on that stage while taking nearly three per outing, and he hustled on defense. It’s rare that a rookie can be trusted in a postseason rotation, but Sheppard proved that he should play.

“He’s a very reliable player. Always goes hard, always does his job. [He] takes the right shots. Probably passes up shots he should take,” Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Sheppard. “[He] takes defense as seriously as offense. He’s very mature, and he’s always ready.”

Last year, Sheppard was so laser focused on making the right play and not making mistakes that he would pass up open shots. He tried to keep the ball, and himself, moving — a noble cause. But his teammates wanted him to let it fly. They bullied him into shooting more, and it paid off. In his first 28 games, he made 28.1% of his threes. That number grew to 33.3% in his final 29 outings.

Sheppard wants to build his game out from his first-year success. The confidence he is showing early in training camp is tangible, and he’s playing well enough that his teammates have noticed. He’s also grown on the court and feels more comfortable every day.

“I’d just say I have a bigger grasp of things,” Sheppard says of how he feels in year two. “Coming here last year, there’s a lot of intake and just learning the ropes of the NBA game. I feel more comfortable this year.”

Oct 8, 2023; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Ben Sheppard (26) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies guard Shaquille Harrison (1) defends during the second half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images / Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Last year, Sheppard averaged 4.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game. The Pacers net rating and defensive rating were both better with Sheppard on the court than off of it. Even with typical per game numbers, his impact could be felt thanks to his low-mistake style.

This year, he hopes to improve upon that start to his career. Sheppard studied one of his teammates, Aaron Nesmith, to look at a key area where he thinks he can grow: attacking closeouts.

“I watched his tape this summer, just how aggressive he attacks closeouts and stuff like that,” Sheppard said of Nesmith. The game slowed down a ton for Nesmith last season. “Everyone’s attacking closeouts in the NBA, that’s just how the game is today.”

That study wasn’t just limited to Nesmith. Other Pacers players are effective at driving past wimpy closeouts and making plays. It’s an important trend in the NBA, and Sheppard noted that he looked at what Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Pascal Siakam, and Tyrese Haliburton were doing in those situations. Nesmith, by being a wing who saw the game slow down last season, is perhaps the best comparison for Sheppard as a player, though. That deep dive is more meaningful.

The Belmont product has been ascending ever since a strong NBA Draft combine last summer. He popped on both ends during his pre-draft workout for the Pacers, and he’s been reliable ever since. The hope in season two is for more success.

“It’s just being more aggressive and making the right play,” Sheppard said of his growth. “I think I’m one of those players that plays within our offense and is able to get people into things by making the right play,”

Despite all of these notes, Sheppard’s spot in the rotation isn’t currently clear. He could be the backup two, or even the backup three. He might be on the outside looking in. Shooting and defense are immensely valuable skills, but different types of lineups have been operating as the second unit during training camp so far. Yet if Sheppard is an improved player, he should get playing time.

“I like Shepp,” guard Andrew Nembhard said of Sheppard on Sunday. “Shepp’s been hoopin’.”

Much of the focus on Indiana’s future is concentrated on their recent lottery picks. Sheppard’s future is similarly intriguing, though, and he’s ready for his second season with the Pacers.

Source link

Indiana

Indiana OL Carter Smith’s Injury is a Blessing in Disguise

Published

12 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Indiana OL Carter Smith’s Injury is a Blessing in Disguise

The Indiana Hoosiers will be without All-American offensive tackle Carter Smith this spring due to surgery to repair a torn labrum.

Smith confirmed the rumors that started when he was seen wearing a sling at an IU Women’s basketball game earlier this year. While this may be a blow to Smith – he’s expected to be a full go by fall camp – it is a blessing in disguise for the Hoosiers.

“I had a labrum tear on my left shoulder, so I was put in a sling after my surgery. I had a good repair done by a lot of doctors back at home.” Smith said after the Hoosiers’ third practice of the spring.

This is the first time Smith has been hurt during his college career and is a big reason why he chose to come back to IU in 2026 rather than head to the NFL.

“I wanted to be able to put on film that even after an injury like this, where I need to have a full repair, is that I can still put the same stuff on film. Because sometimes that can pop up as a red flag for some programs. And with it being my first time being like this, I have to prove that I can still go out and do all the same things.” Smith added.

Join the Spring Football Discussion on the Hoosier Huddle Message Boards

Who Does This Open the Door For?

With every injury comes opportunity and while it is certainly a blow to lose an All-American for spring practice, the opportunity for Indiana’s young offensive lineman gets bigger.

Baylor Wilken, Tackle

The biggest beneficiary of this development is redshirt freshman Baylor Wilkin who will now be thrust into action with the first team.

“Another guy that I kind of see stepping up is Baylor Wilkin.” Smith said. “He’s going to be doing our left tackle work with the ones all spring. I see him as a really fast dude who can connect bodies really fast. He’s got a good strike. He might be a little bit on the shorter side, but he makes up for it in this length.”

Austin Liebfried, Interior OL

Liebfried has played in 13 games for the Hoosiers and will be a redshirt sophomore in 2026. With the graduation of Zen Michalski and several other offensive linemen after the 2025 season, Liebfried’s role will be the swing player along the line to fill in anywhere. With Wilkin moving to left tackle for the spring, this opens up repetitions along the interior for Liebfriend.

What Will Spring Be Like For Carter Smtih?

If Carter Smith could be out on the practice field, he would be.

He admitted to “always itching to put the pads on and go crack some dude on the other side scrimmage.” However, that will not be possible this spring.

Smith is still limited in the weight room, but his impact can still be felt.

“I would say that taking a step back and being able to see the game from a wider range,” Smith said. “I think it’s a good moment for me to be able to see it, especially for our young guys, since we have three early and early freshmen to be able to see what they do on the field and once they come out, to be able to coach them up,” Smith said.

Source link

Indiana

Search underway for missing child in East Fork White River

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Search underway for missing child in East Fork White River

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — A search is underway for an 11-year-old child after going missing in East Fork White River on Tuesday.

According to a release sent by the Columbus Fire Department, at approximately 6:39 p.m. firefighters and the Bartholomew County water rescue team responded to Mill Race Park on reports of a missing child who went under the water and did not resurface.

Responders deployed numerous boats to search the last known location of the child and down stream portion of the river.

The fire department says operations are ongoing at this time and have not released any further information.

Photo Provided by Columbus Fire Department

Source link

Indiana

Warm, windy with strong storms possible | March 31, 2026

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH-TV) – Warm and windy conditions today. We will see rain chances increase throughout the week. Several rain chances along with even some strongest severe thunderstorms could be possible. Temperatures remain above normal for this time of year through the weekend.

TODAY: Partly to mostly cloudy conditions expected during the day. It will be windy once again. Winds will be out of the south and may gust a little higher than yesterday around 30 to 40 mph.

High temperatures will be right around 81 degrees. The record for today is 85.

There may be a scattered shower that could develop after the lunch hour. But a better chance of showers and storms later this evening

TONIGHT: Showers and thunderstorms could be possible across parts of North Central and northern sections of Indiana. Some of those could be on the stronger side with some gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Low temperatures will fall right around 58.

TOMORROW: More showers and thunderstorms will be possible on Wednesday. A boundary will be set up right across parts of Central Indiana. This will bring us more rain chances on and off throughout the day. Look for temperatures to be right around 65. North of Indianapolis temperatures will be a bit cooler and south of Indy temperatures will be a bit warmer.

7 DAY EXTENDED FORECAST: Much of the day on Thursday will be dry with partly to mostly cloudy skies. It’s going to be warm with high temperatures soaring near 78 degrees. Showers and thunderstorms will develop later in the evening on Thursday as a cold front moves across the state. This will bring us a chance for some strong to maybe even severe thunderstorms late Thursday.

More scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible on Friday. With highs right around 76. Could also see some rain and thunderstorms for the first part of the weekend on Saturday with highs near 73. Easter Sunday does look dry and with some sunshine, but it will be much cooler. Highs will be in near 56.