Indiana
More confident Isaiah Jackson ready to occasionally stretch the floor in bigger role with Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS — As the Indiana Pacers were battling the Cleveland Cavaliers during preseason action last week, Bennedict Mathurin found himself in traffic in the lane. His attack was shut down. Thankfully, he had a safe passing option available that wasn’t typically there before. His teammate Isaiah Jackson, a bouncy center, popped open into space just above the free throw line.
It wasn’t much, but it was noticeable to see. Jackson usually does his damage right around the basket, and he will again in the coming season. Yet at that moment, after handling the pass from Mathurin, Jackson launched a jumper from the elbow and drilled it.
The NBA logged the shot as a 17-foot attempt. A few days later, when the Memphis Grizzlies were in Indianapolis for preseason action, Jackson knocked down a fadeaway jumper from the opposite elbow. It was registered as a 15-foot shot.
That means Jackson has already knocked down two attempts from 15 feet away or further this preseason. He only did that twice in the entire 2023-24 campaign. While it’s unlikely Jackson is asked to be much of a jump shooter, he has already shown a willingness to take, and make, shots from deeper distances.
“I’m trying to stretch the floor a little bit this year. This year I’ve been working on my jump shot with (assistant coach) Jenny [Boucek],” Jackson said. At the very first practice of training camp, Jackson could be seen getting up threes in a drill that involves shooting from five different spots beyond the arc.
Boucek has helped many players improve their jump shot. Andrew Nembhard worked with the assistant last year, and T.J. McConnell went from largely a non-shooter to a fine-enough finisher from deep. That McConnell path is what Jackson hopes to copy. Boucek has done this before.
“She taught me a lot this year. Just the confidence I have in my shot now, it feels way smoother than how it was in previous years,” Jackson said of his work with Boucek. “She helped me elevate it to where I can shoot the ball with confidence. I feel confident. It’s going to help the team, it’s going to help me… it’s going to expand my game a lot,” he added.
“She’s helped a lot of our guys [with shooting],” head coach Rick Carlisle said of Boucek and her ability to train jump shooting. He likes having one voice on the staff handle that role. “She has a lot of creative ways to get [players] to feel things about their shot. She’s a real positive teacher.”
A large part of Jackson’s development last season came as a result of efficiency improvements. His true shooting percentage reached nearly 70%, and he was lights out around the basket. He should continue to be someone who primarily attacks from the charge circle and in.
But adding range never hurts, especially in the scenario like the one described with Mathurin. Jackson bailed his teammate out of a tough situation and earned two points. It’s a nice potential addition to Jackson’s game if it translates to the regular season.
There’s more to the upcoming campaign than that for the young big man, though. He’s in year four of his career and currently eligible for a contract extension — and he will be a free agent next summer without a new deal by early next week. He needs a big season and wants his motor to be a weapon again.
“Trying to keep a high motor,” he said of what he hopes for himself this year. With his promotion to backup center after the departure of Jalen Smith, Jackson will play more often this year. If starter Myles Turner is injured, Jackson could play big minutes. He needs to be in great shape to be active and mobile all year long.
In the offseason, Jackson went to Dallas, Texas to visit with Turner and reserve center James Wiseman. They discussed the responsibilities of being a center on the Pacers roster and the things they’ll need to do to be successful this season. The group stressed accountability with each other. Jackson called it a “dope” experience.
It’s another moment that has him ready for a big year. It’s the first time he is undoubtedly the backup five, and he’s got money to play for. The Pacers need him to be good, too — he’s young and still growing, but the team is ready to win and compete every night.
“This is year four. I know it’s what I’m coming into this year, which is playing hard,” the Kentucky product said earlier during training camp.
Jackson was great in the postseason last year, which boosted his confidence. He knows he is a playoff player when the time comes, something young players need to prove. Without a jump shot, he was still effective thanks to his speed and athleticism on both ends, and he flipped in shot after shot in the lane, particularly against the New York Knicks.
He brought energy to those games on a big stage. And now, he’ll have the chance to do it with an improved jump shot. Jackson is moving into a bigger role for a team looking to contend — his growth and success this season will be important for the Pacers. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in 2023-24.
ABC pulls upcoming ‘Bachelorette’ season. Here’s what to know
A Carmel man and former Purdue basketball player was set to compete on this season that won’t air.
Should ABC air the canceled-for-now season of “The Bachelorette”? A Carmel man who was set to compete on it seems to think so.
Matt Carroll, a 43-year-old Purdue basketball alum and Carmel resident, took to social media over the weekend to address the cancelation of season 22 of “The Bachelorette,” on which he appeared. Public opinion on whether the show should see the light of day is split, but the former Boilermaker forward and industrial real estate broker hopes the footage makes it to air.
Disney and ABC pulled season 22 of “The Bachelorette” because its lead, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Taylor Frankie Paul, faces an ongoing domestic violence investigations. The network announced the decision March 19 after TMZ leaked a video from a 2023 domestic violence incident involving Paul and her ex Dakota Mortensen.
Neither Carroll nor the show have officially commented on the cancelation, but that doesn’t mean he and other contestants haven’t hinted at their feelings on social media.
Carroll’s Instagram reel — in which he struts through the streets of Carmel, rose in hand, RAYE’s “Where the Hell is My Husband” soundtracking it all — breaks the ice. “So…about that,” he joked, tagging both “The Bachelorette” and Bachelor Nation, the franchise’s official hub for news and content.
The reel has garnered comments from fellow Carmel residents wishing Carroll well, even offering to set him up with local singles. Notably, though, some of Carroll’s followers have called for the season to air — and he agrees.
“Trying to manifest that they still air this,” one comment from model Brittany Mason reads. “America wants it the world wants it!”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Carroll replied.
Another response from him put it more plainly:
“I’m still hoping they decide to air it.”
Whether “The Bachelorette” will air is unclear. Disney Entertainment Television’s official statement only indicated that it was halting the season “for now,” so it’s possible the network could dust off the footage and air it after all.
Contact IndyStar Pop Culture Reporter Heather Bushman at hbushman@indystar.com. Follow her on X @hmb_1013.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four is set.
Four teams have advanced to the Final Four and will compete for the national championship this upcoming weekend in Indianapolis.
The two national semifinal matchups will take place on Saturday. Tip times for the two games have been announced:
- 6:09 p.m. EDT – No. 3 seed Illinois vs. No. 2 seed UConn
- 8:49 p.m. EDT – No. 1 seed Michigan vs. No. 1 seed Arizona
The winners of Saturday’s games will then play in the National Championship Game on Monday, April 6.
Each game will take place inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
INDIANAPOLIS — Hundreds of Hoosiers gathered at the Indiana Statehouse Saturday morning as part of nationwide ‘No Kings’ events to voice their concerns about the current administration.
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Hundreds gather at Indiana State Capitol for ‘No Kings’ protest
“I’m out here today because what’s happening in our government is completely trash,” Donna Sipes told WRTV. “It’s wrong. We need to do something about it.”
“I’m tired of every single day when the TV comes on to see what stupid thing he’s done next,” Lindi Marti said.
WRTV
Attendees noted the growing popularity of the demonstrations.
“This is my fourth one to come to. I didn’t come to all of them when it was really cold, but I’m glad to see that they are getting a lot more people out here every time,” Marti added. “It seems like there’s more and more coming.”
Demonstrators highlighted specific foreign policy concerns, including the administration’s handling of the war in Iran.
“We’re bombing the heck out of them. We’re killing civilians,” Marti’s husband said. “We’re getting ready to send our Marines.”
WRTV
Others focused on the administration’s handling of immigration.
“That’s what I’m concerned about,” Reverend Kenny Little told WRTV. “Little kids, they’re taking them away from their family. And I’m just one of those people, I think everyone got rights.”
Indiana medical students also attended the rally to speak out against changes to the healthcare system.
“We’re really worried about the attacks on the health care system in general, but with Medicaid… current estimates range from anywhere from 325,000 to 450,000 Hoosiers will lose coverage by 2032,” Wade Catt said with concern.
WRTV
With midterm elections approaching later this year, attendees emphasized the importance of now taking action at the ballot box.
“If we don’t vote, then things are gonna not, they’re gonna stay the same,” a protester said.
Meanwhile, Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith says he’s happy to see Hoosiers exercise their First Amendment right to protest.
However, he takes issue with the idea that President Trump is acting like a king. Beckwith says the fact that people have the freedom to protest is proof that the president is not acting like a tyrant.
He acknowledges that bridging the gap between the sides is probably an uphill battle, but believes communication is key.
“I think when you sit down with people face to face, you’re confronted with humanity. There’s another human sitting across that table from you and talking to you. And so, all I have to say, I think that’s probably the thing I would encourage all Hoosiers to do is say, ‘Hey, if you don’t agree with somebody or if you don’t like somebody, why don’t you try grabbing coffee with them? And give it 30 minutes, and just see what happens.’ I bet most of the time people will walk away with a much softer heart and spirit towards that person before they came in,” Beckwith said.
Beckwith is currently on a 92-county tour of the state. He says all sides are welcome to attend his events.
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