Indiana
Should the Indiana Pacers extend the contract of T.J. McConnell?
INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. McConnell is still eligible for a contract extension for the Indiana Pacers, one of the biggest offseason checklist items left in the Circle City. The veteran guard is coming off of a career year and was a vital piece for Indiana’s top-tier bench.
Earlier in the offseason, reporting suggested that the prevailing notion around the NBA was that McConnell would get a longer deal with the blue and gold. He became eligible for an extension in early July.
“We’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said during a radio interview earlier this offseason.
The 32-year old had a career year in 2023-24, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. That scoring number was his career high as he turned into an elite role player down the stretch of the campaign. His scoring and passing were at a peak level for over two months.
His points average actually climbed in the postseason while his assist number essentially remained stable. On the biggest stages, he was even better. Nobody could stay in front of him as the Pacers raced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
“I think everybody saw his value throughout the year, over the last few years. But to see it really shine in the playoffs was something I think was a big goal for T.J., and he accomplished that this year,” Buchanan said. “To have him here long term, we’d love to keep T.J. as a Pacer for life. The business part eventually comes into play for everybody, but would hate to lose that guy.”
McConnell is important for the blue and gold beyond his production. He can run an up-tempo offense, which is vital for Indiana. They played fast and had a pace number near the top of the league. Tyrese Haliburton’s skills require a rapid offense. When the star guard exits the court, McConnell can maintain that system during his minutes, and the Pacers don’t miss a beat.
Indiana kept their offensive rating over 120 with McConnell on the floor without Haliburton, an impressive feat. It’s why the team had one of the best offenses in NBA history last season.
“Phenomenal year for T.J.,” Buchanan said. “I don’t know what you can say more about T.J., what he has meant to this team. Beloved by his teammates, his coaches, the staff, the fans. He’s what you want an Indiana Pacer to be about.”
From the perspective of production and fit, keeping McConnell is a no brainer for the Pacers. But it’s about more than that. As the GM alluded to, the business part comes into play and makes things tricky.
Indiana is close to the luxury tax right now, and they currently project to be about $33 million away next offseason with Myles Turner, McConnell, Isaiah Jackson, and possibly others entering free agency. It will be tough for the blue and gold to keep their whole team together if they are set on staying under the tax line.
Of course, that restriction may not actually prevent Indiana from doing anything. They could just blow past the tax and keep whoever they want. But that’s an expensive decision, and their appetite for doing so may depend on how this season goes.
Additionally, McConnell turns 33 during the upcoming campaign. Modern NBA players can remain effective deeper into their 30s, but the age curve comes for everyone eventually. McConnell is a smaller guard, so his speed is a requirement.
McConnell’s value doesn’t end on the hardwood. He is a beloved teammate and veteran, and losing him would be a hit in the locker room. He’s a key piece for the blue and gold in every way.
After his strong season, he’s eligible for a four year contract extension worth up to about $81 million. He will be eligible for a deal that fits within those parameters any time until free agency starts next summer, so the Pacers could, in theory, assess how he plays this season and fits into their finances after potential trades before agreeing to a deal.
Should McConell want an extension, locking it in sooner would be better for him. Securing guaranteed money ASAP is the best outcome for any NBA player. There are a lot of factors at play with a possible extension for McConnell.
The Pacers have kept their own players around via extensions often in the past five years. Perhaps they will again with McConnell, but timing, age, and finances make it fall just short of a no-brainer for Indiana.
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WSBT) — A unique way to age cheese is happening in St. Joseph county, where Indiana’s first underground cheese cave is located.
A family-owned business called J2K Capraio handcrafts and ages varieties of both goat and cow milk cheese in the underground cave.
Each year, they age thousands of pounds of cheese, Joe Klinedinst is one of the owners overseeing the process.
In Walkerton, the family, we were fortunate enough to build through the help of different mentors throughout the country, but built Indiana’s first underground cheese cave. There we age between 20 and 25 thousand pounds of cheese per year in some years more, said Klinedinst.
The cave is naturally cooled, developing the rind and flavors of the cheese as it ages.
This process can take months or even years.
“In this underground cave it’s naturally cooled you’re getting the flavors of the earth and the natural terrar of our area and we’re able to do cheeses that are aged anywhere from 90 days all the way up to two to three years,” said Klinedinst.
It’s a slightly different process than how cheese is normally aged or made.
So this cave allows you to not have air being blown as in it’s not a walk-in cooler kind of situation, it’s just the natural temperature of the earth which is perfect for the cheese so it ages up more consistent a little bit slower, said Klinedinst.
The method creates a distinct taste in the cave-aged cheeses, retaining flavors from the natural terrain of the area, which is one of the reasons the family chose to build the cave.
And then you also pull the flavors, I know it sounds odd but from the walls in the earth, and as soon as you bite into a cheese that’s been aged in a cave or a different type of facility you know it as soon as you do, and that’s what led us to the cave, said Klinedinst.
The local family owned business has been selling their products in the South Bend area for 20-years.
They started at the South Bend Farmer’s market, but now operate the Artesian deli and cheese stop Oh Mamma’s on the Avenue where they sell these cave-aged cheeses in wheels, half wheels, or small blocks or wedges.
Alabama’s defense has a lot on its plate.
There aren’t many weaknesses that pop off the page when studying the Indiana offense they will face in Thursday’s Rose Bowl.
The Crimson Tide will get a boost with the return of a key piece of its front seven, who has been missing the last few weeks. Starting defensive end LT Overton is back at practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed illness.
“I think it’s a tremendous blessing for our team,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Sunday. “It’s awesome for us. He obviously needs to have a good couple of days here, but he’s certainly on track. To have him in this game, his experience and his excitement of wanting to get back on the field … he’s an ultimate competitor.”
Overton has four sacks — second most on the team — among his 35 tackles this season.
Wommack said Overton’s ability to stay in shape while missing the SEC title game and CFP opener was crucial in his ability to return.
“He looks great now,” Wommack said.
Alabama found success getting to the quarterback in the CFP first-round win over Oklahoma with a season-high five sacks, but Indiana will be a whole different beast. The Hoosiers allow just 1.39 sacks a game in an offense that’s balanced and explosive.
It has Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the nation’s No. 10 rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game.
Wommack, previously a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana from 2019-20, said this Hoosier offense is as disciplined and as detailed as any offense Alabama’s seen.
“Offensively, I think they’re highly efficient, very explosive,” Wommack said. “That starts with their quarterback. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s very decisive, makes great decisions with the ball and can. Can make all the throws and can make the explosive plays when it matters most … I think their physicality shows up on tape. They play the game physically from an offensive line standpoint.”
The efficiency is clear on paper.
Indiana’s No. 4 nationally in points per play (0.578), No. 6 in yards per play (6.7) and No. 1 in third-down conversions (55.8%).
Cornerback Zabien Brown noted the care Indiana takes with preserving possession.
“Facing an opponent that does a great job of taking care of the ball really puts more stress reading our keys,” Brown said, “and trusting being able to pull the trigger and make plays in that smaller margin when opportunities pop up.
The Hoosiers’ eight turnovers in 13 games are tied for the third fewest in the nation. That includes just one lost fumble that occurred in the season opener, Aug. 30, in a win over Old Dominion.
Alabama has 20 takeaways, the 32nd most, with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.
Facing Mendoza in the first game since winning the Heisman Trophy sounds like a motivating factor in Tuscaloosa.
“He’s a man, just like me,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan said. “But he’s a great Heisman winner. He put himself in the position to get the accolades, so we’re going to make sure we do what we need to do to play our game.”
Brown, who intercepted a pass at Oklahoma and returned it for a touchdown, said Mendoza “is definitely the best quarterback we’ve faced all year.”
And Keon Sabb, an Alabama safety, was brief in his remarks when asked about Mendoza.
“He’s a really good player, whether he won the Heisman or not,” Sabb said. “Congrats to him for winning that, but we’re going to play our game.”
Alabama and Indiana kick off in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal at 3 p.m. CT Thursday in Pasadena. The winner advances to the Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.
Indiana Pacers (6-26, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (19-10, fourth in the Western Conference)
Houston; Monday, 8 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Indiana visits Houston looking to stop its four-game road skid.
The Rockets are 9-2 on their home court. Houston is 8-1 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 15.1 turnovers per game.
The Pacers are 1-14 in road games. Indiana gives up 119.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 9.4 points per game.
The Rockets are shooting 48.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 48.0% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers’ 43.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Rockets have given up to their opponents (46.2%).
TOP PERFORMERS: Alperen Sengun is averaging 22.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Kevin Durant is averaging 30 points and seven assists over the past 10 games.
Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 46.7 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.
Pacers: 2-8, averaging 107.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Alperen Sengun: day to day (calf), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl).
Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ben Sheppard: day to day (calf), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring).
——
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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