KYLE BEERY | SPORTS EDITOR | kbeery@butler.edu
Alex Barlow chases down basketballs scattered across the Hinkle Fieldhouse floor and puts them back up on a rack. He pauses and waits for his signal, and he again starts a barrage of three-point attempts.
Barlow has been doing this all week in preparation for tomorrow’s State Farm Slam Dunk and 3-Point Championships, which will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse as a part of the Final Four festivities.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Sabitus, the Notre Dame Observer
Barlow, who will be graduating next month, said he is excited for one last opportunity to play in front of a Hinkle crowd.
“I didn’t expect when I played against Georgetown to be able to play in front of some fans again here,” he said. “I think it will be a fun environment. It’s always fun to get out on the court and compete, regardless of if you are playing five-on-five, doing a dunk contest or a three-point contest.”
Barlow isn’t the only Butler University senior who gets one last chance to play this weekend, though. Kameron Woods was selected to play in the Reese’s All-Star Game at Lucas Oil Stadium Friday.
National Association of Basketball Coaches selected 20 seniors to play in the game, which is the final event of Reese’s Final Four Friday. The game will tip off at 4:30 p.m. following open practices and press conferences by the four semifinalists.
“I am extremely thankful to be able to play down at Lucas Oil,” Woods said. “It will be a cool experience to get to play with a lot of guys that we competed against this year and last year.”
Senior Kameron Woods will play in Friday’s Reese’s All Star Game at Lucas Oil Stadium
Woods said he will practice with the team Wednesday and Thursday, as well as participate in other team events.
Butler junior Kellen Dunham said it is a unique opportunity and a big honor for two players to get one last chance to play, especially this close to home.
“I think those two guys are definitely rewarded for great careers here, and I wish we could do even more for them,” Dunham said. “I think it’s a very good representation of Butler University in these postseason activities.”
Dunham said Barlow has the perfect shot for a three-point contest.
“It is very compact, he doesn’t jump too high and wear himself out,” he said. “He’s got a nice little loft to it. I think he’s got a good shot at winning it.”
Barlow is one of three Big East players in the field, including Matt Carlino of Marquette University and Darrun Hilliard of Villanova University. University of Notre Dame’s Pat Connaughton, Gonzaga University’s Kevin Pangos, University of Dayton’s Jordan Siebert, University of Connecticut Ryan Boatright and University of California Davis’ Corey Hawkins round out the field.
Three-Point Contest participants’ three-point FG percentage during the season
- Corey Hawkins (UC Davis) 48.8 percent
- Kevin pangos (Gonzaga) 43.1 percent
- Pat Connaughton (Notre Dame) 42.3 percent
- Matt Carlino (Marquette) 41. 9 percent
- Ryan Boatright (UConn) 41.1 percent
- Darrun Hilliard (Villanova) 38.7 percent
- Alex Barlow (Butler) – 37.3 percent
- Jordan Sibert (Dayton) 34.9 percent
Woods is on the East Team’s roster in the all-star game, coached by Tim Miles of Nebraska. The East roster features six Big East players.
Butler head coach Chris Holtmann said they got a call last week about Woods being in the all-star game, and they jumped all over it.
“It is a great honor for those guys, a lot of fun,” he said. “They are going to enjoy the weekend.”
The Slam Dunk Contest Lineup.
Thursday’s events at Hinkle begin at 7 p.m. with the Women’s 3-Point Championship, followed by the Marine’s Men’s 3-Point Championship.
The final event of the night will be the Denny’s Slam Dunk Championship, which will be judged by Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, former Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, Indiana Fever player Katie Douglas and ESPN analyst and former Duke player Jay Williams.
And for good measure, here is a “Top-10” list of the best dunks in contest history. The top dunk took place at Hinkle Fieldhouse in 2006, the last time the event was held there.
