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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Joe McDufee has seen just about everything since he started attending Indiana Hoosiers games in 1949.Hes celebrated five national championships and an undefeated season, coped with the firing of Bob Knight, witnessed the rise and fall of the program under Mike Davis and Kelvin Sampson, cheered for the resurgence of the Hoosiers under Tom Crean and will never forget the indelible image of that chair being flung across the floor.Yet when McDufee entered the newly renovated Assembly Hall for the first time in October, the 84-year-old Indianapolis resident was stunned.Its the same old place but its gotten a shine to it, doesnt it? he marveled. Really, really beautiful. The entryway out here just blows your mind.There may be no state in America that reveres basketball history more than Indiana. McDufee, like so many others around the Hoosier State, knew the 35-year-old arena needed a makeover long before an 8-foot metal plate broke away from the ceiling and fell into the seats just hours before Indiana and Iowa were scheduled to play in February 2014.What pragmatists noticed was that other schools were ditching their quaint, dark, sometimes historic arenas for bright, brand new palaces. They added more practice space, upgraded weight rooms and installed new amenities with hopes of attracting prized recruits and top dollars from donors who would embrace the improved fan experience.Assembly Hall, meanwhile, was widely viewed as a link to an Indiana history that should not be defaced or disturbed.Athletic director Fred Glass knew better.So when Cindy Simon Skjodt, an Indiana alum and the daughter of Mel Simon, the late Indiana Pacers co-owner, offered $40 million gift to give the arena a new look, Glass took it and began the quest of turning the hall into a basketball mecca for a whole new generation of Indiana fans.---Every Indiana community has a basketball story.The Big Tens career scoring leader, Calbert Cheaney, played high school basketball in Evansville. Purdues career scoring leader, Rick Mount, played prep ball in Lebanon, about 45 minutes southeast of campus. Before chasing college and pro championships, Oscar Robertson fought for playing time on a hard-clay court in Indianapolis known as the Lockefield Dustbowl. Larry Bird, of course, will always be known as the Hick from French Lick.Bill Garrett went from Shelbyville High School to Indiana, becoming the Big Tens first African-American to log regular minutes. Bobby Plump was the real-life star of the Milan Miracle, Damon Bailey of Bedford remains the boys high school career scoring leader and former Looggottee High School coach Jack Butcher won a state-record 806 games.Indiana has several unique venues. Athletic administrators often tap dance around history while trying to keep up with the Joneses.Butler athletic director Barry Collier faced that dilemma when he realized Hinkle Fieldhouse needed refurbishing. The former Bulldogs player and coach presided over a $36 million face lift on one of the oldest courts still used in Division I basketball. Hinkle hosted Indiana state basketball championship games from its opening in 1928 through 1971, served as a military barracks during World War II and was a movie set for Hoosiers.The project replaced wooden railings with Plexiglas, bench seats with seat backs, new scoreboards and a video board above midcourt that allowed fans to see replays. Administrators tried to leave the character of the building untouched.I dont think its lost anything at all, said 30-year-old Tyler Moore, who attended Colliers basketball camp at Butler. We talked about how much cleaner things like the bathrooms are now, and to be in the Big East and recruit the caliber of player you want, you need have a place like this.Former Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke faced the same task in 2007 when blueprints were drawn for the first major project at Mackey Arena in 40 years.When it opened in December 1967, Purdue hosted one of its most famous alums, John Wooden, and his powerhouse UCLA team. Mount made his college debut that day against reigning national player of the year Lew Alcindor. During the next several decades, the Boilermakers embraced coaches such as Gene Keady and Matt Painter, watched future No. 1 draft picks Joe Barry Carroll and Glenn Robinson and celebrated a three-year Big Ten title run.Burke found a way to add more comfortable seats, a more appealing ticket office and better practice facilities. Since completing the $82 million project five years ago, attendance has increased and Purdue has reclaimed its perch in the Big Tens upper division.As far as the recruits, its all about the show, said Trent Johnson, who graduated from Purdue in 1988 and has had season tickets for 20 years. When they play AAU ball, they already are traveling to Las Vegas, Orlando and Atlanta. They want a certain wow factor. They are pampered. If you dont do it, you risk losing kids to other schools who have upgraded facilities. You need the players to continue to draw the crowds.Not everyone agrees.A half century ago, six Indianapolis men pooled their money together to found the ABAs Indiana Pacers. Their first home court was Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, where fans were so close to the floor that former Pacers star player Darnell Hillman said he could hear their heartbeats.Over the years, the Pacers moved to Market Square Arena and eventually to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, a spacious NBA facility full of suites and restaurants. Hillman waxes nostalgic when he thinks about the renovated coliseum, which reopened in 2014-15 as the new home court for IUPUI.I think we have to find a way to hold on to that, Hillman said. Thats where the history of basketball lives. This is basketball country. They love the game. Theyre into it from the moment they get to the arena.---At Indiana, the three-story entryway looks more like the entrance to a mansion than a basketball arena with its shiny escalators and elevators and all those open windows. Theres a presidential suite behind the student section, trophy cases on both sides of the lobby, even touch screen technology to learn more about Hoosiers history in all sports.On the north end, the feature attraction is the hanging midcourt section from the playing floor used at Assembly Hall from 1976-95. Look around and fans will find the scoreboard that hung above center court from 1983-2005 and the double-sided stanchions that were once a signature part of Indiana basketball.Inside, all the seats are crimson-and-cream and a new large videoboard can be seen from every corner of the court.I think its fantastic, said Dan Caldwell, a 37-year-old Bloomington resident. I love the mix of the new and the old and I think theyve kept that home-court advantage just with the way the crowd is right on top of the floor and everything. And theyve kind of brought it into the next century so to speak, so yeah, I love it.McDufee believes Indiana made the right call by making renovations to the building he calls home rather than tearing it down and starting over.If they could have built one that seated about 24,000 or 25,000 so all the people that could wanted to be in could be in, that would have been good, he said. But I dont know, theres a lot, a lot of history here and tradition and I love the place.Discount Jerseys For Sale . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. 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Jerseys For Sale . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position.ROME -- A defensive blunder helped decide a heated Rome derby but many fans werent there to see it due to a protest.Lazios Brazilian defender Wallace gifted the ball to Kevin Strootman, who scored Romas opener midway through the second half and Radja Nainggolan then doubled the lead for a 2-0 win Sunday.Romas celebrations were not as loud as usual because the clubs most ardent supporters stayed away from the match in protest at plexiglass security barriers introduced at the start of last season in their area.Normally filled with supporters waving huge banners, lighting flares and singing, half of the curva sud -- southern end -- of the Stadio Olimpico was left empty.Its ugly to see, said Strootman, who scored with a delicate chip shot over Lazio goalkeeper Federico Marchetti. The fans who did come were very helpful to us and these were three very important points. Hopefully the others will come to the next matches because we need our fans.The victory moved Roma back into second place, four points behind Juventus, which beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday.AC Milan is level on points with Roma in third after coming from a goal down to beat visiting Crotone 2-1.In the next round, Roma hosts Milan.After Strootmans goal and an extended celebration, words appeared to be exchanged as Romas players walked back onto the pitch alongside Lazios bench.Strootman appeared to toss water from a bottle at Lazios Danilo Cataldi, who reacted by tugging the neck of Strootmans shirt as the Netherlands midfielder walked away.That prompted both benches to get involved, leading to a general melee.Cataldi, who had been on the bench, was red carded, while Strootman was shown a yellow.Ten minutes later, Nainggolan scored with a long, bouncing shot inside the near post that appeared to surprise Marchetti.Roma has now won four straight in the Derby della Capitale series, outscoring Lazio 10-2. Lazios last derby win came in the 2013 Italian Cup final, while its last derby victory in Serie A came more than four years ago.Neither side produced a clear chance in the first half of a match that was not pretty to watch.Since Ive come to Roma Ive never played in a beautiful derby, Strootman said. Neither squad wants to make a mistake.We didnt have many chances but we won and got some important points, Strootman added.Lazio is fifth, four points behind Roma.Francesco Totti, Romas 40-year-old captain, stayed on the bench.---AAC MILAN 2, CROTONE 1Gianluca Lapadula is getting quite comfortable in his new role as AC Milans center forward.ddddddddddddFilling in for the injured Carlos Bacca, Lapadula earned a penalty and scored a late winner in a 2-1 win over visiting Crotone.It was Lapadulas fourth goal in four matches -- the first four of the Serie A career of a 26-year-old considered a late bloomer.Lapadula always plays with a lot of passion and thats his strength, Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. That was the type of goal that he scores. Hes a real striker, the type that I like who can provide guarantees over the course of a season.Diego Falcinelli had put Crotone ahead midway through the first half and Mario Pasalic equalized for Milan before the break.With the score 1-1, MBaye Niang had a penalty blocked by Crotone goalkeeper Alex Cordaz.It was a complicated match. Compliments to Crotone, Montella said. It was a struggle to win but we really wanted it.Milan has lost just one of its last 12 matchesCrotone is last with just six points from 15 matches.Falcinellis goal, his fifth of the season, was facilitated by poor defense from Milan that allowed him to score from the center of the area uncontested.Pasalic, who is on loan from Chelsea, scored his first goal in Serie A with a header following a corner.Early in the second half, Lapadula was fouled inside the area to set up Niangs penalty but Cordaz dived in the right direction to make the save.In the 86th, Lapadula took advantage of a rebound following a free kick to win it.Lapadula, who scored 27 goals in 40 Serie B matches for Pescara before joining Milan, recently earned his first call up to Italys national team. He could become an even more integral member of the Rossoneri if Bacca departs as rumored in January.Bacca was recently seen attending a match of his former club Sevilla, adding to speculation over his possible departure.---OTHER GAMES:Khouma Babacar scored an injury-time winner as Fiorentina beat struggling Palermo 2-1.Federico Bernardeschi had put Fiorentina ahead with a header and Mato Jajalo equalized with a curling free kick for Palermo early in the second half.In other matches, it was: Pescara 1, Cagliari 1; Sampdoria 2, Torino 0; and Sassuolo 3, Empoli 0.---Andrew Dampf on Twitter: www.twitter.com/asdampf ' ' '