Acacia - Indiana University

Acacia PAGE 5 R oss Abdellah '20 was watching Indiana's Big Ten Tournament game versus Nebraska on March 11, 2020, with high hopes of an NCAA Tournament bid for the Hoosiers. Little did he know that this game would be Indiana's last of the 2019-20 season, and that the NCAA Tournament would be canceled a few days later. At the time, Ross didn't think much of COVID-19 until sports and other events began to shut down. "The last night with all the brothers at the house was a special night," Ross said. "We all had a feeling that we weren't coming back to Bloomington after spring break, so we made sure to cherish it." Flash-forward nearly a year since the brothers on 702 E. Third Street were sent home due to COVID-19, and a lot has happened in the world of sports. It has been a year like never before as daily testing, limited fans, playing in bubbles, and Zoom press conferences have become the new normal. These restrictions haven't stopped the active Acacians from enjoying a night of hanging out and watching sports with their fellow brothers. The Indiana men's basketball team is currently fighting for a spot in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which would mark the first tournament appearance for Indiana since 2016, and the first appearance under head coach Archie Miller. Keeping the Hoosiers afloat in the bubble conversation has been a season sweep over the Iowa Hawkeyes, who have been in and out of the top five all season. Indiana claimed a statement win on the road versus Iowa on January 21 and defeated the Hawkeyes 67-65 on February 7 thanks to a clutch jump shot from sophomore guard Armaan Franklin. As a Bloomington native, Jack Hanchett '19 has experienced the highs and lows of the Indiana men's basketball program and knows the Franklin game-winner is keeping the Hoosiers' tournament chances alive. While Jack isn't sold on the coaching style of Miller, he said he is feeling good about Indiana's chances to make a run this year. "I definitely miss going to games at Assembly Hall, but watching the games with my brothers at the house has been a good time," Jack said. "Franklin's game-winner against Iowa was one of my favorite moments of this year." Later that night, the brothers of Acacia gathered in the newly renovated Kibbler room to watch the Super Bowl between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. The GOAT versus the potential future GOAT matchup at quarterback didn't live up to the hype, but for Matt Strauss '18, a blowout win was just fine. Matt is a native of Sarasota, Florida, and has sat through, what he called, years of predictable and continuous disappointment watching Tampa sports. But, with Tom Brady coming to town, Matt knew before the opening kickoff of the season that the Bucs had a shot at the Super Bowl. The Buccaneers weren't the only Tampa team to win it all in 2020, though, as the Tampa Bay Lightning hoisted the Stanley Cup on September 28. While Matt is the only Buccaneers and Lightning fan in the house, he said these championships have been the highlight of the school year and he is thankful for the support of his brothers during this incredible run. "Seeing Tom Brady and Steven Stamkos raise championship trophies has provided temporary joy to combat the sorrows that COVID-19 has taken from my senior year," Matt said. Perhaps no active brother has experienced the sense of winning more than Brendan Woods '20 has over the past year. When Brendan moved into the house this past fall, he immediately jumped into a pair of playoff runs with his hometown teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Lakers. Being one of few active brothers from Los Angeles, Brendan said it was a completely different environment at Acacia than watching games at home. "I'm not surrounded by diehard Lakers fans in Indiana," Brendan said. "So, watching the games at the house was almost as if I was against the majority of people watching these championships." The Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to claim their first World Series title since 1988. And after signing 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer in the offseason, coupled with the Lakers reloading for 2021, Brendan said he doesn't envision his favorite teams slowing down anytime soon. As the 2020-21 school year approaches its home stretch, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will be a host site for the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. With the Hoosiers on the bubble, the brothers of Acacia are eagerly awaiting Selection Sunday. While life at Acacia has changed drastically over the last year, being tested twice a week and wearing masks around the house, this has not stopped the brothers from enjoying their time together. "With COVID-19, I realized that even a global pandemic can't stop the brothers from having a good time when we're together," Ross said. Be Bold, Jack Ankony '19 (224) 388-0598 | jankony@iu.edu A Year of Sports in Review Jack Ankony '19, from Mount Prospect, Ill., is working toward a bachelor's degree in journalism from the Media School. He is the son of Sam Ankony '88.

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