Indiana receiving "Back-to-back Sweet 16" rings

Last season, Indiana head coach Tom Crean handed out rings to all the members of the Hoosiers commemorating their turnaround season. They finished 27-9 and won two games in the NCAA Tournament before being bounced in the Sweet 16 by the eventual National Champion, Kentucky Wildcats. On the rings, they featured wins over No. 1 Kentucky, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 5 Michigan State.

This year, Indiana, despite being a No. 1 seed and the heavy favorite to go to Atlanta, was upset in the Sweet 16 by Syracuse. But Crean was so proud of his players that he once again has had rings made in honor of their accomplishments. They will have "No. 1" on them, commemorating the Hoosiers being No. 1 in the country 10 weeks this season in the Associated Press rankings. They will also have a Michigan State logo on them with a line through it because of Indiana's impressive two wins over the Spartans on the year.

"Last year, we announced to the world that Indiana basketball is back," Crean said. "Now, this second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance announces to the world that Indiana basketball is really, really back."

When reporters asked Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim what he thought of the rings, Boeheim thought the rings should show Indiana big man Cody Zeller getting his shot blocked against his Orange in Indiana's loss to Syracuse in the Sweet 16.

"Did Zeller even score any points that game," Boeheim asked. All I remember about that game is Zeller getting his shot rejected every single time he shot it. I asked my assistants if we had signed Dikembe Mutombo."

In addition to the rings, Indiana will be selling "Back-to-back" Sweet 16 T-shirts. All proceeds will be set aside for the 2013-14 Sweet 16 rings, assuming the Hoosiers get back there.

"This probably is not the end of giving out rings," Crean said. "I am just so proud of this group of players that they deserve everything given to them."

Crean went onto say there will most certainly be rings given out to the Hoosier team that finally beats the University of Wisconsin. The Badgers have not lost to Indiana since the 2006-07 season and Crean has yet to beat Wisconsin as the coach of the Hoosiers.

"I cannot wait to hand out those rings," Crean said. "Unfortunately, we might have to wait another 10 years for that to happen."