Todd Leary Feature

November 4, 2002

Bloomington, IN - Former Indiana University men's basketball guard, Todd Leary, has once again found himself a home with the Hoosier squad, but not on the court, on the radio. This season will begin Leary's second year as the men's basketball color analyst. He can be heard on WGCT (105.5 in Bloomington) along with Don Fischer, who is entering his 30th year as the play-by-play announcer.

With no background, history or ambition to be a color analyst, Leary admits that this job just fell into his lap.

"Two years ago was the celebration of 100 years of Indiana basketball," Leary begins to explain. "The station had asked different people to be the color analyst for each game of the year. I was asked to do the first game of the season. Later they called me back to do the Big Ten Tournament. I called all three games. Last year they just happened to call me back and asked me if I wanted to be full time."

Leary played on the men's basketball team from 1989-1994, leading the team as captain in his last season. During his stint, he recorded 77 three-point field goals, good enough to be 11th in the Hoosier record books. He also still ranks among IU's top 10 career leaders in three-point field goal percentage at .423.

As a player, Leary had the opportunity to play in the Final Four. The 1992 Hoosier squad made its seventh appearance in the Final Four on April 4, where they faced the defending national champion Duke at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. With Indiana's unforgettable run to the NCAA Championship last year, Leary feels fortunate to have had the chance to return to the tournament. From this, Leary learned how different it is to be a part of the media rather than being a member of the team.

"I was there in a different capacity," Leary said. "Being a part of the media is a totally different perspective. As a player, you are confined to your hotel room. This time I was a part of the media aspects. So much more goes on in regards to the media than I realized when I was player."

Leary is looking forward to his second year with Don Fischer and the Hoosier basketball team. He feels very optimistic about the future of this program and realizes the potential that this team has.

"To repeat what they did last year would be a monumental task," Leary concedes. "However, they have the personnel and the coaching staff to do so. They will be a different team that people saw last year. They will win in different ways. These players really enjoy playing for coach Davis. When you have the players that believe, and believe in the system that the coaching are putting forth, anything is possible."

Indiana University Athletics

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