Milan '54 Team Will Be Honored At Pacers' "Hickory Night" March 15

By Mike Perleberg Indiana Pacers guard George Hill sports a Hickory Huskers alternate uniform that the NBA team will wear during 10 games in the 2015-2016 season. Photo by Celeste Ballou, Pacers.com. (Indianapolis, Ind.) - The Indiana Pacers have released the dates of 10 games in which they will wear special Hickory Huskers jerseys. Hickory is the team in the Academy Award-winning movie Hoosiers, which was inspired by the real-life David versus Goliath tale of the Milan High School 1954 state championship team. The six home game "Hickory Nights" will see the Pacers players not only don the red and gold jerseys, but the franchise will honor an individual, team, or community that holds a significant place in Indiana’s basketball history. "While the uniform is inspired by the film, Hoosiers, through the multi-year partnership with MGM, Hickory will serve as a platform to celebrate, recognize and honor those that have helped make our state synonymous with the game of basketball," said Todd Taylor, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Pacers Sports & Entertainment. "We are excited to officially announce the game dates and honorees for the upcoming season and look forward to wearing the uniform as a collective celebration of basketball across the State of Indiana." Of course, the '54 Milan team will be among the honorees. They will be honored on "Hickory Night" March 15, 2016 versus Boston at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The schedule of the special Hickory jersey games, and those who will be recognized: November 6 vs. Miami – The City of Crawfordsville, birthplace of Indiana basketball and also home to the first Indiana High School Athletic Association state championship team. December 23 vs. Sacramento – Jack Butcher, Loogootee, winningest head coach in Indiana high school basketball history. January 26 vs. L.A. Clippers – George Daniel Crowe, Franklin, Indiana’s first Mr. Basketball award winner in 1939 and brother of legendary Indianapolis Crispus Attucks coach Ray Crowe. Febuary 24 vs. New York – Crispus Attucks High School, state champions of 1955, '56 and '59. March 15 vs. Boston – Milan High School 1954 State Champions, the team who inspired the movie Hoosiers. April 10 vs. Brooklyn – The eight champions of the 2016 IHSAA Girls and Boys State Championship teams. The Pacers will also wear the Hickory jerseys during four road games: November 29 at Los Angeles Lakers, December 30 at Chicago, January 13 at Boston, and April 3 at New York. The Pacers will be offering a special "Hickory Ticket Package" for the six home games as well as group ticket offers to the communities being represented. Details will be announced soon. RELATED STORIES: Pacers Paying Tribute To Hoosiers’ Huskers With Alternate Unis