Tom Crean Excited To Have Kyle Schwarber As His Honorary Captain Vs. UNC

Months before he etched his name as a Chicago Cubs legend, Kyle Schwarber got a phone call and an invite from Indiana head men's basketball coach Tom Crean to watch IU play North Carolina in the most anticipated home game of the Hoosiers' 2016-17 schedule.

Crean called Schwarber, a former Hoosier himself, back in the middle of July to offer support during his rehabilitation process. At the time, Schwarber was nearing the closing stages of returning from a badly torn knee.

"I said it would be really great if you came back," Crean remembered. "I said why don't we do this (North Carolina) game? And we'll make you honorary captain."

Schwarber accepted. He'll be in Bloomington Wednesday night to take in No. 11 Indiana vs. No. 3 North Carolina at the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall doing what all honorary captains do.

Which is...what exactly?

"He gets tickets," Crean said. "He's going to practice, gets to hang out, gets his expenses paid, I guess. We'll have a gift for him. We'll trade for some autographs."

Schwarber missed the majority of the 2016 season but returned in the World Series to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in seven games. He was never medically cleared to play defense but hit .412 (7-for-17) over five games as a DH and pinch hitter.

Indiana fans are used to that type of production from Schwarber. The All-American put up a ridiculous line as a sophomore at .366/.456/.647 and then got selected No. 4 overall by the Cubs in the 2014 MLB Draft.

His former head coach at Indiana, Tracy Smith, is expected to be in attendance, Crean said. So will the rest of IU's current baseball staff and plenty of other Cubs fans and IU faithful alike looking for a chance to cheer on the former Hoosier catcher who helped break a 108-year curse.

"He's finding the time and the way to do it," Crean said. "I think it's going to be fantastic."