I know you've missed me. I've missed you all too. As my friend Dave McConnell mentioned yesterday in "The Mind," it's been a crazy week around the HSSTM office. I think you'll enjoy what we've put together for the February issue.

Some "musings" for Thursday:

How about the hot streak that Brownsburg boys basketball is on right now? The Bulldogs are barking at the right time, winners of nine-straight games (including wins over tough squads like Plainfield, Hamilton Southeastern and Center Grove. Frankly, there may not be another high school basketball team in Central Indiana playing as well as coach Josh Kendrick's team, who's 11-3 on the year and haven't lost since Dec. 9 against Batesville (a team that's 11-2). keep an eye for Brownsburg as we approach the tail end of the season.

Really interested in the No. 1 Ben Davis vs. No. 4 Carmel girls basketball game this weekend. Ben Davis has played a schedule loaded with ranked teams, while Carmel had won eight-straight before falling to No. 2 Heritage Christian on Tuesday, 57-50.

It's interesting where you run into people. Just the other night, on my way home, I stopped to get gas at the Shell on 126th St. and State Rd. 37. There, in front of me in line, was Joe Leonard, the boys basketball coach at Fishers. We had just spoke earlier in the day, but it was still good to talk to him about the Tigers. Coach Leonard is an energetic guy, who's got lots of enthusiasm for his team. "We've struggled, but I feel like we're right there," he said, before asking me if my five-year-old son would be coming up through the program. (I'm working on his shooting mechanics now, coach.) The Tigers are 4-11 after last night 68-55 loss to No. 6 Lawrence North, but certainly are making strides. Last year, nearly the same group of guys lost to LN by 44. And Leonard told me that if they lost by 30, that his team would be running sprints for quite awhile. No sprints, coach - but a great effort. Leonard, again, is doing a fantastic job at Fishers.

Lastly, we like to help promote good things here at HSSTM and pass along info that can help make a difference. Many of you may already know or have this information, but for those who don't, head over to http://samaritansfeet.org. As they discussed on ESPN's Mike & Mike radio show this morning, IUPUI boys basketball coach Ron Hunter will be coaching tonight's game against Oakland barefoot to raise awareness of the global problem of children without shoes. Clicking this link will give you the full story, and you can make a donation. Before ending the interview with coach Hunter this morning, Mike and Mike brought on a representative of Converse, who donated 15,000 pairs and put Hunter over his goal of 40,000 pairs of shoes.