Even if you didn't see the movie Hoosiers, most people know that Indiana is basketball-crazy country. Realizing this, Matthew Kesten and Emily Finkelstein, two Roslyn residents who are also undergraduates at Indiana University in Bloomington, created and organized the First Annual "King of Court" three-on-three basketball tournament at that school.

The event took place Saturday, Dec. 3. Up to 44 teams made up of IU students participated. It was hosted by the university's Business Career Entertainment Club (BCEC).

"The event was a tremendous success," Kesten said. We spent over four months planning [it.] We created publicity campaigns, sponsorship packages, and work schedules for our club members."

Kesten told a student newspaper, The Indiana Daily student, that he came up with the idea while working at a summer job for a sports agency.

Kesten and Ms. Finkelstein, who is co-sports director for the BCEC were assisted in planning the event by John Levey, president of that same club.

Ms. Finkelstein is a junior, studying towards a sports marketing and management major with a minor in business. After graduation, she intends to enter a profession that involves organizing sporting events, and so planning the tournament was good practice.

"The event was a great way for students in the club to get hands-on experience planning sporting events," Ms. Finkelstein also told The Indiana Daily. "They get experience on how to deal with sponsors, delegate responsibility and form subcommittees."

In addition to the three-on-three competition, the event also featured a three-point and half-court shot contest. Winners received Playstation 2 video games and T-shirts. All participants also took part in a raffle that contained the same video games as prizes.

The winning team was the 'Office Prophets,' comprised of undergraduates Ben Labhart, Shon Nelson and Robbie Starkey. They received 10 Playstation 2 games, plus a white T-shirt and free months-worth supply of Chipotle.

The tournament was a typical undergraduate event, with free Domino's pizza and free beverages, plus a video game tournament hosted at EA Sports, available to all participants and spectators.

Student body members, who dress in bright red for all IU home basketball games, enjoyed the opportunity to take part in such a competitive tournament.

"This is the best tournament at IU, period," said Josh Reiders, an IU senior at The Daily Indiana. "It's run by students, for students."

Kesten is a senior at IU. But he hopes the event will grow in the coming years. He noted that the day of intense basketball took place on only half the courts at the university's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

"Next year, we hope to have more sponsors and [to] get the entire court," he told the student newspaper.