Indiana University Athletics
Men’s Basketball Welcomes Fans Back with 2021 Hoosier Hysteria
10/2/2021 6:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – For the first time since March 2020, the Indiana men's basketball program welcomed Hoosier Nation back to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the annual Hoosier Hysteria presented by Smithville.
The Hoosier crowd heard from first-year head coach Mike Woodson.
"It feels good to be home," Woodson said. "Let me start by thanking my coaching staff, my trainer Tim Garl, and our strength coach Clif Marshall. The most important person I need to thank is my wife, Terri. She has rode this roller coaster ride with me for 46 years and now we are back home. I want to thank my two daughters Alexis and Mariah, who are my biggest fans, and my family that came down from Indianapolis."
"But this is not about Mike Woodson, it is about the 17 players wearing this Indiana uniform. I came back for you guys, nothing else," Woodson added. "And yes, Hoosier Nation, we have a lot of work to do to get back on top. But with your help, the greatest fans in college basketball, we will get back on top. The reason I say that is because I have 17 players that are willing to work, willing to be coached.
"This team, when we step out on the court on Nov. 9, we want to give you something to be proud of," Woodson concluded. "There is no pressure on the 17 players, because at the end of the day, it is my job push you to get better and push you in the right direction. I had a guy in Bob Knight that did that for me. I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out. We are going to need you to get this thing back on top."
Indiana basketball Hall of Famer, NCAA Champion, two-time NBA Champion and Naismith Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas (1979-81) also addressed the crowd.
"Sometimes I get emotional and I have these flashbacks and moments, "Thomas said. "The last time I heard No. 42 on this floor … you have a coach here, you have a man here that talks about a journey and putting us back, back on top. I remember the last time Mike Woodson took off his jersey. I watched No. 42 and No. 41 take of their IU jerseys for the last time.
"I was so hurt that day because I felt that I had not given this man (Woodson) the championship he deserved," Thomas continued. "It hurt me so deep that I vowed that I would never let my teammates, or the fans, down again at IU. We came back and won the national championship in 1981, but the best team I ever played on at Indiana was the 1980 team.
"Hoosier Nation, there is no better fan base in the history of college basketball," Thomas said. "You have a responsibility to stand up, show up, show out, and be here every single game. Let it be known, Hoosier Nation is in the house."
Following the on-court speeches, the men's team joined the women's program in a couple of special events, including a 3-point shootout, a skills competition and a dunk contest.
Parker Stewart teamed up with Grace Berger from the women's team to win the 3-point shootout. The duo combined to make 55 triples through two rounds of shots.
Rob Phinisee and Mackenzie Holmes took the crown in the skills competition, an event that consisted of weaving through barriers off the dribble, throwing a chest pass through a small target, making a layup and knocking down a 3-pointer. Phinisee and Holmes were the quickest group through two rounds at a shade under 83 seconds.
Finally, Trayce Jackson-Davis earned the championship belt in the dunk contest after compiling a three-round score of 86 points as scored by three judges: Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, Wayne Mitchell Radford and Zeke.
The men's basketball team will return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to open the 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 against Eastern Michigan.
The Hoosier crowd heard from first-year head coach Mike Woodson.
"It feels good to be home," Woodson said. "Let me start by thanking my coaching staff, my trainer Tim Garl, and our strength coach Clif Marshall. The most important person I need to thank is my wife, Terri. She has rode this roller coaster ride with me for 46 years and now we are back home. I want to thank my two daughters Alexis and Mariah, who are my biggest fans, and my family that came down from Indianapolis."
"But this is not about Mike Woodson, it is about the 17 players wearing this Indiana uniform. I came back for you guys, nothing else," Woodson added. "And yes, Hoosier Nation, we have a lot of work to do to get back on top. But with your help, the greatest fans in college basketball, we will get back on top. The reason I say that is because I have 17 players that are willing to work, willing to be coached.
"This team, when we step out on the court on Nov. 9, we want to give you something to be proud of," Woodson concluded. "There is no pressure on the 17 players, because at the end of the day, it is my job push you to get better and push you in the right direction. I had a guy in Bob Knight that did that for me. I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out. We are going to need you to get this thing back on top."
Indiana basketball Hall of Famer, NCAA Champion, two-time NBA Champion and Naismith Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas (1979-81) also addressed the crowd.
"Sometimes I get emotional and I have these flashbacks and moments, "Thomas said. "The last time I heard No. 42 on this floor … you have a coach here, you have a man here that talks about a journey and putting us back, back on top. I remember the last time Mike Woodson took off his jersey. I watched No. 42 and No. 41 take of their IU jerseys for the last time.
"I was so hurt that day because I felt that I had not given this man (Woodson) the championship he deserved," Thomas continued. "It hurt me so deep that I vowed that I would never let my teammates, or the fans, down again at IU. We came back and won the national championship in 1981, but the best team I ever played on at Indiana was the 1980 team.
"Hoosier Nation, there is no better fan base in the history of college basketball," Thomas said. "You have a responsibility to stand up, show up, show out, and be here every single game. Let it be known, Hoosier Nation is in the house."
Following the on-court speeches, the men's team joined the women's program in a couple of special events, including a 3-point shootout, a skills competition and a dunk contest.
Parker Stewart teamed up with Grace Berger from the women's team to win the 3-point shootout. The duo combined to make 55 triples through two rounds of shots.
Rob Phinisee and Mackenzie Holmes took the crown in the skills competition, an event that consisted of weaving through barriers off the dribble, throwing a chest pass through a small target, making a layup and knocking down a 3-pointer. Phinisee and Holmes were the quickest group through two rounds at a shade under 83 seconds.
Finally, Trayce Jackson-Davis earned the championship belt in the dunk contest after compiling a three-round score of 86 points as scored by three judges: Indiana University President Pamela Whitten, Wayne Mitchell Radford and Zeke.
The men's basketball team will return to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to open the 2021-22 season on Nov. 9 against Eastern Michigan.
Players Mentioned
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