Indiana University Athletics
‘Good To Be Home’ -- Hoosier Hysteria Like Never Before
10/2/2021 6:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Legends have a way of lighting up a room – or even a 17,000-seat-plus basketball area.
You'd better believe Isiah Thomas did a lot of lighting Saturday afternoon.
There he was on the Branch McCracken Court of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, as good a point guard as the game has ever seen, college or pro, participating in a Hoosier Hysteria like no other.
For one, fans were back in the arena for the first time since March of 2020.
For another, Thomas' former Hoosier teammate, Mike Woodson, one of five Hoosiers to ever score 2,0000 career points (2,062), now coaches the program, and Thomas had a few things to say.
Did he ever.
"Sometimes I get emotional when I have these flashbacks and moments," Thomas told the crowd of around 8,000, including some elite recruits.
"The last time I hugged No. 42 (Woodson) on this floor -- You've got a coach here, a man here, who talks about a journey and bringing us back, putting us back on top.
"I remember the last time Mike took off his jersey. We were at Kentucky and lost to Purdue (in the 1980 Sweet Sixteen).
"I watched No. 42 and No. 41 (Butch Carter) take off their jerseys for the last time. I was so hurt that day. I felt I hadn't given enough to bring this man a championship he so deserved.
"I can still see that vision -- watching (Woodson) take off his jersey. It hurt so deep. I vowed to never let my teammates or fans down again at Indiana University.
"We came back. We won the national championship in 1981, but the best team I ever played on was in 1980.
"Coach Woodson talked about a journey. He's going to lay a foundation. He's going to talk about winning and education.
"All of us who played for Coach (Bob) Knight, we all graduated."
Thomas pointed to the current players.
"To all 17 of you, I left early, I came back and I graduated. Some of you may leave early, but you've gotta come back and get that piece of paper.
"I want to wrap it up by getting back to that journey. There will be some ups and downs, some highs and lows.
"You will be a special part of this in saying you were at school when the journey started. Hopefully you will still be in school when the journey ends with a national championship.
"Those of you who are not in school when that championship banner is hung, take pride in knowing you were at the start of this journey.
"Hoosier Nation, there is no better fan base in the history of college basketball. You have the responsibility to stand up, show up and be part of this."
Woodson spoke before Thomas, and the first thing he said was, "It feels good to be home."
The crowd roared.
Woodson thanked his coaching staff, team trainer Tim Garl, strength coach Clif Marshall, executive assistant Anitra House, his daughters Alexis and Mariah, family and, "the most important person is my wife, Terri. She has road the roller coaster ride with me for 46 years. Now we're back home."
Then he pointed to his team.
"This is not about Mike Woodson. It's about the 17 players who wear this Indiana uniform.
"I came back for you guys. Nothing else. Yes, we have a lot of work to do to get back on top. With your help and support as the greatest fans in college basketball, we will get back on top.
"The reason I say that is I've got 17 players willing to work and willing to let us coach them. We want to give you something to be proud of.
"There's no pressure on you 17 players. My job is to make you better, push you in the right direction on and off the floor.
"There was a guy named Bob Knight who did that for me. I think I turned out just fine, thanks to him."
Woodson wrapped up by pointing to the crowd.
"I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out. We will need you as we navigate this journey to get back on top."
Excitement also resonates for the women's team under coach Teri Moren. IU is coming off its first-ever Elite Eight appearance (with a 21-6 record), and prospects for an even better finish are promising led by standouts Ali Patberg, Grace Berger, Aleksa Gulbe, Nicole Cardano-Hillary and Mackenzie Holmes.
Could a national title be next?
Why not?
"Last year was tremendously challenging (because of the pandemic)," Moren told the crowd, "and what we were able to accomplish was incredible. It took a village.
"We didn't have any positive cases of Covid. That was because of the dedication and discipline and dedication our players and staff made.
"Last year was incredible on so many fronts, to be one game from a Final Four, that's the goal, to play in Final Fours. We had a taste of what that looks like. "
Moren repeated her statement after losing to Arizona in the Elite Eight.
"We will be back.
"We are a work program. We take pride in doing the work. We play with energy, toughness and grittiness. It doesn't guarantee you anything, but it gives us a chance.
"We will always be who we are. We hang our hats on defense. We are tough, gritty and guard hard."
She gestured to her team.
"They are tremendous players, but are even better people. It's a privilege to coach them every day."
Patberg also addressed the crowd.
"Covid had its challenges," she said. "You (the fans) are a big part of who we are and what we do.
"A blessing from Covid is that I had the choice if I wanted to come back. After we went to the Elite Eight, I thought my choice is to come back and have an opportunity to win a national championship.
"This has been home as long as I can remember. Our goal is to bring (a banner) home to the Hall. We need you here -- loud and proud to be a Hoosier."
As far as on-court action, there was a three-point contest, a skills contest, a dunk contest and men's team drill work. Fans saw the men's and women's teams showcase energy that could lead to impressive success.
As Moren said, "I have this feeling we'll be doing that a lot (Higj-Fiving) this year."
In the three-point shooting competition, Berger and Parker Stewart combined to win in the final round by making 32 pointers. Stewart hit nine of his last 10 shots to clinch it.
In the skills competition, which involved dribbling, passing and shooting, Rob Phinisee and Holmes were the winners.
The dunk competition (which included an assist from Isiah Thomas on a Jordan Geronimo dunk) went to Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The event culminated with full-court shooting drills with Woodson miced up.
"Snap the pass," he told his team. "Create Space. Come on, pick it up. Execute. Let's go."
In the aftermath, freshman guard Tamar Bates said, "We've been practicing for two month, and to see people finally here was exciting."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Legends have a way of lighting up a room – or even a 17,000-seat-plus basketball area.
You'd better believe Isiah Thomas did a lot of lighting Saturday afternoon.
There he was on the Branch McCracken Court of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, as good a point guard as the game has ever seen, college or pro, participating in a Hoosier Hysteria like no other.
For one, fans were back in the arena for the first time since March of 2020.
For another, Thomas' former Hoosier teammate, Mike Woodson, one of five Hoosiers to ever score 2,0000 career points (2,062), now coaches the program, and Thomas had a few things to say.
Did he ever.
"Sometimes I get emotional when I have these flashbacks and moments," Thomas told the crowd of around 8,000, including some elite recruits.
"The last time I hugged No. 42 (Woodson) on this floor -- You've got a coach here, a man here, who talks about a journey and bringing us back, putting us back on top.
"I remember the last time Mike took off his jersey. We were at Kentucky and lost to Purdue (in the 1980 Sweet Sixteen).
"I watched No. 42 and No. 41 (Butch Carter) take off their jerseys for the last time. I was so hurt that day. I felt I hadn't given enough to bring this man a championship he so deserved.
"I can still see that vision -- watching (Woodson) take off his jersey. It hurt so deep. I vowed to never let my teammates or fans down again at Indiana University.
"We came back. We won the national championship in 1981, but the best team I ever played on was in 1980.
"Coach Woodson talked about a journey. He's going to lay a foundation. He's going to talk about winning and education.
"All of us who played for Coach (Bob) Knight, we all graduated."
Thomas pointed to the current players.
"To all 17 of you, I left early, I came back and I graduated. Some of you may leave early, but you've gotta come back and get that piece of paper.
"I want to wrap it up by getting back to that journey. There will be some ups and downs, some highs and lows.
"You will be a special part of this in saying you were at school when the journey started. Hopefully you will still be in school when the journey ends with a national championship.
"Those of you who are not in school when that championship banner is hung, take pride in knowing you were at the start of this journey.
"Hoosier Nation, there is no better fan base in the history of college basketball. You have the responsibility to stand up, show up and be part of this."
Woodson spoke before Thomas, and the first thing he said was, "It feels good to be home."
The crowd roared.
Woodson thanked his coaching staff, team trainer Tim Garl, strength coach Clif Marshall, executive assistant Anitra House, his daughters Alexis and Mariah, family and, "the most important person is my wife, Terri. She has road the roller coaster ride with me for 46 years. Now we're back home."
Then he pointed to his team.
"This is not about Mike Woodson. It's about the 17 players who wear this Indiana uniform.
"I came back for you guys. Nothing else. Yes, we have a lot of work to do to get back on top. With your help and support as the greatest fans in college basketball, we will get back on top.
"The reason I say that is I've got 17 players willing to work and willing to let us coach them. We want to give you something to be proud of.
"There's no pressure on you 17 players. My job is to make you better, push you in the right direction on and off the floor.
"There was a guy named Bob Knight who did that for me. I think I turned out just fine, thanks to him."
Woodson wrapped up by pointing to the crowd.
"I want to thank each and every one of you for coming out. We will need you as we navigate this journey to get back on top."
Excitement also resonates for the women's team under coach Teri Moren. IU is coming off its first-ever Elite Eight appearance (with a 21-6 record), and prospects for an even better finish are promising led by standouts Ali Patberg, Grace Berger, Aleksa Gulbe, Nicole Cardano-Hillary and Mackenzie Holmes.
Could a national title be next?
Why not?
"Last year was tremendously challenging (because of the pandemic)," Moren told the crowd, "and what we were able to accomplish was incredible. It took a village.
"We didn't have any positive cases of Covid. That was because of the dedication and discipline and dedication our players and staff made.
"Last year was incredible on so many fronts, to be one game from a Final Four, that's the goal, to play in Final Fours. We had a taste of what that looks like. "
Moren repeated her statement after losing to Arizona in the Elite Eight.
"We will be back.
"We are a work program. We take pride in doing the work. We play with energy, toughness and grittiness. It doesn't guarantee you anything, but it gives us a chance.
"We will always be who we are. We hang our hats on defense. We are tough, gritty and guard hard."
She gestured to her team.
"They are tremendous players, but are even better people. It's a privilege to coach them every day."
Patberg also addressed the crowd.
"Covid had its challenges," she said. "You (the fans) are a big part of who we are and what we do.
"A blessing from Covid is that I had the choice if I wanted to come back. After we went to the Elite Eight, I thought my choice is to come back and have an opportunity to win a national championship.
"This has been home as long as I can remember. Our goal is to bring (a banner) home to the Hall. We need you here -- loud and proud to be a Hoosier."
As far as on-court action, there was a three-point contest, a skills contest, a dunk contest and men's team drill work. Fans saw the men's and women's teams showcase energy that could lead to impressive success.
As Moren said, "I have this feeling we'll be doing that a lot (Higj-Fiving) this year."
In the three-point shooting competition, Berger and Parker Stewart combined to win in the final round by making 32 pointers. Stewart hit nine of his last 10 shots to clinch it.
In the skills competition, which involved dribbling, passing and shooting, Rob Phinisee and Holmes were the winners.
The dunk competition (which included an assist from Isiah Thomas on a Jordan Geronimo dunk) went to Trayce Jackson-Davis.
The event culminated with full-court shooting drills with Woodson miced up.
"Snap the pass," he told his team. "Create Space. Come on, pick it up. Execute. Let's go."
In the aftermath, freshman guard Tamar Bates said, "We've been practicing for two month, and to see people finally here was exciting."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Men's Basketball
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