Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Hysteria Leaves Mark on Newcomers Johnson, Bates
10/5/2021 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A first Hoosier Hysteria was in their rear view mirrors, and guards Tamar Bates and Xavier Johnson had a reflective moment outside the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall locker room.
"He's the GOAT," Johnson said to start it off.
Johnson, a transfer from Pitt, referred to Indiana basketball legend Isiah Thomas, who had talked to the team before a Saturday morning workout, and who would go on to address the 8,000 or so who attended Saturday's Hoosier Hysteria.
The morning talk was a chance for Thomas to inspire and enlighten. The fact that it came from an NBA Hall of Famer and former Hoosier All-America left an impact that could resonate for this season, and beyond.
"He's done a lot here," Johnson said. "He's the GOAT."
That would be Greatest Of All Time, and Johnson got no argument from Bates, a four-star freshman from Kansas by way of Florida's IMG Academy in Bradenton.
"We spoke with him (Saturday) morning," Bates said. "It was a special moment. We know how close he and Coach (Mike) Woodson are. You could feel the love he has for Indiana University. That carried over to the team."
Thomas focused on winning, togetherness and team chemistry.
"He talked about what it takes to win," Bates said. "We have to be together. Everything we do off the court translates to on the court. How we treat each other. The time we spend together. The sharing and caring with each other."
Added Johnson: "The whole time he was talking, I was like, 'Wow, he's in front of us giving us points.'
"One thing I took away is that it's not the most talented team that wins, it's the team that's the most together. That's one thing we have that we want to keep going."
Bates hopes to do what Thomas has done, from playing at an elite level to help IU win a Big Ten and national title to thriving in the NBA.
"He's someone who has done it at every level," Bates said. "Everything he said, I'm going to try to use. He had a lot of knowledge for us. Especially with me being a freshman and that he was in the same position I am. It means a lot."
As far as Hoosier Hysteria, it was the first chance for IU fans to see Woodson's first Hoosier team. A scheduled scrimmage was scrapped because some players were banged up, but drills were run and combined men's and women's team contests were held (dunking, three-point shooting and basketball skills).
All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis won the dunk contest, which didn't surprise Bates, who had seen the junior working on it.
"I was expecting him to take a W on that."
Parker Stewart and Grace Berger combined to take the three-point shooting title. Stewart, who took a while to warm up, hit nine of his last 10 three-pointers to clinch the victory.
Johnson has seen such hot shooting streaks before.
"He got hot and it was game over," Johnson said. "That's just him. He was brought here to shoot, and he does."
Strong perimeter shooting is among ways Woodson seeks to return IU to national relevance. He took the job last spring after nearly a generation of NBA coaching to bring back the program's title-winning ways. IU's last Big Ten championship came in 2016. Its last Final Four appearance was in 2002, and its last national title came in 1987.
What is Woodson like as a coach?
"He's a very good dude," Johnson said. "He's not going to come in and yell automatically, but he's going to be assertive. He wants everybody to be locked in 100 percent. If you're locked in for practice, you'll be locked in during games."
A month before the season opener against Eastern Michigan and Bates sees Hoosier potential.
"It's the will to work. After practice, we have almost the whole team still in there. Guys are working out, putting shots up. It's the wanting to get better. The will to win.
"That's what stood out the most. Guys want to work and want to get better."
Added Johnson: "Practice has been great. Guys are getting better. We're learning a lot of new things."
As for the chance to experience their first Hoosier Hysteria, which was the first time fans were allowed in Assembly Hall since March of 2020, Johnson called it "electric."
Added Bates: "I was excited to hear the noise. Before, all I could do was imagine what it would sound like. It wasn't at full capacity, but it was still good. I was excited to see faces and try to get back to the way it was."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A first Hoosier Hysteria was in their rear view mirrors, and guards Tamar Bates and Xavier Johnson had a reflective moment outside the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall locker room.
"He's the GOAT," Johnson said to start it off.
Johnson, a transfer from Pitt, referred to Indiana basketball legend Isiah Thomas, who had talked to the team before a Saturday morning workout, and who would go on to address the 8,000 or so who attended Saturday's Hoosier Hysteria.
The morning talk was a chance for Thomas to inspire and enlighten. The fact that it came from an NBA Hall of Famer and former Hoosier All-America left an impact that could resonate for this season, and beyond.
"He's done a lot here," Johnson said. "He's the GOAT."
That would be Greatest Of All Time, and Johnson got no argument from Bates, a four-star freshman from Kansas by way of Florida's IMG Academy in Bradenton.
"We spoke with him (Saturday) morning," Bates said. "It was a special moment. We know how close he and Coach (Mike) Woodson are. You could feel the love he has for Indiana University. That carried over to the team."
Thomas focused on winning, togetherness and team chemistry.
"He talked about what it takes to win," Bates said. "We have to be together. Everything we do off the court translates to on the court. How we treat each other. The time we spend together. The sharing and caring with each other."
Added Johnson: "The whole time he was talking, I was like, 'Wow, he's in front of us giving us points.'
"One thing I took away is that it's not the most talented team that wins, it's the team that's the most together. That's one thing we have that we want to keep going."
Bates hopes to do what Thomas has done, from playing at an elite level to help IU win a Big Ten and national title to thriving in the NBA.
"He's someone who has done it at every level," Bates said. "Everything he said, I'm going to try to use. He had a lot of knowledge for us. Especially with me being a freshman and that he was in the same position I am. It means a lot."
As far as Hoosier Hysteria, it was the first chance for IU fans to see Woodson's first Hoosier team. A scheduled scrimmage was scrapped because some players were banged up, but drills were run and combined men's and women's team contests were held (dunking, three-point shooting and basketball skills).
All-America forward Trayce Jackson-Davis won the dunk contest, which didn't surprise Bates, who had seen the junior working on it.
"I was expecting him to take a W on that."
Parker Stewart and Grace Berger combined to take the three-point shooting title. Stewart, who took a while to warm up, hit nine of his last 10 three-pointers to clinch the victory.
Johnson has seen such hot shooting streaks before.
"He got hot and it was game over," Johnson said. "That's just him. He was brought here to shoot, and he does."
Strong perimeter shooting is among ways Woodson seeks to return IU to national relevance. He took the job last spring after nearly a generation of NBA coaching to bring back the program's title-winning ways. IU's last Big Ten championship came in 2016. Its last Final Four appearance was in 2002, and its last national title came in 1987.
What is Woodson like as a coach?
"He's a very good dude," Johnson said. "He's not going to come in and yell automatically, but he's going to be assertive. He wants everybody to be locked in 100 percent. If you're locked in for practice, you'll be locked in during games."
A month before the season opener against Eastern Michigan and Bates sees Hoosier potential.
"It's the will to work. After practice, we have almost the whole team still in there. Guys are working out, putting shots up. It's the wanting to get better. The will to win.
"That's what stood out the most. Guys want to work and want to get better."
Added Johnson: "Practice has been great. Guys are getting better. We're learning a lot of new things."
As for the chance to experience their first Hoosier Hysteria, which was the first time fans were allowed in Assembly Hall since March of 2020, Johnson called it "electric."
Added Bates: "I was excited to hear the noise. Before, all I could do was imagine what it would sound like. It wasn't at full capacity, but it was still good. I was excited to see faces and try to get back to the way it was."
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