A Rocking Hoosier Hysteria and the Case for Anthony Leal
10/7/2022 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Anthony Leal couldn't dance. A walking boot limited the Indiana junior guard to a Hoosier Hysteria introduction stroll.
No matter. Jordan Geronimo danced for him, while other men's and women's players jogged and jumped their way into Friday night's latest light-and-sound basketball extravaganza at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"This arena has always rocked," coach Mike Woodson said. "We have the greatest fans in college basketball."
Hoosier Hysteria has evolved well beyond its Midnight Madness debut days, when it was just a very late practice with none of the put-on-a-show-for-fans-and-recruits celebration now seen on campuses around the country.
Friday night's Cream n' Crimson spectacle included a six-minute men's scrimmage and team competitions, with ESPN's Courtney Cronin and NFL Network's Rhett Lewis as co-emcees. Both are Indiana University graduates with nationally renowned broadcast experience. Lewis also works with Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer as part of IU's football radio broadcast team.
The aftermath featured a concert by G Herbo, a Chicago native and platinum-selling rapper.
Leal has been here before as a player and, before that, a fan. The former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South has had a life-long love affair with the university and program.
With 10,000 or so cheering fans, a BTN-plus streaming audience and DJ Gno rocking a high-energy musical beat that included Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson and John Mellencamp, love was on full display, and if it didn't allow Leal to participate (an injury has temporarily sidelined him), it didn't stop him from basking with his fellow Hoosiers amid Cream 'n Crimson possibilities.
What are those?
"A Big Ten title and a national title," Woodson told Cronin to a huge roar.
Or, as freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino put it, "If we put in the work, we'll get what we want."
Beyond the scrimmage, the team of Mackenzie Holmes, Race Thompson and ex-Hoosier Collin Hartman won the skills competition. The team of Miller Kopp and Chloe Moore-McNeill took the three-point shooting crown.
All this was done several hours after IU's pro day brought in multiple NBA scouts to assess Hoosier players draft prospects through drills and a scrimmage.
This was the first public display of IU powerhouse potential. Both the men's and women's teams have Big Ten title aspirations and beyond. Both are loaded with standout veterans (Trayce Jackson-Davis is the Big Ten men's preseason player of the year, a Hoosier first since Cody Zeller in 2012; Grace Berger and Holmes are all-Big Ten performers) and elite newcomers.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Woodson said. "I love the guys we've assembled on this team. As I've said before, it's not about me. It's about these 17 guys."
As for a rugged non-conference schedule that includes games against top-25 teams North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona and Xavier, Woodson said, "We have a competitive schedule, but you can't be scared of competition. My job to push these guys and get them over the hump. I think our players are up for the challenge."
Moren has led IU to Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances in the last two seasons.
What's next?
"Let's see -- Sweet 16, Elite 8 …. a Final Four!" Moren said. She pointed to one of the five men's NCAA national championship banners.
"And then we want one of those!"
Asked about Berger and Holmes, Moren said, "Everyone knows how important they both have been, but they will be the first to tell you, we haven't done anything yet. There's so much more they want to accomplish. They are so competitive. They love being an Indiana Hoosier."
Hoosier success includes players making their marks on and off the court.
Consider Leal, who sees beyond basketball, who understands there's a world that doesn't require jump shots or rebounding or attacking the basket.
Take, for instance, real estate.
Yes, Leal has pro basketball visions (see Jordan Hull, another ex-Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington South who recently ended his nine-year pro career to become IU's team and recruiting coordinator), but he's also a realist and an academic all-Big Ten choice. He has options beyond sports, and thanks to this new NIL (Name Image License) era, he can explore them and make money.
He got his real-estate license last summer.
"It's a market that will never go away," he says. "People will always need houses or a place to do business. I see a lot of potential there.
"(IU's Kelley School of Business) prepares us really well. I'm looking at what's the best way for me to maximize the NIL with business. Much of my time outside of basketball is devoted to business and real estate and trying to learn that industry and make as much money as I can.
"That's the mindset. It's a starting place. See where it goes."
As far as basketball, Leal still awaits break-through playing opportunity. He averaged 1.6 points as a freshman and 1.9 points as a sophomore. Last season, he played in 17 of the 35 games, and started two while averaging 10.3 minutes. He shot 40.7 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from three-point range, and had 18 assists against seven turnovers.
With the addition of talented freshman guards Hood-Schifino and C.J. Gunn, and the return of veterans Xavier Johnson, Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates, there's no guarantee playing time will increase.
"I feel like everybody does, I want to play and start," Leal says. "At the same time, I'm here Indiana; I'm at home; my family is nearby.
"I'm here for the right reasons. It's been up and down, but I remind myself I used to dream about wearing this jersey and now I get to wear it. There's no reason for me to freak out or get down on myself."
So, the 6-5 Leal works to improve. He's lost eight pounds since his freshman year (to 202 pounds), and gained strength. He's improved his basketball skills and fitness.
"At the end of last season," Leal says, "we all had individual meetings with the coaches and talked about ways to get better.
"I'm stronger, quicker and faster. I've improved my basketball skills and confidence."
Improvement includes his mental approach.
"It's a combination of a lot of things. Watching film, studying, praying. A lot of it comes with maturity and experience I have from having two full years of college basketball. I understand what it requires mentally, and what I need to be ready to take it on."
As for team prospects, which include that rigorous schedule, Leal says, "I'm thrilled. We have a lot of big games. We're excited about that.
"But we're also taking it one day at a time. We compete in practice every day. We trust in our coaches and are working to get as good as we can as a team so when these games come, we're prepared to rise to the occasion."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Anthony Leal couldn't dance. A walking boot limited the Indiana junior guard to a Hoosier Hysteria introduction stroll.
No matter. Jordan Geronimo danced for him, while other men's and women's players jogged and jumped their way into Friday night's latest light-and-sound basketball extravaganza at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"This arena has always rocked," coach Mike Woodson said. "We have the greatest fans in college basketball."
Hoosier Hysteria has evolved well beyond its Midnight Madness debut days, when it was just a very late practice with none of the put-on-a-show-for-fans-and-recruits celebration now seen on campuses around the country.
Friday night's Cream n' Crimson spectacle included a six-minute men's scrimmage and team competitions, with ESPN's Courtney Cronin and NFL Network's Rhett Lewis as co-emcees. Both are Indiana University graduates with nationally renowned broadcast experience. Lewis also works with Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer as part of IU's football radio broadcast team.
The aftermath featured a concert by G Herbo, a Chicago native and platinum-selling rapper.
Leal has been here before as a player and, before that, a fan. The former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South has had a life-long love affair with the university and program.
With 10,000 or so cheering fans, a BTN-plus streaming audience and DJ Gno rocking a high-energy musical beat that included Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson and John Mellencamp, love was on full display, and if it didn't allow Leal to participate (an injury has temporarily sidelined him), it didn't stop him from basking with his fellow Hoosiers amid Cream 'n Crimson possibilities.
What are those?
"A Big Ten title and a national title," Woodson told Cronin to a huge roar.
Or, as freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino put it, "If we put in the work, we'll get what we want."
Beyond the scrimmage, the team of Mackenzie Holmes, Race Thompson and ex-Hoosier Collin Hartman won the skills competition. The team of Miller Kopp and Chloe Moore-McNeill took the three-point shooting crown.
All this was done several hours after IU's pro day brought in multiple NBA scouts to assess Hoosier players draft prospects through drills and a scrimmage.
This was the first public display of IU powerhouse potential. Both the men's and women's teams have Big Ten title aspirations and beyond. Both are loaded with standout veterans (Trayce Jackson-Davis is the Big Ten men's preseason player of the year, a Hoosier first since Cody Zeller in 2012; Grace Berger and Holmes are all-Big Ten performers) and elite newcomers.
"We've got a lot of work ahead of us," Woodson said. "I love the guys we've assembled on this team. As I've said before, it's not about me. It's about these 17 guys."
As for a rugged non-conference schedule that includes games against top-25 teams North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona and Xavier, Woodson said, "We have a competitive schedule, but you can't be scared of competition. My job to push these guys and get them over the hump. I think our players are up for the challenge."
Moren has led IU to Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances in the last two seasons.
What's next?
"Let's see -- Sweet 16, Elite 8 …. a Final Four!" Moren said. She pointed to one of the five men's NCAA national championship banners.
"And then we want one of those!"
Asked about Berger and Holmes, Moren said, "Everyone knows how important they both have been, but they will be the first to tell you, we haven't done anything yet. There's so much more they want to accomplish. They are so competitive. They love being an Indiana Hoosier."
Hoosier success includes players making their marks on and off the court.
Consider Leal, who sees beyond basketball, who understands there's a world that doesn't require jump shots or rebounding or attacking the basket.
Take, for instance, real estate.
Yes, Leal has pro basketball visions (see Jordan Hull, another ex-Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington South who recently ended his nine-year pro career to become IU's team and recruiting coordinator), but he's also a realist and an academic all-Big Ten choice. He has options beyond sports, and thanks to this new NIL (Name Image License) era, he can explore them and make money.
He got his real-estate license last summer.
"It's a market that will never go away," he says. "People will always need houses or a place to do business. I see a lot of potential there.
"(IU's Kelley School of Business) prepares us really well. I'm looking at what's the best way for me to maximize the NIL with business. Much of my time outside of basketball is devoted to business and real estate and trying to learn that industry and make as much money as I can.
"That's the mindset. It's a starting place. See where it goes."
As far as basketball, Leal still awaits break-through playing opportunity. He averaged 1.6 points as a freshman and 1.9 points as a sophomore. Last season, he played in 17 of the 35 games, and started two while averaging 10.3 minutes. He shot 40.7 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from three-point range, and had 18 assists against seven turnovers.
With the addition of talented freshman guards Hood-Schifino and C.J. Gunn, and the return of veterans Xavier Johnson, Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates, there's no guarantee playing time will increase.
"I feel like everybody does, I want to play and start," Leal says. "At the same time, I'm here Indiana; I'm at home; my family is nearby.
"I'm here for the right reasons. It's been up and down, but I remind myself I used to dream about wearing this jersey and now I get to wear it. There's no reason for me to freak out or get down on myself."
So, the 6-5 Leal works to improve. He's lost eight pounds since his freshman year (to 202 pounds), and gained strength. He's improved his basketball skills and fitness.
"At the end of last season," Leal says, "we all had individual meetings with the coaches and talked about ways to get better.
"I'm stronger, quicker and faster. I've improved my basketball skills and confidence."
Improvement includes his mental approach.
"It's a combination of a lot of things. Watching film, studying, praying. A lot of it comes with maturity and experience I have from having two full years of college basketball. I understand what it requires mentally, and what I need to be ready to take it on."
As for team prospects, which include that rigorous schedule, Leal says, "I'm thrilled. We have a lot of big games. We're excited about that.
"But we're also taking it one day at a time. We compete in practice every day. We trust in our coaches and are working to get as good as we can as a team so when these games come, we're prepared to rise to the occasion."
Players Mentioned
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