For Holmes, Record Set, Focus Remains -- Win
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana women’s basketball scoring record is, at last, in Mackenzie Holmes’ rear-view mirror. So is the water dousing from teammates, the hugs from head coach Teri Moren, associate head coach Rhet Wierzba, assistant coach Ali Patberg (a former teammate) and her fellow Hoosiers, the cheers from a Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd of more than 13,000, the season sweep of rival Purdue highlighted by Sunday’s 95-62 victory, the congratulatory video messages, the embracing of family and friends and former teammates.
Now, IU’s All-American graduate student center, officially the greatest scorer in program history, can focus on what drives her -- winning championships. With a 20-3 record and a No. 14 national ranking, the Hoosiers are poised for a big run.
“I tried to let things come to me,” Holmes says. “People talked about it. I knew it was within reach for me, but I didn’t come back for a fifth year to break the scoring record. I came back to win a Big Ten championship, win a national championship.”
Success is always best savored when you share it with those you care about. Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall was full of caring Sunday afternoon, full of celebrating, of contemplating and, yes, of crying.
“I’m extremely thankful,” Holmes says. “I’ve played with some amazing people. I’ve played for the best coaches in the country. It’s special to wear Indiana across my chest every day. It’s one of the greatest blessings in my life.”
Blessing produced a record five years in the making -- 2,365 points, one more than guard Tyra Buss scored from 2014-18.
“I knew it was a matter of time,” Moren says. “I wanted her to do it (at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall). That worked out.”
Buss was a do-it-all guard who scored anywhere on the court. Holmes breaks opposing team's hearts in the paint, dominating with textbook footwork and post moves combined with a surgeon’s touch.
“Mackenzie is an exceptional player,” senior guard Chloe Moore-McNeil says. “She amazes me every time I step on the court with her.”
Holmes entered Sunday’s fourth quarter with 11 points -- six away from breaking the record.
The decisive points came at the 5:15 mark via guard Yarden Garzon’s pass, which Moren set up after watching three straight rushed offensive possessions including a missed Holmes layup -- and a 7-0 Purdue run. Moren called a timeout to get everyone settled and drew up a play to get Holmes the ball in the low post in a situation where Purdue couldn’t double-team her.
“That requires patience from your team and we lacked some patience,” Moren says. “We got Yarden back in there because we knew she could deliver the goods. She did. We finally got there. It was great to see it go in.”
Adds Holmes: “I could feel the energy. When I was one bucket away, I knew. It was a matter of letting things come to me. I knew my teammates would come to me. I wasn’t worried.”
This is the latest highlight in a career full of them. Holmes has been a finalist for every major national award, including the Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy, the Lisa Leslie Award and the Wade Trophy. Last year, she was the Big Ten defensive player of the year.
Oh, she’s also made academic All-America
Moore-McNeil has seen many of Holmes’ difference-making moments -- in games, in practices, in life.
“I’m happy for a teammate who has achieved such a great accomplishment. She deserves it.”
Moren saw indications of a dominant player while recruiting Holmes at Maine’s Gorham High School, where she won two state titles and averaged 30.1 points and 16.7 rebounds as a senior. Holmes also excelled for the AAU-team Maine Firecrackers.
“You could see glimpses of the ‘If’ -- if she got on the strength and conditioning program, if she got to work with a staff who would pour into her,” Moren says. “If she did that, she could become what she’s become.”
Beyond that, Moren adds, “she had such exceptional footwork. Her hands are soft. She could score with her left or right hand, better with her left although she’s right-handed.”
Moren has built a national powerhouse -- nine straight 20-win seasons -- by recruiting beyond statistics and basketball skills. Hustle matters. Character matters. Leadership and being a good teammate matter.
“Those are the intangible things I look for,” Moren says. “I want to see how players are when they’re being coached; how they are with their teammates; if they’re for their teammates.”
Holmes was all of that, along with a willingness and ability to thrive at a full-throttle pace.
“What I loved about her was her commitment to running the floor,” Moren says. “She was a 5 (center) who sprinted the floor every possession. You just don’t see a lot of 5s like that who are that committed to running. That sold me.”
Holmes’ evolution goes way beyond basketball. She arrived in Bloomington uncomfortable in public settings.
“She was shy and couldn’t give you eye contact,” Moren says, “and now she talks to the media, to people; she represents our program well. She has no problem with eye contact and articulating thoughts. I’m so proud of her.”
Growth comes through challenges, through the highs and lows of college athletics -- wins, losses, tough practices, sub-par performances, grueling travel. It’s always -- always -- about what happens when you get knocked down.
“She’s had moments where it’s been difficult for her,” Moren says. “She puts a lot of pressure on herself. I’d like to tell you that she’s uber confident, but she’s not uber confident all the time. She has struggled with that. We had many moments where we tried to instill confidence because she lacked that. She has been a work in progress.
“She has matured. She’s become tougher with all the challenges she’s had to go through. That’s the blessing of being a student athlete. It changes you.”
Change finds Holmes having never lost to Purdue, which adds to the record-breaking moment’s significance. The teams could meet a final time in next month’s Big Ten tourney in Minneapolis.
“This rivalry means a lot to a lot of people,” Holmes says. “We take it very seriously.”
Still ahead of Holmes in scoring are a couple of IU men’s basketball legends. Calbert Cheaney is the all-time Big Ten scoring leader with 2,613 points. Steve Alford finished with 2,438.
The Hoosiers have five more regular season games, and as many as nine postseason games if they reach the finals of theBig Ten and NCAA tourneys.
If Holmes maintains her season scoring average of 20.3 points, she’d pass them both by reaching the Final Four.
A lot can happen before then, with road games at Wisconsin and at Illinois are next before the much-anticipated, sold-out Feb. 22 rematch with No. 4 Iowa (22-3) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers are tied with the Hawkeyes for second in the Big Ten with 11-2 records. Second-ranked Ohio State leads at 12-1, 21-3 overall.
“She said this has been a huge weight off her shoulders and she’s happy that it’s behind us,” Moren says. “Now, we can move forward.”
Or, as Holmes puts it, “The record was never my main focus. I focus on the task at hand and that’s winning.”
