[November 12, 2022] Indiana State (1-0) vs Ball State (1-0)

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I coached Offensive Linemen at a pretty high level for 33 years....Julian Larry reminds me of an Offensive Lineman. He does a lot of things that don't garner him a lot of the limelight, but they help his team win. Defend, steals, occasional rebound, control pace and tempo when needed, dish to scorers, play unselfishly.

Quick story...back in 2003, I was coaching OL for the Evansville Bluecats Indoor Football team. After a game in Austin, TX we're on our way home in the Houston airport when I spot one of my biggest basketball heroes, former Golden State Warrior, Clifford Ray. I called out to him and proceeded to tell him his career history. He asks me what I'm doing in Texas, and I tell him I'm an OL coach, etc. He's standing there wondering "Who the hell is this fat guy, and HOW does he know all of this stuff about me"? Then, I told him, "you were like an Offensive Lineman when you played. Rick Barry and Jamaal Wilkes got all the glory, but you played defense, set picks, rebounded, blocked shots....you did a lot of the dirty work some folks don't see". He got the BIGGEST smile on his face and couldn't thank me enough. He was coaching with the Cavs then, and he was famous for coaching big men in those aspects of the game. I followed up with a quick note to him basically repeating the things I said and Thanked him for taking the time to chat. He replied with a note of his own and told me he was going to save my letter to show to his son some day to show his kid that his dad was a pretty good ball player. (Sorry for hi-jacking this thread).
 

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Had to work late last night and didn’t finish watching the game until late and was too tired to post thoughts

most of what I could say has already been said, but two things did jump out at me.

I was surprised how much Ball State played one on one ball. A lot of possessions with several players just standing around. But it’s early with a new coach and it will take some time for all the players to get on same page. Lewis has some nice pieces and I think they will be a solid team later in the season.

Second, we lose this game last year. When ball state got it down to six a few times, last years team loses composure and wears down. Was very happy to see so many guys get minutes and stay fresh.

Voss is a junk yard dog. He will have off nights but overall he is just a scorer. A guy who finds ways to put the ball in the basket. It is easy to see why HCJS was thrilled to get him back.

Gibson is another guy that was a great find. Sneaky, crafty whatever you want to call him. The guy knows how to play.

Will be curious to see if JS can keep finding transfers like this that fit to a T what he wants in a player.
 
Westbadenboy said:
I think ticket office opens an hour before game time (1:00 PM --- Game at 2:00)
Unfortunately you should have no problem getting a lower bowl ticket -- wish I were saying no way, big game today, you'll be lucky to get a ticket at all.
Near sellout...........but not the case. Campus likely empty (all gone home to see high school girlfriends/boy friends) and Terre Haute folks are, well Terre Haute folks.
This game should be a good one with both teams looking to have pretty good years. Realistically there should be 6,000 -- 7,000 there at least.
But more likely 3500 to 4500.
I will say this, I was at the Green Bay game and the crowd, while small, was into the game. Best energy I felt in Hulman Center in a while.
And the updates --- lighting, sound, seating, and especially the new video boards are really nice. As always, the best basketball arena to watch a game in all of Indiana. Mackey Arena --- great crowds, loud, but bench seats ??? IU --- are you kidding me......two large theatrical auditoriums smashed together with a basketball court squeezed in between them. Notre Dame --- gotta say pretty nice, blows Hulman away with the concourse graphics and visuals (ISU is not allowed to put anything around the concourse about sports, etc. -- not allowed .......believe it or not.....no graphics, pictures, etc.
True Story). Hinkle, because of the history is very cool and the updates well done ....when the Bulldogs are good its great.
But Hulman Center now just needs one additional component ------
About 6000 more butts in the seats.
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Could you expand on your comment about not being allowed to put graphics around the concourse? Never heard that before.
 
When HC was initially managed by the City of TH (Civic-University arrangement), Cliff Lambert was on payroll as HC Mgr. His focus over his 1/4 century of policy was to project a "multi-use image" of HC for marketing purposes. As such, ISU BB teams often were prohibited from practicing on their own HOME COURT. Lambert was also responsible for prohibiting the adornment of both ISU or TH high school memorabilia in the OUTER CONCOURSE in an effort to PRESERVE the "multi-purpose imaging." This sterility ended when Lambert "retired," and I recall reading somewhere where ISU now manages the facility.
 
It was all hands on deck for media yesterday, turned on football after the game to hear John Sherman on the call. Tabco would get a lot of run with this basketball team
 

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FanSinceArenaDays said:
The only negative I will throw out there is that the ISU Spirit Team is pathetic. They need new young leadership to put some hops in them. About the worst group "performing" in years. That is all.
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I'm glad someone else notices this, our cheerleaders are awful, we've commented on this for years, they do nothing to motivate the crowd, they stand around and wave their pom poms and that's it, very unmotivating.
 
Blue2U --- this is another in the many sad stories associated with ISU, a school that many of us love and our proud of many things about the school. But while all institutions experience some elements of this story, no one does it "better" than ISU. From the dismal failure to take advantage of the Larry Bird years, the obvious mistake of building a football stadium several miles from campus, incredibly poor basketball coach hirings for many years, failure to build basketball program after Menser/Renn years, having the top gymnastic in the world and probably the top wrestler in the world at almost the same time as ISU was rated the #1 team in IAA football (now called FCS), allowing the almost total destruction of our football program a couple of times .......well, I could go on and on.
I sat in the AD's office noting our total lack of attempting to schedule some high profile national teams in the years after Larry (which we had the opportunity to do) --- I was told ISU expected to draw 6000 -- 7000 in non-conference games and around 8000 for MVC games .....hummm. Hold did that work out ?
So Bankshot is exactly correct -- Lambert and others blocked every attempt at trying to promote ISU sports (or even the university itself). It took years to even get some of the trophies from our NCAA success to get into display cases. Probably the main reason those orange/yellow seats showed up was to avoid promoting ISU sports.
Unfortunately Bankshot if only partially correct about the situation now. ISU does now have major control over Hulman Center. But the policy of not promoting ISU, especially it sports remains intact.
Thinking that the failure to dress up the incredibly sterile concourses and the build-in display cases after the renovation, I contacted several top ISU officials, offering ideas.. I got no response. Yes after contacting three separate folks I got nothing. Zip...zero response. I contacted a fourth top official and was able to have a nice conversation about the situation. I will not reveal any names.
Bottom line, forces inside the university oppose any decor in Hulman Center that promotes ISU sports -- the early years with things like John Wooden, the role Indiana State in advancing African American players ........I could go on and on. Not allowed .....Nope. Isn't going to happen. Not just basketball, maybe include decor promoting other programs ....music, education, business, theater, etc. Nope
How about some nice large panels that could display panels that could be stored and then rolled out in that beautiful, but bare space on the south end during games ??? Ain't happening folks.
I could make many comments in addition to the above, but bottom line is still ---- a major university with tremendous potential that misses opportunity after opportunity. Short of storming the offices of top leaders at ISU by hundreds of Varsity Club members, fans, and students I see no chance anything changes.
I'll be at the North Dakota State game Thursday enjoying the team, the look and feel inside the arena and while going to the restroom or stretching my legs at halftime I'll enjoy that plain, sterile fresh paint out in the concourse.
Go Sycamores -- let's go 3 - 0
 

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Am I correct in mentioning that the player intro intro is void of 79 team highlights?
I do like the start with Waltman, I also like the build at the end of the song...not a fan of the fizzle after the build.
 
Huff77 said:
Am I correct in mentioning that the player intro intro is void of 79 team highlights?
I do like the start with Waltman, I also like the build at the end of the song...not a fan of the fizzle after the build.
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The video kinda sucks. I like the Waltman part and the renovation pieces. But other than that, it's pretty bland. And the PA guy is awful. He mumbles most of the time, can't understand what he's saying.

But other than that, this team is incredibly fun to watch. I prefer this style of play than the predecessor, who liked to grind it out and hope to score 60. I think fans are gonna love this style, if they don't already. I thought it was a very nice crowd. It could have been louder but ISU is terrible at getting people hyped up.

Looking forward to being again on Thursday. Hope to see some of you at a game sometime.
 
landrus13 said:
The video kinda sucks. I like the Waltman part and the renovation pieces. But other than that, it's pretty bland. And the PA guy is awful. He mumbles most of the time, can't understand what he's saying.
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This is by far the worst pregame video I have seen them put out. Pretty disappointing with the new boards and sound system.
 
I would like to see highlights of big moments our current players have had, like they have with Larry's dunk from the MTE we played in last year. I would also like to see big Hulman Center moments, Menser's miracle, whipping Purdue's ass, the Butler win they currently use is okay too. Beating Bradley to win the MVC regular season title....you know, things like that.
 

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Who ultimately makes the decisions on the pregame highlights,etc? Someone should send them the recommendations mentioned above.
 
BlueBleeder said:
I would like to see highlights of big moments our current players have had, like they have with Larry's dunk from the MTE we played in last year. I would also like to see big Hulman Center moments, Menser's miracle, whipping Purdue's ass, the Butler win they currently use is okay too. Beating Bradley to win the MVC regular season title....you know, things like that.
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THIS x 1,000,000,000! I mean come on, we have TONS of Hulman center historical highlights, both present and past, to put together an awesome pregame video! Get the crowd hyped up because the damn cheerleaders aren't doing it!
 
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