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Post by lmills72 on Oct 23, 2015 10:11:00 GMT -6
OK, three weeks from today the 2015-16 Cardinals begin the season at Bradley. Since news out of the basketball program seems to be lacking, I thought I'd throw this out to help us pass the time.
Name a favorite. Favorite player. Favorite play. Favorite game. Favorite coach. Favorite memory.etc.
I'll start with this, not necessarily my favorite memory and not really about a Cardinal, but ... .
I think it had to be in the early ’80s during Ray's last years as a player and when I think the CVC Classic was still an event. One of the visiting teams that year was Louisiana Tech, who I believe had a freshman named Karl Malone. I believe the Cardinals won the tournament, but I remember thinking what an injustice it would be if anyone other than this impressive young LaTech kid was named tournament MVP. As I recall, the voters agreed and Malone did at least take home that honor.
I think this kinda sticks with me because it was the first time I'd really seen an athlete of that caliber (even though he was young and unpolished) up close and personal.
I think when some folks talk about bringing quality opponents to Worthen, these are the type of memories they want to create for fans. Obviously, I doubt the people who scheduled LaTech that year had any idea about the player they were bringing in. Sometimes you get lucky, I guess.
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Post by thebsukid on Oct 23, 2015 12:21:40 GMT -6
My favorite play was when I believe Chandler Thompson dunked over Felton Spencer of Louisville and my favorite game was beating Oregon State when we hit the free throw with no time remaining to win 51-50. I was at both games...terrific! And, probably my favorite memory was going to the Maui with my family where we beat Kansas on a Petie Jackson runner 92-90, and went on to clobber UCLA, and then lost in the Final to a great Duke team when Lonnie Jones came out do to asthma.
Its been 15 years since we've had these type of strong teams...maybe soon again....
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Post by rusty on Oct 23, 2015 12:31:44 GMT -6
My favorite game was in the former Men's gym Chandler Thompson was the point in the 1-3-1 zone. Jamerson of Miami was their star. Thompson stole the ball several times with spectacular jumping and converted them into monster dunks. Favorite single play was again Thompson dunking a put back against UNLV. Favorite player Bill Gillis. Favorite coach has to be Majeris. Favorite memory Sweet 16.
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jam
Freshman
I get all the news I need on the weather report.
Posts: 97
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Post by jam on Oct 23, 2015 12:43:58 GMT -6
Lots of favorite games/moments to recall. During our Sweet 16 run after losing to UNLV, welcoming the team back to the University Gym and the electricity in the building that night was very special.
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Post by redfeather on Oct 23, 2015 14:10:19 GMT -6
I have several special memories of Ball State BB team especially the Sweet 16 year. But two other games stand out for me. One was the year prior to the sweet sixteen run and it was when we laid one on Purdue at Irwin gym. I was living out of state and my brother called me and put the phone up to his radio and I listen to last few minutes of the game. That was special beating them. The other was when I was a freshman and I was able to watch a guy from ISU come in to our place and simply dominate the game. Yeah you guessed it...it was Larry Bird.
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Post by lmills72 on Oct 23, 2015 21:03:29 GMT -6
I have several special memories of Ball State BB team especially the Sweet 16 year. But two other games stand out for me. One was the year prior to the sweet sixteen run and it was when we laid one on Purdue at Irwin gym. I was living out of state and my brother called me and put the phone up to his radio and I listen to last few minutes of the game. That was special beating them. The other was when I was a freshman and I was able to watch a guy from ISU come in to our place and simply dominate the game. Yeah you guessed it...it was Larry Bird. Yeah, that's what I was really looking for in terms of memories. Figured everyone would love the NCAA/Sweet 16 team (and deservedly so), Chandler's dunk, etc., but it's those other games/times that stick with people that I was more interested in. I find the Bill Gillis comment interesting and it makes me wonder which players actually make an imprint on fans for whatever reasons. Most of the top scorers in the school's history have played in the last 20-30 years, so most people on these boards saw them play. But is anyone's favorite Cardinal Bonzi (No.1 in scoring), or Ray (No. 2), or Derrick Wesley (No. 4) or Jarrod Jones (No. 6)? Personally, I have a fondness for Ray, but I wonder if more people are drawn to the players who weren't primarily scorers, those who made the dynamic players (Chandler) or worked the boards or just held the team together.
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Post by swenocha on Oct 23, 2015 22:19:16 GMT -6
Since I attended Elem/Middle/HS/College with Chandler, he's always my go-to for this kind of thing. Not discounting his abilities, but it's probably more personal than anything. So... I think I'll list a top 5 (though I'm sure if you asked me tomorrow, my top 5 might be wildly different). I'll include Ray, Paris, Gillis, Payne, and CT. That right there would be a nice lineup. So many good players over the years, that it's hard to settle on one or even five.
As for moments... 3 second miracle, CT's dunks in the tournament, that Purdue game, Paris facing off with Larranaga, Butts going crazy during the MAC tournament, etc.
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Post by rmcalhoun on Oct 24, 2015 21:04:01 GMT -6
I was not around for the sweet 16 run so my first games were during the Bonzi years. Im going to throw an oddball out there though and say one of my favorite memories is Chris Williams going off against Akron
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Post by 00hmh on Oct 25, 2015 10:35:14 GMT -6
Thanks to all for reminding us how it felt to go to Basketball games, not so long ago! Mind numbing spirit killing play recently hasn't killed Ball State basketball with that history.
Players like Chandler and Ray and Bonzi were awfully good players, and also brought in the local fans and created more buzz. And when Billy Butts or Pete Jackson, who maybe didn't have quite that level of talent were here, they still had tremendous local appeal. Palombizio brought us some star quality. I am not sure we'll ever have that big local connection again, but it is part of our history. Majerus created some magic, and I think put us on a national map with a team not centered on local stars, added that element of a great team that played hard. We may not have that personality back, yet, but we can use that model and get back to winning games and making big plays!
Basketball used to be fun...it's been a long run without the big moments. We have some players now, and they do have the talent to put up big games and hit some big shots.
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Post by swenocha on Oct 25, 2015 11:05:23 GMT -6
Not disagreeing with most of what you said, but Majerus and Hunsaker's teams included several local players, including Butts, Miller, Parrish, Haynes, Barber, and CT. By 1989, two starters and first two off of the bench were Indiana products and were 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th leading scorers on the season. So saying those teams were not centered on local stars may be debatable. Otherwise, I agree with your assessment.
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Post by 00hmh on Oct 25, 2015 12:16:28 GMT -6
Not disagreeing with most of what you said, but Majerus and Hunsaker's teams included several local players, including Butts, Miller, Parrish, Haynes, Barber, and CT. By 1989, two starters and first two off of the bench were Indiana products and were 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th leading scorers on the season. So saying those teams were not centered on local stars may be debatable. Otherwise, I agree with your assessment. Yes, I do agree with your point, and like it that we have Indiana kids now in the program. Good to mention those players like Miller and Parrish and the rest. I was also trying to link up the way we remember star players and sometimes don't remember the really good players who can make up a great team, sometimes without that single individual highlight. I was also just remembering the whole community buy in with the Muncie Central stars and our Indiana Mr Basketball/Purdue star, who really fired up the crowd and added something special in the way of star power. We have had so many other really good players who aren't remembered quite as well as the local kids. I especially remember an extremely talented player recruit in T Smith who might have had some more acclaim and be remembered much more, but both suffered injury and maybe never quite played up to his talent level. Still had an NBA career better than everyone except Bonzi. Local fans surely appreciate the locals more, and I hope they appreciate how good the Indiana players we have now can be. I think our success will be based on overall talent more than a single standout, more like Majerus/Hunsaker, actually.
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Post by williamtsherman on Oct 25, 2015 17:01:00 GMT -6
I'm trying to remember my favorite games, but they were so long ago, I'm getting them mixed up with Shiloh and Vicksburg.
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Post by 00hmh on Oct 25, 2015 20:24:52 GMT -6
I'm trying to remember my favorite games, but they were so long ago, I'm getting them mixed up with Shiloh and Vicksburg. Yeah, maybe this is like Shiloh. You get beaten badly first, huddle in the dark, regroup and when reinforcements arrive in the dead of night at the darkest hour you have a chance to win. Remember war is hell.
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Post by calpoly on Oct 26, 2015 9:43:15 GMT -6
John Williams is still my favorite. Had a couple of classes with him---great guy. The Purdue win at home was an incredible atmosphere. Lots of great coaches along the way too, especially after getting to know them. Would like to see Whitford become my favorite
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Post by williamtsherman on Oct 26, 2015 12:08:33 GMT -6
Yes, the Purdue win at home was probably my favorite also.
Others that I witnessed:
Beating Miami to open the new arena Beating Pitt at the Hoosier dome Beating Oregon St. in Utah Various MAC tourney wins where Billy Butts went wild.
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