My Two Cents: Saturday Was About Future, But 50-Year Flashback Also Wonderful at Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Present Indiana college students don’t know who Steve Downing is. Not solely had been they not born when the graceful huge man almost received a nationwide title for the Hoosiers in 1973, however most of their dad and mom weren’t born both,.

And that does not matter one bit. Not at Indiana. 

At a blueblood program like Indiana, historical past does matter. A lot. It is why it issues that Mike Woodson — like Downing, an Indianapolis native and former Hoosier star — was employed as head coach two years in the past. It was time for Indiana to faucet again into that Bob Knight legacy, and to this point, it is understanding properly.

Saturday reminded us why that issues. Woodson’s Hoosiers opened their 2022-23 basketball season with an exhibition recreation towards Marian College, an NAIA college in Indianapolis that is nationally ranked of their small division. Downing, a long-time administrator at Indiana after his taking part in profession, is the present athletic director at Marian, so establishing the sport simply made sense. One telephone name, and it was completed.

Downing, who’s seven years older than Woodson, has been a buddy since they had been youngsters. Downing was Knight’s first nice participant, although we do must do not forget that Downing was already there earlier than Knight received to Indiana. He was a highschool legend in Indy and performed with George McGinnis on that Indiana Washington group that went undefeated and received the 1969 state title. McGinnis left early for the professionals when Knight arrived, however Downing stayed.

I’ve recognized Mike Woodson for 46 years now and I prefer to suppose I do know all of his tales. However I heard a brand new one on Saturday in the course of the postgame press convention, and I could not assist however chortle. 

We actually do study one thing new on daily basis. 

“Steve Downing, who’s the AD there, is a good, nice buddy of mine and has been for a lot of, a few years,” Woodson stated. “I speak about it on a regular basis. In ’76 when IU was taking part in for the nationwide title, I sat at his home. His spouse cooked a big-ass pot of chili and man, I most likely ate 4, 5, six bowls of that chili, man. I have been ravenous ever since. So I’ll see her right here in a couple of and I’ll inform her, she’s going to get that chili going once more.

“Steve and I’ve been pals for a very long time, and I am pleased with the job he is completed as an AD at Marian and giving them a possibility, I’ll do it yearly that I am right here; that they will are available in right here and play.”

OK, so it’s about chili in spite of everything.

Indiana’s extremely anticipated common season begins Monday, and the Hoosiers will play yet one more exhibition recreation on Thursday, towards St. Francis. These items matter, not the end result a lot as simply getting on the courtroom with one other group, and fine-tuning some issues the Hoosiers have been engaged on for months.

So this was worthwhile, Indiana’s 76-42 win. It was good, and it was enjoyable, getting our first style of the Hoosiers’ spectacular freshman class. And with Downing right here, it was the proper time to honor Indiana’s 1972-73 group at halftime. 

Downing was there, after all, and captain John Ritter, too. They had been the important thing seniors on that group, and Downing was the Massive Ten Participant of the Yr. Steve Ahfeldt and Jerry Memering received good ovations, too. So had been lots of the younger guys who can be part of the good 1975 and 1976 groups a couple of years later. (Knight, who’s now 82 years outdated, didn’t take part.) 

Downing spoke for the group, and received a bit emotional in regards to the return to Meeting Corridor as a gaggle. “I can’t let you know how heartfelt it’s to be again,” he stated.

They had been Knight’s second group at Indiana and the fiery coach, who was simply 32 years outdated on the time, confirmed his greatness that season. Minnesota was the most effective group within the Massive Ten that 12 months, a preseason top-five group that was thought of the heavy favourite to win the league and get the one NCAA Event bid, which is the way it labored again then. Indiana was unranked early, however that modified over time.

The Hoosiers and Gophers break up their regular-season collection, however Indiana received its final 4 video games to win the league by one recreation. They beat Purdue within the season finale on the new Meeting Corridor to seal the deal and get that NCAA berth.

Indiana beat Marquette and Kentucky within the regional, which was one thing of a shock on the time, establishing a gathering with mighty UCLA and middle Invoice Walton.

It was an epic matchup, and the Hoosiers had been within the recreation after erasing an 18-point deficit. Late within the second half, Downing and Walton each had 4 fouls. Downing, who scored 26 factors towards Walton, received his fifth foul on what many thought was a nasty name, together with the Indiana huge man. After he was out, the Hoosiers had nobody who might cease Walton, and UCLA pulled away 70-59

There was nonetheless a third-place recreation again then, and Indiana beat Windfall by 20. That Last 4 expertise would show to be helpful going ahead.

Downing averaged a double-double for the season, with 20.1 factors and 10.6 rebounds a recreation. 5 gamers averaged in double figures, the senior Ritter (15.6) freshman guard Quinn Buckner (10.6) and sophomore forwards John Laskowski (10.3) and Steve Inexperienced (10.1). Jim Crews, who was there Saturday, too, additionally performed loads, however this was just about a six-man group. Tom Abernethy performed some off the bench, too.

It was nice to see so lots of them again in Meeting Corridor on Saturday.

Here is a shaggy dog story about this 1973 group. When Terry Hutchens, my former colleague on the Indianapolis Star, and I had been writing the e book ‘‘Lacking Banners” six years in the past, we had a protracted speak about that group — as a result of we left them out of our closing 5 groups.

Lots of you will have learn the e book, after all, however the idea was that Terry and I regarded again on 5 Indiana groups that would have received a nationwide title however got here up brief. Therefore, the ”lacking” banners. The e book has bought very properly — thanks for that — and it is also led to numerous good, energetic debate.

We tried to steadiness the e book out over time, so the 1975, 1992/93, 2002 and 2013 groups had been apparent alternatives. These chapters are nice. We got here right down to a closing choice on whether or not to incorporate the 1973 group or the 1980 Hoosiers, which was Woodson’s senior 12 months at Indiana and, full disclosure, my senior 12 months, too.  

Terry was leaning extra towards the ’73 season, I used to be siding with the ’80 group, as a result of they had been preseason No. 1, had a miracle end to the Massive Ten season with Woodson returning for the ultimate six video games to win the league. However they misplaced within the regional semifinals to Purdue, the one time the bitter rivals have performed within the NCAA Event.

I lastly received the argument, partly as a result of I used to be writing these chapters and actually wished to relive all of them with Woodson, Isiah Thomas, Ray Tolbert and Steve Risley amongst others. They turned out nice too, I do not thoughts saying, after which Terry included some great things on the ’73 group within the closing chapter, the place we talked a couple of handful of different nice IU groups that did not make the lower.

It was good to see that group once more, as a result of it has been a really very long time since most of them have been collectively. Downing, most likely some of the loyal Bob Knight troopers ever, refused to set foot in Meeting Corridor for years. He even went to Texas Tech to work with Knight when The Basic coached there.

Fortunately, all of that angst has cooled since Knight returned to Meeting Corridor in February of 2020. Downing’s friendship with Woodson, somebody he helped recruit to Indiana, makes that actually straightforward now.

And that is the way in which it must be.

Saturday was loads in regards to the future, seeing Indiana’s gifted younger group, however it was additionally an incredible day to look again, too. 

Fifty years later. So good.

Order your copy of ‘Lacking Banners’

If you have not learn ”Lacking Banners,” it is nonetheless straightforward to get a duplicate. It is accessible on-line at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, amongst others, so simply CLICK HERE to order. 

If you need an autographed copy, I might be pleased to mail you a kind of as properly. Simply ship me an electronic mail at tombrew@hilltop30.com or message me on social media.

Associated tales on Indiana basketball

• GAME STORY: Former highschool teammates Jalen Hood-Schifino and Malik Reneau had dazzling debuts of their first recreation at Indiana, main the Hoosiers to a 74-42 exhibition recreation victory over Marian on Saturday at Meeting Corridor. CLICK HERE
• THOMPSON SHOWS VERSATILITY: Indiana ahead Race Thompson scored 13 factors, six rebounds and two blocks, together with a 3-for-4 night time from 3 throughout Indiana’s exhibition recreation towards Marian on Saturday. CLICK HERE
• WATCH MALIK RENEAU DUNK: Indiana freshman Malik Renau had 12 factors and 7 rebounds at halftime towards Marian and likewise had an enormous dunk. Watch the spotlight right here. CLICK HERE
• WATCH RACE THOMPSON 3-POINTER: Sixth-year ahead Race Thompson hit Indiana’s first 3-point shot of the season on Saturday in an exhibition recreation towards Marian. CLICK HERE
• JACKSON-DAVIS, BATES OUT: Indiana ahead Trayce Jackson-Davis and guard Tamar Bates will not play in Saturday’s exhibition recreation towards Marian College. CLICK HERE