As I sit here in a Hampton hotel in Medford, OR - after leaving work early due to strep throat - sweating out a fever but can't sleep - I'm still smiling. See, I know why I'm currently sick, or at least I think I do. When you are yelling at the top of your lungs for an extended period of time and then hop a plane the next day plus limited sleep - it's bound to happen. I blame you, Iowa State Men's Basketball.
But who's mad? Not me.
Instead, I've got Monday night's game streaming thru my AppleTV connected to the Phillips TV in the hotel room, enjoying a Monday Miracle replay on senior night against a damn good Oklahoma squad. Now some may have hit the fastforward until the final 15 minutes and I was tempted to do so - believe me. But, I didn't. Life of a devoted Cyclone fan is feeling that cruel pain and when the sweet victory comes, it's that much better.
I know Monday night was my last game in Hilton on a regular basis - as sooner than later the wife and I will be residents of a Denver, CO suburb. I can't wait for that day to finally arrive yet it will be bitter sweet - Iowa State athletics are a huge part of our lives. Right, wrong or indifferent - it's likely the #1 thing we will miss. Family and friends can be visited or visit us. But it just won't be the same not going to Ames for most Saturday's in the fall or even more often during the winter. You just can't replace it. Sure, we'll come back to Iowa and attend some games, but we certainly won't be at all of them.
I remember walking into the arena Monday night, going thru the same ticket lane we always do and seeing the same ticket staff as we do every week. I hold out my ticket one "last" time and she scans it, beep - and we're on our way in. Honestly, I'm not even barely onto the outer concourse and my eyes are no longer dry. ****, they're not dry now.
For 10 years we've been season ticket holders for ISU MBB. We've certainly not attended every game and this year we've attended far less than I've wanted due to my work travel - but we've been at a ton of them - seeing some disappointment along the way but oh so many Hilton Magic moments. Monday night, no exception. And not to be left out, football season ticket holders since 2002 buying tickets for the first time shortly after we married, missing only 3 home games (all for wedding related bull-****) in the entire span.
The opening tip Monday night was a cluster, both guys barely touch the ball and then it ends up in Hogue's hands (illegally and no call) - who starts the game with a turnover by tossing back on the other side of the line. Likely should have been an indication of how the first half would go.
Up in section 210 we have a pretty good group. The couple next to us are the grandparents we never had, but wish we did. They've been at this way longer than us - but still passionate as ever. There is an old guy behind us that quits faster than anyone I've ever met, he's seen way more than I and is likely beaten down. But damn, this is Hoiball we're talking about. And then the kid right in front of us. Likely around 7th grade or so. Always a huge smile on his face, like each game is his first ever. Love that kid. Hate that kid too, because I'm jealous I wasn't going to these games when I was his age.
That first half was rather rough, team is flat and the crowds is mostly sitting on their hands. Hard not to when ISU scores just 18 points in a half of basketball. You gotta go back to the early McDermott era to find one like that. And we thought last year's senior night first half point total of 24 (I think) against Oklahoma State was pathetic. Woof.
The games I've had the pleasure of seeing in Hilton - well - special. I go back to before my season ticket days to the 2001 (I think) home KU game on a cold January Saturday. 1pm tip, my brother scores me a student ticket so we are waiting outside Hilton for hours before the game in the freezing cold just so we can get a better seat in the mad dash into the arena. Great game, awesome victory. More recently - last season ISU takes down 2 good Big10 teams at home. Michigan, most expected to beat ISU - especially with a dinged up Ejim who wasn't even expected to play. But, it's ******* Ejim - of course he's gonna play. Behind nearly the entire game to Iowa until a late run. Niang with a super-sexy reverse layup. Gessell ******* himself on 2 FTs with the crowd at full tilt. But who could make a shot with that going on?
Halftime was about as lame as it could be Monday night. Getting our ***** kicked and then no cool halftime show, not that anyone would have cared. I thought we'd make a run when we got it to around 15 points with about 16-17 minutes left. Then OU gets 5 lightning fast points, the lead is back to 20 and I'm wondering if we can recover.
I really thought the game would be like the home January Baylor game from last season. Great first half battle of two highly ranked teams. 2nd half ISU comes out strong and it is a Hilton party for the final 10+ minutes. I guess Monday night was a party of such, not many teams in the nation go on 22-0 runs, regardless of competition level. Oh, fitting it was a 22-0 run, no? Senior night for Hogue, #22. My favorite number - 22. But I digress...
Blocked shot and a "get that **** outta here" technical foul that not many caught onto. Niang buries those FTs and like a good Hoiball moment, Fred has a play handled during the timeout to isolate Niang in the lane - 2 points and one more. Back to 15 and this time - the wise Hilton faithful knows this very moment is ISU's last shot. 15 minutes left and down 15 points, it's now or never.
There is no other arena where your team can be down 15 and playing so poorly, yet the fans are all on their feet and so loud. Hilton. *******. Magic.
Here is a critical moment in the game. No way we win without this series. OU penetrates the lane, McKay interrupts a shot and the ball is headed out of bounds. Slashing in is Naz, grabs the ball, spins in midair and fires it toward Hogue. He secures it and gets it to Niang. Naing full head of steam down the court, drives the paint and foot just barely inside the baseline, finds a wide open Morris camping in the corner.
Boom - 3 ball. Down "only" 12 and Hilton is even louder. Huge huge huge play on both ends. All 5 guys had key moments in that one. McKay defense, Naz save, Hogue catch and pass, Niang drive, Morris shot. Hoiball, 100%.
That is when I knew ISU would win. No joke. We had 'em, OU just didn't know it yet.
14 minutes left and OU timeout.
I think back to last season and senior night, how similar Monday night was to a Saturday senior night against Oklahoma State.
LETS GO STATE! LETS GO STATE! LETS GO STATE!
As OU inbounds the ball. ISU great defense, forces bad 3 that hits only glass and a shot clock violation. OU cracking. Down the floor, Niang ball at the top of the key, everyone else on the perimeter (great spacing). Drive, spin and dish to Morris. 3 ball - down 9. 11-0 run in under 2 min.
Hoiball.
The rest is a blur, kind of like the warm November night in 2005 with a combo of sunshine, tornados and Big Play Curvey. More good defense leads to a Niang to Morris slashing layup. He's got 8 unanswered points and Niang is feeding him beautifully.
Now it is Niang's turn for a sweeping drive and layup. ISU steal by Morris and he's got Hogue as a chaperone down the floor. Dish and dunk - slash and slam - peas and carrots. Can't stop, won't stop. Down 3 and Musburger calls MERCY! and so does OU - timeout.
Fans are dancing. McKay is flexing. Morris and Hogue are chest bumping. Naz and Niang follow suit and midcourt. Hogue's dad is getting high-fives in the stands and mom is sitting down, stocking cap still on with a smirk of "that's MY boy".
I remember the day ISU hired Hoiberg. I was waiting on hold to KXNO and Chris was hosting I think. Or he had just called in. Walters had come on with the announcement that Fred Hoiberg was our new MBB coach. I was mad. No, I was a combo of livid and disappointed. I felt we settled. Love Fred as a player but who the hell was he as a coach? Nobody. How could ISU do that and what did it say about our program? I was the first caller they put thru and while respectful, was not shy at voicing my displeasure. That was and will be the last time I ever called in. In a peace offering, I should submit paperwork to get Hoiball officially in the dictionary.
Another great defensive series and Hogue has the ball wide open in the corner - but he passes up the shot and drives hard to the hoop for a very suspect charge call. A made 3 ties the game. Oh well. Probably the only time he's ever passed up an open 3. But then the Hogue we know and love throws out his arms in protest.
Hilton is like a rock that can't be broken. Floods be damned - it is still here, just a new floor and rows of seats. The rafters still echo the same and the banners of Pete Taylor, Johnny and all the greats sway ever so slightly on nights like Big Monday in March. There's no bad seat in the house because once you are in, you are officially part of Hilton Magic.
More great spacing and Monte abuses Cousins on a drive, easy layup and foul. Can't convert the 3pt play and still behind - by 1. Heild misses a jumper, Spangler can't convert the tip-in and ISU ball. Spread the floor again. Monte-Thomas-Monte-Nader. Nader drives from the corner, nothing there. Dishes to Hogue on the other corner, Dustin jumps back, pops and rattles in a 3. Up by 2. Lumburg says to OU, "it's gonna be a full game, not a half game". Well, OU didn't get the memo.
When you think of great shots in Hilton, recently the most memorable, obviously, is the 3 that sends what looked to be a home loss to OSU into OT by Naz. He drains it and simply reacts with arms up as if - "yeah, I've been here before". Well, he had, just weeks earlier against the same team. Scotty the thug Christopherson had a few in his day. Who can forget McGee, who may as well have been blindfolded the way he shot the ball.
22-0 run. Finished off by none other than Dustin Hogue, #22, on senior night. Hollywood has got the rights on this one, I think.
In just under 6 minutes, ISU went from down 20 points to up by 2. Unheard of and we may never see anything like that in our lifetime. To quote the late Stuart Scott, ISU was as cool as the other side of the pillow in that 6 minute beatdown of OU.
Now OU does tie the game at 50 on 2 FTs and there are still 9 minutes left to play in the game. ISU regains lead on a Morris miss, McKay rebound, Nader miss, Morris rebound and quick drive and layup. Morris takes an elbow to the head, leaves the game for a while. Nervous moments. Or...
I think back to last season when Niang took that shot against KU and left the game. Worried for him and for the outcome. But the fans - OH THE FANS! Bandaid city at Hilton south. Everyone wearing a bandaid like a badge of honor for that title game against Baylor. What a scene it was, with thousands of fans making the trek south for the title bout, bandaids flowing freely. Glorious.
BTW - Monte finished that play with one eye open. Stone cold.
OU gets a basket while Morris is laying on the floor but Niang in "I got you" fashion, gets ISU the lead back. Another bucket from Niang and up by 4.
The dagger and game over was a very long 3 by Niang. Nothing but net and Niang carrying the team with Morris on the bench. Sure, I get that OU got 4 unanswered to pull within 3 but that long 3 from Niang was a statement that "we own you now and can do anything we want". Another Niang shot, up by 7 again.
Hoiberg is a brilliant coach. Absolutely brilliant. OU with their switching in the first half causes ISU fits. 2nd half Hoiberg forces better spacing and an almost exclusive 1on1 game, featuring Morris and Niang. When the going gets tough, lean on your best options. Those are Morris, Niang and then let Hilton Magic carry you home.
And boy, did it carry ISU Monday night. Hogue's jumps were higher. McKay's arms seemed longer. The team defense was tighter. And Morris/Niang were unstoppable.
Even after some nervous final moments, ISU emerged victorious on this final home game for 2015, and for me. Did they do only that for me? Maybe not.
But for all the reasons they won, I am selfishly glad on this final game, I walked away smiling. Perhaps weary and worn down - but that is life as an Iowa State Cyclone fan. And moments like Monday night. Teams like this one. Coaches like Fred.
Make it all worth the cost, the pain, the Journey. ISU fans, Don't Stop Believing!
