TERRE HAUTE — This week was circled on Nate Blank’s calendar back in April when he made his decision to play basketball for Gardner-Webb.
The 2007 Terre Haute North graduate knew he would have a chance to play in Rupp Arena at Lexington, Ky., but it was no guarantee the Bulldogs would have a chance to face off against the winningest program in college basketball history.
Gardner-Webb had to defeat Alabama A&M; first, which it did as the freshman Blank tallied 10 points in that victory.
Then it was time to make history against a program that had been 401-50 all-time at home. Gardner-Webb, on the other hand, just became Division I during the 2000-01 season.
Blank played a scoring role Wednesday with 12 points and ended up a little physically beat up, he said Thursday when reached on his cell phone.
Blank drew two charges against the Wildcats and also was the recipient of an elbow to the face that drew an offensive foul call on Kentucky. The former Indiana All-Star suffered a broken nose, he said.
“My eyes are black and my nose won’t stop bleeding,” Blank said, “and I’ll do it again to see Rupp Arena clearing out with about 7 minutes to go when you’re up 20. It’s a great feeling.”
Before holding on for a 84-68 victory, Gardner-Webb bolted out to a 14-0 lead with Blank hitting a 3-pointer and a 2-pointer during the run.
Blank spent Thursday like most other students at Gardner-Webb, taking the day off from classes at the small university at Boiling Springs, N.C., and soaking in the moment.
“We’ve been getting standing ovations walking into the cafeteria,” Blank said. “They started like a pep session. People were just out of control. People were out all night last night just running around campus, taking it in just like we are.”
Blank wasn’t shocked he and his teammates were able to pull off the upset against the No. 20 team in the country, he said.
“We had a great game plan going in and we executed it,” he said. “We realized some of Kentucky’s flaws and just attacked them. We went in thinking we could win.”
The team made the seven-hour bus ride back from Lexington, Ky., after Wednesday’s game. Blank said the team leaves Tuesday night for New York to play in the final four of the 2K Hoops College Classic. The team will play the winner of the Storrs Regional, which could potentially be Connecticut. The Huskies played Buffalo on Thursday night.
“It was a total team effort,” Blank added. “Our team is in it for the team. We’ve got a lot of talented players and a lot of smart players. We know we’re not going to the [NCAA] tournament or anything without each other.”
Craig Pearson can be reached by e-mail at craig.pearson@tribstar.com or by phone at (812) 231-4356.
Given to Fly
November 9, 2007
Given to Fly: Blank soaking in moment with teammates, Gardner-Webb campus
- Given to Fly
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GIVEN TO FLY: ISU women have solid recruiting class
The caliber of athletes that the Indiana State women’s basketball coaching staff is bringing in is on an upswing.
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GIVEN TO FLY: Major leaguers John, Dorsett meet up at tonight’s game
Terre Haute’s only two big leaguers of the last 50 years — Tommy John and Brian Dorsett — will catch up with one another today.
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FOOT NOTES: Valley natives perform well on national stage
Several Wabash Valley natives continue to shine on the national track and field scene.
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'Til It's Over: Sycamores ‘in a good place,’ but searching for more in MVC
Can Teri Moren lift Indiana State, last year’s seventh-place team in the Missouri Valley Conference, to one of the league’s contenders in her first year on campus?
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'Til It's Over: Two sets of identical twins should keep North Central baseball a contender
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'Til It's Over: Jarvis, Anderson confident Olney, hard work leads to Division I dream
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'Til It's Over: Robinson 7-footer more focused in postseason; 6-foot Jones keeps producing
Robinson 7-footer Meyers Leonard is not going to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA some day, but his odds of reaching the league are pretty solid if his game continues to evolve as it has during high school.
- 'Til It's Over: ‘Stepping stone’ game points Sycamores in right direction Whether the win comes against a top-25 team or a conference pushover, ending a four-game losing streak is always a relief.
- 'Til It's Over: Indianapolis ISU recruit rolling along in senior season As Indiana State recruit Anna Munn approached Christmas with the Decatur Central basketball team, the senior guard didn’t seem to need much of a wishlist.
- 'Til It's Over: Magic’s still there for '79 Sycamores For the former Indiana State players who visited the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in late November, the weekend was a chance to relive memories with teammates and see Larry Bird’s career with the Sycamores celebrated again.
- CRAIG PEARSON: North has strong history in cross country state finals Vigo County is home to just four IHSAA state championships in team sports. Most recently, Terre Haute South won girls titles in basketball (2002) and tennis (2001).
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- Given to Fly: Schilli’s Rodman-like performance aids ISU With Indiana State’s women’s basketball team ranking eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference in field-goal percentage (36.5), the Sycamores need as many shot attempts as possible to maintain their standing on top of the league.
- Given to Fly: A classic in every sense of the word What tournament director and co-founder Gary Fears had in mind when creating the tournament came to fruition Tuesday. Marshall, with an enrollment of 438 students, became the smallest school to win the Pizza Hut Wabash Valley Classic in the ninth season of the tourney.
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Given to Fly: ISU women should build confidence off strong outing
Indiana State did not pull off the monumental upset Saturday against No. 23 Kansas State, but the Wildcats are —aside from Connecticut in 2005 — the best team the Sycamores have played in the Jim Wiedie era.
- Given to Fly: ISU women's hoops team slides onto commercial radio Coach Jim Wiedie expects the Indiana State women’s basketball team to have a bit of a retro feel this season, meaning the Sycamores have the potential to get back to creating havoc with their full-court press.
- Given to Fly: ISU vets hope to prove pundits wrong Indiana State’s only two seniors were surprised to see they were picked ahead of just three Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball teams Tuesday morning.
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Footnotes: In first marathon, former Sycamore comes out a winner
Indiana State graduate Dani Prince made her debut in the event with a victory in the Columbus Marathon on Sunday.
Prince’s goal was a time under 2 hours and 50 minutes, and she ran a 2:48.56. -
Given To Fly: ISU volleyball turning things around
It was an extremely busy weekend for Indiana State athletics this weekend.
- Footnotes: Here’s hoping perfect weather is still around for Nationals in November The weather made for a perfect fall afternoon Saturday at LaVern Gibson Championship Course. For what it’s worth, the Farmer’s Almanac calls for more sunny conditions from Nov. 20-24, with the NCAA Championships falling on the 24th this year.
- Terre Haute natives cherish memories of ‘House that Ruth Built’ Yankee Stadium was packed as usual on Easter Sunday in 1979. George Steinbrenner’s Yankees were one loss away from being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers to start the season. That was no way for the two-time defending World Series champions to perform, so the boss had a conversation with his new veteran left-handed starting pitcher prior to the game.
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Footnotes: Oregon men and women have strangehold on preseason NCAA cross countryrankings
The Oregon men and women were almost both unanimous picks as the No. 1 teams in the nation in the preseason cross country national rankings released recently.
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