TERRE HAUTE —
The Union boys basketball team has had its share of fun moments in the past, arguably the most fun being its Class A state runner-up in 2000.
Since then, not so much fun.
The Bulldogs have not sported a winning record the past 11 seasons, to be exact, a 49-190 record. Currently at 4-15, they will soon make it 12 years in a row.
If fun is measured in wins and losses, it’s been fun just about 20 percent of the time.
But despite a losing record, Union fans have had fun this season, thanks to the play of senior guard Tyler Talpas.
“He’s fun,” Union coach Chip Langley stated. “He loves the game, the kind of player that will go the extra step. He’s a young man with a spark, a catalyst that gets other players excited in practice or in a game. Those players are few and far between. A real blessing.”
Talpas has been high up in the state scoring rankings this season, averaging just under 23 points per game. He’s scored in double figures each time out, scoring over 30 points in three games, with a high of 37 vs. North Knox on Nov. 29.
He also surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career in mid-January and now sits at 1,106 points.
Talpas has made 34 3-pointers this year, only three games without a trey. But he’s not just an outside shooter. He’s also drives to the hoop, getting to the free throw line frequently. At the stripe, he’s converted 78 of 102 times for 76.5 percent.
“He finishes drives that most defenders just give up, because they think he’s out of play,” Langley said. “He can produce points real quick, especially as he drives the baseline … very effective there.”
“My whole life I’ve been a scorer,” Talpas said. “I like to get in with the big guys, get them up in the air. I have the ability to change my shot when they go up in the air … try to draw the foul and get the and-one. I do like to take it to the rim. I’m [5-foot-10] and I can dunk it.”
If Talpas, who states he weighs between 150 and 155 pounds, sounds confident, you would be right.
“I’ve always been outgoing, outspoken … never a shy moment,” he grinned. “I try to keep the team’s heads up, even when it’s kind of a downer situation. Sometimes I get down on myself and that’s the hardest thing about being a leader. Because you can’t get down on yourself. I try to make it fun for everyone.”
There’s that word fun again.
“He’s not a seasonal basketball player … he’s an all-year player,” Langley noted. “He’s a student of the game. He’s able to look and recognizes offenses really well, recognizes defenses really well. Makes it fun.”
There’s that word fun yet again.
Talpas’ rise to prominence has its roots right out of the movie “Hoosiers.”
“My grandpa works for the town and I have a key to our community center,” he said. “So I can get in there whenever. In the summer, I just go and shoot in the morning. Try to get in 500 shots a day. Free throws, layups, 3s, jumpshots, basics.”
All that off-court work didn’t pay off right away as Talpas did not see much playing time his freshman year.
“We had eight or so seniors, it was my brother [Michael’s] senior year,” he recalled. “Pretty old team then. I started JV and dressed varsity, but I didn’t see very many minutes. I think I scored two points my freshman year … I was 1 for 1. It was a layup in game we were up a lot.”
But when all the seniors graduated, Talpas was thrust to the forefront in a hurry his sophomore year.
“That was when I started getting real serious about becoming a good player,” he stated. “I was the only guard left. That’s when I started going to the gym a lot and working on my own all the time.”
Since then, he’s taken to his role as scorer for the Bulldogs.
“When I hit 1,000 [points], for sure,” Talpas replied when asked about his personal milestones. “That was definitely a lifelong goal. Happy to get that.”
He’s also proud of his role in recent road win at Shoals on Jan. 27.
“I didn’t have a 20-plus point game, but I just completely took the fourth quarter,” he stated. “I think I scored 13 of my 16 points in the fourth quarter. They needed me to step up and take the game.”
Talpas has been remarkably consistent with his 3-point shooting, sinking three in a game on seven occasions, against teams like Bloomfield, Clay City, Shakamak, Vincennes Rivet and Linton.
“Been harder to get 3s, especially lately, usually being face-guarded fullcourt, somebody in my face all the time,” he mentioned. “If I get a 3, it’s usually off the dribble or off the screen. Usually not off the catch-and-shoot.”
While he is a scorer, and confident, he’s also genuinely aware of his teammates’ contributions.
“I wouldn’t be who I am without my team,” he stated. “They understand other teams key on me and they get the ball to met where I can score.”
Talpas has drawn interest to continue playing basketball in college. He visited Wabash College last week and has been contacted by Trine. He’s also inquired about IU-Southeast. Wherever he lands, he plans on majoring in physical therapy.
“If I want to play at the next level, I’ll have to have more than scoring to my game,” he said. “I rebound the ball well, I see it well off the rim … I play the ball well off the rim. I see where the potential play could be.
“The weaker part of my game is defense and passing, but I’m working hard on both.”
While Talpas’ high school career is rapidly winding down, he still plans to follow Union as a college player.
“I’m pretty excited to watch them in the future,” Talpas said. “I’m hoping they can step up next year, because they’ve put a lot of weight on my shoulders. I don’t want them to feel like once I leave it’s over. They’ve got the talent to be good.”
High School
Related Photos
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Leader: Tyler Talpas is highly-ranked at the state level in scoring for Union High School.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis Instructions: Tyler Talpas listens to his coach, Union head basketball coach Chip Langley during a practice session last week.
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Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis On target: Tyler Talpas, leading scorer for Union High School, takes aim at practice last week.
Discussion
Union season more fun with Talpas around
Making the most of a tough situation
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