News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Mark Bennett B-Sides

March 3, 2010

MARK BENNETT: Sometimes you just have to believe

TERRE HAUTE — Almost nobody believed Michael Menser. I mean, really believed.

Well, his coach and teammates did. But I’m reasonably certain that none of the other beat writers at the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament pre-tourney interview session even bothered to repeat Menser’s comment in print.

“If we put a good streak together,” the Indiana State Sycamore guard said, “we can win it.”

By “it,” Menser didn’t mean just ISU’s first-round game. He meant the whole tournament — a feat that no Sycamore men’s basketball team had accomplished since Larry Bird and Co. in 1979.

Surely, skeptics presumed, Menser had to say that. Why else would he think the Sycamores had a chance?

After all, they ended the season by losing six of their last eight games. They’d even lost their home finale — Senior Night, for cryin’ out loud, for Menser, forward Matt Renn and three teammates. They’d fallen from first place to a tie for fourth.

Thus, ISU became the No. 5 seed in the MVC Tournament at St. Louis, and no team seeded so low had ever won the championship.

Their dream of reaching the Big Dance had unraveled. Or so most people thought.

Thank goodness, Michael, Matt and the Sycamores kept believing. They did exactly what Menser said was possible. They put a good streak together, defeating higher-seeded rivals Southern Illinois, Creighton and Bradley to win the conference tournament. Then they beat 13th-ranked Oklahoma in the NCAA South Regional at Memphis.

ISU fans and Hauteans gained a Rolodex of memories from a championship season that ISU hasn’t matched since. Some fans would say their favorite was Menser’s 32-point performance against top-seeded Creighton in the MVC Tournament, giving ISU a rousing 87-74 victory. In voting announced this week, Missouri Valley fans chose Menser’s exploit as the sixth-greatest moment in the history of “Arch Madness” — the league’s nickname for its St. Louis-based tourney, where the current Sycamore squad plays Illinois State in Friday’s first round.

My most vivid image from that season is far less obvious.

It occurred half an hour after ISU stunned heavily favored Oklahoma 70-68 in overtime at Memphis. The arena, called The Pyramid, was almost empty. Fans left, happy or dejected. The shocked Sooners were gone. NCAA staffers crunched numbers and stapled together statistical booklets in a computer room. Writers and sportscasters cranked out their stories from the media bullpen. After interviewing players and coaches and analyzing the game stats, I decided to take a walk to gather my thoughts. Strolling back into the now-quiet arena, I spotted Menser sitting, alone, in a courtside chair, sipping on bottled water, gazing across the court.

And smiling.

I didn’t interrupt his moment. But a breathless, hurried team manager soon did. “Michael,” he said, urgently, “everybody’s on the bus.” Menser grabbed his equipment bag and dutifully followed him out to The Pyramid parking lot.

I’m not sure what Menser had been thinking about, as he sat in that chair. Knowing Michael, if I asked him today — nine years later — he’d probably say something typically gracious like, “Oh, just my coaches and teammates, and everything we achieved together.” Perhaps. But I’m guessing a few images popped up, too.

Like 10,000 students, Hauteans and ISU fans storming the Hulman Center court after he hit two 3-pointers in the final 8.5 seconds of a milestone victory over the Indiana Hoosiers that November.

Or taking in the scenery at San Juan, Puerto Rico — and winning a couple of games — in an early season tournament.

Or watching Renn — the other half of ISU’s senior dynamic duo — play in pain, night after night, while wearing a brace to protect the stress fracture in his lower left leg.

Or learning the finer points of the college game – and the value of a thick skin — from Coach Royce Waltman.

Or enduring two last-second losses to Southern Illinois on improbable buzzer-beater shots by Saluki archnemesis Jermaine Dearman.

Or getting revenge on Dearman’s team with a 67-64 Sycamore win in the MVC tourney’s first round.

Or that 32-point explosion against Creighton in the second round at St. Louis. Down 15-12, Menser injured his shooting elbow in a collision with the Bluejays’ Ryan Sears. Menser made a rare trip to the bench, resting briefly because his right hand “felt like it was burning.” The pain subsided, but that fire never left. He hit 9 of 18 field goals, including five 3-pointers from so far off he could see the East St. Louis city limits. The clincher came just before halftime.

He stood at halfcourt, dribbling away the half’s final 35 seconds. Sears, his defender, watched, patiently waiting for Menser to pass or drive. He did neither. When the clock reached :02, Menser pulled up and launched a 27-footer that swished the net. Creighton went into the lockerroom trailing 41-36 and never recovered. “That last one was worth a lot more than 3 points,” Waltman said of Menser’s shot. The Bluejays were done.

Or cutting down the MVC Tournament nets after beating Bradley 69-63 in the title game.

Or knowing his family drove from their hometown of Batesville to witness every Sycamore game.

Or maybe Michael sat in that chair at Memphis, simply reliving the dramatic win over Oklahoma just minutes before. Teammate Kelyn Block got three teeth knocked out, and surprised everyone by returning to lead ISU in an overtime win that made the front page of the next morning’s New York Times.

From Michael’s vantage point, the season’s highlights were a lot to absorb. No wonder he sat down and took a few minutes to comprehend it all.

It was pretty unbelievable, even for a believer.



Mark Bennett can be reached at (812) 231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Mark Bennett B-Sides
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Join the Conversation
Helium
Front page
AP Video
Raw Video: Biden Greets Chinese VP for Visit Authorities: Houston Found Underwater in Tub Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only Raw Video: Kim Jong Il Statue Unveiled Raw Video: Heavy Shelling in Homs, Syria Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Raw Video: 5 People Injured in Bangkok Blasts Bacteria Keep Swimmers Off Some Fla. Beaches Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star Raw Video: Hearse Arrives at N.J. Funeral Home New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom Arm Wrestler Not Guilty Plea in Wife's Death Raw Video: Houston Body Flown From L.A. to N.J. First Person: Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Raw Video: Whitney Houston's Last Performance Obama's New Budget: The Winners and Losers Spy on the Wall: Video Conferencing at Risk Gregoire: Marriage Equality Is Right for Wash. Raw Video: Duchess Kate Visits Liverpool Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain
NDN Video
Kim K. Wet, Wild and Natural Ultimate Tazer Ball is a Shocking New Sport Shakira Attacked By Sea Lion Modern day treasure hunter searching for $3 billion prize What Happened Inside Whitney's Hotel Room? Saying 'I Love You' With a Sewage Plant Tour VS Models Wow for V-Day Olympic Swimmer Proposes on Podium After Big Win Kate Upton MLB 2K12 Commercial Watch: Whitney Houston's Golden Hearse Scarlett Johansson's Bikini P-D-A Man Allegedly Drowns Wife While Scuba Diving Glee Pays Tribute to Whitney Wash. becomes 7th state to okay same-sex marriage Romijn's 60 Pound Weight Loss The 'Celebrity Apprentice' Cast Meets Donald Trump Kissing contest heats up Hugh Hefner's Son Arrested Jacqueline Kennedy's personal papers released Did Tyler Perry Have a Secret Wedding?
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News