First trip to Hinkle and it was everything I thought it would be and more. Got off the plane with my father sporting our Nova gear and was stopped by President Danko (old Dean and Prez of Butler). Spoke to him in the airport and took us on a private tour of Hinkle yesterday at 10 AM. There are basketball arena's and there is Hinkle. The facility, locker rooms, training, etc are beautiful much like our own Davis Center. They put alot of money into to keep up with the Big East schools. Truly an amazing facility, then you go on the court and wow. Its just an incredible arena, the lay out is awesome, modern yet keeps that classic field house look. Around the facility they have pictures/trophies/a Hoosiers area about the history of the arena. You walk in and the first thing you see is "The Butler Way", reminds me of Nova, actually its amazing how these two programs are very similar in how they go about things.
When we wrapped up the tour which was awesome, President Danko is a great guy, we bumped into the team coming in for practice, I turn around and there is Dan, Josh and Darryl with their hands out saying thanks for coming out. Very nice guys, the entire team was as they did the same after the game when we were waiting for our Uber in the lobby. These kids are just great people, makes you proud to be a Wildcat.
As for the game, the atmosphere is incredible. When Dunham hit that three in transition the place went nuts. Honestly, I have never been in atmosphere like that better than UCONN, Cuse, etc. The sight lines in the arena are fantastic, student section was awesome and on both sides of the court. Butler fans were just great people, knew their basketball, several came up to us and said the only games we cheer against Nova are when we play you. They love Jay, they knew our team very well. Just great people, we are lucky to have them in the Big East. When Bridges threw down the put back, the guy next to me looked at me and said what year is he again? I said frosh, he then said "Oh Crap".
If you are a college basketball fan, makes this trip, honestly there is truly nothing like it unless you go to Duke but who wants to be around Duke fans. Indy is a great city, had great convos with alot of random sport fans who knew Villanova very well. St. Elmos is a very cool place, shrimp cocktail there is amazing. Great catching up with a few board members there including danmcguire.
On to the game. Winning this game told me alot about this team. My buddies kept texting me about how poor we were playing I kept saying if we keep this close in the first half we are going to win, the environment was insane and I thought the first half was just disjointed for both teams. When Brunson goes to the Mid West (Butler, Cinnci and Depaul) he is going to get it. The student section was really on him specifically in the first half, I was kind of surprised because Arc is usually the one who gets that but I guess alot these kids probably know Brunson from his high school days. Dont know if it got him but he was out of sync both offensively and defensively. What has been said about Hart and Bridges is right on, these two guys brought it. Reynolds I thought played a great game and so did Jenkins, Arc and Booth. Our team was exhausted we had to really play a 6 man rotation for the most of the second half with Brunson and Ochefu on the bench. They truly gutted out the win.
Jones reminds me of a Jerome Bettis style running back. He wears you down and when your tired and in foul trouble in the 2nd half he just keeps bringing it. Kid is a tough tough player, love watching him play. Lucky we have a guy like Hart who is very similar.
Lastly, after we won this game, Daniel Ochefu was pumped. When I mean pumped he was jumping around the court, he was high fiving everyone tell the team how great a win this is. This is what defines a great leader. The season is a grind, you get in foul trouble and have a tough night but you acknowledge what your team did and you get them excited about it. You could tell it got the young guys excited too after a long night battling.
Also got to catch up with Father Hagen who married me years ago and Marc Jackson. Just great guys. Marc Jackson may have been just as excited as me and my Dad to go to Hinkle.
Great program, we are lucky to be Cats fans and have so many wonderful people involved in the program. I mean this, enjoy it, enjoy every moment of it, make trips to Hinkle, enjoy the team and cheer like heck for our players. They are just great kids, who truly love Nova and the support we provide.
Lastly, special shout to my Dad for making the trip and my wife letting me go to Indy for a weekend in January, when I probably have 100 husband to do list things to do.
Go Cats.
