Day 12

Winnipeg, Manitoba - It is Day 12 of 20 as our family of filmmakers presses forward with another day of basketball at Assembly Hall (the Winnipeg version).

It was quite an exciting day yesterday as we played a simulated game against the real Digger Phelps and his Notre Dame squad. In front of a large recruited audience sporting Indiana red, we played a game with excited, cheering fans. For a few brief moments, we were there. As the roar of the crowd grew louder, we were in Bloomington. It became 1985.††

The adrenaline flowed. The game was on the line. Every basket counted. Every mistake was devastating. Every point was a small victory.

And then Bob Mandel yelled "cut" and the spell was broken. We returned to Winnipeg Arena and it was December of 2001 anew. Steve Alford became James Lafferty and Daryl Thomas was once again M.J. Johnson.

Today we return to that same scene.††Digger has gone back to ESPN-land in Connecticut and today's foe is the Fighting Illini of The University of Illinois. We are recreating one of the most exciting games of the 1985-86 season. Bobby Knight wanted this victory...

It's Assembly Hall. We are about two-thirds into the season, and the Hoosiers are still very much in the hunt for the Big Ten title. They've lost to Michigan but have lost few others. Now comes a big test against a hot Illinois squad. But we're playing at home and that helps. Despite a strong pep talk and a good shoot-around before the game, my Hoosiers come out soft.

Before I can scream at a ref, they are behind 31-22.††My frustration is building. On the next inbound pass, Illinois steals the ball for an easy hoop. Like an exploding rocket, I'm up on my feet, picking up my chair, ready to send it on a long journey across the hardwood.††Time slows down.†I can see the look on my assistant coaches, "Uh-oh, there he goes again..." I decide, instead, to slam the chair down in a fury.††

The Hoosiers get a quick Alford basket, but they don't make the transition back on defense and the Fighting Illini score easily again. This time, I kick a nearby cheerleader megaphone, clipping the young cheerleader.††

Mercifully, it's now halftime. In a scene we shot the first week in the locker room, I give the Hoosiers a lecture about "playing with heart."††This was a passionless team on the court in the first half.†They needed a good swift kick in the butt to get back in this game.††

It works.

The Hoosiers come out strong in the second half, choosing smarter shots, working for the open man, playing more aggressive defense. Alford heats up from the outside. Morgan and Calloway finally start taking the ball to the hoop, grabbing a few easy dunks. Even Daryl Thomas cuts through the key for a couple of lay-ups. Illinois starts to get tight and the Hoosiers go on a run, tying the game at 69.††Indiana has the final shot. Andre Harris sets a perfect screen for Winston Morgan, who hits the final shot with no time left on the clock. Assembly Hall erupts in a cacophony of sound and excitement. The crowd roars "Bobby! Bobby!††Bobby!"

It would turn out to be the most thrilling finish to a game all season. It showed Knight at his motivational best and his superior level of coaching acumen.

This was a fun day of shooting.



Past Diaries

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11