Figured a fun way to kick off our tenure in the Valley would be for all of us VU fans to look back and share any favorite memories of past matchups with MVC schools. Obviously, this will lean towards hoops, but it could be any sport, really.
I'll start with one from each MVC school:
-Indiana State: The recent victories have been a high point, especially 2015's gut-it-out win at the Hulman Center.
-Evansville: Seeing those short-sleeved purple jerseys for the first time at old Hilltop Gym and wondering why UE was playing the game with their warmup shirts on. (Also, the cool old riverboat gambler logo).
-Loyola: Attending a VU loss back in the early 80s at old Alumni Gym at LU, where a string of questionable foul calls late turned a tie game into a walk-away Rambler win, then listening to the postgame show on WGN on the way home (they broadcast LU games back then). I thought Tom Smith was going to blow a vein in his head...he was that angry. Also remember an odd quirk of their ancient scoreboards in that building - the clock didn't go up to 20:00, so each half started with 19:59 on the clock.
-Illinois State: Long time since our last meeting, but I remember a game vs. ISU at Hilltop years ago, where I as a young kid was enamored with their bright red uniforms that simply read: "STATE"
-Southern Illinois: Okay, I don't have any memories of VU games against SIU. Been too long, unfortunately. I'll go with their Sweet 16 berth at the United Center back in 2002, since I was at that game and it was pretty cool, especially since they beat Bobby Knight's Texas Tech team in the 1st round.
-Bradley: The VU home win in 1983 where we blew out Versace's Bradley team, and their whole team left grumbling and griping.
-UNI: Losing to them by three at home seemingly every year during our AMCU-8 tenure (not actual fact, it just felt that way). Also how Randy Kraayenbrink's last name wouldn't fit on the back of his jersey, so it just read "K'brink"
-Drake: No game memories, but I recall Homer turning down the Drake job after one of our earliest NCAA tourney appearances in the mid-90s.
-Missouri State: Obviously this past year's game was memorable, but I also remember a game at the ARC back when they were still SMSU. Winston Garland was on that conference championship squad as well as one other player from the Region (or close driving distance). Valpo was playing out the string of another lousy season, and the two local SMS players families and friends nearly outnumbered VU fans. The Bears won and it was not close. Also, Garland hurdled a ball boy who was standing near the basket to avoid running into him while chasing a loose ball out of bounds, which might still be one of the most athletic non-play plays I've ever seen.
Any other memories that I forgot?
I'll start with one from each MVC school:
-Indiana State: The recent victories have been a high point, especially 2015's gut-it-out win at the Hulman Center.
-Evansville: Seeing those short-sleeved purple jerseys for the first time at old Hilltop Gym and wondering why UE was playing the game with their warmup shirts on. (Also, the cool old riverboat gambler logo).
-Loyola: Attending a VU loss back in the early 80s at old Alumni Gym at LU, where a string of questionable foul calls late turned a tie game into a walk-away Rambler win, then listening to the postgame show on WGN on the way home (they broadcast LU games back then). I thought Tom Smith was going to blow a vein in his head...he was that angry. Also remember an odd quirk of their ancient scoreboards in that building - the clock didn't go up to 20:00, so each half started with 19:59 on the clock.
-Illinois State: Long time since our last meeting, but I remember a game vs. ISU at Hilltop years ago, where I as a young kid was enamored with their bright red uniforms that simply read: "STATE"
-Southern Illinois: Okay, I don't have any memories of VU games against SIU. Been too long, unfortunately. I'll go with their Sweet 16 berth at the United Center back in 2002, since I was at that game and it was pretty cool, especially since they beat Bobby Knight's Texas Tech team in the 1st round.
-Bradley: The VU home win in 1983 where we blew out Versace's Bradley team, and their whole team left grumbling and griping.
-UNI: Losing to them by three at home seemingly every year during our AMCU-8 tenure (not actual fact, it just felt that way). Also how Randy Kraayenbrink's last name wouldn't fit on the back of his jersey, so it just read "K'brink"
-Drake: No game memories, but I recall Homer turning down the Drake job after one of our earliest NCAA tourney appearances in the mid-90s.
-Missouri State: Obviously this past year's game was memorable, but I also remember a game at the ARC back when they were still SMSU. Winston Garland was on that conference championship squad as well as one other player from the Region (or close driving distance). Valpo was playing out the string of another lousy season, and the two local SMS players families and friends nearly outnumbered VU fans. The Bears won and it was not close. Also, Garland hurdled a ball boy who was standing near the basket to avoid running into him while chasing a loose ball out of bounds, which might still be one of the most athletic non-play plays I've ever seen.
Any other memories that I forgot?