Standout Moments From 2023 Hoosier Hysteria

Indiana basketball season is right around the corner, as Hoosier Hysteria took place Friday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Here are four standout moments, including impressive 3-point shooting performances from Gabe Cupps and Yarden Garzon, a three-quarter-court heave from Anthony Leal, and a potentially promising sign from Jakai Newton's injury recovery.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Hoosier Hysteria, the unofficial start to the Indiana basketball season, took place Friday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Players from the men's and women's teams were introduced, coaches Mike Woodson and Teri Moren gave speeches, and the event included a 3-point and skills contest. It even featured a concert from rapper Gucci Mane to end the night.

It would be unreasonable to draw any real conclusions from Hoosier Hysteria as it relates to either team's outlook on the season, but here are a few standout moments from the night.

Cupps, Garzon 3-point shooting

Freshman Gabe Cupps and sophomore Yarden Garzon tied for the most shots made during the 3-point contest, both draining 19-of-25 attempts. Cupps and Sara Scalia were ultimately named 3-point contest champions, combining for 34 makes in the team format. Garzon had a tremendous freshman season, scoring 11.1 points per game on 45.8% 3-point shooting, along with 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

Cupps joins Indiana as a four-star recruit out of Centerville High School in Ohio, where he was a state champion and Ohio Mr. Basketball winner. Woodson has talked highly of the freshman guard's battles with sixth-year senior point guard Xavier Johnson this offseason. And to read our next generation profile featuring an exclusive interview with Cupps, CLICK HERE.

Here's a video of part of Cupps' performance in the 3-point contest.

Jakai Newton progressing from injury?

There was no pre or post-event press conference with Woodson or players, so it's still unclear exactly where freshman Jakai Newton is at in his recovery from knee surgery, but Friday revealed a potentially promising sign. Newton did not participate in any of the events, but he was not wearing any sort of knee brace and did not need crutches to walk.

The last time we saw Newton was at Indiana basketball media day on Sept. 20, and he was wearing a bulky knee braces and walking with crutches. That day, Newton said he was unsure of his availability for the 2023-24 season. Indiana announced on Aug. 16 that Newton underwent a procedure to treat a pre-existing injury, and there was no timetable for his return at that point. Newton is a four-star guard out of Covington, Ga.

Anthony Leal from deep

There wasn't too much real basketball played Friday night, but Anthony Leal made one of the most impressive plays of the night. During the skills contest, he heaved a three-quarter-court shot from near the opposite free throw line to defeat the team of Gabe Cupps and Chloe Moore McNeil. 

Leal, a Bloomington native and 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball, made shots like this a pregame ritual with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson last season, and he continued his long-range success Friday. Maybe Mike Woodson can work a three-quarter-court shot into the offensive game plan?

Woodson, Moren videos

The Indiana Athletics production team made two videos for the jumbotron that drew plenty of laughs and applause from the Assembly Hal crowd. 

The first was rendition of the classic Martha The Mop Lady video, with an emphasis on Teri Moren, the all-time winningest coach in Indiana women's basketball history and reigning Big Ten champion. The video included the Big Ten championship trophy, an Indiana Fever 2023 WNBA Draft hat, various awards in Moren's office and more.

Here it is.

An Indiana tradition, with a new twist. 😉

For the first time this season, introducing #IUWBB's winningest coach. pic.twitter.com/V5cV4eYeUM

— Indiana Women’s Basketball (@IndianaWBB) October 21, 2023

The second video was a reference to a classic Mike Woodson quote from 2022 Hoosier Hysteria, when he said, "Indiana basketball – excuse my language – is the s***."

The video featured cameos from former Indiana basketball stars Cody Zeller and Jalen Hood-Schifino. Here it is.

Indiana Basketball is the &@#! pic.twitter.com/X1zbqi9BuJ

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) October 21, 2023

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