Post by vufan75 on Oct 26, 2006 7:01:26 GMT -5
An article from today's Times. Interesting to be named a team captain before ever playing a game for IUPUI:
IUPUI spells happiness
Noll grad Gary Patterson, now a captain with Jaguars, has Butler in his rear-view mirror
The smile was gone. So, too, the joy.
Gary Patterson was a standout at Bishop Noll -- an Indiana All-Star -- and rode that glory train to Butler. Somehow, the wheels fell off the track.
"It was a tough year," said Patterson, who transferred from Butler to crosstown IUPUI in 2005, sat out last season and is now ready to lead the Jaguars. "I was used to playing. It was a new situation, where I had to learn everything new. When I would play, I couldn't do what I do."
The 5-foot-10 East Chicago native was used to playing an up-tempo, free-form style, with the ball in his hands. At Butler, Patterson was moved to the No. 2 guard position so A.J. Graves could shine at the point.
Graves' brother, Matthew, is a former Butler player and a Bulldogs assistant coach, for head coach Todd Lickliter.
"I think that played a big part in his decision to transfer," said Highland coach Eddie Fierek, Patterson's coach at Noll. "When the guy you're competing with has a brother on the coaching staff, it lets you know where they're at, and where you're at.
"Gary was excited to go to Butler. He's even more excited to go to IUPUI."
After averaging 23.3 and 22.3 points per game his junior and senior years at Noll, Patterson averaged 2.2 points at Butler, while getting on the floor for only 10.1 minutes a game.
When he did play, it was at shooting guard. It wasn't fun.
"I felt like I was relegated to the corner," Patterson said.
IUPUI coach Ron Hunter didn't recruit Patterson out of high school. But when Hunter heard Patterson was looking, he did something he hadn't done in 13 years at the Mid-Continent Conference school: He recalled two assistants on a recruiting trip to come back to Indy.
Patterson took an official visit. He walked into Hunter's office and heard, "Gary, you are going to start enjoying basketball again."
After the transfer was finalized, Hunter made the sophomore a captain before he'd played one second for the Jaguars. It was the first time Hunter had ever done that.
"Gary's that good," said Hunter, whose team was co-champion of the Mid-Con with Oral Roberts last regular season. "He will run our basketball team. The ball will be in his hands. He's got to get back like when he was in high school, when he was 'The Man.'"
Patterson joins junior Bill Van Senus of Valparaiso on the Jaguars' roster. Hunter has had 15 Northwest Indiana players on his roster over the years.
"The (Region) kids play hard, and they're well-coached," Hunter said. "We love having kids from that part of the state, and we'll continue to do that. Getting Gary here is the best move I've made."
Last year, IUPUI was 13-1 in the Mid-Con with two road games to play. The Jags lost both, finishing in a tie with ORU. Heartbroken and dismayed, the players and staff flew home and dragged themselves into the gym for a practice. Patterson, who only could play during practice time, walked over and made one comment.
"Coach, I will never let that happen when I'm playing," he said.
Hunter loved the confidence and spirit of the man who will be his point guard for the next three years.
"I've always been pretty confident, but after Butler it seemed like some of my game passed away," Patterson said. "I've closed the door on it and I'm ready to be aggressive and make this team better."
IUPUI was picked No. 2 in the preseason Mid-Con poll.
"I'm as excited as I've ever been," said Patterson, who is a relative of former E.C. Roosevelt great Jim Bradley. "I've never had to sit out before. But I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm really enjoying playing the game again."
IUPUI spells happiness
Noll grad Gary Patterson, now a captain with Jaguars, has Butler in his rear-view mirror
The smile was gone. So, too, the joy.
Gary Patterson was a standout at Bishop Noll -- an Indiana All-Star -- and rode that glory train to Butler. Somehow, the wheels fell off the track.
"It was a tough year," said Patterson, who transferred from Butler to crosstown IUPUI in 2005, sat out last season and is now ready to lead the Jaguars. "I was used to playing. It was a new situation, where I had to learn everything new. When I would play, I couldn't do what I do."
The 5-foot-10 East Chicago native was used to playing an up-tempo, free-form style, with the ball in his hands. At Butler, Patterson was moved to the No. 2 guard position so A.J. Graves could shine at the point.
Graves' brother, Matthew, is a former Butler player and a Bulldogs assistant coach, for head coach Todd Lickliter.
"I think that played a big part in his decision to transfer," said Highland coach Eddie Fierek, Patterson's coach at Noll. "When the guy you're competing with has a brother on the coaching staff, it lets you know where they're at, and where you're at.
"Gary was excited to go to Butler. He's even more excited to go to IUPUI."
After averaging 23.3 and 22.3 points per game his junior and senior years at Noll, Patterson averaged 2.2 points at Butler, while getting on the floor for only 10.1 minutes a game.
When he did play, it was at shooting guard. It wasn't fun.
"I felt like I was relegated to the corner," Patterson said.
IUPUI coach Ron Hunter didn't recruit Patterson out of high school. But when Hunter heard Patterson was looking, he did something he hadn't done in 13 years at the Mid-Continent Conference school: He recalled two assistants on a recruiting trip to come back to Indy.
Patterson took an official visit. He walked into Hunter's office and heard, "Gary, you are going to start enjoying basketball again."
After the transfer was finalized, Hunter made the sophomore a captain before he'd played one second for the Jaguars. It was the first time Hunter had ever done that.
"Gary's that good," said Hunter, whose team was co-champion of the Mid-Con with Oral Roberts last regular season. "He will run our basketball team. The ball will be in his hands. He's got to get back like when he was in high school, when he was 'The Man.'"
Patterson joins junior Bill Van Senus of Valparaiso on the Jaguars' roster. Hunter has had 15 Northwest Indiana players on his roster over the years.
"The (Region) kids play hard, and they're well-coached," Hunter said. "We love having kids from that part of the state, and we'll continue to do that. Getting Gary here is the best move I've made."
Last year, IUPUI was 13-1 in the Mid-Con with two road games to play. The Jags lost both, finishing in a tie with ORU. Heartbroken and dismayed, the players and staff flew home and dragged themselves into the gym for a practice. Patterson, who only could play during practice time, walked over and made one comment.
"Coach, I will never let that happen when I'm playing," he said.
Hunter loved the confidence and spirit of the man who will be his point guard for the next three years.
"I've always been pretty confident, but after Butler it seemed like some of my game passed away," Patterson said. "I've closed the door on it and I'm ready to be aggressive and make this team better."
IUPUI was picked No. 2 in the preseason Mid-Con poll.
"I'm as excited as I've ever been," said Patterson, who is a relative of former E.C. Roosevelt great Jim Bradley. "I've never had to sit out before. But I know I'm where I'm supposed to be and I'm really enjoying playing the game again."
? What's he doing now? If Patterson can do half of what this kid did, he will earn his keep.
