INDIANAPOLIS — Thad Matta walked out of Hinkle Fieldhouse his head hanging, his bag slung over his shoulder, his mind swirling. He took off toward his dorm room in Ross Hall.
It was 1987 and Matta was a transfer to Butler basketball, a sophomore who had played his freshman year at Southern Illinois. The campus was hopping that day. Students were laughing on the sidewalks.
Matta didn't notice any of it. He was deep in thought. He was replaying what had just happened on the court.
The Indiana Pacers had shown up to Hinkle. The city's pro team was there to give the Butler Bulldogs a scrimmage in open gym.