I had an amazing time in Ames last night. This was a stop that stood out from the moment I finalized my itinerary, but it found a way to exceed those expectations. The seven hour drive that separates Charleston and Ames is one of the longer treks I will face, but I was fortunate to get another great day of weather as I headed across the Illowa plains. I took a million pictures from my car to try to capture the setting sun over the endless cornfields, but I’m not sure any of them really do the scene justice. I got into Ames around 6PM local time, giving me the chance to grab a real dinner, watch Kentucky-Tennessee, and still have plenty of time to mozy over to Hilton Coliseum. The meal was pretty average at Olde Main Brewing Company, but it was fun to see a lot of Iowa State Cardinal+Gold there and plenty of people talking basketball. The folks at the table next to me were reminiscing on the Marcus Fizer-Jamal Tinsley Cyclone teams, going game by game through the 2000 season that ended in the Elite 8. Those teams certainly helped the nation become aware of that “Hilton Magic”, a term coined back in the late 80′s to describe the Cyclones homecourt edge. Needless to say, I about to find out what Hilton magic was all about.
After picking up a sweet ISU-Hilton Magic long-sleeve T (and throwing it on of course!) I headed up to my seat and was pleased to find myself riding the back wall. Hilton is big enough that seats like mine make it a little difficult on the eyes, but it wasn’t a big problem. This place in no way resembles an NBA joint, and why not hold 15,000 if you can fill it regularly? It would fall slightly short of capacity last night, but the lower bowl was full, while the top was around 80% filled. Both baselines were packed to the brim with students, who were engaged from the beginning of this one.
The game itself was back and forth early before Kansas State created some distance between them and the home team just before half. The start of the second half featured more of the same, and Frank Martin’s bunch was able to extend the lead to 12 or 14 I believe. The Iowa State offense was stagnant and K-State was getting whatever they wanted on the other end; I really didn’t think there was a comeback out there. As you may have guessed however, there was indeed. Iowa State came storming back behind Rolls Royce White (more on him later) and a spirited effort on the backboards. White’s bucket with 2 seconds remaining gave the Cyclones their first lead since the opening minutes, and when Will Spradling was unable to get a last second shot up for K-State, the Hilton faithful rejoiced. It was a steal of a win, a win that seemed utterly impossible just minutes earlier. Now I know there were players on the floor doing the work to make the comeback happen, but I’m not going to lie- it felt like there was a little magic at work here.
About one of those players on the floor though- Royce White is a really special talent. This was my first chance to see the Cyclones play this year, and my god I have never seen a man that big (6’8″, 250 lbs) who can handle the ball like White. Never. He ran the point for most of this game, and coach Fred Hoiberg made sure that every crunch time possession funneled through White. While he threw a few ill-advised passes, his body control off the bounce was really solid, always seeming to be in complete control and able to get wherever he wanted to go. Defensive intensity was not always there and he could stand to work a little harder off the ball on the offensive side, but he is a truly magnetic talent. Two or three times he just brought the ball upcourt, made his defender look silly off the bounce and then dunked on him- it looked about as easy as that sounds. One of those dunks brought both me and the Hilton faithful off our feet immediately in a “did that really happen?” moment. Everyone has always known this kid has immense talent; count me as one of many who are glad he finally seems ready to cash in on it.
The Hilton atmosphere was incredible, but I don’t think I can really do it all justice here in this space. It felt as if every single fan in the building was invested in the game; there was nobody there simply to waste time and watch a basketball game- they wanted a Cyclone victory. You know those moments in a basketball game where your team just needs that stop and you find yourself instinctively rising to your feet? In Hilton, it felt like they all felt that moment at the same time, bringing everyone to their feet in one swift movement. The student section was loud and equally in-sync. They did a fantastic job getting on the refs- every questionable call brought loud yells from the fans, and I really thought the end result of it was a really good whistle for the Cyclones. And while boos would rain down on officials, the fans were incredibly positive in supporting their own team. Royce White’s struggles from the line (50% on the year) would surely elicit at least a few groans in almost any other building in the country; at Hilton they instead cheered White more when he went to the stripe, almost as if to say “let’s do this together.” On all ISU free-throw attempts, the 15,000 seat arena went DEAD quiet; I think I kicked the chair ahead of me during one attempt and was shocked by how loud it sounded in the silence. I could go on and on here, but the bottom line is these fans simply wanted to will their team to victory. I don’t know where Hilton Coliseum ranks on my college basketball bucket list, but it was a truly unique experience. There are a lot of great fan bases out there and I’m not saying that Iowa State has the best fans in the country or anything, but there was a distinctive feeling to the way they supported their team. I have never felt it anywhere else, and as I lingered in the arena last night, I felt pretty sure I had found out exactly what Hilton magic was all about.
While consideration was given to abandoning the trip and moving to Ames, the show must roll on. 3 hour drive into Omaha where a red-hot Creighton teams awaits me. Also have my first road trip companion flying in late tonight, so it should be a little less lonely in the Altima for the next few days. Spectacular night in Ames- I will see you again soon Hilton Coliseum.
BH
Great write-up! Glad you could see a Cyclone win. Lots of the older fans complain that “Hilton Magic” isn’t what it used to be. That may be true, but it is still a special place. Fred is bringing back the wins, and the fans are starting to come back to life after their McDermott-induced slumber.
Great write up, you experienced Hilton in all it’s glory. If you ever get a chance to come back to town, check out Hickory Park for food (one of the best places to eat in the state). GO CYCLONES!
Glad you had a great time and got to experience Hilton Magic! Come back anytime!
Thank you for the awesome wrie up! I am glad you had a great experience at Hilton. You wil have to swing by Jack Trice this fall! And… order dessert after your meal at Hickory Park when you come back, they are amazing! Go Cyclones!!
going to creighton game as a cyclone fan tonight. invite from a good friend. want to see mcD in person, both player and coach, because i sure was less than impressed with the coach when he was in ames.
Great entry in your blog! We love our Cyclones and Hilton Magic!! You need to come home thru Ames and stop at Hickory Park, though. It is wonderful!!
Glad you got to experience Hilton. Hopefully it will get back to the perpetual sell-out days of the 90s somepoint soon. We’ve got life again after the program’s worst 5 year run, yet, as you saw last night, the fans are still coming out in good numbers.
Great blog! Enjoy your trip.
How could you choose Olde Main over Hickory Park?! Rookie mistake haha next time you need to check it out, I would also recommend Dublin Bay. Glad you enjoyed the game, its always a blast when you get a chance to make it to hilton. You should try making it to a football game in the fall, one of the best tailgating atmospheres your going to get in my opinion.
One correction – Royce White is 6-8, 270 pounds. He really is THAT big, which makes his ballhandling and body control that much more impressive. He’s one of the strong players in college basketball; and he’s a point forward.
Great article, thanks for visiting Hilton!
I can also confirm that Royce is 6-8 270lbs…
http://www.cyclones.com/SportSelect.dbml?spid=4252&spsid=46664&db_oem_id=10700
Fun read! Go Cyclones!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! We kind of get lost in all the glory talk of the bigger universities so we appreciate that you have given us a voice. We are so glad you were here to see the win, but to also “feel” what Hilton Magic is really about…how true Cyclone fans want the very best for those players, those young guys, not just to notch another victory in our Big 12 belt. We’re not the biggest, not the best, but we bring our teams into our hearts…they’re family. I hope you get back through here again soon, maybe for a football game…storming the court is awesome; storming the field is otherworldly. Safe travels!
Thank you for helping us win. The fans know that they can will a team to victory at Hilton. It’s great to see Hilton Magic back. In the 80′s when “Hilton Magic” was born, Johnny Orr had a team that won every single game at home and lost every single game on the road. Now that’s home court advantage! Between 1999 and 2001, Iowa State was 39-0 at home. Fred Hoiberg grew up in Ames, he was a ball boy for the Cyclones growing up. He knows what Hilton Magic is all about. In Freddy we trust!
Next time you swing through Ames, check out Hickory Park. The restaurant is one of the most famous in all of Iowa, and has received national recognition as well. Excellent food at amazing prices. You won’t regret it!
Glad you could witness a game in Hilton! Take your time in the area next time and check out Hickory Park
Very cool thing you are doing. Glad that you got to see such a great win for Iowa State. I’m 32 and I’ve been going to games since I was a kid. So almost 30 years of Hilton. And you captured what is so ‘magical’ about the place. Most of us fans DO feel invested in the team and do think that we have a role to play…..whether it is yelling on defense or keeping somewhat involved when they are down 14 or cheering for a kid who struggles with his FT’s.
Iowa State struggled in the years under McDermott. But the fans kept showing up and kept trying. We’ve seen some return of the old ‘magic’ in the last couple of years and it has been so, so fun.
Awesome read…..this is a dream trip for a college bball fan. Cheers!
What a gig! And glad you you were able to get a taste of the magic — Danny Manning never won at Hilton, and said he could feel the floor shake when he was playing. We’ve been dozing since McDermott, but Hoiberg is getting it back, the guys are improving and playing their best ball of the season right now.
Safe travels, I’ve enjoyed reading all your posts – and you’re welcome back in Ames any time!
To all the Iowa State fans who read/commented-
Thank you all for the incredible responses! I had a really good time reading through the Cyclone stories and wisdom; just further proof that Ames (and Hilton) is a truly special place when it comes to college basketball. Looking forward to my next chance to visit, and I can promise you all one thing when I do- I will be eating a meal at Hickory Park! Wish I had that insight before my stop, but hey, I need to save something for next time. Thanks again for following along and more importantly, for sharing your town with me.
Go Cyclones,
Bennet
Great write up! I’m glad you got to see what Hilton is all about. That was a great end to the game too. As a student at ISU and a longtime fan, it’s great to see ISU doing so well. People on campus are excited, especially after our good football season and now our great basketball season. Being a Cyclone is something truly special and it’s something to be proud of. Watching Iowa State basketball struggle for years was tough to watch, but it’s great to hear talk about us possibly going to the tournament. Iowa State fans are some of the best in college sports. We are proud to be Cyclones, and nothing makes us happier than seeing ISU win. I know everybody has already said this, but Hickory Park IS amazing. Thanks for the write up and keep up the good work!! Enjoy your road trip and come back to Ames soon!!! CYCLONE NATION!!!
Maybe you should ditch your plans for the Feb 11 UNI game, and come back to Ames for the Texas A&M game…another chance to see Hilton Magic and a chance to dine at Hickory Park!!!
Great read! Thanks for sharing. We do love our Cyclones. Another comment on Hickory Park… a few years back, Harrison Ford landed his plane at the local airport so he could eat at Hickory Park, then flew off…. He didn’t even stay for a game, can you believe it?
Too bad you couldn’t have been here when we hosted Kansas. That night was truly magic!
Enjoyed reading your opinion of “Hilton Magic”. In all fairness, you only hit on a few of the ingredients that established this magic and your perception is quite good after a few short hours. The real truth, however, is this building by itself is nothing more than your average arena and therefore displays no magical qualities. Magic itself is defined as an extraordinary power or influence that seemingly casts a spell. You must understand this concept to get the true picture. You see, we die-hard Cyclone fans refer to magic as an adjective rather than a noun and as such: “Magic” comes from our heart and bears the direct extraordinary power and influence that is coveyed to our team. It also has the effect of casting a spell or negative influence on the opponent. When this term “Hilton Magic” was born, there was NOT an empty seat anywhere in the arena and coresspondingly we had a 39 game undefeated streak. I make the argument that the magic enters the arena one fan at a time and leaves the same way. Your observation of 90% occupancy means you only observed 90% of the magic and our home court record reflects exactly that. Anyway, thanks for your attendance and your support. Now, you know the truth.
Steve said it well…. Obviously a “true Cyclone” from the days of “REAL HILTON MAGIC”. Fred has us headed in the right direction, but the real “MAGIC” lies in the hearts of Cyclone Nation…. always winners no matter what the score or outcome.