It wasn’t for the Hoosiers’ program or their players, though. It was for IU Coach Teri Moren, who was returning to the Hulman Center for the first time since she coached Indiana State in 2014.
As she walked along the scorer’s table toward the IU bench, she waved to the crowd, smiled to those who called out “Coach” and blew kisses to a family who was seated across the baseline.
Then she took her place in front of the bench and coached the Hoosiers to a 53-50 victory.
“It’s hard,” Moren said about her homecoming. “Not just to play your friends but some of those kids I recruited. We’re just happy to get out of here with a win.”
After the buzzer sounded on a game that came down to the final play, Moren was immediately greeted by her former players and recruits.
She also shared a hug with Indiana State Coach Joey Wells.
But the second-year coach was far from joyous with the win and the return to a home where she posted a 69-32 record as a coach.
“I can tell you this — this series is over,” Moren said, stretching her arms out to her sides. “We’re not doing it anymore. It’s never fun to play your friends.”
On Monday night on her radio show, Moren said Indiana State circles the date it plays IU every year and that playing the Big Ten team is one of the biggest season matchups.
The Sycamores have played the Hoosiers well in the two years that Moren has coached IU.
The team defeated IU last year in overtime, 65-61, and then played them to the last second in Tuesday’s game.
Moren said it could be because of her history at the program that provides the motivation for the Sycamores to play harder against the Hoosiers, but she credited the hard play to the second-year coach of the program: Joey Wells.
After hiring Wells during her tenure in Terre Haute, Moren said she believes he is doing a good job with the program.
Moren cited his nine underclassmen on the roster and Indiana State’s tough mindset on the court, as the Sycamores came back from a deficit as big as 15 on Tuesday.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Joey,” Moren said. “I never would have hired him if I didn’t think he could coach, and obviously he is a good friend.”
After the questions at her postgame press conference, Moren headed for the exit of the press room.
But not before being stopped and embraced by every member of Indiana State’s public relations team.
Moren’s emotional homecoming was not only created by the fanbase and coaching staff of Indiana State showing their respects to the former coach.
The respect was reciprocated.
“I’m a fan,” Moren said. “I’m a fan of Terre Haute, I’m a fan of Indiana State, and I’m a fan of Joey.”
