Matta

        Thad Matta played his college basketball in Butler's Hinkle Fieldhouse, where the Indiana high school state basketball tournament was formerly played and where the climactic scenes of the film Hoosiers were shot. He spent six seasons as an assistant in that building and one as a head coach. But he moved into a new building — Cintas Center — last week and, from his new office, answered five questions from the Enquirer's Neil Schmidt.

        Q. How much did you like Hoosiers?

        A. I've seen it several times, and I thought it was tremendous. It was a great story of the small-town guys overcoming the odds. And to see where you played your college basketball on TV and how they portrayed the building was definitely special.

        Q. Are you a sports junkie, and which sports do you follow?

        A. I'm a (college) basketball guy, and during the season I don't watch the NBA. But when our season ends, I switch to the NBA. I'm also a huge college football fan. Lou Holtz is my favorite coach, so I like South Carolina best right now. Being in this area, I guess I should learn to (like) Ohio State.

        Q. What's your greatest memory as a player?

        (Matta scored the game's last eight points in the 62-61 victory on Jan. 11, 1988.) I wasn't a great player, so there weren't a lot of tremendous memories. In high school (in Hoopeston, Ill.), I played on some great teams (reaching the state tournament twice). My senior year we were 31-3. High school basketball is such a great time in a kid's life, because those are the people you grow up with.

        Q. What's the greatest basketball game you ever saw or were a part of?

        A. I would say our Wake Forest game this year was the most memorable. (Butler upset Wake Forest 79-63 in the NCAA Tournament's first round.) I would have never predicted it would have gone the way that it went. At halftime (when Butler led 43-10), I was kind of awestruck.

        Q. Finish this sentence: In my coaching career, I'm most proud of ...

        A. Being the head coach at Xavier University. Even though it has only just happened, it's an immediate sense of pride.

Xavier Stories

Five Questions with: Thad Matta Butler promotes Lickliter to head coach

Padres 5, Reds 2
Deion breaks 0-for-12 slump
Reds struggle on defense
Larkin may return today
Henderson finds fountain of youth
Reds box, runs
Ballpark costs on fast track
Bengals' pick just a hard-workin' boy from the heartland
Elvis is alive - in LeBeau
Bengals pin hopes on Webb
Bengals waive former No. 2 pick
Sharp wins UC basketball award
Derby gets Kentucky winner
Photo galleries: The race | Hats & headwear | Celebs & scenes
SULLIVAN: Ward gets the last word
Kentucky Derby notebook
Anything goes at infield party
Celebrities turn out for Derby
Derby fans shameless about hats
Ky. Speedway opens second season Friday
UK's Bogans, Prince to declare for draft
Austin defends IBF title here
Best and worst of week in sports
Lietzke commits to Kroger Classic
Marty, Joe ride the waves
Xavier, NKU set for NCAA golf tournaments
High School Insider
Cincinnati softball highlights
Cincinnati softball results
Cincinnati baseball results
Cincinnati tennis results
Cincinnati track results
Other Cincinnati results
N.Ky. baseball results
N.Ky. track results

• Return to Xavier front page...