The first-ever “Maroon Madness,” hosted by the SIU basketball team proved to be freshman center Nick Evans’ chance to unleash his dance moves on a national stage.

Thousands of fans came out to witness the team’s first official practice of the season Friday, dubbed “Maroon Madness,” which aired later that night as part of ESPNU’s Midnight Madness.

The night’s excitement started off with an elaborate introduction for the team, including coach Chris Lowery being escorted into the Arena on a motorcycle driven by team mascot Brown Dawg and Evans’ dance, also featured on SportsCenter.

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Stephen Bardo, ESPNU commentator and Carbondale native, was on hand to conduct interviews with the players during the 90-minute event.

The team took part in a 3-point contest, a dunk contest and two eight-minute scrimmages.

Junior forward Matt Shaw claimed the title in the 3-point contest and also helped out teammate senior Randal Falker win the dunk contest with an off-the-head assist.

The team also held an autograph session following the practice where fans could meet their favorite Saluki player.

Dawg Pound member Steven Luschen, a senior from Texico studying industrial design, said he arrived about 45 minutes early so he could be the first fan admitted into the Arena.

Luschen said he is excited about the upcoming season and said the Dawg Pound will bring extra support to the team throughout the season.

It wasn’t only current students who came out to show their Saluki spirit. Hundreds of alumni also came back to support the reigning MVC regular season champions.

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Bill Hankison, a 1985 graduate with a degree in business administration, brought his whole family down from Springfield to his alma mater to take part in the event.

Hankison, a season ticket holder, said he feels a change in the atmosphere surrounding Saluki basketball since his time as an undergraduate.

“I used to come here and there would only be 400 people here,” Hankison said.

Bart Sinks, a 1995 graduate with a degree in health education, said he has also seen a change in atmosphere, especially with the student section.

While Sinks said he did not sit in the Dawg Pound as a student, he can see that fans are more excited about the program now.

“I think it’s crazier now,” Sinks said. “Yeah, definitely crazier.”

Sinks said he is excited about the upcoming season and expects the Salukis to be on the same level as the higher-ranked competition they will play.

“We’re kind of now on the level of a (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) or basically at this point the premier school of the state,” Sinks said.

Scott Rose, a freshman from Downers Grove studying civil engineering, said the excitement of Friday night’s crowd is just a preview of what to expect this season.

The roar of the crowd was deafening as ESPN scanned the student section, and Rose said the competition should be scared.

“It’s going be the worst place to play, no team’s going to want to play here,” Rose said.

Mark Gazdik, assistant athletic director for marketing, who was the main coordinator for “Maroon Madness,” said he was excited with the results of the event.

Gazdik said everything went as planned and he was especially pleased with the fan attendance.

“We have some great Saluki fans and we knew if we had a first class event that everyone would come out and they did,” Gazdik said.

Gazdik couldn’t say for sure if the team will have another event like this next year but is confident it will be in the works.

Daily Egyptian reporter Megan Kramper can be reached a 536-3311 ext. 282 or [email protected].