Taber delivers final farewell

His grin filled Assembly Hall like $5 balcony seats.

The fifth-year senior who’s had a front row seat to the rise and fall of IU basketball clutched a microphone in his right. Grasped in his shooting hand were various notes he’d scribbled on a hotel notepad the night before.

Minutes prior, his teammates battled as hard as they had all season to send him off with a victory. When it was clear that No. 8 Michigan State would prevail, Hoosier nation defiantly cheered his name as loud as it could, paying homage to the lone constant in the program’s recent history.

He stood on Branch McCracken Court for the last time as an IU player. He grew up in Evansville worshipping the Hoosiers, committing to the school as a walk-on after its Final Four run in 2002. He wanted to win championships. Instead, he witnessed a different kind of history.

Now, miraculously, he was the last player standing after five tumultuous years.

Thousands of faithful fans stuck around Assembly Hall on Tuesday night to witness the senior’s farewell speech. But he wouldn’t go off without one last chant.

Ky-le Ta-ber, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, Ky-le Ta-ber.

The 6-foot-8 forward, surrounded by his parents, teammates, coaches and friends took it all in one last time.

“What can I say? It’s Indiana. Look at this,” he said.

There would be no tears from Kyle Taber Tuesday night. Only smiles.

Taber played 33 minutes in his final home game, finishing with a stat line as humble as his legacy: three points, five rebounds, two assists and a steal.

But the former walk-on’s contribution to the program goes far beyond numbers. IU coach Tom Crean, Taber’s fourth coach in five years, called Taber the “epitome” of IU basketball.

“I speak on behalf of all his coaches at Indiana when I say he meant a great deal to everyone here,” Crean said. “He represents each and every one of you the right way, as the only senior member of this Indiana basketball team.”

As most seniors traditionally do, Taber thanked a long list of people from all corners of the world for helping him get to where he is today. When he thanked his grandmother, who was in attendance for her first IU basketball game, the student section erupted into a new chant: Grand-ma Ta-ber.

“It was very emotional, very upsetting, but also very gratifying (Kyle) was able to play here one last time,” Steve Taber, Kyle’s father, said after the game.

Taber’s father said the past five years had been long ones for his son.

“He was kind of happy he was finished but at the same time sad,” Steve Taber said. “I’m sure it will hit him hard tomorrow.”

Taber’s final year as a Hoosier was very different from the four previous. Originally recruited by former IU coach Mike Davis, Taber rarely saw the floor in his first four seasons in Bloomington. After Davis, Taber played two seasons under former IU coach Kelvin Sampson and interim coach Dan Dakich before Crean took over the program last April.

With only two returning players and not a lot of incoming talent, Taber emerged as a starter and one of Crean’s most reliable post players this season, despite scoring only 34 points during his first four years as a Hoosier.

Over the past few weeks, Taber has been reluctant to reflect on his five seasons in Bloomington. But in his speech Tuesday night, the senior revealed his amazement at the support the team has received this year.

“We’re 6-23 and we’re playing in front of a packed house that’s louder than anywhere in the country,” Taber said.

More than anything, Taber said he’d miss playing in front of those fans. He said Tuesday was the loudest he’d heard Assembly Hall all season.

In his post-game press conference, Crean said he hopes people remember Taber for how much he improved and for his integral role in IU’s rebuilding season.
“He was a huge part of laying the foundation,” he said.

Taber’s father sees his son being remembered for something else.

“I think (the fans) will remember him as a hard-working walk-on that showed everybody what you can do if you work hard,” Steve Taber said. “He got a scholarship, and he lived out his dream. As long as you work hard, it can happen.”