For six months, Archie Miller walked into an empty Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, just waiting for the first time he would see it packed with the Indiana faithful. That moment, along with an electric eruption of applause for the first-year head coach, came Saturday night.

“It couldn’t come fast enough,” Miller said amid a chorus of cheers.

With a crowd IU women’s head coach Teri Moren dubbed as the biggest she had ever seen for Hoosier Hysteria, the annual event buzzed across the country as the 2017-18 season officially began in Bloomington, IN.

There were some great highlights in the action-packed night, too.

Red/White Shooting Contest

Winning Team: Josh Newkirk (Senior) & Ali Patberg (Sophomore)

With Robert Johnson and All-American Tyra Buss, the men’s and women’s returning leading scorers from last season, respectively, on the same team, some might have considered this a friendly upset, but Newkirk, who only participated in this event, and Patberg, a Notre Dame transfer, got hot in the finals to take down the big-time senior scoring duo.

Dunk Contest

Winner: Curtis Jones (Sophomore)

When it comes to dunking, Hoosier Nation will quickly bring up the high-flying Freddie McSwain Jr. as one of the best in the country. That is definitely true, but on this night, sophomore Curtis Jones stole the show with a double-pump reverse and an amazing leap over De'Ron Davis to take the crown.

Red/White Men’s Scrimmage (Points)

Red Team: 40

Devonte Green (14), Curtis Jones (8), Tim Priller (6), Justin Smith (4), Clifton Moore (4), Freddie McSwain Jr. (2), Vijay Blackmon (2), Ethan Lasko

Breakdown: Let it be known Devonte Green is not short on confidence. The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard was in attack mode from the jump and showed some flashes of being a solid scorer at the rim and from the outside. Fellow sophomore Curtis Jones hit some nice shots late, too. Those two could definitely be a nice scoring punch off the bench (depending on the starting lineup) behind Robert Johnson and Josh Newkirk.

Another good boost off the bench could be big man Tim Priller. The 6-foot-9 senior knows his role and was productive in the scrimmage with rebounds and putbacks.

Freshmen forwards Justin Smith and Clifton Moore were seemingly quiet, but each had some good moments to build from in playing in front of a large crowd for the first time.

White Team: 31

Robert Johnson (12), De’Ron Davis (9), Juwan Morgan (8), Race Thompson (2), Zach McRoberts, Johnny Jager, Quentin Taylor

Breakdown: Picking up right where he left off last season, Johnson looked as poised as ever. He had a nasty step-back for his first bucket before following it up with back-to-back 3-pointers just a couple of possessions later. He is the leader of this team and certainly played like it.

A lot of eyes will be on De’Ron Davis this season as he looks to become Indiana’s go-to big man. And if this scrimmage was any indication, the 6-foot-10 forward is well on his way. He has noticeably bulked up, which is a great thing, and showed good moves and patience around the rim. Davis will only get better and better as the season progresses.

Junior forward Juwan Morgan was also a standout performer with his versatility getting his points with a nice right hook, in transition, on a putback, and with a nice slip on a ball screen.

Seniors Josh Newkirk and Collin Hartman did not participate in the scrimmage.