• About
  • Advertising
  • History
  • Staff
  • Contact

The Andersonian

The Anderson University Student Newspaper

Anderson University’s Student Newspaper

  • Campus News
  • Audio
  • Features
  • Arts & Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
  • COVID-19
You are here: Home / Sports / Adelphi’s unpredictable game of ‘Whose Ball’

Adelphi’s unpredictable game of ‘Whose Ball’

March 3, 2020 by Blakelee Steeb

Most people that show up to a basketball game expect to see a fast-paced competitive sport with at least five players on both teams. However, if you show up to a basketball game during season three intramurals to cheer on your peers, you may be surprised to see that the game you watch is exactly the opposite of what you expected. 

Five years ago in the winter of 2015, the men’s social club Adelphi birthed the idea of “Whose Ball.” The inspiration for the name of “Whose Ball” came from the improvisational comedy television show titled, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” which aired on ABC from 1998 to 2007.

Just like any other team signing up for basketball in season three IMs, the team responsible for “Whose Ball” signs up to “compete” in an unpredictable manner.

Many of the founders and captains are members of Adelphi, but membership in Adelphi is not required to participate. The current captain, which is mostly just a formality, is senior political science and national security major Carter Haupt. 

“The game of ‘Whose Ball’ is played with the same rules as basketball,” said Haupt. “At the start of each game, every athlete draws a card. There are a myriad of things that could be on the cards, but to summarize, they can be weird quirks, characters and rules.”

Basically, a group of men join together and make fools of themselves for their own amusement. The team enjoys taking part in the IM program in a fun and athletic environment, despite them not being traditional athletes. 

However, the game is not necessarily dysfunctional. The team facilitates different plays throughout the game. One of their favorite plays is the catapult, where one person holds the ball above their head while three other people lower him at an angle. The fifth person cranks an invisible lever and yells “fire!” as the person who is holding the ball is flung forward and releases the ball.

“People enjoy how unpredictable it is,” said Haupt. “It is similar to improv comedy; you will never see the same thing twice. Each time, a group of funny guys joins forces to make the strangest game of basketball that people can imagine.”

Although the point of the game is to entertain, and, in doing so, giving the other team an automatic win, it is possible there are some teams that do not enjoy quirky the style of play. According to senior computer engineering major Caleb Conrad, some people either get the joke behind their style of play or they do not.

“I enjoy when we play against other teams that are willing to have fun with us,” said Conrad. “I do enjoy protecting my players from other unfriendly teams. Some players will get rough if you invade their personal space.”

However, the possibility of opponents not liking their style of play is not the only issue with the game. 

Two years ago there was a mercy rule that was implemented. At half-time, if the winning team is up by 40 points or more, the game must end.

“‘Whose Ball’ doesn’t put up very many points,” said Conrad. “Mercy rules are meant to protect teams from getting slaughtered. We just want to play the full 40 minutes.”

But Conrad is not alone in his desire to play the full game. The point of “Whose Ball” is to have a good time and entertain the audience, and that is exactly what the team aims to do with their fun and comedic style. 

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Sports

Watch

Jacey Crawford discusses the latest developments on campus, including the creation of a new musical.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Miles Morey discusses this week’s sports highlights.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Video

Listen

Raven Watch 2020-12-07

On this episode of the Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan is joined by former Big Ten Player of the Year and Indiana Pacer Clark Kellogg as they discuss displaying your faith in sports, Clark’s career as a player and broadcaster and his game of “H.O.R.S.E.” with President Obama.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-12-03

On this episode, Jordan Yaney sits down with senior soccer player Drew Sonnefeldt to discuss his soccer career, trips to Europe, hobbies, and dreams of playing professional soccer

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-24

In the third Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Hannah Hawkins, a senior basketball player, about starting her freshman year 0-25, becoming more of a leader on the team and facing their one-on-one battle on the court freshman year. Thanks to our sponsor, the Folgate Agency. Please contact Steve Folgate for Allstate insurance and […]

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Raven Watch 2020-09-18

In the second-ever Raven Watch Podcast, Jordan Yaney talks with Kennedy Parker, a senior baseball player, about finding out last season was canceled while the team was in Florida, why he decided to come back for a fifth year and play and what he expects out of this year’s team.

Share this:

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

More Audio

Follow

andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
2 Mar

Check out this week's video:

Reply on Twitter 1366814559072321537Retweet on Twitter 13668145590723215376Like on Twitter 136681455907232153712Twitter 1366814559072321537
Retweet on TwitterAndersonian Retweeted
AURavenWatchRaven Watch@AURavenWatch·
24 Feb

New Raven Watch is up now!

Tune in for highlights from this weekend’s basketball games, Rocket League playoffs, a volleyball update and more.

https://andersonian.com/2021/02/23/raven-watch-2021-02-23/

@AthleticsAU @andersonian @AURavensMBB @AURavensWBB @AUesports_ @Volleyball_AU @AndersonU @MilesMorey

Reply on Twitter 1364389375136714755Retweet on Twitter 13643893751367147554Like on Twitter 13643893751367147555Twitter 1364389375136714755
andersonianAndersonian@andersonian·
18 Feb

The AU Rocket League team has found success in their inaugural season.
Read more:
https://andersonian.com/2021/02/08/rocket-league-has-success-in-its-first-year/

Reply on Twitter 1362432324919517185Retweet on Twitter 13624323249195171851Like on Twitter 13624323249195171853Twitter 1362432324919517185
Load More...

The Andersonian, the student newspaper of Anderson University, Anderson, Ind., publishes a print edition and maintains this website. As a matter of institutional policy, the University administration does not review or edit Andersonian content prior to publication. The student editors are responsible for both print and online content. While the administration recognizes the role of the student press on a college campus and in journalism education, the views expressed in the Andersonian are not necessarily those of Anderson University.

© Andersonian 2017, All rights reserved · Site by Mere
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.