VALPARAISO | Real men wear pink. That was the theme of this year's Valparaiso University Hoops Mania at the Athletics-Recreation Center on Friday. The evening marked the unofficial start to the 2009-10 basketball season.

"It's really meant for the players," VU coach Homer Drew said. "After all the hard work in practice it's their time. It's their night to have fun shooting (3-pointers), playing a little bit, and then the dunk contest that they enjoy. It's a good evening."

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Valparaiso men's basketball team members wore pink T-shirts that had Valpo on the front and the players' numbers on the back.

"I'm excited," said Matt Kenney, a freshman guard from Mooresville, Ind. "We're all practicing real well and working hard. It's going to be really fun once game time comes around and the atmosphere."

After beating a group of students in a 3-point contest, the men took on three of the best shooters from the women's side. The men were looking for redemption after losing to the women last year and they found it as they topped the women's team 26-19.

After playing a five-minute scrimmage, the much-anticipated dunk contest was held. Fifth-year senior Brandon McPherson hosted the event.

"I'm the oldest man here," McPherson jokingly said to the crowd. "I've been here for about 28 years now."

The first two rounds of the contest were filled with high-flying feats that included a blind-folded dunk from freshman Milos Milosevic from Montenegro and a behind-the-back slam from Kokomo sophomore Brandon Wood.

Red-shirt junior Cory Johnson would take his second straight dunk contest. After running to the basket, Johnson faked a Charlie horse and escaped out of vision only to reappear wearing a Superman T-shirt before throwing down a massive dunk.

The Valparaiso men's basketball team ended the evening with an autograph session for the community. The season kicks off for the Crusaders on Nov. 1 with an exhibition game against Indianapolis.

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