Ron Hunter told the story Monday of visiting IUPUI before he became its men’s basketball coach in 1994. His informal survey of students on campus wasn’t uplifting.

“I asked 25 people on campus about the basketball team and 24 of them didn’t know we had one,” he said. “And that one was on the team.”

Much has changed. The Jaguars have since joined Division I, played in the NCAA Tournament and produced a first-round NBA draft pick (George Hill).

Monday, they opened their season with a luncheon and an exhibition game at Conseco Fieldhouse, where Hunter frequently conducts practices and where the Jaguars will play three regular-season games this season.

Hunter joked that the Indiana Pacers’ home is becoming IUPUI’s, too.

“Next year I’m going to have an office here . . . even if it’s got to be in a ticket office,” Hunter said in jest.

Hunter’s excitement for the unique arrangement comes from realizing its benefits. He already has brought four recruits to practice this fall, including a key one from Kentucky, and the wide-eyed reaction has always been the same.

In one case, the recruit committed to attend IUPUI on the walk out to the car. Jaguars senior Robert Glenn understands the mark such an arena leaves on young players because he feels it, too.

“They love it being in an NBA arena,” he said. “We get to see the (Pacers) players and coaches. They all come in here when we’re here.”

Said Hunter: “It legitimizes what we’re doing (with the program) and gives it a big-time feel.”

IUPUI’s invitation comes from longtime program supporter Jim Morris, the president of Pacers Sports&Entertainment.

The Jaguars, who beat Seton Hall last season and nearly upset 11th-ranked Arizona State, should again be a team worth watching. They return four starters and three other lettermen from a 16-14 team.

IUPUI opens the season Nov. 14 at Drake. Its first home game is Nov. 25 against IU-East, but that game will be played at the Jungle, the school’s on-campus gymnasium. The first game at Conseco is Jan. 6 against Ohio University.

The other Conseco games are Jan. 14 against Oral Roberts, when Hill’s uniform will be retired, and Jan. 31 against IPFW.

Jaguars roll

Glenn (Ben Davis) and sophomore Alex Young (Northwest) scored 22 points each to lead IUPUI past Anderson 95-60.

“We set the tempo and did some good things, but we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hunter said in a news release. “All in all, though, I was pretty pleased.”

The Jaguars had 26 assists on 40 field goals and scored 23 points off 22 Ravens turnovers.

Andrew Jones (Noblesville) led Anderson with 17 points.

IUPUI returns to the Jungle for its exhibition finale at 2 p.m. Saturday against St. Joseph’s College.