Mike and I are watching Indiana University combat Michigan State on ESPN. I am pretty impartial when it comes to discussing Indiana University basketball. I am an aficionado, but I am not a die-hard enthusiast. The whole college basketball thing is problematic for me. I was raised in a household that worshipped the dirt digging Boilermakers of Purdue. I went around for most of my childhood cursing the name of Bob Knight and praising the name of Gene Keady. So when I went to college and my love for basketball briefly waned – I failed to really get into it. I watched passively, of course. That is our duty as students of Indiana University – I think it is in the conduct code of ethics (or some crap like that). And now, as time has lapsed, I have grown the regenerate that appreciation for the game of basketball. On the collegiate level, I have channeled the interest toward the Alma Amateur. Want to hear what I think about IU basketball? Of course you do. Everyone likes to read the thoughts of a bloviating half-wit. I will bullet my thoughts. It is an organizational thing.
- Indiana University is petrifying and intimidating at home. Seriously. The intimidation stems more the crowd than it does the team. The team feeds off of the antagonism and exhilaration emitted from the crimson and cream fans besieging the hardwood. Who saw the most exciting game in college basketball this year? We did. Kentucky fell to an unranked Indiana team. IU would have lost that game at Rupp. No doubt. Bloodcurdling fans make a substantial difference in a game like that. There is a reason that video games have a built-in momentum feature. It is huge. And the IU crowd is astounding when it comes to constructing vocal energy-feeding momentum. This makes IU my favorite at home every time. Unless they are playing a crap team – sometimes they stay in McNutt (a party dorm) instead of defending their home court. That makes my blood boil.
- What college basketball fan does not like to see the arms of the ref shoot up in the air parallel to one another? All fans love it. The three ball rivals the dunk in a popularity contest. It is only a one-point difference from the usual field goal – but it is suggestively more imposing. IU is dazzling when it comes to converting the three. They are currently ranked third shooting at 42%. This makes the team fun to watch. What ESPN viewer has missed the mobile commercial consisting of Christian Watford nailing the three in the final second of the Kentucky game? You all have seen it. It was remarkable. IU is menacing and dangerous to opponents when it comes to the three. Not to mention, it is hard to defend because they have the Zeller threat down low. Opposing teams have to play impeccable defense in order to properly play the Hoosiers. I love the three. Screw dunks.
- Sometimes I see the “IU pants” and shutter. Yeah, it is tradition to get them in support of your team – but that represents an era of IU basketball that ended bitterly. Bob Knight will not even go to Assembly to call a game (although this could be a safety issue – not in bad way. IU fans would mob him out of love). If I were Bob Knight, I would start a petition to retire the popular pants. I guess some fans would argue they wear the pants out of tribute. Yeah, well, whatever…I am tired of looking at them. Put them away and chalk it up to a loss of $100 or so. Those things are expensive.
- I am going to go back to the actual team now. IU is about one player away from being dominant in the Big Ten. Tom Crean has proved to be an excellent coach with out inhibition for his enthusiasm. He came into the stain that Kelvin Sampson left and rebuilt the team using honest methodology. Good for him. Since he is such a respectable coach and a man he is getting great recruits. Next year they will be even better. Stop praying for a scandal, Purdue fans – this team and coach are clean.
I have to stop. I went all Bill Simmons on you people and you do not deserve that.
No comments:
Post a Comment
What do YOU think?