It used to be around these parts (and by "these parts," we mean "Indiana") that about this time each winter, Hoosiers here and abroad would get pumped for their yearly addiction to basketball.
And by "Hoosiers," we mean "Indiana residents."
Super Bowl fuss would wind down, leaving us the opportunity to look forward to none other than March Madness.
What happened to the hype?
In the past, it may have been understandable. Indiana's teams, both collegiate and professional, have made some decent drives towards their respected top honors, but have all fallen short in recent years.
Take a seat in any bar around the state, and you'll hear a lot of people crying about the end of their fantasy football seasons and sleepless over the wait for Major League Baseball's April start.
With the National Hockey League off the ice, the football season pretty well finished and baseball far from opening day -- there really is nothing to get excited about right now, outside of basketball.
Sans you NASCAR fans, anyway.
Again we ask: What happened to the hype?
Case and point, look at the Super Bowl itself. As soon as the championship games were over, Super-hype began. Super Sunday usually has its fair share of analysts and pre-games, but the entire two weeks leading up to the game seemed nothing more than, well, pre-pre-game teases.
Where's that sort of attention for this state's supposedly historic love affair with basketball? It's been on the bench for a few years.
It can change, though; as well it should.
Even here at Ball State, with a men's team that has a fighting chance at making the big dance, excitement seems minimal. The team looks to face Drexel on Cardinal territory on Sat. Feb. 19, a game that will be televised outside of the normal Ball State network.
A possibly nationally televised game? What an opportune time for students to pack "the Nest" at Worthen Arena. We can only hope that this game continues to be teased to the point of an at-capacity crowd that Saturday.
Until that game and when the madness officially gets underway, its time to rebound from the past and build some basketball-friendly optimism around these parts.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
