Defining an IU surprise

Surprise: To cause to feel wonder, astonishment or amazement, as at something unanticipated.\nHmm, did Webster mean hearing Bloomington got slammed with 20 inches of snow or the rumors that Brad and Jennifer are on the outs? \nWell at least I was surprised on the blizzard front, but Mary Hart, Bob Goen and the good folks at "Entertainment Tonight" have kept me up-to-date on all the happenings that sent this Hollywood romance to the Pitts (I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself).\nImagine my surprise when I returned to the good ole' \nU. S. of A. from traveling around Europe during winter break to find out the Hoosiers' men's basketball team is still mired in mediocrity. \nWell, I guess that's not so surprising. \nNeither is blowing a double-digit lead at Missouri or giving up a half-court buzzer-beater at home to Charlotte. Reeling from six straight losses, the boys donning the cream and crimson compiled three consecutive wins against lower competition, including a 1-point escape versus Oral Roberts. Again, not so surprising.\nBut as I scanned the USA Today Europe Edition for the IU-Northwestern score, I must admit, the eternal optimist that I am, I was expecting a Hoosier win to kick off the Big Ten season. I searched long and hard and there it was. \nSURPRISE! \nI nearly fell out of my chair, readjusted my glasses and made sure I hadn't indulged in some of Amsterdam's famous Space Cake. But there it was staring me right in the face -- Northwestern 73, Indiana 52.\nIt would be days before I heard the horror tales of how a walk-on backup point guard notched career highs and led the Wildcats in their demolition of such a storied program. \nSo this new beginning we all heard about, where a brutal non-conference schedule would lead to a battle-tested group and spearhead a successful Big Ten campaign, looked as likely as me picking up the pieces and scoring a rebound date with Mrs. Pitt, or is it Ms. Aniston now? \nThe Hoosiers entered Saturday's match-up with the 10-2 Wisconsin Badgers, a team who has been among the conference's elite in recent years, downtrodden but insisting on better days. The epitaph had already been written for Mike Davis, the pink slip was being prepared and only the brave, drunk or otherwise impaired Hoosier fan dreamed of an IU upset. \nSURPRISE!\nWisconsin notched the first point of the game, the lone lead for the Badgers throughout the proceedings as IU countered with a 13-2 run, which would provide the Hoosiers a comfy cushion for the duration of the contest. \nWith the surprising win, Davis' critics may be quieted for a moment, but its been made clear by the team's faithful, losing by double-digits to teams that usually bowed to the mighty Indiana University will not be accepted warmly. \nSo can Mike Davis right the ship, win enough games and return IU to the NCAA tournament?\nNow, that would be surprising. I think Mr. Webster would agree.