Will you read this?

Today's pre-spring break paper ranks as the equivalent of the journalism world's neglected ugly duckling. \nWith thousands of IU students flocking to regions far away ranging from Uruguay to Park City, Utah, the pre-spring break paper sits in the newsstand yearning to be read. It waits for that student from Indonesia - who can't go home because of fears he won't be allowed back in the states -- to walk by for the 10th time and begrudgingly reach his nearly frozen hand and grasp the paper, which after three days will finally get to breathe the crisp winter air.\nSo as I sat down to the computer and pondered the next great chapter of journalistic gold, I realized this just might be the least read column of my fledgling career. So do I dare waste my words of grandeur on deaf ears, or do I titillate those loyal readers of mine -- The Crumbs -- with perhaps a column so fantastic it can turn this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan? \nNow that I've set my readers up for inevitable disappointment and then just announced that I've done so, we're back to square one. \nI think I'll write of the importance surrounding today's quarterfinal contest between IU and Minnesota. A game we all know the Hoosiers need to win to -- pardon the cliché -- keep hope alive.\nThere has been talk lately that no matter who wins Friday's contest between the Hoosiers and Gophers, Minnesota (20-9, 10-6) has already staked its claim to one of the few remaining at-large bids. I'm not convinced.\nWhile the Gophers boast five more wins than IU and three fewer losses, are the Gophers really better? Minnesota, like the Hoosiers, scheduled some good to decent non-conference games; however, the garnet and gold lined up three teams, whereas IU mistakenly scheduled six. \nAnd how did Minnesota do in those three contests? Two home losses -- to Alabama and Florida State -- and a 13-point loss at Oklahoma: Not exactly the North Carolina, UConn or Kentucky the Hoosiers faced.\nThe Gophers early schedule was littered with the likes of Chicago State, St. Francis (Pa.), N.C. Greensboro, Coppin State, Lipscomb, Central Michigan, Loyola Marymount and Holy Cross, who boast an impressive 16-game winning streak but has also lost to Princeton and Bucknell.\nIU's early season slate saw Indiana State, Western Illinois, Ball State and the unlucky Oral Roberts, who saw their automatic NCAA bid go to the 12-18 Oakland Grizzlies Tuesday night.\nOn Dec. 4, the Gophers beat Holy Cross by 16 points at home as the Hoosiers blew a lead and lost to the defending national champion UConn Huskies on the road. The 22nd of the month saw Minnesota beat St. Francis while IU watched a clock malfunction cost the Hoosiers a game against Charlotte.\nSo why is Minnesota in, and IU out? I see one way to settle this: Look to the team's only common non-conference opponent.\nOn Nov. 25, the Gophers defeated the Purple Paladins of Furman by 15 points at home. A day after New Year's, the cream and crimson played host to the same men from Greenville, S.C., and beat them by 16 points. See, it's so easy. Blow up the RPI and there's no formula needed. The human eye is all that is required. We all know IU is better than Minnesota; we just need to thank the men from Furman for showing us that.