Hoosiers bust through that wall

Tremendous. That's the word Kelvin Sampson used to define Wednesday night's win. \nMemory. D.J. White said it's one he'll have for the rest of his life. \nClaustrophobic. Why, that's what A.J. Ratliff is, and how he felt as students rushed onto the court following IU's 71-66 victory against No. 2 Wisconsin inside Assembly Hall on Wednesday night.\nAnd speaking of Ratliff, if you're still wondering where that player you were promised has been, the one awarded "Mr. Basketball" in the state of Indiana since his senior season at North Central High School, look no further than Branch McCracken Court on Wednesday night. He played with authority, confidence and seemed to add elements to his game never witnessed before. He drove the lane with a newfound terror for buckets. He dished passes as if he was this team's point guard. And, in the decisive minutes of Wednesday night's game, he was the man -- seemingly hitting every shot he took the last 12 minutes of the half. Well, actually he did make every shot he took the last 12 minutes, all five of them, including two free throw shots to boot. All that with a cast on his left wrist, one that's limited just how and where he can play on the court. \nThe past few years, the Hoosier squad has run into a brick wall around this part of the Big Ten season. Conference play that started out so promising quickly turned sour. But this team, led by first-year coach Sampson, has busted through that brick wall with a confidence and swagger not seen around these parts in some time.\nSure, there's still plenty of time for this ride to derail. But, are there seriously any of you out there that think it will?\nIn his post-game press conference, Sampson credited the crowd as much as his team for the Hoosier victory. Ratliff said it hasn't been like this inside Assembly Hall since the Duke game early last season.\nNo arguments here.\nIn the decisive last minutes of the second half, the students seated in the front row of section M banged on the railing so hard paint chipped off it and fell down onto my arm, as I sat tucked against the wall on press row.\nAs students funneled over the wall on the east side of the stadium and down into the alumni court side seats below, a group of middle-aged men were -- at first -- bombarded. Then, apparently swept up by the moment and the stadium's giddiness, they helped the throng of kids as each hopped over the railing.\nFor one night inside Assembly Hall, the apparent rift, however manufactured it may be between the alumni and students was non-existent. And hey, on nights such as Wednesday, who needs a student section?\nThe entire crowd was one unit basking in the warmth of a Hoosier victory. \nAnd everything, as coach Sampson would say, was "tremendous"