Attention must be paid

As an out-of-state student, there are things that still mystify me about Hoosier culture. There is that weird no-alcohol-sales-on-Sunday law, and of course there are the myths surrounding that crazy nickname (Who’s yours? Come on). But the one thing that confuses me more than anything is the undisputed statewide obsession: IU men’s basketball.

Now, I appreciate the dedication to the game. As a coach’s daughter, I understand how much sports can mean to people. Point taken. But you Indianians really take it to the extreme.

The striped warm-up pants, the unconditional love for Bob Knight, the almost heretical worship of Assembly Hall – I think it’s great, endearing even. I am proud to go to a school that takes such pride in its students and traditions.

But why does that enthusiasm extend only to men’s basketball?

The women’s basketball team was 15-4, heading into a big game against Ohio State, but few on campus were the wiser. It is tied for second in the Big Ten and has won 13 of its last 15 games. Although this year’s ticket sales are up 18 percent from last year, the women are still scrounging to get butts in the seats. 

Now, Hoosiers, explain this to me: If you guys are the basketball fans that you claim to be, why are we letting our best basketball team in years play games to a half-empty stadium?

If the men were having this kind of success, it would be a completely different story.

If, by some grace of God, the men found themselves vying for the Big Ten title, tickets would be going for hundreds of dollars; students would be rioting down Kirkwood, and joy would echo throughout the state. If Crean and the men were having the sort of season that Legette-Jack and the women are having, there would be no reason for me to be writing about it because you would already know.

I appreciate the fact that IU men’s basketball is steeped in a lot of tradition, that men’s games are a special way for families to reminisce together about their time at IU. I also understand that IU men’s basketball was a huge deal long before a women’s team ever stepped on the court.

But this year the IU women’s basketball team is writing its own history. Their standout season is hopefully drafting a new tradition that maybe we could all tell our children about – that is, if we would only get out to a game.

Saturday evening, as I was walking away from the disappointing men’s game against Ohio State, I was impressed by how dedicated IU fans were to their team in spite of a series of bad losses. Unconditional support like that makes me proud to be a Hoosier. I only wish that we would extend it to both of our basketball teams.