Hey Hoosier Nation, Let’s Dance!

The title alone has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? Especially considering the tournament purgatory that Indiana University (IU) has been stuck in for six years. YES…SIX YEARS! And being an old(er) IU fan that grew up being utterly shocked, and even emotionally hurt when IU didn’t make an NCAA Tournament, those six years felt a whole lot longer. But by all accounts it appears as though later today the Hoosiers and all of Hoosier Nation will get to hear, “And playing in the ____ Region as the #__ Seed out of the Big10 Conference will be the Hoosiers from Indiana University.” I may shed some tears when I hear it, just as I used to do when I was a youngster and I didn't hear it.

How did they get here under first year coach Mike Woodson? Well, in what has been an up and down season emotionally for all parties involved (ie…players, coaches, fans, etc.), they hung their hat on their defense and went to Indianapolis for the Big10 Tournament and basically willed themselves to be in the position they are today to hear their name called on Selection Sunday. Hanging a banner is the ultimate goal at the start of every new season for every program in America, unfortunately that dream fades away fast for some teams. Then over the course of a long and brutal conference season, where a handful of possessions can decide a “W” or an “L” in every single game, teams can find themselves on the outside looking in, or on the proverbial “Bubble” awaiting to see what other teams do in their remaining game or two. The end of season conference tournaments have given those “bubble” teams the opportunity to control as much of their own fate as possible simply by winning or losing. Sure, sometimes it takes more than one win, but it is ultimately a one game season each time they step on the floor at this point for these “bubble” teams. Many felt that after having come up short in so many, not only close games, but also games that they had large leads or late leads, that IU was on that “bubble.”

Well, all Indiana did when they made the hour trip north to Indianapolis for the Big10 Tournament (BTT) was roll into town needing a win against a Michigan Wolverine team that had really been the only team that just simply had their way with IU in any game this season and go to the locker room at halftime down 13pts. The huge IU crowd never really had much to cheer about in the first half as every IU run was answered by a Wolverine run of their own. It didn’t get much better in the 2nd half, in fact it got worse. With 12:54 remaining in the game, and IU’s season, the Hoosiers trailed 60-43. From that point on IU played the way that their coaches and the fans believed they should and could have played all year. They huddled up themselves coming out of a timeout, and only they know what was said, but whatever it was worked. Their already good defense went to a whole other level. I mean they flat put the clamps on a Michigan team that for 3 1/2 halves this season had looked like they could score at will against the Hoosiers. When the dust settled the scoreboard read IU 74 UM 69. That’s right, a 31-9 run to end the game, and it all started on the defensive end. Once they started frustrating Michigan into turnovers and hurried shots, and then got some easy baskets of their own you could literally see the confidence and belief grow with each possession.

A lot of talk following the win centered around whether that 12:45 of dominance by IU was enough for them to hear their name called later today. Even though speculation and opinions were everywhere, obviously no one knew for certain. At least no one outside of the selection committee. So maybe IU had more work to do and they would get that chance against the BTT’s #1 seed Fighting Illini from Illinois. No small task for sure. All of Hoosier Nation knew the challenge that Illinois presented with their ability to play through their mountain of a center, Kofi Cockburn, and still yet have multiple 3-point threats on the perimeter. IU was even more aware and yet came out ready to do battle, and battle they did. In fact they played, in my eyes anyway, their most complete 40 minutes of basketball of the year. And once again it started on the defensive end. Coach Woodson said early on that IU would have to rely more on it’s defense this year than it’s offense, and they have. But the last 12:54 of the Michigan game and for 40 minutes against Illinois they found another gear on the defensive end.

Surely they were in the “Big Dance” now, right? All of the “experts” suggested yes, and all of the talking heads started saying things like, “IU is not a team that anyone wants to see themselves paired up against next week.” That was music to my ears! But the Hoosiers came out on Saturday against possibly the hottest team in America right now in the Iowa Hawkeyes playing like they needed to win this game too. Which wasn't really a surprise considering that when the Illinois game was over and IU leader, Xavier Johnson was interviewed and said, “We packed for four days.” The players had confidence and belief in themselves from the top of the roster to the bottom. They not only battled Iowa, they outplayed Iowa for most of the game. It was obvious that fatigue was somewhat of a factor, but they battled through it and seemingly had control late in the game. Unfortunately a few lapses on both ends of the floor and a couple of clutch 3’s by Iowa once again made it a game as time wound down. Staring at what seemed like overtime was quickly erased by a 35 foot shot by a 35 year old player and IU’s hopes of playing for a BTT Championship before the University and their fans got to hear their name called today was gone. But if there was any doubt as to whether or not IU was a NCAA Tournament team was gone (although I still need to hear/see it @6:00pm ET today) for good.

This team, from the top to the bottom, has tasted winning in big games and I believe that they finally FULLY believe in themselves and each other. I don’t sense any complement on just making the NCAA’s, but rather making some noise in the NCAA’s. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Xaivier Johnson, and Race Thompson have been nothing short of sensational, and the supporting cast, now healthy, has been as well. Players that rarely see the floor have been positive, engaged, and the biggest cheerers in the gym. Winning is fun. It’s contagious. It brings teams together and it makes all of the hard work and all of the failures along the way worth it when it finally all comes together. It brings the fanbase together, and let’s be honest, a united Hoosier Nation is a special fanbase.

Winning, or even just playing really good basketball and losing on a last second desperation three, can even be therapeutic and healing. Really, hear me out. I have a very good friend, that just two weeks ago we sat in a bar with family and friends to share a drink and celebrate his 91st birthday. He has been a Hoosier fan since he knew what basketball was. This is a man that still lives by himself and gets around as well as many people 30yrs. younger. Unfortunately, shortly after that birthday drink he had an issue arise that caused him to be hospitalized for this week. It’s never a good time to be hospitalized, but for a lifelong fan of that age to not be able to watch “his Hoosiers” with a long awaited return to the NCAA Tournament from the comfort of his chair with his IU blanket draped across his lap made all of things going on with him even worse. As they would be for any of us in the hospital, his spirits were down, he was in pain, and he was GROUCHY! But you know what? Watching the best two and a half games of basketball that an IU team has played in quite sometime gave him something to smile and to cheer about. It took his mind off of where he was and what he is going through. It excited him. It made him feel “normal” again. Him and his Hoosiers were going dancing again. So for Thursday, Friday, and even Saturday despite the loss, some healing took place and all was right with the world. He was moved to a rehab center today, his chair and IU blanket have already been delivered, and like all of us, he’s anxiously awaiting to hear, “Playing in the ____Region as the #__Seed out of the Big10 Conference the Hoosiers from Indiana University.” He’ll smile, clap, and he’ll probably shed some tears……All the same things me and so many others will do. Indiana University Basketball can be just that special!

GO HOOSIERS!