Indiana Hoosier Winter Sports Prepare for Their Toughest Opponent
Written by: Ben Malcomson (@BenMalcomson)
Unless you have been living under a rock since late 2019 going into 2020, it would not be too difficult to figure out IU’s toughest opponent of all. The same foe that put an abrupt end to the Spring sports. The same beast that took out the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. The invisible enemy that threatened Fall sports and caused delays, financial losses, and the shifting of programs and athletes as they debated whether to continue a sport that does not bring in enough revenue and the student athletes that weigh the tough decision of whether to forgo their collegiate playing careers to pursue professional dreams.
The most challenging opponent for Indiana football and men’s/women’s basketball is the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sure, it is thrilling and exciting to know that we are now going to have Big Ten football. The first question that pops up in my head is “For how long?”
The answer is, hopefully, a full season. At least a full revised season where we witness the athletic programs, not just Indiana, but all programs experience zero to limited threats from the coronavirus.
As for what is on the field or on the court, we are prepared to witness plenty of reasons to be optimistic about these programs. Football continues to make a steady climb into becoming an opponent you do not want to take lightly. They are more talented and deeper. They bring back players who had suffered injuries. They welcome new faces that come with high praise and accolades from their high school careers.
As for the men’s basketball team, Coach Archie Miller and company are locked and loaded. A new freshman class joins the program and if you have been following recruiting closely, you will know without me having to explain it that each student athlete brings something unique to the table and to this team. It is almost certain the Hoosiers would have been dancing no matter the seed last season. This year, the goal is to make that big dance and see how much noise they can make. The more noise, the more secure Archie’s job becomes at Indiana where the impatience for tourney fever is just as potent as the impatience and frustrations surrounding the lifestyle adjustments the pandemic has forced upon on us in order to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
It has not been easy. Honestly, far from it. Each day, someone somewhere is contracting this virus and, at the same time, someone else is succumbing to it.
I cannot possibly say how much Indiana Hoosier fans should be intrigued about this IU women’s basketball team. They continue their rise as one of the toughest, talented, and most disciplined teams in not just the B1G conference, but all of D1 basketball. It will be interesting to see how things unfold for them.
I leave you with the best piece of advice I can give you:
Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
That is all you can do. Take each game for what it is worth. It is a big deal.
What is going on in the world is most important, but sports are also an important component for morale both for the student athletes and the fans. A sense of normalcy. Sure, many of us will not be able to attend these events in person. No tailgating (sigh), no hanging out at Nick’s English Hut or Buffalouie’s in large gatherings, and no ability to see one another’s facial reaction when we witness something good or bad happen during the in-game moments – the masks will conceal those smiles and frowns.
All we have is each other – from a distance. And, in a year that has tested us all, having one another’s support - even from a distance - means everything.
Saturday is fast-approaching. Indiana vs. Penn State. Are you ready?