Full Court Mess

I despise Indiana University with every fiber in my being. It’s a rivalry and that’s something that college sports has over the pro leagues, the passion is there that makes it real. The creative chants are some of my favorite parts of student section participation, but last night was a classless showing from Assembly Hall.

Matt Glenesk of the Indy Star documented the chant the whole world heard targeted at Matt Haarms throughout the night. Hate of IU or not there is tradition for the Hoosier program and they’re recognized as one of the blue bloods of college basketball and that’s why ‘F-U Haarms’ being chanted over and over again was absolutely pathetic. No program should be okay with that and the athletic department dropped the ball during a national television broadcast.

Fan is short for fanatic and the responses on the net have made sure to let you know plenty of blinders up. The argument should never be 'Well other student sections do it too.’ A 'blue blood’ of college basketball should be above that always, but there hasn’t been a graceful defeat here. Losing 11 of their last 12 the Hoosiers have shown who they really are, which made the karma of the Haarms tip in even sweeter.

Three straight wins in Bloomington for the first time ever, five in a row against IU and eight of the last nine. Indiana has the one-and-done in Romeo Langford as the ship continues to sink faster while Coach Painter has Purdue firmly in the hunt for another Big Ten championship. The Boilermakers are the better program. Painter found the underrated Carsen Edwards that badly wanted to go to Texas who has become a star and potential player of the year candidate. Ryan Cline’s family bleeds crimson and cream but he’s winning games for the black and gold. While Indiana may recruit better Painter has figured out how to build his team and crank out successful seasons. Five teams have won 12 conference games for five straight seasons and two of them are Purdue, including this year. Cue up the banner argument that always comes.

Rivalries are a big part of what make college sports great but do so with at least a little dignity. National TV got the see the better program pull out a win, redemption for a player that was chastised all game and who the fans of Assembly Hall really are. For the full court mess that is the Hoosier program how about chanting '13 and 13’ at the next game?