On Friday, college basketball kicked off across the nation.
Here in Eugene it was a quiet start. No Midnight Madness. No big fan get-together. No big hyped-up celebration.
And that’s disappointing.
Two years ago, the men’s and women’s basketball teams started the basketball season with a televised appearance on ESPNU. Midnight Madness T-shirts were handed out to fans. College students gained an early look at Malik Hairston. They witnessed the potential of Ivan Johnson, the new big man and former Cincinnati Bearcat who never realized that potential in Eugene.
The women’s basketball team had made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament the season before and returned a veteran group with five seniors and four juniors. They had reason for optimism with Gabrielle Richards in the post and Chelsea Wagner slinging three-pointers from outside.
Midnight Madness went absent last year.
It was probably a good thing. The men’s team had underperformed the season before. The women’s team did too in finishing below .500. Neither made the postseason.
The men brought the excitement back last season with its run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Everyone in the country was craving more of Tajuan Porter, the miniscule point guard, who had caught people’s attention with his limitless shooting range.
Oregon’s teams should have taken advantage and used last Friday as a kickoff to what should be another season that culminates in an NCAA Tournament appearance. They are led by three seniors in Bryce Taylor, Maarty Leunen and Hairston, who if everything goes right, will be playing professional basketball somewhere next fall.
The women’s team could have also used Midnight Madness to gain some positive attention and introduce six new freshmen to the fans. If this new group, bringing size and speed, is going to take Oregon back to the NCAA Tournament in years to come, the fans who have stood by the program deserve a sneak peak. Although the women will hold a fan appreciation day later this month, when fans can watch a practice and meet the players afterward, the team could have drawn more fans by packaging a Midnight Madness event with the men.
This weekend also coincided with the Washington State homecoming game, so it’s possible to see why the programs began basketball practice quietly.
But instead of taking away from the football game, Midnight Madness would have enhanced the weekend.
Fans are now forced to wait until the exhibition games begin in November. They will have to suffice on newspaper reports and online updates on how the team looks.
This past Friday I wish I could have been back home in my native Southern California. The Oregon volleyball team had a match at USC. Exciting enough for the average volleyball enthusiast, but this night also featured the introduction for Trojan fans to O.J. Mayo, the star basketball recruit.
It also brought an appearance by Brynn Cameron and the USC women’s basketball team.
Midnight Madness offered a snack for diehard basketball fans. It’s something fans can munch on to keep them satisfied until the season gets underway.
But in Eugene, fans will have to wait a couple more weeks.
[email protected]
Midnight Madness should be a cause célèbre
Daily Emerald
October 15, 2007
0
More to Discover