BLOOMINGTON -
It was one of the hottest tickets in town, and Hoosier fans were loving it as IU knocked off Number 2 Ohio State 74-70 this weekend.
"The best atmosphere I have ever been in my whole entire life," one fan said.
An old fashioned Indiana barn burner.
It seems like a lifetime for many of the fans, since the crowd inside IU's Assembly Hall has been this enthusiastic. Jonathon Ballard and Sam Shaw have both been witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly of IU basketball.
"Oh, yeah. The crowd, the enthusiasm. It is a sell-out and it has that same vibe and feel from back in that era through good and bad. The fans have always been there and it shows," said Jonathon.
By half time the "new era" seemed to have some holes in the program, with a little help from the officials and a very physical Ohio State team.
"Crean is bringing the team back, he has recruited some good players. I think we are gonad be back up where we should be, " said Sam.
At times the game was almost to much to watch, biting emotions coming out in the Hoosier Nation faithful.
Then a trip to the charity strip and the game was over.
"It feels so good to come home for the holidays and experience something like that, a totally new era in our basketball program that is vibrant, I mean nobody wanted to leave for 10-15 minutes after this win," one fan said.