Standing for a night to remember

Autry Court was something special Tuesday night. The men’s basketball team took out the frustrations of an embarrassing road loss Saturday with an 80-40 drubbing of Southern Methodist University, and the game was one of the most electrifying events I have attended at Rice.

This is one of the best Rice basketball teams that has taken the floor at Autry Court in a long time. Close home losses to top-five powers Stanford and UConn showed that this team has the talent to win the Western Athletic Conference and maybe even make some noise in the national postseason. Last weekend’s loss at Tulsa dampened some of this enthusiasm: A good basketball team cannot expect to win if its offense plays the way Rice did in the first 10 minutes Saturday.

The Owls needed to make a statement against SMU, and they did. A convincing win helped Rice exorcise some of the demons remaining from eight straight losses to SMU. By doubling up the hapless Mustangs, Rice reasserted itself as a WAC power and showed it has the heart to come back from a loss that could have devastated a weaker, less experienced team.

But perhaps the most important result from Tuesday does not even show up in the box score. A new tradition is beginning to form in the student section of Autry Court. Student attendance at basketball games has typically been decent, but let’s face it: Our student section has not exactly been a force to be feared like those at other schools. On Tuesday night, things were different. With free white “Wilzone” T-shirts and an edict to remain standing, we were transformed into a unit that created a frenzy throughout the game and had a great time in the process.

We cheered for Brock Gillespie three-pointers that came from seemingly impossible distances. We cheered for Michael Harris’ dominance of any Mustang defender who dared to challenge him down low (or at the three-point line, for that matter). We cheered for Rashid Smith’s stifling defense and the all-around brilliance of Jason McKrieth. And then we cheered when Jason Bridges, Walt Chancellor and Artie Culver made their way onto the floor to finish off a game that was almost over before it started. We also never let SMU’s Brian Hopkins forget his air ball early in the game. And we never sat down.

In the end, the Rice team and coaches seemed genuinely appreciative of the student section’s efforts. A simple fist pump from head coach Willis Wilson as he walked off the court said it all. I have a hard time believing that anyone who stood for the entire game did not enjoy the win as much as the Rice team.

The energy came from more than just the shirts; it was the attitude of the people who came. The section was filled to the rafters of Autry, and most in attendance seemed excited about the team and came in expecting a win. With that many people pumped up about Rice basketball, we can turn Autry back into a true Jungle Gym for the visiting teams. But we can always use more.

Rice basketball fans should not forget about their other basketball team, either. The women’s basketball team is also near the top of the WAC, and the Lady Owls deserve just as much student support. There is no reason a crazed student section should not be in full force tomorrow for the women’s game against Nevada.

The next chance to be a part of this atmosphere at a men’s game comes Wednesday, when Hawaii is in town. We should strive to be even louder and get even more students standing. Rice is going to have to win some key games on the road to truly be in contention for the WAC title, but we can help the drive for the title by making sure Autry is always as electric as it was Tuesday night. Rice went 13-2 at home last year, 7-2 in WAC play, so imagine what the Owls can do with intimidating student support.

If you did not come to Autry Tuesday night, you might want to consider attending a basketball game soon. Rice basketball has entered a new and exciting era, and it would be a shame for you to miss out on it.

Eric Jean is a Will Rice College junior and a member of the Rowdy Owls club.

Back to top