God, the IU boards are funny. What a bitter, has-been group of people.
Yes, they can get bitter.
There’s nothing more sad in the Sports World than a team or franchise that had a great level of success and then who slid back into mediocrity (Indiana basketball, Nebraska football, De Paul basketball, etc.). The fans got accustomed to a high level of success and it’s a bitter pill when that success evaporates.
Indiana roundball has not deteriorated to the level that Nebraska football did... but the Indi Memories are strong and we all know the mythology that has been built around Hoosier State basketball.
But when I see anyone pushing that Indiana mythology narrative it’s just a reminder that the same mythology could have been built around State of Illini ball. (Maybe THAT movie will yet be made one day).
There simply is no greater ball traditional than the Prairie State. As They say... “The Original Home of March Madness!”.
This will always be an intense matchup what with the (elite) tradition history of both States and the great Big Ten generation games that have been played over the years.
Indiana and Nebraska share a bit of State inferiority complex. Much of their State identities are built around their State U’s. Nebraska has no major pro teams... and Indiana has not had real great success with the NFL or with the Pacers since the ABA days. And neither State is on top of people's vacation lists.
The best we can do is beat the Hoosiers on the court and respect their ball tradition that they have known. Sort of like professional courtesy.
And one more (important) thing. Never let the current Illini success level slide down ever again.