I had a cheeseburger to celebrate the I.U. basketball victory over BIG conference the rival Wisconsin “Cheeseheads.” This was after quality wins over Marquette, Louisville, and Michigan State, despite a bizarre season of repeated disappointment. How can they only win games against some of the best teams in the country and somehow not show up for the spoils? I threatened to order a “Double Spartan Burger with Extra Cheese” if they could pull-off a second upset against the Spartans – this time at home in Bloomington. So, where can I get a “Spartan Burger?”

Come to find out there is a Spartans Burger franchise in Huntington Park, California, plus a Spartan Drive-In located in Stanwood, Washington. Coincidentally, there is also The Spartan – Burger and Souvlaki Bar in Phuket, Thailand, our destination three weeks from now. Hopefully, the sweet taste of victory will not be replaced with the bitterness of defeat in the meantime. This Hoosier victory over Michigan State is an important stepping-stone to the NCAA Tournament that just a week ago was an impossibility. All they have to do is now beat two of the worst teams in the BIG conference and win their first game in the BIG Ten tournament. Mission Impossible is now more than just a dream.

This year’s I.U. team is one of the worst shooting teams in memory. Fortunately, my memory isn’t very good. To support my lack of confidence is the fact that today they were a miserable 37.7% from the field, 37.5% from three-point range, and a pathetic 61.5% from the free throw line, yet still managed to defend the Spartans from scoring the winning bucket. By comparison, M.S.U. percentages were a far superior 54.2, 40, and 80 respectively. A month ago in East Lansing, the victorious Hoosiers were a comparable 38.9% from the floor and only slightly better from the charity stripe and behind the arc. In the meantime, they then managed to also beat ranked Wisconsin but couldn’t outscore Iowa (twice), Ohio State, Minnesota, or Purdue (twice). My Cream & Crimson have barely beaten Northwestern, Penn State, and Illinois, each poised dangerously to finish last in the pack, to account for their only other conference victories and an unacceptable 6-12 record.

In-state rival Purdue now sits on top of the BIG conference at an impressive 15-3 to make matters even worse. Indiana has to beat Illinois (6-11) for the second time and then even their record against Rutgers (7-11) to regain any committee respect. This year’s BIG Tournament is contested in Chicago, and they’ll have one more chance to beat a bottom division team before perhaps facing Purdue (a much desired opportunity) or revenge-minded foes Wisconsin and Michigan State. It’s been a tough season and it certainly doesn’t get any easier. March Madness has finally begun after months of angry disappointment, offset by only two “Cheeseburger” treats.