Tomorrow night there’ll be one on-campus party that has no chance of being broken up. Since John Thompson III is the host, DPS or Metro intervention is unlikely. Friday night at midnight marks the first minute of the first day that college basketball coaches can hold official practices, a night popularly known as Midnight Madness. Even the normally soft-spoken and oft-serious Hoya head coach admits that Midnight Madness is nothing like an official practice.
“It’s a big party,” Thompson III said during a Lecture Fund and Hoya Blue-sponsored appearance held in Gaston Hall last night. “I think people come expecting a lot of basketball and there’s not a lot of basketball.”
The basketball being played will probably be limited to high-flying dunks and three-point heaves. But all that is lacking in basketball Xs and Os will be made up for in fan enthusiasm. After last year’s Big East Championship and the Hoyas’ trip to the Final Four, fans have come out to buy season tickets in swarms. Yesterday the student body broke the previous record for student season tickets sold by topping the 2,500 mark.
“The fans have been great,” Thompson III said in between wipes of his brow. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. We can hear you guys, we feel that and it helps us.”
Thompson took time in his address to answer the burning questions of the Hoya basketball fans in attendance. He took on questions ranging from the rumored Lil’ Wayne performance at Midnight Madness—which was deemed to be just a rumor—to inquiries into who he thought would be First-Team All Big East.
“I have no idea,” the coach said. “I’d be making things up. Fellas, who do you think?,” he asked seniors Jonathan Wallace, Patrick Ewing Jr., and Tyler Crawford, who were sitting together in the back corner of Gaston.
“Us,” was the only word bellowed from the trio in the back. Rowdy cheers and thundering applause followed.
“Well, we’ve got three right there,” Thompson III said, smiling.
All-Big East or not, what’s in store for the 2007-2008 Hoyas is unclear depite high expectations. But Midnight Madness is certain to get Hoya fans hyped. Even if they’re kept from seeing Lil’ Wayne stunt like his daddy, they’re still able to see Ewing Jr. dunk like his.
