Thoughts

In the collegiate setting, the hardwood floor is almost exclusively reserved for the players and their coaches. The rare occasions when the court plays host to others come after "The Big Win".

This Big Win phenomenon occurs as the home team, a significant statistical underdog, successfully pulls off the upset. The upset can be triggered by hard work, determination, playing as a team, lucky shots and good home-court officiating. Whatever the catalyst, the societal norm is for the underdog fan-base to leave their seats, run out to center court, jump up and down, and then wait to be ushered away when the jubilation of triumph has quieted.

The process, though "tradition" if you care to say so, is flawed. There needs to be new life brought to celebration. If I were any good at math or even had the free time to pretend I was, I would do this myself. Alas, I am not and I have not. I do have the starting point for the revolution, however.

An algorithm. A mathematical computation that results in either "rush the floor" or "stay firmly in your seat".

Last night the Villanova Wildcats beat the #1 ranked Connecticut Huskies. Villanova, though highly ranked, was technically the underdog, despite playing in Philadelphia. The game was not on Villanova's campus, but at a bigger facility 30 minutes away to accommodate more fans. After the victory was sealed against the #1 team and time expired, the fans for the #4 team rushed the floor.

Villanova is currently ranked #4 in both polls and there are a handful of people around the country who wonder if maybe they should be higher than that. All I am saying is that while it is still a big win, it was not so out of the realm of possibility. Very few people, if any, are left with the taste of "Oh my. I can't believe they won that game." If there was more of a discrepancy between rankings, I would appreciate the enthusiasm. That was Villanova's game to win, and they did. And they won it at home, for all intents and purposes.

There are some people that watch and/or are a part of the professional football family that say touchdown celebration is unnecessary. I firmly believe their mantra "act like you have been there before" applies in this situation as well. This was only the fifth time in Villanova's history that they have beaten a #1 team, but it is a program accustomed to winning big games.

A discussion that I have oft had at the end of college basketball games is about student-section chanting. When the game is drawing to a close and the underdog is set to win, fans, typically student-fans, may be heard chanting "over-rated". My argument against this is simply that it makes your team look less impressive. "Wow, you guys lost to us! You really must not be as good as people think!" I think rushing the court sends the same message. As if we, as fans, did not think it possible to beat this team. Does that not send the wrong message?

When the home team is unranked or at least 10 seeds lower than the ranked visiting team.

When you weight the conference and overall record of the visiting team, more highly if they are undefeated.

Perhaps when the visiting team is favored by 10+ points.

There are many factors that may be employed in our algorithm, but ultimately we need to change the face of celebration. Let us be more selective of the situations in which we rush the court. I know many smaller schools, and often bigger schools in down years for the program, never know the adrenaline spike experienced while rushing the court. That is a shame; I feel it is something everyone should be able to experience, however I know it does not make sense to allow it.

The hardwood is reserved for the players and coaches. We must only trespass on their territory when the timing is perfect. It is a special occasion when the opportunity to rush the court presents itself; we should not desensitize ourselves to what it truly symbolizes.

The hardwood is sacred. Tread lightly and only when deemed acceptable.