Butler basketball

Despite the country’s unconditional passion for “the beautiful game,” college sport is simply not a big deal there. Aside from the teams, players, and trainee media students looking to make names for themselves, interest is virtually nonexistent.

Everything you do is an event, chronicled on Twitter. Colts games. Pep rallies. Visiting a high-school chemistry class. Even now, as you are snorting, huffing, drooling, Michael tweets to your 10,000 followers, pretending to be you.

A slam-dunk stocking-stuffer for any true-blue Bulldog fan.

“I felt like when I played—just like when you watch Jordan [Hulls]—it’s almost like we have to do everything right, because we’re not as athletic as everybody we play against.”

Stevens never oversold his message, never pressured. Even when facing heavy-hitting competition, he never seemed anxious. He seemed honest.

If you’ve followed Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim closely over the years, you might suspect that he has more than a passing interest in Indiana University basketball.