I have been an Iowa State basketball fan my whole life.

When the end of November comes, I bleed cardinal and gold.

One thing that drew me to ISU basketball was the “Hilton Magic.”

I have witnessed “Hilton Magic” many times.

For instance, how many can remember when ISU met up with Oklahoma State in the 1991-92 season, when OSU was rated second in the nation?

ISU was down by 19 at the half and came out to beat the Cowboys by one in overtime.

The “Hilton Magic” was in full force as the coliseum was shaking.

This year, the student section is almost a non-factor.

Students complain that ISU doesn’t have a “national powerhouse.” Well, to have a national powerhouse, you have to have support of the students.

When you watch Duke play, the student section never sits down. While at ISU, if you stand up, you get yelled at to sit down.

When opposing teams shoot free throws at Kansas, the fans stand up and wave their hands or other objects in the air to try and distract the shooter.

The only time that an ISU student waves his hands in the air is when the cheerleaders are throwing T-shirts into the crowd.

This Cyclone basketball team has the potential to be one of ISU’s best if we all get behind them and support them like a Kansas, Duke or Kentucky student body would.

Jeff Waldstein

Freshman

Animal science