They were the NCAA Division II national champions in 1999; Final Four participants the year before; and last season they made it to the Elite Eight. But does anyone really care about our women’s basketball program?

NKU women basketball players might not know how to dunk, but they definitely know how to win, which I think we’d all agree is more important. Right?

The bottom line is, most people go to games to see dunks, fast-breaks and rejections. I know, I’m one of those people.

Those elements make the game more exciting for us to watch, but it’s not the only reason I watch.

Sure I want to see Chris Seabrooks tear down the basket with a monster dunk. I want to see Bobby St. Preux send a ball into the seats. I want to see Brenden Stowers drive by his opponent leaving their jock behind. But more importantly I want to see fundamental team basketball and winning.

I’m tired of watching men’s basketball (at any school) and seeing a bunch of individuals out there showing off. As a basketball fan, it’s hard to see your favorite team lose a game because a player decided that there is an “I” in team. And that is what you get with men’s basketball.

Look at the National Basketball Association for example. I can only think of one team that plays as a team. the Dallas Mavericks, who just happen to be the only undefeated team in the league.

The Mavericks score a lot of points and win a lot of games because they play as a team. Most scores lately in the NBA have been awfully low because you have one player on the team who thinks they can carry the team by themselves.

Women’s basketball is completely the opposite. They play as a team. They don’t try to show off their skills, they try to win.

NKU’s women’s basketball team has been tremendous the past few years, but still can’t get the respect they deserve from our students and fans. Most students go to the men’s game and then leave before the women’s game begins.

I don’t know if people leave because they think the game won’t be good or exciting, or if it is just because they have something better to do. I do know, however, if they stay for game they won’t be disappointed in what they see.

We owe it to the ladies to stay and watch them play. After all they did win our school a national championship three years ago, so the least we can do is support them.

The same goes for our men’s basketball team. They are not out there playing because they hope to make it to the NBA, they are out there to entertain us and give us a break from the stress of classes.

If we want our school to move up from Division II to Division I, we need to go out and support our teams. Why should our school build a new arena if we won’t even fill the seats? It doesn’t make sense to me.

So next time you go to a men’s basketball game, don’t leave after the final buzzer sounds. Give our women’s basketball team a chance to perform for you and entertain you. They haven’t let me down and I’m sure they won’t let you down.