The environment in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Monday night was, without a doubt, unlike any other season opener in recent memory.
Honing in on a specific opposing player to torment with boos every time he touched the ball or incessantly chanting “airball” are measures typically taken by Hoosier fans when teams like Purdue or Wisconsin come to town. These measures aren’t typically present against an opponent like Morehead State, and not in the first game of the season.
But in a fashion similar to most of the other hype around Indiana men’s basketball, the energy for the first game of the 2022-23 basketball season exceeded expectations.