The dusty and cramped old Barn felt alive for a night, awoken from its slumber. Not fully awake. Too many seats remain unoccupied to understand completely why longtime Williams Arena lovers cling to it with such reverence and romanticism.
Tuesday night provided a glimpse of it though, a snapshot of what it used to be and still can be — and, boy, was it fun.
Williams Arena became a home-court advantage again, boisterous and disruptive in a way that played a factor in
the Gophers' 59-56 win over Michigan State.
Big games have been too infrequent for the men's program for too many seasons, but this one qualified as a big game and Ben Johnson's team and the Barn rose to the occasion.
The student section was packed from front to back, aided by a jersey giveaway, which was a smart promotion because those young folks had a blast and made a difference with their voices.