Ben Gross: Steve, it’s cold outside. Really, really cold outside.

Steve Nitz: Yes, they should cancel class.

BG: Well, since we know that won’t happen, we might as well stay inside. And where’s a better place to stay warm than the Convocation Center. It’s roomy, has plenty of parking and you can catch a game.

SN: It’s a great new facility, maybe the best in the MAC. The problem is, it’s never even half full for basketball games.

BG: Well, NIU did get a mediocre crowd once this season, as 2,970 fans showed up during winter break to watch the Huskies take on Southern Illinois University. My guess is NIU will get a crowd that size at least one more time this season.

SN: I have to disagree. I was at the SIU game and it seemed like most of the people there were Saluki fans. Plus, there won’t be any more in-state schools visiting DeKalb this season.

BG: That’s true, but coach Patton and the Huskies produced a crowd of 3,071 last year against Central Michigan in March. My guess is once the weather starts to warm up, a few more people will be willing to put on a jacket and walk to the Convo.

SN: Yeah, they did barely make it over 3,000 last season. I still say it’s a tough task to get there when they have only averaged less than 1,700 fans per home game this season. What makes you think they will get to 3,000?

BG: Well, first, statistics can be deceiving. NIU has hosted five games this season. Three were during winter break. Of course the average attendance right now is low.

SN: Yes, but the winter break attendance got a boost from the SIU game. Plus, you used to cover men’s basketball. How many NIU students actually go to games anyway?

BG: That’s a good question. Even when the men won the MAC West in 2006, the student section was pathetic. But if anything will bring students out to the games, it’s winning. And there’s a chance, with a weak MAC West, that NIU could start winning.

SN: Agreed, winning will always bring fans to the game. However, I don’t think winning a poor MAC West will fill the Convo. To me, NIU men’s basketball will never get serious fan support until they are MAC title contenders, and they are about two years away from that.

BG: But if NIU contends for the MAC West title this year I think they can get a crowd of 3,000. In 2005, the Huskies got 3,389 fans to its last home game.

With Western Michigan and Ball State as the final two home games, if NIU is in the position to win the MAC West, I think a mediocre-size crowd will show up. Who knows, maybe there will be enough people to do a ripple.

SN: What’s a ripple?

BG: A ripple is when you do a wave, but the crowd is so small it just looks like a ripple in a pond.

SN: They have a shot at 3,000 this season, but I don’t see it happening. I just think too many things have to line up for that to happen.