They’re coming.

Don’t think about hiding, and forget about running. There’s simply nothing you can do about it.

But don’t worry, it will all occur in less time than it takes to watch an entire season of “24.”

The only question is, will you be there to witness it?

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

This weekend, NIU will face off against two teams ranked in the top 20 in the nation. And the goal, as always, is to win.

A task easier said than done.

However, there is one advantage the Huskies hope for in their quest: home-court advantage.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

That’s right. Friday night marks the beginning of what I like to call “Operation Validation.”

Pat Castillo, Johnny Galloway and the rest of the NIU wrestling team start the action at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Their in-conference opponent is ranked fifth in the nation by Wrestling International Newsmagazine. And if that wasn’t enough, the match is against the bitter rival – the evil empire, the Joker to Batman – Central Michigan.

To put it in terms so someone who usually doesn’t follow NIU wrestling can understand the gravity of this match, Friday night at the Convocation Center will be like Toledo fighting for a BCS bowl game bid at Huskie Stadium in November.

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.

Once the wee hours of the night hit, the Convo will calm down. But the rest is only momentary.

Ranked No. 17 in the USA Today/ESPN poll, the women’s basketball team of Bowling Green will swoop onto the hardwood of the Convo at 11:30 a.m. Saturday

And don’t complain that 11:30 a.m. is too early to watch a game. Jack Bauer wouldn’t.

Plus, the early bird always catches the worm. Luckily for NIU, its mascot isn’t a worm.

An early game makes the match between the Falcons and Huskies the feature MAC game.

Playing a featured game means you will be playing on Comcast SportsNet Chicago, FSN Ohio and Comcast Local and Time Warner in New York.

It means big boys Dave Kaplan and Brooke Weisbrod of WGN will call the game.

It means an estimated 10 million homes will tune in. Well, at least that’s what NIU’s Web site would have you believe.

So, I’ll ask one more time: Will you be there to witness it?

Tick, tock. Tick, tock.