Last week I got all dressed up, but apparently had no place special to go.

There was a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee-Marquette basketball game, but unless you were one of the 20 students there, you probably didn't know that — or you didn't care.

You should have. There was no excuse not to go if you lived in the dorms or close to campus because the game was held in the Klotsche Center, where UWM students had to pay nothing but attention.

When I stepped through the doors wearing my yellow UWM T-shirt and some face paint, I felt almost foolish — but not quite, because I am proud of my school.

UWM lost that night, in case anyone was wondering. But it's my belief that when the game is at home, it's anyone's guess who will win with that home-court advantage. Some advantage.

I don't think I should be able to hear athletes call plays on the court or feel embarrassed for the one drunk fan who is the only one shouting at the top of his lungs. This was a big game and I would like to bet my right arm that the first arena to hold a UWM-Marquette men's basketball game will have packed stands and so much noise that you won't be able to have your own thoughts much less hear them.

No, you will be chanting along with everyone else: U-W-M! And it will feel good if the Panthers win.

No way was last week's attendance appropriate for the names on the schedule that night. Although UWM lost 74-63, if you were there, you would have seen sophomore Traci Edwards lead the team with 19 points, as three other Panthers scored in double figures.

Turquoise McCain had 13, Meredith Onson had 12 and Emily Market sunk 10.

In the same week as this game, yeah, sure, the men played, too. They lost, 76-61, with a team high of 13 by Kevin Messiah and Ryan Thornton, followed by Avery Smith with 11, but I bet you already knew that. Enough of this "just a girls game.”

This was a big deal and you weren't there. It was a home game, but it didn't really feel like home to me — and it probably didn't feel like home to the team, either.

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