We should talk about Stetson
The Hatters probably won't do this forever (or even for much longer) so now's a good time to get them some shine
In one of those innocuous exhibition games that no one cares about unless a larger team happens to lose or look bad against a smaller one, Stetson of the ASUN needed overtime against Division II Tampa to avoid a quasi-embarrassing upset that would have been forgotten about less than 12 minutes later by everyone except me, who followed the near-debacle with bated breath. I live for the schadenfreude, is what I’m telling you, and if chaos and panic take on active roles in a Division I basketball game, rest assured that is both extremely my jam and likely to be something that makes it in here.
A week later, Stetson was at it again, this time against Saint Leo. The [quick google] Lions led by 11 with 6:41 to go in the second half before the Hatters stormed back to take the lead with 18 seconds left and held off two last-gasp efforts from a .500 Sunshine State Conference outfit to win.
I mention the Hatters (heretofore known on these pages as the Hats, because Hatters is ridiculous) because the near-death experiences against two extremely mid Division II foes changed something. Stetson flatlined on the operating table against Tampa, heard dead relatives beckon during the Saint Leo game, saw the face of God, and came out the other side a changed basketball team.