Heading into the Marquette women's basketball game Sunday, I was ready to saunter into the Al McGuire Center in ER scrubs, glance at the stands, remove my stethoscope with a dramatic flourish and declare the fan base dead.

But, as I was surprised to find out, my Noah Wyle impersonation would have to wait. Marquette's fan base was very much alive, cheering intensely through the end of a blow-out as if every basket exponentially increased each person's odds of getting into heaven. There was definitely a vibrant, vital group of people supporting the women's basketball team.

It was just incredibly small.

We're not talking small as in "attendance at a Tampa Bay Devil Rays game" small, or even "percentage of people who wish Craig Kilborn was still on late-night TV" small. We're talking small as in: "that's so small, I have to look up synonyms for the word 'small' in the thesaurus in order to adequately describe it" (infinitesimal).

There were about 10 people in the entire student section, tops.

The regular attendance was decent, with the school reporting a total of 906 fans. This group, like their student counterparts, was small in comparison with the number of non-students who usually attend men's basketball games. But again, like the students, the "civilians" in the stands were a loyal, interested bunch.

But there should have been more student fans.

I know people had homework to do. I know Oakland wasn't a very alluring opponent. I know this will all sound very cliché (Support your teams! Women are just as good as men! Rah rah rah!).

But this was the home opener. This was Marquette basketball. Students should have been there.

I won't try the misguided argument that women's basketball is more aesthetically pleasing than men's basketball, that there is more "art" involved in a game where the participants can't rely on brute strength and athleticism to win. Not only is this a tired argument that obviously hasn't worked, it's condescending to the women's game. While no one dunked Sunday afternoon, and the number of fast breaks was limited, I saw plenty instances of athleticism on display.

Regardless, I'm not saying everyone has to start liking women's basketball. No one has to buy season tickets to the WNBA or anything like that. Just go support a Marquette team. Women's basketball may not be as high-flying or glitzy as the men's game, but it's still basketball. The Marquette women play in a top-notch facility with a homey, intimate feel noticeably lacking from the Bradley Center.

Take advantage of your time here as a student-fan. One day we'll all be delusional alumni clutching at the fading memories of youth by obsessing over Marquette basketball, wishing we were still in college. So when break is over, go to the Al McGuire Center and support the women's basketball team.

At least before Marquette starts hitting you up for donations.