Last time I wrote about the Penn State men's basketball student section, better known as the "Nittwits," there was an outcry of how wrong I was or that I should give them a chance.

The column was not about me being right or wrong, but rather I wanted the section to be better, sort of like a demanding high school coach. The same kids who populate the basketball student section also attend football games, so I know they are capable of better.

So I decided to take the "Nittwits" challenge, and attend the next few games.

The Wisconsin game on Feb. 3 was the first of the two-game observation. I was slightly disappointed with the section's support in a close game. I didn't feel much energy. So after enduring another defeat, I wasn't any more impressed. And my frustration toward the "Nittwits" only grew.

Then Valentine's day arrived with the already deified Greg Oden and Ohio State.

As I entered the Bryce Jordan Center, there wasn't anything different about the atmosphere, except for an abundance of mediocre signs. "Oden, where's you AARP card," seriously? But early on the students were loud and numerous, helped by free tickets given out because of the snow. Then, as usual, the team fell apart and a blowout looked inevitable.

Then, the moment when the "Nittwits" became a true student section came out of nowhere. With the score 56-43 -- after David Jackson's three -- the students came alive and helped spark a 19-8 run to bring the Lions within two.

My point all along is that there's a lot more to being a student section than wearing white T-shirts and blue wigs, and cheering when the game is close or the team is ahead. The section needs to be able to will its team back or force the other team to tighten. And that is what happened in that game.

Sure, the team played better, but the students were the fuel behind the comeback. It was the best crowd I've seen in person at the BJC or any basketball venue in the last four years.

The "Nittwits" should learn from this experience, and keep the energy up because sometimes the crowd can win, or almost win, a game. But even with the tremendous crowd last Wednesday, I still have a few complaints:

-- First, the pre-game habits are lacking. Sure, it's fun to boo the opposing team, but the attempt at intimidation shouldn't stop after a few minutes.

The chants, booing and energy should be in full swing from the time students enter the building. Do you think the "Cameron Crazies" sit down and talk among themselves until tip-off?

-- The "Nittwits" and the "basketball pep band" should be one and the same. So that around 30 minutes before tip-off there should be no piped in music, just the band and the students should be heard in the BJC. That is a way to intimidate the opposition; you have to be so loud that some of the other team's players are having second thoughts about coming back on the court.

-- This one is probably unfair, but there needs to be a little more organization with the chants. There are times when half the student section will chant "Let's go State," and the other half will start "Let's go Lions." This defeats the purpose of chanting, so please figure out a way to solve this. This also applies to "OOH" and "de-fense."

If these aspects can be improved upon, the student section should start to see more results -- hopefully a win this time -- like Valentine's Day. Then, again, the 12 players on the team need to hold up their end of the bargain, too.