Hope is better than despair. A bright present is better than an uncertain future.

Winning is better than losing.

Men's basketball is better than football at Illinois.

For those who didn't believe that before this weekend, a 12-hour swoop gave all the evidence you needed. The Illini basketball season kicked off Friday night at Huff Hall with its annual Midnight Madness jamboree. The Illini football team lost by its biggest margin since 1997 with a 56-14 loss to Michigan on Saturday afternoon.

Just when it seems it can't get any worse for the football team … it does. And just when it seems it can't get any better for the basketball team … it does.

All the football team does is keep allowing its opponents to score basketball-like numbers, while player after player succumbs to injury and the guillotine over Ron Turner's head keeps getting lowered.

The basketball squad keeps stocking loftier and loftier aspirations. New coach, few veterans and a brutal schedule … no problem.

I used to think this was a football school. Maybe it's because I enjoy watching football a little more, or maybe it's because I was naïve. But basketball is king in Champaign now. And a royal court was present for King Bruce's first official assembly. A crowd of some 4,000 hoops fans stuffed Huff Hall to its capacity Friday night. It even overflowed at times and the Champaign fire marshal forced Illini officials to turn many fans away from the free event.

"It's a great atmosphere here and it's the perfect size — you've got a full house here," Illini head coach Bruce Weber said. "We actually had to close the doors. The fire marshal said no more people. We had people pounding on the doors so that's exciting.

"It was a great start. We've created some excitement. Hopefully, this will be the start of something special."

The 4,000 or so fans that filled Huff Hall created more noise than has been heard at Memorial Stadium since last year's overtime thriller with Ohio State. The buzz has left football. It has taken refuge with the basketball team. It's going to stay there well into the spring.

Why? Because hope sprang eternal Friday night.

There's hope that this year's freshman class can have as big an impact as last year's rookies. Forward Brian Randle dethroned reigning dunk champ Luther Head. Guard Richard McBride showed the sweet three-point stroke that left the Illini with Sean Harrington's graduation. And 6-foot-9 forward Warren Carter showed the effervescent smile that made Dee Brown Crest spokesman of Champaign.

There's hope that King Bruce can take the Illini to new heights. Last spring, the departure of Bill Self left the Illini nation devastated and betrayed. Friday night, Weber brought hope and a thunderous applause when he trotted out for his introduction.

There's hope for the men's basketball team. That's why Midnight Madness drew a crowd that will likely be larger than any the football team can hope for in their final two home games.

"I think people have been looking forward to this season (basketball) regardless," junior forward Roger Powell said. "People look forward to basketball season in the fall and get excited. And people look forward to football in the summer."

This year, Illini fans just started anticipating basketball a little earlier.

And the buzz encompassing Huff Hall Friday night is not likely to dissipate any time soon. The basketball team gives fans a sense of hope.

And right now, a little hope is all Illini fans need.

Chris Neubauer is a senior in communications. He can be reached at sports@dailyillini.com.