This is where I dust off my big foam “No. 1″ finger, take out my pom-poms and go absolutely nuts.

Everyone, welcome to Hoops Nation.

March is when it’s most important, but November is where it all begins.

It’s when we thank a higher being for letting Dr. James Naismith invent the finest sport ever played.

For five months, we get to hear Dick Vitale go on and on about the Atlantic Coast Conference being the best conference each year, while the sharp-dressed Digger Phelps scoffs at Vitale’s every word.

I’ve loved hoops since I was a wee girl, but I didn’t realize how serious it would become until the 1996 championship with Kentucky and Syracuse.

I got in minor trouble and my punishment was that I couldn’t watch the championship. But I had to see it.

So while my sister and her husband watched the game in the living room, I was discreetly watching it on the stairs. It was so worth it.

The worst thing you can say to a hoops fan is, “It’s just a stupid game.” Nonsense.

You can’t help being emotionally involved when it comes to college hoops. You hate teams just because you can, having no need for logic.

I hate UK because it was the team that I just “had” to love. When you’re from Nashville, you only have Tennessee and Vanderbilt to choose from, so choosing UK was the smarter route.

Beh. I fought the system.

I remember the 1997 Arizona-Kentucky championship when everyone at our house was rooting for Kentucky. I was the outcast who rooted for Zona, and they won. Everyone hated me as I gloated for the next hour. Ever since, I’ve loved the real Wildcats fan.

And I definitely cannot wait for the Topper and Lady Topper seasons to begin.

During my freshman and sophomore years, it was tough to get a good seat in Diddle Arena, but last year was pathetic.

The only way to fill out the seats in Diddle is whenever we have a game broadcast on ESPN2.

But for those who will frequent the games this season, don’t mind me: I’m just that woman who swears every five seconds and berates the refs.

Hoo-rah.

Yeesh. And we thought Dicky V. was annoying.

Amber North is the Herald assistant sports editor and humor columnist. You can reach her at ambanorth@hotmail.com.