INDIANAPOLIS -- Hey Americans, Uncle Sam needs you at Conseco Fieldhouse tonight.

It's do or die time for the United States at the World Basketball Championships. And while Team USA's top-shelf game has been absent during many quarters of this tournament, so have the American fans.

	The crowds have been sparse at the World Championships, even for the U.S. games.

With no chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" around, the U.S. suffered its most humiliating loss in its basketball history Wednesday night, getting shocked by Argentina in front of just 5,263 spectators. In an elimination quarterfinal game, the Americans face an even tougher test in a Yugoslavian squad that has four NBA players and two future NBAers on its team.

When it comes to cheering for Team USA, Americans have had the enthusiasm of watching the Weather Channel. Indiana is supposedly the heartland of basketball. But at the USA's games, there are very few flags or T-shirts of red, white and blue. Maybe the locals would cheer if Bobby Knight was coaching, not George Karl.

Before the U.S. even got to this embarrassing point, American fans should have taken lessons from the other countries in town. While sitting in the stands last Sunday as a raucous crowd watched Turkey and Lebanon trade baskets, I wondered why Team USA couldn't get the same enthusiastic following during the height of our country's patriotism.

Forget that Turkey earned a blowout win against Lebanon. The crowd was certainly more entertaining than the game. When I walked to the arena, there were two circles of Turkish fans donning native garb, holding hands and dancing in a circle to Turkish music. They sang proudly as if Turkey had already won. More than 3,000 of the fans were rooting for Turkey, while about 1,000 cheered for Lebanon.

Both crowds sang their native songs as if they were at the World Cup. Turkish fans had numerous drums, trumpets and even an accordion to play their music. Lebanon was led by a fan with a drum that was big enough for small children to jump on it.

Tonight's game and the every potential contest to the gold medal game are far from meaningless for USA, and it needs support now more than ever. Hoosiers unite and buy a ticket. Calling all Kentuckians, Ohio players and Illini Americans, too. Come show that the United States actually has some spirit during some of the nation's most trying hoops times by cheering for Paul Pierce, Elton Brand and Reggie Miller.

Unfortunately for Team USA, the reality could be a few thousand Americans sitting on their hands with no patriotic colors, no enthusiasm and no accordion. Maybe the only way for the cocky, quiet Americans to get a lift from the home crowd is to bring in the Southern University marching band.

Team USA is in desperate need of a pick-me-up. A stunning loss to Yugoslavia will only make for more jeers.

Marc J. Spears covers the Denver Nuggets and the NBA for The Denver Post.