Tonight’s game is going to be a contest between two premier college basketball programs, orchestrated by two future hall-of-fame coaches and likely to bring excitement from start to finish.

But there still is one uncertainty in the equation that has yet to be determined: How will MSU students and East Lansing residents respond to either outcome of the game?

Because of events from our school’s history outside our control, a great amount of attention is devoted to what type of behavior will take part after tonight’s game. For many of us, this speculated behavior has become a common list of actions we are reminded of repeatedly.

Dull-witted behavior often following a hard-fought men’s basketball game, with actions including burning couches, rioting and the resulting police retaliation, has made an imprint on the character of our school.

In the days succeeding these games, MSU makes national headlines for the conduct of its students — instead of the performance of its teams. It has become a farce actuality in the minds of many people and something that could be exploited too much by the media.

After a loss to Indiana earlier this semester, CBS Sports ran a story highlighting riot-like behavior that transpired in East Lansing after two couches reportedly were set on fire.

This was a gross exaggeration of the events from that night. But you can’t entirely blame outside reporters for linking these events to past behavior.

Incidentally, the riot that broke out in 1999 — involving an estimated 10,000 students and resulting in nearly $500,000 worth of damages — came after a NCAA Final Four loss to the Blue Devils.

No current students likely were involved in this skirmish or contributed to its destruction, but that doesn’t matter. At some point, we all need to face the facts, own up to our past and stop this pattern from repeating itself.

Whether you’re drinking or not, embrace the idea of celebrating with class.

If a situation does break out after a win or loss tonight, the repercussions that can be pinned on you, even if you don’t have a direct involvement in a riot-like atmosphere, can be irreparable.

If you are captured in a picture where this behavior is taking place, police have the right to question you for your involvement in the situation. This method of profiling also can be applied to any tweet or post you make referencing what’s going on.

If charged, you can face expulsion from the university and be banned from stepping foot on any state colleges in Michigan for an extended period of time.

Tonight, our school has the chance to extend its run at raising another banner from the rafters of Breslin Center.

It is our responsibility to our school to support them responsibly, and save the madness for the basketball court.

Beat Duke.