Question?!?

[admin]

Just curious why Southern Illinois was not going towards Milwaukee's basket and the student section in the 2nd half? Usually that is how you work out a homecourt advantage.

Does the team have the option in D1 hoops or is that just some weird UWM/US Cellular set up?

Thanks,
UWMfreak

[Hack]

No, that's how it always is.

Teams shoot toward the end opposite from their bench in the first half, then shoot at the basket near their bench in the second.

[pnthr30]

Sec25Row1 is correct..... Teams always shoot at the basket closest to their bench in the second half.

Not that it matters that much - at least at this point in our fan base development project but usually, if the student section is behind a basket, they are behind the basket closest to the opposing teams bench in an effort to make it louder when the opposing team is trying to communicate - especially during timeouts and when they are running sets on the offensive end at the end of games. Additionally, it is not unusual to put the band in the corner directly next to the opposing teams bench. There were several times that we could barely hear the coaches talking to us during time outs, much less when we were trying to call plays on the court. For instance, at the old Fieldhouse in Madison, you could reach out and touch the band, and the students were not far behind - bottom line is that it was beyond loud. There are many other teams that do the same thing, and I remember that I hated that as a player.

Also, in a side note, when Maryland build their new arena - ComCast arena or something like that I think, they actually constructed the side that the opponents shoot into in the second half (where the students sit) slightly steeper than the rest of the seating bowl to create an optical illusion that the fans were closer to you and that they were "breathing right down your neck". Not a bad idea IMO - that is some foresight on someones behalf.

[PantherEuph]

OK, I remember, like it was yesterday, the band sitting next to the opposing bench in the K center and having the opposing team shoot toward us in the first half. How can I be sure? Because we would scream at selected players when they touched the ball to throw them off, and we always did it in the first half. Is it an NCAA rule? Or a house rule?

[pnthr30]

I don't know the exact "ruling/governing" body that dictates where you shoot, but it is universally understood that you shoot at the basket closest to your bench in the second half. Even in rec league games and church ball games the refs (assuming they were not just picked by random off the street) make sure this is the way it goes.

I cannot remember a game at Klotche where UWM shot at the north basket in the second half.

Anyone else? Maybe pnthr97 can enlighten us, weren't you a ref at some point?

[pnthr97]

Pnthr30, you're right. The home team chooses which bench it sits at. For the first half, they shoot to the opposite basket. Then they shoot to "their" basket for the second half. The rule was made for communication purposes.

Also, and I believe you already made this point, the student section is almost ALWAYS located at the same end as the visiting team. The SBGC should definitely switch sides at the Cell. The students sit where they should at the KC. The band should also be as close to the visiting team's bench.

THIS IS HOW YOU CREATE HOME COURT ADVANTAGE!!!!

[admin]

We hear ya! Our only chance to really lay it on the other team happens before the game begins when they are warming up at our end. They get to shoot against an empty stadium in the second. Against SIU many of our members went to the north basket in the 2nd to try and start something, but it failed.

Unfortunately we cannot move our student section. They have created a pretty sweet deal on our end by taking out all the seats behind the basket.

I believe the rule is up to the University. I have emailed Pearl about this, and I sure he is already aware of it. At the KC the other team faces us in the 2nd, and sits right off the band and students. It should be identical to that at the Cell.

It might be best if some alumni could voice some of this to the Athletic department. Hearing it from the paying fans I am sure would mean a lot more.

Later,
UWMfreak

[pnthr30]

UWM said:

paying fans

haha

[tuckfinn42]

I agree the switch would be good for next year but it is still fun to see Pearl rip off his jacket and toss it 10 feet behind the bench.

[PantherEuph]

I disagree entirely. It is MUCH easier and more effective to break players down in the first half. If you start getting in their head in the second half, they've already gotten into a pace, and it becomes more difficult. Opponent->band+studentsection in 1st half is best. We just need to organize our heckles....

Go Panthers!
Go Band!

[tuckfinn42]

That's probably true about getting them out of their pace early and for the rest of the game but during any close game the crowd usually gets the loudest towards the end and that's when the crowd can help the most when the game is on the line.

[nohopspanther]

None of this will be a problem when we draw enough students to have a full section on each end of the arena. ;D

[tuckfinn42]

That is true...just think about that Cleveland St. game that is at the Klotsche center...our very last Conference game. If we manage to make it to that point without a loss(knock on wood) that place won't hold everyone.