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Post by milwsport on Mar 19, 2024 21:12:28 GMT -6
I think that some of the Power 5 schools don't want to enter the NIT because they're worried about losing to a mid major who deserved to go to the Big Dance but wasn't picked.
I also think it would be great if there were a post season tournament for mid-majors, something like the ESPN Bracket Buster idea from a few years back. Take the Regular Season champions (if they didn't win their conference tournament) and the team that finished second in that tournament. If that's the same team pick the team that finished second or third in the regular season.
The truth is that there are a lot more mid-majors than there are Power 5 Schools. A tourney like that would draw interest from a lot of fan bases, give great exposure to some under rated teams and be more fun than watching the CBIT or whatever other monster they come up with.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 19, 2024 0:51:25 GMT -6
I'd really like to see us renew our rivalry with Ill-Chicago and with Loyola. The UIC games were fun and there was lots of interest in the fan bases of both schools. Loyola could be a draw as well given their recent run to the Final Four. If we could do a home and home that would be awesome. Both schools are easy driving distance. The UIC games were more than fun, they were heated. I can't stand UIC, even dating back to Jimmy Collins and the cheerleader who gave our fans the finger after they upset us in the HL championship game in 2004. It would be nice to play and beat them again. I remember a game down there. Pearl got tossed and we lost but some kids were still throwing rocks at our bus. I also remember a game up here. We were behind by six or seven very late in the game but started fouling this little UIC guard who couldn't hit a free throw. We screamed so loud when he was at the line, it sounded like a jet engine. We wound up winning. Then there was that game when won the right to host the HL Tourney. It was a tense game. When their cheerleaders tried to lead their fans, our students pointed and yelled "slut, slut, slut" over and over again. They hit a long three with 1 second to go to take the lead. We were despondent. They were so busy celebrating that they didn't notice the ref waved it off due to an offensive foul. When the ref put his hand behind his head and pointed at the UIC guard who made the shot (put pushed off a defender to get room), the K erupted. At least 300 students flooded the court to celebrate. I still remember the Channel 6 Broadcast. The Sports Anchor said something like 'You'll never guess which local team's court was stormed by celebrating fans tonight." Then they showed the footage. It was freaking awesome. We need to play those guys again.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 18, 2024 15:53:48 GMT -6
I'd really like to see us renew our rivalry with Ill-Chicago and with Loyola. The UIC games were fun and there was lots of interest in the fan bases of both schools. Loyola could be a draw as well given their recent run to the Final Four.
If we could do a home and home that would be awesome. Both schools are easy driving distance.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 18, 2024 15:37:54 GMT -6
One thing that might help is a "School Night" series. UWM has a number of schools, Nursing, Social Work, Engineering etc. What if a different school was in the spotlight for every game. Recognize distinguished alumni from that school, do a video about research projects, have the faculty invite their students to turn out for that game. Engineering students could show off a project they are working on, upcoming nursing grads and/or alums could be asked to stand and be recognized. Host a reception for alums from that school as a way for people to reconnect with friends they may not have seen for years.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 17, 2024 13:17:58 GMT -6
Kinda weird how all of you HATE Marquette…. No comment on UW though lmao As an Uber Driver I can tell you horror stories about picking up MU students. Including a guy who threatened to "call the Marquette Police and report you for stealing my girlfriends phone" after I told him that I would bring him the phone she left in car after I dropped off the passengers who had found it in back seat. Last weekend when one of them called someone was passed by "a faggit" I objected. They basically told me because they go to a Catholic school its ok to do that. Then there's the" Marquette Ride" where five or six try to get in your car and act shocked when you tell them you can't take that many. Never had a problem with a UWM, Alverno, MSOE, Nt. Mary, or Cardinal Stritch ride. Just MU. So yes I hate Marquette.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 17, 2024 12:58:56 GMT -6
The Howard University students were amazing and entertaining to watch. They were like a Dance team in the stands. I suspect you would see the same energy at BB games in the City Conference
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Post by milwsport on Mar 14, 2024 21:46:02 GMT -6
I agree. The AD should have a position dedicated to boosting attendance, and not just for Men's BB (although that should be the primary emphasis). Getting people to any UWM game gets them invested in the program as a whole. That means looking at Women's BB and at our Soccer and Baseball teams as well.
I noticed that attendance grew as the season went on and people began to realize this team was special. I drive for Uber and I can't tell you how many times I mentioned "my Panthers" to riders who commented that they heard UWM was good this year.
Word is getting out. Now it's up to the University and to all of us to keep spreading that word so it translates into ticket sales.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 13, 2024 0:45:39 GMT -6
One suggestion I would have is to offer fan buses to away games. Maybe a package deal like $100 plus ticket costs for a couple of pre-selected games like Green Bay, Oakland, or a non conference game.
We used to fill buses in the past. No reason why it can't be done again.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 13, 2024 0:40:21 GMT -6
BJ set an HL record tonight with the most points EVER scored by a player in the HL tournament and you think he should've been sitting. There's an old saying, "You go with the one that brought you here." He got us to the finals. Also we didn't lose on one turnover. There were other plays that didn't go right either.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 12, 2024 11:19:37 GMT -6
Unreal. NO coverage of last night's game on the front page of the sports section on JSonline.com
Instead we have a lead article about prep school stars, a video of a Memphis college fan rooting for his team. Wisconsin High School sports schedules, a link to photos of Wisconsin's 2014-15 Final Four run and other stories. Not a word about the Panthers.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 12, 2024 11:02:45 GMT -6
I'd love to go but I'm not going to make a four hour drive each way. I remember when they used to have buses for most away games, people counted on it and made plans for it. I ask if I could make it on the student bus. It's a liability issue. They used to have buses for everyone. I remember riding on a bus with the cheerleaders and other fans. Yes I know the cheerleaders are already there but if you want to boost attendance and fandom then you have to do certain things to get people more invested in the program.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 12, 2024 10:01:55 GMT -6
Is there a bus going to the finals? Only for students. I'd love to go but I'm not going to make a four hour drive each way. I remember when they used to have buses for most away games, people counted on it and made plans for it.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 11, 2024 22:55:34 GMT -6
Is there a bus going to the finals?
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Post by milwsport on Mar 9, 2024 12:19:44 GMT -6
LOL Kenny has been giving the Gasthaus sh*t for not having ESPN+ That's the least of the problems with the Gausthaus. The recent remodel destroy the atmosphere there. I drive for Uber and I've heard UWM student say "No one goes there anymore. It's all fake plastic." Having stopped in there several times before and after games I can attest to that fact. After the Detroit game there was only one table with anyone sitting at it. And don't even get me started on what they did with the rest of the building. One of my riders heads up three clubs. He said the University keeps asking what should they do to get students to identify more with it. His response, "You took out all of the organization offices. There's nowhere for a student looking to join a group to go. You replaced the offices with meeting rooms but no one is meeting there because you took out all the offices." And when I got off the elevator on the second floor and saw what they'd done I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I was President of the UWM Union for two years. The original Union was built after lots of consultations with students on what they wanted. I can't believe they asked any students about this. It was bad enough they went with garbage junk food stands instead of the Union Food Service (which gave us control over what was served and the quality of the food) but now this. Totally disgusted. RANT OVER.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 9, 2024 12:08:40 GMT -6
Wow Lundy really tore into Green Bay. "Bush league" "Our assistant coaches are professional" "I had to call the League Commissioner" "They used three ineligible players last year" (and still only won three games LOL)
This I-43 rivals stuff is back in a big way.
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