switching sides for tournament

[boosyourdaddy]

If we are able to clinch conference, which I certainly see happening, I would personally like to see us start shooting on the opposite side in the first half than usual. I am really not sure why they don't do this now, but I think it makes more sense to have the visiting team shooting towards the student section in the second half when the game could be going down to the wire. Just a thought

[Pantherholic]

having the away team near their bench and fans in the 2nd half is not only very stupid but it makes absolutely no sense.

[teddyp00]

but many teams do it

[Pantherholic]

so b/c others do it means we should too?

[teddyp00]

what I think they should do is make that a student section for the tourny then we have students on both sides. Just cut down on the number of students you place on the normal student side. Last year it filled all the way back and then spread out as it went back. Just limit how far back it goes and/or do not spread it out. I think this would be a quality solution.

The only problem I guess would be who determines what students have to sit on the other side.

[teddyp00]

pantherholic said:

so b/c others do it means we should too?

No, just saying it is a common thing done in college hoops. I do not know why and I agree from a fans point it makes more sense to have the opposing team shoot at the hoop where the students are in the second half. I would guess it is done with the assumption that if or when it gets loud at the end of games a coach can more easily communicate with his players on the offensive end to calls plays and such.

[boosyourdaddy]

pantherholic said:

having the away team near their bench and fans in the 2nd half is not only very stupid but it makes absolutely no sense.

I'm not sure if you are agreeing or disagreeing with this, but the way it is now, is how you explain it. The away team is shooting at the basket closest to their bench and fans and opposite of our students section.

[Hack]

You can't put the students at both ends during the tournament because technically it is not a home game -- it's a "neutral court" game ... evidenced by the lack of introduction music and having the opposing team's band/cheerleaders on the other end.

[ABPantherFan]

Funny thing is, yesterday, I was trying to come up with a question for Bobbi's chat, and I asked her why the opposing team does not go towards UWM students in second half.....lets see if she actually makes a call to find out

[PantherLou]

Bruce Pearl started this. His opinion was (and still is, I assume) that using your own student section to affect the end of the game was bad form, and bordered on poor sportsmanship. He felt that coaches deserved to be able to communicate with their team without having thousands of students screaming directly in their ears. He and I discussed it at length, and while I don't know if I agree 100%, he was adamant in his belief and made a good point.

My guess is that Rob and his staff went with things the way they were. If people want it changed, talk to Rob.

[pnthr30]

I've been saying for years that it should be changed! While I thorougly enjoy sitting by, and watching, both the bench and student section, I am all for moving the student section by the opposing bench. Having been on the road a time or two, it is definitely a homecourt advantage to have a "loud" student section near the visiting bench.

[milwsport]

Sounds like a good idea.

[mikeb]

i know there is no chance of this but i always loved schools like pittsburgh who have the student section lining an entire side of the court. I always thought that was awesome and wished we could do something like that.

[JimmyLemke]

like Cameron Indoor?

[mwu]

theres enough complaining on this board about the students not being in sync, left vs right. stretching the entire length of the arena would just make that problem bigger. i too would like to be on the other side end of the arena but we'd have to move back to our current side during the tournament. plus if i remember correctly before this season the horizon league mandated that the home teams band is to be placed in the opposite corner from the opposing teams bench (where we are now). so unless this ridiculous rule is changed we will remain on the south side of the arena.