Oakland 12/28/17

[ghostofdylan]

On "Inside College Basketball" two nights ago (I think that it was two nights ago; I time-shift almost all my viewing) one of the analysts mentioned that the two most important positions in modern college basketball are point guard and the stretch 4. Essentially, we have neither.

[BBFran]

I guess observing that the emperor has no clothes now translates to "spreading cancer." Lol.

FTA and Cactus, you were there, right? Tell us how many YOU counted. Was 250 wrong? Was it in fact the biggest inaugural cro...er, I mean, the biggest crowd ever for a Milwaukee game?

Hell, was it even 350 people? You know this was televised, right? I mean, you can actually see that the place is empty.

Any scuttlebutt about what our AD's plans are to address this? It's been vewwy, vewwy quiet. I'm guessing the finest minds on Downer Avenue are trying to figure out how to Fire Rob Jeter! again. That'll fix it!

[Spirit of Bruce]

Dec 29, 2017 11:05:45 GMT -6 BBFran said:

Disappointing loss, but we should be heavily favored in our next six games. The five game road trip after the Detroit game is an appalling failure by the HL schedulers, but at least every game on the trip is against a woefully bad opponent.

If we get through the first 7 games at 5-2, then nothing will really have changed in the race unless one of the other three contenders starts 7-0, and I doubt that will happen. Worse than 5-2 would be a big problem. OU has more top end talent than anyone, but as last night's game proved again, they are limited by their coaching. They will take some unexpected knocks along the way despite the talent, and probably stumble again in Motor City Malaise. Kampe just doesn't rein in his players enough when time and score calls for it. (No offense meant to our visiting OU fan; just calling it as I see it. Believe me, I envy the OU program right now.)

On another topic, the eyewitness report from the Arena last night was that the crowd was even worse than last Friday against Western. It certainly looked that way on the net. Something like 200-250 people again -- or, as the University ludicrously reported it, "1312." Apparently the problem was not the pre-Christmas rush. Earlier I speculated that the total actual attendance for OU and UDM combined might not exceed 1000 people. I'm going to revise that to 650 -- and I suspect I'm being wildly optimistic.

Surely there are great plans in the works by our athletics brain trust to increase attendance. Secret plans. Vewwy, vewwy secret!

This is an outright lie. Your eyewitness is telling you what you want to hear.

[Pounce Needs Pals]

We were at the game. You were not because you have made it clear you were done after Jeter was fired. Everyone knows the attendance is poor. Heck, UWM can't even have a pep band last night. Everyone does have a set of eyes. I would think everyone hates the fact attendance does stink. What we are not sure is why it keeps on being brought up on this board. What would you like us to do to improve attendance?

[GoPanthersGo23]

I was at the game and I thought it was one of the better crowds of the season. Still not where we want it to be, but saying that there was 250 people at the game is ridiculous.

[BBFran]

So tell me how many people were there. 300? 400? Let's keep it to actual ticket buying fans for the purpose of this exercise. 200?

The report I got was "worse than Friday." That would put it in the 200 range, and the report came from someone who is definitely a "neutral observer," ...and who doesn't even know I'm getting the report.

But if you guys don't understand why this is THE important topic about the game, you are really missing the boat. In a BEST case scenario, every home game this year has attracted a high school crowd. That is literally unsustainable for a D1 program paying heavy rent at a 7,000 seat facility. You want to know how bad it is? Even going off the ludicrously overstated official attendance figures, the BEST "attended" game this year (Loyola) is the only game of the home season so far that (allegedly) attracted a bigger crowd than the WORST attended game in the Klotsche banishment year -- a late season dog game against Detroit when our record was already something like 5-18.

As 'holic said himself -- interest in the program is at an ALL TIME LOW. If that isn't ringing alarm bells, what will?

So once again, does anyone have an answer to my oft repeated question? What is the AD doing about it?

Just think of all the moves she has made since she arrived. And now interest is at an all time low. Cause, meet effect. (And note to mu: the condition for my returning has nothing to do with Rob Jeter at this point. He's gone and won't be back. There's a very simple way to get me back. And while I know the twos and threes of fans remaining on this board don't really care, you have to admit that it would accomplish a substantial bump in actual attendance and ticket revenue on a percentage basis!)

P.S. A fun side note since I watch the games on the net. On the netcasts of the games now, the Gruber law ads have Dave in a red sweatshirt hawking his support for Badger athletics.

[Pounce Needs Pals]

The schools name is on the building and the Milwaukee Wave draws much better than the Panthers. Mone was at the Western Michigan game. I believe that might have been his only game of the year he has been at. One has to wonder what he is thinking, if anything.

[ghostofdylan]

Dec 29, 2017 17:29:05 GMT -6 Pounce Needs Pals said:

The schools name is on the building and the Milwaukee Wave draws much better than the Panthers. Mone was at the Western Michigan game. I believe that might have been his only game of the year he has been at. One has to wonder what he is thinking, if anything.

Where have you gone, Nancy Zimpher? Our fan base turns its lonely eyes to you.

[nickpanther]

i was at the game. in the beginning there was, maybe 200, although it filled a bit as the game went on, but when I got there Around 630, I would guess maybe 100 or so. still, I'd say maybe 400 at the max. it got ugly after nze was run the crowd was booing for a good stretch. I was seated across court from where Nze and the ref were so I didnt hear what he said, but it was a VERY quick hook. then again telling the ref to f off will get you run by any ref.btw Wayne Larivee was there and I got to talk with him briefly after the game. says he's happy to be involved with UWM, and that they should be good this year. Very nice guy.Almost made a Elon-like comeback, just couldnt get enough shots to fall and turned the ball over too much.

[BBFran]

OU loses at Green Bay, 80-79.

Hmmm.

[Spirit of Bruce]

Dec 29, 2017 17:14:41 GMT -6 BBFran said:

P.S. A fun side note since I watch the games on the net. On the netcasts of the games now, the Gruber law ads have Dave in a red sweatshirt hawking his support for Badger athletics.

Those Gruber ads with the red sweater go back to last year. They aren't brand new. For the casual observer, they probably get tuned out, as 2 out of every 3 commercials on ESPN3 are Gruber ads of some form.

For the record, David Gruber has attended more Panther games this year than our bumbling Chancellor has. If MUPanther saw him at the Western Michigan game, that is in fact the first one he's been to. Gruber has been to 4 or 5 so far.

[Duct_Tape_Pounce]

Is Jeremy Johnson injured? Having him would have probably helped, especially after Nze got ejected. I was at the game and didn’t hear the radio call, so I apologize if it was mentioned on the radio call.

[ghostofdylan]

Dec 30, 2017 13:53:22 GMT -6 BBFran said:

OU loses at Green Bay, 80-79.

Hmmm.

Terrible coaching. Oakland should have won EVERY conference game it played this year!

[BBFran]

Dec 30, 2017 14:41:07 GMT -6 ghostofdylan said:

Dec 30, 2017 13:53:22 GMT -6 BBFran said:

OU loses at Green Bay, 80-79.

Hmmm.

Terrible coaching. Oakland should have won EVERY conference game it played this year!

I’ll be a little surprised if any team has fewer than 4 losses. NKU and WSU have the best coaching in the league — I give them the best chance.

[BBFran]

Dec 30, 2017 14:39:38 GMT -6 Duct_Tape_Pounce said:

Is Jeremy Johnson injured? Having him would have probably helped, especially after Nze got ejected. I was at the game and didn’t hear the radio call, so I apologize if it was mentioned on the radio call.

I wondered the same thing. They use Warras’s radio call on the netcasts, but honestly he puts me to sleep so I turn the volume very low and don’t hear much of it. So if he said something about Jeremy I missed it.

Beyond a doubt one of the most mystifying parts of the purge was her firing of Bill Johnson. A guy who loved the program and broadcast games with great personality and vivid descriptions. I’m sure Warras is a nice guy but his calls are just dull compared to Bill’s.