|
|
Post by BBFran on Jan 3, 2018 11:23:07 GMT -6
The Horizon League schedule is ludicrous. There is no excuse for us having five road games in a row -- followed by six home games in a row!
That said, we literally couldn't have a more winnable stretch of road games. In order we play: The Little Sisters of the Poor; The Dainty Nieces of the Poor; The Red-Headed Stepchildren of the Poor; The Poor Relations of the Poor; and the Poor (a/k/a YSU; CSU; IUPUI; UIC; and UWGB). Conceding that road games are (cliche alert) "always tough," if we merely go 4-1 against this miserable lot of quasi-D1 teams, we will be 5-2 entering a long home stand. Not only does that put us in good position in the conference race, FAR more important for the immediate future of the program is the possibility that some apparent momentum from a successful road trip might actually attract crowds for the NKU and WSU home games that -- hold on to your hats and imagine this in Dr. Evil's voice -- could reach ONE THOUSAND people. If it doesn't happen in those games, it probably isn't happening this year. An entire season without an actual home crowd reaching four figures would be, not to put too fine a point on it -- really, really bad.
The Horizon League's astonishing collapse from mid-major stalwart to low major cesspool (it is now 27th of 32 leagues and -6.06 in kenpom, both historic lows*) creates a fearsome structural challenge for our program, but in the very short term there's an opportunity. Gotta take it.
* Average rank and rating from 2006 to 2016: 12.5/+1.03.
|
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 3, 2018 11:35:34 GMT -6
Fran
Another things that drives me nuts. Seems like a few years ago went away from conference home games once in awhile on a Sunday afternoon. Seems like no longer happens (kids days were great on those days) and if on a Saturday often at night. I guess that is ok but also seems like a lot of Monday and Friday night games which are not ideal vs almost none in years past (prior to a few years ago that is). So many things with our league but the capper beyond the current team line-up is of course the totally idiotic decision on the conference tournament taking something that not only was not broken but which was somewhat unique and actually great and throwing it aside for chirping crickets.
|
|
|
|
Post by ghostofdylan on Jan 3, 2018 11:52:54 GMT -6
Rather than unique, the word that I would use to describe our previous tournament concept is ground-breaking. In fact, it was because of this brilliant masterstroke and the resultant near-capacity crowd at The Arena in 2003 (when were THESE pictures taken, Bill?) that the H League finals wound up as the lead-in to Title Tuesday SportsCenter!
Can you IMAGINE using the league's biggest showcase to prop up its best teams?
Whatever happened to that commissioner? Was this really worth all the free pizza?
|
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 3, 2018 11:55:25 GMT -6
I know....the whole thing leaves me speechless as I have no frickin idea what they were thinking....the conference tourney format was no less than great and they drove it off a cliff....
|
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 3, 2018 11:56:16 GMT -6
Amanda's support of that beyond stupid toadyism was akin to Geiger saying we are a pull out bleacher school.. morons
|
|
|
|
Post by BBFran on Jan 3, 2018 13:04:29 GMT -6
Rather than unique, the word that I would use to describe our previous tournament concept is ground-breaking. In fact, it was because of this brilliant masterstroke and the resultant near-capacity crowd at The Arena in 2003 (when were THESE pictures taken, Bill?) Don't know if this picture is from '03, '04, '05, '06 or '11. I just know that the day she voted for Motor City Malaise, she permanently removed any opportunity we would ever have to see another crowd like it in the Arena. Somebody explain to me how that was beneficial for our program. By the way, the last time I was at the Pavilion (2016), the walls of the long hallway to the coaches' offices were lined with pictures from these games. I bet they still are.  |
|
|
|
Post by BBFran on Jan 3, 2018 13:11:24 GMT -6
Fran Another things that drives me nuts. Seems like a few years ago went away from conference home games once in awhile on a Sunday afternoon. Seems like no longer happens (kids days were great on those days) and if on a Saturday often at night. I guess that is ok but also seems like a lot of Monday and Friday night games which are not ideal vs almost none in years past (prior to a few years ago that is). So many things with our league but the capper beyond the current team line-up is of course the totally idiotic decision on the conference tournament taking something that not only was not broken but which was somewhat unique and actually great and throwing it aside for chirping crickets. I have a dim recollection that the unappealing scheduling is in part a consequence of the league's latest TV contract with ESPN. You know, the one that has us on national TV so often. (Hold it, I've just been informed that we are on the internet often, not TV.) I fondly remember the Thursday/Saturday paired travel schedule. Memories of a lot of fun trips from back in those days. |
|
|
|
Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Jan 3, 2018 13:13:24 GMT -6
you will never see a crowd like that again....even with free beer. We know because the tried that last year and it failed miserably.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jan 3, 2018 13:27:43 GMT -6
There was never free beer. LOL
|
|
|
|
Post by DunneDeal on Jan 3, 2018 13:36:40 GMT -6
Picture was 04 title game vs Detroit. Imagine we lost that game...never would have had the Sweet 16 run.
|
|
|
|
Post by BBFran on Jan 3, 2018 14:15:34 GMT -6
Adrian Tigert winning it at the line.
But it was '05, not '04. '04 was the very frustrating loss to UIC. It just goes to show that the memories are dimming.
|
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 3, 2018 14:28:51 GMT -6
04 game is a bad memory. I was there and have to admit that after the game Pearl put out his hand and Collins walked right by (no surprise). Not one of my prouder moments but I booed and Collins looked up and right at me and popped me the middle finger. Not as bas as a few years earlier UIC got the bid. I was listening on the radio and heard Dave Wills shout The flames are dancing, the flames are dancing....and it was because of the heroics of one Kyle Kickert, (the Sheriff) who transferred to UIC from UWM...he was a Ric recruit initially.
|
|
|
|
Post by steveisback on Jan 3, 2018 14:33:33 GMT -6
two other UIC memories both at the gorgeous UIC Pavission... there was one referee , can not remember his name and not Bruce Benedict, different ethnic background that had a grudge against us. Right before half Pearl went nuts and knocked over a table holding multiple cups of water all over the court. He was ejected....then a year later at a game and either Bruce or Collins said something to the other midway through the second half. Collins got so livid he started to go after Pearl and was restrained. Security walked him out right past us and I have to tell you Collins could barely be restrained , It was actually kind of scary...last memory of that night was riding back on bus sponsored by UWM and a bunch neighborhood kids throwing snowballs against the windows and telling us mother you know whats from Milwaukee to go back home ha ha - never dull down there like the time they tried to light the flame before the game and it blew back and almost torched the alumn ....
|
|
|
|
Post by BBFran on Jan 3, 2018 15:02:36 GMT -6
The Thursday/Saturday UIC/Loyola set was a great, easy road trip, as it also allowed for a Friday holiday in Chicago. Back in those days I used to feel sorry for UIC when I saw the crowds at the Pavilion, given how nice a facility it was. Let's just say we no longer hold the high ground by that standard.
As for Pearl and Collins, they truly deserved each other. Good coaches, but that feud was just ugly, and you wouldn't want either of those guys held out as the face of your University.
|
|
|
|
Post by ghostofdylan on Jan 3, 2018 15:16:05 GMT -6
The great thing that those games had was energized fan bases. Remember the traveling party that we used to bring to the Pavilion? It would outnumber several of the home "crowds" that we draw now.
|
|
