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Post by Cactus Panther on Jan 4, 2018 15:32:35 GMT -6
The thing about the '14 HL tournament success is it took everyone by total surprise and relative few were paying attention. The month leading up to the HL tournament was so bad that even many previously ardent Panther supporters jumped off the bandwagon and were no longer passionately involved. Just look at this thread from the last loss of that regular season, which was by 22 points at home to a UIC team that was 0-14 in the HL to that point. uwmfreak.proboards.com/thread/6593/game-29-uic The lack of buzz in the regular season that year continued into the first round of the HL tournament, in which the fifth seeded Panthers (7-9 in the HL) beat UDM at home before an announced crowd of 1,204. The buzz grew a bit as the Panthers beat GB in round three, thanks in part to an ailing Kiefer Sykes. I recall that we Panther fans were scattered in various parts of the Resch Center, but we did not have much of a section of our own. A few of us diehards made the trip to Wright State's Nutter Center for the championship game. After the game, we had joyous celebrations on the court and later at a nearby bar. But it was a relative small gathering - aside from some administration, coaches, players and their families. Besides Mrs Cactus Panther and me, I specifically remember Ken, DK, SRT4, BlackPantherU and a few others there. I think a lot more people would have liked to attend, but the championship game was so unexpected that they could not make last minute arrangements to do so. The '14 HL tournament run was fantastic, but for me it was nothing like the euphoria from the glory years in the Pearl era. Back then, there was a build up of momentum in the program and anticipation that crescendoed into program credibility and relevance. Fans and supporters of the program were united. '14 was more like a short-lived blip on the radar, fueled on the back end by the APR ban. I can understand how '14 was the greatest moment for any Panther fan who was not yet around to enjoy the Pearl glory years or who bought heavily into the us-against-the-world and I-told-you-so mentality of the Jeter staff. As evidenced on this very forum, including in the attached thread, fans and supporters were already divided, or in the process of dividing. It was not to the extent that followed because of the subsequent oft-discussed issues, but the dissension among fans was already evident at that time. For me, there was nothing like the first NCAA tournament wins. YMMV, and that's OK. |
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Post by steveisback on Jan 4, 2018 15:57:16 GMT -6
Fran
What it came down to IMO that night was no excuse for us to come out lifeless like that at the start in our home arena in championship game. We all know what Butler did later on and no disgrace in losing to them. It is just that they were beatable and we showed up looking like our buttholes could crunch walnuts. Would not have happened under Pearl that night. I hold Rob responsible for that...that is coaching, lack of motivation whatever you want to call it
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Post by steveisback on Jan 4, 2018 15:59:17 GMT -6
Cactus Panther...you nailed it!!
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Post by steveisback on Jan 4, 2018 16:14:11 GMT -6
Interesting to go back and read that thread Braun handled the thing horribly but to say it was all great 2014 and prior well.....does anyone know what Rob's cumulative record including the Pearl team he inherited the first year was as relates to D 1 opponents only? If over .5000 doubt it is by much
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Post by Cactus Panther on Jan 4, 2018 16:54:37 GMT -6
185-170 overall. If we conservatively assume 1.5 wins per year over non-D1 teams in his 11 seasons, he was under .500 against D1 competition. Dylan, I think you know the answer off the top of your head. What was his exact D1 record?
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Post by ghostofdylan on Jan 4, 2018 17:40:03 GMT -6
172-170
We're 17-30 since the purge. Let's see how we do over the next 9 1/2 years. Braun and Mone might not like it, but the meter is running! Every game counts!
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Post by GoPanthers33 on Jan 4, 2018 18:04:48 GMT -6
I will never forget the 2014 Championship at Wright State. I was a Senior at UWM and wanted to see us make the tournament while I was a student there so badly. I was crushed after the 2011 title game and thought it might've been my only shot to experience the dance as a student. I was unable to make it to the Green Bay semifinal game in 2014 but I did get to watch it with my dad. I'm not someone who had traveled much as at that time I'd only been out of Wisconsin to Illinois and Michigan. The second the game ended I looked at my dad and said "I'm going to Ohio." He was stunned but super excited for me. I had no work or classes that Tuesday so I didn't have to miss a thing. The whole tournament run still feels like it was meant to be as everything went right for me to finish my time at the school living out a dream. Running onto the court and having complete strangers jumping and hugging me was something I will never forget. The contingent of Panthers fans on the bus spent all of the energy they had as it wasn't long into the night that the bus fell silent and everyone seemed to have nothing left but a smile.
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Post by BBFran on Jan 4, 2018 18:09:09 GMT -6
Well the one thing we can all agree on is that neither Bruce Pearl OR Rob Jeter is walking through that door again.
And given that our current administration has degraded the program to the point that what passes for a “good” crowd at the Arena is now measured in the high THREE figures, we can also be sure that neither would want to.
Meanwhile, the current team has an opportunity against the worst bottom half of the worst Horizon League in history. Time to make some hay and rev the excitement volume control of the program up to, what, 2? 2 1/2?
It’s not the kids’ fault. They are playing hard.
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Post by Pantherholic on Jan 4, 2018 19:04:53 GMT -6
Calihan is a dump like no other. It is also monstrously sad, as there is a courtside section of a few hundred seats that are never close to full, and thousands of empty seats above them. Oh I fully expect to be wow'd...we'll just leave it at that. |
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Post by theDarkHawkReturns on Jan 5, 2018 9:43:25 GMT -6
Well the one thing we can all agree on is that neither Bruce Pearl OR Rob Jeter is walking through that door again. And given that our current administration has degraded the program to the point that what passes for a “good” crowd at the Arena is now measured in the high THREE figures, we can also be sure that neither would want to. Meanwhile, the current team has an opportunity against the worst bottom half of the worst Horizon League in history. Time to make some hay and rev the excitement volume control of the program up to, what, 2? 2 1/2? It’s not the kids’ fault. They are playing hard. I honestly feel awful for these kids. They didn't do anything to deserve the situation they find themselves in now. I am sure they all dreamed that playing on a D1 team on a scholarship would mean crowds of fans cheering them on, and boosters and alums backing their efforts in many ways. What they got is a huge empty arena, playing in front of crowds probably smaller than the ones they played in front of in high school, and a booster and alumni community that has all but walked away. They are paying for the sins of 2 chancellors (Mone and Lovell) and the horrific Athletic Director that one chose, and the other backed up. She has failed utterly, and I do not think there can be any debate about that. The only logical reason she is still employed is demographic, because her results just cannot justify anything but termination. I hope these kids get liberated from this situation, one way or another, very soon. They deserve so much better. |
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Post by pantherproud on Jan 5, 2018 10:49:19 GMT -6
I think everyone needs to take a breath and relax. Some of us were around to see Bo coach a team to a .500 record in front of small crowds in the KC. 4 years later we were rushing the court in a packed Mecca and going to the tourney. Right now it's about setting an expectation for the players and building recruiting classes that can play to higher expectations. A turnaround can be quick if the building blocks are put in place now like Bo and Bruce did back then. As fans our job is to show up and cheer and give the players a home court advantage. If you don't come to games you don't have a right to complain about attendance...you are part of the problem.
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Post by pnthr97 on Jan 5, 2018 11:43:55 GMT -6
As fans our job is to show up and cheer and give the players a home court advantage. If you don't come to games you don't have a right to complain about attendance...you are part of the problem. It's been a while since I've posted, but... Couldn't disagree more here. My family bought season tickets for 20+ years. I decided to discontinue a couple years ago when the product deteriorated. I could not justify spending money on a poor product and instead, used the money for other forms of entertainment. I still donate to the University and Athletic Department. Until to the product improves, the product is THE problem. |
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Post by gman2 on Jan 5, 2018 13:59:13 GMT -6
Well the one thing we can all agree on is that neither Bruce Pearl OR Rob Jeter is walking through that door again. And given that our current administration has degraded the program to the point that what passes for a “good” crowd at the Arena is now measured in the high THREE figures, we can also be sure that neither would want to. Meanwhile, the current team has an opportunity against the worst bottom half of the worst Horizon League in history. Time to make some hay and rev the excitement volume control of the program up to, what, 2? 2 1/2? It’s not the kids’ fault. They are playing hard. I honestly feel awful for these kids. They didn't do anything to deserve the situation they find themselves in now. I am sure they all dreamed that playing on a D1 team on a scholarship would mean crowds of fans cheering them on, and boosters and alums backing their efforts in many ways. What they got is a huge empty arena, playing in front of crowds probably smaller than the ones they played in front of in high school, and a booster and alumni community that has all but walked away. They are paying for the sins of 2 chancellors (Mone and Lovell) and the horrific Athletic Director that one chose, and the other backed up. She has failed utterly, and I do not think there can be any debate about that. The only logical reason she is still employed is demographic, because her results just cannot justify anything but termination. I hope these kids get liberated from this situation, one way or another, very soon. They deserve so much better. Agreed, this just sucks for the kids. If Braun were a white male, that person would either be gone already or they would be on the way out. |
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Post by steveisback on Jan 5, 2018 14:19:11 GMT -6
Does anyone have Paul Plinske's phone number? Oh that is right, why hire the most qualified candidate? Tammy Baldwin might object...sad
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Post by mkehoops on Jan 5, 2018 14:39:38 GMT -6
As fans our job is to show up and cheer and give the players a home court advantage. If you don't come to games you don't have a right to complain about attendance...you are part of the problem. It's been a while since I've posted, but... Couldn't disagree more here. My family bought season tickets for 20+ years. I decided to discontinue a couple years ago when the product deteriorated. I could not justify spending money on a poor product and instead, used the money for other forms of entertainment. I still donate to the University and Athletic Department. Until to the product improves, the product is THE problem. [ Certainly understand your decision. However, I want this program to be great again. The last thing I will do is turn my back on the program I love. No matter how big of a disaster the administration is, abandoning the program will not do anyone any good. I figure the least I can do is spend a few hundred dollars on season tickets and show up to support as often as I can. Guys, we are on our third coach in three years, it’s not going to be pretty alll the time. If Baldwin can get a little momenting rolling this year and get some playmakers in next year, things will begin looking up. |
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