Observations from the Red-White scrimmage

[SFP]

It's going to be another long year!

I think that the defense will be better, but the team will continue to struggle with its perimeter shooting.

YES! The upside is another year under Coach Ford's belt with his system. We'll be as good as our 3 pt shooting.

[tornado]

I know we are not IU but we could certainly learn a few things from their efforts...
they held their Hoosier Hysteria - it is a dedicated men's basketball event - after all that's their premier sport...

they drew 18,000, everyone on all their message boards are talking about it, they attract gobs of top recruits, everyone has fun, and Remy Abell impressed...

[amckillip]

I know we are not IU but we could certainly learn a few things from their efforts...
they held their Hoosier Hysteria - it is a dedicated men's basketball event - after all that's their premier sport...

they drew 18,000, everyone on all their message boards are talking about it, they attract gobs of top recruits, everyone has fun, and Remy Abell impressed...

Might the excitement have to do with the fact that they are the consensus #1 team going into the season? I assume we will draw pretty well the next time we're ranked #1 in the preseason as well... Heck, even #1 in the Valley pre-season ranking and the house would be rocking

[lake Camelot]

Hey, maybe now that they moved that retirement home right down the road from BU. They could combine the bus ride to the Civic Center. That would be bound to increase our attendance.

[tornado]

Might the excitement have to do with the fact that they are the consensus #1 team going into the season? ...

well, possibly some...but are you not aware they still drew over 16,000 wild, screaming, enthusiastic fans last year coming off the worst stretch of three horrible, LOSING seasons that IU basketball had ever seen or even dreamed of!
...and even in their worst years ever they always drew near-capacity...

http://www.iuhoosiers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/101511aaa.html

I am not saying we will ever do that -- of course it's IU and we will never have the number of fans they do -- but we should aim to get the enthusiasm and excitement that they get by considering a SPECIAL EVENT, just for MEN'S BASKETBALL, and hype it, promote it, have giveaways for the students, free popcorn, and maybe even a free concert after to make sure a bunch of the students come and hang around!

BUT -- we have those who feel that doing it this way will harm women's basketball...and I disagree -- let them do their own event -- it might just do better than expected.

[Braves4Life]

... a SPECIAL EVENT, just for MEN'S BASKETBALL, and hype it, promote it, have giveaways for the students, free popcorn, and maybe even a free concert after to make sure a bunch of the students come and hang around!

This is an outstanding idea tornado. Hopefully, someone at BU will hear about it and run with it for next year.

[Beninator]

YES! The upside is another year under Coach Ford's belt with his system. We'll be as good as our 3 pt shooting.

Uh ohhhh... We better recruit some of the Lady Braves then.

[tornado]

LOL - good one Ben...
anyway -- SIU held their Maroon Madness....and after numerous years of terrible play, poor recruiting and fan disinterest - we see what happens...

they barely drew 400 and the event had the sound of a conversation in Grand Central Station...

Barry Hinson joked a little about the paltry fan support saying he was happy even one person showed up!
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Hinson said. “I’m happy one person showed up.
That’s pretty good. With all the stuff we have going on in our program right now,
I thought it was a great turnout.”

But due to the lack of available players, they did not scrimmage and fans were a bit disappointed.
Also - they did the combo thing with a VB game and the women's scrimmage and people didn't like it..
Here are a few fan comments from their board..

"About as exciting as watching paint dry. Poor crowd."
"No dunk contest or 3pt contest. Just an overall bore. Only excitement from the crowd was when the football score was announced."
"Very disappointing. No scrimmage, not enough players."

[SFP]

T - I'm also in agreement with your idea. Men's bball is our #1 revenue generating, marquee sport by a very long mile so focusing on it would not be a bad idea. Why add anything to the mix that could detract from the brand. Winning will be what's best but in the meantime the Administration needs to carefully cultivate this program so its potential is always being reached. I wonder how KY or NC treated their men's basketball festivities.

[real fan]

I have talked to quite a few fans about the red-white scrimmage and all of them conclude that they believe low turnout is do to not having a full 40 minute scrimmage, I agree in that with as many players we have it should be a regular 40 minute game, use to draw at the least 3 thousand fans or more because it was the start of BU basketball, cannot have it on a Friday or Sat. because of high school and college football , know several people that could not attend because of this, guarantee they get a lot better attendance if they go back to the 40 minute game and have it during the week, my thought on this is what do they have to lose as when you only draw 1700 with volleyball and womens basketball going on also it was a pretty pathetic attendance figure.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

I have talked to quite a few fans about the red-white scrimmage and all of them conclude that they believe low turnout is do to not having a full 40 minute scrimmage, I agree in that with as many players we have it should be a regular 40 minute game, use to draw at the least 3 thousand fans or more because it was the start of BU basketball, cannot have it on a Friday or Sat. because of high school and college football , know several people that could not attend because of this, guarantee they get a lot better attendance if they go back to the 40 minute game and have it during the week, my thought on this is what do they have to lose as when you only draw 1700 with volleyball and womens basketball going on also it was a pretty pathetic attendance figure.

I think the only way you'll see a full-length scrimmage again is if it isn't held in conjunction with the first official day of practice. Perhaps pushing it back a week or 10 days would allow for something a little longer.

[tornado]

I'd have no problem wit TWO separate events...
a "Madness" event - right around the beginning of practices - with a short scrimmage and some shooting & dunking held early and utilizing Homecoming to get a good crowd

then later after a few practices - then hold a Red-White and play a full 20 or 40 minutes......
Fans are hungry to see the Braves and the Braves need to market themselves and get some coverage in the paper to stimulate ticket sales...

Whattya wanna bet that ticket sales are as anemic as ever for this point in the year...