College Basketball 2010-2011

[hawing]

Has our student section been that sad for all our games so far?

I haven't seen a completely full student section yet this season - though I only have access to weeknight games, not weekend. However, last night did look especially meager in the 114-117ish sections. Some of my student employees who have tickets have had to miss some due to class commitments.

 

The "ugly Christmas sweater" contest kind of helped make up for the lower attendance, I thought.

[sbrylski]

It's also finals week. If there's any game that was going to be quiet, it was that one.

[dadofandrew]

There's been talk about the quiet, half-full student section all year on Badgers' basketball boards. Many feel it is directly related to how cheap their seats are...for example, if I pay $25, or whatever the public pays, I'm either going to go or make sure I get them to someone who does. Students pay a far smaller amount ($8-12?), and if it's cold, if it's not a "big game," or whatever, they just stay home.

[TooLiveBrew]

I've always thought a big part of it is that the student (season) tickets are done by lottery system*, and the team has become successful enough under Ryan that even casual hoops fans enter the lottery. Inevitably, many of them win seats too, and you're left with lackluster attendance for too many (imo) games. At least that was my impression when I had student tickets. Too many fans that 'totally wanted Badger hoops tickets', but didn't realize that every game isn't a top-25 battle with Dick Vitale broadcasting. Just pisses me off they don't even put in the miniscule amount of work to offload the tickets to the multitudes of students (or other fans) that would love to be there.

 

 

* or at least this was the case in my time there. I assume it's still the same method.

[homer]

Let's be honest. The students have been spoiled. When there were games during finals week when I was in school, we scheduled our studies around the games (this was when Michael Finley was in school and the program was starting to come around). Kids these days only show up in mass numbers for the big, marquee games.

[owbc]

I think this has been going on for a long time. Going back to my Freshman year at UW, 2005-2006, a friend had tickets in the 300-level and I frequently bought them off of him. Back then you had the same seats for every game. The upper level was rarely more than 1/3 full for those games. Even the #7 WI vs. #2 Pittsburgh game had tons of empty seats.

 

When they changed to the "first come, first serve" policy, the empty seats became more obvious, but they had been there for a long time already. Last year, the whole 300-level was empty for many important conference games such as Michigan and Illinois.

 

I think they could easily fill the student section for every game if they wanted to. The problem is bad policy.

 

UW-Athletics has been very reluctant to institute "rewards" systems like Michigan State has done. Students who show up on time and go to the boring non-conference games should get rewarded with seats for the big games. There were probably 20,000 students that wanted to go to the Duke game last year, so make the students earn the rights to buy the Duke tickets by giving them to the ones who show up to the other games. Make them scan their IDs in the second half as well to make sure they stick around for the whole game. I think this will also discourage scalping since people will be reluctant to sell their tickets if that had to sit though other games to earn them. The bad non-conference games should be available to any student, first come, first serve. The top games would be sold preferentially based on attendance at the games in November and December.

 

They also need to implement other ways to make the student section fun/interesting. Football has "Jump Around" which makes the games fun and interesting for those who are not hardcore football fans. There should be contests and promotions, t-shirt tosses, and a public relations campaign to re-energize the student section. They can hire cheap student employees to do the promoting. Contests could be held for those that come up with the best cheers and for the craziest students.

 

Yeah, you could blame the students, but it isn't 100% their fault that UW athletics does nothing to make the student section fun or interesting. All the focus is on the game, which just doesn't work when you play so many bad opponents.

[TooLiveBrew]

UW-Athletics has been very reluctant to institute "rewards" systems like Michigan State has done. Students who show up on time and go to the boring non-conference games should get rewarded with seats for the big games.

 

I love this idea. I think the problem compared with football is nearly 100% related to length of schedule. When a home football game is one of like 6 on the season, it's obviously going to be much easier to get excited about it.

[hawing]

When a home football game is one of like 6 on the season, it's obviously going to be much easier to get excited about it.

And the football games are virtually all on Saturdays, which all but eliminates academic conflicts and gives students Sundays to recover/catch up on work/whatever.

[owbc]

The finals/exams/weeknights argument sometimes applies, but I don't think it makes that much of a difference. Most students have plenty of time to go to a 2-hour basketball game. Many of them live less than 2 blocks from the Kohl Center. If there was incentive to go, they would show up. UW-Athletics could provide a free shuttle from the lakeshore dorms to make it easier to get there. They are making no effort whatsoever to encourage students to go to games. That might have worked back in 2000, but they clearly need to change their marketing strategy.

[TooLiveBrew]

Why should the Athletic Department have to "[make] an effort", though? To me, that just underscores the problem being with the fanbase. The "effort" that's being made is having a good program year in & year out. That's what an Athletic Department's responsibility is imo, not providing free shuttles when students already have free bus passes.

 

Maybe it's sacrilege to say, but I never got the impression that UW had good or savvy hoops fans (on the whole) in my time there. As hockey fans, the students are second to none, and they're pretty good about football. Basketball is a whole different story imo.

[homer]

The finals/exams/weeknights argument sometimes applies, but I don't think it makes that much of a difference. Most students have plenty of time to go to a 2-hour basketball game. Many of them live less than 2 blocks from the Kohl Center. If there was incentive to go, they would show up. UW-Athletics could provide a free shuttle from the lakeshore dorms to make it easier to get there. They are making no effort whatsoever to encourage students to go to games. That might have worked back in 2000, but they clearly need to change their marketing strategy.

But do they? I mean the ticket is sold already right? So the only thing they're missing out on revenue wise is concessions and if most students were like me they don't buy any because they are poor. They only advantage they would have is more butts in the seats to create a louder environment but they don't really need that for games against Coppin State.

[bani1717]

Just for the record, there is a rewards system this year to reward students depending on the number of games you go to... It obviously isn't working though, and by the time I found out about it was a day before the first game I had in my half-season package...

 

And it's not necessarily easy to unload your tickets to the bad games. Your two options are basically to post it on craigslist/facebook for $10 max and hope you get lucky, which after you factor in time to post, email, and meet the person almost isn't worth it, or sell it to a scalper - if they even want it - for maybe $5 (in which case it might not get used anyways).

 

I think the arena would look a lot more empty for most non-conference games if it was all first come first serve. I picked up a lower level ticket from a scalper for $7 at 7:05ish on Monday, and he had a whole stack of tickets that he was going to be eating. I just thought the game on Monday was especially sad for the student section, with the lower level of it being half full, if that (taking into account the upper sections, probably only 1/4 of the student tickets got used).

[owbc]

I didn't know there was a rewards system now. That is a step in the right direction, but do they scan IDs?

 

I was a hoops-savvy UW fan but I went to less than 10 basketball games in 5 years at UW. Why?

 

1) Games were generally boring due to bad student section

2) Too expensive for a season ticket package

3) Friends were not interested, generally because of 1) and 2).

4) I had hockey tickets instead, because it was cheaper, my friends had them also, and it was still a good time and conveniently on weekend nights.

 

If the Badgers made the final four, of course student attendance would increase, but until they do, the best way to get the students interested again is to make the games more fun and encourage them to show up. I agree that UW Athletics really shouldn't have to resort to incentives, but at this point, it's their best option to get students to show up.

[homer]

I'm telling you it's just plain apathy on the student's part. Not that I want this to happen but if UW goes down in the tank for three or four years and then starts to get good again, you'll see that place full for every game.

[bucks2281]

That's what an Athletic Department's responsibility is imo, not providing free shuttles when students already have free bus passes.

 

I agree, but never underestimate the laziness of college students. Marquette has shuttle buses that take students ten blocks, from 16th to 6th Street. I'm continually amazed how students would rather wait in line for 10-20 minutes and miss tip-off (even for big games, like UW or the 8 v. 2 UConn game in 2009) rather than walk a mile. And, even at a basketball-only school, what is the incentive for me to attend a game against Coppin State on a Tuesday night when I know I could stay home at do homework or watch TV?

 

Marquette plays a 10 am home game on January 1. I can't wait to see the student section turnout for that game.

[lukevan]

Big win for UW last night. Taylor pretty much took over the game after the first 10 minutes. Leuer was solid as usual.

 

Jarmusz chipped in three big threes in the second half too. I didn't expect a win after the first 10 minutes of this game.

[TooLiveBrew]

I wish I would've been able to catch this game (wasn't home yet). Looks like a great win for UW; I really think UM is a good squad this year.

[owbc]

I loved the coaching matchup last night--neither team had the advantage for more than a few minutes before the other made great adjustments. UW's rebounding was suprisingly bad, although Minnesota is huge. Minnesota is supposed to be quick, but they were stuck playing half court ball and were ultimately doomed by a few too many turnovers and quick shots.

 

Jared Berggren was great off the bench--he had a few great post moves and 3 blocks--very Brian Butch-like.

[crewcrazy]

I really like what Tubby Smith has done with that Minnesota program, even if it does mean the Badgers don't get to poach as many Twin Cities or other Minnesota recruits as they have in the past. It's good for the rivalry, and I've always thought he's a great coach that got a raw deal at Kentucky.

 

Dan Dakich was absolutely drooling over Berggren on commentary last night, which was kind of cool to hear. Great game by Jordan Taylor, too...you have to wonder if he gets extra motivated for those games against the Gophers. It was big to get that win against Minnesota, with how difficult the early part of the conference schedule is.

[Roscoe Chill]

I think over the next couple years Berggren will become a star. Next year without Leuer, I wouldn't be surprised to see him averaging close to 15 a game, and the following year he'll be a senior and a first team All Big 10 player. Just my prediction. Business as usual for the Wisconsin program and the development of their players from the time they get on campus to the time they leave.

[zurch1818]

Jared Berggren was great off the bench--he had a few great post moves and 3 blocks--very Brian Butch-like.

I love this quote because it is so true. Our family made this connection last year and even gave him a nickname, Brian Butch 2.0 (or 2.0 for short). He is a new and improved version. His play in the post against Minnesota really emphasized this. Also, if you want to see 3.0....check out Anderson, the sole player to redshirt this year. In the exhibition games (the only games he played), his style was eerily similar to Butch's and Berggren's. It's really surprising that this style of player works well in Bo's offense.

[jjfanec]

I really like what Tubby Smith has done with that Minnesota program, even if it does mean the Badgers don't get to poach as many Twin Cities or other Minnesota recruits as they have in the past. It's good for the rivalry, and I've always thought he's a great coach that got a raw deal at Kentucky.

While Tubby is a good coach I dont think he has done that great at Minnesota. He has done decent, but it is hard to get too excited about not winning a game in the tournament in his three years. They have yet to have a winning record in the Big Ten and have had a lot of issue with player conduct on the team. Now this could be the year all that changes but since their only good win is against a 9-4 North Carolina team, it is hard to know how good them are. They sure can pound the glass, but they are a poor perimeter shooting and defending team.

[Menotti80]

I think Marquette deserves some Kudos for starting off the Big East season 1-0...

 

Hopefully they improve throughout the next 2 months and are able to sneak into the NCAA tourney.

[danzig6767]

I really like what Tubby Smith has done with that Minnesota program, even if it does mean the Badgers don't get to poach as many Twin Cities or other Minnesota recruits as they have in the past. It's good for the rivalry, and I've always thought he's a great coach that got a raw deal at Kentucky.

While Tubby is a good coach I dont think he has done that great at Minnesota. He has done decent, but it is hard to get too excited about not winning a game in the tournament in his three years. They have yet to have a winning record in the Big Ten and have had a lot of issue with player conduct on the team. Now this could be the year all that changes but since their only good win is against a 9-4 North Carolina team, it is hard to know how good them are. They sure can pound the glass, but they are a poor perimeter shooting and defending team.

Keep in mind though that while Tubby didn't take over a program in total shambles, he didn't inherit a bevy of talent either. A coach often needs some time to not only bring in better talent, but also talent that fits into what he wants to run. Say for example Bo Ryan had to take over the Marquette program this year or next year. MU has more talent than what Monson left for Tubby in Minnesota and Bo is such a good coach that i'm sure he could do a solid job with a Marquette roster, but it's not the type of roster he'd recruit for his system.

[jjfanec]

 

Keep in mind though that while Tubby didn't take over a program in total shambles, he didn't inherit a bevy of talent either. A coach often needs some time to not only bring in better talent, but also talent that fits into what he wants to run. Say for example Bo Ryan had to take over the Marquette program this year or next year. MU has more talent than what Monson left for Tubby in Minnesota and Bo is such a good coach that i'm sure he could do a solid job with a Marquette roster, but it's not the type of roster he'd recruit for his system.

Very true about the guys for that system, but his best players are not his guys. Nolen and Hoff were recruited by Monson. Tubby's classes have left a lot to be desired. Williams has a ton of physical talent but no bball iq, Sampson is soft and inconsistent, Iverson is just okay. Not to mention all the off-the-court issues his team has had with Royce White (his recruit who had issues coming in) Mwbake (his recruit with issues coming in) and now Joseph who looks to be transferring. He also had 2 or 3 other recruits transfer. I am just not impressed.