NCAA Tournament Talk

[Bearcat_NTS]

Louisville needs to stop pressing, Michigan State can't score consistently in the half court.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

No. But that goes to show how much a program can improve in a matter of 10 years. I'd argue Louisville has been a top 5 program over that span. UC can be too if the right things happen. The University needs to invest in this program. New Arena is an absolute must.

Well, top 5 program could be a stretch. But being a threat to be a top 5 seed every year should be the expectations of this program moving forward.

Absolutely agree. I get the investments in football but they've neglected the basketball program for too long. The recruiting really needs to improve for the style they play to be successful in the tournament.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

The fans need to invest in the program. Fans flocked to football and the university put forth a plan to upgrade nippert and got funding through private investors, aka rich fans. People keep harping on the university to invest in the program. That is not going to happen. They aren't going to raise tuition rates or ask for tax dollars to fund the basketball program. More money will go into the program when more money comes into the program. Three ways that will happen. Rich people give money to the program, a whole shitload of small donors support the program and/or we get into a conference that funnels more money into the program. And the latter will happen because of football and fan support. Bottom line is our fans are holding the program back.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

The fans need to invest in the program. Fans flocked to football and the university put forth a plan to upgrade nippert and got funding through private investors, aka rich fans. People keep harping on the university to invest in the program. That is not going to happen. They aren't going to raise tuition rates or ask for tax dollars to fund the basketball program. More money will go into the program when more money comes into the program. Three ways that will happen. Rich people give money to the program, a whole shitload of small donors support the program and/or we get into a conference that funnels more money into the program. And the latter will happen because of football and fan support. Bottom line is our fans are holding the program back.

Attendance in football has not been very good.

 

[Alum2013]

I think he meant back in the Brian Kelly years when they sold out most games.

 

[jds513]

The fans need to invest in the program. Fans flocked to football and the university put forth a plan to upgrade nippert and got funding through private investors, aka rich fans. People keep harping on the university to invest in the program. That is not going to happen. They aren't going to raise tuition rates or ask for tax dollars to fund the basketball program. More money will go into the program when more money comes into the program. Three ways that will happen. Rich people give money to the program, a whole shitload of small donors support the program and/or we get into a conference that funnels more money into the program. And the latter will happen because of football and fan support. Bottom line is our fans are holding the program back.

In my honest opinion, as a student, I think there is more buzz around the basketball program than the football program.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Attendance in football has not been very good.

It was when they decided to expand nippert and the funding still was met by private means and not the university putting money into it.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

In my honest opinion, as a student, I think there is more buzz around the basketball program than the football program.

I dont doubt that. When these students graduate then they can start donating to the program. In the mean time the fans still come up with hundreds of excuses as to why they aren't supporting the program.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

It was when they decided to expand nippert and the funding still was met by private means and not the university putting money into it.

Only after the ACC said thanks but no thanks.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Only after the ACC said thanks but no thanks.

Yeah, and... How does that change the fact that fans don't support the basketball program?

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Yeah, and... How does that change the fact that fans don't support the basketball program?

It doesn't. The point is they had probably a window of 2-3 years to renovate Nippert and didn't. The only reason why it happened was because everyone panicked after being turned down by the ACC. The support for both programs has been weak. If they had already finished Nippert then 5th 3rd renovations could have started by now...

 

[david aka the TYZ]

It doesn't. The point is they had probably a window of 2-3 years to renovate Nippert and didn't. The only reason why it happened was because everyone panicked after being turned down by the ACC. The support for both programs has been weak. If they had already finished Nippert then 5th 3rd renovations could have started by now...

The university is waiting on the fan support to move forward with a project because funding has to take place. They are going through the same steps they did with Nippert. It will happen. And an improved Nippert will help in generating money into the athletic department as a whole.

 

[waterhead]

We could have beat either team today MSU or UL. Would have been nice to be a 3-6 seed in that bracket. Based on what I watched today the state of the team is in good shape. A good team and a good draw is all you need. I think we will be very good next year...maybe not elite but knocking on that door.

 

[jds513]

We could have beat either team today MSU or UL. Would have been nice to be a 3-6 seed in that bracket. Based on what I watched today the state of the team is in good shape. A good team and a good draw is all you need. I think we will be very good next year...maybe not elite but knocking on that door.

Next season can't come soon enough.

 

[BCM]

In my honest opinion, as a student, I think there is more buzz around the basketball program than the football program.

Wonder what would happen if we crowdfunded an arena restoration. It would definitely seem much more attainable to the average folk (me) than those impenetrable million dollar donations they look for, and far more visible than ucats small contributions. Would be neat, might want to poke Ono about that since he has always been open to cutting edge leadership strategies. UC apparel and crap like that as rewards? Why not?

 

[jds513]

Wonder what would happen if we crowdfunded an arena restoration. It would definitely seem much more attainable to the average folk (me) than those impenetrable million dollar donations they look for, and far more visible than ucats small contributions. Would be neat, might want to poke Ono about that since he has always been open to cutting edge leadership strategies. UC apparel and crap like that as rewards? Why not?

That's an intriguing idea. I've had friends that have had one on one meetings with both Ono and Bohn. If someone has an interest in talking with them, they are both very receptive to meeting in person. I may look into that more and how I could present it to them. I'm sure some of my friends that have spoken to them in meetings would be very receptive to that idea as well.

 

[KJ's#1Supporter]

@RJinVegas
Only 1.6% of ESPN Tournament Brackets have the entire Final Four correct

 

[BCM]

That's an intriguing idea. I've had friends that have had one on one meetings with both Ono and Bohn. If someone has an interest in talking with them, they are both very receptive to meeting in person. I may look into that more and how I could present it to them. I'm sure some of my friends that have spoken to them in meetings would be very receptive to that idea as well.

Since I have you on the hook now, I would like to add a few stipulations. It will be incredibly unlikely that you could crowdfund even remotely enough for the entire ticket price. What you COULD do is make the entire experiment a kind of "stretch goal," not sure if you are familiar with crowdfunding terms, for regular fans. So the donors who are financing the main shebang are being catered to with their private suites and premium seating in return for their massive, influential dollars (face it arenas are expensive, you would never surpass a mil doing this publicly) you CAN have the event focus on Joe Averageman. Better seatback cushioning on all chairs, secure a contract with XXX to provide concessions (come on Aramark absolutely sucks and everyone knows it), maybe a game-only craft beer bar in-arena at a certain amount, stuff like that. Tier it with stuff like merch or season tickets up to a certain date or whatever. You aren't going to fund the entire arena this way, but it might work for a bunch of fun cool extras for the layperson.

 

[ccmbearcat]

Sometime tomorrow I hope somebody asks about the arena renovation. I know that's not the main topic but hope somebody squeezes it in somewhere.

 

[ccmbearcat]

In my honest opinion, as a student, I think there is more buzz around the basketball program than the football program.

It's always been that way. However there is probably more interest in football than ever before.