WBB: American Southwest Conference

[mcmfan]

Friendly folks of Texas...I am the DeSales SID (as my handle says).
Looking forward to see this facility.  It looks pretty sweet on the HPU web site.

You obviously haven't read some of the earlier posts here, referring to "the facility" as The Mausoleum.  Most of us non-HPU people don't like it, for it is dark and cavernous inside; and, except for a small bleacher section, spectators are isolated in a semi-balcony that rings the floor.  That said, this year it got a new floor and scoreboard.  Contrary to earlier posts, I at least had no trouble with the bathrooms at Saturday's game.  The paper towels ran out at one point in the main floor men's room, but were quickly replenished.  The people of HPU and Brownwood are great; they will go out of their way to make this an enjoyable time for you.  My only negative experience Saturday was our losing the game.   

[BJ - DSU SID]

Ralph...you be in attendance on Friday evening.  We can talk D3hoops and Cowboys/Eagles (assuming you are a Cowboys fan)...I am diehard Eagles fan having grown up in Philadelphia.  I am sure now our bus will get bombarded with egg shells on our way in,  .

I have heard different accounts on the state of the Howard Payne gymnasium.  I guess being an HPU rival will make your hatred of another's school facility run a little deeper.  I'll wait to pass judgement for when I get there, but we've played in some gyms that seat 250 people max. and don't even rival some gyms I played in when I was 12 years old.  Should be a good experience for us.

[dballa]

The seating and the lights are actually better than they were when HPU was in the Lone Star Conference.  Back then the outer ring of lights were turned off during games.  Only the lights above the court area were on.  Also they added seats in front of the scoreboard a few years back that were only concrete bleacher type seats. 

Also for the first time that I've seen at an HPU basketball game they actually sold drinks, popcorn and programs in the stands. 

Something they need to fix about the coliseum is the parking area.  There never has been enough parking for how many people can actually fit in the coliseum.  I've been wanting them to do a shuttle from other locations to actually be able to bring in more people.  Maybe this weekend they'll decide to do that.

[Scratch]

Most of us non-HPU people don't like it, for it is dark and cavernous inside; and, except for a small bleacher section, spectators are isolated in a semi-balcony that rings the floor.  That said, this year it got a new floor and scoreboard. 

Of course the up side is you don't have to move spectators over to inbound the ball or worry about tripping over students' feet when you break down the baseline. 

Having witnessed the UT Tyler, TX gym for the ASC conference playoffs-Louise Herrington Patriot Center (completed 2002) I can say that the Brownwood coliseum is much brighter than this one built in the last few years.

Also, the extra seating capacity is great.  I remember last year when Chapman came to town for the second round game their girls played in front of more fan in one game than they had played for all year (I did not look it up, but I think that is what I remember).

[sethhpu]

What style of basketball does DeSales play?

[Ralph Turner]

...
Also, the extra seating capacity is great.  I remember last year when Chapman came to town for the second round game their girls played in front of more fan in one game than they had played for all year (I did not look it up, but I think that is what I remember).

Yes, I compiled those data. 

[berghoops]

BJ -  Keep your left arm straight and your head down !!!!!

HPU -  Take good care of DeSales.  Even though they knocked us (Muhlenberg) out of the tournament, they are a class act.  Kids play very hard with lots of heart.  Imagine Duke-Carolina intensity.

[BJ - DSU SID]

Sethhpu - We play hard...I can't give away any secrets, 

Berghoops...thanks for the vote of confidence and the compliments.  The game on Friday night with you guys was a great one.  Definitely had a Duke/Carolina feel to it.  We really appreciate the kind words.  You guys were also a class act in hosting us all weekend.  The staff did a great job.

[JACKET84]

It turns out that the coliseum only has 2,900 seats upstairs.  It's "seating" capacity is actually over stated.  The Chapman game last year with 4,000+, was due to the fact that so many people stood, or sat in the aisles, and on the coliseum floor.  Needless to say, the crowd can't be any larger than the Chapman game, but wouldn't it be great to see again.

[House]

The Brownwood Coliseum looks great from the pictures. However, I do have a question. What primary use was the building originally built for? The stands appear to make a perfect circle around the lower area. It's such an unusual design and I haven't been able to come up with a type of event that would require it. Also, how far is the drop from the balcony to the floor? Looks like it could be dangerous to rush the court.

[golfniz1]

House recommended not to rush the seats from the balcony would really hurt.  That is a pretty good fall, having not measured it about a 20 to 25' drop    I was there Saturday night and it sure seemed like there was more people than 2613 more like 2900.  I can almost assure you that there will be good crowds at both games, but HPUs game will be a sell out. I know I will be taking in both games because I want to see the #1 team in the nation play even though in my eyes I have been watching them all year.

[JACKET84]

The Brownwood Coliseum looks great from the pictures. However, I do have a question. What primary use was the building originally built for? The stands appear to make a perfect circle around the lower area. It's such an unusual design and I haven't been able to come up with a type of event that would require it. Also, how far is the drop from the balcony to the floor? Looks like it could be dangerous to rush the court.

It's a city owned Coliseum.  It was designed for multi-functions at the time.  Circus, BB games, concerts, etc.    If a person jumped over the edge, they would have an approx. 15 foot fall.

[golfniz1]

Mr. Turner thank you for the cujos, also for your D3HOOPS wisdom throughout the year you give us alot of information and is much appreciated by this HPU fan.

[Rick Akins]

DESALES SID:

Let me know if you don't get your golf game set up.  I am on the board at HPU, and if the university does not have some access to Brownwood CC, I am sure one of our local trustees does.  I don't live in Brownwood, but we should be able to get that done, or there are public ones that have already been mentioned. Let me know if you don't. I want us to be the best hosts ever for a sectional.  I am thrilled we got it!  I felt we earned it on the court, but I am well aware of all the other considerations involved in such a selection.

As far as the Coliseum is concerned, it was built around 1964, but not for basketball.  That is obvious when you sit in certain places and cannot see quite all the court.  Just a few feet more and it would be perfect.  HPU decided to move there for basketball after it was built, unfortunately.  I guess, but do not know, that it was built to try to host conventions,etc.?

I am convinced we would not have this sectional if HPU had not put in the new floor, goals, scoreboards, scorers table, chairs, etc., after last year.  All that was bought and paid for by HPU, but the building is still owned by the City of Brownwood. I also believe the lighting on the floor (where you need it, right?) is better with the lighter colored new floor and is fine. How high are the seats above the floor? Someone help me, but to storm the court you would have to crawl over a 30 inch or so wall and jump 8(?) feet down. There is seating on the floor for only 200-300.

SethHPU:

Here is my DeSales scouting report--all gleaned from the DeSales website so it is the basics.  The 2 leading scorers are 2 5'8" junior guards at 19 ppg and 15 ppg.  They have 70 and 21 3's and shoot 82% and 93% from the line, respectively.  I did not see anyone over 5'10" in the top 7 in minutes played.  No matter how you look at it, you do not win 26 games without being a superior team.  I can't wait until Friday!

I am still in shock about the capacity.  I have heard 4000-4500 forever.  Jacket 84, I am going to count them all myself on Friday. How could you ever have gotten 4,000+ in there then for anything? Was the Chapman game last year only an estimate? I reiterate there were easily 1,000 more fans Saturday than at any game this year, including McMurry or Hardin-Simmons.  Again, there were still seats but not more than 400 or so(?) unfilled upstairs at the very most.

[JACKET84]

I agree with you, but I spoke with someone today with HPU that actually counted the seats.  I'm just going by their count.  If their count is correct, I'm not sure about the Chapman crowd of 4,000+.