MBB: USA South Conference

[hasanova]

Well, a neutral site sounds good, but the attendance might suffer.  It's also not economically feasible to have the tournament rotate among all seven current venues.  Some schools, such as Greensboro, have inadequate facilities.  I'm a proponent of the top seeds hosting the first round games, but that plan has some issues as well.   I think the top seed in a seven team league has a big advantage (as they arguably should) when they get a first round bye.  Look at the era when UCLA won the NCAA championship about 10 times out of 12 years.  They were automatically in the Top 16 every year.  They were great teams, but it's a lot easier to win four straight against tough competition than it is to win six in a row as you must now.     

[roundbll]

I think the tourney should rotate among the member schools....a neutal site for our conference would probably mean attendance at around 90 per game. (15 players on each team...mom and dad and a brother or sister watching x 2 teams playing = 90).

Home court advantage, I think, is huge during the tourney...Narch....what are the records of each team in the tourney at home?

Listen '85 you boob.  I'd agree with you if some of the USA South institutional facilities weren't on par with many of the grungier AA high school facilities I've seen.  What about that fan base at Ferrum?  Didn't you listen to Francis' broadcast last week?  Real classy crowd from what I gathered.

[roundbll]

And... You better control your paws a little better next time I hit you up you monkey-boy.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Well, a neutral site sounds good, but the attendance might suffer.  It's also not economically feasible to have the tournament rotate among all seven current venues.  Some schools, such as Greensboro, have inadequate facilities.  I'm a proponent of the top seeds hosting the first round games, but that plan has some issues as well.   I think the top seed in a seven team league has a big advantage (as they arguably should) when they get a first round bye.  Look at the era when UCLA won the NCAA championship about 10 times out of 12 years.  They were automatically in the Top 16 every year.  They were great teams, but it's a lot easier to win four straight against tough competition than it is to win six in a row as you must now.     

You really think a neutal site would cause attendance to suffer?  I think with enough marketing and allowing the general public to know. There will be more people at the games.  I think a neutral site like the Greensboro Colliseum (I don't even think that is feasible)  potential recruits of any school, say man I may not be great enough to play in the ACC, but I get to play my conference tournament there just like them.  I think it will help the exposure of the conference. 

[hasanova]

Well, a neutral site sounds good, but the attendance might suffer.  It's also not economically feasible to have the tournament rotate among all seven current venues.  Some schools, such as Greensboro, have inadequate facilities.  I'm a proponent of the top seeds hosting the first round games, but that plan has some issues as well.   I think the top seed in a seven team league has a big advantage (as they arguably should) when they get a first round bye.  Look at the era when UCLA won the NCAA championship about 10 times out of 12 years.  They were automatically in the Top 16 every year.  They were great teams, but it's a lot easier to win four straight against tough competition than it is to win six in a row as you must now.     

You really think a neutal site would cause attendance to suffer?  I think with enough marketing and allowing the general public to know. There will be more people at the games.  I think a neutral site like the Greensboro Colliseum (I don't even think that is feasible)  potential recruits of any school, say man I may not be great enough to play in the ACC, but I get to play my conference tournament there just like them.  I think it will help the exposure of the conference. 

Except in some towns, the general public doesn't care that much about DIII sports.  Given a choice between watching American Idol or ACC basketball, the USASAC will come in third.   Except to (some) alumni, family, students or avid fans, it just doesn't draw that well in the modern era.  I've seen it evolve over the last 40 years.  You can try the Greensboro Coliseum, but you'll have over 90% vacant seats.

[CNU85]

I agree Hasanova....even schools with good facilities and a home crowd only draw 1300.... a neutral town would mean no crowd, no matter how much marketing you do. Plus, you have to smart with marketing and figure out cost per attendee. The cost would be prohibitive.

I think each school should be given the opportunity to host the tournament....given some guidelines for facilities, they could always have the option of using a nearby alternate facility......but then cost becomes the factor again! As much as I like CNU hosting a lot of the tournaments....it doesn't seem fair.

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

Well, a neutral site sounds good, but the attendance might suffer.  It's also not economically feasible to have the tournament rotate among all seven current venues.  Some schools, such as Greensboro, have inadequate facilities.  I'm a proponent of the top seeds hosting the first round games, but that plan has some issues as well.   I think the top seed in a seven team league has a big advantage (as they arguably should) when they get a first round bye.  Look at the era when UCLA won the NCAA championship about 10 times out of 12 years.  They were automatically in the Top 16 every year.  They were great teams, but it's a lot easier to win four straight against tough competition than it is to win six in a row as you must now.     

You really think a neutal site would cause attendance to suffer?  I think with enough marketing and allowing the general public to know. There will be more people at the games.  I think a neutral site like the Greensboro Colliseum (I don't even think that is feasible)  potential recruits of any school, say man I may not be great enough to play in the ACC, but I get to play my conference tournament there just like them.  I think it will help the exposure of the conference. 

Except in some towns, the general public doesn't care that much about DIII sports.  Given a choice between watching American Idol or ACC basketball, the USASAC will come in third.   Except to (some) alumni, family, students or avid fans, it just doesn't draw that well in the modern era.  I've seen it evolve over the last 40 years.  You can try the Greensboro Coliseum, but you'll have over 90% vacant seats.

nova-
Well what needs to happen is sombody from the USASouth needs to make it on American Idol  That should boost the USASouth 

I agree with you on everything you say.  I at least see your point, I will put it that way.  Where are most of the USASouth basketball player alumni located?  Not at CNU or Newport News.  If I were playing basketball and I was an alumni of one of the USASouth/DIAC I would have to decide, do I take off of work to go watch my team play in a conference tournament? Grant it, it is during the weekend, but a 3 night stay at a hotel right during tax season tells me, no way am I gonna travel up there. (I guess I am talking from a Greensboro point of view or any of the schools that are far away from CNU)

I think it needs to be in a big city. (Newport News is good size)  I think it needs to be around where the alumni are. (Its not that hard to get that information from the school)  Schools need to let alumni know.  If University of North Carolina alumni (not even players) are dedicated.  They need to know.  Tickets for an ACC game are expensive, it won't be expensive for USASouth.

[CNU85]

BBallguy - expense to the fan is not as big an issue. If you give me the opportunity to buy ACC tournament tickets or flat out GIVE me USA South tickets.....I'm buying the ACC tickets and going out of town!!!! I doubt I would go out of town for the USA South Tournament.

[hasanova]

BBallguy - expense to the fan is not as big an issue. If you give me the opportunity to buy ACC tournament tickets or flat out GIVE me USA South tickets.....I'm buying the ACC tickets and going out of town!!!! I doubt I would go out of town for the USA South Tournament.

That's it.  Look, no one confuses Duke and UNC.  Everyone knows the rivalry.  People would fly across the country (even if they're not alumni) for the chance to attend.  I can't even give tickets away to Guilford and Greensboro.  I can leave my house and be seated in Guilford's gym in 20 minutes, but when I invite some of my friends and even offer to buy them a ticket and a Coke, they think it's not worth their time.  It is, literally and figuratively, two different ballgames.  DIII sports are, by and large, for the participants.  If a few fans come, great, if not, welcome to the DIII club.  lol

Pridesportbballguy - I have to slightly disagree with your assertion that a bigger city is better than a small town as a tournament host.  If held in Ferrum, it's the only game in town.  If held in Richmond, for example, it's about 15th on the priority list when a resident is considering where to spend their entertainment dollar.       

[PrideSportBBallGuy]

I don't know any correlation between Guilford and making Sportscenter's top 10 plays and Guilford getting better because of it  (Its a joke.  I am not saying that is what happened but they have gotten better since then. Coach over there is really doing a good job recruiting.) I know if I saw it on Sportscenter, I'd be looking up the school and seeing what they are all about. 
My whole arguement is USASouth needs some exposure.  Playing at CNU every year increases the exposure in VA.  It needs to be in front of more people and different people every year.  Take Gonzaga for instance all it took was them to beat couple teams and for them to be a "Cinderalla" (I really don't think that word works, because Cinderalla got her prize (prince) at the end.  Those teams don't.  Unless one would argue that Cinderalla got some respect, then maybe I would agree.  Yet those teams aren't ranked the next year.)

I agree with you Mr. Nova it can't rotate every year.  It can't be in the same spot every year either.  Put it on a neutral court. (Give away tickets I don't care.)  Teams need to win a few in the NCAA's.  (Although that hasn't really worked either because NCWC did win a few games, Greensboro won a few in the early 90's)

As a fan of the USASouth the conference needs to do better on the national scene otherwise we will never get any respect. I am not just talking about basketball.  We can do much better.

[notamensa]

cnu85,

you obviously know this roundball guy, so im asking you if i should be concerned. do you know why he would be so obsessed? does he like teenage boys? that he would monitor when i log on and off this site is really creepy. i feel like i have a stalker. how would he even know when i logged on and off if he didnt sit there all day watching my online/offline indicator switch back and forth?

Actually, roundbll is a "she"...don't let her fool you. We met over beer one night, and well as they say...the rest is history.....and believe me....YOU WANT her to stalk you!!! 

a blatant lie. i think i dont like this site so much, after all.

[SU97]

I think having it at a nuetral site is a pipedream.  Would be nice, but there's no way it could happen.  It's economics.

Take for example, someone mentioned Newport News...  say you host it at the Hampton Coliseum, that's like $5,000 a day for facility usage.  So, then say the tourney is 3 days worth of basketball, no way would the schools agree to rent the facility for $15,000.  They would never make the $ back...

Plus you have the women's tourney to include as well...

Am I being too naive here?  Does anyone know what type of costs are associated with hosting for CNU?

[notamensa]

maybe you are a girl. only about 10% of your posts are about basketball. either way, youve brought very little to this forum. why dont you crawl back under that rock from which you emerged?

[roundbll]

maybe you are a girl. only about 10% of your posts are about basketball. either way, youve brought very little to this forum. why dont you crawl back under that rock from which you emerged?

Actually, it's 29.41%.  5 of 17.
I assume you're bowing up is meant for me.. not knowing who pulled your little chain.

[roundbll]

Here's an actual b-ball point to ponder 'Mensa.  I'm genuinely interested in your or any other CNU fans take on this...'85 / 'Nova.
As the CNU acceptance criterion gets tougher each year, and the tuition & board rise yearly as well (need to build the president another multi-million dollar house you know), is the run of the CNU b-ball dominance coming to an end?

(That makes it 6 of 18, 33.33%)