MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Gregory Sager]

Yes, they are pathetic.  I wish I had the answer for why students generally stay away in droves.   I doubt they're  heading off to Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago in significant numbers on a Wednesday night. 

This has nothing to do with Wednesday night games, but back in the day UWW used to be known as a "suitcase school"; in other words, most of the students would head out of town on the weekend. Is that still the case?

To be fair, it's only 4.  The Grinnell game was a neutral site game...hence the "vs." in front of Grinnell. 

If anyone would bother to take the time and look they'd notice that WW has reported their attendance to the WIAC.  Though the numbers were not available when Downtown was doing his research they were shortly afterward and have been updated semi  regularly.

April and I were at the Grinnell vs. UWW game. I'd say that there were about 60 people there, all told. A bit less than half of them were Grinnell fans, and the rest were Elmhurst fans who were waiting for the second game to start. I didn't see a soul wearing UWW insignia or cheering for the Warhawks -- which was a shame, because they played very well that day.

[badgerwarhawk]

I don't know where exactly they are reporting their attendance to, but here is what is listed for  FIVE of the home games at WW according to the official WIAC Weekly Newsletter February 6, 2007:
                                             NA - NA - NA - NA - NA
http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/020607.pdf

No problem, I can show exactly.
They are reporting here.....http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/HTML/CONFLDRS.HTM

Which, coincidentally, is the WIAC's statistical page.   Check it out sometime. 

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

It's always nice to get new posters...I'm beginning to realize how many "lurkers" there are out there who read but don't post.

NEW POLL, MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! 

I spent 3 years paying attention to what was said, before I decided to chime in at some of the points.  We know the Nonemachers read the page, so the question is, when their season gets over with....will they post?

[badgerwarhawk]

This has nothing to do with Wednesday night games, but back in the day UWW used to be known as a "suitcase school"; in other words, most of the students would head out of town on the weekend. Is that still the case?

To be fair, it's only 4.  The Grinnell game was a neutral site game...hence the "vs." in front of Grinnell. 

If anyone would bother to take the time and look they'd notice that WW has reported their attendance to the WIAC.  Though the numbers were not available when Downtown was doing his research they were shortly afterward and have been updated semi  regularly.

April and I were at the Grinnell vs. UWW game. I'd say that there were about 60 people there, all told. A bit less than half of them were Grinnell fans, and the rest were Elmhurst fans who were waiting for the second game to start. I didn't see a soul wearing UWW insignia or cheering for the Warhawks -- which was a shame, because they played very well that day.

Back in the day a Stevens Point, Platteville or Oshkosh game would have packed the gym with a couple thousand students whether it was Wednesday, Friday or Saturday despite being a suitcase school.   Which imo we still are.   85% of our student body lives within 90 miles of campus and  juding by the number of cars in the dorm lots on the weekends alot of them are going someplace. 

While our attendance is pathetic you have to cut us some slack on December 16th (Grinnell), Greg.  Our football team was on ESPN playing for a national championship that day.  

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

I voted other in the poll.

I'm including Jason Price vs. Carroll College.  29 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts, 9 3's

7 of the 9 3's in the first half

[Mr. Downtown]

Perhaps because we are D-III that some fans are not caring??


I think that's the problem with UW-O. No one in the stands has any clue really how good some of the teams we play.

In Oshkosh...coverage follows this suit

1. Oshkosh West
2. Oshkosh North
3. UW-Oshkosh


I know in Whitewater, that's not the case with big there high school not being a big factor.  But sometimes there is no reason at all for low crowds...


Maybe...if they won a big game on there home court, then perhaps fans would return this season??

(I say this as Oshkosh will be playing in Whitewater on Wednesday, *knock on wood*)

[voice]

Mr. Downtown,

nice shot on indicating that "if Whitewater would win a big ball game on their home court."

Since your comments are generally "shot from the hip," does next Wednesday night's UWO at UWW game qualify as a "big game"?

[T.F. Guy]

Old School:
Perhaps we quibble over the definition of "size."  Aside from the obvious really tall guys (Kerry, the Nonamachers), nobody else you noted it taller than 6'7". 
Tall in terms of the general public, yes.  Tall in terms of basketball, no.  There just aren't that many meaningful players 6'9" or up in the league this year.

Mr. Downtown:
Insightful observation.  Why Oshkosh draws as relatively poorly as it does is puzzling.  TVD's had a lot of good teams to come through that haven't gotten the support they deserve. 
(Maybe what's driven down attendance and coverage is that one guy who sits behind the visitors' bench and yells and screams all night long.  Who wants to put up with that for two hours?  If there was a Most Annoying Fan award, it should be named after him.)
Perhaps the UWO Athletic Department could launch a charm offensive to get better coverage.  The Northwestern is a good paper; it focuses on West and North because of their tradition of success, and because they are literally hometown teams that play literally hometown kids. 
The Titans, meanwhile, being a college, well, they get players from all over.  Where's the local angle there?
Anyway, it's too bad.  I've heard how loud Kolf gets with only about 1000 people there.  Imagine if they could double or triple that -- it'd be the hardest place to play in the league.

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

I believe in Platteville, and maybe with some of the other schools, is the Pioneers have been cursed this year by playing at the same time as the Badgers.  Really cold weather doesn't help either, but at home games you can usually here about 3 or 4 guys calling out Badger updates from their walkmans.

[Pioneer Hoops Fan]

I personal opinion is at Oshkosh, that the Kolf Center is to blame.  It's not very fan or team friendly and very impersonal.  Lots of room, too much room for my liking its almost like they found a warehouse, stuck a court and hoops in the middle and put some bleachers in. 

[John Gleich]

Interesting thoughts Pioneer Hoops.

What's everyone's impression...?  Which WIAC gyms ARE fan/team friendly, and where is the best place to see a game?  I know what my thoughts are... I'll let you know when I get home from work tonight.

[badgerwarhawk]

SUPERDUPERFAN  is annoying.  Surely you jest, TF. 

[palum]

Point Special, thanks for giving me an excuse to relive my travels thru the WIAC in the eyes of a visiting fan.
WW: The visiting fans usually get the whole section behind their bench, convenient parking the low ceiling is a little strange.  Back in the days when Bo & Pville came to town to go against Augies Warhawks the place was packed and a fun place to watch a game.  Plus its close to home so I know were all the good bars are.

OSH: I agree with Pioneerhoops its big and quiet when only 1,000 fans are there.  I always wondered what Kolf was like when 4,000 showed up for a Womens Final 4 game was held there.  Easy to fine and parking was good and close.

EC:  I liked Zorn close to the action and all the history.

SP:  The visiting fans can ge crammed in behind the bench but the home fans put on a good show.

Sup: The drive and the weather always make this a trip to remember.  Only 4 Pville fans where there one night and you could hear us as good as the Yellowjacket fans!

Pville: "Home Sweet Home",  or the "Pit" as Voice used to call it in his broadcast days.  I've never been a visiting fan at Bo Ryan Court in Williams arena, but 2 or 3 rows behind their bench when a big crowd is there looks a little crowded.  Its a tale of two courts when the students are on campus its a fun place for a game sometimes during winter break it can be very quiet.  Playing at the same time as the Badgers hurts a little its funny the PA announcer when reporting the scores around the state will say "for those of you recording the Badger you may want to cover your ears now".

I have not been to BB games at La Crosse Stout and RF.  The best places I have been to watch college basketball was the UW Field House for the Minnesota game when Minnesota was ranked #2 in the country I thought the "Barn" was going to fall apart it was shaking so much and the Kohl Center when the Badgers beat Illinios for the Big 10 title. 

[Greek Tragedy]

I voted other in the poll.

I'm including Jason Price vs. Carroll College.  29 pts, 4 rebs, 3 asts, 9 3's

7 of the 9 3's in the first half

If you noticed, they were all conference games.  I didn't include nonconference games in the survey.  Going through all the conference games was enough! 

More comments later on, wow, all the posts! lol 

[Greek Tragedy]

I don't know where exactly they are reporting their attendance to, but here is what is listed for  FIVE of the home games at WW according to the official WIAC Weekly Newsletter February 6, 2007:
                                             NA - NA - NA - NA - NA
http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/020607.pdf

No problem, I can show exactly.
They are reporting here.....http://www.uwsa.edu/wiac/mbasket/HTML/CONFLDRS.HTM

Which, coincidentally, is the WIAC's statistical page.   Check it out sometime. 

It doesn't had up BW.

They list 11 games and attendence of 4124.  But, they only took records for 7 of the 11 games.  The WIAC divided the total attendence by 11 games, not 7.

Martin Luther 664
Ill. Wes. 768
Beloit 633
Carroll 443
Maranatha Baptist 172
Platteville 536
Stevens Point 908

La Crosse n/a
River Falls n/a
Stout n/a
Superior n/a

Not even doing any math and looking at the attendences that were recorded, the 375 average doesn't make sense.  It's more like 687 average.  What makes it even more disappointing is that the attendence figures aren't recorded for FOUR WIAC games.