2011 Final Four

[pabegg]

WashU joins Scranton and UW-Stevens Point as the schools with both men's and women's titles.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Greg, don't forget Nebraska Wesleyan - 2nd in 1997.

[Gregory Sager]

Greg, don't forget Nebraska Wesleyan - 2nd in 1997.

Good point -- but NWU made four trips to the Final Four, not just one.

(I should've remembered NebWes -- I saw North Park beat the then-Plainsmen in the national semis in '85.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

I kinda thought they had been more than once, but was too lazy to look it up.  But 1997 I certainly remembered for obvious reasons!

[Gregory Sager]

Surprisingly quiet on the board today. Not much chatter for Championship Day.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Surprisingly quiet on the board today. Not much chatter for Championship Day.

Well, you could fill out a Posters' Poll ballot while you're waiting!

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Congrats to Wash U.! I have to say I am surprised. I had been impressed with Amherst all season and thought their size would hinder Ruths game a bit. Plus, I thought Wash U must have used up some of their mojo with that incredible shooting performance yesterday. Solid victory for Wash U.

[John Gleich]

Attendence figures:

Wash U. v Hope:  2187
Amherst v Ursinus:  2113

I have a good feeling that having it Easter Weekend didn't help the attendence.


2007
Amherst v Virginia Wesleyan:  3075 (only available boxscore)

2006
Virginia Wesleyan v Wittenberg:  3435 (only available boxscore)

2005
Stevens Point v York (Pa):  2660
Rochester v Calvin:  2650

Stevens Point v Rochester:  2877

2004
Stevens Point v John Carroll:  2120
Williams v Amherst:  2105

Stevens Point v Williams: 2374

2003
Williams v Wooster:  3980
Gustavus Adolphus v Hampden-Sydney:  4179

Williams v Gustavus Adolphus:  3867

With ODAC teams actually AT the Final Four, this has a big impact on the number of fans that show up.  Think about if the game was played in Madison, Milwaukee, Rockford, or Chicago.  You would have a decent number of Wisconsin/Illinois fans who would make the trip regardless... but ESPECIALLY if there was a WIAC or CCIW team there.

[ChicagoHopeNut]

Attendance Question:

I had a conversation with a few people about the fact that there appeared to be almost no one at the Final Four from the local community. Is this typical from past final fours in Salem? I was wondering if the fact Salem has had the Final Four for quite a few years in a row now might have ruined any interest from the local community.

[John Gleich]

Attendance Question:

I had a conversation with a few people about the fact that there appeared to be almost no one at the Final Four from the local community. Is this typical from past final fours in Salem? I was wondering if the fact Salem has had the Final Four for quite a few years in a row now might have ruined any interest from the local community.

In 03-04 and 04-05, there were people in the crowd from the community, some who were there for the first time, others who had come before.  I talked to a gentleman who had brought his two sons.  He had gone to a DIII school and thought it was great.  That said, I think the Easter holiday made a BIG difference in the casual fan who would make the trip.  Many people travel for Easter and have family obligations... if your inlaws are coming in on Friday, it'll probably be tough to slip away for 4 or 5 hours on Friday and Saturday...

[Titan Q]

Attendance Question:

I had a conversation with a few people about the fact that there appeared to be almost no one at the Final Four from the local community. Is this typical from past final fours in Salem? I was wondering if the fact Salem has had the Final Four for quite a few years in a row now might have ruined any interest from the local community.

Very abnormal - usually they are many more "locals" there.

Hope traveled well, as expected.  Wash U brought way more fans than I anticipated, as did Ursinus actually.  Amherst's contingent was small - that surprised me.  If I had to guess the attendance split by school, I'd say:

Hope 40%
Wash U 30%
Ursinus 20%
Amherst 10%

Wash U's students brought a ton of energy to the games -- one of the largest and most vocal student sections I've seen in Salem.

[eclinchy]

I would nudge WashU up a little higher than that -- maybe make Hope/WashU an even 35/35.

In the semifinal between the two teams Friday night, their fanbases seemed about equal... but maybe that's only when you count decibels instead of people.

[Pat Coleman]

Attendance Question:

I had a conversation with a few people about the fact that there appeared to be almost no one at the Final Four from the local community. Is this typical from past final fours in Salem? I was wondering if the fact Salem has had the Final Four for quite a few years in a row now might have ruined any interest from the local community.

I think the holiday ruined any interest rather than the fact that it's been there for a while.

[ronk]

WashU joins Scranton and UW-Stevens Point as the schools with both men's and women's titles.

Didn't realize that the list was that short.

[dalmavs03]

I attended the D III Final Four this past weekend in Salem, VA and had a great time.  It was amazing how many fans attended from Hope and Wash U compared to the much closer Ursinius.  UC had their following, don't get me wrong, but nothing compared to the others (minus Amherst). 

Also, speaking of Ursinius, either #41's parents donated a lot of money to UC and helped build a new science wing, or he had the two worst games of his life this past weekend.  Either way, he didn't deserve to start.  #23 for them, who I believe is only a Sophomore, played much better and more aggressive.  I believe he had 11 points by halftime in the consolation game.  #41 had 3 or 4 fouls by then with not even half the points.  It made me scratch my head.  No offense to #41 but if that's the way he plays, I can't believe he was a starter on a NCAA collegiate team of any level.