bincitysioux

That says an awful lot right there. Quite disheartening......

brian.faison@athletics.und.edu

With the season ending loss to Northern Colorado, Jones' all time record against the 5 former NCC schools that are now DI stands at 11-31. With 3 full seasons of Big Sky play in the books, UND is 6-21 against conference teams that finished a season with winning records. 6-11 over the first two years when we finished in 3rd and 2nd place respectively. Jones is 2-12 all time against Big Sky "elite" Weber St. (0-7) and Montana (2-5).

Wasn't able to follow the game tonight, but wow what another heartbreaker. Based on the thread and the tweets sounds like they did a heck of a job getting back into it, and down two starters besides. But it sounds a lot like the game in Sacramento, no reason to be down that much in the first place. What is the deal with Lenny only playing 5 minutes when we are shorthanded to start with?

They are definately backing their way into the playoffs.

I would like to see permanent seating at the North end of the Betty, creating a horseshoe, and then double the size of the portable risers on the south end. This should increase capacity to around 4,000 and you would only lose one practice court and maintain the functionality of the south overhead doors.

If the Betty is not lavish enough for basketball, the Alerus certainly won't cut it...........

Well that's a bit of a stretch.

In a previous discussion about basketball in REA, DakotaDan once posted a rendering he made (which I cannot find right now) that placed the basketball court right up against either the North or South permanent seats in REA. The scoreboard would not be centered over the basketball court, but it basically created a horseshoe around the court using the REA's permanent seating on 3 sides, with portable bleachers on the open end. If basketball were played in the Ralph on a semi regular basis, I think a format like this would be the way to go. If you had a big curtain to hang behind the portable bleachers, you'd probably reduce capacity to around 8,000 or so creating a more intimate feel, and placing fans closer to the action. Still, I am of the opinion that some minor upgrades to the Betty would be far more ideal, and realistic.

As was mentioned before, they did this 2004-05. They played 6 games in the REA, and they averaged close to 4,000 per game. Obviously after evaluating the situation over the course of the season, REA/UND decided it was a model not worth pursuing. What you are suggesting has already been done. Try to keep up............

If being able to say you play a few games in the REA is such a huge boon to recruiting, you would think they would have played last years NDSU game there, and made sure there were recruits at that game. By all accounts it was Coach Jones' preference to play the game in the Sioux Center. Apparently the guys who do the recruiting don't feel it is as big of an asset as some here do.

Yes, January of 2012. Attendance was 7,169.

It's cheesy. But well done, I'll give it that.

Well shoot I've been getting hosed all this time! I have never been to a Friday hockey game because I split my season tix with another family, so I was unaware. $5 (assuming $2 off of a $7 seat) to get into a DI basketball game. That's pretty cheap entertainment.

In the BESC vs. REA thread, jdub27 brought up the fact that there are a lot of fans that like to take in both hockey and basketball on Saturday. In fact, these double header days are some of my favorites. This season men's basketball attendance on days that hockey was also playing that night was 2,065. On days that it was the only game in town, the average was 1,650. I've read that students get some sort of priority seating deal for hockey if they come to the basketball game on these days? Why couldn't something like that be done for the general public? Short of simply packaging a basketball ticket with a single game hockey ticket, you could offer a reduced price for the hockey game if you show your basketball ticket or vice versa. Or offer a great deal on tix to a hockey game or two if you buy basketball season tix. Perhaps offer basketball and football season tickets as bundle at reduced price. I would like to see them get a little creative. The Big Game plan has been fairly successful. Those games averaged 1,907 this year. Granted, two of those games were hockey days as well.

Just playing Devils Advocate............... How many hockey titles has the new REA yielded? Did Coach K go to Duke because of Cameron Indoor arena? How about Gonzaga? They got a new arena in 2004. Were they a marginal program before that? I really think you are overstating the effect "playing a few games in REA" may have on a recruit or especially a head coach. It's a hockey arena. It's not unlike playing baseball in a football stadium. It is capable of holding a basketball game, but it wasn't designed for it. The Kohl Center was designed for both. Big difference. I think a great way to start though, would be for NDSU and UND to work together and make sure that the annual Men's and Women's games are a double header. Hold it in REA one year, and at the Fargodome the next. I guess I don't recall how big their new arena is going to be, but they drew over 10,000 the year they had the men's game at the dome.

This is regarding this years tournament, but felt it was relevant................. Sacramento State ready to remake The Well for Big Sky tournament on moment’s notice Pretty interesting read from the perspective of a school that actually does have facility problems. Also, I am guessing that the issues that Sac St. has faced regarding their potential hosting of the tournament is going to play a significant role in if the conference decides to go with a pre-determined site in the future.

Yes, they are marketing geniuses over there. Nothing says "big time" quite like this advertising campaign......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAURLabQz2I

Are the absence of video boards really what are keeping fans away from basketball games? I agree that they need to be added, but I have never been on the fence about going to a certain game and said to myself, "I guess I will just stay home today, because after all there is no Jumbotron in the Betty". Sometimes I think alot of North Dakota fans suffer from REA-Syndrome. Because the Ralph is ridiculously lavish, we have a tendency to look down on most other facilities. Take the Alerus for example. That is a wonderful facility for FCS football, yet many people were pining for UND to move out before the place was even 10 years old. The Sioux Center is one of the smaller arenas in the Big Sky, but is arguably the most luxurious. Is it the REA? No, but there are few arenas in the entire country at any level that match that place. I think if we had a program that could field a consistent winner and then had video boards and a quality PA system that could get the crowd (specifically students) amped up during the pregame, that the environment in the Sioux Center would be pretty tough to beat.

I just prefer the intimacy of the Sioux Center. I would like to see the video boards added and the sound system upgraded there. I'm fine with playing NDSU in the REA. As long as the lower bowl is full, I like it. I think you lose a lot of home court advantage when you play in a building that is only at 25% capacity. Once you start to get over 2,200-2,300 or so in the Sioux Center the atmosphere is exceptional. Anybody who has been to the Sioux Center when there are 3,000+ on hand can attest that the environment is outstanding. Until the Sioux Center is routinely sold out, I'd prefer to play all games there, except perhaps NDSU. Just my two cents.

I am going to the Cal Poly game. NDSU if I score tickets.

You have to have a day in between for travel in the Big Sky. I have wondered about a Fri-Sun schedule, but not sure about that either.

Regarding basketball at REA, they did play all of their NCC games in the Ralph in 2004-05. That was the year after the XDSU's left, so there were only six games. The games in REA drew about 3,900. The non-conference games in the Betty that year drew 2,048

Well, they draw alot better for one thing. The conference has a TV deal with ESPN and that money flows to each school. They get alot of money for Tournament credits because the MVC often get multiple teams in the NCAAs and they often win games in the tournament.

Weber and Montana were both Thursday games. Saturday Big Sky games averaged 1,899. Thursday Big Sky games averaged 1,536. Two highest were UNC at 2,321 and MSU at 1,967. Both were on Saturday. Weber St. was the best attended Thursday game of the year.