This year's tourney attendance went about as I would expect. Good when UTEP was involved but very low when they weren't. The guarantee put up by the city is what saves all of our butts financially and the 2 good nights of attendance plus a few thousand all session tickets sold, even if no shows, probably covered the $1 million dollar guarantee anyway. The attendance problem, imho, would have been as bad or probably worse at any other school, regardless of how central to the conference. Not a lot of big, traveling fanbases in this league. UTEP would actuall travel well for basketball if the tourney were in Dallas or San Antonio or Houston but not well enough to fill a gym the size of the Don.

One very cheesy way to guarantee good attendance for the entire tournament is to do what the old WAC did when UTEP was in it. It happened a time or two if I recall correctly. They started with seeding of course and then the first and second, maybe even qtr finals, were all played at the court of the higher seeded team. Then the final 4 were at the home of the highest remaing seed. Good attendance was guaranteed because most of those schools had decent sized fanbases but the schools were pretty far apart usually.

The solution to fixing the CUSA tournament is that the schools should work on getting their fans to give a damn about basketball

1. The league should have never went to 14 teams in the first place. I'm not going to say who I would prefer to not be in it but I do love WKU joining our conference. However since we are at 14, all of them should make it.

2. TV is terrible and Banosky, Presidents, and AD need to quit worrying about the dollar amount and more about exposure.

3. Place the tournament in a more central location of the majority of basketball schools or schools that have a decent traveling fan base. This would mean UNCC, ODU, Middle, WKU,LA Tech, UAB, USM, and Marshall (UTEP no doubt you have a great fan base but location is not favorable). Look for an arena that seats about 8-10,000 and make each school commit to purchasing 450 tickets. This would guarantee the city hosting the tournament at least 5,600 tickets sold. Then whatever town you choose make them commit to sale at least 2,000 tickets. Now I realize city's like Nashville or New Orleans are not going to go for this cause they don't need to. That is why you look for a city that needs tourism and is willing to go all out to promote the tournament. A perfect example was when Marshall was in the Southern and the tournament was is Asheville, NC. Most teams brought decent crowds cause they were close, the arena was about 6,000 so crowds looked decent, and the city went all out for the schools and their fans.

(03-16-2014 08:29 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The solution to fixing the CUSA tournament is that the schools should work on getting their fans to give a damn about basketball

Agree but what incentive has the conference giving the fans to do this?
Memphis? Year in and Year out they were by far the best team and you had to play at their place. El Paso? Not an easy place to get too.

I think if the tournament was in a tourist destination, more people would go and make a vacation out of it.

(03-16-2014 08:29 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  The solution to fixing the CUSA tournament is that the schools should work on getting their fans to give a damn about basketball

I take that as meaning several schools (including Rice) need to improve the product so the fans give a damn.

Having the tournament in San Antonio or Biloxi would also help.

I like the way the WAC did it.

But I'm for not having everyone in it. 5 days is just too much. My wife and I were bushed by the fourth day. We skipped the champeen game and watched it on tv. Probably if UTEP was in it we'd force ourselves but 5 is too too much. For one thing also, fans will opt not to come because it is more expensive to motel, eat and visit for 5 days. Unless it's las vegas of course. And no one in cusa is a las vegas type city

What if you have it to the school who had the highest attendance the previous year?

Pros: One would imagine that would translate to a higher attended tournament; might increase fan support across the league; would give incentive for fans to attend games and schools to spread brand

Cons: Fudged numbers; cities like Huntington or Hattiesburg would be hard pressed to host a tournament; would likely be held in UTEP most years since they have such high attendance (outpost for most teams)

I'm not sure if that'd be the best option, but it could be an option nonetheless.

(03-16-2014 03:37 PM)herdfan2013 Wrote:  What if you have it to the school who had the highest attendance the previous year?

Pros: One would imagine that would translate to a higher attended tournament; might increase fan support across the league; would give incentive for fans to attend games and schools to spread brand

Cons: Fudged numbers; cities like Huntington or Hattiesburg would be hard pressed to host a tournament; would likely be held in UTEP most years since they have such high attendance (outpost for most teams)

I'm not sure if that'd be the best option, but it could be an option nonetheless.

Oh please kill me now. Don't you understand that it's a matter of money. If it was that easy anyone could host it but unless people put their money down it won't happen.

Use it people, use it.

Steps To Success:

1. More TV time
2. A more central location (Nashville, Chattanooga, or Knoxville)
3. A smaller venue (9,000 - 10,000 seats)

4. Restructure tournament

(a) Tuesday - all 14 teams play on Tuesday night with 7 highest seeds hosting at their home arena
(b) Thursday - the seven winners continue tournament at the host sight (with the highest seed team getting a bye on Thursday).
© Friday - The 3 winners on Thursday & the highest seed team that got a bye on Thursday continue tournament
(d) Saturday - Semi - final
(e) Sunday - championship game

This should increase the odds that the highest seeded teams play on Saturday & Sunday and our best team represents the conference in March Madness

Oh screw it. Let's just have it in Vegas like about 5 other conferences, only 1 of which has a school there. Everyone wants an excuse to go to Vegas.

One other good choice. Have the regular season champ take the auto-bid and cancel the damn tournament. That's the old fashioned way of doing it.

(03-16-2014 05:32 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Steps To Success:

1. More TV time
2. A more central location (Nashville, Chattanooga, or Knoxville)
3. A smaller venue (9,000 - 10,000 seats)

4. Restructure tournament

(a) Tuesday - all 14 teams play on Tuesday night with 7 highest seeds hosting at their home arena
(b) Thursday - the seven winners continue tournament at the host sight (with the highest seed team getting a bye on Thursday).
© Friday - The 3 winners on Thursday & the highest seed team that got a bye on Thursday continue tournament
(d) Saturday - Semi - final
(e) Sunday - championship game

This should increase the odds that the highest seeded teams play on Saturday & Sunday and our best team represents the conference in March Madness

And another thing schools must cough up the money to hire experienced coaches with a proven winning track record. Coaches are the key to a winning tradition.

One thing for certain...Don't count on our worthless commissioner to come up with anything that may make the conference stronger.
No plan, no action, not even peep supporting the conference.
Sometimes it takes more than filling up a stripped-down conference with Sunbelt teams.
It's crazy how much he just doesn't get it, or even care to.
Even crazier how he keeps his job.

DON'T HAVE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT 9:30 AM!!!!!!!

(03-16-2014 05:32 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Steps To Success:

1. More TV time
2. A more central location (Nashville, Chattanooga, or Knoxville)
3. A smaller venue (9,000 - 10,000 seats)

4. Restructure tournament

(a) Tuesday - all 14 teams play on Tuesday night with 7 highest seeds hosting at their home arena
(b) Thursday - the seven winners continue tournament at the host sight (with the highest seed team getting a bye on Thursday).
© Friday - The 3 winners on Thursday & the highest seed team that got a bye on Thursday continue tournament
(d) Saturday - Semi - final
(e) Sunday - championship game

This should increase the odds that the highest seeded teams play on Saturday & Sunday and our best team represents the conference in March Madness

Saturday would be the Championship because Friday would be the Semis.

The problem with this format is that it exposes the higher seeds to matchups with RPI killing lower seeds. I prefer the following tournament format starting next season when we have 14 teams:

Top seed gets a triple bye (probably plays no lower than a 5 seed)
Seeds 2 and 3 get a double bye (probably play no lower than a 9 seed)
Seeds 4-8 get a bye

Round 1: 3 games
#9 vs #14
#10 vs #13
#11 vs #12

Round 2: 4 games
#4 vs #11/12 winner
#5 vs #10/13 winner
#6 vs #9/14 winner
#7 vs #8

Round 3: 3 games
#2 vs #7/8 winner
#3 vs #6/9/14 winner
#4/11/12 winner vs #5/10/13 winner

Semifinal:
#1 vs #4/5/10/11/12/13 winner
#2/7/8 winner vs #3/6/9/14 winner

Championship Game

This format helps to shield our higher seeded NCAA candidates from playing RPI killing lower seeds while still allowing all teams to play. The 14 seed still has a glimmer of hope for an NCAA bid.

(03-16-2014 05:41 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Oh screw it. Let's just have it in Vegas like about 5 other conferences, only 1 of which has a school there. Everyone wants an excuse to go to Vegas.

One other good choice. Have the regular season champ take the auto-bid and cancel the damn tournament. That's the old fashioned way of doing it.

Or just give the NCAA auto bid to the regular season champ and give the tourney winner the NIT auto bid.

(03-15-2014 09:54 PM)stanman505 Wrote:  

(03-15-2014 09:36 PM)10miners Wrote:  1. cut it down to 8 teams

2. get a better tv deal

3. Have the tourney always in MIAMI !!!!!!

Because FIU and FAU have such great fan bases. The championship game out drew those two schools average attendance this year.

1. False
2. Your great and mighty fan base sure looked great on national television.
3. South Florida has a high number of alumni of CUSA member schools compared to El Paso
4. Travel to South Florida would be easier than El Paso
5. No offense, but South Florida in early March might be more desirable than any other region in the USA at that time of year.

I'm not for bringing it down to South Florida permanently, but I think having it in a rotation would work just fine.

A smaller 9k to 10k venue won't work. It isn't just about space for the fans. It's about having enough room for media, reception areas, multiple locker rooms for more than two teams dressing, etc. most 9-10k arenas can't handle that.

(03-17-2014 12:26 AM)Funslinger Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 05:32 PM)Rabonchild Wrote:  Steps To Success:

1. More TV time
2. A more central location (Nashville, Chattanooga, or Knoxville)
3. A smaller venue (9,000 - 10,000 seats)

4. Restructure tournament

(a) Tuesday - all 14 teams play on Tuesday night with 7 highest seeds hosting at their home arena
(b) Thursday - the seven winners continue tournament at the host sight (with the highest seed team getting a bye on Thursday).
© Friday - The 3 winners on Thursday & the highest seed team that got a bye on Thursday continue tournament
(d) Saturday - Semi - final
(e) Sunday - championship game

This should increase the odds that the highest seeded teams play on Saturday & Sunday and our best team represents the conference in March Madness

Saturday would be the Championship because Friday would be the Semis.

The problem with this format is that it exposes the higher seeds to matchups with RPI killing lower seeds. I prefer the following tournament format starting next season when we have 14 teams:

Top seed gets a triple bye (probably plays no lower than a 5 seed)
Seeds 2 and 3 get a double bye (probably play no lower than a 9 seed)
Seeds 4-8 get a bye

Round 1: 3 games
#9 vs #14
#10 vs #13
#11 vs #12

Round 2: 4 games
#4 vs #11/12 winner
#5 vs #10/13 winner
#6 vs #9/14 winner
#7 vs #8

Round 3: 3 games
#2 vs #7/8 winner
#3 vs #6/9/14 winner
#4/11/12 winner vs #5/10/13 winner

Semifinal:
#1 vs #4/5/10/11/12/13 winner
#2/7/8 winner vs #3/6/9/14 winner

Championship Game

This format helps to shield our higher seeded NCAA candidates from playing RPI killing lower seeds while still allowing all teams to play. The 14 seed still has a glimmer of hope for an NCAA bid.

Thank you for the correction for the day of the championship game (Wednesday would be my travel date). The reason I would pull my top seed for one game would be to increase the odds that they would represent the conference in the NCAA tournament. I also would want my top team play on Tuesday on their home court because I think it can be a disadvantage for a team to to not play any games until the end of a tournament, but the other teams have a game under their belt.

(03-17-2014 12:32 AM)Funslinger Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 05:41 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Oh screw it. Let's just have it in Vegas like about 5 other conferences, only 1 of which has a school there. Everyone wants an excuse to go to Vegas.

One other good choice. Have the regular season champ take the auto-bid and cancel the damn tournament. That's the old fashioned way of doing it.

Or just give the NCAA auto bid to the regular season champ and give the tourney winner the NIT auto bid.

That is the best idea I have heard so far. Let the regular season champ rest, let the others play for an NIT invite, and if that team happens to make the big dance, then the next in line would get the NIT.