From the CUSA conference board. They even throw a small shout out to Rice's improvement at the end of the article.
http://csnbbs.com/thread-775806.html

I enjoy reading the SBNation articles - good commentary, especially the fulsome articles I saw during football season. I expect to see big-time improvement out of our team next season.

ODU won their Vegas 16 game today (1st ever Vegas 16 game) beating TN Tech 75-59.

Rooting for this Vegas 16 event but, to put it generously, good seats appear to be available for the evening session at Mandalay Bay.

I noticed that. When I first found the games, the teams were warming up for the 2nd game. I thought it was footage from a practice earlier in the day. It looked like pick your section day at the Mandalay Bay!

They had to anticipate that crowds would be almost non-existent for this first version of Vegas 16. I think they had trouble convincing schools that this was a good idea and so they got 8 that expressed interest. The head of the tournament spent his time at the various conference tourneys that are held in Vegas (something like 4) talking with schools. And it isn't like all of the games played in Vegas during conf tourney time pack the buildings.

The casinos and hotels who are putting up the money also had to know there was going to be a learning curve but if they can progress each year by the 4th or 5th it should be very popular. It makes a whole lot more sense than the C* tourneys as schools know exactly what the max/min stays in Vegas will be and not have to worry if they will be playing in Reno on Monday and Hattiesburg on Wednesday. They are pitching this to the players as a reward for their hard work like the lower Bowls do.

As a fan I would be thrilled if Rice went next year (if they don't go to the Dance). Perfect time in Vegas...good weather...nothing else going on so hotel/air will be less than during busy times. Sun-Wed are the dead days of the week in Vegas as well.

(03-28-2016 10:42 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  They had to anticipate that crowds would be almost non-existent for this first version of Vegas 16. I think they had trouble convincing schools that this was a good idea and so they got 8 that expressed interest. The head of the tournament spent his time at the various conference tourneys that are held in Vegas (something like 4) talking with schools. And it isn't like all of the games played in Vegas during conf tourney time pack the buildings.

The casinos and hotels who are putting up the money also had to know there was going to be a learning curve but if they can progress each year by the 4th or 5th it should be very popular. It makes a whole lot more sense than the C* tourneys as schools know exactly what the max/min stays in Vegas will be and not have to worry if they will be playing in Reno on Monday and Hattiesburg on Wednesday. They are pitching this to the players as a reward for their hard work like the lower Bowls do.

As a fan I would be thrilled if Rice went next year (if they don't go to the Dance). Perfect time in Vegas...good weather...nothing else going on so hotel/air will be less than during busy times. Sun-Wed are the dead days of the week in Vegas as well.

Yea I agree. This is something I would try to go to if Rice was playing.

What are the odds Rice will do it next year? :)

(03-29-2016 01:21 AM)owl95 Wrote:  

(03-28-2016 10:42 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  They had to anticipate that crowds would be almost non-existent for this first version of Vegas 16. I think they had trouble convincing schools that this was a good idea and so they got 8 that expressed interest. The head of the tournament spent his time at the various conference tourneys that are held in Vegas (something like 4) talking with schools. And it isn't like all of the games played in Vegas during conf tourney time pack the buildings.

The casinos and hotels who are putting up the money also had to know there was going to be a learning curve but if they can progress each year by the 4th or 5th it should be very popular. It makes a whole lot more sense than the C* tourneys as schools know exactly what the max/min stays in Vegas will be and not have to worry if they will be playing in Reno on Monday and Hattiesburg on Wednesday. They are pitching this to the players as a reward for their hard work like the lower Bowls do.

As a fan I would be thrilled if Rice went next year (if they don't go to the Dance). Perfect time in Vegas...good weather...nothing else going on so hotel/air will be less than during busy times. Sun-Wed are the dead days of the week in Vegas as well.

Yea I agree. This is something I would try to go to if Rice was playing.

(03-29-2016 12:55 PM)OldOwl Wrote:  What are the odds Rice will do it next year? :)

4 to 1. According to Vegas.

ODU is playing Oakland for the inaugural Vegas 16 (actually 8) championship. ODU is up with about 13 minutes to play.

Oakland cuts it to a 2 point game with a 12-0 run.

It's still pick your section night at the Mandalay Bay.

(03-30-2016 10:26 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  ODU is playing Oakland for the inaugural Vegas 16 (actually 8) championship. ODU is up with about 13 minutes to play.

Oakland cuts it to a 2 point game with a 12-0 run.

It's still pick your section night at the Mandalay Bay.

ODU won, 68-67.

Here's a link to a New York Times article on the tourney: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/31/sports...sales.html

There are acres of empty seats at the early games in the various college conference tourneys held in Vegas as well. I am surprised that anyone thought there would be a line at the ticket booth for this first showing. The tourney wasn't really supposed to start until next year and I was surprised they amended that plan just several weeks ago. It appears perhaps that the change in thinking was due to the actions of some P5 schools who wanted a spot held for them then backed out as the NYT article states. Going on the assumption that a P5 will come just because they asked you to hold a spot was a dangerous assumption without something in writing. On the other hand a coach who makes such a request without backing from his AD or the University should be taken to the woodshed.

I will say that despite the obvious problems at the gate (blame placed at all levels) this still is a good idea. If football Bowl games like the Hawaii Bowl can be played before an empty stadium (really how many actual live people were at our game vs Fresno) but still have value (and the backers are willing to take a hit at the box office) then why not the Vegas16? The idea of it being a reward for players and programs, like most of the football bowls, has merit. The ODU coach was on after their win in the semis and was asked how he liked the tournament and he had very positive comments about it.

So ODU is in the finals of this tournament? Do they get anything for winning?

They won it last night vs Oakland.

What do they get? I suspect a trophy and several additional weeks of practice.

(03-31-2016 12:43 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  They won it last night vs Oakland.

What do they get? I suspect a trophy and several additional weeks of practice.

And being able to say they won the last game of their season.

(03-31-2016 04:15 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(03-31-2016 12:43 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  They won it last night vs Oakland.

What do they get? I suspect a trophy and several additional weeks of practice.

And being able to say they won the last game of their season.

Good point! That's always a positive.

ODU had to win 3 games in 3 days. No day off. I suppose when there really are 16 teams in this tournament, it will be 4 wins in 4 days?

Not something a team is likely to do with a short bench. I also wonder, even with a full bench, how a team that wants to play full court pressure would fare.

SEAL training just got more important and likely more intense.