DC made sense on paper, but not sure it is the best location. Especially since the arena is in a neighborhood that traditionally didn't have the best reputation. Certainly on the way up now, but if you think of DC as it was in the late 80s/early 90s, you would be hesitant at best to walk around there.

(03-10-2022 11:38 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  DC made sense on paper, but not sure it is the best location. Especially since the arena is in a neighborhood that traditionally didn't have the best reputation. Certainly on the way up now, but if you think of DC as it was in the late 80s/early 90s, you would be hesitant at best to walk around there.

Pretty sure Richmond wasn't much better during those times.

(03-09-2022 06:04 AM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  Mettlen tweeted

Conference Championship Game Attendance:
SOCON - 5023
SUN BELT - 3528
BIG SOUTH - 2425
CAA - 1859

That’s turrible

Both the CAA and SBC games looked sad on the TV. The CAA could have their tournament in a high school gym and it wouldn't be a sell out. Not to throw stones: SBC with 3528 isn't much better, maybe a DIII gym could save some money.

Kidding aside, I would expect the new Sunbelt to look much better in the next couple of years. Hopefully those football schools do a little "basketball investing" Hopefully the conference moves the location a little north since the new northern schools (JMU, ODU, Marshall, ASU) have a reputation of traveling fairly well.

(03-10-2022 11:24 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(03-10-2022 10:24 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 06:57 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 06:22 PM)TribeinVB Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 08:17 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I expected it to be lower, but to be lower than the Big South is really, really bad.
They will get a bump in attendance just by adding more schools, but they'd be lucky to meet Big South numbers.
And some actually wonder why we are leaving.

Read where the average Sun Belt attendance was 1544 versus 1862 for CAA so I wouldn't get too carried away with how great Sun Belt basketball interest is.

Yeah, no one is thinking Sun Belt basketball interest is great. The additions, at least ODU/JMU/Marshall, will help some but basketball is definitely where the SBC needs the most improvement. Both on the court and in the stands.

I never said the SB was better and I think CAA basketball is quite a bit better than the Sun Belt. Most that have criticized the move will use that as their reasoning and honestly cannot argue with it the way it is currently.
However, 10 years ago the Sun Belt wasn't very good at anything. Since then, they have turned football around and become a damn good conference. A lot of that is driven by the conference and working together to become a better product. I don't see why they couldn't get that done with basketball.
The right things are happening and I truly believe Sun Belt basketball will be a better product. And if it isn't, then we'll just have to dominate the conference and take the autobid.

CAA basketball has had stronger competition in the past, but SBC trajectory looks much better. Especially if they can pick up a few NCAA wins. The strength of the CAA glory days was VCU/GMU/ODU/JMU. Marshall/ODU/JMU could improve the conference.

SBC tournament is just starting to get traction, and has much better media package. ESPN2 vs Flo/CBSSN, which is an optional add-on channel that a lot of cable packages don't include. Joey and pals picking Flo was a fatal mistake imo.

You are missing a team from the "Glory Days" You are 1000% correct though the Flo deal is a travesty

Just as a point of interest, CAA and C-USA are both restricting their women's conference tournament coverages from ESPN networks. (Don't know about the men's.) But as a laugher, Hofstra women defeated UNCW in the first game of the women's tournament, giving UNCW a perfect losing record in the conference. Nice low bar for the new coach! Laughing my way out of this stupid conference.

(03-11-2022 11:18 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Just as a point of interest, CAA and C-USA are both restricting their women's conference tournament coverages from ESPN networks. (Don't know about the men's.) But as a laugher, Hofstra women defeated UNCW in the first game of the women's tournament, giving UNCW a perfect losing record in the conference. Nice low bar for the new coach! Laughing my way out of this stupid conference.

William and Mary tried hard to match this, going 4-27 against D1 competition. Unfortunately a few CAA teams like Elon and Drexel insisted on crapping the bed against them

Shaver was the best coach W&M ever had. His son coaches at Longwood, now they are in the tournament this year.

(03-11-2022 11:34 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(03-11-2022 11:18 AM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Just as a point of interest, CAA and C-USA are both restricting their women's conference tournament coverages from ESPN networks. (Don't know about the men's.) But as a laugher, Hofstra women defeated UNCW in the first game of the women's tournament, giving UNCW a perfect losing record in the conference. Nice low bar for the new coach! Laughing my way out of this stupid conference.

William and Mary tried hard to match this, going 4-27 against D1 competition. Unfortunately a few CAA teams like Elon and Drexel insisted on crapping the bed against them

Shaver was the best coach W&M ever had. His son coaches at Longwood, now they are in the tournament this year.

Shaver absolutely was their best coach by a long shot. But to be fair, if Shaver was at JMU and didn't get us to the tournament, would he still be our coach? I don't think he would be.

(03-10-2022 01:56 PM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(03-09-2022 06:04 AM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  Mettlen tweeted

Conference Championship Game Attendance:
SOCON - 5023
SUN BELT - 3528
BIG SOUTH - 2425
CAA - 1859

That’s turrible

Both the CAA and SBC games looked sad on the TV. The CAA could have their tournament in a high school gym and it wouldn't be a sell out. Not to throw stones: SBC with 3528 isn't much better, maybe a DIII gym could save some money.

Kidding aside, I would expect the new Sunbelt to look much better in the next couple of years. Hopefully those football schools do a little "basketball investing" Hopefully the conference moves the location a little north since the new northern schools (JMU, ODU, Marshall, ASU) have a reputation of traveling fairly well.

Speaking of sad, looking at the A10 quarterfinals right now, there can’t be 1500 people in an arena built for 20,000.

I suspect some of that is still due to Covid rules. Some maybe due to travel and stuff too. Some of the conferences are spread a long way apart. Other games I've watched (admittedly all WBB) have been very well attended. The AAC championship game between UCF and USF last night was one. Of course those schools are not all that far apart...and talk about a couple of teams that definitely do not like each other! It was a rowdy affair that sometimes resembled a rugby match as much as a basketball game. Also Big Sky conference games, which seem to be well attended all year, and Summit League.

Watching the American Quarterfinal game between Houston and Cincinnati. The place looks quite empty even though it is in Forth Worth, TX. I am sure there are plenty of fans but was surprised.

Sent from my SM-G988U using Tapatalk

Delaware is going to the women's NCAA. I expect them to be one-and-done. After all, they couldn't beat JMU in their last matchup. They'll probably be a 15 or 15 seed since the CAA is not highly regarded.

And the #15 Blue Chickens get the matchup they want against nearby #2 Villanova.
I don’t think the Chickens have enough defense to win, but it is called March Madness for a reason.
With campuses being 45 minutes apart I bet the players know each other well and play pickup games in the Summer.
Plus Painter is a transfer from Villanova. Lots of Extra little motivations for this matchup.

Delaware 15 seed facing Villanova, Georgia State 16 seed facing Gonzaga. No bueno either way, hope the Sun Belt can improve quite a bit in hoops. Obviously not a major downgrade as it is though, either way you better have a great regular season along with winning the tourney if you don't want to be a 15 or 16.

(03-13-2022 04:55 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Delaware is going to the women's NCAA. I expect them to be one-and-done. After all, they couldn't beat JMU in their last matchup. They'll probably be a 15 or 15 seed since the CAA is not highly regarded.

Delaware pulled a 13 seed and will play 4-seed Maryland in women's NCAA.
Sun Belt Champion UT Arlington is 14-seed and plays 3-seed Iowa St.

(03-13-2022 08:26 PM)DukesDominion Wrote:  

(03-13-2022 04:55 PM)orange-to-purple Wrote:  Delaware is going to the women's NCAA. I expect them to be one-and-done. After all, they couldn't beat JMU in their last matchup. They'll probably be a 15 or 15 seed since the CAA is not highly regarded.

Delaware pulled a 13 seed and will play 4-seed Maryland in women's NCAA.
Sun Belt Champion UT Arlington is 14-seed and plays 3-seed Iowa St.

Both of which are ridiculous seedings. Delaware has no business being as high as a 13 and UTA probably could go a notch up at least. SelComm is a joke.