Is anyone actually surprised we lost this game? This is exactly what we are- a bunch of athletic players with no direction, no consistency, and the coach doesn't make them accountable for mistakes.
I have zero doubt that Rowe loves his players. Loving your players does not equal wins. He needs to give this team some tough love, because whatever it is that he's doing clearly isn't working or getting through to this team.
I've been saying it for years- the problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has no excuses... these are his guys. He is having the exact same results as under the team so many said was lacking athleticism. The same exact results. Losses.

Looking around and counting last night, there were no more than 400 people there, including the players.

(01-10-2020 09:37 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Is anyone actually surprised we lost this game? This is exactly what we are- a bunch of athletic players with no direction, no consistency, and the coach doesn't make them accountable for mistakes.
I have zero doubt that Rowe loves his players. Loving your players does not equal wins. He needs to give this team some tough love, because whatever it is that he's doing clearly isn't working or getting through to this team.
I've been saying it for years- the problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has no excuses... these are his guys. He is having the exact same results as under the team so many said was lacking athleticism. The same exact results. Losses.

Rowe sounded bad on the post game.....sounded like a beat man and I get why. Then he went on a long, rambling diatribe which was quite incoherent and seemed like he was making excuses for the players (i.e. Matt Lewis).....It was clear Curt Dudley (I think) wanted to move on and rescue/cut off Rowe but could not. Don't get me wrong Lewis is a good player, but he is playing the same as a Junior as he did as a Freshman and that is on Rowe.

The team was playing aggressive, taking decent shots and battled back in the game to take a 1 point lead with about 1 minute or so to go and Rowe immediately moves the offense from being aggressive and getting decent looks......to sitting on the shot clock, playing passive, and going in the last 5 seconds against set defense......it felt like watching the message was, great we clawed back and have a 1 point lead.....lets see if we can just hang on now.....NOT lets go win this thing.

(01-10-2020 09:37 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Is anyone actually surprised we lost this game? This is exactly what we are- a bunch of athletic players with no direction, no consistency, and the coach doesn't make them accountable for mistakes.
I have zero doubt that Rowe loves his players. Loving your players does not equal wins. He needs to give this team some tough love, because whatever it is that he's doing clearly isn't working or getting through to this team.
I've been saying it for years- the problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has no excuses... these are his guys. He is having the exact same results as under the team so many said was lacking athleticism. The same exact results. Losses.

+ 1

Very well stated.

(01-10-2020 09:41 AM)jmudukes001 Wrote:  Looking around and counting last night, there were no more than 400 people there, including the players.

That is no surprise.......students still gone, football is in texas, many fans were either in Texas, enroute to Texas, or leaving this morning.

But you are correct, very light crowd.

I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:41 AM)jmudukes001 Wrote:  Looking around and counting last night, there were no more than 400 people there, including the players.

That is no surprise.......students still gone, football is in texas, many fans were either in Texas, enroute to Texas, or leaving this morning.

But you are correct, very light crowd.

I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

If they don't make a coaching change, I won't be surprised if in year one at the new arena we get that same number. If they decide to keep Rowe, they will lose money. They will lose fans and it will take a long, long time to bring fans back. It's disgusting what the admin is doing to MBB.
I was planning on going to several games in the new arena, but I refuse to give this program any of my money or time as long as Coach Rowe is head coach.

(01-10-2020 09:45 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:37 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Is anyone actually surprised we lost this game? This is exactly what we are- a bunch of athletic players with no direction, no consistency, and the coach doesn't make them accountable for mistakes.
I have zero doubt that Rowe loves his players. Loving your players does not equal wins. He needs to give this team some tough love, because whatever it is that he's doing clearly isn't working or getting through to this team.
I've been saying it for years- the problem isn't the players, it's the coach. He has no excuses... these are his guys. He is having the exact same results as under the team so many said was lacking athleticism. The same exact results. Losses.

Rowe sounded bad on the post game.....sounded like a beat man and I get why. Then he went on a long, rambling diatribe which was quite incoherent and seemed like he was making excuses for the players (i.e. Matt Lewis).....It was clear Curt Dudley (I think) wanted to move on and rescue/cut off Rowe but could not. Don't get me wrong Lewis is a good player, but he is playing the same as a Junior as he did as a Freshman and that is on Rowe.

The team was playing aggressive, taking decent shots and battled back in the game to take a 1 point lead with about 1 minute or so to go and Rowe immediately moves the offense from being aggressive and getting decent looks......to sitting on the shot clock, playing passive, and going in the last 5 seconds against set defense......it felt like watching the message was, great we clawed back and have a 1 point lead.....lets see if we can just hang on now.....NOT lets go win this thing.

That is too bad. I missed the interview. He had several of those type interviews last season.

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

By all means, call Scooter, but I don' think the price increase is bad at all. Ignoring the product for JUST a second, the increase amounts to about 50 bucks a seat (comparing priority sideline seats this year and last year). For the new facility alone, add in fresh concessions, restrooms, accessibility, sight-lines, and last and most importantly the media displays, the money will be well worth it. Lower level reserved and baseline general admission are actually less money than a season ticket cost this year. So my two cents for your conversation with the Duke Club would be hammer the product, not the sticker price for a new building

(01-10-2020 09:56 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I was planning on going to several games in the new arena, but I refuse to give this program any of my money or time as long as Coach Rowe is head coach.

If I were a betting man I would wager you and I will share some beers in the Atlantic Union Bank Center later this year and it'll be great to have you there.

(01-10-2020 10:08 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

By all means, call Scooter, but I don' think the price increase is bad at all. Ignoring the product for JUST a second, the increase amounts to about 50 bucks a seat (comparing priority sideline seats this year and last year). For the new facility alone, add in fresh concessions, restrooms, accessibility, sight-lines, and last and most importantly the media displays, the money will be well worth it. Lower level reserved and baseline general admission are actually less money than a season ticket cost this year. So my two cents for your conversation with the Duke Club would be hammer the product, not the sticker price for a new building

I could be mistaken but I swear the ticket prices have not changed but the seat contribution portion has changed since I looked last year. I swear the reserved section had a seat contribution before (and now is none) and the priority seat contribution was more than $50.

(01-10-2020 10:11 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:56 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I was planning on going to several games in the new arena, but I refuse to give this program any of my money or time as long as Coach Rowe is head coach.

If I were a betting man I would wager you and I will share some beers in the Atlantic Union Bank Center later this year and it'll be great to have you there.

I sincerely hope you are right.
I'm not trying to be bitter about the state of MBB, but at this point it's really, really difficult to be optimistic. I've been a fan since '96 and it's really sad to see the downfall. I remember when games at the Convo were an event and feeling the place shake when the game was close or the eruption when a game winning shot was made. At least at that time I had hope.
Seeing the way this admin has handled the program makes it harder and harder to believe they'll do the right thing. Perhaps you are right and we will be drinking to a bright future with a new coach next year that brings experience and success with him.

(01-10-2020 10:08 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

By all means, call Scooter, but I don' think the price increase is bad at all. Ignoring the product for JUST a second, the increase amounts to about 50 bucks a seat (comparing priority sideline seats this year and last year). For the new facility alone, add in fresh concessions, restrooms, accessibility, sight-lines, and last and most importantly the media displays, the money will be well worth it. Lower level reserved and baseline general admission are actually less money than a season ticket cost this year. So my two cents for your conversation with the Duke Club would be hammer the product, not the sticker price for a new building

Sorry, but this is the same naivety that the admin has been exhibiting for years. Just be cause they ignore the product doesn't mean fans will continue to. This program is bleeding and they're focused on buying it new clothes.

(01-10-2020 11:29 AM)2Buck Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 10:08 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

By all means, call Scooter, but I don' think the price increase is bad at all. Ignoring the product for JUST a second, the increase amounts to about 50 bucks a seat (comparing priority sideline seats this year and last year). For the new facility alone, add in fresh concessions, restrooms, accessibility, sight-lines, and last and most importantly the media displays, the money will be well worth it. Lower level reserved and baseline general admission are actually less money than a season ticket cost this year. So my two cents for your conversation with the Duke Club would be hammer the product, not the sticker price for a new building

Sorry, but this is the same naivety that the admin has been exhibiting for years. Just be cause they ignore the product doesn't mean fans will continue to. This program is bleeding and they're focused on buying it new clothes.

Agree......while I am sure I will appreciate the new amenities (most of a good scoreboard), but I come to basketball games for the game, the product. New bathrooms, eh.....it is a urinal/toilet/sink......New concessions, eh......i grab something quick on the way to most games, food will be similar to BFS, ok but nothing special (oh and for the love of god can JMU get a decent salted pretzel, the one's they continue to sell seem to be coated with rock salt)

(01-10-2020 11:02 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 10:11 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:56 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I was planning on going to several games in the new arena, but I refuse to give this program any of my money or time as long as Coach Rowe is head coach.

If I were a betting man I would wager you and I will share some beers in the Atlantic Union Bank Center later this year and it'll be great to have you there.

I sincerely hope you are right.
I'm not trying to be bitter about the state of MBB, but at this point it's really, really difficult to be optimistic. I've been a fan since '96 and it's really sad to see the downfall. I remember when games at the Convo were an event and feeling the place shake when the game was close or the eruption when a game winning shot was made. At least at that time I had hope.
Seeing the way this admin has handled the program makes it harder and harder to believe they'll do the right thing. Perhaps you are right and we will be drinking to a bright future with a new coach next year that brings experience and success with him.

Me too. Me too.

(01-10-2020 11:29 AM)2Buck Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 10:08 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(01-10-2020 09:48 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  I am going to call my Duke Club Rep (Scooter) next week some time to discuss tickets and ticket prices at the new arena......I have been a season ticket (4) holder for years and now the price point has moved dramatically........You really want me and expect me to pay this much more for this. I mean I have been supportive through a lot of bad basketball and my thanks is to pay more for worse seats. Come on, really.

By all means, call Scooter, but I don' think the price increase is bad at all. Ignoring the product for JUST a second, the increase amounts to about 50 bucks a seat (comparing priority sideline seats this year and last year). For the new facility alone, add in fresh concessions, restrooms, accessibility, sight-lines, and last and most importantly the media displays, the money will be well worth it. Lower level reserved and baseline general admission are actually less money than a season ticket cost this year. So my two cents for your conversation with the Duke Club would be hammer the product, not the sticker price for a new building

Sorry, but this is the same naivety that the admin has been exhibiting for years. Just be cause they ignore the product doesn't mean fans will continue to. This program is bleeding and they're focused on buying it new clothes.

For one year, I think they get away with it. Even if Rowe is HC, there will be people that will want to have season tickets in the first year at the new arena. I don't blame JMU for selling it that way. They certainly can't sell it due to the product on the court. They are just doing their job, so I'm not even remotely surprised that is their selling point. But that's only going to work one time.
If the results are the same, people will not come back. I would argue and say even if there's a new HC in year two in the arena many people will not renew.
If year 1 in the new arena is also year one with a new HC I think they can get away with it as long as the team shows improvement.
That's why it is so incredibly important to get the right guy next year (if Rowe is fired). Get the wrong guy (or keep Rowe) and that place will be deserted after one year.

Concession pretzels: ALL of the salt or NONE of the salt.

(01-10-2020 11:44 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Concession pretzels: ALL of the salt or NONE of the salt.

yup and regardless always seem stale

I would be curious to know how the early season ticket sales are going.

The CAA tournament is March 7-10.
Season ticket orders are due March 16. Reseating takes place in April.

If a coaching change is made, people will be making a decision to buy or not buy season tickets without knowing who is hired as the new Men's Basketball coach. JMU Athletics may want to reevaluate this ticket order timeline.

(01-10-2020 11:51 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  I would be curious to know how the early season ticket sales are going.

The CAA tournament is March 7-10.
Season ticket orders are due March 16. Reseating takes place in April.

If a coaching change is made, people will be making a decision to buy or not buy season tickets without knowing who is hired as the new Men's Basketball coach. JMU Athletics may want to reevaluate this ticket order timeline.

If I had to guess...it's going terribly. There's maybe 300 people who will buy no matter what, just because. 500 that are buying because it's a pretty new arena. My guess is <1,000 have signed up for season tickets. I would bet there's 2-3x that many that would buy depending on getting a new coach and who the new coach is.

Again, Harrisonburg will be ultra-supportive of a really good basketball program (see what a much smaller population did in the 80's). Even just the hope of a renewed program to go along with the new arena is enough to get a ton of people out.

You don't get a second chance to open a $90 million arena.

I think we knock that deadline back a few weeks so we have negotiation time after the NCAA tourney. You need at least 2-3 weeks after the new coach announcement. Either way...if we aren't already making our list and potentially contacting people, we've already lost.

(01-10-2020 09:41 AM)jmudukes001 Wrote:  Looking around and counting last night, there were no more than 400 people there, including the players.

Good to know. As I was briefly watched in the second half I wondered if the number was over 250.

The MadiZone shot made it seem like there were less than 100 people on the side the camera shows.

Even when they came back to take the lead at the end, I don't recall any noise change in the arena.