Non Conference Schedule--

This non conference schedule is killing our attendance.. A few cupcakes are ok, but not one after another. Play mid level MAC, Missouri Valley, Conf USA.. It's like we miss out on half the basketball season..

UC could have played Kent State last night and the intetest level would have been about the same.

I doubt there would have been much difference in attendance had Kent St, Missouri St, Wichita St, or UAB played at 5/3 last night.

(11-16-2011 12:31 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  I doubt there would have been much difference in attendance had Kent St, Missouri St, Wichita St, or UAB played at 5/3 last night.

I disagree on that, but attendance would still be an issue. That said the non conference schedule has improved from last year. It would be nice to do a little better and not schedule some of this sub250 RPI teams, but so it goes.

Not sure if its the non-conf schedule killing attendance. This fanbase comes up with a myriad of excuses not to attend. (I am not calling out anyone on this board. Just a general observation of the overall base.)

Marshall and Miami will have better individual game and walk-up attendance due to name recognition. Kent State would have similar recognition.

But none of those teams would do anything for season tickets purchased. Prices must come down.

UC doesn't have the type of team this year that should be playing a crazy non-conference schedule. Too many freshman equals early season cupcakes. Check out the schedule from 12/29 to 1/23. Oklahoma, @Pitt, Notre Dame, St. John's, @Georgetown, Nova, @UConn, @WVU, and Sryacuse. Mick has to learn who can do what before its too late. We already have Marshall, Miami, Georgia, Xavier, and Wright State in a few weeks. The problem is that most of the name teams in that strech are on the road but those games will give the coaching staff I good idea how to prepare for Big East play.

One has to wonder if having a high quality football team isn't hurting the basketball attendance. UC fans are inclined to only go to some many sporting events a year. And if they've hit 3-4 football games already this fall they probably feel like coming down to campus to spend more money isn't worth it right now to see them play against Jacksonville St. They'll wait till after football season and till UC is playing someone good. In years past (pre-2007) UC fans would be pining for some Bearcat action right now cause they hadn't gone to many, if any, UC sporting events yet this fall. Its sad UC's fan base can't support two sports with fill vigor but that's likely how it is right now.

I could understand the poor attendance on Sunday, one being a Sunday night, UC game the day before, and Bengals game earlier. However the attendance last night was lower MAC quality. Hopefully as football season raps up and basketball takes more of a forefront the attendance will improve for the later OOC games.

(11-16-2011 12:33 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-16-2011 12:31 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  I doubt there would have been much difference in attendance had Kent St, Missouri St, Wichita St, or UAB played at 5/3 last night.

I disagree on that, but attendance would still be an issue. That said the non conference schedule has improved from last year. It would be nice to do a little better and not schedule some of this sub250 RPI teams, but so it goes.

I disagree also. Kent St., Cleveland St., Akron, Toledo, Wright St., Dayton, Valpo, Central Michigan, Oakland, Marshall, Southern Illinois any of these would draw better than Jacksonville St. etc and they are pretty close.

(11-16-2011 04:47 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  

(11-16-2011 12:33 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-16-2011 12:31 PM)Bearcat04 Wrote:  I doubt there would have been much difference in attendance had Kent St, Missouri St, Wichita St, or UAB played at 5/3 last night.

I disagree on that, but attendance would still be an issue. That said the non conference schedule has improved from last year. It would be nice to do a little better and not schedule some of this sub250 RPI teams, but so it goes.

I disagree also. Kent St., Cleveland St., Akron, Toledo, Wright St., Dayton, Valpo, Central Michigan, Oakland, Marshall, Southern Illinois any of these would draw better than Jacksonville St. etc and they are pretty close.

Might get a few visiting fans with those too. I always like having Miami, Dayton, Wright State, etc. on the schedule for that reason but it'd be nice to add other teams from the MAC or Cleveland State and Oakland as you suggested.