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What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 fan interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

It has essentially been pushed to the backburner with emphasis being put on football and hockey (especially since the NCHC move). And that might be a necessity as I don't know if three featured programs can be adequately supported.

While I don't necessarily disagree re: Hawkins.. I'm not sure what the program offers right now that would allow us to upgrade.

I am annoyed by the vocal Hawk defenders on this board who swoop in at any criticism. A few seem to take it personally. But I'm not convinced a change should actually be made. If the university is not going to prioritize basketball then a loyal, generally solid coach might be the ideal. And I do think this year was an aberration with all the injuries, and Hawk is bringing in decent talent that will at least keep them competitive.

(03-24-2019 02:04 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  It has essentially been pushed to the backburner with emphasis being put on football and hockey (especially since the NCHC move). And that might be a necessity as I don't know if three featured programs can be adequately supported.

While I don't necessarily disagree re: Hawkins.. I'm not sure what the program offers right now that would allow us to upgrade.

I am annoyed by the vocal Hawk defenders on this board who swoop in at any criticism. A few seem to take it personally. But I'm not convinced a change should actually be made. If the university is not going to prioritize basketball then a loyal, generally solid coach might be the ideal. And I do think this year was an aberration with all the injuries, and Hawk is bringing in decent talent that will at least keep them competitive.

I mean is it really in the universities best interest to prioritize hockey over basketball? Football should be #1 obviously but I’m not so sure we should be prioritizing hockey over basketball at least not to the degree we are currently. And there’s also the argument to cut one and focus on the other.

(03-24-2019 02:04 PM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  It has essentially been pushed to the backburner with emphasis being put on football and hockey (especially since the NCHC move). And that might be a necessity as I don't know if three featured programs can be adequately supported.

While I don't necessarily disagree re: Hawkins.. I'm not sure what the program offers right now that would allow us to upgrade.

I am annoyed by the vocal Hawk defenders on this board who swoop in at any criticism. A few seem to take it personally. But I'm not convinced a change should actually be made. If the university is not going to prioritize basketball then a loyal, generally solid coach might be the ideal. And I do think this year was an aberration with all the injuries, and Hawk is bringing in decent talent that will at least keep them competitive.

To be fair, hawk did say if WMU didn’t improve its facilities in the next few years, WMU a would be a cellar dweller. Here we are.

(03-24-2019 01:11 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 STUDENT interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

Mr Negative
Lack of student interest is NOT the same as zero FAN interest.
Almost 2000 of the local community attended & supported the program game after game when WMU basically played mostly second string all year.

With even a token amount of student interest men’s basketball would have surpassed hockey in attendance.

Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

(03-24-2019 05:22 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

Why do you expect students to show up watch an 8 win MAC team?

(03-24-2019 05:33 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 05:22 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

Why do you expect students to show up watch an 8 win MAC team?

I'm not sure why they would show up to watch an 8 win team but they don't show up when the team wins 20+ games either.

Wow FtheChips, can you even read? I said they don’t even show up in the good years. Believe it or not, we’ve had several good teams over the years and the student support has been LAME for the most part. Pure laziness. One good reason to show up in the rough years is that it directly correlates with your ability to improve. Potential student athletes look at that stuff and right now, for the most part, WMU is lacking on that front. Thanks students!

FtheChips is really ForTheChips
He/she has NEVER posted anything positive about WMU.

I suspect name & person is reincarnation of BW

(03-24-2019 08:03 PM)okgc Wrote:  FtheChips is really ForTheChips
He/she has NEVER posted anything positive about WMU.

I suspect name & person is reincarnation of BW

I call it how it is.

Just go back to your CMU website

(03-24-2019 05:22 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

I thought we had really robust student participation from 2002-2008.

Were the 3 straight 20 win seasons of 2012-2015 not as well received locally, as some of Hawk's earlier runs?

(03-25-2019 11:50 AM)ElFanatico Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 05:22 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

I thought we had really robust student participation from 2002-2008.

Were the 3 straight 20 win seasons of 2012-2015 not as well received locally, as some of Hawk's earlier runs?

They tend to schedule a lot of the interesting games to coincide with times the students are not on campus, holidays, winter break, etc. always wondered about that.

(03-24-2019 08:03 PM)okgc Wrote:  FtheChips is really ForTheChips
He/she has NEVER posted anything positive about WMU.

I suspect name & person is reincarnation of BW

So because I’m critical of a struggling WMU basketball program that makes me a CMU fan? Out of here with your censorship.

(03-24-2019 01:11 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 fan interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

My thoughts are we need a new AD, and a new BBall coach. In that order.

(03-25-2019 01:27 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 01:11 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 fan interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

My thoughts are we need a new AD, and a new BBall coach. In that order.

A practice facility would not hurt, either.

(03-25-2019 01:27 PM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 01:11 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 fan interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

My thoughts are we need a new AD, and a new BBall coach. In that order.

Agreed. Can we get an AD that isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo around here?

It's been long past the time for a new AD and I think it's time for new blood in the men's basketball program.

Question: What exactly do people want the admin to do?
Honestly, the people who complain that 'the admin doesn't care' sound like the same people who say 'if only the admin cared, we would be in the Big 10.'

(03-25-2019 11:50 AM)ElFanatico Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 05:22 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Agree. Please don’t get me started on our students. I’ll leave it that but very disappointing bunch these days...and even in the good years for the most part.

I thought we had really robust student participation from 2002-2008.

Were the 3 straight 20 win seasons of 2012-2015 not as well received locally, as some of Hawk's earlier runs?

I can't speak for the earlier runs, but some of what hurt the 2013 MAC Championship year attendance was that people had grown used to us dominating the MAC West and then losing to a team like Akron in the MAC Tourney. It wasn't till late in the season - when it was clear we were at least on par with the usual MAC East contenders in Akron, Kent St, and Ohio - that students started showing up. Our home game vs Eastern Michigan that season is my best memory at University Arena.

(03-24-2019 04:02 PM)okgc Wrote:  

(03-24-2019 01:11 PM)Fthechips Wrote:  What exactly are we doing with the B-BALL program? Is it just there to tick a box? 0 STUDENT interest, bad attendance, bad facilities, outdated coach. Looks like we’re setup for another poor season next year again. Thoughts?

Mr Negative
Lack of student interest is NOT the same as zero FAN interest.
Almost 2000 of the local community attended & supported the program game after game when WMU basically played mostly second string all year.

With even a token amount of student interest men’s basketball would have surpassed hockey in attendance.

I have no complaints towards the general public attendance at basketball games, especially this year.

(03-24-2019 07:41 PM)Broncos83 Wrote:  Wow FtheChips, can you even read? I said they don’t even show up in the good years. Believe it or not, we’ve had several good teams over the years and the student support has been LAME for the most part. Pure laziness. One good reason to show up in the rough years is that it directly correlates with your ability to improve. Potential student athletes look at that stuff and right now, for the most part, WMU is lacking on that front. Thanks students!

Right on.