https://twitter.com/EMUAlumni/status/133...54/photo/1

Cool picture, but the Tweet is wrong. They’ve played basketball in Bowen since 1998. One of Boone’s teams played a game there.

(12-03-2020 04:11 PM)KPJ Wrote:  Cool picture, but the Tweet is wrong. They’ve played basketball in Bowen since 1998. One of Boone’s teams played a game there.

One of the things I think folks, new fans and old timers, is that YES, there is a huge difference between a small pit like Bowen and the Convo.

BUT also, it depends how full the arena are.

IF the Convo ever had 8K and played a nail biter vs. UofM, then the electricity would be incredible, I'd think. I'd like to see if the upper deck would shake.

Would need a pep band like the one at George Mason which really rocked when Mason was really good.

(12-03-2020 04:11 PM)KPJ Wrote:  Cool picture, but the Tweet is wrong. They’ve played basketball in Bowen since 1998. One of Boone’s teams played a game there.

You're right. And as I recall this was the game that Earl hit a buzzer beater from beyond midcourt to win it. Then EMU hosted UT again a few days later in the MAC tournament. So there were two games at Bowen after this one.

I would like to see them play there this year, and I said the same about MSU playing at Jenison Field House.

It's not actually my idea, I was watching the Michigan at Wisconsin hockey game and noticed the game was not at the Kohl Center where UW's hockey (and basketball) team plays. Apparently they have a smaller rink just for hockey where they practice and their women's team plays. The announcer said they decided that since there would be no fans this year it would give the game a little more of a natural feel instead of playing in a big empty arena.

I think if EMU played at Bowen or MSU at Jenison it'd have the same kind of effect.

Georgetown is playing at their small on campus arena w/out fans.
BTW, Lee Reed is their AD. Lee was at EMU.

i'm almost positive that Boone game was North Dakota State. some kind of Dakota team. they were selling all kinds of EMU memorabilia for that one - the funniest was a framed pic of Shaq somewhere tropical wearing a George Gervin throwback jersey.

it was easy to see how Bowen was a beloved place to watch EMU play.

I believe Ohio State men's hoops played a game at the new Covelli Center (which was built for M/W VB and Wrestling) as well.

The biggest difference between Bowen for us and some of the other venues you mention is that they're currently outfitted to host basketball and Bowen just simply isn't.

Now, could the court from the Convo be brought down the road to Bowen? Yes.
Is it worth doing for a one-off game that fans can't attend? No.
Let's be honest: our guys are used to playing in an empty cavern. Those other schools that are moving onto campus are used to decent-sized crowds.

(12-03-2020 06:26 PM)truEMU07 Wrote:  I believe Ohio State men's hoops played a game at the new Covelli Center (which was built for M/W VB and Wrestling) as well.

The biggest difference between Bowen for us and some of the other venues you mention is that they're currently outfitted to host basketball and Bowen just simply isn't.

Now, could the court from the Convo be brought down the road to Bowen? Yes.
Is it worth doing for a one-off game that fans can't attend? No.
Let's be honest: our guys are used to playing in an empty cavern. Those other schools that are moving onto campus are used to decent-sized crowds.

That is one 100% spot on, bullseye post, 007.

We all loved games at Bowen, it was on campus within walking distance from the dorms or apartments that I lived in. Most of all, we miss more the winning teams, the large crowds and the talent we were able to view there. The MAC and EMU sent players to the NBA then, today they do not. Ben Braun ran a very successful program, Rob Murphy has not. The crowds, as a result are sparse and the large capacity of the Convo projects little feeling of intimacy and excitement.

Braun built the Convo figurately, he pleaded for its construction throughout his tenure. The world was different then, EMU and MAC basketball were hot and musical concerts were searching for venues like the Convo and the nearby Chrisler Arena. Today neither is true.

Nevertheless it is a very well designed arena and if conditions had remained the same when constructed started in 1996, it would have been far more successful.

I was there! That place was beautiful. Pure basketball environment.

(12-03-2020 06:26 PM)truEMU07 Wrote:  I believe Ohio State men's hoops played a game at the new Covelli Center (which was built for M/W VB and Wrestling) as well.

The biggest difference between Bowen for us and some of the other venues you mention is that they're currently outfitted to host basketball and Bowen just simply isn't.

Now, could the court from the Convo be brought down the road to Bowen? Yes.
Is it worth doing for a one-off game that fans can't attend? No.
Let's be honest: our guys are used to playing in an empty cavern. Those other schools that are moving onto campus are used to decent-sized crowds.

What you're saying is all true, I wasn't suggesting doing it for one game though I meant play there for the whole season.

(12-03-2020 08:45 PM)Sellers dweller Wrote:  

(12-03-2020 06:26 PM)truEMU07 Wrote:  I believe Ohio State men's hoops played a game at the new Covelli Center (which was built for M/W VB and Wrestling) as well.

The biggest difference between Bowen for us and some of the other venues you mention is that they're currently outfitted to host basketball and Bowen just simply isn't.

Now, could the court from the Convo be brought down the road to Bowen? Yes.
Is it worth doing for a one-off game that fans can't attend? No.
Let's be honest: our guys are used to playing in an empty cavern. Those other schools that are moving onto campus are used to decent-sized crowds.

What you're saying is all true, I wasn't suggesting doing it for one game though I meant play there for the whole season.

I suppose someone in a different financial situation than us might be able to, but I can’t imagine any reason that would be seriously entertained. Could make for some fun throw back content on social media though I guess.

Nickel is right, had Earl Boykins not nailed that buzzer beater from mid court, then that would have been the last game at Bowen. The crowd stormed the court after that shot. Interestingly, I was the first fan to run out there, my friends followed my lead, and then the rest of the crowd after them. That moment was my only direct involvement in EMU basketball.

I think my excitement was that I was so bummed at the prospect of never attending another game at Bowen as the dire state of the game was indicating. I believe EMU literally only had a few seconds on the clock. So pretty unexpected reversal of fortune there.

All that said, EMU did have a throwback game at Bowen against the team from South Dakota St as KPJ and Aaron state. It was a loss but a good time anyway. I would have loved the idea of holding a game or two there each season, but others on this board mentioned that they tore out the bleachers already So that would no longer be possible.

The college basketball palace of the world! I was there for Boykins’ buzzer-beater too. Exciting, exciting days.

Now we have the Murphy era. Is there an emoticon for depression?

(12-05-2020 07:32 AM)holybovine Wrote:  The college basketball palace of the world! I was there for Boykins’ buzzer-beater too. Exciting, exciting days.

Now we have the Murphy era. Is there an emoticon for depression?

It was a shame how baren the Convo was. I was there for the first game, I think, even before the dedication game vs. UofM. Crowd was sparse, etc.

With a total rebuild (after Boykins, Dial, etc. graduated) there was little hope for that season and fans knew it from day one.

I was lucky enough to attend both concerts and hoops games at Bowen and I lived across the street at Brown Munson. Unfortunately Ray Scott's EMU team was one of the worse period. But man the concerts-first one was Peter Frampton and Gary Wright, Bob Seger and Startz, Lenny Williams and George Benson, J Geils, Johnny Winter, James Cotton and Muddy Waters. In contrast I only went to one concert at Hill in Ann Arbor Santana and one at Crisler Bad Company.