Both Bourne and Joey D spoke this week about the on campus tournament being a dry run for would could happen after the 2 remaining years in DC.
If JMU can run a smooth operation it lends credence to the potential of the future.

Bourne has talked with other leagues (low majors) that already Hold their conference tourneys on campus sites.
It always comes down to the money and the campus site along with rural cost of living for Team hotels/meals etc. It would be interesting to know if JMU is providing the arenas rent free and how much of a difference that is from the payment to the DC sports & entertainment arena.

Coaches would hate to play on an opponent’s home court in the tourney, but I like it as long as it is earned. In other words, if the regular season champ gets to host the tourney it makes perfect sense. Those that complain would simply need to perform better in the 18 CAA regular season games if they want to host.

The problem with the CAA is A few of the schools have facilities that are not worthy to host. Can you imagine Drexel finishing first and trying to host 10 teams at the DAC in Philly?
80% of the schools could do it with their existing facilities. Some better than others.

I think leagues like the Caa should be creative- to optimize fan interest, attendance, how the games look on TV, strike the balance of rewarding the regular season champ, and position the league to represent themselves well in the NCAA tournament I favor a hybrid approach.

Early rounds at campus location of better seed and semi finals and finals at a neutral site over 2 days (weekend) to maximize attendance and revenue.

Play in round
7 hosts 10
8 hosts 9
Winner plays at better seed

Quarters
#2 hosts winner of play in round

#3 hosts #6

#4 hosts #5

Semis (neutral site) reseeded
#1 plays worst remaining seed
Winner of #2/play round winner
Winner of #3/#6
Winner of #4/#5

(01-16-2021 11:25 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I think leagues like the Caa should be creative- to optimize fan interest, attendance, how the games look on TV, strike the balance of rewarding the regular season champ, and position the league to represent themselves well in the NCAA tournament I favor a hybrid approach.

Early rounds at campus location of better seed and semi finals and finals at a neutral site over 2 days (weekend) to maximize attendance and revenue.

Play in round
7 hosts 10
8 hosts 9
Winner plays at better seed

Quarters
#2 hosts winner of play in round

#3 hosts #6

#4 hosts #5

Semis (neutral site) reseeded
#1 plays worst remaining seed
Winner of #2/play round winner
Winner of #3/#6
Winner of #4/#5

This or similar makes sense, a lot more sense than a airplane hanger venue that few will attend in an area where getting mugged walking to the game is 50/50.

The Richmond Coliseum was a dream compared to what we have gotten since the VA teams bailed for better conferences.

Richmond was a lot of fun with VCU, Mason, ODU and Richmond...and JMU was somewhat good at basketball then...

(01-16-2021 11:04 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Both Bourne and Joey D spoke this week about the on campus tournament being a dry run for would could happen after the 2 remaining years in DC.
If JMU can run a smooth operation it lends credence to the potential of the future.

Bourne has talked with other leagues (low majors) that already Hold their conference tourneys on campus sites.
It always comes down to the money and the campus site along with rural cost of living for Team hotels/meals etc. It would be interesting to know if JMU is providing the arenas rent free and how much of a difference that is from the payment to the DC sports & entertainment arena.

Coaches would hate to play on an opponent’s home court in the tourney, but I like it as long as it is earned. In other words, if the regular season champ gets to host the tourney it makes perfect sense. Those that complain would simply need to perform better in the 18 CAA regular season games if they want to host.

The problem with the CAA is A few of the schools have facilities that are not worthy to host. Can you imagine Drexel finishing first and trying to host 10 teams at the DAC in Philly?
80% of the schools could do it with their existing facilities. Some better than others.

The best days lie ahead for the CAA, great news that JMU is leading the creative effort.

assuming no tickets available for purchase still. have they called it yet?

(01-28-2021 10:10 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  assuming no tickets available for purchase still. have they called it yet?

Yes, JMU put out notice that there will be no fans outside of family and friends of program.

wtf is a friend of the program - im a friend of the program. I have been a friend of the program for almost 17 years!

Lol it’s Pete Johnson & fam. At least it was for the Northeastern WBB game Sunday.

No kidding... Friend of the program here, too. Charter Wall and Club Season ticket(s) must not do it for them.

(01-28-2021 10:36 AM)Deacon Danny Wrote:  No kidding... Friend of the program here, too. Charter Wall and Club Season ticket(s) must not do it for them.

Don't know what exactly it takes to get in, especially now they are letting pep band and cheerleaders in. If you had something with big with your name on it you are probably good I guess.

(01-28-2021 10:27 AM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-28-2021 10:10 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  assuming no tickets available for purchase still. have they called it yet?

Yes, JMU put out notice that there will be no fans outside of family and friends of program.

Gotta love when they ask me for a DC donation, seat fee donations, a donor wall donation, brick campaign donation, cardboard cutout donations, dutifully donating to every single one of them (and I'm just a friend, never went there, have no kids there) and then being told I don't qualify for tickets because people who haven't donated a penny come first. At least my family's cardboard cutouts have a nice seat. But seriously, I'm pretty effin' pissed off about this.

(01-28-2021 01:06 PM)Bill Wrote:  

(01-28-2021 10:27 AM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(01-28-2021 10:10 AM)Halz87 Wrote:  assuming no tickets available for purchase still. have they called it yet?

Yes, JMU put out notice that there will be no fans outside of family and friends of program.

Gotta love when they ask me for a DC donation, seat fee donations, a donor wall donation, brick campaign donation, cardboard cutout donations, dutifully donating to every single one of them (and I'm just a friend, never went there, have no kids there) and then being told I don't qualify for tickets because people who haven't donated a penny come first. At least my family's cardboard cutouts have a nice seat. But seriously, I'm pretty effin' pissed off about this.

To be clear friends of the program is my language not JMU's. The actual release is below.

https://jmusports.com/news/2021/1/20/men...ation.aspx

Relevant language:

Due to these limitations, the majority of this ticket allotment is being provided to the families and guests of the participating student-athletes, coaches and staff. As students return to campus, Athletics is excited to include the JMU Pep Band, spirit squads and student groups to enhance the atmosphere on game day. With this addition, tickets will not be available to Duke Club members or other groups for the remainder of the season.

JMU is scheduled to host the CAA Men's Basketball Championship in the Atlantic Union Bank Center this March and public ticket access will not be available. Accommodations will be made to host the families and guests of the participating teams.

Add me to the disjointed list. I have donated to all of the various fund raisers recently...I had tickets to the WBB game v. UNCW, but when it got cancelled, all I got was, 'sorry for your luck'.

One stat I was just reminded of is that the Dukes are currently 10-2 at home. The home court advantage for the CAA tourney could play a strong role.

The comically bad tweet below reminded me of this:

CAA announces no public tickets for sale to men's or women's hoops tournaments. Attendance at both championships will be limited to families and guests of student-athletes and coaches.

https://caasports.com/news/2021/2/26/no-...ships.aspx

I think the CAA tourney seeds are locked in regardless of the outcome of tonight’s Elon-UNCW game. JMU tied for first and has won the tiebreaker after splitting games with Northeastern
It went down to record against lower seeded teams.
I think here might be a solid argument that the path is actually easier for the #2 seed considering the potential opponents.
But the whole tourney is really a free for all in a crappy year for the CAA. None of the teams stand out or have transcendent talent to make them favorites.
JMU and Northeastern finished tied for first and were predicted to finish 9th and 7th respectively which is evidence of the Bizarro world we are living in. Up is down and down is up.
Who knows? Maybe even the Nerds pull off 3 games in 3 days and get their first ever bid to the Big Dance. It would be fitting for them to break the ice and get the bid in a tainted year.


First Round - Saturday, March 6
Game 1: 3:00pm - No. 8 Elon vs No. 9 Towson
Game 2: 7:00pm - No. 7 W&M vs No. 10 UNCW


Quarterfinals - Sunday, March 7
Game 3: 11:00am - No 4 Hofstra vs No. 5 Delaware
Game 4: 2:30pm - No 1 JMU vs Elon/Towson winner
Game 5: 6:00pm - No 2 Northeastern vs W&M/UNCW winner
Game 6: 9:30pm - No 3 Charleston vs No. 6 Drexel


Semifinals - Monday, March 8
Game 7: 6:00pm* - Winner of Game 3 vs Winner of Game 4 on CBS Sports Network
Game 8: 9:30pm* - Winner of Game 5 vs Winner of Game 6 on CBS Sports Network

Championship - Tuesday, March 9
Game 9: 7:00pm* - Winner of Game 7 vs Winner of Game 7 on CBS Sports Network

JMU’s path to glory goes through Elon/Towson, then Hofstra/Delaware, then Northeastern/Charleston/Drexel/W&M/UNCW

Certainly possible, but less likely now without Lewis and maybe Wooden.
March Madness is made by teams doing the unexpected and underdogs surprising the experts. Why not JMU?

W&M’s last two games they lost via blowouts to Elon so that would be some turnaround. If anything maybe Elon has hit its stride a little and makes for a tough first round opponent for JMU.

Ideally for this year and the future JMU gets at least to the title game. The 3 games minus Lewis will help the program for next season and the two games on CBS sports net would be nice. If I had to pick I’d like to see Delaware who we haven’t faced this season in game 2 and Charleston who we haven’t played either in the championship. It may be a lot to ask to beat Hofstra 3 times in one season and without Lewis and Northeastern is always tough to defend.

Oops, I gave the Nerds too much credit. They have to win 4 games in 4 days coming out of the Keener-Rowe round.
That would make them even more of a media darling if they broke the ice this year and went dancing.
It looks like Kenton has all 10 CAA teams rated between 160 and 300 nationally. Every game should go down to the end.

It’s still up in the air in terms of 7 and 8. If Elon wins two vs UNCW today and tomorrow they finish with a better winning percentage than W&M and JMU would play the winner of W&M and Towson which I’d prefer. Elon actually looks to be heating up and has a pretty good coach.

Edit I guess they aren’t playing 2 games just one so at 4-7 Elon is the 8 and W&M is the 7.