2017-2018 Horizon League Attendance Figures

[mrose]

That's true, Keith, but those tournaments--at least the good ones--are scheduled 2-3 years or more in advance. For instance, the field for Hawaii Diamond Head Classic for next year is already in place. Those good tournaments usually announce the next year's field during the tournament...meaning negotiations begin long before that. Last fall X stated they were close to signing contracts for 2019 and a few years beyond.

So far the Horizon LeCrone only has one program committed to a tournament next year. UWGB will join Morehead State, Eastern Washington, and UMKC on the road to play games at either Iowa, UConn, Oregon, and Syracuse. In fact, EWU is a sub-regional host meaning UWGB will likely go out there to play those other mid-majors.

The MVC already has 40% of their membership committed to good early season MTE's. Again, the HL just UWGB and that's weighted heavily toward the mid-major bracket.

To put that in perspective 9 of 10 Big 12 members are committed to 2018 early season MTE's. 10 of the PAC 12, 8 of 10 in the Big East, 10 in the SEC, and 9 of the A-10 are already locked into early multi-team events for next year.

Programs reap the seeds the sow, but to get into a good MTE it's a multiyear germination...and you have to have good soil and nutrients--meaning you can't be the only program in your garden that looks healthy while the others are withering away, because in 2-3 years odds are the healthy plant will succumb to neglect like the others and nobody will want to invite that plant into their MTE kitchen.

[hhgreen]

If you have to book them 2 years in advance it would be a good time to start looking.

[eyappo]

I used to get tired of always hearing about the "Butler Way" but that did a lot of things right and the results speak for themselves. When they were making their climb in the early to mod 2000 they played a lot of 2 for 1's with the big boys. They lined up the schedule for these with their recruiting classes. When this freshman class and recruiting class is juniors/sophomores and senior/juniors, barring injuries and defections, they will be able to play any team anywhere.
Oakland overall has had a good run over the last several years shot of winning the league title. They don't have a problem getting the bid boys to schedule them.

[mrose]

Mar 7, 2018 12:05:57 GMT -5 eyappo said:

I used to get tired of always hearing about the "Butler Way" but that did a lot of things right and the results speak for themselves. When they were making their climb in the early to mod 2000 they played a lot of 2 for 1's with the big boys. They lined up the schedule for these with their recruiting classes. When this freshman class and recruiting class is juniors/sophomores and senior/juniors, barring injuries and defections, they will be able to play any team anywhere.
Oakland overall has had a good run over the last several years shot of winning the league title. They don't have a problem getting the bid boys to schedule them.

They're not scheduling them home-and-home. Oakland simply chooses to use the MEAC or SWAC scheduling methodology. Take Buy games. Lots of 'em.

Since joining the Horizon LeCrone Oakland has scheduled a total of 29 ooc home games in 5 seasons. 4 of those were vs. non D-I programs. That makes for simple math. OU averages 5 ooc home games per year vs. D I comp. They were able to secure a home-and-home vs. Georgia, but that's it. Most of their D I home games are vs. MAC programs. 8 home games in fact. Nearly 1/3 of their D I ooc home schedule since joining the HL is composed of MAC programs. Chicago State has played there the last 4 seasons. So, think about this....in the last several years 1/5 of their D I ooc home games is Chicago State.

That simply isn't what Wright State needs.

[hhgreen]

I think everyone forgets about the product on the floor. We endured more than a mouthful of root canals the several years. The game is so much more worth watching now. When you lose trying to hold possessions to the least amount and hold the ball for 29 seconds and throw a prayer up at the end of the shot clock is horrible play. Hardly any kid wants to play for a coach like that unless there were no other offers.

[Dr J]

I said when Donlon was here, it will be difficult for a Power 5 conference team to want to schedule WSU. They usually play an exciting style of basketball and not nterested in scheduling a team that will play a slow down and boring style.

[hhgreen]

If they ever do away with the shot clock Donlon could make 4 corners look like it was a fast break.

[eyappo]

Mar 7, 2018 12:58:56 GMT -5 @drop said:

Mar 6, 2018 22:18:27 GMT -5 Raider3G said:

Agree buddy. This program was ready to pop attendance-wise a lot the last 10 years, but losing three HL finals dulled that momentum. With this one, and this group and recruits coming in (can't wait to see Wampler and Manns too), and UD dipping, there is a great window of opportunity locally to recoup a lot of fans on the fence and get attendance to 8k+. It will take better non-conference home games, but now is a time when it can happen.

Crowd size is not just about winning.  We were winning a lot under Donlon.  Crowd size is dependent on winning and quality of product.  Nagy's style of play will attract fans.  Donlon's style was like getting a root canal.  Right now with Nagy it is the best of both worlds.

Quality of the product. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++1