Game 4: TCU (in Springfield)

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:07 pm

TCU will be ripe for the picking since it will be their third game in three days (lost to Rider today, play Bradley on Sunday). Hopefully we can wear them down early and apply non-stop pressure at both ends.

Refuse2Lose83 · Post by **Refuse2Lose83** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:19 pm

Saw the second half of the TCU game today, and we are definitely the better team. If we play like we did tonight it won't even be a game unless the Horned Frogs catch fire, but if our guys play D like they did tonight they won't have many good looks. Hopefully, they can take care of business in this game, it'll set them up to be 6-0 (following 2 games are at home against D2 AIC and a bad Holy Cross team) going into games at Quinnipiac and vs BC.

deke · Post by **deke** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:46 pm

can't underestimate TCU. I've been there // done that. They have a phenomenal athletics program, and I don't just mean their football program. Hopefully we can take advantage of them being a little run down. I'm just saying we can't look past them at all.

UMassFan99 · Post by **UMassFan99** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 10:58 pm

Yeah - def can't underestimate them. I think we did that with Sacred Heart to some extent and didn't play an impressive game against them. DK needs to make sure these guys aren't over-confident and go out there with a fire under their a$$es.

Woodenships · Post by **Woodenships** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:08 pm

UMass by 8

OutlawPete · Post by **OutlawPete** » Sat Nov 20, 2010 11:10 pm

4-0 let's get it

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:00 am

I agree, can't come in too cocky. They get up and down the floor and get after it. But I think this is also when we're at our best, so I like our chances. Minutemen by a dozen. UMass should do some sort of thing to get a few more arses in the seats for this one.

JMalloy24 · Post by **JMalloy24** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 10:30 am

Agree with the fact there NEEDS to be a much bigger turnout w/ the fans. Not sure what they can do in terms of marketing in one day. Get some buses to bus students in?? Reach out to the local co's (MassMutual, BIG Y, Baystate) offer up some discounted tickets? I went Sat and was shocked at the turnout. I didnt expect 4,000 for Loyola M vs Dowling or even Rider-TCU. I did think the Bradley- USC and UMass game would have had a much bigger turnout. I am not sure if it is lack of interest in the region or more so the economy and many people not having the extra income on hand.. very sad though.

Dandabombe · Post by **Dandabombe** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:29 am

The prices for the event are HUGE. The only way they could charge 85 bucks for a day of basketball is if they have 5 top 25 teams playing in the 3 games. We bought 20 dollar seats yesterday for the umass game and could sit anywhere that we wanted.

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 2:34 pm

When I look at whether I should go to a game, I have to look at the relative cost. If I wanted to go to the NM State or TCU game, it would cost us over $100 including parking for two people and the "best available" seats are in the upper level in the corner.

OR, I could go to the AIU game at Mullins and spend only $27, while sitting near midcourt in the lower level. Travel distance is the same, they are both school nights. It's a pretty clear decision.

OR, I could spend $230 and me and my son could go to every home game with season tickets.

The price point for tickets to the Tip-off was way too high. And the non-tournament structure makes the other games less interesting to casual fans. I'm more likely to go if I know I'm catching a glimpse of possible future opponents, instead of some D2 schools I've never heard of.

They should have made it an 8 team, three round, three day tournament with UMass, NM St, TCU, USC, Rider, LMU, Bradley, and one more team. If you can't do it as a real tournament, don't expect fans to pony up or show up.

Roadtrip · Post by **Roadtrip** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 2:54 pm

Xlg, you are correct, and the problem falls with the Gazelle Group. I believe they are clueless. I had been planning on making the trip north to see 4 games in 8 days ending with HC at the cage. They messed with the dates, the format and the teams so much I decided to just go to Mass at Christmas and see the UCF game. Sort of a home/home for me as I went to Orlando last year. Now i'm hoping for Atlantic City.

Floyd · Post by **Floyd** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 2:55 pm

My "best available seats" sucked, but I sat 6 rows up at halfcourt for the entire day so I can't complain. The $7 beers did sting a bit though
Yeah, pricing ruined the attendance. just too much for people to pony up.

LS71 · Post by **LS71** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:13 pm

We bought end zone seats (2-day passes for $30 + ticketmaster rip off fees) but we sat where we wanted to sit...no hassles.

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:24 pm

Sure - you could move up but you didn't know that when you purchased.

I think they didn't know what they could charge since no similar event has been held there in.....ever (?) so there is no comparable event to compare to. HS holiday tourneys with lots of local teams is not a comparable event. Neither is a end of season tourney.

A better pricing plan for something where you have no idea what the right price point is: start wicked low and go for volume / profits on concessions, souvenirs, etc.

Winslow05 · Post by **Winslow05** » Sun Nov 21, 2010 4:49 pm

For comparison purposes, the 2004 Tip Off classic in Springfield in Cal's return with Memphis (he proceeded to get blown out by Maryland), the ticket prices were $35 for upper level and $45 for lower level.

This was the price for ONE game!