They have won 6 of 7, all basically by double figures (they only beat ASU by 9, but were up 18 very late and ASU hit several 3's in the last minute or 2). We beat them pretty soundly- they hit a 3 at the buzzer to make it a 4 point final. So basically they are as hot as anybody- they breezed by Denver at Denver today- and we beat them on their home court. The question is can we beat Western?- a lot of people I talk to think we can't. If we get to Tuesday and we bring 4000 folks to Hot Springs, who knows. Also, it's far from a given that they'll get by ULL/FIU or UNT/MTSU. Of course, its far from a given that we'll get there either. Honestly, I would like to see both us and WKU play in the championship. It would showcase the two best teams in the Belt, and guarantee that the league would get a strong representative to the NCAA tournament.
4000..??? Holy cow. I was thinking 400 would be pretty good.
Troy probably thinks they deserve to play for the right to dance.
(03-01-2009 11:09 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]4000..??? Holy cow. I was thinking 400 would be pretty good.
Maybe getting a tad delusional again. I was talking to someone last night and said I was hopeful we could get 1000 to 1500 fans down there. I thought that might be stretching it, but this other fan was much more optimistic and thought we could get 2 to 3X that if we made it to Tuesday. I started thinking about the 7000 folks we took down to Pine Bluff for the NIT and thought maybe I was being too negative. What the heck happened to all those "fans" anyway?
(03-01-2009 11:19 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ] (03-01-2009 11:09 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]4000..??? Holy cow. I was thinking 400 would be pretty good.
Maybe getting a tad delusional again. I was talking to someone last night and said I was hopeful we could get 1000 to 1500 fans down there. I thought that might be stretching it, but this other fan was much more optimistic and thought we could get 2 to 3X that if we made it to Tuesday. I started thinking about the 7000 folks we took down to Pine Bluff for the NIT and thought maybe I was being too negative. What the heck happened to all those "fans" anyway?
Anytime a team is playing for a ticket to the Big Dance, I think it is reasonable to expect a pretty good crowd. If we get to Tuesday, I don't think your figures are out of line. 2000 to 3000 for Sunday may not be a stretch either. Hot Springs is really not much farther than Pine Bluff. I know the box score attendance is often inflated, but the exhibition game at the beginning of the season was listed as having attendance of 2000. Some of those were Harding fans, but if my memory serves, not many.
Sure. A 9:00 game on a school night.
(03-01-2009 11:33 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]Sure. A 9:00 game on a school night.
Just watch and see what happens IF we get there. If a school night for a game like that bothers you, then you ain't much of a fan.
It ain't me pal. It's the 6999 others.
Geez.
(03-01-2009 11:42 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]It ain't me pal. It's the 6999 others.
Geez.
Pal, I've seen it happen before. When the NCAA is on the line, and especially when the State doesn't have the Chickenhawgs as a potential representative in the NCAA, it brings out pretty good crowds. And by the way, there is no way to get 7,000 into the Summit Arena.
(03-01-2009 11:42 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]It ain't me pal. It's the 6999 others.
Geez.
I probably lean more in Scotto's direction- how many folks will drive down on a work/school night for a 9pm tip-off with the game on Espn2? Again I really have no clue what to expect. I think quite a few locals might turn out to see an Arkansas team play for an NCAA bid. Would probably be the biggest, nonhorse related, sports event ever in the city.
(03-02-2009 12:08 AM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ] (03-01-2009 11:42 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]It ain't me pal. It's the 6999 others.
Geez.
I probably lean more in Scotto's direction- how many folks will drive down on a work/school night for a 9pm tip-off with the game on Espn2? Again I really have no clue what to expect. I think quite a few locals might turn out to see an Arkansas team play for an NCAA bid. Would probably be the biggest, nonhorse related, sports event ever in the city.
If you recall, the attendance at the SBC tournaments in 1995 and 96 shot up as we were approaching the finals those two years. The attendance at the finals were dubbed sellouts at crappy, leaky old Barton - over 8000. The locals jump on board when the Dance is on the line. Especially this year with UALR having the best shot at representing the state in the Tourney. Add in the civic pride of the locals, the fans form other schools and the curiosity factor of D-1 ball in a non-college town and we will see a full house if an in-state team is playing for THE BID.
Why in the world did they decide to hold the tourney in friggen Hot Springs anyway???
Just for reference.
"The Valley" tournament in Saint Louis would pull 8000 or so for the weekend games and drop down some for the championship game on Monday night.
However, since I left Saint Louis the event is a sell out most years, seems like I read that some where.
(03-02-2009 01:08 AM)eh9198 Wrote: [ -> ]Why in the world did they decide to hold the tourney in friggen Hot Springs anyway???
That's not difficult to explain. We would normally have two teams in the state whose fans would help swell the crowd. Unfortunately ASU hasn't done it's part this year, but with that said, the racing season is going on there, and that's big time, the Convention Center is fantastic, and it's just a nice little city to visit. Normally the weather is pleasant enough to play golf, and they have several nice courses. And I would imagine they bid for the tournament and got it. Attendance should be good, and if UALR is in the finals, the Sun Belt will look great on TV.
Makes sense, but did UALR bid or was it a joint bid between us and ASU? It seems that if we were the only ones bidding we'd want to hold it at the Jack (though this year, we might want to hold it at just about any Sun Belt road venue!).
(03-02-2009 11:22 PM)eh9198 Wrote: [ -> ]Makes sense, but did UALR bid or was it a joint bid between us and ASU? It seems that if we were the only ones bidding we'd want to hold it at the Jack (though this year, we might want to hold it at just about any Sun Belt road venue!).
The Hot Springs convention folks bid on the Tournament. UALR and ASU had nothing officially to do with it, although I'm sure they were very supportive and were hopeful that it would happen. I heard that Rick Mello, our ex-AD who now works in the Sun Belt office, was a strong backer of Hot Springs getting the bid.
(03-02-2009 11:22 PM)eh9198 Wrote: [ -> ]Makes sense, but did UALR bid or was it a joint bid between us and ASU? It seems that if we were the only ones bidding we'd want to hold it at the Jack (though this year, we might want to hold it at just about any Sun Belt road venue!).
The Sun Belt Conference was looking for, rightfully so, a neutral court host for the post season tournament. They solicited bids, and the bid from Hot Springs that was put together by their convention and visitors bureau won out. There was not a single or combined big by UALR or ASU.
As a note though that we might want to get out to visiting fans. It appears that although the simulcasting and gaming functions will be in operation for all days of the tournament, the ponies only race on Saturday and Sunday during the tournament.
On the up side, I just saw the weather report, and the weekend weather looks great for the weekend- mid 70's!
(03-01-2009 11:19 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ] (03-01-2009 11:09 PM)Scotto Wrote: [ -> ]4000..??? Holy cow. I was thinking 400 would be pretty good.
Maybe getting a tad delusional again. I was talking to someone last night and said I was hopeful we could get 1000 to 1500 fans down there. I thought that might be stretching it, but this other fan was much more optimistic and thought we could get 2 to 3X that if we made it to Tuesday. I started thinking about the 7000 folks we took down to Pine Bluff for the NIT and thought maybe I was being too negative. What the heck happened to all those "fans" anyway?
Lots of my co-workers that have shown little interest in the team are talking about going.
(03-01-2009 10:57 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ]The question is can we beat Western?- a lot of people I talk to think we can't.
Right now I would have to be counted in that number. We didn't get it done under ideal circumstances at home.
(03-03-2009 12:38 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote: [ -> ] (03-01-2009 10:57 PM)mjs Wrote: [ -> ]The question is can we beat Western?- a lot of people I talk to think we can't.
Right now I would have to be counted in that number. We didn't get it done under ideal circumstances at home.
We both have good teams in our brackets. Odds are one or both of us won't make it.
As of 6:00 pm, THV calliing for 40-50 percent chance of rain Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Argh!!
They might have to move the games inside. :)
(03-03-2009 09:59 PM)Ynocpirt Wrote: [ -> ]As of 6:00 pm, THV calliing for 40-50 percent chance of rain Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Argh!!
Both the '96 and '97 tournaments in LR were plagued with wet weather. Some were severe and in '97 Jim Woolridge and I watched the storm that spawned that F3 tornado that hit South Pulaski County/College Station from the back door of Barton Coliseum. You could see the cloud of debris
(03-03-2009 10:15 PM)Robert C Wrote: [ -> ] (03-03-2009 09:59 PM)Ynocpirt Wrote: [ -> ]As of 6:00 pm, THV calliing for 40-50 percent chance of rain Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Argh!!
Both the '96 and '97 tournaments in LR were plagued with wet weather. Some were severe and in '97 Jim Woolridge and I watched the storm that spawned that F3 tornado that hit South Pulaski County/College Station from the back door of Barton Coliseum. You could see the cloud of debris
That rings a bell. I remember my wife didn't show up for the night games and when I called and asked where she was she said "don't you know what's going on outside". I said "Ya, I heard some rain outside the arena".