Final: Louisiana 75, Samford 58

[ManAboutTown]

We can quibble over a few thousand here or there, and I could make the same argument for games not having as much as reported even with the crazy low numbers reported for Troy and GA So. Basketball stings because it used to be a pride of the university and now it’s completely been given up on. Football is a clown show run by Bozo and Co. that is embarrassing on a national level.

Lol. Touche'

[Million$Mullet]

Football is a clown show run by Bozo and Co. that is embarrassing on a national level.

Ouch.

[cajun4life]

Let’s just look at social media presence.

Basketball:
Instagram 4428 followers.
Facebook 2500 followers
Twitter 9500 followers

Softball
Instagram 8256 followers
Facebook 12745 followers
Twitter 22500 followers

Volleyball
Instagram 4058 followers
Facebook 2100 followers
Twitter 3061 followers

So from a social media standpoint our least popular sport is on the heels of our 2nd most popular sport. Is easily on a better trajectory than basketball and has a better social media presence considering it’s a niche sport.

There is zero casual support for basketball and a rapidly dying, literally and figuratively, core support for basketball.

If football is the front porch, then basketball is the steps and they are broken.

I guess no one wants to address this as a problem?

Let’s not even get started about self generated fundraising.

[ULvictory]

I guess no one wants to address this as a problem?

Let’s not even get started about self generated fundraising.

I responded a few posts ago about the social media interaction. It’s a red flag.

As far as fundraising……ehhhh.

[JMV JustMyView]

Don’t take everything so literal. Shame on me for wanting the basketball team to succeed. Shame on me for stating FACTS as you like to say. I’m not nor have I ever been part of the social club. I dropped my donation years ago but really that’s not any of your business. The point still remains that softball isn’t a blip on the radar on the national scene comparative to men’s basketball no matter how many times you try to hook up with glasco it’s not gonna change.

I never said you didn't want MBB to succeed. As a matter of FACT I have stated many times on this site over and over that you are a good supporter of the program and UL sports in general and I value your opinions of the team, etc. I didn't ask you want kind of money you provide to UL or any of there programs. Softball is a blip on the local scene and that is what brings in money and matters to the UL programs. Softball is relevant in Lafayette and MBB isn't, another FACT.

[ZoomZoom]

#RenovateBlackham

I'll die on this hill.

Agree. It would take a miracle. Only twice since the dome opened we’ve average 6k, which was a nice crowd in Blackham. We’re stuck with the dome, which visually exasperates the attendance. The original idea of an arena/H&PE building where Bourgeious couldn’t get thru the state but our “friend” EWE got us a precast concrete structure, and he wasn’t even in office.

Then again, if the water damage continues to be neglected at the dome, it can become Blackham…kinda.

Not trying to highjack, but this weekend we were at an event where music was played that we hear at UL events. Wife asked, what’s the lyrics she’s hearing, broke out the I phone. Uh, that’s an issue. I’ve been to a few WBB games, don’t hear lyrics like that there. They know it’s disrespectful.

Being Martin Hall views this, I’m calling them out. Get the playlists and find the lyrics. Break out Urban Dictionary if you need. I can promise you it won’t solve your attendance problem, but it will stop the loss of some first impressions with casual fans (which can become donors) walking away.

[Million$Mullet]

I have never tried to hook up with any coach at any program.

The FACT that you have to make this statement says a lot about you.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Pretty sure that MBB with one trip to the dance by Big Fish brought more money to the department than the entire history of softball NCAA dollars.

Basketball has the most upside of any program
Unless football suddenly became a national championship contender.

[Esqueleto]

Pretty sure that MBB with one trip to the dance by Big Fish brought more money to the department than the entire history of softball NCAA dollars.

Basketball has the most upside of any program
Unless football suddenly became a national championship contender.

FACT

[CajunRage]

Pretty sure that MBB with one trip to the dance by Big Fish brought more money to the department than the entire history of softball NCAA dollars.

Basketball has the most upside of any program
Unless football suddenly became a national championship contender.

For the athletic program as a whole to get where we all want it, basketball will have to lead the way. Plain and simple. How we get there, I'll let everyone else argue. No other sport moves the needle for G5 like MBB.

[ZoomZoom]

Been to enough softball games where yes, there many fans, but I see the softball cult in the next decade will be exactly where the MBB insiders are. Greying and going away, and not the same numbers stepping up to replace them.

And on this board there are a few complaints about the home SB schedule. It’s coming, the big conferences starting to squeeze the UL’s out.

[RaginDave]

Fact of the matter is in FBS, football drives all the buses. MBB is a distant 2nd but well ahead of all other sport, after that it is dependent on the program. For instance at UL, it is baseball, softball and then WBB, but the reality is in many P5 programs, WBB is ahead of many of these sports. We have the luxury of having a baseball and softball programs that are self stainable and many programs can not say that. Part of the reason we have a large following in volleyball is #1, our team is getting better, #2 our games are free and #3 our coach is (and this will sound sexist) very hot. We have a ton of students going to the games because of our coach and our ladies, but if it was $10 or more per ticket, the crowds would be much, much less, believe me.

If football and/or basketball games were free for the general public, you would even see more people attending. I have not made a game in the Cajun Dome this year, not because I haven't wanted to, but because of work and now we have a foster child, it has made it more difficult, that and I refuse to pay $10 plus for a beer I can drink for much less at my own home. The prices are ri-f'n-diculous and and embarrassment.

I missed no football games this year and only a handful of baseball games. But basketball as stated before I need to take a loan out to go to any of the games, it is wrong and something needs to be done about it. If the games were reasonable priced (get rid of the Ticketmaster fees) and beer was reasonable, not cheap, reasonable, I would be at almost every game.

For me to go to a game alone a $7.50 ticket cost me $23.75, which alone is crazy. Then I will drink at least 2 beers (I drink craft, so that is $20, minimum). Add in peanuts or popcorn and I am well north of $50. If I bring my family of 4, I am looking at probably close to $150 bucks a night.

A ticket to a UL basketball game that is $7.50, should cost me $7.50 and domestic beer should be $4 and craft beer should be $5. If I wanted to go to the game at a reasonable price, it should cost me no more than 20-30 bucks tops all inclusive with beer, snacks and tickets.

The reason most people like baseball and softball games is that they can get reasonable tickets, reasonable beer prices and reasonable snacks without breaking the bank.