Cajuns hoops crowds top SBC

[Hudsheen#Fired]

In 2009, we beat Southern on the season opener with over 40000 people attending. The following week, the opponent was Kansas State. The game was on a Saturday night, not on a Friday night. However we only drew 18000 which was the most disappointing Cajun crowd in years (and still is). Major reason is the fact it rained all day. I remember driving in and seeing more people leaving the stadium from tailgating than were entering to see the game. LSU was on TV that night and many people would rather sit in their living rooms and watch that vs coming see us. Really sad part is that the rain stopped right at game time. Those that saw the game barely got wet. I understand many women and children do not stay in bad weather. Note they do in Baton Rouge and many of the other P5 programs. We will need to beat some big time programs before we get that kind of dedication.

As far as improving basketball attendance goes, that is quite a challenge as the culture in Acadiana has changed to the point where people are just not that interested in the sport. I believe we will need to finish a season strong with an NCAA or NIT appearance followed by a strong start the following year to have increased support. That way attendance will improve for the conference portion of the 2nd year. If we pull an upset at either UCLA or Miami this coming pre conference season, we may see improvement in the 2nd half of the year.

I guess my memory is terrible but I remember getting poured on pretty much the whole game

[Turbine]

I think the LSU/Cajun Dome question was hypothetical to prove certain opponents will help attendance.

The reality quality opponent will do the same on a smaller scale.

[BirdofParadise]

Tennessee. Ranked in the top ten.

A little over 5,000

[Turbine]

Tennessee. Ranked in the top ten.

A little over 5,000

The "Lady" Vols 10,375

It helps to have an identity.

[Just1More]

The primary component of building up our attendance is when we establish a perception that our program is exciting again. To get back the people that used to go on a regular basis, we need to bust a year with 25 plus wins and be a threat in the NCAA or NIT. I do believe better opponents yield more attendance, at certain times. I don't think it's much of a cure to focus on right now. It would be "nice" to play better competition... but I think having an across the area feeling that Cajun's MBB is exciting at the dome and a great way to spend your evening... is with an overpowering program. It may be a little of the chicken and the egg... but we're actually past that analogy... MBB has to blow it out to get the interest re-established. And of course... as I mentioned... the Fabulous Cajun Chicken must also return.

[CrazyCajun]

The primary component of building up our attendance is when we establish a perception that our program is exciting again. To get back the people that used to go on a regular basis, we need to bust a year with 25 plus wins and be a threat in the NCAA or NIT. I do believe better opponents yield more attendance, at certain times. I don't think it's much of a cure to focus on right now. It would be "nice" to play better competition... but I think having an across the area feeling that Cajun's MBB is exciting at the dome and a great way to spend your evening... is with an overpowering program. It may be a little of the chicken and the egg... but we're actually past that analogy... MBB has to blow it out to get the interest re-established. And of course... as I mentioned... the Fabulous Cajun Chicken must also return.

Getting exciting again means getting better players, better players want to know they are playing tennessee, umass, miss state, even latech, soutgern miss, tulane, houston etc are more attractive to fans and players than exhibitions and teams nobody has heard of.

[Just1More]

Getting exciting again means getting better players, better players want to know they are playing tennessee, umass, miss state, even latech, soutgern miss, tulane, houston etc are more attractive to fans and players than exhibitions and teams nobody has heard of.

That's why I used the chicken or the egg reference. But it works both ways. You can't just schedule better programs and beat them with lesser talent. If we want to get the party started, it has to be with dominating the schedule we have. That's my opinion. I do like the idea of challenging the AD to find ways to get more exciting OOC opponents on the schedule... that's just plain smart. But I think athletes think of way more than who we play. Fans are way more interested in who we play OOC than our basketball recruits.

[CajunEXPRESS]

IMO the recruits do want to play the most competitive teams they can gather. The more attractive the prospect the more he wants to compete against stronger opponents.

We are poised to have a break out year. IMO it will be UL, Ga State, and even ULM at the top of the conference. We will be better than the sum our parts if Coach Marlin can get them all together early. No doubt there will be challenges. All the SBC teams have an opportunity to be very good this year and all will suffer for having two non division one teams on their schedule. Next year they will be allowed only one if my memory serves me correct.

[CrazyCajun]

If they didn't care who they played, conference affiliation wouldnt matter

[CajunJack55]

If Tulane can do it, no reason we can't. They host an ACC school every year.

http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf..._hoops_ag.html