So I went to all 3 games at the ACC Tourney today.....

[BigEastPhil]

Observations:

- Crowds for both sessions were approx 3K or thereabouts.
- The majority of the crowd was metro area residents.
- NC State despite having terrible season had 2 sections filled.
- In talking with NC State fans, they will go after Archie Miller - who is a NC State alum - however most are relegated he probably won't sign or will be too pricey.
- About Gottfried's firing, most were happy as they loved his recruiting and but his coaching stunk.
- BC had about 50 fans (as usual - just like in the old BET days).
- Duke fans are so smug that it's sickening.
- Pitt fans hate their new coach Kevin Stallings.
- In just observing the bottom 6 teams, it's clear that the ACC is the best BB Conference and when I looked up its record vs the Big 10 this year - the ACC is 17-6.
- Seeing Wake Forest today and knowing how bad we were last year, I was shocked that we almost beat them last year as Wake impressed me.
- 2 other fans (neither knew each other) were dressed in RU gear which was nice to see.
- Very few Cuse fans in the arena today for which I always remembered many being there at MSG in the days leading up when Cuse had byes.
- Most of the other schools not playing who were well attended today were UNC and surpisingly V Tech.
- Malik Rose attended both sessions

As the tourney progresses, I expect to see the crowds rise as well as the Thursday (quarter finals) and Friday sessions (semi finals) should be must watch basketball.

Also as far as future BIG 10 Tournaments are concerned, I'd have no issue at all having them at Barclays every 3 years or so - as the NYC and Northeast alums for these schools plus travel from many of the schools to NY - will make the Tourney at Barclays a rousing success.

 

[e5fdny]

Also as far as future BIG 10 Tournaments are concerned, I'd have no issue at all having them at Barclays every 3 years or so - as the NYC and Northeast alums for these schools plus travel from many of the schools to NY - will make the Tourney at Barclays a rousing success.

If you're coming to the Big Apple and you're the B1G you play the BIG room.

And if you ask me there is only one BIG room in NYC that fits the bill.

 

[TDIrish27]

I agree

 

[knight82]

If you're coming to the Big Apple and you're the B1G you play the BIG room.

And if you ask me there is only one BIG room in NYC that fits the bill.

I actually think Barclays is a nicer arena than MSG

 

[Raritan83]

If you're coming to the Big Apple and you're the B1G you play the BIG room.

And if you ask me there is only one BIG room in NYC that fits the bill.

Problem with that is the BIG room is already booked the dates we would want so instead we booked the BIG room a week early in a JV time slot.

 

[bac2therac]

Its not JV when its the only major tourney going on. While meaningless regular season games are going on. The nation's focus is on the Big 10.

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

Cuse
Johnnies
Providence
The Hall
Rutgers
Nova
G town, a train ride up.
BC, a train ride down.

I was just thinking last night how that BE Tourney at MSG was just so perfect. These things are all over the place now and not an easy trek for a single game.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Cuse
Johnnies
Providence
The Hall
Rutgers
Nova
G town, a train ride up.
BC, a train ride down.

I was just thinking last night how that BE Tourney at MSG was just so perfect. These things are all over the place now and not an easy trek for a single game.

I understand the mental blockout...but UConn also....:)

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Observations:

- Crowds for both sessions were approx 3K or thereabouts.
- The majority of the crowd was metro area residents.
- NC State despite having terrible season had 2 sections filled.
- In talking with NC State fans, they will go after Archie Miller - who is a NC State alum - however most are relegated he probably won't sign or will be too pricey.
- About Gottfried's firing, most were happy as they loved his recruiting and but his coaching stunk.
- BC had about 50 fans (as usual - just like in the old BET days).
- Duke fans are so smug that it's sickening.
- Pitt fans hate their new coach Kevin Stallings.
- In just observing the bottom 6 teams, it's clear that the ACC is the best BB Conference and when I looked up its record vs the Big 10 this year - the ACC is 17-6.
- Seeing Wake Forest today and knowing how bad we were last year, I was shocked that we almost beat them last year as Wake impressed me.
- 2 other fans (neither knew each other) were dressed in RU gear which was nice to see.
- Very few Cuse fans in the arena today for which I always remembered many being there at MSG in the days leading up when Cuse had byes.
- Most of the other schools not playing who were well attended today were UNC and surpisingly V Tech.
- Malik Rose attended both sessions

As the tourney progresses, I expect to see the crowds rise as well as the Thursday (quarter finals) and Friday sessions (semi finals) should be must watch basketball.

Also as far as future BIG 10 Tournaments are concerned, I'd have no issue at all having them at Barclays every 3 years or so - as the NYC and Northeast alums for these schools plus travel from many of the schools to NY - will make the Tourney at Barclays a rousing success.

Your comment about Duke fans is spot on...One of my fav moments anti-Duke moments was watching Lehigh dismantling them a few years back and the look of their fans disbelief...

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

I understand the mental blockout...but UConn also....:)

LOL..yeah I knew I forgot somebody. UCONN< UCONN< UCONN. [eyeroll]

 

[e5fdny]

I actually think Barclays is a nicer arena than MSG

There are those who say the same thing about CitiField vs. Yankee Stadium. And some of these are Yankee Fans.

Everyone knows how I feel about the FB game being played there but when it comes to NYC "things", Yankee Stadium > CitiField (and I'm a Met fan! - lol). The same goes for MSG vs. Barclays.

Problem with that is the BIG room is already booked the dates we would want so instead we booked the BIG room a week early in a JV time slot.

It's not JV when its the only major tourney going on. While meaningless regular season games are going on. The nation's focus is on the Big 10.

Right. The B1G being there makes it a varsity event no matter what it says on the calendar or the timing.

 

[G- RUnit]

Not the new Yankee Stadium. Citi > New Yankee
Yankee Fans = Duke Fans.
Think the B1G tourney a week early is silly. So minor league and JVish. Like Yankee Stadium football, sounds better on paper than reality.
I like the suggestion to just get rid of B1G tourney and each team play two more games and if you really need a tourney for revenue/tv just play 1 through 4 in Indy.

 

[bac2therac]

There are those who say the same thing about CitiField vs. Yankee Stadium. And some of these are Yankee Fans.

Everyone knows how I feel about the FB game being played there but when it comes to NYC "things", Yankee Stadium > CitiField (and I'm a Met fan! - lol). The same goes for MSG vs. Barclays.



Right. The B1G being there makes it a varsity event no matter what it says on the calendar or the timing.

agree. While hipsters may say otherwise, the place to be is MSG, I wouldn't want the Big 10 to move it to Brooklyn

 

[TheB1GTerp]

Observations:

- NC State despite having terrible season had 2 sections filled.
- In talking with NC State fans, they will go after Archie Miller - who is a NC State alum - however most are relegated he probably won't sign or will be too pricey.
- BC had about 50 fans (as usual - just like in the old BET days).
- Duke fans are so smug that it's sickening.
-- In just observing the bottom 6 teams, it's clear that the ACC is the best BB Conference and when I looked up its record vs the Big 10 this year - the ACC is 17-6.
- Seeing Wake Forest today and knowing how bad we were last year, I was shocked that we almost beat them last year as Wake impressed me.
- Most of the other schools not playing who were well attended today were UNC and surpisingly V Tech.

• Some things never change. Duke fans are such smug snobbish jerks of which most never went to Duke.
• NC State and Virginia Tech always travel well. You got two schools with a lot of blue collar families who are a lot like the fan bases of the B1G and SEC. Not a lot of elites like the other ACC schools
• ACC bottom half is sucky, B1G in any given year is close but not better than ACC. This year B1G has lost a lot to NBA and had a lot of injuries. ACC is propped up by ESPN and their voting. Indiana who sucks in B1G did beat Kansas and UNC. If you start ranked it's really hard to get unranked. Maryland like I said finished #2 in B1G but is only ranked #25. Virginia lost four straight games, still was ranked. I'm not saying the ACC isn't really good, but as Izzo said, B1G is not promoting league.

As for Barclays I think it's great. Maryland fans can easily travel up there and we have plenty of alum. This year they did D.C. and NY in secession because we are new but after that I think a rotation of Chicago/Indianapolis/(NYC or DC) works best.

2018 NYC
2019 Chicago
2020 Indianapolis
2021 D.C.
2022 Chicago
2023 Indianapolis
2024 NYC

If Rutgers or PSU ever started winning more in bball i think things should change. I honestly think Rutgers has a better shot than PSU ever will, then I wouldn't mind seeing it NYC/DC then Chicago/Indianapolis rotation so you rotate between east and west. But in all fairness Rutgers and PSU are not going to be deep in B1G tournament and it will harm attendance by having it over hear so often. Most of good basketball teams are in the Midwest in this conference. It's better for Maryland to rotate East and West, but not better for overall conference health in my opinion.

As far as football championship, I'm totally good with Indianapolis ever year, with MAYBE 1 out of every 5 years being at Metlife.

 

[e5fdny]

Not the new Yankee Stadium. Citi > New Yankee

Think the B1G tourney a week early is silly. So minor league and JVish. Like Yankee Stadium football, sounds better on paper than reality.

Is it a better baseball stadium? I think a lot will agree CitiField is better for that.

But as a NYC "thing/place/icon" it's still Yankee Stadium even though we all know here it's not the same actual building.

Not sure if I agree though on the timing thing. The football game is just one day for a few hours so I'm with you on that it looks a lot better on paper than the real thing. The B1G Tournament is a week and the "only game in town" at the time. I'm sure the B1G will make that work.

 

[TDIrish27]

Terp

PSU IMO will compete for a bid next season-----their young guys are good.

 

[bac2therac]

Observations:

- Crowds for both sessions were approx 3K or thereabouts.
- The majority of the crowd was metro area residents.
- NC State despite having terrible season had 2 sections filled.
- In talking with NC State fans, they will go after Archie Miller - who is a NC State alum - however most are relegated he probably won't sign or will be too pricey.
- About Gottfried's firing, most were happy as they loved his recruiting and but his coaching stunk.
- BC had about 50 fans (as usual - just like in the old BET days).
- Duke fans are so smug that it's sickening.
- Pitt fans hate their new coach Kevin Stallings.
- In just observing the bottom 6 teams, it's clear that the ACC is the best BB Conference and when I looked up its record vs the Big 10 this year - the ACC is 17-6.
- Seeing Wake Forest today and knowing how bad we were last year, I was shocked that we almost beat them last year as Wake impressed me.
- 2 other fans (neither knew each other) were dressed in RU gear which was nice to see.
- Very few Cuse fans in the arena today for which I always remembered many being there at MSG in the days leading up when Cuse had byes.
- Most of the other schools not playing who were well attended today were UNC and surpisingly V Tech.
- Malik Rose attended both sessions

As the tourney progresses, I expect to see the crowds rise as well as the Thursday (quarter finals) and Friday sessions (semi finals) should be must watch basketball.

Also as far as future BIG 10 Tournaments are concerned, I'd have no issue at all having them at Barclays every 3 years or so - as the NYC and Northeast alums for these schools plus travel from many of the schools to NY - will make the Tourney at Barclays a rousing success.

Phil are you going all week...keep the updates coming. How are the concessions at the Barclays?

 

[GimmeSomeMore]

Your comment about Duke fans is spot on...One of my fav moments anti-Duke moments was watching Lehigh dismantling them a few years back and the look of their fans disbelief...

Great memory from that day - a group of us were in Greensboro to watch the games and were lucky to have awesome seats dpwn low. Carolina was also playing there and so the early session had at least 15k Carolina blue clad fans in the house. When Duke and Lehigh tipped that evening there were suddenly 15k Lehigh fans in the building. CJ McCollum was ridiculous and by halftime the buzz in the crowd was awesome - I have been to a bunch and that was the best atmosphere I can remember in round 1

 

[DennisHajekRC84]

until they run a direct NJ Transit Train to it and move it to Mid-town there is no way BC > MSG. There's a reason they call it "the Mecca"

 

[RUJMM78]

I understand the mental blockout...but UConn also....:)

Pitt also was very strong .