A view from the student section

[IL Warrior]

I don't post often, but last night's game was a really unique experience. I'm a 5th year senior (engineering co-op added a year) and I've been to 90+% of the home games the last 5 years, excluding winter break, and I've travelled to two games at DePaul and will be going to the Big East tournament next month. I'm not a superfan, but more interested than the average student. That being said, I understand that not every student has a high basketball IQ or interest level, but I was embarrassed by some of the behavior I noticed in our student section last night.

During introductions, I heard a smattering of boos for Juan Anderson. I have never before heard the boos that many of you complain about, but I heard them last night. I'm not a huge fan of Juan Anderson because he adds almost nothing offensively. However, booing our players before they do anything is just unacceptable. I actually felt that Buzz should have played Juan a lot more last night, as he was effective early in the game on the defensive end.

Early in the second half, a group of students near the back of the 200 level were chanting "take Jake out." I was embarrassed at their lack of basketball knowledge. Jake had 7 points (possibly leading the team at that point) and was aggressive offensively without taking bad shots. It sounded like it was coming from the same area as the boos for Anderson earlier. I know you all want the students to fill the student section to the rafters, but if these students aren't going to support our players when they're doing nothing wrong, I'd rather they stay home.

I know some of you like to criticize the students for not attending or being unsupportive, but please understand that many of us attend every game we possibly can and are embarrassed by the behavior of our fellow students.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't post often, but last night's game was a really unique experience. I'm a 5th year senior (engineering co-op added a year) and I've been to 90+% of the home games the last 5 years, excluding winter break, and I've travelled to two games at DePaul and will be going to the Big East tournament next month. I'm not a superfan, but more interested than the average student. That being said, I understand that not every student has a high basketball IQ or interest level, but I was embarrassed by some of the behavior I noticed in our student section last night.

During introductions, I heard a smattering of boos for Juan Anderson. I have never before heard the boos that many of you complain about, but I heard them last night. I'm not a huge fan of Juan Anderson because he adds almost nothing offensively. However, booing our players before they do anything is just unacceptable. I actually felt that Buzz should have played Juan a lot more last night, as he was effective early in the game on the defensive end.

Early in the second half, a group of students near the back of the 200 level were chanting "take Jake out." I was embarrassed at their lack of basketball knowledge. Jake had 7 points (possibly leading the team at that point) and was aggressive offensively without taking bad shots. It sounded like it was coming from the same area as the boos for Anderson earlier. I know you all want the students to fill the student section to the rafters, but if these students aren't going to support our players when they're doing nothing wrong, I'd rather they stay home.

I know some of you like to criticize the students for not attending or being unsupportive, but please understand that many of us attend every game we possibly can and are embarrassed by the behavior of our fellow students.

How was the student crowd yesterday?  I saw one tweet that said it was not great, but I think it was prior to the game starting...not sure as no time stamp that I see.

[towncryer]

I read they had 15,000 in attendance last night...  Not a chance after seeing that picture.

[wardle2wade]

I read they had 15,000 in attendance last night...  Not a chance after seeing that picture.

That picture was pre-tip.  I saw on twitter that even 10 minutes before the game it was very empty. 

[IL Warrior]

How was the student crowd yesterday?  I saw one tweet that said it was not great, but I think it was prior to the game starting...not sure as no time stamp that I see.

Found the tweet and it was posted at 7:09, so right after tip (not necessarily when the picture was taken). Regarding the student turnout, it was about what I expected for a Wednesday night with a good opponent, given this year's team. The lower bowl was full, and I think the upper bowl was about half full behind the basket and only a couple rows deep around the corner.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Found the tweet and it was posted at 7:09, so right after tip (not necessarily when the picture was taken). Regarding the student turnout, it was about what I expected for a Wednesday night with a good opponent, given this year's team. The lower bowl was full, and I think the upper bowl was about half full behind the basket and only a couple rows deep around the corner.

Thanks.  Lower bowl should be full after we changed the student seating policy back in '98, that's why we changed it to be honest.  Reward those students that showed up. 

[Galway Eagle]

5th year senior whoot! But seriously I've actually got to agree with this guy.  Despite my griping that the student section has significantly declined in passion over the years, it seems like we flat out don't like our team anymore.  I think these students have just been spoiled, for me I remember the 09-10 year and just keep my faith in getting a bid, for these kids anything other than domination is reason to hate the team. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

5th year senior whoot! But seriously I've actually got to agree with this guy.  Despite my griping that the student section has significantly declined in passion over the years, it seems like we flat out don't like our team anymore.  I think these students have just been spoiled, for me I remember the 09-10 year and just keep my faith in getting a bid, for these kids anything other than domination is reason to hate the team. 

The world of expectations....

[WayOfTheWarrior]

I feel ya IL Warrior.

It was a Wednesday so I don't know if that factored into it at all, although it shouldn't matter, this was a big game. It was still loud in there. I basically think an acceptable student showing is filling the lower bowl and making a lot of noise, which is what happened last night.

There was a fairly long post on scoop about booing Jake and Derrick during the intros for the Xavier game. During some games I definitely have moments of strongly wanting Buzz to bench certain players who are playing bad basketball which I express vocally in moments of frustration. But never should there be a chant from the home crowd against our own players. We want our players to simply play well, booing them doesn't do anyone any good. Our student section bugs me to no end sometimes.

I've only missed a handful of games during my MU career as well.  (I'll be a 5th year senior next year)

[River rat]

Each loss is usually followed by at least 3-4 stringscomplaining about the student section

[moomoo]

How many seats are in the student section, and how many are in the upper bowl?

[ChicosBailBonds]

How many seats are in the student section, and how many are in the upper bowl?

About 11,100 seats in upper bowl.

[Jay Bee]

About 11,100 seats in upper bowl.

I think his question was "how many seats are there in the upper bowl of the student section."

[Coleman]

How was the student crowd yesterday?  I saw one tweet that said it was not great, but I think it was prior to the game starting...not sure as no time stamp that I see.

I was at the game, it definitely filled up more than that.

There were a lot of late comers, in the student section and overall. I myself strolled in about 7:10 and another couple thousand people showed up after I did

[Markusquette]

It filled up more but the student section wasn't great.  I'm assuming some have thrown in the towel already.  I agree with you IL Warrior, no fan should boo their own team's players, regardless of how they play.

[moomoo]

I think his question was "how many seats are there in the upper bowl of the student section."

yep....how many in the entire student section, and how many specifically in the upper bowl of the student section?  just curious how it compares to student sections of other big hoops colleges.  Thanks.

[LloydMooresLegs]

5th year senior whoot! But seriously I've actually got to agree with this guy.  Despite my griping that the student section has significantly declined in passion over the years, it seems like we flat out don't like our team anymore.  I think these students have just been spoiled, for me I remember the 09-10 year and just keep my faith in getting a bid, for these kids anything other than domination is reason to hate the team. 

Why the name change, PP?  Change from defensive to a punch first style?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I am almost positive a little over 4000 tickets are sold for the student section each year. When you think about that, that number is over half the undergrad student body, thats a tough number to fill regardless of the game. Couldnt tell you the exact number for the upper bowl though.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I watched the MD-Wake game the other night and really liked how effective it was when MD students would count down a fake shot clock. Whenever Wake got down to 7-8 seconds on the shot clock they'd count down from 10, it led to at least 3 shot clock violations.

Worth trying at the BC?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I watched the MD-Wake game the other night and really liked how effective it was when MD students would count down a fake shot clock. Whenever Wake got down to 7-8 seconds on the shot clock they'd count down from 10, it led to at least 3 shot clock violations.

Worth trying at the BC?

Its been attempted, its only like 4 rows that consistently do it though so not really effective.

[moomoo]

I am almost positive a little over 4000 tickets are sold for the student section each year. When you think about that, that number is over half the undergrad student body, thats a tough number to fill regardless of the game. Couldnt tell you the exact number for the upper bowl though.

wow, much more than I thought.  Duke's allotment is approx 1,200 I believe.  

[jsglow]

I thought I had heard somewhere that the student allotment was around 3800 but esard might be correct.  Anyway, student tickets are certainly available in the fall for an extended period of time.  Invariably there will be Frosh parents posting on Facebook asking if their kids need to rush to order tickets the day they become available.  The answer is no, they have plenty of time.

Certainly student 'butts in the seats' are down somewhat this year as priorities take over and expectations following a great 3 -4 year run have diminished a bit.  I think my daughter has missed about 40% of the games (usually because of an actual conflict such as work or clinicals) while my son has missed maybe 2.  Against Providence, my son texted me 20 minutes before the game asking if he could come up and sit with us as none of his friends decided to go.  So the alumni in my section enjoyed asking him about school and such.

[bradley center bat]

I read they had 15,000 in attendance last night...  Not a chance after seeing that picture.

Attendance numbers in the box score for all sports is paid number.

It was about 7:30pm, the upper deck of the student section was about 35% full.

[bradley center bat]

I am almost positive a little over 4000 tickets are sold for the student section each year.

It's about 3,200 each year.

[Coleman]

I watched the MD-Wake game the other night and really liked how effective it was when MD students would count down a fake shot clock. Whenever Wake got down to 7-8 seconds on the shot clock they'd count down from 10, it led to at least 3 shot clock violations.

Worth trying at the BC?

Interesting, I have seen it go the opposite way when the fans start counting down from 10 with about 13-14 second left, forcing up a desperation shot with 3-4 seconds left on the clock. That will sometimes work.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Interesting, I have seen it go the opposite way when the fans start counting down from 10 with about 13-14 second left, forcing up a desperation shot with 3-4 seconds left on the clock. That will sometimes work.

Yup, that was the 1st time I can recall seeing it done this way making the visiting team think they have longer than they do and it worked all 3 times in the 1st half that the MD students did it. Made me wonder why I'd never seen it done like that before.

[🏀]

I am almost positive a little over 4000 tickets are sold for the student section each year. When you think about that, that number is over half the undergrad student body, thats a tough number to fill regardless of the game. Couldnt tell you the exact number for the upper bowl though.

It's right around 4,100 seats. That's the number that was used after the first contraction of the student section.

[mu03eng]

I sit a couple of sections over from the upper student section and it only every got about a 1/3 full and that was by 7:30.  Not to bag just on the students, but overall the crowd was very slow to arrive and relatively small, especially given the opponent and what was on the line.

Having said that, the crowd definitely was loud and involved in the 2nd half, but it took a #refshow to do it.

[rocket surgeon]

the design of the bc for basketball in general and the student section in particular is brutal.  all they would have to do-minimally-is fill in the middle section with seats so that it is solid all the way across.  there are exit tunnels on either side of the bleachers or exit the floor on the other side. and i'm sure a discussion of bringing the fans closer to the floor has been beat up already, but...  when we played in the old arena, and we were rockin, the place was a ball-buster for opposing teams.  remember the rain of toilet paper that would descend following the first warrior field goal?   

[ChicosBailBonds]

Attendance numbers in the box score for all sports is paid number.

It was about 7:30pm, the upper deck of the student section was about 35% full.

Actually it is a tickets distributed number, which includes paid and freebies given out.  To your point, it is not bodies in the building.

[setyoursightsnorth]

wow, much more than I thought.  Duke's allotment is approx 1,200 I believe.  

Duke also plays in an arena that seats less than 10,000. We have one that seats almost 20,000.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Duke also plays in an arena that seats less than 10,000. We have one that seats almost 20,000.

Right, we also only have about 8k undergrads. our student section is more then half of that.