Brey calls BC "toughest" place to play

[Windyplayer]

I pulled the relevant quotes out of an IrishIllustated.com article (http://notredame.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1478082)...

"It's the toughest," said Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey of Saturday's venue - the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee - where the Irish will take on No. 22 Marquette (20-7, 11-4). "Let me say this. There's not a tougher place for us.

"They do such a great job at their place of presenting their game. There's certainly some added juice when we come to town. They just don't like us very much. They wait for us to come to town."

But for Notre Dame's money, the Bradley Center is the most harrowing Big East experience. The last time the Irish were there - Jan. 10, 2011 -- Marquette mauled them, 79-57.

"I remember it as one of the louder places I've been," said Irish point guard Eric Atkins who, as a freshman, scored 15 points in 35 minutes of action at the Bradley Center.

"They have a bunch of signs behind the basket. They do a good job with the crowd being a distraction, and then as a team, they get after it defensively."

"Their crowd is great and they have one of the best student sections I've seen," Grant recalled. "They were hitting shots and we didn't adjust to it. You have to go in there and be able to keep your poise when they're making shots. Just keep playing defense."

Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder are gone, as is their combined 36 points per game. But the Golden Eagles are still pressuring the basketball and making life a living hell for visitors to the Bradley Center.

Four of Marquette's home victories have been by double digits, including a 79-69 win over Pittsburgh on Feb. 16. The close ones have gone the Golden Eagles' way as well. They claimed a 74-71 victory over Syracuse Monday and handed Georgetown one of its three Big East losses, 49-48, during the first week of January.

[Newsdreams]

Interesting opponents think we have one of the best student sections....

[keefe]

Interesting opponents think we have one of the best student sections....

Clearly they don't read this board!

[Newsdreams]

Clearly they don't read this board!

Exactly! 

[Litehouse]

When they show up, I think our student section is as good as anyplace else, and possibly one of the best.  Having a wall of 4,000 students stretching all the way from the floor to the roof is really impressive.  The problem is that there's only a few games a year where they all show up, but that isn't unique to MU.

We obviously get more juiced for ND, but I can't imagine any student section being better than ours on Sat.

[🏀]

Interesting opponents think we have one of the best student sections....

I don't think anyone really thinks the student section is terrible, it's just not great when the upper bowl is dead empty. Sure, it's a great section when Notre Dame and Syracuse come to town. Not so great after that. Always been that way, always will be.

[JD]

Brey is kissin' a$$ so they can park it in the new BEast next year.

[mu_hilltopper]

If the PA announcer just said something like "...And the 9th best student section in the country" .. then it'd be all good.

[🏀]

If the PA announcer just said something like "...And the 9th best student section in the country" .. then it'd be all good.

He could rank them depending on his opinion of their attendance at the time.

[BrewCity83]

If the PA announcer just said something like "...And the 9th best student section in the country" .. then it'd be all good.

Or he could say "the best student section in the country relative to the size of the student body".

[keefe]

Or he could say "the best student section in the country relative to the size of the student body".

Or he could say, "The best student section when a major opponent is in town."

[MUMountin]

Interesting opponents think we have one of the best student sections....

Do any of the Big East schools have student sections like some of the ACC and Big Ten schools that run directly alongside the court?  All the ones I can think of are like ours, which are built from one corner upwards.

IMO, (as discussed often before) that'd be the one major change that would make our student section much more intimidating.  But if all the Big East student sections are like ours, then I'd probably agree that we must be one of the toughest in the conference (when the students show up).  

[JD]

Or he could say, "The best student section when a major opponent is in town."

"Best student section when it's a saturday game usually, against Notre Dame, or a top 10 opponent, and there are no finals for the students"

^A little long winded, but pretty accurate.

[Windyplayer]

Do any of the Big East schools have student sections like some of the ACC and Big Ten schools that run directly alongside the court?  All the ones I can think of are like ours, which are built from one corner upwards.

IMO, (as discussed often before) that'd be the one major change that would make our student section much more intimidating.  But if all the Big East student sections are like ours, then I'd probably agree that we must be one of the toughest in the conference (when the students show up).  

PITT

[MUFan42]

I believe Pitt has one that wraps around the court.

quote author=MUMountin link=topic=36636.msg460768#msg460768 date=1362416312]
Do any of the Big East schools have student sections like some of the ACC and Big Ten schools that run directly alongside the court?  All the ones I can think of are like ours, which are built from one corner upwards.

IMO, (as discussed often before) that'd be the one major change that would make our student section much more intimidating.  But if all the Big East student sections are like ours, then I'd probably agree that we must be one of the toughest in the conference (when the students show up).  
[/quote]

[warriorchick]

Do any of the Big East schools have student sections like some of the ACC and Big Ten schools that run directly alongside the court?  All the ones I can think of are like ours, which are built from one corner upwards.

IMO, (as discussed often before) that'd be the one major change that would make our student section much more intimidating.  

Having the students alongside the court would mean kicking major donors out of those seats. Not gonna happen.  And it shouldn't happen.

[keefe]

Having the students alongside the court would mean kicking major donors out of those seats. Not gonna happen.  And it shouldn't happen.

We have given 5 figures to Marquette a couple times. Geography has prevented us from going to games, much less hold season tickets I would gladly let the students have seats alongside the court. Last time I checked, the students are the university. I know my wife, who was a cheerleader there, would agree with that sentiment.

[Skatastrophy]

We have given 5 figures to Marquette a couple times. Geography has prevented us from going to games, much less hold season tickets I would gladly let the students have seats alongside the court. Last time I checked, the students are the university. I know my wife, who was a cheerleader there, would agree with that sentiment.

She said major donors.

[Warriors10]

I don't think anyone really thinks the student section is terrible, it's just not great when the upper bowl is dead empty. Sure, it's a great section when Notre Dame and Syracuse come to town. Not so great after that. Always been that way, always will be.

You can say that about general admission seats as well, not just the student section...

[MUMountin]

Having the students alongside the court would mean kicking major donors out of those seats. Not gonna happen.  And it shouldn't happen.

I don't necessarily disagree with you--there are understandable reasons to keep things the way they are. 

I was just suggesting that'd be the one way to make the student section even more impactful (irrespective of other consequences). 

[keefe]

She said major donors.

What constitutes a "Major Donor" and how many of them are there? In an 18M seat arena I can't believe Major Donors take up all the sideline seats.

We have given Marquette more than $50MK. My wife had corporate matching at Microsoft and the Gates Foundation so that added another $30MK. Does that make us a major donor?

I am all in favor of getting the kids out of the end zone and putting them along the court. I think repositioning the kids in a better tactical position is a great force multiplier for Marquette. At the end of the day, the current students are the university.

[🏀]

What constitutes a "Major Donor" and how many of them are there? In an 18M seat arena I can't believe Major Donors take up all the sideline seats.

We have given Marquette more than $50M. My wife had corporate matching at Microsoft and the Gates Foundation so that added another $30M. Does that make us a major donor?

I am all in favor of getting the kids out of the end zone and putting them along the court. I think repositioning the kids in a better tactical position is a great force multiplier for Marquette. At the end of the day, the current students are the university.

The BC is not setup to move standing students along the baseline. It's not going to happen, ever.

[Dawson Rental]

Do any of the Big East schools have student sections like some of the ACC and Big Ten schools that run directly alongside the court?  All the ones I can think of are like ours, which are built from one corner upwards.

IMO, (as discussed often before) that'd be the one major change that would make our student section much more intimidating.  But if all the Big East student sections are like ours, then I'd probably agree that we must be one of the toughest in the conference (when the students show up).  

Seats directly alongside the court are much more valuable to schools located in metropolitan areas that can draw more post graduate fans.  There's lees opportunity cost involved in seating student alongside the court in arenas located in college towns hours away from cities.

[Sir Lawrence]

What constitutes a "Major Donor" and how many of them are there? In an 18M seat arena I can't believe Major Donors take up all the sideline seats.

We have given Marquette more than $50M. My wife had corporate matching at Microsoft and the Gates Foundation so that added another $30M. Does that make us a major donor?

I am all in favor of getting the kids out of the end zone and putting them along the court. I think repositioning the kids in a better tactical position is a great force multiplier for Marquette. At the end of the day, the current students are the university.

If you mean "M" for million, then yes, you'd be a major donor.  If you mean M as the Roman Numeral for 1,000, no one uses that any longer, but rather "K" as in $50K for $50,000, and no, you would not be a major donor at that level.   But I'm certain the University sent you multiple thank you letters.

[MerrittsMustache]

Marquette has won 25 games in a row at the Bradley Center. The seating situation seems just fine...although I'd personally like to see my seats moved to the sidelines in one of the first few rows.