Bracketology 1/21/08, Lunardi doesn't like MU's non-conf sked

[NateDoggMarq]

Marquette Needs to play teams
either

Mid to Low level Major Teams
Ex: Maryland, Colorado, Washington, Texas Tech, Penn State, Northwestern, Auburn

or Mid to Upper level Mid Majors
Ex: Southern Illinois, Creighton, Norhern Iowa, St. Marys

[ChicosBailBonds]

An embarrassment...no.  Typical of a major conference team...we've shown examples time and time and time and time again.

If you guys want the athletic department to schedule those games, then you have to complain to someone OUTSIDE the athletic department.  They are given their budget by the administration...it's that simple.

Go to the Father Wild, Greg Klihban's of the world.  The department is already subsidized by the university because basketball can't cover the $21 million expense of the other 13 sports...all money losers.

I can't make it more simple then that.  If you want better teams, then you have to go on the road more.  If you go on the road more, it means less revenue to the program...less revenue to the department.


I don't know why the failure to understand this is so problematic.  It's a very simple matter of money and the need for the number of home games that are played.

Chicos Lets face it our schedule was horrendous and you live 2000 miles away so you have no idea how horrible it was to have your first big home come in JANUARY!!!!!! 

Natedogg...and I've copied posts after posts here from UCLA fans or Syracuse fans or FILL IN THE BLANK all saying the same thing...and those schools have football revenues.

I lived the economics for 5 years daily as part of my job there, and those economics have only gotten WORSE because of the costs of being in the Big East.


Again, I cannot make it more simple for you guys.  HOME GAMES = REVENUE.  ROAD GAMES = NO REVENUE.  WE MUST HAVE 18 HOME GAMES under the current budget.  If you want better home games, then you have to change that budget dynamic.  Oh, and the other key thing, we must make the NCAA tournament approximately 3 out of every 5 years to earn those television credits...all part of the budget.  So not only is 18 games critical, but also getting enough wins to make the tournament is critical.  In other words, over schedule at your peril.  Is it good to keep customers happy for 1 or 2 extra good games or better in the long run to make the NCAAs?

So here are your choices

• Sacrifice the excellence in other sports (women's hoops, track, etc) by stripping down their budgets
• Increase the subsidy from the university in raw dollars or lower the amount that men's hoops has to cover...either way it's an increase in the subsidy
• Leave the Big East conference

Since as long as I can remember, the university isn't going to do those things.  As long as customers are buying tickets, why should they?  At the end of the day all the bitching in the world on a fan forum is just that...nothing.  Money talks.

Cutting expenses would help but not a whole lot.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't know why the failure to understand this is so problematic.  It's a very simple matter of money and the need for the number of home games that are played.

That is absolute BULL! I believe somebody had a listing not too long about that had Marquette's spending on it's men's basketball program among the 10 largest in the country. On what? Limos? Breathing chambers? Overpaid assistants brought in to fill yearly vacancies? And they're still crying poor? How about reining in some of the extravagant spending and giving the fans who pay for this a decent home game once every two years?

Why is there a failure to understand that?

MU does spend a ton of money on basketball...BUDGETED money.  Could they cut back on some...sure...but at the end of the day they are supporting 13 other money losing entities.   The scholarships are not waived like they are at some schools, the budget PAYS for those scholarships.

I've seen the books, I've lived the books...I'm guessing you haven't.

That being said, yeah we absolutely could cut costs but as it's currently structured, 18 home games are needed and frequent trips to the NCAA tournament.  I can't make it any clearer.

If that WASN'T the case, then why did Mike Deane, Kevin O'Neill, Rick Majerus, Hank Raymonds, Al McGuire and Tom Crean all follow the same rule with scheduling at MU?  Simple...because it's a fact of life, only it's harder now then ever before because we aren't in a Midwestern conference, tuition costs are through the roof, etc.

Don't buy tickets...don't go to the games.  That's your recourse.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Maybe MU could do this too and then we could add a road game like UW....

(I realize that Marquette doesn't have parking spots to sell)


http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/268595

Fans must give $2,500 annually to Badger Fund for best parking spots
Adam Hoge
Special to The Capital Times  —  1/22/2008 1:18 pm

When the University of Wisconsin initiated mandatory donations for men's basketball preferred parking in 2001, only new buyers were subject to the charges. Those fans who already held spots were grandfathered in, with no additional fees.

Seven years later, that free pass is over.

The athletic department is raising its annual giving levels for the right to purchase parking at UW lots near the Kohl Center, according to a letter sent to season ticket holders last month, and applying it uniformly.

Starting next season, all applicants for men's basketball parking will have to contribute the same amount required for equivalent football parking near Camp Randall. For fans who want the spots closest to the Kohl Center, at Lot 91 just east of the facility, classified as Zone A, that means a minimum donation of $2,500 per year to the Badger Fund -- the fund-raising arm of the UW athletic department -- just to be eligible to buy a space.

In addition to the annual gifting, a person parking in Zone A will also pay $15 per game for the actual parking pass.

UW associate athletic director Vince Sweeney stressed that any payment a fan already makes for preferred seating at football and basketball, donations to booster clubs or outright gifts to the Badger Fund counts toward that amount.

"You try and build an annual fund program that's fair for everyone involved, and there was a consensus that it was time to bring (the football and basketball annual giving levels) in line with each other," Sweeney said.

The letter elaborated on that point, stating, "It is important preferred parking policies are consistent and equitable for donors and season ticket holders across multiple sports."

Sweeney said the change was made because of the rising demand for parking, which is in short supply. The Kohl Center seats 17,190 for basketball, and UW controls just 3,350 parking spots. Of that amount, 350 will not require an annual donation.

The lots in the Zone A category are 91, Shaughnessy, U-Haul and Depot. The Zone B donation level -- which includes lots 29, 44, 46E, 46W, Alexander and Group Health Co-op -- will now be $1,000 per year, while Zone C -- with lots at the Madison Medical Center -- is $50.

Fans applying for spots must be season ticket holders. Meeting the required donation level only ensures eligibility for parking. Requests are subject to availability, so if there is high demand it is possible that not everyone who asks for a particular tier will receive it; instead, they would be accommodated in the next available tier, Sweeney said.

Some fans are upset with the increased donation levels, as evidenced by recent letters and phone calls to the city's daily newspapers. One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said that he currently parks in Zone A and could afford the increase but would not pay out of principle.

"You are already paying above and beyond the ticket price, but now they are pirating the parking for (Zone) A and they want $2,500 just for the right to buy the ticket," he said on his way into last week's game against Illinois at the Kohl Center. "Where does it end? Are they going to do that with my season tickets, too? They are kind of forcing you to contribute and I think the bump was too high."

Sweeney defended the decision, noting that there have been "few if any changes in parking" at the Kohl Center in its 10-year existence. He said that while some fans will be hit hard by the move, a larger number will either not be affected or not strongly affected, based on their current giving levels.

"It was time to at least bring it in line (with the football annual giving levels) and the majority of people in those lots are already where they need to be," Sweeney said. "There are a number of people who are frustrated. Those sentiments are why we put it off for as long as we did."

Sweeney stressed that because Badger Fund points can be accrued in many ways, fans interested in purchasing parking should review their standing with the athletic department. He reiterated that the $2,500 donation level includes all gifts to the Badger Fund, rather than a separate charge.

According to the letter, annual contributions must be submitted to the Badger Fund by April 30 to meet next season's donation level.

tctsports@madison.com

[muPARTY]

That being said, yeah we absolutely could cut costs but as it's currently structured, 18 home games are needed and frequent trips to the NCAA tournament.  I can't make it any clearer.

If that WASN'T the case, then why did Mike Deane, Kevin O'Neill, Rick Majerus, Hank Raymonds, Al McGuire and Tom Crean all follow the same rule with scheduling at MU?  Simple...because it's a fact of life, only it's harder now then ever before because we aren't in a Midwestern conference, tuition costs are through the roof, etc.

Don't buy tickets...don't go to the games.  That's your recourse.

you're wrong in the fact that home/aways were scheduled between MU and Wake Forrest, Dayton, Arizona, Valpo, Notre Dame, and Nebraska.  all since 2001.  it can work. 

i think all MU fans are asking for is an additional series were the team can prepare better.  without seeing figures, i would say it can work.  subtract a buy team and get a small series against a team that can challenge the Golden Eagles and help get them ready for Big East and the Tourn't.

and i think part of it is, they feel they have a top-caliber team and can afford to trade a more competitive team/game for a team/game that will simply bring some money in.  they are showing that the trade off is a bad one.

finally, if the team is better prepared going into the tournament and succeed, then they will generate more money for their success than they would have via a crap team in Dec that doesn't test them.

[denverMU]

Will you guys all just relax.  Marquette didn't lose the last 2 games because we had an "soft" non-conference schedule.  We lost because we played terrible defense and shot poorly on offense!!!  We played the same kind of non-conference schedule last year and beat UCONN, PITT, and LOUISVILLE on the road.  We win games when we hustle, play good defense, and shoot the ball well period!!  Playing one or two slightly tougher teams early is not going to change that.  GO WARRIORS!!!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I've seen the books, I've lived the books...I'm guessing you haven't.

I'm guessing you haven't seen the books in many years. I'm also guessing the budget has changed significantly since Raymonds, Majerus, Dukiet, O'Neill and Deane were here. Actually, I don't have to guess on that one. I KNOW the budget is significantly different. You know that, too.

[ChicosBailBonds]

That being said, yeah we absolutely could cut costs but as it's currently structured, 18 home games are needed and frequent trips to the NCAA tournament.  I can't make it any clearer.

If that WASN'T the case, then why did Mike Deane, Kevin O'Neill, Rick Majerus, Hank Raymonds, Al McGuire and Tom Crean all follow the same rule with scheduling at MU?  Simple...because it's a fact of life, only it's harder now then ever before because we aren't in a Midwestern conference, tuition costs are through the roof, etc.

Don't buy tickets...don't go to the games.  That's your recourse.

you're wrong in the fact that home/aways were scheduled between MU and Wake Forrest, Dayton, Arizona, Valpo, Notre Dame, and Nebraska.  all since 2001.  it can work. 

i think all MU fans are asking for is an additional series were the team can prepare better.  without seeing figures, i would say it can work.  subtract a buy team and get a small series against a team that can challenge the Golden Eagles and help get them ready for Big East and the Tourn't.

and i think part of it is, they feel they have a top-caliber team and can afford to trade a more competitive team/game for a team/game that will simply bring some money in.  they are showing that the trade off is a bad one.

finally, if the team is better prepared going into the tournament and succeed, then they will generate more money for their success than they would have via a crap team in Dec that doesn't test them.

Sigh.  Yes they were scheduled, doesn't change the ECONOMIC CALCULATION does it?  In each of those years we played 2 road games tops....that's what this is all about, maintaining 18 home games.

This is also why we try to get into as many of these tournaments as we can...notice we weren't in many of these before Crean (the Maui, GAS, etc).  For the price of "one game" in terms of the NCAA, we get three games away from home against good competition.

Nevertheless, go back and look at the road non-conference games in those years you talk about.

2000-01  Two road games
2001-02  Two road games
2002-03  Two road games
2003-04  Two road games
Noticing a pattern
2004-05  One road game
2005-06  Two road games


Very few exceptions.  In 1999-2000 we did have 3 road games.

Go back to Mike Deane's 5 year era, 4 years we played 2 road games, 1 year we played 3 road games.

Last time I checked, MU has tried to secure many of those types of games recently with Texas, Gonzaga, etc...didn't work out.  But the point absolutely remains, we have a vast limitation in the way things are CURRENTLY structured (and historically structured) in terms of how many road games we play out of conference.