Gameday Atmosphere

[MUfan12]

This was not a Wojo coached or recruited team for sure.

It's funny... one of the many thoughts I had last night was that Wojo's teams were dying for dudes like Kam and Stevie, and he was too stubborn to make the changes needed to stick around and coach them.

[LloydsLegs]

Students awesome. Rest of crowd got up and going multiple, key times.

Brad Underwood: "Big factor....It was a fantastic crowd."

[Dr. Blackheart]

Students awesome. Rest of crowd got up and going multiple, key times.

Brad Underwood: "Big factor....It was a fantastic crowd."

14,631 for a Monday at 6PM. Not bad.

[Warrior of Law]

Best atmosphere in quite some time.  There was a lot of Orange in the crowd, and they made some noise, too.  In contrast to UW fans, the Illini fans were knowledgeable and civil. A home-and-home, or neutral site, with Illinois would be mutually beneficial for both programs.  3 games annually vs. the Big Ten (WI, Gavitt, & other) would improve the SOS and provide a good barometer of progress.

[Uncle Rico]

Best atmosphere in quite some time.  There was a lot of Orange in the crowd, and they made some noise, too.  In contrast to UW fans, the Illini fans were knowledgeable and civil. A home-and-home, or neutral site, with Illinois would be mutually beneficial for both programs.  3 games annually vs. the Big Ten (WI, Gavitt, & other) would improve the SOS and provide a good barometer of progress.

Have the Gavitt Games been extended?  I heard some rumblings they may not continue

[Nukem2]

14,631 for a Monday at 6PM. Not bad.

It seemed like more than that in person.

[Galway Eagle]

Have the Gavitt Games been extended?  I heard some rumblings they may not continue

Shame if so, the Big 12 was probably meant to replace it but with the conference taking a hit and not having any geographical overlap with us that challenge won't have the same appeal.

[Viper]

Walking out of FF last night reminded me of walking out the BC in December of '89. It was KO's first year and he had a chip on his shoulder and was hell bent on building a program and making himself a star. We played ND on a Saturday afternoon and beat them and the following Saturday we hosted Michigan and the place was electric. We lost that day, but there was not one person walking out that did not think KO was different and the program was in good hands. Last night showed to me that folks can go from apathic about a program to big time fans quickly. The MU basketball program is in great hands and I could not be happier about the future of the program.

Fortunately Shaka is far more advanced as a coach and an even better recruiter than KO and we will not be waiting five years to make the S16. No one can deny KO was a miracle worker and he delivered the goods for our program. The bar for the program starts with Shaka, IMO, and the guy is the real deal. Last night was the first of many, many great nights at the FF moving forward.

Shaka a better recruiter than KO? TBD...and KO had sh&! facilities to recruit to, coming of an arctic zone in the programs history.

[Goose]

Viper

Shaka has been a top five recruiter the past 5+ years. KO was a very good recruiter, but far from elite as a HC.

No doubt on the rest of your post and that is why the starting point is much higher for Shaka over KO.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

There were several Illini fans around me. They couldn't stop talking about how into the game the crowd was, how large it was, and how crazy the student section was. Lots of comments about wishing their students were like ours.

I think this win was hugely important for the future of the program. The current seniors have only known COVID and two seasons that seemed promising that ended in crushing failure. The young alumni have only known the same...plus an additional 5 years of disappointment.  No question that had the administration not pulled the plug, home games would have been a brutal experience for everyone. While everyone (besides Nolongerwarriors) is excited about the Shaka era, my sense was that there was still some hesitation in believing that things could get better. Last night was only one data point, but it was an important first step in building that trust back up again. I still expect an up and down season, but here's hoping I'm wrong and Shaka can build on this.

I can also say with certainty that even if we lose, I will enjoy watching a Shaka loss a lot more than watching a Wojo loss. Love the style of play and love the fight. We'll see if I'm still saying that when we face a team who can break a press with ease and we're on the wrong end of layup line.

[Goose]

TAMU

Great post and I agree completely. Shaka's first team has already passed my eye test. Win or lose, I will enjoy a Shaka led program.

As for the administration, Shaka is going to make them look awfully smart and save some jobs. Aside from filling the FF, this program is going to fill the classrooms again.

[MU82]

There were several Illini fans around me. They couldn't stop talking about how into the game the crowd was, how large it was, and how crazy the student section was. Lots of comments about wishing their students were like ours.

I think this win was hugely important for the future of the program. The current seniors have only known COVID and two seasons that seemed promising that ended in crushing failure. The young alumni have only known the same...plus an additional 5 years of disappointment.  No question that had the administration not pulled the plug, home games would have been a brutal experience for everyone. While everyone (besides Nolongerwarriors) is excited about the Shaka era, my sense was that there was still some hesitation in believing that things could get better. Last night was only one data point, but it was an important first step in building that trust back up again. I still expect an up and down season, but here's hoping I'm wrong and Shaka can build on this.

I can also say with certainty that even if we lose, I will enjoy watching a Shaka loss a lot more than watching a Wojo loss. Love the style of play and love the fight. We'll see if I'm still saying that when we face a team who can break a press with ease and we're on the wrong end of layup line.

Great post. Gets me (even more) psyched to be a Marquette alum and fan!

[4everwarriors]

Yo prayers bin answered, aina?

[brewcity77]

There were several Illini fans around me. They couldn't stop talking about how into the game the crowd was, how large it was, and how crazy the student section was. Lots of comments about wishing their students were like ours.

I think this win was hugely important for the future of the program. The current seniors have only known COVID and two seasons that seemed promising that ended in crushing failure. The young alumni have only known the same...plus an additional 5 years of disappointment.  No question that had the administration not pulled the plug, home games would have been a brutal experience for everyone. While everyone (besides Nolongerwarriors) is excited about the Shaka era, my sense was that there was still some hesitation in believing that things could get better. Last night was only one data point, but it was an important first step in building that trust back up again. I still expect an up and down season, but here's hoping I'm wrong and Shaka can build on this.

I can also say with certainty that even if we lose, I will enjoy watching a Shaka loss a lot more than watching a Wojo loss. Love the style of play and love the fight. We'll see if I'm still saying that when we face a team who can break a press with ease and we're on the wrong end of layup line.

I'm not sure how good this team will be this season, but if they aren't as good as they looked Monday, at least they're interesting.

And who knows...maybe they'll be a little bit good too.

[Goose]

I think the biggest part that was missed coming onto this season was that our HC actually has been a successful HC for a long time. Having an inexperienced coach definitely is a learning curve for a program and this time we have a guy who knows what he wants from his team. I thought his experience, and system, would provide an additional 3-4 wins out of the gate. I have zero idea if this team is going be good, but I am confident they will be interesting to watch and battle every night.

Going into the season I thought about Pitino taking walk ons to the E8 and almost beat Duke. Not saying this team will do the same, only that experienced, good coaches make a big difference. I said it yesterday, I believe this team will be remembered for a long time for building the foundation of the program. I am 100% in because if Shaka cannot turn this program around it might never happen.

[avid1010]

I think the biggest part that was missed coming onto this season was that our HC actually has been a successful HC for a long time. Having an inexperienced coach definitely is a learning curve for a program and this time we have a guy who knows what he wants from his team. I thought his experience, and system, would provide an additional 3-4 wins out of the gate. I have zero idea if this team is going be good, but I am confident they will be interesting to watch and battle every night.

Going into the season I thought about Pitino taking walk ons to the E8 and almost beat Duke. Not saying this team will do the same, only that experienced, good coaches make a big difference. I said it yesterday, I believe this team will be remembered for a long time for building the foundation of the program. I am 100% in because if Shaka cannot turn this program around it might never happen.

Could not agree more.  MU was fortunate to win that game, but our coach put his team in the position to find a way to win.  It's a young team, and I think people are getting a little too high off of one win, but MU is going to play hard every night while not being at a competitive disadvantage because of coaching.  If the recruiting comes, and by all accounts it should, I can't wait to see where Shaka takes this program.  Player development, game preparation, and in-game coaching/adjustments are no longer a concern in my book. 

[MU82]

I think the biggest part that was missed coming onto this season was that our HC actually has been a successful HC for a long time. Having an inexperienced coach definitely is a learning curve for a program and this time we have a guy who knows what he wants from his team. I thought his experience, and system, would provide an additional 3-4 wins out of the gate. I have zero idea if this team is going be good, but I am confident they will be interesting to watch and battle every night.

Going into the season I thought about Pitino taking walk ons to the E8 and almost beat Duke. Not saying this team will do the same, only that experienced, good coaches make a big difference. I said it yesterday, I believe this team will be remembered for a long time for building the foundation of the program. I am 100% in because if Shaka cannot turn this program around it might never happen.

This is an excellent point.

Many wish that Shaka hadn't turned us down in 2014, and I'm among those who wished that back then. But every one of us is shaped by his or her life's experiences, and Shaka's less-than-satisfying experience at Texas almost certainly made him a better coach for Marquette. Assuming the administration doesn't eff with him and that fans don't turn on him, we might finally have our own version of Mark Few and Jay Wright.

My knee-jerk reaction to his loss to the midgets of Abilene Christian was visceral. But after I had a few days to settle down, I came to share the same viewpoint that you and other early Shaka supporters have. He is a unique individual who just might be tailor-made for Marquette (and vice versa). I'm excited to see what the future can bring.

I plan to enjoy all the ups and downs that this season has in store for us, and I think coming years will be very good indeed.

[MU gimp ONE]

We had a different experience than most, or so it appears. 

We had four UofI students next to us and they were quite possibly the most obnoxious fans I've ever sat next to ever.  I don't care if fans want to yell at the court, but they would make a point to turn and try and start sh*t with any MU fan within earshot.  The whole game was "that we were lucky they were playing us, they shouldn't waste their time with teams like MU", etc.  At one point I was watching the game and the kid randomly yells at me, Illinois literally has everything better than us on and off the court.  ha.  I'm from Illinois originally and I know that's false.  so i simply said, didn't you drive up from your bankrupt state to sit in one of the newest arenas in the NBA, home of the world champs?  lol  They didn't like at the end of the game when I simply asked them why they were so quiet.  as they all started yelling back at me, i smiled and pointed at the scoreboard. 

The older Illinois fans behind us were very nice and knowledgeable, but his first question was, why is it so empty in here?  they liked the arena and were complementary to how hard our team plays.  they were shocked when i told them that we were picked 10th in the BE.  Said we are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

I, for one, was disappointed by the crowd.  First big game we could attend in person in 18 months and plenty of season ticket holders threw their seats on the secondary market.  The MU that showed up were awesome.  But that stadium could have been deafening.  I'm front row upper and i turned around at tip off and our section near mid court was about 80% Illinois fans.

[The Sultan]

We had a different experience than most, or so it appears. 

We had four UofI students next to us and they were quite possibly the most obnoxious fans I've ever sat next to ever.  I don't care if fans want to yell at the court, but they would make a point to turn and try and start sh*t with any MU fan within earshot.  The whole game was "that we were lucky they were playing us, they shouldn't waste their time with teams like MU", etc.  At one point I was watching the game and the kid randomly yells at me, Illinois literally has everything better than us on and off the court.  ha.  I'm from Illinois originally and I know that's false.  so i simply said, didn't you drive up from your bankrupt state to sit in one of the newest arenas in the NBA, home of the world champs?  lol  They didn't like at the end of the game when I simply asked them why they were so quiet.  as they all started yelling back at me, i smiled and pointed at the scoreboard. 

The older Illinois fans behind us were very nice and knowledgeable, but his first question was, why is it so empty in here?  they liked the arena and were complementary to how hard our team plays.  they were shocked when i told them that we were picked 10th in the BE.  Said we are going to surprise a lot of people this year.

I, for one, was disappointed by the crowd.  First big game we could attend in person in 18 months and plenty of season ticket holders threw their seats on the secondary market.  The MU that showed up were awesome.  But that stadium could have been deafening.  I'm front row upper and i turned around at tip off and our section near mid court was about 80% Illinois fans.

Weeknight games at 6:00 PM are going to cause a lot of people to put their tickets up for sale.

[Galway Eagle]

Weeknight games at 6:00 PM are going to cause a lot of people to put their tickets up for sale.

But the people who bought those seats will likely be coming from the same region or farther... so i think it has more to do with people not wanting to drive up to see a blow out. That was my excuse to my fiancé. Gladly will eat crow and now owe her a trip to a game.

[StillWarriors]

Weeknight games at 6:00 PM are going to cause a lot of people to put their tickets up for sale.

Even with a ranked opponent, I was pleasantly shocked at the energy in the building throughout the game given the far less than ideal day of the week and start time.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Well, MU plays in a building (17,341) that is much bigger than most Big Ten arena's. Including Illinois. (15,544) MU had 14,631 for a 6pm, Monday night game. Student section had about 2,400 students in attendance. Much bigger than most student sections even hold in the country. So, yes do we wish we had 16k, sure. Yet, maybe this win and a solid showing this weekend will make the 13k games into 16 k game down the road. We shall see.

[Goose]

I really liked when they posted the number of deflections and announced the in game number. Hopefully all MU fans will understand that number by the end of the season. IMO, 32=Win

[5DollarPitcher]

No question that had the administration not pulled the plug, home games would have been a brutal experience for everyone. While everyone (besides Nolongerwarriors) is excited about the Shaka era, my sense was that there was still some hesitation in believing that things could get better. Last night was only one data point, but it was an important first step in building that trust back up again.

It's insane and sad we let one person do this to a decorated, storied program.  Some of us smiling all the way...  Stockholm syndrome.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

It's insane and sad we let one person do this to a decorated, storied program.  Some of us smiling all the way...  Stockholm syndrome.

It was a bad hire, but they fired him at a reasonable time. Honestly, they fired him faster than I think most schools would so props to them.