Great Ticket Offer for UAB vs WSU at IBA - $10, $25, $35

[shockmonster]

Some of our fans would rather lose the game and not go to the NCAA just so they can defeat the use of IBA and win the idea that we only will accept games at Koch unless we believe that the opponent is worthy of our attendance (even though UAB is certainly good enough to defeat our Shockers).

[Kung Wu]

I respectfully disagree. This analogy is drastically flawed because the promoter is the customer, not WSU fans. We're not taking a chance on him, he's taking a chance on US. It's like work--if you want to be a part of the big glamorous project, or want to handle the account of the most important customer, you have to pay your dues and do a great job on the work you have now.

I also respectfully disagree. The promoter is an entrepreneur taking a calculated risk that he can attract enough customers to make his business thrive based on the product he is selling. Just because this particular promoter does or does not succeed by putting out a good enough product doesn't mean another promoter won't take an even better calculated risk with a better product. There are lots of promoters and they each have their own risk tolerance and ability to put together a package.

I am not going to close down my Taco Bell restaurant because Taco Tico has a bad go of it. It's true, though, that I might not try and sell my product where Taco Tico couldn't sell theirs, but that's generally not the case. I'll at least give that it could set a precedent, but a savvy promoter that can bring a Gonzaga+ to Wichita will be handsomely rewarded in the future regardless what happens with UAB.

[Kung Wu]

Some of our fans would rather lose the game and not go to the NCAA just so they can defeat the use of IBA and win the idea that we only will accept games at Koch unless we believe that the opponent is worthy of our attendance (even though UAB is certainly good enough to defeat our Shockers).

That's silly talk.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I also respectfully disagree. The promoter is an entrepreneur taking a calculated risk that he can attract enough customers to make his business thrive based on the product he is selling. Just because this particular promoter does or does not succeed by putting out a good enough product doesn't mean another promoter won't take an even better calculated risk with a better product. There are lots of promoters and they each have their own risk tolerance and ability to put together a package.

I am not going to close down my Taco Bell restaurant because Taco Tico has a bad go of it. It's true, though, that I might not try and sell my product where Taco Tico couldn't sell theirs, but that's generally not the case. I'll at least give that it could set a precedent, but a savvy promoter that can bring a Gonzaga+ to Wichita will be handsomely rewarded in the future regardless what happens with UAB.

I might not open a Taco Bell in the first place if the market doesn't seem to support Taco Tico very well. Or I will at the very least be rather hesitant. Who's to say that bringing Gonzaga+ to Wichita will be a overwhelming success if we won't support our Shockers against a quality CUSA team? Sounds like we're putting our fate in the hands of an as yet unknown "savvy" promotor instead of taking charge and putting our fate in our own hands. We can and should do better as fans.

[SubGod22]

It's all about name recognition to the average fan and UAB doesn't have that. Gonzaga would. Tulsa does.

And I believe UAB is picked to finish 6th in CUSA this year, so I doubt they're our best opponent in Wichita this season.

[Kung Wu]

I might not open a Taco Bell in the first place if the market doesn't seem to support Taco Tico very well. Or I will at the very least be rather hesitant. Who's to say that bringing Gonzaga+ to Wichita will be a overwhelming success if we won't support our Shockers against a quality CUSA team? Sounds like we're putting our fate in the hands of an as yet unknown "savvy" promotor instead of taking charge and putting our fate in our own hands. We can and should do better as fans.

Well, that's just threatening fans. :)

I bet the average person regularly attending WSU games has no idea what CUSA is. And that's @SubGod22:'s point, and he's right.

I am all for this game and am super excited. I bought tickets the very first day I could and they are awesome. And as I said before there are a ton of reasons this game is gonna be great! But marketing this game on how awesome it is gonna be instead of using a "THREAT:what-will-happen-in-a-future-year-if-you-don't-go-now" poppy-cock argument is a lot more effective.

This game should be as exciting or even more so than the Tulsa game, as the stakes are even higher for both teams!

Think about this ... what if you didn't go to the George Mason BracketBuster games back '06 just because you were one of the BracketBuster haters? You would have missed a Sweet-16 team playing a Final Four team, just because you're a hater! Who knows where UAB and WSU will end up this year? They are the two teams in non-con play, that you get to watch in person, that are most likely to end up in the Sweet-16 (I think, unless I am forgetting someone)!

[Kung Wu]

I doubt they're our best opponent in Wichita this season.

I think Creighton will be the best, but what non-con match-up will be better? I haven't looked at our schedule lately.

[SubGod22]

I think Creighton will be the best, but what non-con match-up will be better? I haven't looked at our schedule lately.

I believe Utah State was picked third in the WAC but I expect them to challenge for the WAC crown this year. Which should keep their RPI attractive as well. UNLV I believe was picked second in the MWC which I believe to be every bit as good, if not better, than CUSA. I'd rank both of those games ahead of UAB who is expected to be middle of the pack this season in CUSA. Not that it's a bad game, but right now, I'd rank it as the third biggest noncon game in Wichita and the fourth biggest noncon game of the season, excluding who we play in PR.

[Kung Wu]

Ah yes, UNLV. I had to go back to my predictions when I spent some time working through these. I believe UNLV will give us all we want this year. I think UAB will be second best and Aggies third best -- though I am excited to play Utah State.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

I totally agree, @Kung Wu:. The marketing so far for the game has been sh*tty in both volume and message. The point I was trying to make--unsuccessfully--is that our support of this game as fans will have a definite impact on our ability to reassure promoters that bringing in BCS teams (ie teams that cost more to bring here) will be successful. The message we are sending as fans to promoters will be if we can get 12,000 fans at IBA for this random CUSA team you brought us, imagine the possibilities if you can get the likes of UCLA, or Michigan State, or Syracuse to come here. It will also reassure the NCAA that if they decide to bring the tournament here someday, that fans love basketball here so much they won't care what name is on the jersey, they just want to see good teams play. We need to support this game, or our chances of any of that happening becomes that much less.

On that note, you are absolutely right--the marketing should be two very good teams that have a lot of potential this year. Emphasize the positive, right on.

UNLV has my vote for toughest non-con opponent, hands down (depending on who we get for bracket busters of course). Creighton has my vote for toughest opponent of any kind we will play--those games are going to be epic, and blood may be shed.

[shockmonster]

The only way that ranking tough non-conference opponents by who is the "toughest" is important is if by winning the right one, we can still make the NCAA. You are right that looking back, if we would have beaten UConn we would have been in the tourney. However, the future is pretty difficult to predict.

[ShockerFever]

What 5 teams are picked to finish ahead of UAB? That might've been one rag or something. Either way, they are pulling up in the Top 75 in a lot of ranking systems.

Again, when we're getting picky on what teams we're playing in Wichita, I get a bit concerned and am wondering if other fans are feeling the same way. That is not the best mindset to have.

I guess WSU fans do have limits in their "power". We'll only support a team in town outside of Koch if the seats are plush with a center court view and the names of Duke and North Carolina are the opponents we face. I'm sure all the WSU players along with Marshall feel your thinking is justifiable and will be proud to see how many are in their corner for this ONE game.

[Kung Wu]

@ShockerFever:, c'mon we have to have our limits. What's the thread count on the seat cushions again? And are they beige or taupe?

[ShockerFever]

@ShockerFever, c'mon we have to have our limits. What's the thread count on the seat cushions again? And are they beige or taupe?

They pass the plush test @Kung Wu:. The color is some form of maroon I think.

It's a miracle so many show up in Koch in those hard, butt-biters.

[wusphlash]

Had a couple of fans tell me they weren't going because they didn't like where they were put last year. Hellllooo. Different year, different system. They could have bought tickets early and been on the floor if they really wanted to go. Some don't like to get out of their comfort zone. Hopefully this thread has a happy ending.