Has our success bored our crowd?

[CBB_Fan]

I always find this discussion interesting.

Should the fans react to what's happening on the court or attempt to drive what's happening on the court?

I think for 90% of fans their level of excitement is directly proportional to the amount of drama on the court. Maybe 10% - if they are sitting near each other (ie. students) - can buck that by being loud and energetic when the team is losing by 10 or winning by 20.

Try all you want, but criticizing a fanbase for being quiet or restless while their team is getting beat by more than a couple of possessions isn't going to change anything. Putting "Get Loud" graphics on the board isn't going to change anything. Cheerleaders aren't going to help. The Shock-O-Meter might work for 10 seconds.

It is what it is. I measure how good the crowd is by their reaction to drama on the court. If things are exciting but people are sitting on their hands, then I'll be critical.

For what it's worth, I thought the crowd on Wednesday was pretty good. I watched the ESPN3 replay last night and it confirmed my opinion.

I think it really does depend on our perception of the opponent. Our crowd gets loud more quickly and easily when they think the team needs it (Southern Miss game, for example). But I don't think people came to Koch Arena on Wednesday thinking "I'm going to scream and cheer as much as I can to help our guys." That isn't because we don't feel like we shouldn't contribute, but because we feel that our team shouldn't need it against SIU anymore than they needed it against Howard.

That was what I was trying to articulate. Our crowd didn't really get into the game until the shock of the first half was over and they realized they probably should get more involved with the game. You can attribute that to the team's success on the court, but the crowd seemed to react more quickly and more completely in the second half because the game became more important as it drew closer to the end.

A better question though would have been "what can we do to get butts in the seats and keep them there?" Because, as you note, we cannot do much to control the crowd, but we should be able to fill the arena and stay for the entirety of a close game when we are ranked. I think those empty seats are probably the bigger issue.

[im4wsu]

I think it really does depend on our perception of the opponent. Our crowd gets loud more quickly and easily when they think the team needs it (Southern Miss game, for example). But I don't think people came to Koch Arena on Wednesday thinking "I'm going to scream and cheer as much as I can to help our guys." That isn't because we don't feel like we shouldn't contribute, but because we feel that our team shouldn't need it against SIU anymore than they needed it against Howard.

That was what I was trying to articulate. Our crowd didn't really get into the game until the shock of the first half was over and they realized they probably should get more involved with the game. You can attribute that to the team's success on the court, but the crowd seemed to react more quickly and more completely in the second half because the game became more important as it drew closer to the end.

A better question though would have been "what can we do to get butts in the seats and keep them there?" Because, as you note, we cannot do much to control the crowd, but we should be able to fill the arena and stay for the entirety of a close game when we are ranked. I think those empty seats are probably the bigger issue.

How about instituting a surcharge? The old Kingston Trio "MTA" song, where the subway instituted a nickel fee to exit.

[Kung Wu]

A better question though would have been "what can we do to get butts in the seats and keep them there?" Because, as you note, we cannot do much to control the crowd, but we should be able to fill the arena and stay for the entirety of a close game when we are ranked. I think those empty seats are probably the bigger issue.

For me, it's important that the aging generation start bringing their children and grandchildren at every opportunity. For a long time in the Wichita high schools WSU was considered just a second class university, even though the outlying communities considered WSU to be first class. If you are a Wichitan with children or grandchildren, get their butts to these games, and break that nonsensical perception that's going around. It doesn't have to be every game -- even just a game or two here and there can show those kids how awesome the "Shocker Experience" is and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Also, it would be awesome if the basketball team could do "assemblies" in elementary schools around town so the young kids would get to see just how big and kind these giants really are.

Edit: And deck those kids out in Shocker gear. Can there be any better Christmas or birthday present than a Carl Hall jersey or a Cleanthony Early jersey draped over your kid?

[shox1989]

For me, it's important that the aging generation start bringing their children and grandchildren at every opportunity. For a long time in the Wichita high schools WSU was considered just a second class university, even though the outlying communities considered WSU to be first class. If you are a Wichita with children or grandchildren, get their butts to these games, and break that nonsensical perception that's going around. It doesn't have to be every game -- even just a game or two here and there can show those kids how awesome the "Shocker Experience" is and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Also, it would be awesome if the basketball team could do "assemblies" in elementary schools around town so the young kids would get to see just how big and kind these giants really are.

Edit: And deck those kids out in Shocker gear. Can there be any better Christmas or birthday present than a Carl Hall jersey or a Cleanthony Early draped over your kid?

That is an excellent point. Most Shocker fans are getting very old. Many of their kids and grand-kids tend to follow other schools or at least follow both WSU and some other schools, they don't seem to have the passion for WSU that the older generations have.

I think a lot of that comes from those of us who followed WSU when the Valley was the best in the country have a lot stronger passion for WSU. Those who came of age in the 90s don't have much reason to be strong WSU fans.

[rrshock]

I have taken my two older kids to games twice now. They love it. They are begging for tickets to all games. I have 3 more that haven't seen one yet. They will all love it too. I noticed several younger people the other night that had kids with them. I believe the Shocker faithful are doing their part to instill "proper values" in their kids by bringing them to games and cheering on the Shocks.

[ShockerPhi]

My parents started taking me to games back when the Shocks were playing in the Kansas Colesium. My mom is an alumni of WSU so she thought it would be fun and it was close to our house. From then on, our family has been transformed into die hard Shocker fans.

[im4wsu]

My parents started taking me to games back when the Shocks were playing in the Kansas Colesium. My mom is an alumni of WSU so she thought it would be fun and it was close to our house. From then on, our family has been transformed into die hard Shocker fans.

My Dad and Uncle took me to games at the Forum. Was there for many games the year the Roundhouse was built (Bill Russell was f-ing unbelievable!) At that time, I was all of 10 years old. Still have a scorebook with names like Jim Strathe, John Gales, Elbert Urban, etc.

[pinstripers]

Don Lock?

[im4wsu]

Don Lock?

Absolutely. John Crum, too!

[pinstripers]

you are so........................................old