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Alright here it is a day late but hopefully worth it:
-The Drive: Easier than most Valley drives, I know some that went 81 to 80 to 29 and some that went 35 to 75 to 29. Bottom line is you can make good time on either depending on your travel style. If you are old and have to pee all the time,need a sit down meal for lunch, or are a compulsive gambler that has to stop at all of the casinos that line the Missouri River, plan on 8.5 hours plus either way; otherwise possible to knock it out in 7.5 or less depending on where in the ICT metro you live.
-The Town: Despite being 14 below wind chill when I arrived Monday afternoon, I left Sioux Falls with the idea that I could really get use to the place. Incredibly friendly people, a nice mix of old (restored quaint downtown with some very nice eats and drinks) and new (business infusion due to no corporate income tax), this is one of the fastest growing places in the country. I would, without hesitation, say that this is the type of place that I would love to go to on Valley road trips despite my testicles disappearing into hibernation for the two days I was there. Big enough to find stuff to do, great food (Taphouse 41 burgers are amongst the best I have had), and enough progressive thinkers to keep the place one step ahead of other cities its size around the country. Plus they have an Original Pancake House,which I was all over like a piss ant on a picnic blanket.
-The Venue: Really didn't know what to expect when I went to check out the arena Monday. I had in my mind after reading Sully's article a rustic looking airplane hangar with a carved out gymnasium. Instead, I found several buildings, athletic fields and a massive parking lot spread over 162 acres. One building had turf in it and looked like the Broncos training facility-baseball, soccer and football teams practice there. Another was designated for ice sports. Finally, the building that housed Heritage Court had nine other courts spread out to host a multitude of basketball events. The SD Sports Hall of Fame for High School Basketball is located there and featured tributes to Mike Miller and Nate Wolters , two of the state's native hoopsters. Heritage Court is a throwback retro scene with all of the amenities of a 20,000 seat arena (even beer). When I was wandering around Monday a gentleman whom I think was the event coordinator, greeted me in my Shocker Gear and promptly gave me a tour of the locker room (set up with Nike Gee dunk for the players and brass name plates on the lockers), the rest of the facility and even offered to have the souvenir shop opened for me. I felt like I had known the guy for my entire life. Also met Brad Coleman, father of former WSU SS Dusty, who is the facilities manager there. Other than the little too long lines at the concession stands, I have nothing to even remotely complain about. Even though it is far from tropical, I would bite anytime on an 8 team exempt tournament there.
-The Game: First of all, Shocker Nation is blowing up like Cheetos stock value in Colorado. I almost like going to road games more because my seats are usually better, I get to hang out with Shocker fans like @WuDrWu, @kai, @pogo, @martymoose and @wusphlash and several others, and I don't have to deal with the "I wanna be seen" Splurge crowd that seems to only find their way to CKA when we are good. This is the core, the heart, the soul of our fan base that is financially and logistically able to follow their love and passion. I know all of Shockernet if able would be there in spades if they could. Trust me, I am not wealthy and I have to work nights and weekends just to clear a path wide enough in my schedule to make these games work, but oh man, is it worth it. I would say 500-600 strong was the Black and Yellow yesterday. We brought it hard from the opening tip and won over some neutrals too. Not sure why our mascot or cheerleaders weren't there, but Memphis had a nice squad :) that will probably end up on a Real Housewives show in about 20 years. Seriously, they were legit.
Memphis had probably 100 or so fans in the crowd. There was lots of blue in the crowd but don't be fooled; the SDSU Jack Rabbits colors are blue and gold and there were many of their fans in attendance. Like I said before you cannot fully appreciate our defense until you see it up close and live. The switches, the help, the coverage and scrambling-if there is another team in America that does it better on the perimeter I would love to see it. Memphis has talent-they swept Louisville last year remember?-but they don't have purpose. Their PG had no idea what they were trying to accomplish on offense...I know Pastner gets the heat because he is the coach, but without a meeting of the minds between coach and PG, it doesn't matter how good you look or talented you are (see KU). That's what makes FVV so frickin special. Really starting to dig Rian's game and there was a time or two out there that he outjumped our bigs and theirs for a rebound. Rashard and Rauno will be fine-that was a good intro to big time athletes and shot blockers and each outing will get easier and easier. The Game Shaq was in form and I really want him to succeed on the court and in the classroom. Bush not redshirting still perplexes me unless we really have no hope of him getting any better than he is. When you have three FR way ahead of two Jucos in development, something is either really, really right with the FR or wrong with the Jucos. I will let you decide. Wessel confirmed my opinion that only the 90-10 ball exists when his on the court because 50/50 is an impossibility.
All in all, a tremendous journey and a great ride home. I am bummed I cannot go to Utah but the plans are in place for Detroit and several other roadies. If you can figure out how to make one or two this year, by all means try to do so.
-The Drive: Easier than most Valley drives, I know some that went 81 to 80 to 29 and some that went 35 to 75 to 29. Bottom line is you can make good time on either depending on your travel style. If you are old and have to pee all the time,need a sit down meal for lunch, or are a compulsive gambler that has to stop at all of the casinos that line the Missouri River, plan on 8.5 hours plus either way; otherwise possible to knock it out in 7.5 or less depending on where in the ICT metro you live.
-The Town: Despite being 14 below wind chill when I arrived Monday afternoon, I left Sioux Falls with the idea that I could really get use to the place. Incredibly friendly people, a nice mix of old (restored quaint downtown with some very nice eats and drinks) and new (business infusion due to no corporate income tax), this is one of the fastest growing places in the country. I would, without hesitation, say that this is the type of place that I would love to go to on Valley road trips despite my testicles disappearing into hibernation for the two days I was there. Big enough to find stuff to do, great food (Taphouse 41 burgers are amongst the best I have had), and enough progressive thinkers to keep the place one step ahead of other cities its size around the country. Plus they have an Original Pancake House,which I was all over like a piss ant on a picnic blanket.
-The Venue: Really didn't know what to expect when I went to check out the arena Monday. I had in my mind after reading Sully's article a rustic looking airplane hangar with a carved out gymnasium. Instead, I found several buildings, athletic fields and a massive parking lot spread over 162 acres. One building had turf in it and looked like the Broncos training facility-baseball, soccer and football teams practice there. Another was designated for ice sports. Finally, the building that housed Heritage Court had nine other courts spread out to host a multitude of basketball events. The SD Sports Hall of Fame for High School Basketball is located there and featured tributes to Mike Miller and Nate Wolters , two of the state's native hoopsters. Heritage Court is a throwback retro scene with all of the amenities of a 20,000 seat arena (even beer). When I was wandering around Monday a gentleman whom I think was the event coordinator, greeted me in my Shocker Gear and promptly gave me a tour of the locker room (set up with Nike Gee dunk for the players and brass name plates on the lockers), the rest of the facility and even offered to have the souvenir shop opened for me. I felt like I had known the guy for my entire life. Also met Brad Coleman, father of former WSU SS Dusty, who is the facilities manager there. Other than the little too long lines at the concession stands, I have nothing to even remotely complain about. Even though it is far from tropical, I would bite anytime on an 8 team exempt tournament there.
-The Game: First of all, Shocker Nation is blowing up like Cheetos stock value in Colorado. I almost like going to road games more because my seats are usually better, I get to hang out with Shocker fans like @WuDrWu, @kai, @pogo, @martymoose and @wusphlash and several others, and I don't have to deal with the "I wanna be seen" Splurge crowd that seems to only find their way to CKA when we are good. This is the core, the heart, the soul of our fan base that is financially and logistically able to follow their love and passion. I know all of Shockernet if able would be there in spades if they could. Trust me, I am not wealthy and I have to work nights and weekends just to clear a path wide enough in my schedule to make these games work, but oh man, is it worth it. I would say 500-600 strong was the Black and Yellow yesterday. We brought it hard from the opening tip and won over some neutrals too. Not sure why our mascot or cheerleaders weren't there, but Memphis had a nice squad :) that will probably end up on a Real Housewives show in about 20 years. Seriously, they were legit.
Memphis had probably 100 or so fans in the crowd. There was lots of blue in the crowd but don't be fooled; the SDSU Jack Rabbits colors are blue and gold and there were many of their fans in attendance. Like I said before you cannot fully appreciate our defense until you see it up close and live. The switches, the help, the coverage and scrambling-if there is another team in America that does it better on the perimeter I would love to see it. Memphis has talent-they swept Louisville last year remember?-but they don't have purpose. Their PG had no idea what they were trying to accomplish on offense...I know Pastner gets the heat because he is the coach, but without a meeting of the minds between coach and PG, it doesn't matter how good you look or talented you are (see KU). That's what makes FVV so frickin special. Really starting to dig Rian's game and there was a time or two out there that he outjumped our bigs and theirs for a rebound. Rashard and Rauno will be fine-that was a good intro to big time athletes and shot blockers and each outing will get easier and easier. The Game Shaq was in form and I really want him to succeed on the court and in the classroom. Bush not redshirting still perplexes me unless we really have no hope of him getting any better than he is. When you have three FR way ahead of two Jucos in development, something is either really, really right with the FR or wrong with the Jucos. I will let you decide. Wessel confirmed my opinion that only the 90-10 ball exists when his on the court because 50/50 is an impossibility.
All in all, a tremendous journey and a great ride home. I am bummed I cannot go to Utah but the plans are in place for Detroit and several other roadies. If you can figure out how to make one or two this year, by all means try to do so.
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