So, those of you who really care about OU BB

[MO]

Someone needs to stand up to the Administration. This year is the worst non-conference home schedule I have ever seen.

How long does OU think they can show such complete disregard for the fans. I don't care if this team is rebuilding or needs a few confidence games, the fans deserve more.

I've been to almost every home game for going on 30 years now. I have tickets for the games this year. I'll probably go, but I also started going to some Thunder games.

You won't find a single Thunder employee that doesn't thank you for coming. The organization makes every effort to see that you have a good time, that your evening is entertaining.

OU needs to get their hand out of your shorts while they are taking your money. There is zero regard for the fan. The play the same tired music. There is some knucklehead on the PA telling you to stand up until a basket is made like we must be the most stupid people in the world about enthusiasm. The whole production is some kind of time loop. I really think someone thinks they owe the fans nothing except tradition. On top of that, the save a buck administration crams a schedule down our throats that Norman High could compete against.

It small wonder the team is so poorly supported. OU has no one to blame but their own uninspired efforts to put on an event.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

I agree that it is disappointing that there are not any good teams coming to the LNC for non-conference games, but it's not just OU doing this. Over the last few years I have noticed a trend in college basketball from marquee true road non-con games towards marquee neutral site non-con games, usually as part of an early season tournament. I agree that it is disappointing though, as the campus atmosphere is one of my favorite things about college sports, and the neutral site games obviously take away from that. Anyways that's my $0.02.

 

[Hollisp]

This year I will take the bad schedule. We need the wins. However, the music and the PA guy are a bit old and I agree with that

 

[skyvue]

The PA guy is embarrassingly bad, but I've been saying that for years. Otherwise, the experience is fine. I go to see the Sooners, not the other team. Strong matchups are nice, but if I lived in OKC, nothing would keep me away, including an opponent that isn't highly ranked.

We're playing plenty of good teams this season -- it just so happens that, because we're playing second halves of home-and-homes and participating in the Hawaii tourney, those games are on the road.

It's just one season, and we'll play plenty of tough home games during conference play.

 

[Sam]

Overral I agree with your sentiment as the effort made by the university isn't as good as it could be for a fan friendly experience. Some smalls steps have been made in recent years and I hope they continue.

On the schedule thing while the home games suck I think in some ways it had to be this way given the team make up. We were already locked in with a tough Maui tournament along with road trips to Zona and Arkansas along with another off site top game in Cincy. With about 14 non conference games the away games already have OU set up with 5-6 difficult opponents. This team needs some games where they can get a lot of guys burn in non conference to figure out what type of this is. I just hope the trend doesn't continue on scheduling.

 

[thebigabd]

Ya, the home schedule sucks but the overall schedule is good. I suppose the problem for ticket holders is the best game they get to see before January is Oral Roberts and Texas Southern. Other than those two games the schedule is filled with some big time puffs.

I can only assume that the administration cares more about who they play in the All College and national tournaments more than the home schedule. They want very badly to play in Maui, Alaska (or at least they used to), Preseason NIT, etc... It puts OU on national tv.

Perhaps that line of thinking is wrong? Perhaps they should just think about scheduling the best possible teams they can at home and not worry so much about big national tournaments?

I am inclined to believe that the national tournaments are more important than the home schedule. However, I say that as a fan with no season tickets or even single game tickets.

 

[MO]

It bothers me to walk into the LNC and see the place half full. The players deserve more than that and so do the fans. However, when I realize that I'm spending $100 a night for games (and that's the cheapest donor section), I'm just not sure it's worth it anymore.

I enjoy watching the development of the Sooner players. I too go to those early games if for no other reason than to see who is new and who is getting better. Nevertheless, sometimes it's about as interesting as walking around the track at the Y and watching a pickup game on the court below.

OU could make those early games more fun with more competitive "no name" teams or a real effort to provide accompanying entertainment. The Thunder does it every night and does it well.

 

[skyvue]

OU could make those early games more fun with more competitive "no name" teams or a real effort to provide accompanying entertainment. The Thunder does it every night and does it well.

You and I are polar opposites on this issue. Accompanying entertainment? Ugh.

Sorry, but one shouldn't expect a professional sports environment, with all its distractions and nonsense (in my view), at a college game. It's apples and oranges, or, at the very least, tangerines and oranges.

I mean no disrespect in saying this, but if watching the Sooners play isn't enough for you anymore -- if you really require "accompanying entertainment -- then perhaps the Thunder are a better match for you.

It's not as if we once had all those accompanying bells and whistles and did away with them. OU hoops was once enough for you -- now, you seem to crave the distractions of the professional sports experience. If so, that's where you should probably devote your energy, interest, and dollars.

 

[Tony]

I mean no disrespect in saying this, but if watching the Sooners play isn't enough for you anymore -- if you really require "accompanying entertainment -- then perhaps the Thunder are a better match for you.

Well, it's been perfectly clear for years, decades really, that just watching the Sooners play isn't enough for most people, and that was before the Thunder came to town. You and I might not like it, but that's the way it is. The number of people who regularly to OU basketball games just to watch OU basketball is tiny.

Our team is playing in an empty gym for half the season, and it isn't always a lot better the other half. You have to get the casual fan in the door once or twice to turn them into a fanatical one, and we can't even do that much, much less win them over. Saying, "Sayanora, we're not changing anything, see you later" seems like a very counterproductive approach to fixing what to me is a very real problem.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Well, it's been perfectly clear for years, decades really, that just watching the Sooners play isn't enough for most people, and that was before the Thunder came to town. You and I might not like it, but that's the way it is. The number of people who regularly to OU basketball games just to watch OU basketball is tiny.

Our team is playing in an empty gym for half the season, and it isn't always a lot better the other half. You have to get the casual fan in the door once or twice to turn them into a fanatical one, and we can't even do that much, much less win them over. Saying, "Sayanora, we're not changing anything, see you later" seems like a very counterproductive approach to fixing what to me is a very real problem.

Yep, I could not agree more. Fans have not been that impressed for years with OU basketball (as someone else said, it is going on at other schools as well) and the administration needs to make some changes. If the NBA puts on a better show, then copy what you can from the NBA and see how fans react. Diehard fans will show up regardless of what you do and will be satisfied, others need to be entertained to enjoy the experience and have the desire to come back. From the empty seats, it appears to me they do not feel they are being entertained.

To do the very same thing and expect different results is insanity.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

OU fans aren't that different from 90% of the other schools out there....November is still "football", and then if the team is good things pick up in January. There are about six or seven basketball crazy schools out there that will fill it up for Coppin State in November, OU just isn't one of them...I've learned to accept it and move on.

 

[skyvue]

OU fans aren't that different from 90% of the other schools out there....November is still "football", and then if the team is good things pick up in January. There are about six or seven basketball crazy schools out there that will fill it up for Coppin State in November, OU just isn't one of them...I've learned to accept it and move on.

Bingo. "Accompanying entertainment" has nothing to do with it. If people are focused on the non-basketball offerings (and they will be, if they're the types who would not have even attended the event without those additional offerings), they won't be sufficiently engaged with the action on the court.

The problem isn't introducing the game of basketball to people. We're not talking jai-alai here. Enough people have attended an OU basketball game at least once in their lives to fill the house every night. Fans who need another reason to attend besides the action on the court and the chance to cheer on the Sooners are not an asset to the program, because they won't be passionate, attentive fans -- not if it's the accompanying entertainment that brings them in. If they've never seen a basketball game, then just getting them in the door might be all that's required. But as I said, jai-alai, this ain't -- unfamiliarity isn't the issue; enthusiasm (about basketball, not accompanying entertainment) is.

Give me a crowd with seven thousand fans who are there to see a basketball game over a house of 11K, four or five thousand of whom are there strictly for the accompanying entertainment.

 

[Dem Coltz]

OU needs to get their hand out of your shorts while they are taking your money.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/3448/hightower.jpg

Show us where on the referee they touched you MO. It's not your fault. It's not your fault.

 

[SoonerNorm]

Bingo. "Accompanying entertainment" has nothing to do with it. If people are focused on the non-basketball offerings (and they will be, if they're the types who would not have even attended the event without those additional offerings), they won't be sufficiently engaged with the action on the court.

The problem isn't introducing the game of basketball to people. We're not talking jai-alai here. Enough people have attended an OU basketball game at least once in their lives to fill the house every night. Fans who need another reason to attend besides the action on the court and the chance to cheer on the Sooners are not an asset to the program, because they won't be passionate, attentive fans -- not if it's the accompanying entertainment that brings them in. If they've never seen a basketball game, then just getting them in the door might be all that's required. But as I said, jai-alai, this ain't -- unfamiliarity isn't the issue; enthusiasm (about basketball, not accompanying entertainment) is.

Give me a crowd with seven thousand fans who are there to see a basketball game over a house of 11K, four or five thousand of whom are there strictly for the accompanying entertainment.

Skyvue, you are correct, many have been to at least one OU basketball game. The problem is, many are not returning for more. If OU is satisfied with half of the seats being occupied, they should do nothing. If they want more rears in the seats, they need to think outside the box.

 

[w0lfe]

I agree that this years games arent that good, but I really dont know how much fans would still show up for a big game. If they go and get blown out, than attendance after that game would drop even more. I really like the kids that are on this team, because they want to be a part of OU basketball. I want to see them win as much as possible

 

[coolm]

I disagree with Sky there.

People who don't know much about the game can appreciate sheer athleticism - which we see in abundance anymore. But the thrill to that only lasts for so long.

You get desensitized after so many dunks.

You need to have some knowledge so you more appreciate the finer aspects of the game.

 

[Max Power]

The problem is not other activities, there are many factors such as
A. Cost of Tickets in a Recession, and
B. The way the team finished last year.
C. Have the back half of home and homes with Arkansas and Arizona while laying In Maui.

You cant have those 5 tough games away from home and then 8 tough games at home. If they did that and we were 3-10 then you guys would probably would be on here talking about how stupid it was not to schedule some easier games and calling for Capel's head more so than it is already being called for.

 

[BigTime]

Not sure what some of you are talking about. While the marketing folks and gameday ops folks can always continue to improve, I feel like the entertainment value at the LNC is light years ahead of where it was at four years ago. It is so much better now that it is not even funny.

The only thing missing last season was a team that gave a crap. We will have that this year and we can all go back to enjoying Sooner basketball.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

The administration has tried about every trick in the book, but there is just not that much general interest in basketball in November and December unless you are bringing in some tough non-conference opponents. You could have "Boomer" and "Sooner" doing crazy dunks and shooting t-shirts all night, but adults generally make the decision in what to do and where to go, and the fact is they won't until January, and only if the team is halfway decent. So unless "more entertainment" means free beer and scantily clad "cheerleaders" that can be tipped for a little something "extra"...good luck getting the average OU basketball fan (okay, maybe just this one) interested in rolling down for a 7:00 Wednesday Tip-Off agains Maryland Eastern-Shores.

 

[Edmond_Sooner]

I think for a college basketball experience it is quite adequate...My son and I have had a great time the past couple of years at games...

I dont like the guy that is on the speaker/announcer...isnt he the same one that did Hornets games as well? i thought he was bad with them also...just too cheezy and annoying...

I do agree that this schedule blows, but unlike football i think schedules can be made pretty close to the following season and expected this one to be soft...although i did think we would have maybe 1 marquee game in the non con...at home of course, Arkansas and Arizona are great games just on the road...Cincy as well in the Ford Center...

I personally think this season is what it is...hopefully they will get better and build, get maybe one or two more big time guys in next season and get this ship in the right direction...