(PRE-GAME) (@UBS) Kansas, Fri., Dec. 3, 7p, FS-1

[monte]

Red White pregame reception sold out with very long wait list to attend.

Sounds like it may turn out to be a bigger crowd then expected for the game. I would have thought that every member of the Red White Club would be able to attend the pregame reception if they desired. Only a limited number? 

 

[jerseyshorejohnny]

Hearing that the crowd should be around 9K-10K

 

[monte]

Hearing that the crowd should be around 9K-10K

Right around what most of us had projected. 

 

[NCJohnnie]

Would love to be a fly on the wall at practices this week. I would hope they are beating the hell out of each other and chomping at the bit to get at Kansas. No excuse for them not to come out fired up and going after every loose ball and rebound. I'm not so much focused on a win or loss but if they don't come out fired up and play Kansas very tough I will start to worry about the rest of the season (not worried yet). If you can't get up for a storied program like Kansas especially after 3 lackluster performances against mediocre mid-major teams, motivation is definitely an issue. On the other hand, if they play KU tough, I will be pretty confident they can get a lot of quality wins during the Big east season. Let's go Johnnies!      

 

[ManhattAn1]

There is plenty of clubs and bars in UBS, it should not be an issue if looking for a pregame drink.

I think Zach reported yesterday 10k seats are out.  Only a few hundred left in the lower bowl 

 

[beast of the east]

Red White pregame reception sold out with very long wait list to attend.

Sounds like it may turn out to be a bigger crowd then expected for the game. I would have thought that every member of the Red White Club would be able to attend the pregame reception if they desired. Only a limited number? 

Monte, RW pregame receptions are open to all RW members, but there is always a limited number allowed because the food and beverages must be pre-ordered.   They are NOT free to RW members, although a complimentary number of passes to games at CA and MSG (and now UBS), are benefits at certain giving levels.  Even though there is a charge, at MSG and UBS, SJU subsidizes that charge (MSG charged about $150 per person).    The more popular games always draw a very large RW attendance.   With this game, ticket sales have lagged, and SJU had to give UBS numbers several weeks ago.   I'm guessing that RW ticket holders made reservations after this date, and it sold out and a waiting list ensued.

The RW pre-games are a great way to meet other fans, the food and beverage are usually very good, and also a great way to get to know the athletic department, who attend in force.  Typically a member of the coaching staff makes an appearance, and gives a run down of the upcoming game, gives insights, and answers questions from the audience.  This is where i first met Greg St. Jean, and subsequently became friends.   He spoke while still dressed in running gear, explaining that Chris was a fitness freak, and expected his staff to participate in workouts even on game days.   

Our real challenge is growing a fan base from students, to recent grads, to those raising young families..   Our current fan base is older, many have left the area, some face economic and health hardships, and  there is just a general lethargy whereby we just cannot count on them for the bulk of ticket sales or support.   This is an active initiative and I'm hoping we can build a new fanbase that every winning program needs to make the necessary investments in more success.   Certainly winning cures everything, but it's tougher to attract top notch talent playing in half empty arenas or those home games where visitors equal or exceed SJU fans, sub standard facilities, and limited budgets.   

A great late surge in tickets to what is definitely the jewel of our schedule, will help a lot.

 

[paultzman]

I’m expecting a battle by the Johnnies, but if we go down by double figures early, what is under/over on time it takes for Mean Gene to call for Anderson’s ouster?
 

 

[Anthony Mattia]

Anyone else concerned that there might be something wrong with Julian?  Last 3 games 2 for 15 from 3 and 8 for 14 from the free throw line.  I hope it is just a mini slump that he breaks out of against Kansas and not something physical.

 

[Mean Gene]

I’m expecting a battle by the Johnnies, but if we go down by double figures early, what is under/over on time it takes for Mean Gene to call for Anderson’s ouster?


 

LOL !!!! 

 

[beast of the east]

Jc has 3 straight big east weekly honor roll for his play

 

[Anthony Mattia]

Jc has 3 straight big east weekly honor roll for his play
 

I get that, but 13% from 3 and 57% from the free throw line for the last 3 games is concerning, no?

 

[Johnnies Not Lately]

I am concerned that the wrist is bothering his shooting. Particularly in the last game, he didn’t seem confident from the outside. Caused him to get a charge when he passed up a pretty good outside look. 

 

[BigRed]

I am concerned that the wrist is bothering his shooting. Particularly in the last game, he didn’t seem confident from the outside. Caused him to get a charge when he passed up a pretty good outside look. 

Champ is exclusively being planned for now. There are entire game plans that are formed around getting him out of his spots, and making him work off the dribble to create shots. 

He’s the top dog now, and is figuring out where his opportunities will come from now that they are taking away his favorite spots.

he just needs to continue to do what got him to this point: letting the game come to him, and getting it in the flow. 
Champ is one of the best bunch scorers in the country. He can score 12 straight in a flurry. He’ll be ok. Probably relishing the upcoming possibility. 

 

[room112]

Red White pregame reception sold out with very long wait list to attend.

Sounds like it may turn out to be a bigger crowd then expected for the game. I would have thought that every member of the Red White Club would be able to attend the pregame reception if they desired. Only a limited number? 

Monte, RW pregame receptions are open to all RW members, but there is always a limited number allowed because the food and beverages must be pre-ordered.   They are NOT free to RW members, although a complimentary number of passes to games at CA and MSG (and now UBS), are benefits at certain giving levels.  Even though there is a charge, at MSG and UBS, SJU subsidizes that charge (MSG charged about $150 per person).    The more popular games always draw a very large RW attendance.   With this game, ticket sales have lagged, and SJU had to give UBS numbers several weeks ago.   I'm guessing that RW ticket holders made reservations after this date, and it sold out and a waiting list ensued.

The RW pre-games are a great way to meet other fans, the food and beverage are usually very good, and also a great way to get to know the athletic department, who attend in force.  Typically a member of the coaching staff makes an appearance, and gives a run down of the upcoming game, gives insights, and answers questions from the audience.  This is where i first met Greg St. Jean, and subsequently became friends.   He spoke while still dressed in running gear, explaining that Chris was a fitness freak, and expected his staff to participate in workouts even on game days.   

Our real challenge is growing a fan base from students, to recent grads, to those raising young families..   Our current fan base is older, many have left the area, some face economic and health hardships, and  there is just a general lethargy whereby we just cannot count on them for the bulk of ticket sales or support.   This is an active initiative and I'm hoping we can build a new fanbase that every winning program needs to make the necessary investments in more success.   Certainly winning cures everything, but it's tougher to attract top notch talent playing in half empty arenas or those home games where visitors equal or exceed SJU fans, sub standard facilities, and limited budgets.   

A great late surge in tickets to what is definitely the jewel of our schedule, will help a lot.

Beast, are you able to share any of the plan that is taking place to tackle that challenge you mentioned? I know we have all noticed this about the lack of younger fans. Just curious what can be done to remedy, outside of having a perennial NCAA team.

 

[SigEpSJU09]

I will be there with 20 of my Fraternity brothers Section 107. I will be the loudest one in that section 

#neverforget 

 

[ADORAZ]

The two most obvious things hurting attendance right now are 1. being mediocre for 2 decades and 2. our poor OOC schedule (both in lack of intriguing matchups and far too many cupcakes).

That said, there's another BIG thing hurting OOC interest, and that's a total lack of OOC rivalries. When I was a student we had OOC rivalries with Duke and Syracuse. What happened?? Nearly every other Big East team has at least one major OOC rival they play every year (or nearly every year). Villanova with the Big 5 and Syracuse for instance. Seton Hall with Rutgers and Iona. Xavier with Cincinnati. Marquette with Wisconsin. Georgetown with Syracuse. Etc, etc.

We have MSG and now UBS for leverage and there's no excuse for virtually every other Big East team scheduling better than we do. Pittsburgh was a decent addition this year. They're awful as a team, but at least they're local and in a good conference. Is that series a one time thing? What hurts is during the past few years we haven't been able to maintain any rivals. Kansas for instance probably won't be scheduling us yearly, as is the case for all teams during our Big XII and Big Ten games. In order for a rivalry to develop, they need to be either 1. nationally relevant (such as Duke) or 2. decent and local.

Find 2+ teams willing to due H&H for 4+ years to develop a real rivalry. Pitt can be one of them (not sure if they currently are), but there needs to be another. Check in with Rutgers, Louisville, WVU, Iona, Penn St, St. Bonaventure, VCU, BC, and kick the tires on Syracuse and Duke. If nobody local works out, I find it really hard to believe that we couldn't get a major brand to play at MSG every other year for 4+ years.

Really, at this point any type of consistency OOC for a schedule filled with boring cupcakes would be great.

And just to keep this on topic, attempt doing this with Kansas (if they haven't already). It's unlikely, but they'd be guaranteed a MSG (or UBS) game every other year. The Big XII won't be as strong going forward without Texas and Oklahoma, so Kansas I'm sure is looking for more high-profile OOC games and stability.

 

[jerseyshorejohnny]

Realize Boston College isn't a powerhouse but they do have a large alumni and student contingent living in the NY Metro area

Arguably, if the game was played at CA it would be sold out. A home and home would make sense IMO and FWIW.

Would also like us to seriously consider home and home games with Iona.

A game at CA vs Iona would definitely be sold out.

 

 

[nycfan]

Would add Hofstra & Stony Brook to the list.  No reason why we could not schedule them regularly.  Both would draw much better as well.

There is just no interest on this year's OOC (except of course for Kansas & Indiana) - I saw $2 tickets on stubhub for game against FDU.

 

[NCJohnnie]

I'd love to see a home and home series with any of Rutgers, BC & Iona. Rutgers would probably do us the most good.  

 

[Section3]

Anyone else concerned that there might be something wrong with Julian?  Last 3 games 2 for 15 from 3 and 8 for 14 from the free throw line.  I hope it is just a mini slump that he breaks out of against Kansas and not something physical.

My take is that opposition is in his kitchen a lot. He seems to be rushing to get some of his shots off and as a result has come up short more often than in past. Not sure if this has hurt confidence a bit and carried over to the FT line.

With that said, I am confident he will figure it out.