Game 10: GMU (6-3) vs Tulane (4-5) on Saturday, December 7, at 2:00 PM.

[Patriot8]

Of course the Final Four run was the reason for the surge in attendance. But, not every home game was attended by over 7,800 fans like the 3 games that I cited. Scheduling may not matter at every school, but IMO it matters here.

It certainly matters, but as we've been over previously, it's very difficult to put together a quality non-conference home schedule as a mid-major. There's currently no incentive for a HM like Mississippi State to come to EBA.

Locally, I can't think of a realistic program outside of JMU that would pique a casual fans interest, and even that is now more important to the older demo given realignment.

The bracket buster was a fantastic thing that unfortunately died off.

I'd be great with a couple of H&H's with upper-tier Missouri Valley/SoCon teams. Furman, Drake, Bradley, etc. Outside of the H&H's we have had with AAC teams like Tulane and East Carolina, I'm not sure what the realistic solution is for luring a bigger brand to EBA until Mason elevates its profile and becomes a consistent Q1 road opportunity for a HM to consider.

 

[NewPatriot]

Of course the Final Four run was the reason for the surge in attendance. But, not every home game was attended by over 7,800 fans like the 3 games that I cited. Scheduling may not matter at every school, but IMO it matters here.

I think the problem is that this is fairfax station/burke/fairfax city and west springfield territory.

Kids in the immediate area only attend football and baseball hs games..

There is no interest in hoops..

 

[GMU1983]

Atmosphere sucks in student section they forgot how to cheer

 

[GMUgemini]

It certainly matters, but as we've been over previously, it's very difficult to put together a quality non-conference home schedule as a mid-major. There's currently no incentive for a HM like Mississippi State to come to EBA.

Locally, I can't think of a realistic program outside of JMU that would pique a casual fans interest, and even that is now more important to the older demo given realignment.

The bracket buster was a fantastic thing that unfortunately died off.

I'd be great with a couple of H&H's with upper-tier Missouri Valley/SoCon teams. Furman, Drake, Bradley, etc. Outside of the H&H's we have had with AAC teams like Tulane and East Carolina, I'm not sure what the realistic solution is for luring a bigger brand to EBA until Mason elevates its profile and becomes a consistent Q1 road opportunity for a HM to consider.

Man I would love for the next 5 best conferences (MWC, A10, AAC, WCC, CUSA) get together and pitch some kind of bracket buster event to Apple or Amazon or even YouTube (if traditional sports media outlets are uninterested). I would so much rather hold open a date in February than have to play a non-D1 school.

I would even open it up later to the next 5 if it turns out to be successful.

 

[Masonfan3]

Man I would love for the next 5 best conferences (MWC, A10, AAC, WCC, CUSA) get together and pitch some kind of bracket buster event to Apple or Amazon or even YouTube (if traditional sports media outlets are uninterested). I would so much rather hold open a date in February than have to play a non-D1 school.

I would even open it up later to the next 5 if it turns out to be successful.

Been thinking about something similar for a while. Make every Power 5 and the next best 5 conferences (like what you had) hold open a date. You rank every team in each conference and they play the same ranked team of a different conference at the mid majors place. You start with the ACC playing the A10 and then rotate each year. NCAA needs to step up and create something like that as it's the only way to get the power teams to play a mid major away from home.

 

[mkaufman1]

Been thinking about something similar for a while. Make every Power 5 and the next best 5 conferences (like what you had) hold open a date. You rank every team in each conference and they play the same ranked team of a different conference at the mid majors place. You start with the ACC playing the A10 and then rotate each year. NCAA needs to step up and create something like that as it's the only way to get the power teams to play a mid major away from home.

I completely agree with your comment and the above comments about having conferences come together to help out scheduling.

Unfortunately the NCAA has refused and will continue to get involved with scheduling. Its awful because there are many ways you can do it without some Power 5 losing the "benefit". It ultimately comes down the coaches philosophy, etc. Many have opened up to local games and see that as fun. Others still downright refuse.

 

[gmubrian]

Been thinking about something similar for a while. Make every Power 5 and the next best 5 conferences (like what you had) hold open a date. You rank every team in each conference and they play the same ranked team of a different conference at the mid majors place. You start with the ACC playing the A10 and then rotate each year. NCAA needs to step up and create something like that as it's the only way to get the power teams to play a mid major away from home.

I can think of no incentive or reason the NCAA would do this since they are, effectively, owned by the P5.

Look no further than the proposed House vs NCAA settlement. Only the P5 were named as plaintiffs and only P5 players will get paid from it. The NCAA and the P5s got together to hammer out a proposal (without consulting a single non P5 school) and decided that the non-P5 schools will have to pay 1/3 of the penalties.

Does that sound to you like the NCAA cares in the slightest about helping non-P5 conferences?

 

[GMUgemini]

I can think of no incentive or reason the NCAA would do this since they are, effectively, owned by the P5.

Look no further than the proposed House vs NCAA settlement. Only the P5 were named as plaintiffs and only P5 players will get paid from it. The NCAA and the P5s got together to hammer out a proposal (without consulting a single non P5 school) and decided that the non-P5 schools will have to pay 1/3 of the penalties.

Does that sound to you like the NCAA cares in the slightest about helping non-P5 conferences?

That’s why my idea didn’t include them. They are basically trying to separate themselves from the rest of us and we have to largely move on.

Bracket Busters was a great event until a bunch of individual schools started pulling out of it and it got watered down and then died.

I should have included the new look PAC in my idea since they’ve been kicked out of the club, but my guess is they’re going to try to get back in and SDSt, Wash St. and Oregon St would have nothing to do with an event that includes us or their old conference mates.