Apathy has set in

[Purple Pile Driver]

I usually hate coming to WR boards after a loss, you usually get some really unreasonable logic describing why we lost. Got home from the game and we have crickets. I guess crickets is better than some of the stuff we typically get, but it sure demonstrates where the fan base is. I expect Whisky May have more fans than NU at our Senior night. Sad the way this has all played out.

 

[mikewebb68]

I usually hate coming to WR boards after a loss, you usually get some really unreasonable logic describing why we lost. Got home from the game and we have crickets. I guess crickets is better than some of the stuff we typically get, but it sure demonstrates where the fan base is. I expect Whisky May have more fans than NU at our Senior night. Sad the way this has all played out.

You prefer that people like Mystic post their nonsense? I don't...

 

[willycat]

You prefer that people like Mystic post their nonsense? I don't...

NO but I think those 7,000 future fans should show up.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

You prefer that people like Mystic post their nonsense? I don't...

My point is people are so disgruntled they are even bitching. Haven’t seen that in awhile. Sitting in AA you can feel the apathy growing all season.

 

[JournCat]

I’ll watch as long as the players are fighting, and they still are. But what else is there left to say? I think everyone is ready to work on erasing this season from our memories.

 

[Fitz51]

I’ll watch as long as the players are fighting, and they still are. But what else is there left to say? I think everyone is ready to work on erasing this season from our memories.

Right. And I’m definitely not trekking out to Rosemont for it.

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

I’ll watch as long as the players are fighting, and they still are. But what else is there left to say? I think everyone is ready to work on erasing this season from our memories.

The bandwagon has emptied and the "fans" have turned on this team so quickly. If there is anything that has been discouraging about this season it is the reaction to our fanbase in the face of disappointing results on the court. After watching Northwestern sports for several decades, it's clear that the Cats have an extremely thin margin in the best of circumstances, and in some years when the chips don't fall in the right place, things can fall apart very quickly. One miss, a couple of injuries, and the season doesn't turn out the way we want it to.

The difference between this year and a decade ago is we are still at a .500 record and 6 wins in the B1G. In years past we would be looking at 8-20 and 2-16 and hoping not to lose by 30 or worse on the road.

 

[mikewebb68]

The bandwagon has emptied and the "fans" have turned on this team so quickly. If there is anything that has been discouraging about this season it is the reaction to our fanbase in the face of disappointing results on the court. After watching Northwestern sports for several decades, it's clear that the Cats have an extremely thin margin in the best of circumstances, and in some years when the chips don't fall in the right place, things can fall apart very quickly. One miss, a couple of injuries, and the season doesn't turn out the way we want it to.

The difference between this year and a decade ago is we are still at a .500 record and 6 wins in the B1G. In years past we would be looking at 8-20 and 2-16 and hoping not to lose by 30 or worse on the road.

And Simpson wins thread, well played!

 

[SimpsonElmwood]

And Simpson wins thread, well played!

I'm as pissed as the next person about this season but I don't understand how it's productive to set our proverbial house ablaze by criticizing a team on a public forum that can't even run a full 5 on 5 practice. This team needs and deserves our support for three more games or however long the season lasts.

 

[Styre]

The difference between this year and a decade ago is we are still at a .500 record and 6 wins in the B1G. In years past we would be looking at 8-20 and 2-16 and hoping not to lose by 30 or worse on the road.

Yes, a decade ago we were terrible, but in the 10 seasons since then we've won fewer than 6 conference games only once and made the postseason five times. "You should be grateful we're not 1-17" doesn't cut it anymore. We made the NCAA Tournament last year. Our coach declared last year "the beginning of Northwestern basketball," he's being compensated at an elite level, and we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the basketball arena and related facilities. The program itself is clearly setting a higher standard than "Bill Foster would have killed for 6 conference wins!" so don't get pissed off at fans for taking it seriously.

 

[Sec_112]

... the "fans" have turned on this team so quickly. If there is anything that has been discouraging about this season it is the reaction to our fanbase in the face of disappointing results on the court ... in some years when the chips don't fall in the right place, things can fall apart very quickly. One miss, a couple of injuries, and the season doesn't turn out the way we want it to...

Well described all the way around, but I think you're not giving the sensibilities of fans enough credit. It's been pretty obvious this is a slow motion car wreck for a while, and people didn't just suddenly jump off.

Also, it's been pretty obvious there are mixed emotions on the court. You cant expect fans to be completely on board when the team isn't. I think for a long time many around here tried to ignore the ugly, but at some point, reality unfortunately sets in.

I hope the seniors get a whole bunch of warm and fuzzy on Thursday. I assume they will get the love for many years to come.

 

[Eurocat]

Deserves our support? Well of course everything Northwestern does deserves our support I suppose. I support the tjheater department with donations. I donate to WNUR every year. I even trhow a few a dance marathon (even though I can't dance to save my life).

But this crap? You realize that on Saturday MSU went on a 28-0 point run on us? That we scored 11 points in the second half, three of them in the last few seconds after a stops-pops-it drops shot, we really only scored EIGHT points when it counted. For the entire half.

You realize last night was Maryland's second away win of the season (Big Ten season only, dunno about the rest)? You realize they went on an 18-2 point run against us and we did not do crap to stop them?

No more for me, I am tired of this crap and I am tired of last season being used as a constant boring tale of how great our guys are (and we should watch out, I get the distinct feeling that our Cinderelia story last year is starting to wear thin with the average fan who was happy to hear about it once or twice, but after twenty times, Mister Fordham fan, Mister St Johns fan, Marquette, Butler, etc. is getting a bit sick of this Northwestern praise). After all, they all have tales of woe of their own. And if we don't score against Michigan (and we almost did not) we are NIT at best again. (You do remember we had a game AFTER Michigan (Jim Nance was calling it - it was so hot they opened all the doors) - and we lost it).

So please spare me.

Start making layups (layups!) and free throws and easy three point stop-pop-drops and win the damn games.

We should have won the last three games we played. Rutgers, are you kidding me? Michigan State, we were ahead by how many at the half? Maryland - second away win of the year for them? Why against us? Don't tell me because Macintosh was hurt. Cmon, next man up. Are we the Big Ten or what? Freaking we should have second string.

I give up.[/QUOTE]

 

[NUCat320]

Right. And I’m definitely not trekking out to Rosemont for it.

This isn't a criticism, but it appears that only about a dozen students managed to make the trek tonight. Lots of great seats available behind the hoop. It's a shame for the players, but I wouldn't have made it out to games in rosemont as a student either.

 

[MysticCat]

Yes, a decade ago we were terrible, but in the 10 seasons since then we've won fewer than 6 conference games only once and made the postseason five times. "You should be grateful we're not 1-17" doesn't cut it anymore. We made the NCAA Tournament last year. Our coach declared last year "the beginning of Northwestern basketball," he's being compensated at an elite level, and we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the basketball arena and related facilities. The program itself is clearly setting a higher standard than "Bill Foster would have killed for 6 conference wins!" so don't get pissed off at fans for taking it seriously.

Weak end of game coaching, particularly the last minute. We don’t even know if we’re supposed to foul or not? Jeez. Then we just quit altogether in the final 30 seconds.

Is it just me or does CC seem like a perpetual rookie sometimes?

 

[NURoseBowl]

Well described all the way around, but I think you're not giving the sensibilities of fans enough credit. It's been pretty obvious this is a slow motion car wreck for a while, and people didn't just suddenly jump off.

Also, it's been pretty obvious there are mixed emotions on the court. You cant expect fans to be completely on board when the team isn't. I think for a long time many around here tried to ignore the ugly, but at some point, reality unfortunately sets in.

I hope the seniors get a whole bunch of warm and fuzzy on Thursday. I assume they will get the love for many years to come.

That, they will -- but not at that mausoleum. I look forward to the day when they bring all of last year's team together for a curtain call at the new arena. THAT will be a moment to remember, for them and for us.

 

[phatcat_rivals223240]

I notice Collins is no longer smug like he was after Mich.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

The team has been poor, coaching questionable and fan support lousy. Besides that it has been a great year. I don’t really care about the criticism on this board, most of it sparks good discussion. There are always negative Nellie’s, but most want the team to succeed.

However, while we throw those barbs, as fans we need to look in the mirror. At best, I give us a D for the season. The STH can brag about buying their tickets to support the program, but how about actually showing up to the games. The ENTIRE 100 level section I sit in is STH’s. For MSU, Michigan, Illinois, those STH’s dressed as opposition fans, for Nebby, PSU, and Maryland those STH’s came as empty seats. Pathetic. The same fat cat (no pun intended) donors that sit on the floor gave their tickets away to Maryland ( frigging Maryland) after embarrassing the fan base by having MSU folk in those seats 2 Days earlier.

I realize we are not good this year, but have a little School pride. You bought ST’s, maybe use them. At any rate, don’t sell your seats to opposition fans every damn game and call yourself a supporter of the program. Geez, the Fighting Undies stink and they sold out. Good for them, they didn’t quit on a bad team. Get it together for Senior day and show some appreciation for this class, despite this poor season.

 

[willycat]

Weak end of game coaching, particularly the last minute. We don’t even know if we’re supposed to foul or not? Jeez. Then we just quit altogether in the final 30 seconds.

Is it just me or does CC seem like a perpetual rookie sometimes?

First why aren't you on the Holy cross board? Oh, they don't have one, sorry. FYI, Collins was screaming for someone to take a foul right after the ball was in play.

 

[mikewebb68]

Weak end of game coaching, particularly the last minute. We don’t even know if we’re supposed to foul or not? Jeez. Then we just quit altogether in the final 30 seconds.

Is it just me or does CC seem like a perpetual rookie sometimes?

It's just you, as usual. And Carmody sucks.

 

[thewildcat2011]

Deserves our support? Well of course everything Northwestern does deserves our support I suppose. I support the tjheater department with donations. I donate to WNUR every year. I even trhow a few a dance marathon (even though I can't dance to save my life).

But this crap? You realize that on Saturday MSU went on a 28-0 point run on us? That we scored 11 points in the second half, three of them in the last few seconds after a stops-pops-it drops shot, we really only scored EIGHT points when it counted. For the entire half.

You realize last night was Maryland's second away win of the season (Big Ten season only, dunno about the rest)? You realize they went on an 18-2 point run against us and we did not do crap to stop them?

No more for me, I am tired of this crap and I am tired of last season being used as a constant boring tale of how great our guys are (and we should watch out, I get the distinct feeling that our Cinderelia story last year is starting to wear thin with the average fan who was happy to hear about it once or twice, but after twenty times, Mister Fordham fan, Mister St Johns fan, Marquette, Butler, etc. is getting a bit sick of this Northwestern praise). After all, they all have tales of woe of their own. And if we don't score against Michigan (and we almost did not) we are NIT at best again. (You do remember we had a game AFTER Michigan (Jim Nance was calling it - it was so hot they opened all the doors) - and we lost it).

So please spare me.

Start making layups (layups!) and free throws and easy three point stop-pop-drops and win the damn games.

We should have won the last three games we played. Rutgers, are you kidding me? Michigan State, we were ahead by how many at the half? Maryland - second away win of the year for them? Why against us? Don't tell me because Macintosh was hurt. Cmon, next man up. Are we the Big Ten or what? Freaking we should have second string.

I give up.

I don’t know that we wanna hear it from a guy who called our players a bunch of losers.

 

[Max_Power]

Remember when BMac and Lindsey were named all bigten before the season. Ugh.

 

[Sec_112]

... The STH can brag about buying their tickets to support the program, but how about actually showing up to the games ...

I don't disagree, but did you really think this characteristic was going to change with one season and all the circumstances surrounding this season?

My problem is that NU had a chance to address this strong characteristic in the new arena, and they probably exacerbated the problem with the country club seats.

In the next two seasons, let's say the Cats only go to one NIT (hopefully not). Imagine how many fans are going to be in the Wilsons. Same group ... more comfortable seats ... more food.

 

[Eurocat]

I don’t know that we wanna hear it from a guy who called our players a bunch of losers.

I did not do that. The losers were the people who called me to tease me after we lost. I called up guys telling them a big upset might be brewing. We lose and they call me back and laugh and ream me (not all did, about half).. Totally not sporting or classy. I believe I clarified that. Re-read the thread please..I admit I was not clear about that at first (my bad). I think as a 25 year poster on this board I deserve some benefit of doubt.

But your mileage may vary. Have a pleasant day.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1_rivals]

Yes, a decade ago we were terrible, but in the 10 seasons since then we've won fewer than 6 conference games only once and made the postseason five times. "You should be grateful we're not 1-17" doesn't cut it anymore. We made the NCAA Tournament last year. Our coach declared last year "the beginning of Northwestern basketball," he's being compensated at an elite level, and we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the basketball arena and related facilities. The program itself is clearly setting a higher standard than "Bill Foster would have killed for 6 conference wins!" so don't get pissed off at fans for taking it seriously.

Good post.

I agree that the standard has been raised (something Phillips made very clear prior to hiring CC), but in general I think the expectations for 2017-18 were inflated due to last year's run. The facility upgrades will raise the bar for success even more, but that standard should be deferred as the impact from the structural improvements will need a some time to be felt on the court.

That being said, the manner in which the last three match ups have been lost is certainly disappointing and some criticism is understandable. Those were games the 'Cats could/should have won. Finish the job and the narrative might have been different.

 

[Styre]

Good post.

I agree that the standard has been raised (something Phillips made very clear prior to hiring CC), but in general I think the expectations for 2017-18 were inflated due to last year's run.

I agree - the Big Ten championship/Final Four talk was always silly - but the team’s performance this year falls below what would have been merely reasonable expectations.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

I don't disagree, but did you really think this characteristic was going to change with one season and all the circumstances surrounding this season?

My problem is that NU had a chance to address this strong characteristic in the new arena, and they probably exacerbated the problem with the country club seats.

In the next two seasons, let's say the Cats only go to one NIT (hopefully not). Imagine how many fans are going to be in the Wilsons. Same group ... more comfortable seats ... more food.

Might be right, time will tell.

For the Wilson club, from a financial perspective it is cheaper per ticket to buy all 4 allocated to you. So minimum investment for 4 seats would be $8000 ($6000 donation plus $500 per seat). figured 15 home games so 60 total tickets. $8000/60 tix equals $133 per ticket. Scalpers can probably make that for top games, but won’t come anywhere near it for the dog games. So the demand by the Pro brokers should be subdued.

So let’s assume nearly all the Wilson club go to NU Almuni/fans. The question then becomes do they hock their seats to the opposition when they don’t plan to use them or bite the bullet and either give them away or eat them. People sitting in those seats don’t strike me as being short of cash, so trying to turn a profit in the secondary market is likely not something they want to deal in.

So these people and other ST’s really determine the fate of the demographic of the attendance. IMO once we are at the new WR, if we get over run by the opposition, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We now collectively control the amount of tickets that get into opposition fans hands because of how high of a percentage of our seats are tied up in ST’s. Shame on us if we are overwhelmed by Red, Blue, Green or Orange again.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Might be right, time will tell.

For the Wilson club, from a financial perspective it is cheaper per ticket to buy all 4 allocated to you. So minimum investment for 4 seats would be $8000 ($6000 donation plus $500 per seat). figured 15 home games so 60 total tickets. $8000/60 tix equals $133 per ticket. Scalpers can probably make that for top games, but won’t come anywhere near it for the dog games. So the demand by the Pro brokers should be subdued.

So let’s assume nearly all the Wilson club go to NU Almuni/fans. The question then becomes do they hock their seats to the opposition when they don’t plan to use them or bite the bullet and either give them away or eat them. People sitting in those seats don’t strike me as being short of cash, so trying to turn a profit in the secondary market is likely not something they want to deal in.

So these people and other ST’s really determine the fate of the demographic of the attendance. IMO once we are at the new WR, if we get over run by the opposition, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We now collectively control the amount of tickets that get into opposition fans hands because of how high of a percentage of our seats are tied up in ST’s. Shame on us if we are overwhelmed by Red, Blue, Green or Orange again.

If we are, it won't be because of me. I've never sold a single ticket to opposition fans, and I'm not about to start now. I either use 'em, eat 'em or give them to people I know will be properly attired.

 

[ubercat]

Might be right, time will tell.

For the Wilson club, from a financial perspective it is cheaper per ticket to buy all 4 allocated to you. So minimum investment for 4 seats would be $8000 ($6000 donation plus $500 per seat). figured 15 home games so 60 total tickets. $8000/60 tix equals $133 per ticket. Scalpers can probably make that for top games, but won’t come anywhere near it for the dog games. So the demand by the Pro brokers should be subdued.

So let’s assume nearly all the Wilson club go to NU Almuni/fans. The question then becomes do they hock their seats to the opposition when they don’t plan to use them or bite the bullet and either give them away or eat them. People sitting in those seats don’t strike me as being short of cash, so trying to turn a profit in the secondary market is likely not something they want to deal in.

So these people and other ST’s really determine the fate of the demographic of the attendance. IMO once we are at the new WR, if we get over run by the opposition, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We now collectively control the amount of tickets that get into opposition fans hands because of how high of a percentage of our seats are tied up in ST’s. Shame on us if we are overwhelmed by Red, Blue, Green or Orange again.

The only other variable would be the single game tickets that get bought up by ST holders (and then scalped), or by visiting fans directly from the NU ticket office. Does anybody have a handle on the number of single game tickets that would be available? (7,049 - X ; where X = season tickets + student seating + NU comps).

 

[willycat]

Might be right, time will tell.

For the Wilson club, from a financial perspective it is cheaper per ticket to buy all 4 allocated to you. So minimum investment for 4 seats would be $8000 ($6000 donation plus $500 per seat). figured 15 home games so 60 total tickets. $8000/60 tix equals $133 per ticket. Scalpers can probably make that for top games, but won’t come anywhere near it for the dog games. So the demand by the Pro brokers should be subdued.

So let’s assume nearly all the Wilson club go to NU Almuni/fans. The question then becomes do they hock their seats to the opposition when they don’t plan to use them or bite the bullet and either give them away or eat them. People sitting in those seats don’t strike me as being short of cash, so trying to turn a profit in the secondary market is likely not something they want to deal in.

So these people and other ST’s really determine the fate of the demographic of the attendance. IMO once we are at the new WR, if we get over run by the opposition, we have no one to blame but ourselves. We now collectively control the amount of tickets that get into opposition fans hands because of how high of a percentage of our seats are tied up in ST’s. Shame on us if we are overwhelmed by Red, Blue, Green or Orange again.

These same "effluent" folks have been selling/giving their tickets to the enemy for years and years, so what makes you think they will stop? Guess NU could tarp over all but the student seats and then the arena will be all purple. Game attendance= 1,500.

 

[Fitz51]

These same "effluent" folks have been selling/giving their tickets to the enemy for years and years, so what makes you think they will stop? Guess NU could tarp over all but the student seats and then the arena will be all purple. Game attendance= 1,500.

Right - why would they stop when the demand might be even higher?

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

These same "effluent" folks have been selling/giving their tickets to the enemy for years and years, so what makes you think they will stop? Guess NU could tarp over all but the student seats and then the arena will be all purple. Game attendance= 1,500.

Selling? Not sure about that. Giving away to some important client who may be sending their kid to Michigan? Maybe.

Point is, why on God’s green Earth would you ever build a larger arena to accommodate more opposition fans?

 

[Fitz51]

Point is, why on God’s green Earth would you ever build a larger arena to accommodate more opposition fans?

Because in fantasy land, NU is suddenly going to have a much larger fanbase.

 

[docrugby1]

Yes, a decade ago we were terrible, but in the 10 seasons since then we've won fewer than 6 conference games only once and made the postseason five times. "You should be grateful we're not 1-17" doesn't cut it anymore. We made the NCAA Tournament last year. Our coach declared last year "the beginning of Northwestern basketball," he's being compensated at an elite level, and we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the basketball arena and related facilities. The program itself is clearly setting a higher standard than "Bill Foster would have killed for 6 conference wins!" so don't get pissed off at fans for taking it seriously.

You realize we were devoid of talent during many of those years. CC has upgraded the talent so expectations are higher, possibly unrealistically so. The talent is visibly better to even casual fans but may still be wanting compared to the majority of other B1G programs. Only time will tell if NU's talent can catch up with the rest of the league and succeed on a yearly basis

 

[willycat]

Because in fantasy land, NU is suddenly going to have a much larger fanbase.

Why is that a fantasy? It should be doable to get 1,500-2,000 students to attend games on campus. Add 5,000 ST holders, 1,000 or so for the visitors and 2,000 walk-up Chicago area BB fans and guess what there are 10,000 paying customers in the arena.

 

[Fitz51]

Why is that a fantasy? It should be doable to get 1,500-2,000 students to attend games on campus. Add 5,000 ST holders, 1,000 or so for the visitors and 2,000 walk-up Chicago area BB fans and guess what there are 10,000 paying customers in the arena.

It's fantasy because it has never really happened and a new arena won't magically make fandom happen. What NU "should" be able to do as far as fan interest and what it has actually done, both in football and basketball, are two different things.

 

[CMcCat]

I usually hate coming to WR boards after a loss, you usually get some really unreasonable logic describing why we lost. Got home from the game and we have crickets. I guess crickets is better than some of the stuff we typically get, but it sure demonstrates where the fan base is. I expect Whisky May have more fans than NU at our Senior night. Sad the way this has all played out.

As I reviewed the arena prior to tipoff, this came to mind.

 

[ubercat]

Tomorrow we'll have two disappointed fan bases meeting at a neutral site. I'll be there to support our team, and to show gratitude for the graduating seniors.

 

[2388bb]

Yes, a decade ago we were terrible, but in the 10 seasons since then we've won fewer than 6 conference games only once and made the postseason five times. "You should be grateful we're not 1-17" doesn't cut it anymore. We made the NCAA Tournament last year. Our coach declared last year "the beginning of Northwestern basketball," he's being compensated at an elite level, and we're spending hundreds of millions of dollars renovating the basketball arena and related facilities. The program itself is clearly setting a higher standard than "Bill Foster would have killed for 6 conference wins!" so don't get pissed off at fans for taking it seriously.

Well said Tyre.

 

[EvanstonCat]

The bandwagon has emptied and the "fans" have turned on this team so quickly. If there is anything that has been discouraging about this season it is the reaction to our fanbase in the face of disappointing results on the court. After watching Northwestern sports for several decades, it's clear that the Cats have an extremely thin margin in the best of circumstances, and in some years when the chips don't fall in the right place, things can fall apart very quickly. One miss, a couple of injuries, and the season doesn't turn out the way we want it to.

The difference between this year and a decade ago is we are still at a .500 record and 6 wins in the B1G. In years past we would be looking at 8-20 and 2-16 and hoping not to lose by 30 or worse on the road.

I still follow the Cats. But, it's more meh, now.

If you want fans to show their support, give them something to cheer for. You lose, and of course the fans will turn.

And if you want to talk about years past, to get a silver lining out of it, that's your deal. I prefer not to remember those painful times.