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Comments
Why is UGA not a beacon for top coaches ?
That is my point, in my opinion it has a lot to do with the perception that basketball is an afterthought for the fan base.
I'm thinking about what a top coach with confidence in his ability sees when evaluating our potential.
Students stay away from UGA basketball games in droves, can that culture be changed ?
As the old saying goes, winning cures everything. Along with field a decently productive offensive team, where it's at least somewhat entertaining to casual fans.
The Steg holds 10,523. Last season (2017), UGA drew 129,939 fans over 18 games, for an average attendance of 7,218.
Obviously, we can do better. However, a big part of the less-than-capacity attendance was a result of the "product" on the court. I don't know if it's fair to say fans and students "stayed away in droves." Several games were well attended, including by students, and some (like LSU) were sell-outs.
Of course, getting UGA fans from Atlanta, etc., to drive over for a 6:30 weekday game is always a challenge. Weekend games tend to draw better, as do later weekday games.
Nevertheless, if we can develop a consistent winning program with a style of basketball that's fun to watch, I believe the Dawg fans will come and "pack the Steg."
It’s not a beacon because UGA basketball has always been behind. I agree we are a football school, but there are plenty of examples of schools making both sports a priority. Just my opinion, but it feels like the basketball program has never had the support it needed to recruit the hot bed of Georgia or even exceed needs.
Because of that, it has resulted in poor recruiting, crappy play, and people being tired of the same thing. I say a young guy who knows Georgia that can get recruited sorted out should be the ticket. Everything else will fall into place.
I feel like we have someone already on the team that is worth the low risk gamble.
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Outside the box, but if UGA had a top notch coach, could there be neutral site games scheduled in various GA cities with 'coming teams' from other conferences, like the ACC, B1G and others? Links to Savannah, Columbus, and Macon are below. Could get in on the ground floor with Savannah's. A Nawthen team might want a mid winter sojourn to the deep South. I'm assuming that mid-winter schedules have a few non-conference days possible. Of course other times might be possible.
https://www.savannahga.gov/1673/Arena-Canal-District
http://www.columbusciviccenter.org/arena/
http://www.maconcentreplex.org/
Well my question is, why does Georgia basketball have the longest drought in the SEC without a tournament win? 2002 was your last tournament win (which was apparently vacated) making 1996 the last season you were relevant? Come on now!? Just look at South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida's success in basketball the past decade. Teams who aren't historically on Kentucky's level. Look at what Auburn and Alabama have done in basketball this year who are supposed to be FOOTBALL ONLY caring schools more than we are. I don't want to hear the BS excuses.
Alabama and Auburn have started taking basketball more seriously, such as hiring good coaches. Therefore, they are seeing more success. That’s why Georgia is trying to get the best available coach.
Crean it is, time to back him
A great coach can solve a lot of issues. The fans will come. A great coach will see what we see, but it will take $3.2m+ a year and the backing of our AD. I’d be thrilled if, this time next year, I’m watching the Dawgs on TV instead of Davidson or San Diego State.
Trust me, if we put a good team on the court and win some games the fans will fill Steg to the rafters. Look in the recent past when the "Tub" was rocking and rolling.
We will ALWAYS be a football school but we have one of the most fertile states for athletes of all kinds in the nation. What, maybe 4th or 5th? I'll take that any day. All it takes is the right coach and some good recruiting and we're off and running. Then the fans come, revenue is produced, facilities get better, and so forth. I hope the new coach can get it going
No doubt it's tougher for non-local fans to get to work day games, and most Georgia fans live out of town.
While The Atl. Metro area is anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours from Athens when traffic is moving, it's a big commitment to leave work, make it to a night game, drive home and be at work the next morning.
Still, our students aren't really known for their basketball enthusiasm.
Have to convince the admin folks who "tolerate" the large influx of non alum... same folks who would prefer a reputation that espouses more higher edu and less rabid college fanbases of winning teams who's identity is mostly defined by sports. There was a reason mark r was getting destroyed in the facilities arms race...it sure wasn't cause fb wasn't making the $....If you can show the ROI like kirby has done...then those folks see $ turning into Rhodes schollys....its risk vs reward ...is the university willing to do what it takes to facilitate winning in bball.....I realize thats a relative statement...but the "tolerators" tend to look the other way when kirbys wins are more than paying for the investment and injecting tons of capital into the local community and UGA.
Just look at the hawks a couple of years ago. There is your example.
That is ALL the city (and most of the state) was talking about. Games were PACKED and ppl like me that can’t stand pro basketball were going to games.
Right now... not so much
The Hawks play in the middle of the fan base's population zone, Athens' geographical position is an unalterable element, it's on the eastern edge of our base and the town itself ( other than students) won't supply a high percentage of fans in the seats.
There is an element of optics, Duke packs a small arena with very loud students who make a lot of noise and dress so the cameras focus on them, it LOOKS big and energetic.
If we can consistently draw 10.000 and work on the theatrics, we might change the whole image from the half empty, low energy experience home games have too often displayed.