2021-22 Basketball Schedule

[CyCarp]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm not really mad about the schedule release. I'm glad they did it this way (releasing what they knew early and have the rest come out as scheduled) vs the normal where were one of the last teams in the country to release it. For the UD game, I'm not really surprised. A D3 is going to be excited to play a D1 and to us it's just meh. There's no reason to have a release for it. The big problem to me is lack of media coverage. When we've heard about other games it's usually from media covering the team, not directly from the team. I do wish we'd see more as far as media day or clips from practice though.

[06panther10]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm not really mad about the schedule release. I'm glad they did it this way (releasing what they knew early and have the rest come out as scheduled) vs the normal where were one of the last teams in the country to release it. For the UD game, I'm not really surprised. A D3 is going to be excited to play a D1 and to us it's just meh. There's no reason to have a release for it. The big problem to me is lack of media coverage. When we've heard about other games it's usually from media covering the team, not directly from the team. I do wish we'd see more as far as media day or clips from practice though.

The issue is that you cant sell tickets to games that do not exist. Additionally, you are selling season tickets at a premium price to people who think they are getting 14-15 home games and then instead giving them 12-13 home games of which some of them are worthless D3 games.

[CyCarp]

The issue is that you cant sell tickets to games that do not exist. Additionally, you are selling season tickets at a premium price to people who think they are getting 14-15 home games and then instead giving them 12-13 home games of which some of them are worthless D3 games.

I understand the frustration, but unfortunately that's mid major life. You'll never get P5s to come here unless something crazy happens. You want to bring in a garbage D1? That only hurts your SOS and other rankings/numbers. I don't think it's realistically possible to schedule better than this.

[BCPanther]

I understand the frustration, but unfortunately that's mid major life. You'll never get P5s to come here unless something crazy happens. You want to bring in a garbage D1? That only hurts your SOS and other rankings/numbers. I don't think it's realistically possible to schedule better than this.

We all realize that or at least we should.

I think his point goes to relying on the same group of fans to bring all the money even when they get screwed. It's not sustainable.

[panther-state]

I understand the frustration, but unfortunately that's mid major life. You'll never get P5s to come here unless something crazy happens. You want to bring in a garbage D1? That only hurts your SOS and other rankings/numbers. I don't think it's realistically possible to schedule better than this.

And when those donors and fans get tired of spending money and donating to a department that seems apathetic at best, I suppose we can say to the AD, "Well that's just mid-major life".

[BrockLesnar]

Was it contract negotiations that caused the MAC schools to back off? We run into issues with comparable schools, as well. I'm ok with a couple of D3 schools coming. It won't help the SOS, but at least it's non-counters that have no effect. A Western Illinois is a D1 example that drags down our numbers. On the other side with power 5 schools they all want low end D1s due to the losses that are absorbed within league season. That has everything to do with them not scheduling us. Arkansas is a confident exception. Some analysts have them in the top 10.

[CyCarp]

And when those donors and fans get tired of spending money and donating to a department that seems apathetic at best, I suppose we can say to the AD, "Well that's just mid-major life".

Are you still talking about scheduling? Honestly - what's the solution? I agree it sucks we can't get a P5 here every year, butt it's just the way it is and they've actually been able to get some high quality mid major teams (Richmond, Bonnies next year, Boise last year minus COVID, prior to that Xavier, Arlington when they were decent, etc.) I don't really see the apathy when it comes to scheduling. Have you seen Iowa and Iowa States non conference? Absolutely abysmal, they have a strong conference schedule to substitute though. Looking at other schedules around the country and how this game plays out year after year, it's hard for me to be mad. I'd think most fans would understand this.

[BCPanther]

Are you still talking about scheduling? Honestly - what's the solution? I agree it sucks we can't get a P5 here every year, butt it's just the way it is and they've actually been able to get some high quality mid major teams (Richmond, Bonnies next year, Boise last year minus COVID, prior to that Xavier, Arlington when they were decent, etc.) I don't really see the apathy when it comes to scheduling. Have you seen Iowa and Iowa States non conference? Absolutely abysmal, they have a strong conference schedule to substitute though. Looking at other schedules around the country and how this game plays out year after year, it's hard for me to be mad. I'd think most fans would understand this.

It doesn't have anything to do with WHO the opponent is. The problem is when you start selling tickets and say 'we're going to have 15 or 16 home games' and then when the rubber hits the road, you've got 13 or 14 and two of them are Loras and Cornell.

Everybody knows there aren't P5s walking through that door and everybody gets it. The problem is that you're selling tickets at a 15 or 16 game price and giving people, essentially, 11.

We're getting to the point where there are really about 3500 true UNI fans (defined as people that either buy FB and MBB season tickets and/or donate to the PSC) and you can't just keep going to the well for their cash over and over without trying to expand the base. You're going to get to the point where they're tapped out and then what on earth do you do?

[UNIpanther99]

The way it is now, why would a casual fan even think about buying season tickets though? Buy three mini-packs and you're money ahead.

Something Iowa does I wish UNI would do is the flex pack. 10 tickets to be distributed however you like. You can do a couple of tickets for a few games, and if you know you have friends/family coming in some weekend you could do 4 or whatever for a specific game.

[BCPanther]

Only 1 appearance on CBS Sports Net. January 8th at Missouri State.

That package has basically become the Loyola package (5 appearances) which is kind of bull**** but whatever. They also selected a non-conference game (BYU at Missouri State) which is also kind of maddening.

Missouri State got 3 appearances and us, Drake, Bradley, SIU, Valpo, Indiana State all got one.

[DownGoesKansas]

You're going to get to the point where they're tapped out and then what on earth do you do?

We get what half of the state wants, no more UNI D1 sports

[CyCarp]

It doesn't have anything to do with WHO the opponent is. The problem is when you start selling tickets and say 'we're going to have 15 or 16 home games' and then when the rubber hits the road, you've got 13 or 14 and two of them are Loras and Cornell.

Everybody knows there aren't P5s walking through that door and everybody gets it. The problem is that you're selling tickets at a 15 or 16 game price and giving people, essentially, 11.

We're getting to the point where there are really about 3500 true UNI fans (defined as people that either buy FB and MBB season tickets and/or donate to the PSC) and you can't just keep going to the well for their cash over and over without trying to expand the base. You're going to get to the point where they're tapped out and then what on earth do you do?

But what can they realistically do? Would bring in a Western Illinois or North Dakota make people feel better? I doubt it, plus teams like that probably cost more to bring in than a D3 and it hurts your numbers for at large hopes. I suppose you could lower ticket prices, but is dropping the price $50 or whatever going to entice more fans? Doubtful, and definitely not enough to add enough additional sales to make up for the money lost in the price dropping. I agree it's a ****ty situation, but there's just really not a good answer. On the bright side, hopefully expanding the league means another guaranteed game or two, combine that with continuing to schedule quality mid majors is the best option that we can control. It's practically impossible to try to balance a competitive schedule plus have a bunch of home games. The other way to solve it is to put a quality team on the floor. If you win games and you get back to the NCAAs with regularity, that'll solve a lot of issues.

I do like the idea of a flex pack as panther99 mentioned. I'm not a season ticket holder. I live in Dubuque and have three kids under 6, so it's just not realistic, especially when half the games are during the week. A flex pack like this would be perfect for me, but from the athletic department standpoint - would people give up season tickets and go with a pack like this instead, losing the school money? Double edged sword, but I think that would be a worthy thing to try.

[UNIAlum95]

But what can they realistically do? Would bring in a Western Illinois or North Dakota make people feel better? I doubt it, plus teams like that probably cost more to bring in than a D3 and it hurts your numbers for at large hopes. I suppose you could lower ticket prices, but is dropping the price $50 or whatever going to entice more fans? Doubtful, and definitely not enough to add enough additional sales to make up for the money lost in the price dropping. I agree it's a ****ty situation, but there's just really not a good answer. On the bright side, hopefully expanding the league means another guaranteed game or two, combine that with continuing to schedule quality mid majors is the best option that we can control. It's practically impossible to try to balance a competitive schedule plus have a bunch of home games. The other way to solve it is to put a quality team on the floor. If you win games and you get back to the NCAAs with regularity, that'll solve a lot of issues.

I do like the idea of a flex pack as panther99 mentioned. I'm not a season ticket holder. I live in Dubuque and have three kids under 6, so it's just not realistic, especially when half the games are during the week. A flex pack like this would be perfect for me, but from the athletic department standpoint - would people give up season tickets and go with a pack like this instead, losing the school money? Double edged sword, but I think that would be a worthy thing to try.

There aren't many good solutions for basketball but as you said the conference expansion helps fill another game which is much needed for conferences like the MVC. The MVC is too good for a P5 school to risk a loss and scheduling a low major hurts your at-large prospects. Rock <-> MVC <-> Hard place

The flex pack is definitely needed for basketball. That's a great option to keep people in the building and grow that base of fans that might only be able to commit to a few games each year. Couple that with some form of a family or flex pack GA seating for football and you can start to get butts in seats again.

[BCPanther]

But what can they realistically do? Would bring in a Western Illinois or North Dakota make people feel better? I doubt it, plus teams like that probably cost more to bring in than a D3 and it hurts your numbers for at large hopes. I suppose you could lower ticket prices, but is dropping the price $50 or whatever going to entice more fans? Doubtful, and definitely not enough to add enough additional sales to make up for the money lost in the price dropping. I agree it's a ****ty situation, but there's just really not a good answer. On the bright side, hopefully expanding the league means another guaranteed game or two, combine that with continuing to schedule quality mid majors is the best option that we can control. It's practically impossible to try to balance a competitive schedule plus have a bunch of home games. The other way to solve it is to put a quality team on the floor. If you win games and you get back to the NCAAs with regularity, that'll solve a lot of issues.

I do like the idea of a flex pack as panther99 mentioned. I'm not a season ticket holder. I live in Dubuque and have three kids under 6, so it's just not realistic, especially when half the games are during the week. A flex pack like this would be perfect for me, but from the athletic department standpoint - would people give up season tickets and go with a pack like this instead, losing the school money? Double edged sword, but I think that would be a worthy thing to try.

I don't think we actually disagree, we're just going at it in a different way.

You've got me. You've got approximately 3500 others. We're going to faithfully send in our money, we know we're probably going to get screwed by the number of games and we know we're going to pay full price to watch Loras and Luther. We're in, you're starting to stretch us thin with our ticket price, now up to $309, and our PSC donation but we'll do what you want because we love UNI and it's just a part of our lives.

Here's the issue. Say I'm a person that's tangentially followed UNI, I like the program and I just enjoy basketball. I know that this is the year we're supposed to be good and I want to be there. I've purchased tickets in the past so I'm on the email list and I get that email in April saying 'buy your tickets in May to get the best seats'. Also in that email it says that we'll have the 9 conference games and we'll schedule 6 other games and likely at least one exhibition. I believe it because THAT"S WHAT THE EMAIL FROM THE DEPARTMENT SAID. I buy my seat, I throw my $100 to the PSC because I want a chairback. I'm in at $409, seems steep but we're going to be good and I'm getting 15 dates and at $27 per date I can live with it.

Here comes October. I've seen every other state school release a schedule. I've checked the website and it shows me that I'm getting 12 games. I don't follow well enough to know that Vermont and Dubuque have been added and I know we're a couple weeks from exhibitions and I don't see anything there. As an outsider, I think I'm paying for 15 and getting 12. I've got a bad taste in my mouth before I've even walked in the door because I'm suddenly at $34 per date (again, I have no idea there are more games). In the past I've paid $25 per seat for the same section I'm sitting in. Why on earth did I buy tickets and why on earth would I ever do it again? You've lost me, my ticket purchase and my PSC donation before the season has even started.

[Wxcpanther]

To be clear, yes, a game against UND and WIU is objectively good for at large chances, assuming you win and play well. Metrics LOVE blowouts, regardless of the quality of competition.