Feb 24 2024 vs Drake 5:00 PM

[UNIAlum95]

And back to the atmosphere, can we PLEASE get some additional Saturday 5 pm / 7 pm games? That was a lot of fun and still only about 50% capacity.

[BCPanther]

And back to the atmosphere, can we PLEASE get some additional Saturday 5 pm / 7 pm games? That was a lot of fun and still only about 50% capacity.

1000000000%

I love the McLeod Center but that building kind of sucks during the day because of all the natural light. So much better at night and there's more beer flowing and it's just a better and much more fun experience for everyone.

[Born-a-Panther]

And back to the atmosphere, can we PLEASE get some additional Saturday 5 pm / 7 pm games? That was a lot of fun and still only about 50% capacity.

I LOVED the 5pm tip. Gives you time to do stuff or go to activities during the day for families -- and then still get home before little ones want to go to bed or go out for a beer and dinner after the game. Also allows time for people driving from Des Moines or other areas to not have to make it such a late night home. It's the perfect time, in my opinion.

[kochrab]

*Bob Bowlsby has entered the chat*

One can hope at least

[BCPanther]

TV has a ton of say in basketball obviously but we should never play an early afternoon Saturday league game by choice.

[UNIAlum95]

TV has a ton of say in basketball obviously but we should never play an early afternoon Saturday league game by choice.

Exactly. The ESPN+ games should have a bunch of flexibility for us in where we put them. That atmosphere late on Saturday is so much better than a Sunday 1pm timeslot.

[clenz]

TV has a ton of say in basketball obviously but we should never play an early afternoon Saturday league game by choice.

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJoode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics

[UNIpanther99]

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics

Also, Lucas O'Rear was a fun Panther to watch. But of all of our great players - why is his photo featured on the concourse?

[CyCarp]

Bob can enter the chat by going to Adam DeJode and getting a bunch of the window graphics to cover all of the damn windows in that building to darken it and add atmosphere beyond grey unfinished walls that were supposed to eventually be covered with graphics

Agreed. We all hate Drake, but they did wonders with the exterior of the Knapp Center when they logo'd the hell out of it. I feel like we could do something similar at the McLeod.

https://godrakebulldogs.com/news/2020/11/19/drake-athletics-announces-attendance-policy-at-the-knapp-center.aspx

[clenz]

Also, Lucas O'Rear was a fun Panther to watch. But of all of our great players - why is his photo featured on the concourse?

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

[CyCarp]

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

This could probably go all day, but I think you forgot Wes. He was the guy with the ball in his hands in the big moment (including the shot to win Arch Madness), the dunks, the big smile, very energetic - the exact type of guy you love as a fan. He felt like the heart and soul of the team after Tut left.

[UNIpanther99]

I absolutely was among those shouting LUUUUUKE during those games, and you mention a whole host of others we will all love to see on the concourse. It just seems like a photo that was initially put up to provide a little color and good feelings - and it did and does. But maybe let's add some more or rotate the photos among other greats?

[UNIAlum95]

You will be insanely hard-pressed to find a more universally loved Panther that was the epitome of the attitude of an era/team/program. Did you forget that for 3 years, after his freshman year, the entire arena yelling "LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE" every time he touched the ball or did anything?

The Koch brothers were all super polarizing somehow despite 2 of them being top 10/borderline top 10 all time to do it in purple and the third being not entirely far behind them but despised because he wasn't the older who.
Jordan was never super loved like Lucas
Kwadzo is potentially the most underrated panther of all time
Johnny Moran is second to Kwadzo in that category
AJ was probably the best we've seen in decades but even he was polarizing because we don't have a super high basketball IQ fan base
Pehl might be the most genuinely loved by the fan base, but he isn't a recognizable face
Berhow is one of the best shooters we've ever seen but isn't super known and I'd bet a large portion of the fan base already forgot
Singleton is "generic" O'Rear without the personality to get the "fans/support/love"
Sonnen might be close but isn't really that level
Ali is super close though I would argue the fact he is currently still coaching, recruiting against UNI, coaching at Drake, etc. would be a reason to not make him the face right now. Eventually? Yes. But I have a feeling he is super close to getting a call to the big chair and should Darian leave D+ I bet he would be real real real high on their list.

The only player we've had that is more known/loved/remembered/revered/etc. than Lucas as far as lasting memories is Tuttle.

Great summary and I guess it dates me but not having the Benny J on that list hurts a little He's the first name to help put us on the map. But that's 20 years ago now but I'll argue that he belongs on that Mt Rushmore of all time / modern day Panthers.

[achrist70]

Pehl is loved by the UNI fan base?

[clenz]

Great summary and I guess it dates me but not having the Benny J on that list hurts a little He's the first name to help put us on the map. But that's 20 years ago now but I'll argue that he belongs on that Mt Rushmore of all time / modern day Panthers.

I had to cut off at some point and went with players who played in McLeod. Benny J missed it by a few months.

As for it was put up for good feelings and color? True, and when it was put up Luke was the perfect person for it. However, it has been there a decade, or just over, at this point.

Having more than just one and actually doing proper graphics and color in the arena would be the right way to do it. However, given everything we've discussed/*****ed about over the last decade do we honestly think our last AD was willing to spend a few bucks to get a new photo or two to rotate in there? Hell, did he even know it was there at all?