When Fran pulls this off, Iowa basketball comes back stronger than before

[DuffMan]

I say when because I feel good enough that it's not a question of if, but when. When he gets this thing cooking, I think Iowa basketball comes back stronger than before from a fan following standpoint. I think people are ravenous for a good basketball program. We know from football that if we put a good product out on the floor our fan-base will be one of the best in the nation. I can't wait for that to happen. And I think we will be more united as a group than we have been since Lute had things running (like it or not there was a decent sized group of the fan-base that didn't like Mr. Davis).

This is going to be fun.

 

[racerhawk]

I tend to agree. So many of us are so hungry for a winning basketball program, and once they turn the corner, Carver will be a tough place for opposing teams to play.

Iowa has no professional sports team. In the winter, Iowans want the hawks to be successful on the court. There will be so much interest and enthusiasm if he gets this thing turned around.

Saturday was a preview.

 

[tweeterhawk]

We came very, very close to beating two of the top teams in the conference and did beat one that had a chance at the end for a conference championship. No way would that have happened the previous three years.

Fran's got it going in the right direction. Hang on for the ride.

 

[JonDMiller]

I say when because I feel good enough that it's not a question of if, but when. When he gets this thing cooking, I think Iowa basketball comes back stronger than before from a fan following standpoint. I think people are ravenous for a good basketball program. We know from football that if we put a good product out on the floor our fan-base will be one of the best in the nation. I can't wait for that to happen. And I think we will be more united as a group than we have been since Lute had things running (like it or not there was a decent sized group of the fan-base that didn't like Mr. Davis).

This is going to be fun.

Iowa was among the Top 25 in attendance every year from 1978 through like three years ago. It made the NCAA tourney 75% of the time in the 21 years prior to Alford being hired. It was one of the Top 20 programs in the nation based upon most objective criteria.

I DO think that if the Hawks can get back to challenging for Top Four finishes, we'll see 90% attendance in CHA with 6 of 9 or so Big Ten home games being sellouts.

BUT, things are different than they were even five or six years ago, namely 8pm weekday starts now, something that will have an effect on home gate.

If Iowa can get back to where they average 14k or more for a 17 or 18 game home schedule, that will be great...and I think that will happen.

You are right in the starvation factor. We have seen some of that the last month or so of home games...not a lot of schools are gonna have 12 to 13k show up and be as into it as Iowa fans have been, if their team was tied for last place at the time.

Iowa fans really brought it in February and yesterday...sounded and looked awesome. We took that sort of thing for granted for a good long while.

 

[JHHawk]

I read somewhere that college bb attendance has dipped overall,around the nation.
No shock, with the recession,and the BTN and other networks showing so many games. And I doubt that Iowa will ever be able to fill the house for those dreaded cupcakes in december,especially after the students leave for the holiday break.

But, no doubt the demand for good bb will bring out the fans.