AvantGuardHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
"It was when I found out I could make mistakes that I knew I was on to something."
Posts: 1,484
|
Post by AvantGuardHoya on Oct 30, 2015 14:45:40 GMT -5
I agree with those who say that there is a sports overload this time of year, particularly on television. Also, the Hoyas have always struggled to become the "local" team in a market where there are fewer "locals" than most major cities. Washington has a large number of people from somewhere else and many have sports rooting interests with their teams from back home. It always amazes me that no matter who the Hoyas play among the major teams, the visitors seem to have a decent/large amount of supporters present at the game. You just don't find that at Nova, Creighton, Butler, Providence or most other teams in the league. Additionally, over the years the sports market in the region has become particularly crowded for a relatively small population with the Redskins, Nationals, Wizards, DC United, Orioles, Ravens, Terps, GW, Towson, George Mason, and American in the immediate vicinity and competing for fan dollars and interest. All that said, for a college basketball junkie it is hard not to get excited about any season, even when the talent level is down. Knowing that this year's team is loaded with potential, but very young, guarantees another roller-coaster ride. As for the "new" Big East, it seems that after two years now the league is taking root and there are signs of life in new rivalries that might still be in their infancy, but have the potential ignite the passions of the fans. I believe that the Hoyas have a good start to strong rivalries with Xavier and Butler, which have produced some exciting games in recent years. Old opponents, like Providence, have become bigger rivals now that some of the ACC defectors are gone. Traditional rivals like Nova and St. John's remain intense games. Other than Syracuse, UConn and Notre Dame who misses anyone else from the old league? Two are back and does anyone care if we play West Virgina, Pitt, Miami, Louisville, South Florida, and Va. Tech on a regular basis? My quibble -- the DC metro area is the seventh largest in the country. When you mention the Orioles and Ravens, note that the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area has a population of more than 8.5 million, making it the USA's 4th largest. Plenty of potential fans to support all the sports activity in the area.
|
|
calhoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,382
|
Post by calhoya on Oct 30, 2015 16:10:47 GMT -5
I agree with those who say that there is a sports overload this time of year, particularly on television. Also, the Hoyas have always struggled to become the "local" team in a market where there are fewer "locals" than most major cities. Washington has a large number of people from somewhere else and many have sports rooting interests with their teams from back home. It always amazes me that no matter who the Hoyas play among the major teams, the visitors seem to have a decent/large amount of supporters present at the game. You just don't find that at Nova, Creighton, Butler, Providence or most other teams in the league. Additionally, over the years the sports market in the region has become particularly crowded for a relatively small population with the Redskins, Nationals, Wizards, DC United, Orioles, Ravens, Terps, GW, Towson, George Mason, and American in the immediate vicinity and competing for fan dollars and interest. All that said, for a college basketball junkie it is hard not to get excited about any season, even when the talent level is down. Knowing that this year's team is loaded with potential, but very young, guarantees another roller-coaster ride. As for the "new" Big East, it seems that after two years now the league is taking root and there are signs of life in new rivalries that might still be in their infancy, but have the potential ignite the passions of the fans. I believe that the Hoyas have a good start to strong rivalries with Xavier and Butler, which have produced some exciting games in recent years. Old opponents, like Providence, have become bigger rivals now that some of the ACC defectors are gone. Traditional rivals like Nova and St. John's remain intense games. Other than Syracuse, UConn and Notre Dame who misses anyone else from the old league? Two are back and does anyone care if we play West Virgina, Pitt, Miami, Louisville, South Florida, and Va. Tech on a regular basis? My quibble -- the DC metro area is the seventh largest in the country. When you mention the Orioles and Ravens, note that the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area has a population of more than 8.5 million, making it the USA's 4th largest. Plenty of potential fans to support all the sports activity in the area. Valid point. I am probably showing my age in not realizing how much the area has grown since I left about 26 years ago.
|
|
richfame
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,266
|
Post by richfame on Oct 31, 2015 6:28:11 GMT -5
Last I checked, Hoyas play the Terps on November 17th, not exactly a cupcake and likely a sellout. And, have you forgottem about the 2K Classic in NYC three days later? While not an "exotic" location (well, perhaps to some it is) a tournament with Wisconsin, Duke and VCU should get your juices flowing. (If you're talking about the home non-conference schedule, point taken). NYC is plenty exotic to all the people in the world not raised within 300 miles of it. And MSG is about as hot a destination as you can get in college hoops. Maybe you miss the mai tais by the pool aspect of playing in Hawaii or The Bahamas, but at least you aren't playing in a half full converted conference room that seats 450. Those games are great on TV, but frequently the in-room experience is more like a "secret scrimmage." I'll take a packed MSG. Just to respond, those games mentioned sound great and in my original post I did mention the tournaments are a lot of fun and a nice early measuring stick. I guess there was two different points mentioned : 1. This board is dead compared to years back and 2. Seems to be a lack of excitement coming into the start of this season, which is mind blowing since we have the most talent we've had in years. I just think unless your a die hard or student sometimes it takes a while to get into the season especially when your knee deep in the NFL. Honestly nothing compares to the NFL. Again unless your a student or a die hard CB is a tough sell until it is on display in March on center stage. To respond to another poster no VCU does not get my juices going nor does creighton or butler. It's going to take years for us to build new rivalries that we truly care about. Call me old school at 37 years old but not having uconn in conference or Syracuse is a huge hit. Not to mention Louisville. It will just take time, and if we can actually make a few final four runs things will get more exciting quickly.
|
|
MassHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,786
|
Post by MassHoya on Oct 31, 2015 9:38:59 GMT -5
Having said all that, it's now two weeks to Radford. GO HOYAS!!!
|
|
SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,899
|
Post by SFHoya99 on Oct 31, 2015 12:15:46 GMT -5
1. This board is dead compared to years back and 2. Seems to be a lack of excitement coming into the start of this season, which is mind blowing since we have the most talent we've had in years. This was my point. It's not about the casual fan or attendance. I'm talking about the posters on this board. It's gonna be a great year.
|
|
Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
Posts: 5,304
|
Post by Cambridge on Nov 2, 2015 12:05:35 GMT -5
|
|
MassHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,786
|
Post by MassHoya on Nov 8, 2015 19:02:21 GMT -5
Let's focus. 6 days to the game. Let's go Hoyas. Beat the Highlanders!!!
|
|
hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by hoyainspirit on Nov 8, 2015 20:54:11 GMT -5
Who's running the prediction contest?
|
|
tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,572
|
Post by tashoya on Nov 8, 2015 21:18:51 GMT -5
Who's running the prediction contest? Not that I'm running the contest, but I started the thread. I saw your post and couldn't contain myself.
|
|