Joel’s Monday Mailbag

Each Monday, Joel Welser will be bringing you his Monday Mailbag.  If you have a question which you'd like Joel to answer, email jwelser_chn@ameritech.net.  He’ll post and answer as many questions as possible.  Please include your first name and home state when contacting Joel. 

One question each week is chosen as the "Question of the Week", and is answered by a few CHN staffers.

At the end of each Monday Mailbag, Joel presents his "Team of the Week" and his "Thoughts of the Week."

Joel,

Who has the best name for a student section?

From Sandy,

Michigan

There are some decent student section names out there, but I’d have to say the Gene Pool at Purdue is the cleverest.  There are plenty of good ways to name a student section.  Gonzaga has ‘the Kennel,’ named after the Bulldog mascot.  Western Michigan has ‘the Zoo,’ named after the city the school is in (Kalamazoo).  Personally, I prefer the student sections named after coaches, which easily makes the Gene Pool my favorite.

While we’re talking about the best, let’s mention the worst.  By far the worst I’m aware of is the Maize Rage at the University of Michigan.  Is that supposed to rhyme or something?  I do have a suggestion though.  “Tommy’s Holiday Campers”.  It may be an obscure reference to the worlds greatest rock opera (Tommy by the Who), but it comes with its own theme song for the band.  I think we need a grassroots movement in Ann Arbor to oust the Maize Rage.  Tommy Amaker shouldn’t be going anywhere and he deserves a student section named after him.  We also need a new favorite since Gene Keady and the Gene Pool will be gone next year. 

Joel,

What underclassmen will declare for the draft at the end of the season and be a lottery pick next summer?

From Jon

Boston, MA

Charlie Villanueva out of UConn is probably the best bet.  His game is nearly NBA ready and more NBA ready then many others who have declared early for the draft.  His teammate, incoming freshman Rudy Gay, could prove to be the best NBA prospect on the squad.  Gay will need to have a good year with the Huskies in order to be a lottery pick next summer.  Kansas’ freshman center C.J. Giles is a surprise possibility for being a one and done candidate.  The problem is Giles probably won’t get enough playing time this year for the Jayhawks to be a hot commodity come draft time.  Brandon Bass flirted with the draft after his freshman campaign and probably will again after his sophomore season.  He’ll need to impress this season with LSU though in order to be considered a lottery pick.

Question of the Week

- The question of the week is answered by multiple CHN staffers -

Joel, 

Do you think the Big East lacks fan appeal due to the lack of quality long term rivalries?

From Bob

Connecticut

Kristi Chartrand - Kansas Editor

Absolutely not. Though the Big East may lack certain types of rivalries there are still enough to keep fans glued to the TV set.

I grew up in the Big East as a Connecticut fan when the UCONN Huskies were a cellar-dweller. St. John's/Georgetown and Georgetown/Syracuse were the rivalries that grabbed the headlines. While it's true that some of those old school Big East rivalries have lost their luster (ie;
Georgetown/St. John's), others have grown.

Things have changed in the Big East; the top teams look different from the 80's and many of the teams we used to label "rivals" have delivered one-sided results (ie, UCONN/BC, Syracuse/Georgetown). While programs like St. John's and Georgetown have been caught in the downward spiral, other programs have stepped to the forefront.

In the Big East the best rivalries are based on the most successful teams in the conference meeting head-to-head. That's how its' always been. UCONN/Syracuse, Notre Dame/UCONN, and Pittsburgh/UCONN are heated rivals because they are the teams that have enjoyed the most recent success. Based on both teams sustained level of play, Connecticut/Syracuse has been the premiere rivalry over the last 15 years. As a fan, I certainly feel the difference between a game vs. Syracuse and game vs. Seton Hall!

But UCONN/Pitt played has actually been the most entertaining the last few years. The Huskies and Panthers played three great games last year and with every close finish this rivalry becomes more heated. Circle the dates when these two teams hookup.

In the rivalry department the best may be yet to come. With the addition of marquee programs like Marquette, Louisville, and Cincinnati Big East rivalries are only going to get better. 

Just because the rivalries are different doesn't mean they're less interesting.  

Shawn Siegel - CHN Chief Editor

I don't think the Big East lacks fan appeal, just perhaps a less passionate fan base. There are two factors that diminish the appearance of a widespread passionate fan base.  A) Big East teams play in pro markets and B) many Big East teams are smaller private schools. 

The best thing the Big East has going for it is also often its worst.  The Big East is a league of major markets.  New York, Philly, Boston, Washington D.C., Pittsburgh, and soon to add Chicago.  Big market means pro sports town.  Pro sports town means competition.  If things go sour in a pro sports town, fans will simply move elsewhere.  Big East basketball can fill the Garden, just not while St John’s is struggling.  Georgetown can own D.C., just not when things are down like they are now.  Dumping Miami and VT, while adding programs like Louisville and Marquette will only help put more fans in the seats.  Rick Pitino teams can fill seats even in the biggest markets.

Many Big East teams are smaller private schools in urban markets.  This is not the Big 12 or the SEC comprised of monster state schools.  Those leagues have the luxury of having teams situated on huge campuses, with huge student populations, whose alumni dominate their state, and whose sports teams are the only games in town.  KU doesn’t have to worry about much competition on a Friday night in Lawrence.  Go to the game or go home.  Smaller private schools like Seton Hall, Providence, and Georgetown simply have less students to potentially watch games, and less alumni to watch on TV.  Because of this, you do have a less passionate fan base. 

There is of course one major benefit of having a league filled with smaller private schools in urban areas.  And that advantage is of course money.  Big markets mean a naturally impressive television package.  Big markets mean a more wealthy viewing audience of urban dwellers.  Private schools means a naturally wealthy fan base. 

Adam Stanco - NewsFlash Writer

Since the Big East has been home to the last two national champions, the league's fan base should be much stronger than it is. The current lack of competition within the famed long term rivalries (Syracuse vs. Georgetown, Georgetown vs. Villanova, etc.) has played a big role in that. The old school Big East rivalries have paralleled the career of Kelly LeBrock. Blazingly hot in the mid 1980's, fizzling in the '90's, and practically non-existent in the present day. And, if you happen to catch either one on television now, they'll excite you in spurts as you try to figure out how they dulled.

However, there is another reason for the lack of fan appeal for the conference currently dominating collegiate hoops: The Big East exposure has been negative in the big media markets. It has been over a decade since the representatives from New York City (St.John's), Boston (Boston College), Philadelphia (Villanova), and Washington, D.C. (Georgetown) have made an impact on the national scene. Without these schools playing at an elite level, the conference has not taken advantage of influential air time in some of the country's major markets. Keep in mind, during the time when the league had it's strongest bond with the fans, St.John's and Georgetown were prominently involved.

All in all, its a shame because some of the best players and teams on the college scene can be found in Providence, Syracuse, and Storrs.     

Joel Welser - Monday Mailbag & NCAA Preview Editor

When you look at other major conferences, it is easy to find the rivalries.  The ACC has Duke and North Carolina, the Big 12 has Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas A&M, the SEC has Auburn and Alabama, the Big Ten has Michigan and Michigan State.  And the list goes on and on.  The Big East doesn’t have any of those obvious rivals, especially rivalries that are big enough to span multiple sports, or all sports.  

You can’t call Syracuse and Connecticut a rivalry.  They have just been the two best teams in the conference for the last few seasons.  It’s a big game, but not a rivalry.  Yet, the Big East still has a lot of great teams that will make nearly every game a good one.  To a casual fan, or somebody who doesn’t specifically follow the Big East, there probably is a lack of interest.  Those fans may watch Duke and North Carolina because of the traditional rivalry that exists, but may not watch Syracuse and Connecticut.

Have a question?  Email Joel at jwelser_chn@ameritech.net.  We’ll post and answer as many as possible.  Please include your first name and home state.

Joel's Team of the Week

Illinois State Redbirds

Last year the Redbirds best non conference win was the home opener against Florida A&M to open a tough 10-19 season.  This week alone they knocked off two major conference opponents in the BCA Classic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Junior College transfer Lorenzo Gordon scored 26 points in his debut, leading Illinois State to a 82-73 victory over Penn State.  The win marks the Redbirds first over a Big Ten team since 1996.  After a tough loss to the host team Marquette, Illinois State took on the Rebels of Mississippi.  Gordon again broke the 20 point mark and recorded his first career double-double, but it was senior Trey Guidry that put up a game high 24 points and led the team to a 70-52 victory over Ole Miss.  The win gave Illinois State a surprising third place title in the BCA Classic. 

Joel's Thoughts of the Week

Gone are the days of Majestic Mapp and God Shamgod, but some fun names are still out there for the 2004-2005 all-name team.  Without much research at all, I announce my all-name team.

G- Tank Beavers, Memphis

G- Pierre Marie Altidor-Cespedes, Gonzaga

F- Pops Mensah-Bonsu, George Washington

F- Etoagwara Onyenegecha, Cal State Northridge

C- Longar Longar, Oklahoma

6th man - Chudi Chinweze

The head coach for the all-name team has to be Fairfield’s Tim O’Toole.  Little Timmy O’Toole got stuck down a well in an episode of the Simpsons, well sort of.

Have a question?  Email Joel at jwelser_chn@ameritech.net.  We’ll post and answer as many as possible.  Please include your first name and home state.