New Year's Eve - Villanova at Butler 7:30pm ET FS1

[NJRedman]

I checked this morning and the lower bowl is sold out. About 1/3 to 1/2 of the third level is still available.

No excuses because I have been bragging about our attendance, but this game is going up against the Pacers, who are selling out every game now. Seems like FS1 guru's could have moved this game up into the afternoon and avoided a conflict. This game will only get third billing in the Indy Star, after the Pacers and IU's afternoon game at Illinois. And as Bulldog Muskie said, it's NYE, come on, it's not like there isn't anything else going on. Bad night and bad time for a neat game.

Also, really, Villanova is not a hot name in the Midwest. My guess is that the average fan couldn't tell you the name of one player on Villanova. Sure they are ranked this year, but that does not carry immediate popularity. All in all, there will be in excess of 90% capacity.

As far as the game, we have a huge weakness, and it's called our bench. We have no reliable bench scoring. Brown started strong but did not scored in double figures in December. Chrabascz can hurt some people banging around, but he won't score much. Aldridge is Aldridge, you know what you get. Castro gave us one game, albeit against NJIT, and Berry and Morgan have been MIA. So while our starting five will stay with anyone, when we go to the bench, I keep my fingers crossed. But Coach of the Year Candidate Miller, has been using magic to date to get results, and I trust he will continue to do so. Dawgs by 2. (I'd say on a Jones putback, but he ain't playing this year.)

Wait, your fan base doesn't know who Villanova is? I guess you guys aren't going to be seeing out to many games if your fan base doesn't even know about a school who has actually won a national title in it's history and been to a final four within the last decade. Gonna be dead when St. John's and Providence comes to town.

First, I admit I am eating a little crow here. After slamming DePaul and Seton Hall for having people disguised as seats, I have it coming. Last year we sold out for Gonzaga, Temple, Rhode Island, St. Louis, and Xavier. St. Louis and X likely brought fans over, but the other three likely didn't.

I said the average fan couldn't tell you a player on Villanova's squad. Your statement is inaccurate. But to think that just because you carry a Big East logo on the uniform gives instant creditability, that isn't correct either. To the Midwest, the Big East is Syracuse, Georgetown, UConn, and Louisville. Three of those are gone. Don't think that 9,000 in Hinkle is going to be a cakewalk for Villanova. It will be loud and crazy.

Question, are the other two games on NYE sold out? I assume X will sell out, but will Georgetown v DePaul?

Creighton is playing Marquette and Xavier is playing St. John's. Butler has a top ranked Villanova team coming into town and can't sell out. I don't know how many they can sell out if they can't sell this game out.

Oh and Nova just played at the Carrier Dome. I don't think Hinkle is going to phase them all that much. Not saying they are automatically going to win but I don't think the crowd will rattle them.

[Bulldog_Muskie]

So basically we can sum up this thread as follows:

Creighton fan: We sold out northern southwest state in 2 seconds. Step it up guys

Butler fan: we have to compete with the pacers, IU, And new years eve plans on the same day. Sorry we don't live in a city with only one thing to do.

Original BE school fan: We are basketball royalty. Get up for us.

Creighton/Butler fans: not to flyover country you're not.

Original BE school fan: That's bull, we were all really good in the eighties. You just don't have respect for the sport.

Creighton fans: At least we support our team.

DePaul fan: You only have a 1000 tickets left?

Basically this thread will cycle through something resembling that for a couple pages until the game actually starts.

[XUFan09]

So basically we can sum up this thread as follows:

Creighton fan: We sold out northern southwest state in 2 seconds. Step it up guys

Butler fan: we have to compete with the pacers, IU, And new years eve plans on the same day. Sorry we don't live in a city with only one thing to do.

Original BE school fan: We are basketball royalty. Get up for us.

Creighton/Butler fans: not to flyover country you're not.

Original BE school fan: That's bull, we were all really good in the eighties. You just don't have respect for the sport.

Creighton fans: At least we support our team.

DePaul fan: You only have a 1000 tickets left?

Basically this thread will cycle through something resembling that for a couple pages until the game actually starts.

Hahahahaha that's wonderful.

[NJRedman]

So basically we can sum up this thread as follows:

Creighton fan: We sold out northern southwest state in 2 seconds. Step it up guys

Butler fan: we have to compete with the pacers, IU, And new years eve plans on the same day. Sorry we don't live in a city with only one thing to do.

Original BE school fan: We are basketball royalty. Get up for us.

Creighton/Butler fans: not to flyover country you're not.

Original BE school fan: That's bull, we were all really good in the eighties. You just don't have respect for the sport.

Creighton fans: At least we support our team.

DePaul fan: You only have a 1000 tickets left?

Basically this thread will cycle through something resembling that for a couple pages until the game actually starts.

So you think the OG BE fans are snobs because we think it's crazy that Butler should be able to sell out their gym for the only ranked Big East team in their first ever Big East game? There is a reason why all the new members got a home game to start their tenure in the league.

Oh and the whole idea that there is a lot to do in Indianapolis is cute to us East Coasters.

[FDS]

So basically we can sum up this thread as follows:

Creighton fan: We sold out northern southwest state in 2 seconds. Step it up guys

Butler fan: we have to compete with the pacers, IU, And new years eve plans on the same day. Sorry we don't live in a city with only one thing to do.

Original BE school fan: We are basketball royalty. Get up for us.

Creighton/Butler fans: not to flyover country you're not.

Original BE school fan: That's bull, we were all really good in the eighties. You just don't have respect for the sport.

Creighton fans: At least we support our team.

DePaul fan: You only have a 1000 tickets left?

Basically this thread will cycle through something resembling that for a couple pages until the game actually starts.

So you think the OG BE fans are snobs because we think it's crazy that Butler should be able to sell out their gym for the only ranked Big East team in their first ever Big East game? There is a reason why all the new members got a home game to start their tenure in the league.

Oh and the whole idea that there is a lot to do in Indianapolis is cute to us East Coasters.

What, like watch the Nets or the Knicks?

[Bulldog_Muskie]

No, you're snobs because many seem to think that they are entitled to respect and adoration due to decades old success. I've gotten a sense from many of the eastern school fans that they see themselves as above the western schools (Marquette included) by virtue of a longer affiliation with the big east name.

[Jet915]

I don't know, two recent national championship appearances, NCAAs last year, overachieving team this year, brand new major conference, NYE and a ranked opponent coming into your house and you can't sell 9,000 tickets because the Pacers are playing? True, I wish Creighton had your success, but we sell twice as many tickets as you guys hold with alot less success.

[Omaha1]

No, you're snobs because many seem to think that they are entitled to respect and adoration due to decades old success. I've gotten a sense from many of the eastern school fans that they see themselves as above the western schools (Marquette included) by virtue of a longer affiliation with the big east name.

I think Butler should sell out their first Big East game even if it was against DePaul. Excuses suck.

[indienapolis]

There does seem to be a bit of Big East rage on here about Butler fans not showing enough deference to their royalty. God. The truth is, Indiana, and even Indianapolis to a large extent, are just starting to see Butler as an sports entertainment option, but definitely behind the Pacers this season and IU always. It sounds crazy and it pains me to say it, but its true. If I lived in the region, I'd definitely be there. As it is I'll be watching from a bar. Though I know attendance is a serious financial issue from the Big East's standpoint, I feel like in lieu of an actual game to talk about BE fans on here are feigning insult over it, when IMO its the team's performance that really matters. As far as that goes, I guess time will tell...

[FDS]

I don't know, two recent national championship appearances, NCAAs last year, overachieving team this year, brand new major conference, NYE and a ranked opponent coming into your house and you can't sell 9,000 tickets because the Pacers are playing? True, I wish Creighton had your success, but we sell twice as many tickets as you guys hold with alot less success.

Bragging about a fan base that strongly supports a team that hasn't ever won cosecutive post-season games outside of the CBI and CIT? I could make a case that it just shows how bored people are in Nebraska. Whatever makes you Creighton fans feel better about yourselves. I prefer to brag about the fact that my team wins things that count.