2 weeks till College Basketball

[Sean Miller Fan]

I totally love that the ACC is tipping off the season with conference games. I know the coaches hate it but the fans pay the bills and for the fans, its great. College Basketball has always had the weakest season openings in terms of interest/anticipation due to it being during the middle of the NFL and college football seasons and during the NBA and NHL seasons so this gives it a nice shot in the arm. I hope this isnt a one time thing for the ACCN. With 20 conference games, the ACC should do this every year. I'd even go so far as to play 4 games before January 1 and add in some big non-conference matchups in January/February. An ACC/SEC challenge makes with the SEC making a challenge as the #1 basketball conference.

I think with seeing how well this will he received, it will be hard to go back to opening with a MEAC school.

Here's the lineup:

Tuesday
6:30 - ACCN: Louisville at Miami
7:00 - ESPN: Duke vs Kansas in Chicago
7:00 - ESPNU: Virginia Tech at Clemson
8:30 - ACCN: Georgia Tech at NC State

Wednesday
6:00 - ESPNU: Wake Forest at Boston College
7:00 - ACCN: Notre Dame at North Carolina
8:00 - ESPNU: Florida State at Pitt
9:00 - ACCN: Virginia at Syracuse

I love the staggered starts too.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I totally love that the ACC is tipping off the season with conference games. I know the coaches hate it but the fans pay the bills and for the fans, its great. College Basketball has always had the weakest season openings in terms of interest/anticipation due to it being during the middle of the NFL and college football seasons and during the NBA and NHL seasons so this gives it a nice shot in the arm. I hope this isnt a one time thing for the ACCN. With 20 conference games, the ACC should do this every year. I'd even go so far as to play 4 games before January 1 and add in some big non-conference matchups in January/February. An ACC/SEC challenge makes with the SEC making a challenge as the #1 basketball conference.

I think with seeing how well this will he received, it will be hard to go back to opening with a MEAC school.

Here's the lineup:

Tuesday
6:30 - ACCN: Louisville at Miami
7:00 - ESPN: Duke vs Kansas in Chicago
7:00 - ESPNU: Virginia Tech at Clemson
8:30 - ACCN: Georgia Tech at NC State

Wednesday
6:00 - ESPNU: Wake Forest at Boston College
7:00 - ACCN: Notre Dame at North Carolina
8:00 - ESPNU: Florida State at Pitt
9:00 - ACCN: Virginia at Syracuse

I love the staggered starts too.

yeah, really looking more forward to this year than in the last few for sure.

 

[TWPitt]

It will be interesting to see if this helps attendance with the non-conference games that follow.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

I sure like seeing the channel start with an "e"

I totally love that the ACC is tipping off the season with conference games. I know the coaches hate it but the fans pay the bills and for the fans, its great. College Basketball has always had the weakest season openings in terms of interest/anticipation due to it being during the middle of the NFL and college football seasons and during the NBA and NHL seasons so this gives it a nice shot in the arm. I hope this isnt a one time thing for the ACCN. With 20 conference games, the ACC should do this every year. I'd even go so far as to play 4 games before January 1 and add in some big non-conference matchups in January/February. An ACC/SEC challenge makes with the SEC making a challenge as the #1 basketball conference.

I think with seeing how well this will he received, it will be hard to go back to opening with a MEAC school.

Here's the lineup:

Tuesday
6:30 - ACCN: Louisville at Miami
7:00 - ESPN: Duke vs Kansas in Chicago
7:00 - ESPNU: Virginia Tech at Clemson
8:30 - ACCN: Georgia Tech at NC State

Wednesday
6:00 - ESPNU: Wake Forest at Boston College
7:00 - ACCN: Notre Dame at North Carolina
8:00 - ESPNU: Florida State at Pitt
9:00 - ACCN: Virginia at Syracuse

I love the staggered starts too.

 

[drp1tt]

I totally love that the ACC is tipping off the season with conference games. I know the coaches hate it but the fans pay the bills and for the fans, its great. College Basketball has always had the weakest season openings in terms of interest/anticipation due to it being during the middle of the NFL and college football seasons and during the NBA and NHL seasons so this gives it a nice shot in the arm. I hope this isnt a one time thing for the ACCN. With 20 conference games, the ACC should do this every year. I'd even go so far as to play 4 games before January 1 and add in some big non-conference matchups in January/February. An ACC/SEC challenge makes with the SEC making a challenge as the #1 basketball conference.

I think with seeing how well this will he received, it will be hard to go back to opening with a MEAC school.

Here's the lineup:

Tuesday
6:30 - ACCN: Louisville at Miami
7:00 - ESPN: Duke vs Kansas in Chicago
7:00 - ESPNU: Virginia Tech at Clemson
8:30 - ACCN: Georgia Tech at NC State

Wednesday
6:00 - ESPNU: Wake Forest at Boston College
7:00 - ACCN: Notre Dame at North Carolina
8:00 - ESPNU: Florida State at Pitt
9:00 - ACCN: Virginia at Syracuse

I love the staggered starts too.

If I read the schedule right between nat’l, ESPN, ACCN and RSN, Pitt is on TV for 31 games.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

If I read the schedule right between nat’l, ESPN, ACCN and RSN, Pitt is on TV for 31 games.

29 games on a linear TV channel. 2 games stream-only on ACCNX/ESPN App.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

Really happy about the season about to start!

However, I do not like starting with a conference game in the least. The casual fan of the sport in general, vs the truly rabid fan of a particular team, will like seeing "meaningful" games early--I get it. But, being the more rabid type fan, I don't like it because--

If your team needs to get young inexperienced talent working well together, and their game #1 opponent doesn't have much the same issue, then your team is at a disadvantage in game #1. I would rather play Podunk U from Div II and win by 50 in that first game than potentially start the conference season in the hole losing because my team's young guys aren't yet playing as well as they will later in the season. Also, of course, my attitude reflects that I enjoy blowouts in my team's favor nearly as much as close wins vs quality opponents and far more than close losses to quality opponents. I love all wins, hate all losses! Would never miss attending a game no matter the opponent if I lived in the Pittsburgh area and will watch every minute of all televised games no matter the strength or weakness of the opponent.

Don't like the concept in Football either--see the Pitt-UVA FB opener this season as an example of why.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I know the coaches hate it

To be fair, the only reason the coaches hate it is that it's a really stupid idea.

A couple weeks into November no one other than Pitt and Florida State fans will remember that Pitt played Florida State the first night of the season. No one other than Louisville and Miami fans will remember that Louisville played Miami the first night of the season. It's going to be interesting to see how these games do in the ratings, because in the first week of November most people aren't going out of their way to watch college basketball, no matter who is playing.

 

[Drew1208]

To be fair, the only reason the coaches hate it is that it's a really stupid idea.

A couple weeks into November no one other than Pitt and Florida State fans will remember that Pitt played Florida State the first night of the season. No one other than Louisville and Miami fans will remember that Louisville played Miami the first night of the season. It's going to be interesting to see how these games do in the ratings, because in the first week of November most people aren't going out of their way to watch college basketball, no matter who is playing.

Most people don't even realize basketball started yet

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

To be fair, the only reason the coaches hate it is that it's a really stupid idea.

A couple weeks into November no one other than Pitt and Florida State fans will remember that Pitt played Florida State the first night of the season. No one other than Louisville and Miami fans will remember that Louisville played Miami the first night of the season. It's going to be interesting to see how these games do in the ratings, because in the first week of November most people aren't going out of their way to watch college basketball, no matter who is playing.

Yea, no one will remember Pitt played Florida State in March. So? A midweek game in early November in arenas across the ACC will have full (or nearly full) arenas for games that matter. It gives the fans something to be excited about right away. 2 full months of paying teams to come in to get beat is just so boring. With 20 conference games, tipping off the season like this gives it a little juice. And if a team like Pitt were to win....all of a sudden fairweather casual Pitt fans get a little excited and maybe pay attention a little earlier.

 

[Ski11585]

Yea, no one will remember Pitt played Florida State in March. So? A midweek game in early November in arenas across the ACC will have full (or nearly full) arenas for games that matter. It gives the fans something to be excited about right away. 2 full months of paying teams to come in to get beat is just so boring. With 20 conference games, tipping off the season like this gives it a little juice. And if a team like Pitt were to win....all of a sudden fairweather casual Pitt fans get a little excited and maybe pay attention a little earlier.

So.... 2 full months of boring games sucks. But.... one possibly interesting game followed by 2 full months of boring games will generate more attention?

Yeah. No.

 

[Pitt2006]

If it generates 500-1000 more for non conference games it’s a plus for this program. Build back the support and pack the Pete. I’d love to see a sell out for FSU. I doubt it comes close, but my homer side says this team will surprise. FSU got some votes in AP poll, so would rather play them now since we return enough and hopefully catch them.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

So.... 2 full months of boring games sucks. But.... one possibly interesting game followed by 2 full months of boring games will generate more attention?

Yeah. No.

I am a total contrarian as regards what some/many fans regard as "boring games." This probably stems from having been a student manager for a college team (long ago), kept stats for college games and from having coached or helped coach lots of youth basketball games in the past.

Why should games against weak opponents be boring? They are boring if your preference is solely for games that keep you on the edge of your seat, tie your stomach in knots and raise your blood pressure and you don't watch games strategically the way a coach would.

On the other hand, if you view games vs weaker opponents as opportunity to assess the abilities and potential of your team's new players and gradual improvements in team offensive and defensive execution; then, they won't be boring. If you relate your observations to a concept of how well your team will eventually perform at in important games vs strong opponents later in the season-- then, you will have an added reason to not find games vs weak opponents boring.

Basically, if you react this way to games vs weaker opponents, rather than needing an adrenaline rush to enjoy a game, you will enjoy them by reacting to them in a way analagous to how a coach does. It will also bring you to better appreciate why coaches hate playing tough opponents early. LOL

Just my 2 cents, though. To each his own.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

So.... 2 full months of boring games sucks. But.... one possibly interesting game followed by 2 full months of boring games will generate more attention?

Yeah. No.

I would do up to 4 Nov/Dec games. The ACC opener is a grand start. Its Its something to get the fans excited. It will feel like basketball season. Unless you are a just a diehard, you know it doesnt feel like college basketball season until January. More than anything, this is a way to "announce" to the casual fans "its college hoops season, pay attention." Then Pitt has a game with WVU the following week. It worked out well.

 

[Chanceman]

In a couple more years when Pitt is strong, I'd like this. But not now.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

And if a team like Pitt were to win....all of a sudden fairweather casual Pitt fans get a little excited and maybe pay attention a little earlier.

Fairweather casual Pitt fans probably won't even know there was a game against Florida State, and it isn't going to make them pay attention earlier. That's all a pipe dream.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

More than anything, this is a way to "announce" to the casual fans "its college hoops season, pay attention."

Every year, literally every year, there are early season events that match top ten teams against each other. For instance the first night of the regular season this year preseason number one Michigan State plays preseason number two Kentucky, while preseason number three Kansas plays preseason number four Duke. If games like that don't "announce" to casual fans that it's college hoops season and that they should pay attention what on earth would make anyone think that Pitt - Florida State will?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Every year, literally every year, there are early season events that match top ten teams against each other. For instance the first night of the regular season this year preseason number one Michigan State plays preseason number two Kentucky, while preseason number three Kansas plays preseason number four Duke. If games like that don't "announce" to casual fans that it's college hoops season and that they should pay attention what on earth would make anyone think that Pitt - Florida State will?

Nobody in Pittsburgh or Tallahassee give a crap about a Duke-Michigan State or Kentucky-Kansas basketball game.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Nobody in Pittsburgh or Tallahassee give a crap about a Duke-Michigan State or Kentucky-Kansas basketball game.

If you haven't figured out by now that very few people in Pittsburgh care about a Pitt - Florida State basketball game it just shows how little you pay attention.

 

[pittjas]

If you haven't figured out by now that very few people in Pittsburgh care about a Pitt - Florida State basketball game it just shows how little you pay attention.

I disagree with you here. There definitely will be a lot of casual Pitt fans who watch/or go to the Pitt/Florida State game because it’s more of an “event” that would have no interest if Pitt opened with McNeese State.

And maybe a good showing by Pitt in that first game gets people more into the team for those cupcake games and the rest of the season...


I just don’t know why you guys as fans are so against it. I understand why coaches are against it. But isn’t it a lot more exciting knowing we have a meaningful game in 2 weeks vs not for another 2 months?

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I disagree with you here. There definitely will be a lot of casual Pitt fans who watch/or go to the Pitt/Florida State game because it’s more of an “event” that would have no interest if Pitt opened with McNeese State.

And maybe a good showing by Pitt in that first game gets people more into the team for those cupcake games and the rest of the season...


I just don’t know why you guys as fans are so against it. I understand why coaches are against it. But isn’t it a lot more exciting knowing we have a meaningful game in 2 weeks vs not for another 2 months?

Yea, I mean a good many Pittsburghers will watch the game. Pitt always gets good TV ratings. People just dont go to the games though more will go to this.

And yea, I really dont know how any fan is against this? There's 20 freaking conference cames. Why cram them into a 9 week period? Spread the wealth. The season is 18 weeks long, I wouldn't even be against playing roughly 1 ACC game per season the entire season. Not saying I'd be for that and logistically it wouldn't work and will never happen but something's got to change withe college basketball scheduling. Far too many cupcake games nobody cares about, nobody pays attention until after college football or after the Super Bowl, lots of 9PM weeknight games, etc. For me, all options are on the table. The 1 thing you know that absolutely doesn't work is starting the season with a bunch of cupcakes.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

There definitely will be a lot of casual Pitt fans who watch/or go to the Pitt/Florida State game because it’s more of an “event” that would have no interest if Pitt opened with McNeese State.

Go on the Pitt web site. Look at the tickets that are unsold for both the Florida State game and the following game against a team that pretty much defines the term "cupcake", Nicholls State. After you do that and you notice that Pitt has sold almost the same number of tickets for Nicholls State as they have for Florida State get back to me on how there is going to be so much more interest in one game than the other.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Yea, I mean a good many Pittsburghers will watch the game. Pitt always gets good TV ratings. People just dont go to the games though more will go to this.

I'd bet that at the end of the season if you had the numbers of how many people watched the game in Pittsburgh that if you exclude the ACC Network games (due to Comcast being Western PA's biggest by far cable provider) and only count the games on one of the ESPN channels or AT&T that the Florida State game will be the least watched conference game of the season. Probably by a relatively large margin.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

I disagree with you here. There definitely will be a lot of casual Pitt fans who watch/or go to the Pitt/Florida State game because it’s more of an “event” that would have no interest if Pitt opened with McNeese State.

And maybe a good showing by Pitt in that first game gets people more into the team for those cupcake games and the rest of the season...


I just don’t know why you guys as fans are so against it. I understand why coaches are against it. But isn’t it a lot more exciting knowing we have a meaningful game in 2 weeks vs not for another 2 months?

No, not for me.

My reason being that I want Pitt to maximize its potential number of ACC and total wins and playing Fla St in game #1 seems unlikely to help. A more established team will have an extra advantage this early in the season.

That being said, I am not totally opposed to playing an ACC opener before January 1st. However, if played I woud like it to be the Thanksgiving weekend at the earliest so that Pitt and its ACC opponent will have been able to "tune up" by playing say, half a dozen weaker opponents first. If that happens, then, not only will be the likelihood of Pitt winning be improved, IMHO; but, the overall quality of play by both teams will be better making the game less sloppy and not looking like some street-ball game.