Aaron

That is pretty much where I am at. This is our third win over a probable tourney team on the road in Big Ten play along with Rutgers and PU. There appears to be a gulf talent wise between Maryland and everyone else but also a similar gulf at the next tier between Iowa, Northwestern and IU and everyone else. Fortunately, the top 4 all get byes so if we are not going to win the conference whether we are the 2, 3 or 4 matters little. With that said if Maryland could end up on the opposite side of bracket that would be great as I do not see us beating them but think we have an even shot with Iowa and NW and a really good chance against anyone else. If we want a top 4 seed in NCAA tourney we probably need to win out then knock off one of those teams in the tourney Saturday and at least make Big Ten Championship. Otherwise we are probably a 5. While this season is not quite what we expected early, it is nice to be firmly in and just working on improving our seeding and no matter what will have best seed in program history very likely whether we are a 4, 5 or 6. Hopefully if we get the 5 or the 6 and not the 4 we end up getting a 4 seed like DePaul or UK that are an easy drive rather then traveling far. Also while we need to stop blowing leads, it is an improvement to hold it this time (unlike against Iowa and NW) on the road against a probably tourney team. Nebraska is what IU has been in recent years past (a mid-pack bubble team), so its nice to move up a bit in the pecking order finally.

Precisely on the winning, but again to me that system sucked as you would end up with the balcony half the time and students showed up late (at least in my era in late 2000's). I'm much rather be GA most of the time and have a CHANCE at a lower seat almost every time rather then be stuck in the balcony half the time even if you showed up every game. I see both ways, but to me the current system is better and I know me and my friends back in the day are envious of having the ability to get low down almost every time and less balcony if you get there early. The reality IU needs to come up with another idea different from now and especially different from what you are describing with all the no shows now. The system you are describing only works if IU is a top team which they are not right now so you would end up with even more empty seats in the lower level with others stuck in the balcony for no reason (much like how it was when I was in school).

Same with IU soccer who sends multiple guys to MLS every year. When you have a dynasty you are deep with elite players sitting on bench waiting their turn. That is how it works.

I am not against this at all. I just don't know how well the balcony seats would sell outside of big games, so IU would lose money unless they can sell half the balcony tickets (they cost twice as much as student tickets) each game. Otherwise they lose money from what they make now. If they become elite again and students still don't show up this would work really well, but given that the balcony games don't completely sell for winter break games (although close) I have a hard time believing they could sell many every game. Lots to consider.

That was between the current system and the one they used when I was in school. When I was there there was no GA at all and a lot more balcony. Initially, the GA was only for the lower level but often times it would not fill hence why they expanded it to the balcony so the empty seats are in balcony rather then lower level for most part. Like I said they could easily improve the current GA system. Have lockers for backpacks. Ensure no one is in line before a set time for GA and watching that more closely. No system is ideal but its better now then it was when I was in school despite the issues you described.

Yup. Elite teams have that. IU Soccer has highly ranked players sitting on bench who would start almost everywhere else. That's what elite dynasty's do. Maryland has one in Women's Basketball and we are trying to build one but a gap remains.

Simple. In this dominant stretch for Maryland recently in Big Ten games only, one other team hung with them and that was NW when they were the home team and lost in similar fashion fighting hard. They have beaten everyone else by 20 or more. We hung in there, but just are not good enough to beat Maryland. We battled hard and gave them all we had. Tonight's effort beats the other 12 teams in the Big Ten and we need this every game going forward. Before the season started I had us 14-4 in Big Ten with losses at Iowa, twice to Maryland and then either a road loss at Michigan or Nebraska. That 14-4 is going to be 13-5 because of the NW loss and is going to send us traveling as a 5 seed in tourney. We could still beat the 4 seed on the road in tourney as they are on level with an Iowa or Northwestern but would of loved to have that game at home and have a much better chance at the Sweet 16 not to mention the allure of home games in tourney. This will still be one of our best season in program history at 13-5 and fourth in Big Ten and then a Second Round or Sweet 16 tourney appearance but the Northwestern loss will make it a bit incomplete. It does show how far program has come that it will be a slight disappointment. With that said we need to finish second next year (no one is beating Maryland for a title for a while) and host home games as a top 4 seed if we want this to continue as this is not sustainable otherwise as we have no recruits in future yet for years forward. We need to show we are legit with a big season and not a flash in the pan to keep pulling in 5* recruits as we have now. This season is a start but we need a little better even to keep this moving upward.

Yup. That's why that Northwestern game is going to be the loss that breaks our back this year and I knew it at the time. I still expect us to finish 13-5 and only one more loss down stretch but that NW debacle going to get us 4th place in Big Ten and a 5 seed in tourney traveling while NW gets 3rd place and the 4 seed in tourney at home. Flip that and we are where NW is and they are where we are. Also means Maryland knocks us out Saturday in Big Ten Tourney as the 4 seed on that side of the bracket instead of the 3 and being opposite side of them. Maryland is the one team that is way more talented and better then everyone else. We are clearly on level with Iowa and Northwestern but Maryland is on level of its own and one of few teams in country that is better than us. Not even mad about that third quarter. When Maryland goes full throttle and hits you over the head as they did in third quarter there is nothing you can do. I hope when they travel in the tourney most likely rather then hosting in Bloomington they remember that NW loss they had zero business losing.

I'm sure there are negative aspects but at least for the non big games you are guaranteed a low seat when the balcony rarely gets anyone in it. I remember being so frustrated for early games being stuck in the balcony when seats were assigned despite having many seats down low and not being allowed to move down as ushers checked tickets carefully. It also meant a lot more empty seats low down for no reason. I am not saying the current system is ideal and it may need to be revamped again but its 100 times better then when I was in school and seats were 100% assigned and you were stuck high for no reason.

Glad you enjoyed being in the balcony half the time or more. I'd rather have had the chance to get there early and get lower seats most of the time but each to their own and I respect your opinion. May be they need to have free lockers for backpacks or something. The current system is not ideal either and probably needs to be updated again but in my opinion its better then the old one.

Clearly you are to young to know how much worse it use to be. When I was in school in late 2000's ALL your seats were pre-assigned, so people like me who showed up every game still got 2/3 of games in balcony, the same as someone who showed twice a year. This led to an awkward situation where balconies would be 2/3 to 3/4 full but you would have even more empty seats low down in K,L and M. Also students who show up late for games after they started. The current system may not be perfect, but at least it rewards people who care and are willing to get there early with very few balcony games, while people who care less and get there late end up being higher up in balcony. It also at least FILLS the lower GA section by tip-off vs. before when everyone got there two media timeouts in. While it's not ideal, I would of killed for the current system when I was in school (and my friends from my era feel the exact same way), but it needs to be improved further still. You don't know how good you have it relative to a decade ago.

Absolutely, especially in the East Main above GA from row 25-45 where you could easily sell those as season or individual tickets for a higher price. If it were up to me the court and lower GA would stay exactly the same as it is now with first come first serve via season tickets. However, rows 25-45 K, L, and M in East main which are now students would go as young alumni or regular season tickets as you said or individual seats and could be sold at normal price for twice as much ($20 for students $46 for non-students). East Balcony would continue as overflow GA. Anyone who buys season tickets and does not get in, would have their money refunded for that game ONLY if student section completely fills. This would ensure similar revenue with all the extra student seats now being sold at full price and the overflow. How you would handle the refund and ensure everyone made a legit attempt to get in, is everyone pays their $20 a game for the full season like now. You get a voucher for that game in your package for each game. Once you get there you, trade that in for a GA ticket while supplies last and fill the sections until when/if it is full. Once/if full, you would trade that voucher for a "refund ticket" with a unique number you would email IU with and request a refund back to your card for that game through your account and no other refunds issued. This ensures you made an attempt to show up and if you cannot provide that number in the email you would lose your money just as you do now if you fail to show up. This system would ensure seats are actually full and students who really care get in and in those who attempted to get in get their money back. It would also end most/if not all of the empty seats except games where student section does not fill.

Some do some don't. We didn't have GA when I was in school so that helps which helps with getting people there early. I went to every game as a student but not many did and I know other students currently who use them sporadically. The very top of the GA balcony above you had a few empties at the back but was pretty full. Also the opposite west balcony which is not GA had a good amount of empty seats and above you in row 25 and above which is not GA had scattered empties behind you. As I said I don't blame the students. I blame the administration for the way tickets are distributed to maximize revenue and the incredibly mediocre play last few years. If the administration cut student tickets (or won more) and really rewarded people like you who actually show up you would not have empty seats like you do now. Also outside of big games there are a lot more empty seats and the balconies can be nearly empty. I thank you as a student for your support and wish more would show up outside of big games and a change in how tickets distributed would help the mass amount of empty seats.

He said the MSU crowd was loud and into the game but their were empty seats in the student section (it was less than usual but still some empty). All of that is correct. As I said blame IU for how they distribute tickets for the empty seats.

Well clearly PU is unbeatable at home but fortunately they are terrible away from Mackey which is where we play them Saturday. Also shows Iowa is not this unbeatable force as people seem to think. Need to win both games this week.

That's for sure. For full disclosure I know Doyle a little bit, which is why I defend him, but trust me when I say he really wants local teams to succeed and is just saying the truth which sometimes hurts for fans to hear which I get. Blame the administration for reasons I stated, not Doyle for saying something that is factually correct but hard to hear.

I know this is a huge absolute, but I truly believe Archie's ability to possibly have a successful tenure here rests on this game. Win it and you probably get just enough home games moving forward to make tourney and build some moment next year and in future. Lose and I think another long slide starts and it leads to the beginning of the end of his tenure here whether it is at the end of this year or next. Much like the Michigan game in Crean's last year was the beginning of his end and really turned everyone including the media on him, a no-show I think turns everyone against Archie once and for all. He has not beaten PU before and this is an incredible mediocre Boilermaker team that you MUST beat at home if you want to be the coach here beyond this year or next.

I hate to day it but its not wrong. Outside of big games the crowds have been weak. A big part of it though is the way IU distributed student tickets combined with mediocre play. If you want to blame someone, blame the administration for only caring about revenue and the tickets sold rather then making sure butts are in seats and students are notoriously flaky. Also letting our basketball program get to this level is a huge part, which is also on the administration. Their is a good argument to be made for taking some tickets away from students, but don't blame Doyel for stating the truth that the atmosphere has lacked last few years (outside of big games) which is 100 percent true.

I agree with that which is right at year or 4 or 5 which is what I said. His contract runs seven years though and he is not making to the end of that as you said without a tournament appearance at some point in that time frame. I hope Archie succeeds as well and he makes it to end of contract but that is not guarantee as you stated before unless he picks it up in next year or 2.

You hope Archie makes it to the end of his contract but there is zero chance he gets seven years if he does not make tournament before that. Most he gets is 4 or 5 if he still has not made tourney by then.

We're close and probably first or second five seed and tonight's win goes a long way. That NW loss continues to be a killer though that could cost team Big Ten title and top 4 seed if it comes down to those two, unless we beat them in Big Ten Tournament.

We're close and probably first or second five seed and tonight's win goes a long way. That NW loss continues to be a killer though that could cost team Big Ten title and top 4 seed if it comes down to those two, unless we beat them in Big Ten Tournament.

We might be after tonight or at least very close. We were certainly on the 5 line (17-20) before tonight and this win helps a lot. That NW loss though could be the difference between a Big Ten title and a top 4 seed in tourney though and I knew it at the time. A win over Maryland Thursday would be wonders towards getting us there.

Thats the team we saw early in the year. Took control early and other then a PU run late in the third quarter which we responded to, got a really important road win against a tournament team for the second time in conference play. If the team from earlier in the year that showed up tonight really is back, the sky is once again the limit. Have one more really tough game against Maryland at home on Thursday, then a fairly tough road game against a Nebraska team who is similar to PU. After that the schedule really lightens up to close the season with a road game at Illinois who is worse team in the Big Ten by far, then a home game against a mediocre Ohio St. team, a road game against a bad Minnesota team, senior day against Nebraska which should be a win at home before closing it out at a decent but not great Michigan team. If the team that showed up tonight really is back and we can get one of the next two, baring a collapse we really shouldn't lose more than one down the stretch. This puts us in great position for at least a top four seed and double bye in Big Ten Tourney as well as a top 4 seed and home court in NCAA Tourney. I said after Wisconsin that either that win was a lesson and saved the season or it was a warning sign of a collapse. If tonight is any indication appears we took the former path which would be really good. PU is not what they once were (due to their refusal to get rid of Versyp who is a mediocre coach), but they are still solid and we have owned this series recently after never being able to beat them for a long time.

That first half was the best they have looked since early in the Iowa game against a quality opponent. Got off to a good start finally, played tough D in the post and Berger found her shot again. Now the trick is to bring this home and put ourselves back in contention in the Big Ten and for a top 4 tourney seed which this would do. Game is not over and we need another half like that but finally they were fun to watch again for first time in a few games and played well.