Jan 3rd, a Tuesday, at the Garden with S. Chicken means this game will start after St. Chicken ends, so your looking at 9:30 on a Tuesday night after a long holiday weekend (and week for many). No one is going to this game, but at least they are trying to play at the Garden.
... from a recruiting point of view, assuming there's a return game, visiting NO is not too shabby.
Who say's there's a return game? If this is considered a home game for us that's an even bigger joke. I WOULD rather play an NEC or MEAC opponent at Hynes than empty my wallet going to MSG watching them play freakin Tulane.
Tulane is a member of Conf USA, last year's 8th ranked conference. Tulane itself did not have a good season, but who knows, maybe they're expected to be pretty good this time around.
Tulane has been a perennial CUSA bottom feeder. I'd be impressed getting this game at Hynes (like St. Joes) - but sorry, not the opponent I want Iona to be playing on a big stage like MSG. IMO, we may as well be playing Fordham.
Guy, just being realistic. Tulane's rpi over the last 5 years looks to be around 180, basically the same as a midpack MAAC opponent (at MSG). And if we need to hope the St. Johns fans stick around to watch us, that doesn't say very much about us, does it? I like to think we can be better than that.
Guy, just being realistic. Tulane's rpi over the last 5 years looks to be around 180, basically the same as a midpack MAAC opponent (at MSG). And if we need to hope the St. Johns fans stick around to watch us, that doesn't say very much about us, does it? I like to think we can be better than that.
It's not about Tulane. It's about MSG. You always, always, always want to play a game at MSG.
And it's not about hoping St Johns fans stick around. They will, because they're good enough now to not fear us per se but can still respect us. I'll wager now that at least 4K will be at our game vs Tulane. Someone like me can use the St Johns doubleheader aspect as a means to draw my friends to the Iona game--and a lot of my friends wouldn't set foot in Hynes because it's a high school gym. It's a night out in New York, and who the hell cares who we're playing and how many people are there.
When you say "be better than that", I don't know what you mean. Do you expect Iona to be the headliner and draw 10K by themselves at MSG? St friggin' Johns can't even do that, and they're actually GOOD now.
We're a mid-major program with a pretty small fan base. Our success is cyclical, like about 95% of the other mid-majors out there. Accept our lot in life and enjoy seasons like this one, as we're going to win a shitload of games and have our best chance to win an NCAA game since 1998.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Guy, just being realistic. Tulane's rpi over the last 5 years looks to be around 180, basically the same as a midpack MAAC opponent (at MSG). And if we need to hope the St. Johns fans stick around to watch us, that doesn't say very much about us, does it? I like to think we can be better than that.
It's not about Tulane. It's about MSG. You always, always, always want to play a game at MSG.
I gotta say Guy, that was a very impressive post. Well said!
And it's not about hoping St Johns fans stick around. They will, because they're good enough now to not fear us per se but can still respect us. I'll wager now that at least 4K will be at our game vs Tulane. Someone like me can use the St Johns doubleheader aspect as a means to draw my friends to the Iona game--and a lot of my friends wouldn't set foot in Hynes because it's a high school gym. It's a night out in New York, and who the hell cares who we're playing and how many people are there.
When you say "be better than that", I don't know what you mean. Do you expect Iona to be the headliner and draw 10K by themselves at MSG? St friggin' Johns can't even do that, and they're actually GOOD now.
We're a mid-major program with a pretty small fan base. Our success is cyclical, like about 95% of the other mid-majors out there. Accept our lot in life and enjoy seasons like this one, as we're going to win a shitload of games and have our best chance to win an NCAA game since 1998.
It's not about Tulane. It's about MSG. You always, always, always want to play a game at MSG.
I gotta say Guy, that was a very impressive post. Well said!
And it's not about hoping St Johns fans stick around. They will, because they're good enough now to not fear us per se but can still respect us. I'll wager now that at least 4K will be at our game vs Tulane. Someone like me can use the St Johns doubleheader aspect as a means to draw my friends to the Iona game--and a lot of my friends wouldn't set foot in Hynes because it's a high school gym. It's a night out in New York, and who the hell cares who we're playing and how many people are there.
When you say "be better than that", I don't know what you mean. Do you expect Iona to be the headliner and draw 10K by themselves at MSG? St friggin' Johns can't even do that, and they're actually GOOD now.
We're a mid-major program with a pretty small fan base. Our success is cyclical, like about 95% of the other mid-majors out there. Accept our lot in life and enjoy seasons like this one, as we're going to win a shitload of games and have our best chance to win an NCAA game since 1998.
Whoops posted to the wrong section. Let's try again:
I gotta say Guy, that was a very impressive post. Well said!
Guy, just being realistic. Tulane's rpi over the last 5 years looks to be around 180, basically the same as a midpack MAAC opponent (at MSG). And if we need to hope the St. Johns fans stick around to watch us, that doesn't say very much about us, does it? I like to think we can be better than that.
It's not about Tulane. It's about MSG. You always, always, always want to play a game at MSG.
And it's not about hoping St Johns fans stick around. They will, because they're good enough now to not fear us per se but can still respect us. I'll wager now that at least 4K will be at our game vs Tulane. Someone like me can use the St Johns doubleheader aspect as a means to draw my friends to the Iona game--and a lot of my friends wouldn't set foot in Hynes because it's a high school gym. It's a night out in New York, and who the hell cares who we're playing and how many people are there.
When you say "be better than that", I don't know what you mean. Do you expect Iona to be the headliner and draw 10K by themselves at MSG? St friggin' Johns can't even do that, and they're actually GOOD now.
We're a mid-major program with a pretty small fan base. Our success is cyclical, like about 95% of the other mid-majors out there. Accept our lot in life and enjoy seasons like this one, as we're going to win a shitload of games and have our best chance to win an NCAA game since 1998.
Let's agree to disagree. Anything less than a BCS or Top 50 opponent at MSG is a dissappointment IMO.
And what I mean about, "we're better than that" is to allow our program to stand on its own merit for attendance, not somone elses.
And speaking of OT... I bet a man of his wisdom would agree with me on this!
No reason to stop the debate, unless Saintly Saint has hijacked YOUR handle. :-)
I understand your point--why "waste" MSG with a game against Tulane rather than a bigger name foe. And I wouldn't have a problem with your point if MSG was more mid-major friendly on the whole, but they're not. And the big schools aren't stupid--other than desperation to break into the NYC recruiting market, why in holy hell would a big school risk playing a very strong Iona team at the Garden, where a bunch of St Johns fans would likely stick around and root against them as well? Hell, if I'm a coach at Big State U, I don't play that game even as part of a 2-for-1 deal--waaaaaay to easy to pick up an L in that scenario, even if you're a top 25 type of team.
Re standing on our own merit re attendance, we don't even sell out Hynes, so I have no problem piggybacking on a St Johns game at the Garden if that's the only way we can get one there. Maybe Lavin likes what he sees that evening in terms of Iona's support, and throws Iona a bone and gives us a game there, the way St Johns used to do with Fordham and Hofstra the past decade or so--especially since a) St Johns will be better in 2013 than next year, and b) Iona figures to be weaker on paper. Would be a perfect time for Lavin to give Iona a shot--the risk of losing in 2013 is nowhere near as large.
I would be curious to see what OT would say on this matter. But clearly, you're in the minority right now. :-p
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
Post by ghostofwillard on Jul 21, 2011 19:44:42 GMT -5
Unless Iona is undefeated and on the brink of, or in the top 25; where the Gaels can garner their own attention, Iona vs Tulane @ MSG = yawn ( the one thing I may be overlooking is maybe Tulane has a strong Alumni presence in the NYC area). I'm fine with playing another local at MSG, if not another local then a named school, but Tulane is a Hynes game; not a MSG game JMO Its one thing to play at MSG with people in the seats; but why would you want to play there in an empty building, seems counterproductive?