citay said:
If this were football, 3000 fans would have shown up, and we'd already have twelve 3-page threads going into all aspects of the Wazzu game.
But it's not.....so we won't.
Face it the glory days of UM hoops were the 1970's and early 1980's. Little or no other weekday sports broadcasts on TV. ESPN showed up in about 1978(?).... lots more games to watch on a cold winter night from the comfort of your couch. Unlike football that began taking off in the late 1980's, basketball always had a "local" fan base that started getting pulled different directions. Fieldhouse got remodeled and moved "the Zoo" but more importantly students started getting the same pulls from different directions and rushing to the "Zoo" seating well in advance of game starts was no longer as "cool" of a thing to do. Conference expanded and many longtime non-student fans couldn't add Cal State Northridge, Sac State, Portland State and Northern Colorado to their "rival" list.
Still lots of interest in Griz hoops Citay, it's never gonna be the same as what you keep wanting it to be. You'd be even more concerned if you lived in Missoula and went to Griz and Lady Griz bball games. The crowds are OLD. Lots of fans to replace just to stay even over these next 15 or 20 years. I'd guess (but probably bet too!) the average age for season ticketholders in the lower level at Adams Center for Griz and Lady Griz hoops is over 50.