Huggins' reasons for not wanting to play Marshall should be enough to pull the plug.

[wbgvwbgv]

AFTER THE GAME LAST YEAR:

"Let's be honest. I have all the RPIs of all the people we've played this year. Going into the game Marshall was 270. After playing us they jumped all the way up to 237. Now, you know what that would do for us if we happen not to win? We were I think 36 coming into the game.

You try not to play anybody below 200, you know that. And now they want to play twice in a year? Are you kidding me? Why don't we do what's best for West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia. I don't think it's my job to support them. I don't think that's part of my contract."

"My fear is that our people get caught up in this stuff and do something that's not in our best interest. It's not in our best interest to play a team who.......this is the fifth time in ten years that they've been 160 in the RPI or worse. How's that in our best interest? It's not in our best interest. It's not in the best interest of West Virginia basketball."


MARSHALL CURRENT RPI 2015-16
RPI Rank: 248 Record: 3-7 (0-0)


It is time to kill this carnival. It isn't helping WVU or the State.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Impossible to refute, but that won't stop the Marshall trolls.

Huggins made it clear, this game is not in our best interest. What more needs to be said?

 

[KeatonsCorner]

WVU is averaging 8,500 attendees for home games this OOC

MU is averaging about 5,000.........

13,500 tickets purchased and going into the micro-economies of both schools....... as opposed to 11,000 for one game (average over last 5 years and dropping).......... getting split 50/50........... Now, you can see why MU is holding on as tight as they can to the Classic...... even at 50%, their take is STILL larger than their average home OOC game. But WVU's is nearly cut in half...

So how is one game where state schools split revenue that comes solely from the Charleston-metro area better than 2 games with MORE TICKETS sold.......... with money coming from out of state locations in KY, OH, and PA?

Long answer - It's not

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

I have have held the position of WVU doing nothing that helps Moo Ewe ever since the days of Dan Angel and Bob Pruett.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Little Danny forgot his place and Marshall's going to take a big hit when Huggins cancels the series. Probably grounds for termination.

 

[dolemitebmf]

WVU is averaging 8,500 attendees for home games this OOC

MU is averaging about 5,000.........

13,500 tickets purchased and going into the micro-economies of both schools....... as opposed to 11,000 for one game (average over last 5 years and dropping).......... getting split 50/50........... Now, you can see why MU is holding on as tight as they can to the Classic...... even at 50%, their take is STILL larger than their average home OOC game. But WVU's is nearly cut in half...

So how is one game where state schools split revenue that comes solely from the Charleston-metro area better than 2 games with MORE TICKETS sold.......... with money coming from out of state locations in KY, OH, and PA?

Long answer - It's not

That was the same thing with the football series, and one of the reasons why the game wasn't "good for the state", like some people said. WVU should do what is best for WVU, not what is best for Marshall...

 

[JoePaEer]

End it now!

That is all.

 

[Buster68]

They shoot horses don't they. End it now. It's the merciful thing to do.

 

[3xWVUenginEER]

I don't follow basketball hardly at all til at least February, but I watched a little bit last night. I was flipping through the channels in the 2nd half, and I've seen tennis matches and golf outings that had more enthusiasm than the game last night.

The other thing I noticed is man does the civic center look worse than ever? I've seen high school gyms with better lighting and a better appearance. That building needs to be just destroyed. It is beyond outdated.

As for the series, I say do what Huggins wants. He's the Huggs. HOFers get what they want.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Yeah, the Civic Center Coliseum was built on the cheap back in early 80s; it was below par when brand new. It's going to be renovated but there is no way to make it more than barely adequate. A scoreboard, lighting and sound, more restrooms and new seats are about all you can do to the interior. Just getting rid of the godawful aluminum siding or whatever in the hell that is will at least make it less of an eyesore from the outside.

 

[wvu22]

I don't follow basketball hardly at all til at least February, but I watched a little bit last night. I was flipping through the channels in the 2nd half, and I've seen tennis matches and golf outings that had more enthusiasm than the game last night.

The other thing I noticed is man does the civic center look worse than ever? I've seen high school gyms with better lighting and a better appearance. That building needs to be just destroyed. It is beyond outdated.

As for the series, I say do what Huggins wants. He's the Huggs. HOFers get what they want.

That says a lot about our fan base as we are not nearly the enthusiastic bunch we used to be. The atmosphere in Morgantown is not much better. People sit on their hands or with their arms crossed the entire game and act like they are at mass. When did going to a basketball or football game become "no fun"?

 

[VaultHunter]

But but it's good for the state....

 

[Darth_VadEER]

That says a lot about our fan base as we are not nearly the enthusiastic bunch we used to be. The atmosphere in Morgantown is not much better. People sit on their hands or with their arms crossed the entire game and act like they are at mass. When did going to a basketball or football game become "no fun"?

Let people be. They've made a decision to spend their time and money at the game, they don't need anyone telling them how to conduct themselves. Some folks just aren't overly vocal or animated, nothing wrong with that.

 

[wvpaper]

Huggins is my favorite all-time WVU coach. But BS is BS. Keep Marshall and upgrade N.Kentucky.

 

[5150]

tell Marshall that since WVU has 80% of the fans they get to keep 80% of the money. The problem is this season Huggs has played some teams with lower RPI's Marshall. No reason that game should not be played. Football totally different but hoops its makes no sense to not play.

 

[Buckaineer]

Nearly 12,000 fans attended a game between two WV schools in WV. That's never a bad thing and the game continues to have over 10,000 in attendance.

It's too bad MU has let their program fall to what it is, but from time to time they have better RPI and let's be honest it's not like WVU isn't playing other low RPI schools in the non con every year.

Since both schools are state institutions and fans Of both schools attend and enjoy it, both schools get paid, the capital city gets a nice event between the two schools and there's even national tv coverage- there's really nothing bad about the event at all.

 

[old buzzard]

It's not good for the state, the Civic Center was half empty. It's not good for WVU, they could have made as much money in a half filled Coliseum regardless of who they played that night. WVU never plays well in Charleston and Charleston people don't bother to show up when the Mountaineers play there. The only people that benefit at all are the Herdiots who get to use this series so they can thump their chest about how close they kept the game until it mattered. The same could be said about the football series that is no more. Marshall is consistently one of the worst games on the WVU basketball schedule according to the RPI rankings, and their football schedule is consistently ranked near the bottom in terms of SOS....... so who needs the game more ? There is nothing to gain and everything to lose for WVU by playing Marshall in any sport. One of the TV commentators mentioned that the WVU game for Marshall fans is their Super Bowl.......I think that pretty much sums it up.

 

[WVUBRU]

I'm all in favor of keeping the series but do home and home and not Charleston. Let the student bodies of both schools enjoy the rivalry and the state pride that comes with the game.

 

[WV Cooler]

Nearly 12,000 fans attended a game between two WV schools in WV. That's never a bad thing and the game continues to have over 10,000 in attendance.

It's too bad MU has let their program fall to what it is, but from time to time they have better RPI and let's be honest it's not like WVU isn't playing other low RPI schools in the non con every year.

Since both schools are state institutions and fans Of both schools attend and enjoy it, both schools get paid, the capital city gets a nice event between the two schools and there's even national tv coverage- there's really nothing bad about the event at all.

mu get half the money, moneys should be on tickets sales by the school not by total attendance, split 50-50 not fair to WVU, mu brings maybe 1000 fans and their rpi sucks

 

[Jp WVU]

Huggins is my favorite all-time WVU coach. But BS is BS. Keep Marshall and upgrade N.Kentucky.

The Northern Kentucky game was played for Devin.

 

[Cuyahoga Falls Eers]

WVU would be as well off financially playing Fairmont State in Morgantown. Maybe WVU can rotate one-game paycheck beatdowns among other West Virginia colleges, the way Ohio State does in football. Concord, Fairmont State, A-B, etc. One a year, of course, and always in Morgantown.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Huggins is my favorite all-time WVU coach. But BS is BS. Keep Marshall and upgrade N.Kentucky.

Things NKU do that Marshall don't:

Provide a game for Devin's family
Provide a game to an area of high-level recruiting activity (NorthKY/Cinci metro area)
Give a game to a program that has hired WVU guys to their first coaching positions
Give a game to (at the time of booking) a program with a HC that is close friends to Huggins (since been replaced)
Give a game to (at the time of booking) a program featuring a Bob Huggins family member. His nephew was on roster until he left after the coaching change.
Don't require 50% of the door
Come to Morgantown


With Beetle Bolden on our roster, I'd imagine that NKU will reappear on our schedule in the next 4 seasons, probably even an away trip so Beetle cam "return" just like we did with Darris and other seniors.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

tell Marshall that since WVU has 80% of the fans they get to keep 80% of the money. The problem is this season Huggs has played some teams with lower RPI's Marshall. No reason that game should not be played. Football totally different but hoops its makes no sense to not play.

Find one P5 top 25 team that plays an RPI 250+ program on a neutral court............
Marshall doesn't hire WVU guys
Marshall doesn't travel to our court
Marshall doesn't bring an RPI worthy of neutral site
Marshall doesn't bring fans
Marshall doesn't provide recruiting-ground coverage
Marshall doesn't provide a chance for one of our guys to play in front of a home crowd/family
Marshall doesn't bring anything to the table.... but walks away with all the leftovers.


In no situation should WVU lose money in order to play anyone, much less Marshall.

They had their chance to keep the series by hiring Ronnie Everhart........ and they wouldn't even give him a 2nd interview.

Hope that was enough reasons for why it should not be played. And please don't bring that "It's good for the state" crap either.............. it 100% is not financially good for the state and it is not good for either program's development.

 

[Buster68]

Throw in the fact that Dantonio didn't even know how to direct his team when Huggs called off the dogs during the last 90 seconds and had his guys pressing and acting like they still had a chance to win. Classless arse he is. End this excuse for a rivalry.

 

[Buckaineer]

mu get half the money, moneys should be on tickets sales by the school not by total attendance, split 50-50 not fair to WVU, mu brings maybe 1000 fans and their rpi sucks

Its a neutral site game on a neutral court. The money is not affecting WVU.

Sometimes Marshall has a low RPI, sometimes they don't--but since WVU plays schools with lower RPI each and every year that doesn't really affect WVU either. Just look at last year, MU had a bad RPI and WVU still made it to the NCAA tournament sweet 16. It doesn't matter, its just an excuse.

Fans attend this game at a higher rate than most games in Morgantown, Charleston gets a game between the major schools in the state, national tv is going to cover it when allowed as with this year (even with MUs bad RPI). Fail to see a downside for anyone.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Its a neutral site game on a neutral court. The money is not affecting WVU.

Sometimes Marshall has a low RPI, sometimes they don't--but since WVU plays schools with lower RPI each and every year that doesn't really affect WVU either. Just look at last year, MU had a bad RPI and WVU still made it to the NCAA tournament sweet 16. It doesn't matter, its just an excuse.

Fans attend this game at a higher rate than most games in Morgantown, Charleston gets a game between the major schools in the state, national tv is going to cover it when allowed as with this year (even with MUs bad RPI). Fail to see a downside for anyone.

You fail to see what you don't want to see..........

The money situation for WVU and the Classic is awful. We take over a 3,000 ticket CUT in revenue for this game...... and tickets are sold cheaper for it as well.

National TV does not cover this game with ANY regularity. This season made it to the U because there were literally no other games 'cept 1 for top 25 teams. This game, for anyone not living in Southern WV, is usually accessible solely via an internet connection, especially over the last 5-6 seasons.

Trying to rationalize that "it doesn't matter who WVU plays" as long as we do well in March? Do I even need to address this thought?

Again, every team on our OOC provides at least 2 things that Huggs seeks when scheduling:

Good RPI
Recruiting-ground coverage
Has hired WVU guys
Close, personal friendship with HC of opponent
Comes to Morgantown, no neutral site crap
Away venue located in an area where current WVU player, usually senior, is from
Opponent doesn't run their mouth about WVU in the media

Every single opponent scheduled by Huggs............... since Stetson and Bethune Cookman were not scheduled by our staff.............. fit that criteria.


Next season, Charleston fans get Western Carolina........... a reasonable OOC opponent that is a one-off, check game where WVU keeps the ticket sales........... and they STILL bring a better RPI to the table. And, with the crappy turnout for JMU this season, that's all Charlestonians deserve...

 

[Buckaineer]

You fail to see what you don't want to see..........

The money situation for WVU and the Classic is awful. We take over a 3,000 ticket CUT in revenue for this game...... and tickets are sold cheaper for it as well.

National TV does not cover this game with ANY regularity. This season made it to the U because there were literally no other games 'cept 1 for top 25 teams. This game, for anyone not living in Southern WV, is usually accessible solely via an internet connection, especially over the last 5-6 seasons.

Trying to rationalize that "it doesn't matter who WVU plays" as long as we do well in March? Do I even need to address this thought?

Again, every team on our OOC provides at least 2 things that Huggs seeks when scheduling:

Good RPI
Recruiting-ground coverage
Has hired WVU guys
Close, personal friendship with HC of opponent
Comes to Morgantown, no neutral site crap
Away venue located in an area where current WVU player, usually senior, is from
Opponent doesn't run their mouth about WVU in the media

Every single opponent scheduled by Huggs............... since Stetson and Bethune Cookman were not scheduled by our staff.............. fit that criteria.


Next season, Charleston fans get Western Carolina........... a reasonable OOC opponent that is a one-off, check game where WVU keeps the ticket sales........... and they STILL bring a better RPI to the table. And, with the crappy turnout for JMU this season, that's all Charlestonians deserve...

The attendance in Charleston is better than most games in Morgantown. WVU isn't losing money on the game, in fact they probably make money on it--especially when its on national tv-which undoubtedly it would be more often if WVU didn't usually block that from happening.

No one said anything about it doesn't matter who is played as long as WVU does well in March. That is absurd and you just made that up. What was said is that WVU isn't just playing a sometimes low RPI Marshall--they play other low RPI teams as well and it has not affected them at all in being able to get as far as the sweet 16. Pretending that playing Marshall is going to stop WVU from being able to do well in any season is just not true.

Your statement on every team that WVU plays is just not true--every team has a strong RPI--really? So your claim is WVU does not play any other teams that have low RPIs? It is not true in ANY season.

What the H does having hired WV guys have to do with anything? Unless you are claiming that all the other schools WVU plays non con or in con have WVU ties? Not sure what the point is there. MU's head coach has ties to WV-he is a native WVian. His brother played at Marshall which last time I checked is IN WV and he was also born in WV. Still have no idea what that has to do with anything.

WVU always plays games in Charleston so again, not sure how a neutral site game in Charleston is any different?

I mean its nice and all WVU tries to play games against people Huggins has a relationship with--but nobody takes that into account when placing teams in rankings or in the NCAA tournament. Its a silly argument because one game against MU doesn't affect any of that.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

The attendance in Charleston is better than most games in Morgantown. WVU isn't losing money on the game, in fact they probably make money on it--especially when its on national tv-which undoubtedly it would be more often if WVU didn't usually block that from happening.

No one said anything about it doesn't matter who is played as long as WVU does well in March. That is absurd and you just made that up. What was said is that WVU isn't just playing a sometimes low RPI Marshall--they play other low RPI teams as well and it has not affected them at all in being able to get as far as the sweet 16. Pretending that playing Marshall is going to stop WVU from being able to do well in any season is just not true.

Your statement on every team that WVU plays is just not true--every team has a strong RPI--really? So your claim is WVU does not play any other teams that have low RPIs? It is not true in ANY season.

What the H does having hired WV guys have to do with anything? Unless you are claiming that all the other schools WVU plays non con or in con have WVU ties? Not sure what the point is there. MU's head coach has ties to WV-he is a native WVian. His brother played at Marshall which last time I checked is IN WV and he was also born in WV. Still have no idea what that has to do with anything.

WVU always plays games in Charleston so again, not sure how a neutral site game in Charleston is any different?

I mean its nice and all WVU tries to play games against people Huggins has a relationship with--but nobody takes that into account when placing teams in rankings or in the NCAA tournament. Its a silly argument because one game against MU doesn't affect any of that.

stop. Read what I posted again................. this time, slowly..........

and get rid of that "WVU blocks national media" crap............. completely false.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

If one game doesn't affect anything, WVU needs to use that one game on:

programs that have/will hire our former players to their first coaching jobs
programs that offer game-visibility in high-recruiting areas
programs that play check-games, one-off home games in Morgantown only
programs that Huggs and staff are close to, who show appreciation for the opportunity to play a top 25 program
programs that don't bypass WVU guys and hire some loud mouth that is more interested in talking about WVU in the media than winning games
programs that are TRENDING UP.............. the previous coach at MU was .500 over 4 seasons. Dan isn't getting that in a long, long time.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Interestingly, ISU just played (and lost to) Northern Iowa in Des Moines. UNI is currently a pretty good team, but what does ISU have to gain from playing UNI on a neutral court?. The game is part of the Big 4, and in alternating years the "big" Iowa schools play either UNI and Drake. This year Iowa played (and beat) Drake (not good this year). Next year the game will flip to ISU-Drake and Iowa-UNI.

Do ISU and Iowa fans make the same sort of feeble arguments against playing their lesser in-state opponents? Aren't Iowa or ISU wins no big deal while a UNI win or a Drake win is a much bigger deal?

Is it possible people in Iowa who support the major programs just aren't as infantile and insecure as the subset of WVU fans who make up stupid reasons not to play Marshall because they don't have the balls to give the real reason?

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Interestingly, ISU just played (and lost to) Northern Iowa in Des Moines. UNI is currently a pretty good team, but what does ISU have to gain from playing UNI on a neutral court?. The game is part of the Big 4, and in alternating years the "big" Iowa schools play either UNI and Drake. This year Iowa played (and beat) Drake (not good this year). Next year the game will flip to ISU-Drake and Iowa-UNI.

Do ISU and Iowa fans make the same sort of feeble arguments against playing their lesser in-state opponents? Aren't Iowa or ISU wins no big deal while a UNI win or a Drake win is a much bigger deal?

Is it possible people in Iowa who support the major programs just aren't as infantile and insecure as the subset of WVU fans who make up stupid reasons not to play Marshall because they don't have the balls to give the real reason?

"ISU just played (and lost to) Northern Iowa in Des Moines. UNI is currently a pretty good team, but what does ISU have to gain from playing UNI on a neutral court?."

stopped reading right there.............. Comparing NIU to Marshall, especially over the last half decade, only shows an ignorance towards college basketball.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Obviously, I know NIU is pretty good, or I wouldn't have said so. You always resort to doubling down on your stupidity when you have nothing to say to actually address an argument.

The question remains what does ISU have to gain? Isn't playing a team it is more likely to lose than we are to lose to Marshall actually demonstrating SU is more willing to risk a loss.

You might also want to check out Drake's RPI this season.

You can't counter the fact the the same stupid arguments exist for the Iowa majors but they don't make them because they know how idiotic they sound.

If you don't want to play Marshall because occasionally losing to it is more than your weak psyche can handle, just say so, don't make up pathetic excuses.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

"what does ISU have to gain"

playing an annual NCAA Tournament team that IMPROVES their RPI, provides a legitimate test, and provides value on Selection Sunday by increasing their schedule strength..........


mostly.

And what you're alluding to............ a round-robin style situation...... has been discussed, though marginally. MU plays an opponent and WVU plays an opponent on the same night, and THAT is the Capital Classic.......... That would be good for the State....... not forcing the State's flagship to cut a check to that charity case program in Huntington.


Also, as even you can see here, the Iowa Big 4 Classic is much more evenly-matched.

 

[Buckaineer]

stop. Read what I posted again................. this time, slowly..........

and get rid of that "WVU blocks national media" crap............. completely false.

Stop and read what I wrote-carefully and stop making meaningless or untruthful statements to try and prop up a baseless argument.

WVU has blocked national coverage of events and does have the ability to do this for games they control media rights to, so your claim that is "crap" or completely false is actually completely false.

ESPN doesn't put games on because "there's nothing else on"--they put on games that they believe will attract a high enough audience to make money from. Stop trying to spin things.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

Gonna need a source for that............ ridiculous "statements" must have sources..


Yes, WVU has been prohibiting ESPN from showing the Classic all these years!

lol at the stuff that gets posted to these forums...

And yes, ESPN did pick our game because WVU was a top 25 opponent and THIS was the list of other options........ Yah! We beat out SMU vs. Hampton!

 

[Buckaineer]

Gonna need a source for that............ ridiculous "statements" must have sources..


Yes, WVU has been prohibiting ESPN from showing the Classic all these years!

lol at the stuff that gets posted to these forums...

Yes, LOL at the stuff that gets posted to these forums--such as "Huggins is scheduling teams with ties-no matter how obtuse- to his program, so no matter what their RPI or the money or national coverage they bring, or how they affect WVUs schedule--they are all better than Marshall no matter what". That's about as absurd a statement as ever posted here.

 

[KeatonsCorner]

I provided a fact-based argument. You have not. Every single opponent scheduled by WVU fits at least 2 of the criteria that Bob Huggins uses to pick opponents. All do except Marshall...

But I noticed you didn't post a source to your tin foil WV Media conspiracy...


And the BS notion that the Classic's attendance is unmatchable for WVU at the Civic Center? lol

in the last half decade, we exceeded this year's attendance with opponents like:

The Citadel
VMI


The Charleston games sell.......... Econ 101. Lack of supply increases demand. One Charleston game a year and we could play a church league team and get 10k+

 

[Buckaineer]

I provided a fact-based argument. You have not. Every single opponent scheduled by WVU fits at least 2 of the criteria that Bob Huggins uses to pick opponents. All do except Marshall...

But I noticed you didn't post a source to your tin foil WV Media conspiracy...

a fact based argument filled with MEANINGLESS facts does not a good argument make--and probably can be blown up with a check anyway.

No one in the college basketball business gives a flying f is Huggins is scheduling a team that fits two of criteria such as "has ties to WVU no matter how remote". It doesn't help WVUs RPI, or schedule strength, or post season chances, or national exposure or attendance or revenues or anything else. Its a meaningless, pointless point.

Finding links takes time--patience. Something some of you need to learn. Here's a link with a brief description of what I discussed--here for the tv rights for the WVU/Marshall football series:

excerpt:
Other details in the agreement allow the home team to negotiate the television rights for the games. Rights fees will be distributed through existing or future agreements of each team's conference.

http://es.redskins.com/topic/99373-wvu-vs-marshall-in-football-for-7-years/

 

[Buckaineer]

As to non national coverage--ROOT sports produced the game for a more regional audience in 2014 and here's what they had to say about it:

“This instate contest is one of the most anticipated games every season, and this year we take great pride in being a part of the experience and bringing the rivalry to over 3.3 million homes throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Maryland,” said Shawn McClintock, Senior VP and General Manager of ROOT SPORTS. “It’s a great celebration of the state of West Virginia, the states’ prestigious collegiate athletics and their remarkable fans who bring an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm to the game.”

http://pittsburgh.rootsports.com/20...inia-universities-to-air-live-on-root-sports/

but yeah, I'm sure WVU doesn't want exposure to those 3.3 million homes in WV, PA, Ohio, New York or Maryland--much better to play an opponent with coverage to just a few people because Huggins knows someone's cousins brother on the other team.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

As to non national coverage--ROOT sports produced the game for a more regional audience in 2014 and here's what they had to say about it:

“This instate contest is one of the most anticipated games every season, and this year we take great pride in being a part of the experience and bringing the rivalry to over 3.3 million homes throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Maryland,” said Shawn McClintock, Senior VP and General Manager of ROOT SPORTS. “It’s a great celebration of the state of West Virginia, the states’ prestigious collegiate athletics and their remarkable fans who bring an unparalleled passion and enthusiasm to the game.”

http://pittsburgh.rootsports.com/20...inia-universities-to-air-live-on-root-sports/

but yeah, I'm sure WVU doesn't want exposure to those 3.3 million homes in WV, PA, Ohio, New York or Maryland--much better to play an opponent with coverage to just a few people because Huggins knows someone's cousins brother on the other team.

If the benefits are so great, why does our own coach say this game isn't in our best interest and want to end it?