I don't mind playing UNI on the road because a competive game in a hostile environment will prepare ISU for the Big12 schedule. I think Iowa is our only true road non-con game this year. In years we play the Hawks in Ames, play UNI in Cedar Falls.
COLUMN: Stuff you probably didn't know about the Big 4 Classic
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
I don't mind playing UNI on the road because a competive game in a hostile environment will prepare ISU for the Big12 schedule. I think Iowa is our only true road non-con game this year. In years we play the Hawks in Ames, play UNI in Cedar Falls.
Never have been to the United Center, but it certainly isn't better than the lower bowl of the Sprint Center IMO. To each their own.
Is there a way to make this event better? For instance get 4 more programs to play neutral site games and make it a two day event. ISU/UNI and something like Illinois/Creighton day one. Iowa and etc. the next day. I think I would be more likely to go sit through two games if it were teams I were less familiar with. Would only work with P5 and/or basketball schools.
There is hoping and wishing vs. reality.
I agree the ideal would be home & home games against schools like Michigan or Cincy. But the reality, those games only get played if ESPN or CBS televise. They only happen if ISU has a strong national basketball brand. Even with the nice run ISU had over the last 4-5 years, ESPN wasn't looking for another TV game to show ISU besides Cincy.
Plus, the players get a nice trip out of the neutral site T-giving tournaments.
Weren't we pretty bad for a while when the Michigan series got scheduled?
Best way to fix it is to make it a 2 day tournament to determine the actual state champ. You could charge enough that ISU or Iowa wouldn't mind losing the home and home against each other and I really don't think UNI playing Drake is as big of a deal as people have made it out to be.
Make it mean something
Make it mean something
UNI and Drake are both in the MVC and they play each other twice a year, once at each school. No way would the Valley want to have them play each other in Des Moines.
I remember the Ohio State game at Wells Fargo. The men and women had a back to back game.
I thought there was a rumor back then that the Buckeyes didn't want to play at Hilton, so we settled for this.
I thought the Creighton game was good there.
I thought there was a rumor back then that the Buckeyes didn't want to play at Hilton, so we settled for this.
I thought the Creighton game was good there.
.
I think it was a WFA thing. They wanted ISU to play in DSM. ESPN made it happen by paying the teams to play there. ISU was never happy with the one game deal at WFA. They also had a hard time to getting teams to play ISU there, and with no good TV money that deal was over.
Yep. Then after we beat them in Ames when Michigan was like #7, their AD publicly said scheduling the ISU series "was a mistake". Boohoo!
Because they are the big names and ESPN does whatever is necessary to make the games happen.
Some of those big name games are at neutral sites. The Arkansas game was fun and Cinn. this year. Hope we keep pushing for a few more of those.
I didn't like this event in the past, but have grown accustomed to it and really enjoyed it this year.
I wish it was the week before the Iowa/ISU game. It would make the 1 ticket for 2 games worth it; as you would be scouting the opposing game. It would also add to the atmospher, as I really didn't care who won the IU/UNI game.
I wish it was the week before the Iowa/ISU game. It would make the 1 ticket for 2 games worth it; as you would be scouting the opposing game. It would also add to the atmospher, as I really didn't care who won the IU/UNI game.
I have no idea why ISU doesn't have a home and home with UNI. Look at our non-con this - ONE road game before conference play outside of the tournament. Maybe a 2-for-1 would be a better solution - but I think the Hyvee Classic is here to stay.
Is it because fans/admin don't want to lose to UNI? Because that is happening anyway and a loss at UNI is better than one on a neutral court.
Is it because fans/admin don't want to lose to UNI? Because that is happening anyway and a loss at UNI is better than one on a neutral court.
