Arch Madness 2022 - Final Thoughts

[GoSIU88]

I saw all or part of all nine games, so here are my thoughts:

Thursday Night

ISU vs ISU - decent game (honestly one of the best games in the tournament). I didn't much care who won, but I can't root for that school from Normal. Both schools brought bands and made some noise so it was at least entertaining.

Valpo vs UE. What a yawner. Besides being past my bedtime, neither school brought a band and Valpo doesn't have a mascot since they went and got all politically correct. At least UE brought their purple and orange clad riverboat gambler. I don't think more than 10 people in the stands actually cared who won.

I left right after half time and was in bed back in the Hilton at 9:30.

Friday

The day started with another snooze fest as UNI made the Redbirds look like a team without a coach. Oh, wait. My bad. At least both schools seemed enthusiastic and UNI brought a decent crowd.

Loyola-Bradley looked like a good match on paper. Didn't turn out so. Not sure if Bradley was intimidated by all the Harry Potter scarves or Sister Jean or both, but it wasn't much of a game. At least the Gargoyle is kinda cute in a creepy sort of way and we got to see him for a few minutes.

When the night session started, I had high hopes for some entertaining games. JQH State, as I already knew, had the most talent on the floor this weekend and it showed as they wore down Valpo in the 2nd half. The Sugar Bears were equally talented and looked dapper and that kept me entertained for a short while.

Then it was time for the Main Event: Drake vs SIU. Ironically, both teams stayed at the Hilton at the Ballpark, so fans were intermingling all weekend. Not sure what dog breeders would say about bulldogs and salukis mixing it up would say, but it surely would produce some ugly dawgs. And, oh the irony that the Drake all session ticket holder were right in front of the Saluki faithful at the car rental arena.

Unfortunately, that's where the comparisons end. It was nip and tuck for most of the first half. Neither team did much offensively until the Salukis went on a tear with about 6 min left and took a 24-17 lead. then I blinked and the next thing I knew it was half-time and Drake led 28-26.

The second half wasn't pretty for my Salukis. We got down early and Drake never looked back. Other devastating loss at the Arch. It didn't help much when we saw all the excited Drake fans celebrating in the lobby at the Hilton.

Suggestion #1, each team needs their own hotel. Period. The Valley needs to work on that. The hotel "shortage" will be worse next year with two extra teams. I hope someone at the Valley office knows that Murray and SIU at the same hotel is NOT a viable option for next year.

Saturday

Everyone had high hopes that UNI and the Sister Jeans of Chicago could have another exciting game in the first semifinal. Didn't happen. The Rogers Park wolves took control and UNI never really made much of a run. UNI, with no chance at an at-large bid, saw their hopes crumble. Even the COY Ben Jacobs seemed befuddled. Frankly, the most entertaining thing during this game was the Loyola fan who stood and "danced" the whole game which prompted an obscenely drunk UNI fan to come over their section and start talking smack. He got booted by security. That was fun and I congratulated the usher for a job well done! Best laugh of the day.

The second game lived up to the hype and surpassed all expectations. Both teams played their hearts out, their fans held their breath awaiting the outcome and the game went into OT! Great game. I wasn't sure the blocking foul on Mosely at the end of the game was legit until I watched the replay (it was). Since Drake was at my hotel, I was able to congratulate Coach DeVries in the elevator later that night. Nice guy. (I think he might have been a little afraid of me when he saw the gnarling Saluki on my shirt).

The championship game, unfortunately, was disappointing. Loyola had an easier route and earlier schedule thanks to their seeding. Seeds 4-5 have an easier schedule at Arch Madness than the third seed. Drake did give a valiant effort and man, Tucker Devries, is the best freshman I've seen in the Valley since Doogie McBaskets played at that Nebraska school (which shall remain nameless).

Suggestion #2 Increase security and let people with MVC tickets ride the Metrolink for free. In all honesty, the metrolink didn't feel particularly in broad daylight let alone at night.

Suggestion #3 - lower ticket prices for all-session tickets or, by all means, do NOT raise ticket prices for next year. With the change in format next year, the Valley will be lucky to have anyone not wearing a short skirt at the games on Thursday afternoon.

Suggestion #4 - Financial penalties for not bringing a band or mascots. Drake didn't bring Spike and since Valpo got all politically correct on us, they don't even have a mascot. This is unacceptable. Not bringing a band isn't even D2 or D3, it's NAIA. What was up with that?

Suggestion #5 - tell the University presidents to schedule spring break to not conflict with Arch Madness so students can be encouraged to come. There were virtually no students (except for the Catholic University of Rogers Park) at the games. Then, seat them as close to the court as possible.

In summary, don't get your hopes up about Murray City College bringing loads of fans. The vast majority of the Murray fans that have been showing up in Evansville lives across the river in Henderson County where they have an extension campus. Factor in time, travel and the COST of hotels and tickets in St Louis, the crowd will be sparse. They won't go 20-0 in the Missouri Valley next year. Belmont and UIC will have minimal impact.

The Valley desperately needs SIU, ISUred and Bradley to improve and bring more fans.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

Suggestion #3 - lower ticket prices for all-session tickets or, by all means, do NOT raise ticket prices for next year. With the change in format next year, the Valley will be lucky to have anyone not wearing a short skirt at the games on Thursday afternoon.

Wasn’t just 2017 (5 years ago) we were paying $135 early-bird price for all-session tickets? I’m not asking them to lower prices, but they have to stop increasing them. With $20 Ticketmaster/Enterprise fees added on every purchase, the local casuals aren’t buying single sessions anymore.

Also, if the two behind the basket sections are going to be one for band/cheer/dance and one for VIP, the band/cheer/dance section 100% has to be on the tv side.

And if the student sections aren’t behind the basket anymore, move them to 101/105 behind the benches. Those rows are often empty anyway due to poor sightlines, but they’re visible on tv so you want them filled.

[DUBulldog]

Suggestion #4 - Financial penalties for not bringing a band or mascots. Drake didn't bring Spike and since Valpo got all politically correct on us, they don't even have a mascot. This is unacceptable. Not bringing a band isn't even D2 or D3, it's NAIA. What was up with that?

Drake doesn't have Spike anymore. They have a live mascot, Griff II....Griff was in St Louis, but the Enterprise Center wouldn't allow him in.

[SalukiWorld]

The Murray State bashing is tiresome from SIU fans when we'd kill to be them right now. They're going to bring fans next year and they're going to be contenders in the Valley.

[BUFanatic]

I know this is a little bit apples to oranges but I think they need to do something like we used to do in Peoria for the state tournament and implement an “Arch Madness Experience” that would cater to local high school kids and reach college students as well. A bunch of my friends (though not myself as I cared only about Bradley and college and EP was bad lol) used to “get sick” one or both weekends to hang out and catch some hoops.

As far as ticket prices go I was able to go to the Championship in 2020 for $75 but I believe the ticket was advertised at $45. Stupid. Point about teams like Bradley needing to do better is well taken. If I recall the 2020 final had about 7,500 and a lot of them were people like me that made the snap decision to head up on Sunday morning after we won Saturday night. My plan this year was to actually go up Saturday/Sunday but we laid an egg against Loyola so I didn’t go.

Not sure what the environment is like at other Valley schools re students but at BU there’s been a systemic “no fun” culture for almost 20 years and the COVID restrictions seem to have killed what little school spirit there was. Even the Women (who were recognized at the ISU game) seemed so lethargic and apathetic towards the men’s team. They stayed which is something but they just looked, I don’t know jealous or something that the men had a bigger stage and draw? Not 6 years ago when I went it seemed that the women had a pretty decent relationship with the men and there was mutual support. That being said if I offered a random BU student $500 to spend the weekend in STL all expenses paid I’m not sure if I could get many to go.

[bradley_townie]

The Murray State bashing is tiresome from SIU fans when we'd kill to be them right now. They're going to bring fans next year and they're going to be contenders in the Valley.

I've been to SIUE games with quite a few Kentucky license plates in the parking lot and a whole lot of yellow in the stands. Of the new additions, it's Belmont and UIC fans that I worry about making the trip to St. Louis.

Pleasantly surprised at the number of Evansville fans in St. Louis. Not a lot of fanbases would make that trip after the way things have played out the past couple years for them. Compare them to Valpo who were a better seed and managed maybe a couple dozen fans.

[pafan]

Suggestion #4 - Financial penalties for not bringing a band or mascots. Drake didn't bring Spike and since Valpo got all politically correct on us, they don't even have a mascot. This is unacceptable. Not bringing a band isn't even D2 or D3, it's NAIA. What was up with that?

Could the conference start fining UE for not having a band at home games?

Suggestion #5 - tell the University presidents to schedule spring break to not conflict with Arch Madness so students can be encouraged to come. There were virtually no students (except for the Catholic University of Rogers Park) at the games.

Aha! It's spring break all the time in Evansville. That must be why there's no students and no band.

[GoSIU88]

Suggestion #4 - Financial penalties for not bringing a band or mascots. Drake didn't bring Spike and since Valpo got all politically correct on us, they don't even have a mascot. This is unacceptable. Not bringing a band isn't even D2 or D3, it's NAIA. What was up with that?

Drake doesn't have Spike anymore. They have a live mascot, Griff II....Griff was in St Louis, but the Enterprise Center wouldn't allow him in.

I saw Griff at the hotel. Nice dog, but he was a little sleepy. Why won't the Enterprise Center let him in? That's ridiculous. He wouldn't hurt a thing.

[GoSIU88]

The Murray State bashing is tiresome from SIU fans when we'd kill to be them right now. They're going to bring fans next year and they're going to be contenders in the Valley.

Thank you, Pontiff.

You can take your tiresome views over to Saluki-Insider where someone (maybe) cares.

[GoSIU88]

Suggestion #3 - lower ticket prices for all-session tickets or, by all means, do NOT raise ticket prices for next year. With the change in format next year, the Valley will be lucky to have anyone not wearing a short skirt at the games on Thursday afternoon.

Wasn’t just 2017 (5 years ago) we were paying $135 early-bird price for all-session tickets? I’m not asking them to lower prices, but they have to stop increasing them. With $20 Ticketmaster/Enterprise fees added on every purchase, the local casuals aren’t buying single sessions anymore.

Also, if the two behind the basket sections are going to be one for band/cheer/dance and one for VIP, the band/cheer/dance section 100% has to be on the tv side.

And if the student sections aren’t behind the basket anymore, move them to 101/105 behind the benches. Those rows are often empty anyway due to poor sightlines, but they’re visible on tv so you want them filled.

Agree. I paid $155 for the early bird special thru SIU.