Colorado (unranked since UNI beat them) just beat #11 Dayton in OT at the United Center, in something called the "Chicago Legends" double header--- they had a special court with the Chicago flag, but no Chicago or Chicago area or Illinois teams. The opening game was Cincinnati vs Iowa.
Meanwhile, Northwestern is playing DePaul at Wintrust. The beginning of the broadcast of the two Chicago teams playing each other was delayed by the end of two teams from Colorado and Ohio playing each other at the biggest arena in Chicago.
Pretty ridiculous.
Newspapers probably don't have the ability to influence fandom and attendance and interest anymore. It's now social media and local TV that has more of a sway. Maybe if ESPN said it was big, would it be big.
But here's the bottom line... We have to go out and MAKE OPPORTUNITIES. They aren't going to land in our laps. We've got to have one person in the athletic dept. dedicated to making the schedule, looking to make deals to bring teams here, or make events elsewhere at neutral sites. Put out the word now that we're looking for games on the road at neutral sites, as part of local events, and have partners willing to go to make an event....
If we dont' get on the ball with improving the schedule, we will NEVER be an at large team. We are simply going to be ignored.
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