Ever since, enthusiasm for the Michigan men’s basketball team has dwindled. Former coach Tommy Amaker couldn’t lead Michigan to an NCAA Tournament in six years. The team went 10-22 last season under new coach John Beilein.
This season, the Athletic Department is banking on an improved basketball team. Michigan has won its first three games this season, including an exhibition victory over Saginaw Valley State and regular-season wins against Michigan Tech and Northeastern.
Marty Bodnar, associate athletic director of ticketing and marketing, said the Athletic Department expects a turnaround in support if the Michigan team can return to its winning pre-scandal ways.
LSA junior Eric Ralph, who attended Tuesday night’s game against Northeastern, agreed.
“They have to get the fans to believe again,” he said.
For the upcoming season, students with valid MCards will be able to attend 12 basketball games for free, though this doesn’t include Michigan’s games against Duke, Ohio State and Michigan State. Already, students could’ve attended last week’s exhibition game with Saginaw Valley State, Tuesday night’s season-opener against Michigan Tech and last night’s game against Northeastern for free.
The Athletic Department plans to use the MCard information from students who attended the free games to market basketball-related offers and ticket deals. Athletic Department spokesman Bruce Madej said Athletic Department officials are trying many plans to increase attendance, with mixed results.
“Some things will be good, some things won’t succeed,” he said.
Among those efforts have been attempts to make the atmosphere of notoriously cavernous Crisler Arena more upbeat. During the off-season, the department invested $1.25 million in upgrading the light and sound systems there, Madej said. The size of the pep band has also been doubled from 35 members to 70 this season in an attempt to increase the noise level in the often-hushed arena.
“Students and fans will continue to see changes in the arena to improve the atmosphere,” Madej said.
Complaints about the atmosphere of Crisler Arena have become common among students, with several citing that factor — and not necessarily the team’s performance — as their main reason for not going to games.
“Crisler doesn’t make you want to spend time there, especially when the team isn’t playing well,” said Zack Burwell, an LSA senior who has held season tickets since he was a sophomore.
After years of mediocrity, students said they are looking ahead to the team’s second year under head coach John Beilein. Still, they’re cautiously optimistic about the future of the program.
Athletic Department officials said the goal is not just to fill Crisler Arena, but also to energize the next generation of University students about Michigan basketball. Madej said busy students have found fewer incentives to make the trip to Crisler because “each game isn’t as important as it used to be.”
via. http://tmd.pub.umich.edu/print/46236 By a Snarf I Went to UMich with, Benjamin S. Chase, Daily Staff Reporter