Game 28, 2025-26: Buffalo (2/21)

[Juice Stand]

^Isn't that the same scenario from our previous Buffalo game? I seem to remember that he was out and then returned for the game against us, we built a huge lead, and then he came to life in the second and made it a tight game.

Quick comment on student attendance. I don't expect huge student attendance like we had on Tuesday, I think that was a one-off, but listening to the WMUA podcast they had an interesting note. All those white t-shirts and the normal student section seating, that was apparently reserved for student athletes only. Kind of a bummer for regular students to go for the t-shirt giveaway and try to get yourself on TV all painted up screaming like a lunatic only to be told to go sit in the rafters, and no shirt for you.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3q8vPm ... bee7254337

[minutefanjsf]

^Isn't that the same scenario from our previous Buffalo game? I seem to remember that he was out and then returned for the game against us, we built a huge lead, and then he came to life in the second and made it a tight game.

Quick comment on student attendance. I don't expect huge student attendance like we had on Tuesday, I think that was a one-off, but listening to the WMUA podcast they had an interesting note. All those white t-shirts and the normal student section seating, that was apparently reserved for student athletes only. Kind of a bummer for regular students to go for the t-shirt giveaway and try to get yourself on TV all painted up screaming like a lunatic only to be told to go sit in the rafters, and no shirt for you.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3q8vPm ... bee7254337

That seems like a misstatement. There were lots of "regular" students in that section. They may have conflated the fact that many student athletes showed up and the T-shirt giveaway. The four dudes with pained chests/guts in the front row didn't didn't seem to be athletes. They had the hockey players tossing the T-shirts, etc.

[Juice Stand]

Might be, but I doubt it. Those guys are plugged in. Go listen to the podcast. They state pretty clearly that it's how things were set up, and they talked to many students who were disappointed that they weren't allowed in that area. They said about 900 shirts went to student athletes and 100 went to regular students. I'll trust the WMUA guys.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Might be, but I doubt it. Those guys are plugged in. Go listen to the podcast. They state pretty clearly that it's how things were set up, and they talked to many students who were disappointed that they weren't allowed in that area. They said about 900 shirts went to student athletes and 100 went to regular students. I'll trust the WMUA guys.

No idea about the shirt distribution, but as for the seating locations: There were a bunch of the teams in the student section - the PA acknowledged which teams were in attendance and the groups were all behind the hoop - you could tell when they waved and cheered. Specifically - WBB and Football were where the band would normally be, Hockey was over by the kids with the painted chests.

Nothing wrong with this, considering that end isn't normally jam packed with students generally.


With all of that said, Tuesday night was proof of how awesome the end zone seating is when it's jammed and the students are active.

[minutefanjsf]

Might be, but I doubt it. Those guys are plugged in. Go listen to the podcast. They state pretty clearly that it's how things were set up, and they talked to many students who were disappointed that they weren't allowed in that area. They said about 900 shirts went to student athletes and 100 went to regular students. I'll trust the WMUA guys.

I was over there before the game started. I will give it a listen. Not sure why they only had 1000 shirts either. Should've planned for the whole student section. Pissing off students is not the way to get them to come back for sure. That 900 number seems inflated. There aren't that many athletes unless they are counting club sports. The Maroon Excellence fund states we have 650 athletes. Do they still have the "militia"? or another group that gets preference for student seats?

[minutefanjsf]

Might be, but I doubt it. Those guys are plugged in. Go listen to the podcast. They state pretty clearly that it's how things were set up, and they talked to many students who were disappointed that they weren't allowed in that area. They said about 900 shirts went to student athletes and 100 went to regular students. I'll trust the WMUA guys.

No idea about the shirt distribution, but as for the seating locations: There were a bunch of the teams in the student section - the PA acknowledged which teams were in attendance and the groups were all behind the hoop - you could tell when they waved and cheered. Specifically - WBB and Football were where the band would normally be, Hockey was over by the kids with the painted chests.

Nothing wrong with this, considering that end isn't normally jam packed with students generally.


With all of that said, Tuesday night was proof of how awesome the end zone seating is when it's jammed and the students are active.

Many have also have been attending games supporting the team, just not sitting in the student section, all year.

[Juice Stand]

^ Yup, they hardly ever sit there when there are better open seats available at every other game. The "student section" is generally always empty, but it's hardly ever an indicator of how many students are actually there. I heard somewhere, I forget where, that student attendance for Miami was 10x the typical turnout, so if there were 2300 or whatever the number was, that indicates 230 normally come out. Not a huge number obviously, but if they all sat in the student section it would look more full than just having the band there.

What did you think of having the band play up on higher by the back wall instead of down by the court? Kind of interesting and gave the students an opportunity to get right up close to the action. Can't do it when the place is empty, but I thought it was neat.

[vanmeter]

This Buffalo is very important in simply putting a place in the MAC tournament. I think we need to win 2 of our last 4 to guarantee getting in. While all 4 are winnable we still need to get 2. Buffalo home and Ball State away seem to be the most winnable. Bowling Green away presents a challenge and Ohio at home looks ok but we did lose to them at Ohio.

[minutefanjsf]

^ Yup, they hardly ever sit there when there are better open seats available at every other game. The "student section" is generally always empty, but it's hardly ever an indicator of how many students are actually there. I heard somewhere, I forget where, that student attendance for Miami was 10x the typical turnout, so if there were 2300 or whatever the number was, that indicates 230 normally come out. Not a huge number obviously, but if they all sat in the student section it would look more full than just having the band there.

What did you think of having the band play up on higher by the back wall instead of down by the court? Kind of interesting and gave the students an opportunity to get right up close to the action. Can't do it when the place is empty, but I thought it was neat.

Even when we used to sell out the band was always on the risers in one of the narrow sections. I didn't mind them being up in the back. I think having them on the risers is better. The band is considered student attendance, too, It think, so if the average is 250 students and 50 are band members, Kudos to Minyard, etc. for getting the kids there Tuesday. My daughter didn't come because she had too much school work as a senior.....I scoffed a little at her for that, to be honest. She will be there on Saturday. Lol.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

What did you think of having the band play up on higher by the back wall instead of down by the court? Kind of interesting and gave the students an opportunity to get right up close to the action. Can't do it when the place is empty, but I thought it was neat.

I'd prefer them down low. I'm sure they carry through the building better from where they were on Tuesday night, though.

[minutefanjsf]

Saturday is also Greek life night. They are reserving 500 seats for fraternity and sorority members. Back in the day, Cal and Thorr came by fraternities with tickets. (Not together, that I remember).

[InnervisionsUMASS]

^

That's good, should guarantee at least some students there.

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

couple things - first regarding the t-shirt giveaway - as I was walking in the concourse before the game, I saw a handful of older people with the t-shirts in their hand - I guess its possible a student gave up there's and gave it to them, but I have a feeling they just walked down and grabbed one.

safe to assume Senior's will be honored prior to the game and the Final 4 team during halftime?

[LS71]

^ Senior Day stuff at 5:40 pm; FF stuff on the video board throughout the game with a halftime ceremony.

Senior Day seems odd today. The days of watching players come to UMass and mature on and off the court over 4 years at UMass are gone forever, another casualty of modern day college basketball.

DHS and Donovan Brown are both listed as seniors. DHS transferred to UMass after his freshman year at South Carolina, so he's played here for three seasons.

Donovan's played at UMass this season only.

Leo Bettiol and Isaiah Placide played elsewhere for their undergrad years and are listed as Grad students. Will they be part of "Senior" Day?

[MakeMullinsGreatAgain]

Not sure if Brown, Banks, Placide or Leo will be honored. I don't remember Cohen getting honored 2 years ago, same with Rivera and Malek last year.

I did read on X that Banks father is coming to the game so that might be an indication they will be honoring those guys too.