Expected to finish in 6th place.

[Beardown]

Wow. I knew about Brandon Keane leaving, and was excited to see they brought in another big man in Riak Bol, but now he is gone too. We are hurting big time for big players !! That's really disappointing news. I hope Jeremy Verhagen is up to the task !!

I dont understand Hill's strategy..... we lose guys who are suppose to contribute, but we don't recruit local players who could help us improve. You live by transfers and you die by transfers.
We get a commit one day and lose the player the next because we are going about this in a chaotic manner. I see CU, Denver and other teams building programs, I see UNC putting together teams for a season. The only team more chaotic is CSU!

Unlike on the football side of things, I do not believe this is a coaching issue. This is a fan and support issue. Players come to this team thinking they are going to get a DI experience. The packed stadium, the popularity walking through the campus, the support of the community. None of that happens here unless the team is undefeated and heading to the dance. Of course you have your die hard 60+ year olds that will be at every game regardless and you have the other athletes that are forced to go to sporting events, but other than that, these athletes would be playing in an empty arena. Players lose interest really fast if some of the cool aspects of being a DI athlete are not present. That is why athletes at this school aren't willing to come off of or ride the bench, for what? So they can get even less of the benefits? They can go DII and be a big fish in a small pond or go ride the bench at a bigger DI and have a better athletic experience.
This time, it's not the coaches, it's everything else. They have the talent, they have the coaching, they are just not supported and that gets old real fast. Name one DI team in the country that can't fill a 2500 seat stadium on a nightly basis. You would be lucky to get 1000+ in Greeley.

WTF? It's a rare occasion to get less than a 1,000 in Greeley. If it lands on a Sunday afternoon and the Broncos are playing, or it's on a week night and against a no-name, then maybe we get less than a 1K. Usually when it's a great conference opponent and we're playing well, Butler is a great place to watch a game. It's small, but it gets loud and is a fun place to be. This is highlights from the Montana game which happened to be in the middle of the week and was probably the best game all season. If you think there are less than 1,000 at this game, you're on crack. Loved this game!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpO1sPLu00s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Anonymous]

Wow. I knew about Brandon Keane leaving, and was excited to see they brought in another big man in Riak Bol, but now he is gone too. We are hurting big time for big players !! That's really disappointing news. I hope Jeremy Verhagen is up to the task !!

I dont understand Hill's strategy..... we lose guys who are suppose to contribute, but we don't recruit local players who could help us improve. You live by transfers and you die by transfers.
We get a commit one day and lose the player the next because we are going about this in a chaotic manner. I see CU, Denver and other teams building programs, I see UNC putting together teams for a season. The only team more chaotic is CSU!

Unlike on the football side of things, I do not believe this is a coaching issue. This is a fan and support issue. Players come to this team thinking they are going to get a DI experience. The packed stadium, the popularity walking through the campus, the support of the community. None of that happens here unless the team is undefeated and heading to the dance. Of course you have your die hard 60+ year olds that will be at every game regardless and you have the other athletes that are forced to go to sporting events, but other than that, these athletes would be playing in an empty arena. Players lose interest really fast if some of the cool aspects of being a DI athlete are not present. That is why athletes at this school aren't willing to come off of or ride the bench, for what? So they can get even less of the benefits? They can go DII and be a big fish in a small pond or go ride the bench at a bigger DI and have a better athletic experience.
This time, it's not the coaches, it's everything else. They have the talent, they have the coaching, they are just not supported and that gets old real fast. Name one DI team in the country that can't fill a 2500 seat stadium on a nightly basis. You would be lucky to get 1000+ in Greeley.

WTF? It's a rare occasion to get less than a 1,000 in Greeley. If it lands on a Sunday afternoon and the Broncos are playing, or it's on a week night and against a no-name, then maybe we get less than a 1K. Usually when it's a great conference opponent and we're playing well, Butler is a great place to watch a game. It's small, but it gets loud and is a fun place to be. This is highlights from the Montana game which happened to be in the middle of the week and was probably the best game all season. If you think there are less than 1,000 at this game, you're on crack. Loved this game!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpO1sPLu00s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It often doesn't matter what is posted on this site. The response is usually "are you nuts, Greeley is a great place" "you don't know what you are talking about there were at least 2,000+ students at that game." "I was there so I know better than you." The point I was making is that the athletes are not supported as well as many DI schools. Maybe a mid DII, and that has nothing to do with the coaching or the talent. So, if that is not it, why are we not able to keep players from transferring or not wanting to play at this school?

 

[Anonymous]

Wow. I knew about Brandon Keane leaving, and was excited to see they brought in another big man in Riak Bol, but now he is gone too. We are hurting big time for big players !! That's really disappointing news. I hope Jeremy Verhagen is up to the task !!

I dont understand Hill's strategy..... we lose guys who are suppose to contribute, but we don't recruit local players who could help us improve. You live by transfers and you die by transfers.
We get a commit one day and lose the player the next because we are going about this in a chaotic manner. I see CU, Denver and other teams building programs, I see UNC putting together teams for a season. The only team more chaotic is CSU!

Unlike on the football side of things, I do not believe this is a coaching issue. This is a fan and support issue. Players come to this team thinking they are going to get a DI experience. The packed stadium, the popularity walking through the campus, the support of the community. None of that happens here unless the team is undefeated and heading to the dance. Of course you have your die hard 60+ year olds that will be at every game regardless and you have the other athletes that are forced to go to sporting events, but other than that, these athletes would be playing in an empty arena. Players lose interest really fast if some of the cool aspects of being a DI athlete are not present. That is why athletes at this school aren't willing to come off of or ride the bench, for what? So they can get even less of the benefits? They can go DII and be a big fish in a small pond or go ride the bench at a bigger DI and have a better athletic experience.
This time, it's not the coaches, it's everything else. They have the talent, they have the coaching, they are just not supported and that gets old real fast. Name one DI team in the country that can't fill a 2500 seat stadium on a nightly basis. You would be lucky to get 1000+ in Greeley.

WTF? It's a rare occasion to get less than a 1,000 in Greeley. If it lands on a Sunday afternoon and the Broncos are playing, or it's on a week night and against a no-name, then maybe we get less than a 1K. Usually when it's a great conference opponent and we're playing well, Butler is a great place to watch a game. It's small, but it gets loud and is a fun place to be. This is highlights from the Montana game which happened to be in the middle of the week and was probably the best game all season. If you think there are less than 1,000 at this game, you're on crack. Loved this game!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpO1sPLu00s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Are you measuring the support for the team by a less than half full stadium (using your 1000+ number) I think the stadium holds 2400+? And I would argue many of them are athletes being told they have to be there and older alumni, there is not a whole lot of current student support.

 

[Beardown]

Wow. I knew about Brandon Keane leaving, and was excited to see they brought in another big man in Riak Bol, but now he is gone too. We are hurting big time for big players !! That's really disappointing news. I hope Jeremy Verhagen is up to the task !!

I dont understand Hill's strategy..... we lose guys who are suppose to contribute, but we don't recruit local players who could help us improve. You live by transfers and you die by transfers.
We get a commit one day and lose the player the next because we are going about this in a chaotic manner. I see CU, Denver and other teams building programs, I see UNC putting together teams for a season. The only team more chaotic is CSU!

Unlike on the football side of things, I do not believe this is a coaching issue. This is a fan and support issue. Players come to this team thinking they are going to get a DI experience. The packed stadium, the popularity walking through the campus, the support of the community. None of that happens here unless the team is undefeated and heading to the dance. Of course you have your die hard 60+ year olds that will be at every game regardless and you have the other athletes that are forced to go to sporting events, but other than that, these athletes would be playing in an empty arena. Players lose interest really fast if some of the cool aspects of being a DI athlete are not present. That is why athletes at this school aren't willing to come off of or ride the bench, for what? So they can get even less of the benefits? They can go DII and be a big fish in a small pond or go ride the bench at a bigger DI and have a better athletic experience.
This time, it's not the coaches, it's everything else. They have the talent, they have the coaching, they are just not supported and that gets old real fast. Name one DI team in the country that can't fill a 2500 seat stadium on a nightly basis. You would be lucky to get 1000+ in Greeley.

WTF? It's a rare occasion to get less than a 1,000 in Greeley. If it lands on a Sunday afternoon and the Broncos are playing, or it's on a week night and against a no-name, then maybe we get less than a 1K. Usually when it's a great conference opponent and we're playing well, Butler is a great place to watch a game. It's small, but it gets loud and is a fun place to be. This is highlights from the Montana game which happened to be in the middle of the week and was probably the best game all season. If you think there are less than 1,000 at this game, you're on crack. Loved this game!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpO1sPLu00s" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It often doesn't matter what is posted on this site. The response is usually "are you nuts, Greeley is a great place" "you don't know what you are talking about there were at least 2,000+ students at that game." "I was there so I know better than you." The point I was making is that the athletes are not supported as well as many DI schools. Maybe a mid DII, and that has nothing to do with the coaching or the talent. So, if that is not it, why are we not able to keep players from transferring or not wanting to play at this school?

I actually hate Greeley, so that doesn't work. We averaged just over 1,300 for home attendance last season and that's probably average for our conference. Attendance is certainly something that needs improvement, but it's probably not as bad as you think, especially for a mid-major.

 

[beardevil39]

If you read around, players transfer in and out all over the country and at all levels of play and all for various reasons. Looking back the past few years of players that have transferred out, I do not think we really lost anyone of significance ! As for support, we could use better student support and that comes from winning ! And you may not believe it but all sports are better supported when a school has a winning football team. Just rambling !

 

[bearuncle]

Regarding the thread topic, I personally believe the Bears will contend for a conference title. I also believe this years squad will be better than last years. Before every yells, here is my reasoning: I know we will miss Barden and Tate. But I believe Lee will fill Bardens shoes very nicely. It also sounds like Cameron Michaels will replace Tate and might just be more athletic and a better defender. The returners: Svihovec, Huskinsson, McDavis, Wilson ... are all a year older and should be better. I'm also excited to watch Verhagen play. He has the potential to be a difference maker. As a big, he has two traits you just can't teach, height and length. I'm very hopeful that his presence on both ends of the floor will translate into nice things for the Bears.

Regarding kids coming and going, that happens at all levels of college athletics. Doesn't everyone know the grass is always greener on the other side. I will tell you one thing ( from an X college BB perspective) it's way more fun when you play for a coach you like and respect as an individual. It's also a lot more fun when your school and community supports their teams with butts in the seats.

Good Luck Bears!!!

 

[helpourbears]

I am looking forward to a great year of Men's and Women's basketball.