The Relevance of BSC Basketball

[EverettGriz]

According to the Seattle Times TV Guide, there are no fewer than 38 televised college basketball games shown in the Seattle market today. Anyone care to take a guess as to how many of those are bsc games?

Now mind you, many of the listed games should draw incredible interest from local viewers. Games such as Delaware vs Towson, La Salle vs Dayton, Duquesne vs St Louis, Tulane vs. Tulsa and Hofstra vs. Drexel should expect to get huge ratings numbers here in the Northwest.

The WCC and the MWC combine for at least 9 of the games shown. There are even non Pac12 women's games broadcast here. And yet, the bsc, who has a presence in the state and is the closest non Pac12 conference to the state, cannot muster one game, including the UM/MSU game.

Really, doesn't that perfectly highlight how freakin' insignificant this conference is. So I'll ask it again: why are we in it again?

 

[CDAGRIZ]

You make a good point, EG. I don't know the last time I watched a BSC game that didn't involve the Griz. I watch PAC 12 games that don't involve the Bruins, and WCC games that don't involve the Zags, all the time. It might just be a matter of access. But, I really can't see myself watching SUU @ NCU (for example) even if it was on ESPN.

 

[MT Jack]

UM hoops is good. Right up there with Weber State as being the best program in the league. I don't doubt this one bit.

But...exactly where are the Griz going to go? The Mountain West? Do you truly believe the Mountain West Conference wants to add travel to Missoula to their conference schedule when there's no media or marketing advantage to doing so? The Griz could easily compete in the WAC but then what about football?

 

[MT Jack]

The majority of NAU's mens and womens home games are on Fox Sports AZ or Fox Sports AZ Plus and many of UND's mens and womens home games are on Fox Sports Central. Big Sky teams do get some t.v. coverage.

 

[EverettGriz]

UM hoops is good. Right up there with Weber State as being the best program in the league. I don't doubt this one bit.

But...exactly where are the Griz going to go? The Mountain West? Do you truly believe the Mountain West Conference wants to add travel to Missoula to their conference schedule when there's no media or marketing advantage to doing so? The Griz could easily compete in the WAC but then what about football?

Montana FB and BB belong in the MWC. And yes, when Boise gets raided, the MWC would love to have Montana. Why wouldn't they? They already outdraw more than half the teams in the league. Their budget is
Higher than half the teams in the league. Their facilities will be as good or better than nearly anyone in the league.

Although market share doesn't matter much anymore (hell the BSC is living proof of that anytime you see a game in Sac, Portland or noco!!), the MWC would love to introduce their product to an entire state that doesn't have another FBS program to contend with.

 

['68griz]

EG, I'd like to think the MWC would be willing to have Montana - and I don't doubt for a second that you know way more on the topic than I do -- but I have never seen nor read anything, anywhere, other than posts on eGriz, that indicate that is actually the case. Can you provide any facts on the issue?

 

[PlayerRep]

UM's athletic budget is just over $20 million. The MW's athletic budgets are, in millions, 47, 47, 47, 46, 44, 41, 39, 36, 32 (Wyo), 29 (San Jose St), 27 (Nevada), 25 (Utah St).

MW averaged 7400 last year in basketball. 7th best conference in country. UM average 3800. Averages per school for 13/14 year are below. Only Air Force and SJS average less than UM.

13,125
15,212
12,414
9,829
7,032
6,810
6,466
5,151
4,186
2,238
1,772

http://www.mwcboard.com/index.php?/topic/62511-mountain-west-athletic-budgets/

 

[George Ferguson]

I'm prettu sure Big Sky hoops is relevant to the kids who play in the league and the coaches who are coaching in the league. They are living out their dreams. If the Big Sky is good enough for them, and they are happy, which, I at least know for a fact that Coach DeCuire and the Griz are damn happy right now, then that's good enough for me.

And Everett, I think you are a great poster, but I will one hundred percent disagree with you. If ONE school, no matter which one it was, were to leave the MWC right now, Montana would absolutely not be that league's first or second phone call. Is Montana on the list? Yes. Are they preferred over everyone else on that short list? Absolutely not.

 

[putter]

I remember e-mailing Altitude and asked them why they don't broadcast more BSC games yet broadcast more east coast games -( Denver company). Their response was they signed contracts with the leagues to broadcast the games. You mean to tell me Foolerton can't/won't muster up a phone call to Altitude and Root to get some deal together to broadcast "local" college games? This is crazy

 

[nodak651]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the root sports Big Sky contract supposed to include basketball games? Almost positive this was the case.

 

[nodak651]

I'm correct. This article is for the 12-13 season. Did this ever happen?

http://www.bigskyconf.com/sports/2012/1/18/GEN_0118125326.aspx

"Q: How many games will ROOT SPORTS televise, and what will the production quality be?
A: ROOT SPORTS can televise up to 18 football and up to 12 men's basketball games. All games will be High Definition. DirecTV/ROOT SPORTS is investing in the Big Sky and plans to make our games marquee events. "