GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
I wouldn't go that far. 2000-2006 would beg to differ. 1984-1990 probably would, too. Hope we get there, though.
Week of 1/29 Games Thread
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skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Yeah I meant to type "one of the" and glazed past! Both of those stretches came with more tourney success. Hopefully this year will bring more of that to this stretch.
I have season tix in the upper levels too. I've sat on the floor and I've sat in the very last row. And I actually prefer being in the 200s. More passion and energy, though still plenty of room for improvement, IMO.
You touched on a couple other things I agree with.
1) The suites are cavernous energy sucking dead zones. It's like driving down a quiet, well manicured boulevard of gilded age mansions. They look very impressive on the outside, but you wonder if anyone even lives in them anymore.
2) The Krush 100% turns it on for the cameras. When they know the cameras are on them or when the PA announcer brings attention to them, they jump up and down and act crazy. When there's a break in the action or a lull in the game, they tend to disengage.
We're routinely mentioned as one of the most passionate, engaged, and informed fanbases in cbb. But that just doesn't carry over to the in-game environment. I could go on and on about why but that horse is already looking pretty ragged so I'll refrain..for now.
AyoDos11
- Southern Illinois
To further your point, I saw a Reddit post saying that BTN showed a graphic that said Northwestern was the first team in the last 25 to lose while scoring 95+ points, shooting 55%+, have 20+ assists, less than 10 TOs.
Teams that have done that are now 763-1.
Good. Maybe it will light a fire under the Krush’s asses. Those of us who were there during the OG Flying Illini and the early 2000’s know the SFC doesn’t even compare to the level of insanity from those days. Some blame can go to the new arena, but more blame goes to the fans. Sorry, I just don’t see the Krush “buying in”. No chants or jumping, virtual silence after tip-off, and I don’t even remember the last time I heard I-L-L! Student sections can genuinely change the course of a game. Wake up students!
Krush member from 2000-2002. From the tip, we would chant something almost all game. "Here we go Illini, here we go, clap clap" was usually the starter, "ILL-INI", "Illini, Illini, Ooh, ahh" were some from memory. We were jumping all the time and yes dont hear much now.
The SFC can still get loud but the entire crowd, including the Krush is only reactionary now (they only cheer after something good happens). Pretty tepid and ineffective student section, otherwise. They seriously need to work on their chant game. Back in the day, the Krush was feared and AH was known as one of the toughest home crowds. Maybe some old-timers need to give these kids some tips.
Those teams in the Krueger/Self era were perennial top 15 teams and I remember some great games and battles with the blue bloods: Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Maryland. Gonzaga was an opponent a couple of those years. I think the depth and excitement of those teams was different even from Underwood's Illini. Watching that free flowing offense with Frank Williams, Corey Bradford, and Brian Cook was simply something else. Lucas Johnson was the epitome of a tough guy and got the crowd going whether he was diving for a loose ball or trying to take a ball away from the opponent's hands. Sergio McClain, Marcus Griffin, Damir Krupalija, Robert AchiIbald. Man, that's the first group of players that got me into Illinois basketball fandom. I still remember the core and that Peoria pipeline. I still miss the United Center games. They need to bring that back. Those Illini crowds at the UC make the Bulls crowds look tame...who am I kidding, Bulls crowds are tame.
I do think this is just a new era where the Orange Krush is not as passionate as their predecessors. That is a real thing. Even Stephen Bardo mentioned that State Farm Center is not one of the top 5 venues in the Big 10 as far as crowd noise goes. He really likes Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln along with Mackey Arena, Breslin Center, the other Assembly Hall, and the RAC
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BillyBob1
- Champaign
I always liked when the opponent was getting ready to shoot a free throw and the Krush would turn and yell BOO!!
Watch these old vids and tell me you can’t see a completely different level of commitment/buy-in from today’s Krush…
Disagree with the bolded part. When the program is in the dumpster for nearly 10 years, fans just aren't going to stick around let alone be as intense about their team. Had the AD and coaching staffs been able to put together competent teams during this time, we would have been able keep up the momentum built up leading into the late 2000s. You have to remember that the kids in the Krush were not alive or literal babies during the '05 run. They have never experienced what it was before. I agree that SFC is just not the same, but I think it is misguided to blame the Krush/fans. If we had put a good product on the court during those dark ages, I doubt we have this problem today.
Was that Gameday the game vs Michigan St when they were #5 in the country? I remember going to that game when I was in school
the national
- the Front Range
This is great! Thanks for sharing. I miss the war chant. I really do.
It reminds me of Pitt. Their fans were awesome when they were going strong with Ben Howland and Jamie Dixon during the DeJuan Blair era. Their students were very loud. Then, they had a lot of lean years and that crowd isn't the same anymore. I think having a lull in success does have something to do with it
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Yep. That was my era in school. Remember it well. The noise was deafening at times, and at least "loud" all the time. Man those teams were fun to watch.
To me that is the answer. Fans loved it, foes feared it. Still gives me chills to hear it.
This could be dumb but could the transfer portal have anything to do with it. Players come and go so quick the students never really get a chance to grow with the players. When you went to the U of I as a freshman with Cook you got to see him grow for 4 years, or even Dee and James. You felt a part of the team. Now you have so many guys coming and going maybe it's not as easy to feel so associated?
I know me personally I don't feel the same excitement as I use to seeing these guys and team develop 3 to 4 years. Now it comes off as such a 1 year thing
I know me personally I don't feel the same excitement as I use to seeing these guys and team develop 3 to 4 years. Now it comes off as such a 1 year thing
You are correct that Krush is only part of the problem. If you look at the really loud home courts it’s the regular fans who make the difference. How loud section C. When I had tickets up there in the early 2000s you felt the floor move especially against Wake. Yes Crush was loud but the whole arena was loud
My last game was vs. Penn State in like 1994.
I'm genuinely surprised to hear these critiques, and not necessarily doubting them. Although I will say, at least on tv, the crowd seems like it has always seemed.
Maybe the TSJ thing has had an effect recently.
I also think that the renovation's elimination of the standing room area right behind the benches reduced the intimidation factor a bit. Look at some of those old vids and look at how many kids were standing no more than 5 or 6 feet behind the bench. That makes a difference.
I agree at times it does get loud on TV in stretches. But if you watched the Purdue-NW game last night, that noise level puts many other arenas to shame. But I do recall back in 2005 and years around that team Assembly Hall absolutely rivaled Mackey. Now, not even close.
pruman91
- Paducah, Ky
There was nothing wrong with the Illini crowd in Vegas that night we beat UCLA two Novembers ago.
Wow!
Wow!
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