USC Missing an Opportunity by Not Hosting Midnight Madness
by Joey Kaufman on Oct 19, 2010 9:36 PM PDT
in USC Basketball
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PrintUSC didn't have a Midnight Madness this year. Historically, they never have, so its lack of appearance on the schedule shouldn't come as a surprise. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't have been. Do the annual Midnight Madness events across the country even remotely resemble practices? Not in the slightest, but they're still important nonetheless, based on their, yes, entertainment value. Per SB Nation.com:
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As Jewish culture modernized the event, the Bar Mitzvah became less about the sacred traditions and more about the celebration itself.
As Midnight Madness modernized, it became less about critical basketball practices and more about the spectacle of it all.
Nowadays both have become bloated, excessive galas that exist solely to photographers have something to do, are more for the guests than for the host and showcase old, white men dancing horribly.
Midnight Madness celebrations are certainly not about quality practice time. We've all come to understand that, but they encompass everything 'SC hoops needs - a celebration of the basketball program. There's no doubt that attendance would be sparse, at best, for such an event held at Galen Center. Most students would be drunk out on 28th street, and well, most fans are hesitant to travel to the venue during the day anyways.
But as a general rule, Kevin O'Neill and company, need an event, where its sole purpose is to generate excitement for the upcoming hoops season. A 2-hour loss in practice time is not going to become overly deterimental to the team's NCAA Tournament hopes.
Instead, what is becoming a rather alarming sign is the lack of support and dismal attendance record for the still relatively knew Galen Center. Last year, not one game sold out, and on some occasions, only 1/4 of the arena was full. Granted, the sanctions certainly didn't encourage fans to flock to Jefferson and Figueroa, but attendance has been on a steady decline since O.J. Mayo left after the 2007-2008 season. It wasn't just a sanctions problem.
It's time for the athletic department to place an emphasis on marketing for hoops. Over $140 million was spent on construction of the venue to begin with, so why not try not to fill it with some more bodies and I don't mean just offering special family ticket packages.
It's time to treat basketball like a serious entity; it's not a non-revenue sport. It needs some "excessive galas" to build some energy and interest in the program. Hosting a Salute to Troy this year is a start, but if anything is needed in terms of the hype machine, it's a Midnight Madness at Galen.
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The thing that makes Midnight Madness so special
is the fans. You need a bumper crop of frenzied lunatics to show up, or Midnight Madness becomes just a wasted official practice. I’m all for USC cultivating it’s fan base, but it seems like Midnight Madness is a harvest-type of activity, rather than a planting-type.
I live in Kentucky, and the state is full of people who have been anticipating the start of BB season since last April. At USC, it’s the middle of football season, and there isn’t an abundance of people who just can’t wait for BB to start. UCLA, which has a rich BB tradition, briefly tried March Madness in the 90’s, and it was a dismal failure.
For now, USC might do better to plan a big “opening day” type celebration for the first home game. It would be nice if USC could eventually host a high-energy March Madness…especially since UCLA was unable to do so.
USC needs to have a Tournament 8 team in nov or dec every year with some local teams match against 4 tough outside opponents.
With the recent development of downtown LA can put together a nice package for teams to come in it could be a 3 day event, also after success of venture add a day and add teams. This would give USC a national look on it’s BB program and would forever build attendance.
I love national championships it makes me feel superior to others, my whole place has USC stuff everywhere, it's painted red and gold, my car is the same colors my asscrack is bruin blue.
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 20, 2010 7:59 AM PDT reply actions
USC's perennial failure to get serious about basketball
makes absolutely no sense. I like the idea of Midnight Madness, but when UCLA can’t pull it off with its history, I’m not sure how well the idea would play at USC.
How can USC make the commitment to basketball with the construction of Galen but not make the investment in a proven winner at coach?
Fair question
O’Neill was a Garrett hire. Many of Garrrett’s hires didn’t seem to make a lot of sense…although some worked quite well, others not so much. To be honest, I was disapointed when O’Neill was hired. However, he has exceeded expectations so far, under difficult circumstances, and I am not in favor of replacing a guy who is doing a good job. This year may be a bit rough, too. After that, O’Neill should be expected to be a regular contender for Pac-10 titles and NCAA tournament berths. From what he says, these are his expectations, too.
If he is unable to maintain that level, I’d expect Haden to make a more “conventional” hire next time around.
I think KO was a very good hire under the circumstances...
And would probably have even been a decent hire without the impending NCAA doom. I am excited for this coming season (although I’m going to miss almost all of it as I’ll be out of the country). That said, he may not be the long-term answer.
"I have a commanding voice." - Ed Orgeron
KO was a great choice; we are lucky to have him
He had great success at Marquette. He built a very strong program at Tenn. He is respected in the NBA for his talent evaluation. USC hoops outperformed last season in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. KO is awesome. Critics should shut up now or risk looking foolish in the next few years when USC hoops becomes a powerhouse.
But, he’s right about Midnight Madness. In a pro town during football season at a football school while on probation? As JK said himself, the turnout would be sparse. Let’s turn the program around first, build some winning momentum, then consider midnight madness after sanctions.
The lack of marketing for the program falls on the incompetence of Ex-AD Garrett. He raised the funds to build the glamorous arena, then self-imploded the team. The mismanagement of the AD’s office is well-documented. I look for the hoops program and attendant following to grow meaningfully under Haden and KO’s reigns.
You can't put sanctions on the fkn endzone! Bowls are for salad!
I thought USC used to do something before basketball season?
I distinctly remember as a freshman (2001), participating in some big event at either the Lyon Center or Sports arena where they played pick up hoops, and introduced all the players on the Men’s and Women’s team etc and the band played a bunch (hence why I was there).
Do they not do anything like this anymore?
To improve, they should try to become the musical southern cal of the west. - bRuins Nation poster on the Stanford band.
they are hosting a Salute to Troy this year
by rsmskylinegtr on Oct 20, 2010 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
First ever Salute to Troy for hoops
At least they’re doing something but still.
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
by Joey Kaufman on Oct 20, 2010 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Heritage Hall under Garrett marketed practically nothing.
Football sold itself, for the most part. Everything else was left to waste vis-a-vis marketing. Garrett was all about making money, taking credit and not working hard. The not-so-dirty-secret anymore around Heritage Hall was that Garret was aggressively lazy. And as long as HH operated in the black, Sample looked the other way, and Garrett could take his daily naps.
they are hosting
a Salute to Troy this year
by rsmskylinegtr on Oct 20, 2010 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions
See this the problem I suggest a tournament and no one sees it
You guys are so FB orientated that you can’t see how it would build excitement and attendance, LA has really no colllege BB tournaments. This also would be a fantastic revenue builder and money could go to charities and helping the area for even more redevelopment plus add to the job and business systems.
Come on people
I love national championships it makes me feel superior to others, my whole place has USC stuff everywhere, it's painted red and gold, my car is the same colors my asscrack is bruin blue.
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 21, 2010 7:52 AM PDT reply actions
I saw and thought it was a great idea actually
Completely agree with you in that the ‘SC fanbase is far too football oriented. Even at places such as Texas and Ohio State, football schools, basketball annually draws in over 15,000 fans per game. It’s not just about having a great football program, but a top-notch athletic department and that means being good in every sport, particularly hoops.
As for your proposal, it makes a ton of success. Why not host something similar to the Wooden Classic, but at Galen instead. ’SC has had top teams come out to Galen (Kansas, Tennessee, and Oklahoma). But put that in the context of a mini-tournament. Bring members of the local community out and high school teams. Nobody is going to take ’SC basketball seriously until Heritage Hall and the fat boosters do.
Follow me on twitter @Joey_Kaufman
by Joey Kaufman on Oct 21, 2010 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep I need to fine local companys that want to get involve, them present it to AD
I love national championships it makes me feel superior to others, my whole place has USC stuff everywhere, it's painted red and gold, my car is the same colors my asscrack is bruin blue.
by so.cal.native1952 on Oct 21, 2010 4:13 PM PDT reply actions
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