I was able to get to the BTT in Indy last weekend and it was awesome. Winning brings extra joy to the trip. A few observations:
I have been to the BTT five times now. Three in Indy, and two in Chicago. I like the United Center better as a venue and Chicago is an easier trip, but Indy as a city wins hands down. The city is hospitable, they are ready to host, and the layout allows game attendees to park once and spend the whole day near the arena. The proximity of so many hotels, bars and restaurants helps to create a festive atmosphere in the city. Everywhere is full of BT fans, and a vast majority are good folks to chat with and have a beverage with.
This was the best tournament I have attended in terms of quality of play and excitement of games. Until Sunday, the only real dud was our game against the Boilers, and I'll take a victory in a dud game any time.
While subjective, many agree with me that Illinois fans are generally the most obnoxious. To prove me wrong, I ran into about a dozen of them who wished us luck, wanted us in the tournament, and showed respect for our team. I was floored. The general thrust of the crowd from my perspective is that they have some empathy for our long suffering and seeing our small but feisty crowd was a lift to a lot of people. I apologize to them for not finishing the job against OSU.
It seems like the BTN owns the tournament, as they had commercials for their stuff all the time. Our section got a Bronko Nagurski bobble head out of the deal, though. The "BT Icons" show in the fall looks like it could be decent. Keith Jackson may be narrating some of them as he did promos for it. The guy still has great pipes well into his 80's. As a talker, I am in awe.
You never know who you might meet. While celebrating the victory over the Boilers at a local place, there were several MSU people there. An overserved but well behaved man in green introduced us to a guy who he said was Izzo's brother in law. I didn't believe, but then we got into a serious conversation and he did tell me he was Lupe's brother, and introduced me to his very nice kids who were wearing their Izzone shirts. Perhaps a brush with greatness, perhaps not, but things like that happen in the community of the BTT. Sorry, Gopher Lady, I didn't get any contact information.
Selection's parents are really nice people and worth meeting.
I wasn't in uniform, but every once in a while people would press for information on my non-basketball life. Most were shocked that I am a "holy man" but pretty nice about it. They don't figure we actually have a life outside of Sunday.
I am always amazed at the number of scalpers. I don't see how they can all make money. The blowout of the Boilers depressed the market. The crowds were good, but I suspect anyone could get decent seats for a reasonable price to any game. I am risk averse and free time is too valuable for me to go without tickets, but people with more flexibility would have a pretty easy time getting the games for less than face value of the tickets on most days.
Nothing replaces winning. After all those years of bad teams and disappointing performances, it was simply magical to be there and actually have some success on the court!
While the NCAA may be more exciting, the BTT brings out the die hards, and it is just great. I smell band wagon jumping with the NCAA's. There was no bandwagon in Indy, only fans who bleed their school colors. The advantage of BTT is far advanced scheduling which my life requires. I will go again next year if the schedule works out. If you can make it, it is really a worthwhile weekend.
I have been to the BTT five times now. Three in Indy, and two in Chicago. I like the United Center better as a venue and Chicago is an easier trip, but Indy as a city wins hands down. The city is hospitable, they are ready to host, and the layout allows game attendees to park once and spend the whole day near the arena. The proximity of so many hotels, bars and restaurants helps to create a festive atmosphere in the city. Everywhere is full of BT fans, and a vast majority are good folks to chat with and have a beverage with.
This was the best tournament I have attended in terms of quality of play and excitement of games. Until Sunday, the only real dud was our game against the Boilers, and I'll take a victory in a dud game any time.
While subjective, many agree with me that Illinois fans are generally the most obnoxious. To prove me wrong, I ran into about a dozen of them who wished us luck, wanted us in the tournament, and showed respect for our team. I was floored. The general thrust of the crowd from my perspective is that they have some empathy for our long suffering and seeing our small but feisty crowd was a lift to a lot of people. I apologize to them for not finishing the job against OSU.
It seems like the BTN owns the tournament, as they had commercials for their stuff all the time. Our section got a Bronko Nagurski bobble head out of the deal, though. The "BT Icons" show in the fall looks like it could be decent. Keith Jackson may be narrating some of them as he did promos for it. The guy still has great pipes well into his 80's. As a talker, I am in awe.
You never know who you might meet. While celebrating the victory over the Boilers at a local place, there were several MSU people there. An overserved but well behaved man in green introduced us to a guy who he said was Izzo's brother in law. I didn't believe, but then we got into a serious conversation and he did tell me he was Lupe's brother, and introduced me to his very nice kids who were wearing their Izzone shirts. Perhaps a brush with greatness, perhaps not, but things like that happen in the community of the BTT. Sorry, Gopher Lady, I didn't get any contact information.
Selection's parents are really nice people and worth meeting.
I wasn't in uniform, but every once in a while people would press for information on my non-basketball life. Most were shocked that I am a "holy man" but pretty nice about it. They don't figure we actually have a life outside of Sunday.
I am always amazed at the number of scalpers. I don't see how they can all make money. The blowout of the Boilers depressed the market. The crowds were good, but I suspect anyone could get decent seats for a reasonable price to any game. I am risk averse and free time is too valuable for me to go without tickets, but people with more flexibility would have a pretty easy time getting the games for less than face value of the tickets on most days.
Nothing replaces winning. After all those years of bad teams and disappointing performances, it was simply magical to be there and actually have some success on the court!
While the NCAA may be more exciting, the BTT brings out the die hards, and it is just great. I smell band wagon jumping with the NCAA's. There was no bandwagon in Indy, only fans who bleed their school colors. The advantage of BTT is far advanced scheduling which my life requires. I will go again next year if the schedule works out. If you can make it, it is really a worthwhile weekend.
