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Message: [QUOTE="oldude, post: 2624340, member: 7511"] Look I’m sorry that SC’s fan base, which is clearly among the best in WBB, doesn’t have a nearby regional tournament that they can drive to to watch their beloved Gamecocks. But it still comes down to earning it by winning. When Geno and CD started out at UConn 32 years ago, the Huskies were nobodies. They fought just to get into the Big Dance and went wherever they were told to go. Let me explain how UConn’s consistent excellence (winning) has them playing in the East regional year after year in front of a packed house in either Albany, NY or Bridgeport, CT. First of all, arenas/cities bid on hosting regionals. The goal is to make money. You make money by getting a lot of fans to buy tickets to the games, stay at local hotels and eat in local restaurants. With UConn's incredible success, Husky fans start purchasing tickets to regional venues very early on. I purchased my Albany tickets back in October, before UConn played it's first game. So did thousands of other Husky fans. There's a certain amount of faith involved in that process. UConn has to earn a #1 seed and they have to win their two opening round games. But UConn has made 10 FF's in a row, so it's not like UConn fans need to pray for divine intervention, and cities like Bridgeport and Albany don't have to go out on a limb hoping that fans will show up for the tournament. So here's my point about winning. If Dawn and SC can reach the level close to UConn, to the point where surrounding cities like Greensboro, Charleston, Greenville, etc. can count on the Gamecocks being the #1 seed in the Region year after year, and showing up with 10-15,000 fans, SC fans would not have to fly to Stockton, CA or Albany, NY for the regional tournament. I know that's a heavy lift, but that's what it takes to control your team's destiny. [/QUOTE]

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