I can NO Longer Contain Myself

[Shanghai Mule]

Just seems like that is the A.D. time table as the last sucky coach also got 6 years. Should have got him out after 4 years. If and when the team starts winning again I predict the Multi will again be filled with rabid fans.

Mules fans definitely miss the Kim Anderson teams. I go to some Jennies games, but rarely hang around for the Mules game (too painful). I wonder how Kim would feel about a return to UCM? Maybe he's happy at Pitt (doubt it) and we don't know anything about his contract situation. My suggestion is to forget Mules basketball for the next two months and start thinking about Mules baseball. Last year the Mules baseball team finished third nationally and this year they return a lot of position starters and added a starting pitcher than transferred from Ole Miss. He's a big left hander and the Mules hitters were having a hard time keeping up with his fastball during fall practice.

[ichabodhater]

Just seems like that is the A.D. time table as the last sucky coach also got 6 years. Should have got him out after 4 years. If and when the team starts winning again I predict the Multi will again be filled with rabid fans.

If mules fans are rabid, animal control needs to be in the arena to give them their shots!

[Kiss My Ass]

The attendance for the Mules home loss to Pitt State on Wednesday was 3,000. I assume half of them came out purely to show support for coach Anderson and sign a petition to bring him back to UCM.

[Mule4ever]

The attendance for the Mules home loss to Pitt State on Wednesday was 3,000. I assume half of them came out purely to show support for coach Anderson and sign a petition to bring him back to UCM.

You are probably correct or they come to see the first place Jennies. Also Brad Loos came to the game. I personally would like to see Coach Anderson come back as the A.D. I think he would be a great improvement and he could pick the next men's basketball coach. It seems to me that the current A.D. (yes I know his name) has an extremely long leash and doesn't know when the ship is sinking. Now it will take a minimum of two or three years to get back in post season contention.

[NSU4LIFE]

If mules fans are rabid, animal control needs to be in the arena to give them their shots!

Justin Balcome no longer on roster, what's up?

[Donkeydamus]

Nobody by that name on the roster for the last four years. Obvious inside joke, so I'll bite.......who is Justin Balcome ?

[NSU4LIFE]

Justin Balcome no longer on roster, what's up?

Transferred from Northern to Emporia this year, now no longer listed. 6'10, lots of range, redshirted at NSU and played a little at Emporia.

[Shanghai Mule]

You are probably correct or they come to see the first place Jennies. Also Brad Loos came to the game. I personally would like to see Coach Anderson come back as the A.D. I think he would be a great improvement and he could pick the next men's basketball coach. It seems to me that the current A.D. (yes I know his name) has an extremely long leash and doesn't know when the ship is sinking. Now it will take a minimum of two or three years to get back in post season contention.

The Jennies are awesome and deserve the marquee time slot of 7:30. The Mules should play at 5:30 over in the old Garrison Gym and stop stinking up our great basketball arena (The Multi).

Kim Anderson would be a great AD, but I haven't heard anything about Jerry Hughes retiring. Jerry has done a good job and current basketball coach K has been his only whiff in the past few years. When Jerry does retire, I would like to see UCM go get Shawn Jones back from Henderson State. Shawn has done a good job at HS, but I think he might jump at the chance to take over at UCM.

[NWHoops]

The Jennies are awesome and deserve the marquee time slot of 7:30. The Mules should play at 5:30 over in the old Garrison Gym and stop stinking up our great basketball arena (The Multi).

Honest question- what about the multi makes you think it is great? If it's the history and the good teams that have played there then I can understand that. However, I find it (and pretty much any place that uses a multipurpose facility as it's basketball arena) lacking in atmosphere. It feels like there is so much empty space in those types of facilities.

[Hornetfan]

Justin Balcome no longer on roster, what's up?

My understanding is that he just doesn't want to play basketball anymore. I think he is still in school and on scholarship.

[Shanghai Mule]

Honest question- what about the multi makes you think it is great? If it's the history and the good teams that have played there then I can understand that. However, I find it (and pretty much any place that uses a multipurpose facility as it's basketball arena) lacking in atmosphere. It feels like there is so much empty space in those types of facilities.

UCM basketball history and good teams for sure. The Multiple Purpose Building (Multi) is the most unimaginative name for a building that I have ever heard. It makes me cringe when it's referred to by its full name. There should be a write-in campaign to rename the facility. I would love to see UCM build a basketball only facility that seats maybe 8,000 and has the intimate feel of a bowl design. It's all about donors with deep pockets stepping forward to make it happen. Unlike large D1 programs, there aren't that many big donors at D2 schools to fund separate facilities for each sport. Thus, most D2 schools are forced to build a multi use facility to support many sports. When the Multi was built it housed basketball, volleyball, indoor track & field, wrestling, swimming & diving and offices for the athletic department. Most of the basketball facilities in the MIAA have the feel of a high school gym. I do think the Multi has a 'big time' basketball feel because of it's size and ability to hold approx 8,000 fans. What hurts the feel of the Multi for basketball are the open site lines on each end that extend all the way to the edge of the building. I've always felt that they could give the court a more intimate feel by curtaining off (floor to ceiling) the vast spaces beyond each end of the basketball court. Seems like a fairly moderate expenditure to enhance the experience of an already nice D2 facility for basketball.

[NWHoops]

UCM basketball history and good teams for sure. The Multiple Purpose Building (Multi) is the most unimaginative name for a building that I have ever heard. It makes me cringe when it's referred to by its full name. There should be a write-in campaign to rename the facility. I would love to see UCM build a basketball only facility that seats maybe 8,000 and has the intimate feel of a bowl design. It's all about donors with deep pockets stepping forward to make it happen. Unlike large D1 programs, there aren't that many big donors at D2 schools to fund separate facilities for each sport. Thus, most D2 schools are forced to build a multi use facility to support many sports. When the Multi was built it housed basketball, volleyball, indoor track & field, wrestling, swimming & diving and offices for the athletic department. Most of the basketball facilities in the MIAA have the feel of a high school gym. I do think the Multi has a 'big time' basketball feel because of it's size and ability to hold approx 8,000 fans. What hurts the feel of the Multi for basketball are the open site lines on each end that extend all the way to the edge of the building. I've always felt that they could give the court a more intimate feel by curtaining off (floor to ceiling) the vast spaces beyond each end of the basketball court. Seems like a fairly moderate expenditure to enhance the experience of an already nice D2 facility for basketball.

Yeah I agree with this. I think curtains could do wonders for the facility.

Also, completely understand the donor situation. NW has plans and renderings for an update to Bearcat Arena that would add some seats, create open concourses (possibly some suites i think as well), remove the cables that support the roof, etc. but after the indoor facility I have to believe a lot of those funding sources are tapped out. It's unfortunate because this is the time to make those improvements with the recent success of the team. Who knows, in 5 years the momentum could be gone for that kind of change.

OK, back to ripping Coach K. Sorry to interrupt.

[Shanghai Mule]

Coach K's success at his last employer, Arkansas Tech. was a big reason he was hired by UCM. I'm not sure why he could win at Tech and not UCM. Oh well, no reason to continue beating a dead horse. His fate is sealed and UCM will have a new coach next season.

[Hornetfan]

UCM basketball history and good teams for sure. The Multiple Purpose Building (Multi) is the most unimaginative name for a building that I have ever heard. It makes me cringe when it's referred to by its full name. There should be a write-in campaign to rename the facility. I would love to see UCM build a basketball only facility that seats maybe 8,000 and has the intimate feel of a bowl design. It's all about donors with deep pockets stepping forward to make it happen. Unlike large D1 programs, there aren't that many big donors at D2 schools to fund separate facilities for each sport. Thus, most D2 schools are forced to build a multi use facility to support many sports. When the Multi was built it housed basketball, volleyball, indoor track & field, wrestling, swimming & diving and offices for the athletic department. Most of the basketball facilities in the MIAA have the feel of a high school gym. I do think the Multi has a 'big time' basketball feel because of it's size and ability to hold approx 8,000 fans. What hurts the feel of the Multi for basketball are the open site lines on each end that extend all the way to the edge of the building. I've always felt that they could give the court a more intimate feel by curtaining off (floor to ceiling) the vast spaces beyond each end of the basketball court. Seems like a fairly moderate expenditure to enhance the experience of an already nice D2 facility for basketball.

I'm not sure saying "most of the basketball facilities in the MIAA have the feel of a high school gym" is correct. But I don't think FHSU's Gross Coliseum, ESU's White Auditorium, UNK's Health & Sports Center or the NSU Event Center are anything like high school gyms. And Lance Arena at PSU, Looney Fieldhouse at MWSU and the Leggett & Platt Center at MSSU have a very similar feel to the Multi - at least for me.

I agree that it's not that big a stretch to imagine PE classes taking place in Jason Gym (LU), Bearcat Arena (NWMSU), Fugate Gym (Newman), Lee Arena (WU) and Hamilton Fieldhouse (UCO).

And the place at Rogers State is neither a high school gym or basketball arena - its rodeo arena with a basketball floor in it.

[Shanghai Mule]

I'm not sure saying "most of the basketball facilities in the MIAA have the feel of a high school gym" is correct. But I don't think FHSU's Gross Coliseum, ESU's White Auditorium, UNK's Health & Sports Center or the NSU Event Center are anything like high school gyms. And Lance Arena at PSU, Looney Fieldhouse at MWSU and the Leggett & Platt Center at MSSU have a very similar feel to the Multi - at least for me.

I agree that it's not that big a stretch to imagine PE classes taking place in Jason Gym (LU), Bearcat Arena (NWMSU), Fugate Gym (Newman), Lee Arena (WU) and Hamilton Fieldhouse (UCO).

And the place at Rogers State is neither a high school gym or basketball arena - its rodeo arena with a basketball floor in it.

Let me walk back my statement a little bit. I should have said "a few" instead of "most". As you pointed out, there are some decent basketball venues in the MIAA. It sounds like you've been to all of them,so I'll defer to your analysis.