UMass basketball experiencing strong national televison exposure

By Zachary Baru

The University of Massachusetts men's basketball team is enjoying what the perks of having a strong team can bring, and doing so with the rest of the country on televison.  To date, four games this season have been televised on the ESPN family of networks, with two more on the way.

Additonally, one game has appeared on both the CBS Sports Network and the NBC Sports Network.  NBCSN currently is scheduled to air two more games, the first of which will be televised live from the Mullins Center today at 12:30 p.m. as the Minutemen take on St. Bonaventure.  CBS Sports Network is also set to air four games this season.

The growing product of the Atlantic 10 Conference and their ability to make agreements with national television partners is one reason for the vast coverage, but the Minutemen's recent sucess deserves most of the credit.  UMass is currently ranked #19 in the Associated Press poll, their highest ranking in the poll since 1998.

UMass' 69-67 win over Providence on December 28 in front of a sellout crowd of 9,493 in Amherst was televised live on ESPNU, and was a great way to showcase the success of UMass both on and off the court to a national televison audience.

February 21 will be a big night for UMass, as they will be shown live on ESPN2 at 7 when they face A-10 rival Virgina Commonwealth.  The high national ranking along with the strong national televison coverage creates a unique opportunity for some of the best expsoure for the UMass basketball brand in quite some time. 

Zach Baru can be followed on Twittter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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After seven years, Mullins Center sellout worth the wait

By Zachary Baru

After many years of fans showing up at the box office, buying walk-up tickets to games, the first sellout crowd in seven years for the University of Massachusetts men's basketball team was a delight to the 9,493 in attendance for the Minutemen's 69-67 win over Providence on December 28.

The feeling may not have been the same for fans waiting in line when the announcement was made that the game was sold out, and tickets were no longer available at the time.  A long line of fans continued to wait in the cold, as some tickets became available after about a half hour. 

This is the reality of having a team that is nationally ranked.  Presently, UMass is #19 in the Associated Press poll, making this the lowest AP ranking for UMass since 1998.  The sellout - which UMass also had at the MassMutual Center on December 7 - will likely not be the Minutemen's last this season.

The Saturday night start time helped, and playing Providence did not hurt either, but the remarkable aspect to the sellout was that it occured during intersession for students.  While the student section certainly had its fair share of supporters, there were still less students in the Mullins Center than usual, sometimes making the arena eerily quiet for a sellout. 

The Providence game was a hometown supported game, and a nice treat for UMass fans to see what the fan base is capable of, without all of the help from students.  It is comforting to know the potential of Western Massachusetts fans, which could be seen live nationally on ESPNU.  UMass, and all of Western Mass. was represented well, something that hopefully will become the norm.

The Mullins Center was built on success, and finally that excitment is back in the arena.  There should be no excuses now as to why fans can't fill the building.  It has been done this season in Springfield, and now Amherst.  It is amazing what the affects of a national ranking can bring for a team. 

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Hall of Fame keeps tradition of basketball events in Springfield

By Zachary Baru

Sometimes you just have to appreciate what you have, and Springfield sports fans should not feel any different when it comes to the Basketball Hall of Fame and the events they present right here in Western Massachusetts.  The Tip-Off Classic has now become the Tip-Off Tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena, leaving Springfield's marquee basketball game absent from the city, yet the Hall of Fame has done an excellent job ensuring that great basketball events still call Springfield home.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Holiday Showcase never officially replaced the Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, but the inaugural event in 2011 continued to bring the UMass Minutemen to the MassMutual Center, a so-called second home for the team.  The event continued this past Saturday for its third consecutive year showcasing UMass, as the Minutemen faced Brigham Young before a sold out crowd of 7,331.  Although this was not a match-up of Top 10 teams, it was a chance for Springfield fans to watch their local team at the MassMutual Center.  Kudos to the Hall of Fame for making sure Springfield's game is not forgotten, and for scheduling a contest with meaning to the local fan base.

The Hall of Fame also brought the top ranked women's team in the nation - the UConn Huskies - to the MassMutual Center in December, as part of the inaugural Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Challenge.  It featured seven other teams in a one-day event.  It was the first time UConn visited the MassMutual Center, and helped satisfy the large following of UConn fans in the Pioneer Valley.

It is hard to pass up an opportunity to mention the Springfield Spirit, as this game brought back memories of the former team that played in Springfield from 2002 through 2004 with some of the most famous alumni from UConn - not to mention one season splitting home games between the Springfield Civic Center and Mohegan Sun Arena.  And while we're at it, the game may have resurrected memories of the UConn Women's All-Star Classic at the Civic Center, which brought some of the best alumni from UConn together for an exhibition game in 2003.

Finally, how can we forget the upcoming Spalding Hoophall Classic, which has become a well-known high school tournament on a national level.  The tournament has brought some of the best teams in the country to Springfield College's Blake Arena each year, receiving national television coverage by the ESPN family of networks.  Try finding a seat in the venue for one of the marquee games, and you will understand why the Hoophall Classic has become a staple for many basketball fans in Springfield.

While it is easy to take for granted the events the Hall of Fame has brought us, Springfield should not forget the effort the Hall of Fame displays attempting to keep great basketball in Western Mass.  This is far from an attempt to encourage people to visit the museum, but rather a reminder of how this small market is fortunate to be treated to special basketball events year-round in the birthplace of the game.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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North Carolina and Louisville highlight Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament

 By Zachary Baru

The Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament continues to grow, gaining even more national exposure this year from the biggest names in college basketball.  This year's tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut running from November 23-24 will feature eight division I teams competing in two brackets, highlighted by Louisville and North Carolina, which will have the opportunity to face each other on the final day of the tournament.

Last year's Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament
at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The Naismith bracket will include North Carolina, Louisville, Richmond and Fairfield.  The Springfield bracket will be a little more regional, including Hartford, Holy Cross, Hofstra, and Belmont.  Saturday, November 23 will include two games from each bracket, with the North Carolina and Louisville games at noon and 2 p.m. respectively.  On Sunday, each bracket's winners will face-off in the championship games, with the Naismith bracket's game at 1 p.m. and the Springfield bracket's game at approximately 8 p.m.  Sunday will also include consolation games for each bracket.

What all of this means for the Basketball Hall of Fame is that the tournament continues to grow, expanding national media coverage and attention.  With top teams like Louisville and North Carolina, the tournament now has the potential to reach audiences nationwide.  All of this is exciting news for the Hall of Fame, which will gladly take any attention the tournament can bring to the museum.

The tournament was played as the Tip-Off Classic between 1979 and 2005 at the Springfield Civic Center/MassMutual Center.  It is the only exempt NCAA Division I college basketball tournament in New England, where teams receive exempted status for scheduling.

The 9,323-seat Mohegan Sun Arena is the perfect venue, and proved to be a great host last year, attracting 9,866 fans to the two-day event in 2012.  Although the tournament is not in Springfield, it still puts a spotlight on the Hall of Fame, and provides a resort destination and hospitality for the eight participating teams.  As the Hall of Fame looks to the future, the growth of this tournament looks bright.

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Decent start for Falcons at the gate, but still down from year prior

By Zachary Baru

The Springfield Falcons opened their season Saturday earning their first win over the Manchester Monarchs 3-2 before a crowd of 5,528 at the MassMutual Center.  As satisfying as a crowd of 5,000-plus is, it was still down from last year's opening night crowd of 6,171 against St. John's.

The Falcons' average attendance last season of 3,906 fell well below the league average of 5,710.  What is encouraging, however, is the Falcons' increase last season from the 2011-12 season, which was 6.8 percent.

In order to be looked at as a successful season off the ice, attendance should be averaging above the 4,000 mark.  While not an easy task, it is certainly reachable, especially in a market that showed the Falcons increased support last season.  The talent that the Columbus system brings to Springfield looks to be promising, and hopefully continued success on the ice will translate to the same at the gate.  Last season the Falcons captured the Northeast Division title.  

Although this year's opening night attendance fell short of last year's, a crowd of 5,000-plus is still a positive way to begin the season.  The question is, will the support continue?

Source: SportsBusiness Journal

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zacbaru@gmail.com.

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Springfield market ranked fifth by SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily

By Zachary Baru

For all those who are sick of hearing that Springfield is a bad sports market, check out what the nation's leading sports business media outlet has to say about our market.  In an article released last month by SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, Springfield was ranked fifth in the country's top minor league markets.  The biennial ranking looked at 225 communities, more than 400 teams, and close to 50 leagues to determine the top markets.

SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily expressed Springfield's attendance gains from last season during a time of decline in the local economy as the reason for the high ranking.  According to the ranking, during a period of job loss and population decline, combined attendance at Falcons and Armor games was up 42 percent last season compared to five years ago.  This increase was the largest increase in the magazine's study.

Springfield was the only New England market to make the top ten of the rankings, with Toledo, Ohio topping all markets.  Hartford-New Britain finished 38th.

Although this is not a reason to celebrate, and say that there is no longer an attendance problem at Springfield sporting events, it reminds us that Springfield does have some accomplishments to be proud of.  No, it is not all negative news about Springfield and their support of their teams.  Let's hope the trend continues, and Springfield proves once again the potential this small market has.

Source: SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily

Zach Baru can be followed @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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Like it or hate it, the FBS move was the right move for UMass

By Zachary Baru

It is easy to second guess the University of Massachusetts' decision to move to the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision after a 1-11 season, averaging 10,901 fans.  But even easier, is predicting what may have happened had UMass passed on the opportunity for the move, and stayed in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The future of the FCS is very much uncertain.  In a sport where the FBS continues to gain popularity at an alarming rate, the FCS' popularity is diminishing, and doing so quickly.  Program success in NCAA Division I football is largely based on television and bowl revenue, both of which the FCS lacks.

With the long-term uncertainty of the FCS, what else was UMass to do but take advantage of the opportunity for an FBS move?  It is very hard to blame UMass for making the decision.  While costs and low attendance are certainly a reason to speculate the move, the long-term risks of remaining in FCS were far too great.  Not to mention the new sources of revenue that open up with a move to the FBS, including television revenue that does not compare to that of FCS.

With the move, the future of UMass football is brighter than ever.  With the ongoing renovation of McGuirk Stadium in Amherst, and the current construction of the adjacent Football Performance Center, UMass football will have a state-of-the-art facility right on campus.  Once complete, and games return back from Foxborough, the program will find itself in a much better position than it did in 2011, when it was still playing in FCS.

While many FCS teams' futures are currently in doubt, along with the future of the entire subdivision, UMass has a clear long-term plan to build their program.  And after all, what more can you ask for?

Zach Baru can be followed on Twitter @zbaru and reached at zachbaru@gmail.com.

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