Only 4,719 Fans Attend NIT Game At Illinois

[LuteHawk]

Illinois beat Valpo by 25 points tonight, however there
were not many eyewitnesses in the stands. Valpo's
best player Alec Peters was out with a leg injury. Yet
the real story is the apathy of Illinois fans. They have
an Interim coach who replaced John Groce last Saturday.
Perhaps, the fans will wake up and come to the next
game.

Bottom Line: Iowa has already sold about 10,000 tickets
for tomorrow's NIT game against South Dakota

 

[ichawk24]

I thought they were a basketball school.

 

[LuteHawk]

Until Illinois hires their new coach, the fans do not
care about the rest of this season. The AD better
hit a home run hire. Bill Self was the last real
winner at Illinois.

 

[Bearhawk0505]

I do not think basketball schools celebrate NIT invites.

 

[FairfIowafan1984]

Hard to support them under groce with poor play and arrests every year, especially after the success they have had. Also the bad football team every year hard times for them right now.

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Also, was it spring break at the 'A-noy'?

 

[CO_hawk]

Maybe @Playmaker can tell us why?

 

[anon_2zMXH429BhxV1Npk]

Also, was it spring break at the 'A-noy'?

Nope, their spring break started this weekend.

 

[mtdew_fever]

Per the Big 10 website, Illinois averaged 11,697 on the season. It's a quick turn around though.

 

[bagdropper]

Uncertainty in the program, uncertainty with the paying public.

At least WITH Groce, they knew who their head coach was.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Not surprising attendance would be low.
Just fired the coach, program directionless at the moment, lack of fan interest is expected.

 

[OutbackBowl2017]

They should hire Archie Miller. He would be a great hire for them.

 

[large78]

They should hire Archie Miller. He would be a great hire for them.

I think this might be the school Gregg Marshall leaves Wichita State for.

 

[hawkguy77]

Until Illinois hires their new coach, the fans do not
care about the rest of this season. The AD better
hit a home run hire. Bill Self was the last real
winner at Illinois.

Bruce Weber had a team finish second in the NCAA tournament. (Using Bill Self's recruits) Of course he later proved he was not up to the task of recruiting before he escaped to KSU.

 

[messey]

Until Illinois hires their new coach, the fans do not
care about the rest of this season. The AD better
hit a home run hire. Bill Self was the last real
winner at Illinois.

Bill Self was a good coach at Illinois, but he came in with a good team waiting for him. Lon Kruger was the best coach for Illinois, 1996-2000 when he left to coach Atlanta Hawks. Hope he stays at Okie. Thanks...

 

[chitownUofI05]

Bruce Weber had a team finish second in the NCAA tournament. (Using Bill Self's recruits) Of course he later proved he was not up to the task of recruiting before he escaped to KSU.

Escaped?? LOL

 

[hknation]

it appears their orange crush has be crushed.

 

[LuteHawk]

Lou Henson had some good years at Illinois. He
introduced the orange blazer as part of his wardrobe
for home games.

 

[kceasthawk]

Lou Henson had some good years at Illinois. He
introduced the orange blazer as part of his wardrobe
for home games.

And the Lou Doo!

 

[LuteHawk]

Lou Henson gave the comb-over a bad name.
He plastered it down 4W Oil and then left it alone.

 

[MepoDawg#]

Average attendance for last nights NIT games was 5,500. Iowa has sold over 12,000 tickets though remains to be seen how many show up after changing the game time to baby Syracuse more.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

Lou Henson gave the comb-over a bad name.
He plastered it down 4W Oil and then left it alone.

Nothing will ever beat Gene Keady's.

 

[Obviously Oblivious]

Sounds like Illinois has the program they deserve.

 

[chitownUofI05]

Sounds like Illinois has the program they deserve.

Quite the opposite. Making the NIT is embarrassing, and most fans said this won't stand and didn't go.

 

[ichawk24]

Quite the opposite. Making the NIT is embarrassing, and most fans said this won't stand and didn't go.

Sounds like Illinois has the program they deserve.

 

[iahawks10]

Quite the opposite. Making the NIT is embarrassing, and most fans said this won't stand and didn't go.

You'd think they would just cancel football all together then.

 

[chitownUofI05]

You'd think they would just cancel football all together then.

LOL, difference is we all like our coach and are willing to give him time to build up a program. He walked into a mess, and his initial recruiting has been very promising.

In basketball, this season was an epic disappointment, and we're coachless.

 

[NashvilleHawk]

Nothing will ever beat Gene Keady's.

When I saw a picture of Keady and Bob Knight from a few years ago, without the combover, Keady looked SO MUCH better.

 

[iahawks10]

LOL, difference is we all like our coach and are willing to give him time to build up a program. He walked into a mess, and his initial recruiting has been very promising.

In basketball, this season was an epic disappointment, and we're coachless.

I liked Lovie too (as a Bears fan). I did not like that hire for Illinois. I just hope he doesn't win there.

 

[LuteHawk]

The new Athletic Director at Illinois is cleaning house
with Lovie Smith hired last year, and a new basketball
coach this year. The football stadium has been upgraded
and so has the basketball arena. Now the goal is to put
butts in the seats. An half-full football stadium has hurt
the financial income at Illinois. They do not want that
to happen to basketball arena.