2023-24 Non-Conference Schedule

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MadBird

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isuquinndog said:
Women's game is at 1 pm, men's game is 30 minutes after.

www.wglt.org

'Long time coming': ISU and IWU renew basketball rivalry; women join in doubleheader

The Illinois State and Illinois Wesleyan basketball teams will face each other in twin exhibition games in October, the universities announced Monday. It’s the first game between the men’s teams in more than 50 years, and the first time ever for the women’s teams.
www.wglt.org www.wglt.org
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Yeah, why not? Bring in as many local fans as possible, good old fashioned rivalry even tho it's DI vs. DIII. Have fun with it!!
 
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ScoreboardDotRace

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isuquinndog said:
Am I the only one that is just kinda meh on this? I guess it's fun the first year, it hasn't been done in forever. But after that.....who cares? So we beat them by 30 in an exhibition game....is that gonna draw crowds?
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If ISU is gonna draw 3,000 for a game. And Wesleyan is gonna draw 500 for a game. Might as well draw 3,500 together I guess.
 
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Redbird222

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evenflow said:
Yep. It’s like liptstick on a pig.

Just like the Horton games, it’s a gimmick because the actual product doesn’t draw. It’s not going to mean anything to current students or non-townie alumni.
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I look at it more like we are going to play an exhibition game anyways and this has more appeal (even if local) than other exhibition matchups. It does have the potential to draw some additional fans which is a good thing.

Play decent in the game and maybe a few students or local fans come to a few regular season games. Ultimately consistent winning is the long term answer but it doesn't hurt to try and drum up some interest. Attracting a few extra fans (whatever means) helps get a little more energy during the games which helps the team and atmosphere.
 
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Dmills

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The game is simply the renewal of a historic rivalry to benefit a community charity organization in an exhibition. It's not the super bowl. It's not going to draw 10,000 to CEFCU. It wasn't scheduled to put butts in the seats. It was scheduled for the benefit of the community and the growth of the game. It may generate some interest from people who wouldn't be interested otherwise. It will be fun for the fans and community. It will be easy to market. It's a win-win.
 
Total Red

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isuquinndog said:
So we beat them by 30 in an exhibition game....is that gonna draw crowds?
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Not so fast my friend

During the 1982-83 basketball season, the IWU men's team defeated the University of Arizona, a Division I opponent, 67-64 in a game held at Arizona. Both Illinois Wesleyan and Arizona would go on to win their respective national championships in 1997.
 
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DWRedbird

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isuquinndog said:
Am I the only one that is just kinda meh on this? I guess it's fun the first year, it hasn't been done in forever. But after that.....who cares? So we beat them by 30 in an exhibition game....is that gonna draw crowds?
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Were it a regular season game, I'd definitely not feel good about the game. Since it is an exhibition game, I think its fun. I think it will probably have more fans at the game than any other exhibition opponent we bring in and will generate some buzz in the community leading up to it.
 
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Reggie Redbird

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isuquinndog said:
Am I the only one that is just kinda meh on this? I guess it's fun the first year, it hasn't been done in forever. But after that.....who cares? So we beat them by 30 in an exhibition game....is that gonna draw crowds?
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You may not be the only one, but I personally disagree with you. It may be a gimmick, but it will draw crowds. Just like WWE brings back their past legends, the nostalgia will draw people. This could be one of our biggest draws, and I could easily see a lot of green in RBA. You have to figure that most IWU fans will come. A lot of people in the community will come, especially with the charitable bent. This is a team that has struggled to get 4k to games even with our best D-1 opponents the last few years. This has a chance to get people in the door, show them a good atmosphere, and hope they come back for some games.

Students are more likely to come to this one on a Sunday afternoon than a lot of other games they haven’t recently shown up for. The Horton game, that added something, and the students were great. You’ll also have WBB fans that wouldn’t normally come to a MBB game Who may decide to stay.

The only risk to out of town fans coming is that they’ll have just had Homecoming a few weeks prior. But a triple-header weekend is big.

Perhaps worth considering to do this game in odd years and a Horton game in even years.
 
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redbirdron1

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This game will B Great. It’ll open Bird fan eyes to local D3 and vice versa for the Green fans - it’s a big plus for the Community and could draw addtl fan support. This is what Pedon is about - the guy is a marketing Dude who ain’t afraid to show current Roster blemishes; heck we Bird fans know we have a ways to go to build something and while we r in process Pedon says yeah let’s put ourselves out there to showcase r stuff. When the day comes we’ll Welcome the Green for support and attendees.
Kudos to Pedon and Rose for thinking ahead to leverage the Locals - smart Business!
 
SgtHulka

SgtHulka

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Get an alumni game with the two, with Collins and Sikma as player coaches. Let Doug shoot free throws with one second left to give ISU the lead. Sikma gets three chances to win it as Denny Bridges comes out of the stands to force the time keeper to reset the clock till they win.
 
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DaveBird10

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TBS_20 said:
I really think it could get 5,000 though
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I agree that this could get 5,000 people for the game. If you think which game would draw more IWU, Davenport or Lewis? Maybe Jack Sikma or Doug Collins comes back or maybe you get the teams that played in 1970 to come back. Add all that with free for students with a student ID , money to benefit players mental health and the Western Avenue Community Center and this is a win/win. Its thinking outside the box and maybe fans of IWU might say ISU is good maybe ill go to an ISU game and vice versa. Why not get a game together with schools separated by 2 miles in an environment that will be lets face it, will be bigger then most exhibition games. Maybe you do it every 4/5 years and it lets kids from both sides experience an environment they might not see.
With regards I think IWU can play with ISU (IWU lost to Bradley 79-64 last year) and IWU has Luke Yoder back who played at NDSU last year. IMO where ISU should be able to control the game is on the boards and in the paint. Lieb, Foster and KLew should be too strong for any IWU player. Its also cool that Ty Blake and Mason Funk former Uhigh players will get the opportunity to play against each other for their very first game in college as well.
 
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MadBird

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Agree it would be cool to invite back players from the last rosters that played each other back in the last century. Another nod to "history" and good vibes between the schools.

I think also that team, 69-70, would be either the last "College Division"/DII or the first "University Division"/DI team. Coach Collie's last team.
 
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