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Getting P4 schools to Laramie

V

Vancopoke

Well-known member
Tell me if I'm wrong but my understanding is our AD says it is impossible to get high profile basketball schools to play in Laramie. If this is true for smaller schools, how does the University of North Dakota get an SEC school, Alabama, to play a game tonight in Grand Forks, ND? Guess our AD expects us to be excited about a game against Bellarmine as that is the best he can do.

Either not being truthful or going on the cheap when reaching out. Think a little bit of both. Offer UConn or Duke enough money and they'll gladly make the trip to Laramie.
 
2 factors in play here:

1. How bad would a loss be for a team traveling to Laramie?
2. How much would a win boost the tournament resume for a team traveling to Laramie?

We could get better teams to Laramie in the past because we were a good team. Losses don't hurt as much when you're playing a good team. Wins against good teams do good things for tournament resumes.

It's hard as hell to travel to 7220 feet above sea level and be able to play the type of basketball you're used to playing if you're not a high elevation school. We've got to be consistently good to start bringing in good opponents.
 
Bryoming said:
2 factors in play here:

1. How bad would a loss be for a team traveling to Laramie?
2. How much would a win boost the tournament resume for a team traveling to Laramie?

We could get better teams to Laramie in the past because we were a good team. Losses don't hurt as much when you're playing a good team. Wins against good teams do good things for tournament resumes.

It's hard as hell to travel to 7220 feet above sea level and be able to play the type of basketball you're used to playing if you're not a high elevation school. We've got to be consistently good to start bringing in good opponents.
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There is a third factor at play: money.

We would probably need to pay $200,000+ to get a good team to travel to Laramie for a non-conference game. And we would likely need to guarantee a return trip as well. That's a lot of money to spend to get your ass kicked at home for an already cash strapped athletics department.
 
Grand Forks is easier to get to as well with an International Airport.

Jeff Linder had an verbal agreement with Dayton to play in Laramie. Then that went south when they heard Laramie is a tough place to get to.

As someone who grow up in Laramie it does suck to get to in the middle of winter even with a plane. Many teams rather not deal with that.
 
In hindsight, UW shoulda been placed in Casper but UW was founded before Casper was so....
 
Grant Nelson is from Devil's Lake, ND and played for NDSU for 3 years prior to transferring to Alabama. Devil's Lake is about 90 minutes away from Grand Forks. I watched the game (and unfortunately picked an Alabama cover) and they said that this was done as a courtesy for Grant to play in front of friends and relatives. It has nothing to do with a bad ass AD at ND.
 
I can recall Wyoming playing defending national champion Louisville in Laramie. I also remember watching Clemson play in Laramie. I think the ADs were Cunningham and Roach
 
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doreno5 said:
I can recall Wyoming playing defending national champion Louisville in Laramie. I also remember watching Clemson play in Laramie.
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If I recall correctly, that Clemson game was part of the NIT tournament. I don't think Clemson has ever voluntarily traveled to Laramie for a basketball game.

Louisville did play a home and home series with Wyoming twice. They won all 4 games. Last one was in the early 90's. Times are very different now.
 
Bryoming said:
South Carolina played in Laramie in 2018, the year after they were in the Final Four.
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I think it was actually two years after their Final Four run.

We won that game despite sucking real bad that year. I remember attendance being very disappointing for that game, so decided to look it up - 3,657.
 
Vancopoke said:
Tell me if I'm wrong but my understanding is our AD says it is impossible to get high profile basketball schools to play in Laramie. If this is true for smaller schools, how does the University of North Dakota get an SEC school, Alabama, to play a game tonight in Grand Forks, ND? Guess our AD expects us to be excited about a game against Bellarmine as that is the best he can do.

Either not being truthful or going on the cheap when reaching out. Think a little bit of both. Offer UConn or Duke enough money and they'll gladly make the trip to Laramie.
Click to expand...
It’s already been mentioned but the whole premise of this thread is faulty. The only reason Alabama played at UND was for Grant Nelson. That’s it.

Also, LOL at paying UConn or Duke to come here. Just…LOL.
 
Vancopoke said:
Tell me if I'm wrong but my understanding is our AD says it is impossible to get high profile basketball schools to play in Laramie. If this is true for smaller schools, how does the University of North Dakota get an SEC school, Alabama, to play a game tonight in Grand Forks, ND? Guess our AD expects us to be excited about a game against Bellarmine as that is the best he can do.

Either not being truthful or going on the cheap when reaching out. Think a little bit of both. Offer UConn or Duke enough money and they'll gladly make the trip to Laramie.
Click to expand...
Also the AD has nothing to do with the Basketball schedule. The Head Coach at every school is in charge of it. Coaches are very picky about who they schedule.
 
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