Again, Flyer fans stay away

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By Tom Archdeacon, Staff Writer Updated 1:35 AM Thursday, March 18, 2010

University of Dayton men’s basketball fans did give the team a standing ovation late in the first half after it went on a 9-0 run to more than double the score on Illinois State and force Redbirds coach Tim Jankovich to call time out.

And for the first time in a long time they were able to bellow out that familiar “Luuuuuuuke” salute after Luke Fabrizius, hampered by injury the past 10 games, drilled his third 3-pointer of the night.

But the reaction by the UD Arena fans that really stood out Wednesday night, March 17, as the Flyers were routing Illinois State 63-42 in the first round of the NIT was when the public address man announced the night’s crowd at 5,127.

There was a collective “ooooooh” followed by private speculation all across the arena. Well, except in some of the 400 level and behind-the-basket sections, where there were mostly just empty seats. This was the smallest crowd ever to watch the Flyers in the 40-year history of UD Arena. The old record was set just eight days earlier when 6,930 showed up to watch UD defeat George Washington in the first round of the Atlantic 10 tournament.

UD has drawn more fans to watch exhibitions against semipro teams. It drew more than twice as many fans to every one of its games in that 4-26 season 15 years ago. And eight years ago, when a snowstorm crippled the area — closing malls, churches and roads — over 13,400 fans showed up to watch UD.

The reasons for the low turnout were many:

• St. Patrick’s Day festivities were raging in the UD student ghetto and at select spots across town.

• In a city feeling the economic downtown, there may be some financial pinch. After spending a lot of money in the regular season, UD fans then shelled out for the A-10 game and some from that same pool were at the Arena on Tuesday night when more than 8,200 showed up for the NCAA tournament’s opening-round game.

• And Illinois State wasn’t a sexy matchup.

But a big reason, I believe, was some people expressing disappointment over the way the Flyers’ season spiralled from NCAA tournament expectations to NIT reality. With a few it might have been a sign of protest, an idea that was popularized on a local sports talk show this week.

UD Athletic Director Tim Wabler was asked why he thought the turnout was so low and he chose his words carefully:

“We have so many events going on right now. The tournaments are being played — we had a nice turnout last night. And of course there’s the economy. And certainly St. Patrick’s Day had something to do with it. And finally I think some people just don’t typically come to NIT games.”

Two years ago when the Flyers were in the NIT they drew just over 7,000 for a game. Nine years ago two NIT games drew well over 9,000 fans each game.

As for disappointment, Wabler didn’t want to get into that:

“There’s still a lot of basketball to be played and a lot of good things to be done. We’re in a national tournament.”

Next up are the Cincinnati Bearcats, the Flyers’ longtime rival, and that should revive some interest.

How much is the question.

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