Why?

[Jacobs4Heisman]

I'm not saying women can't shoot, I'm saying it's far easier. In the men's game it's much tougher if you're a great a shooter. You have to be able to pull up off the dribble and be able to elevate above your defender to hit shots. It's much tougher in men's basketball to shoot a higher percentage.

That's just not true. It makes sense logically, but women have people running at them too. Is just as tough for a woman to get a shot off over a woman as it is for a man over a man. I don't see a whole lot of 3's being taken off the dribble in the men's game, so the argument there doesn't apply at all to 3-point shooting. Threes in general are either open shots due to poor rotation or quick ball movement, or open shots curling off a screen. It's the same in either game, and the women shoot their just as good as the men. In general, if you're taking a contested 3 off the dribble, your coach is wincing.

Like I said, if it isn't highly dependent on raw athleticism or strength, then women can do it just as effectively as the men.

[HoopsFan]

If I hear one argument about women shooting better I'm gona puke.
Our men's team isn't the best team to take shooters from, how about nation wide?

I'll take Ellington from UNC, Roberts from Dayton, and Shan Foster from Vanderbilt. Against any 3 women.

Wow, you could do that, but you would have to wait until 2010 to have the contest because we'd have to wait until they were eligible after they transfer.
I guess we'd have to substitute Prochaska and somebody else for Golds and Taylor because they would be gone.

Be sure to look out behind you as you backpedal.

The beauty of the BG Women's game is that *anyone* can take and make shots from anywhere on the court. No "King of 3's", no passing the ball around to a specific player, the women all shoot the ball if the shot is open.
The men are getting better at this as opposed to the last coached team, but the women always look to attack the basket, not pass the ball around and hope something shows up.

Just a though.

HoopsFan

[hammb]

Like I said, if it isn't highly dependent on raw athleticism or strength, then women can do it just as effectively as the men.

I've always thought your last sentence here made great sense.

However, I ask, why the hell can they not putt!? Every once in awhile I'll watch some LPGA golf, and man I cannot figure out why those girls cannot putt worth a damn when compared to the men. It has nothing to do with strength or athleticism, so I just don't get it....oh well that's a tangent...

[hammb]

If I hear one argument about women shooting better I'm gona puke.
Our men's team isn't the best team to take shooters from, how about nation wide?

I'll take Ellington from UNC, Roberts from Dayton, and Shan Foster from Vanderbilt. Against any 3 women.

Wow, you could do that, but you would have to wait until 2010 to have the contest because we'd have to wait until they were eligible after they transfer.
I guess we'd have to substitute Prochaska and somebody else for Golds and Taylor because they would be gone.

Be sure to look out behind you as you backpedal.

The beauty of the BG Women's game is that *anyone* can take and make shots from anywhere on the court. No "King of 3's", no passing the ball around to a specific player, the women all shoot the ball if the shot is open.
The men are getting better at this as opposed to the last coached team, but the women always look to attack the basket, not pass the ball around and hope something shows up.

Just a though.

HoopsFan

I think 137's point has merit. The BG women's team is one of the best in the country. The men's team is near the bottom. He was saying you can pick the best 3 women in the country and he'll take the best 3 men, and he likes his chances.

I honestly have no idea, who would win that battle, but I see his point.

However, more than anything, I think this really exemplifies the entire conversation. The women's hoops team is as good as they've ever been. The men are as bad as they've ever been. For now the women's team is slightly outdrawing the men.

When the men get good again, or if the women take a step back, I don't think that'll be the case. BG fans are bandwagoners, and right now the womens hoops team is the best bandwagon in town.

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Like I said, if it isn't highly dependent on raw athleticism or strength, then women can do it just as effectively as the men.

I've always thought your last sentence here made great sense.

However, I ask, why the hell can they not putt!? Every once in awhile I'll watch some LPGA golf, and man I cannot figure out why those girls cannot putt worth a damn when compared to the men. It has nothing to do with strength or athleticism, so I just don't get it....oh well that's a tangent...

That's your home!!! Are you to good for your home???

[Jacobs4Heisman]

If I hear one argument about women shooting better I'm gona puke.
Our men's team isn't the best team to take shooters from, how about nation wide?

I'll take Ellington from UNC, Roberts from Dayton, and Shan Foster from Vanderbilt. Against any 3 women.

Wow, you could do that, but you would have to wait until 2010 to have the contest because we'd have to wait until they were eligible after they transfer.
I guess we'd have to substitute Prochaska and somebody else for Golds and Taylor because they would be gone.

Be sure to look out behind you as you backpedal.

The beauty of the BG Women's game is that *anyone* can take and make shots from anywhere on the court. No "King of 3's", no passing the ball around to a specific player, the women all shoot the ball if the shot is open.
The men are getting better at this as opposed to the last coached team, but the women always look to attack the basket, not pass the ball around and hope something shows up.

Just a though.

HoopsFan

I think 137's point has merit. The BG women's team is one of the best in the country. The men's team is near the bottom. He was saying you can pick the best 3 women in the country and he'll take the best 3 men, and he likes his chances.

I honestly have no idea, who would win that battle, but I see his point.

However, more than anything, I think this really exemplifies the entire conversation. The women's hoops team is as good as they've ever been. The men are as bad as they've ever been. For now the women's team is slightly outdrawing the men.

When the men get good again, or if the women take a step back, I don't think that'll be the case. BG fans are bandwagoners, and right now the womens hoops team is the best bandwagon in town.

Well, it would have merit if it related to the argument he started the thread about, which is why BG women's basketball is currently more popular than BG men's basketball.

As far as the actual point, again patently false. Since I started following BG women's basketball, I'll actually watch parts of other college games when I run across them, just to see how we compared. Needless to say, I also watched a TON of MAC women's basketball during my time at BG. I also watch an obscene amount of men's college basketball. Neither gender shoots the ball in general any better than the other. It's just not true. The two sports are very different, but the shooting ability is similar across the board.

I'm sure Falcon137 has barely watched women's basketball ever given his stance on the sport, so he's just repeating assumptions that he thinks are factual based on his very limited experience with the subject matter. I hate when people do that.

[It's the Journey...]

Why don't we all compare things that are alike. To compare women's basketball to men's basketball is crazy. Each has their ups and downs. I am a fan of women's basketball because it is more "we" than "me". As far as shooting goes, if it's a dunk or a bunny shot IT'S STILL ONLY 2 POINTS! People who say the women's game is not good because they cannot dunk are people I cannot understand. The men's game is above the rim and more for show. The women's game is below the rim and more skill, in my opinion. If you don't agree I really don't care. It's my opinion and you have every right to yours. But to come in and ask why go to a men's game over a women's game just because they women are playing is crazy to me. We are all Falcon fans and will show our spirit as we choose. It does no good to tear down one team to build up another and to me that is what this thread it trying to do. If you support the men, great. If you support the women, great. In the end you are supporting the Falcons and that is fine with me.

[BleedOrange]

If I hear one argument about women shooting better I'm gona puke.

Women shoot free throws better, thats it. Don't you think it's a tad easier to finish around the bucket when there is no one to swipe it off the board or come from the week side and put it in the 4th row? Or the fact that good ball movement in the women's game can cripple a D because they aren't all that fast therefore it's easier to get an open shot.

The argument that it's better basketball is also crazy, that's like saying the Div. 4 HS Boys Championship game is better than the Div. 1.

Small side point here -> women play with a smaller ball than men. Therefore, it will fall thru the hoop at a higher percentage. Not a big difference, but some.

[brewer]

While this thread has some potential to get a little testy, it’s gotta be a whole lot more pleasant than hanging out in the football forum would be. So I’ll throw in some random thoughts of my own, even though some of my rambling is probably redundant with the other posts already here.

As for the question raised consider this... The women went 31-4 last year, won more games than any MAC basketball team men or women ever, went to the NCAA tournament for the third straight year, advanced to the Sweet 16, and finished 15th in the final rankings. The men went 13-18 last year with a lame duck coach, and haven’t been to the NCAA tournament since the Lyndon Johnson administration. Yet the average home attendance for the women’s team was what I would call only marginally higher that average home attendance than the men (something like 1600 to 1400). I fail to see how that supports the statement in the original post “people support the women in droves and the men hardly at all”. I realize that wasn’t meant to be literal, but nevertheless I don’t think there is any abnormal or difficult to understand preference for the women’s game over the men’s. It seems to show that there is a slight preference for top 15 women’s basketball over less than mediocre men’s basketball. If anything, both are too poorly supported here.

There’s no question the two games are very different. But I don’t think athleticism is the only attraction to basketball. Me personally, I like men’s college basketball far better than then NBA. And I suspect there are many around here who share that opinion, but the athleticism at the NBA level is incredible. So clearly there are other aspects to the game that are appealing.

Me personally I like both men’s and women’s college basketball a lot. They are perhaps my favorite sports. I probably have a slight preference for the men’s game, but it is close for me. But I can understand why some don’t care for the women’s game. They really are different sports. For me, it’s America’s love for NASCAR and the world’s love for soccer that completely baffle me. Everybody is different I guess.

I don’t see any really good in comparing the shooting abilities of the men’s players vs. women’s, but I would point out that the women use a smaller and lighter basketball which helps shooting numbers at least a little bit.

Another point specific to the popularity of the BG women’s program... I think they have done an outstanding job of being visible and accessible, which has to help grow the fan base. More people have gotten to actually meet and know them. And it would seem to make some sense that people are going to feel more attachment to a group they feel they know than one they don’t. Let me make it clear that I don’t think the men’s program has been abnormally inaccessible or deserve any criticism in this area. I just think the BG Women’s basketball program has done a particularly and unusually good job at this.

[Flipper]

I've mentioned this before, but I was pretty dismissive of women's hoops before my daughter was born...I didn't watch it, but I just knew it was not worth seeing nonetheless. I started taking her to the games during Wenzel and Austin's senior year because I wanted her to see that "girls" get to do more than cheer, dance and play in the band ( all of those things are great contributions to the university in their own right...but I wanted her to have a view that wasn't limited).

I was suprised to find that I actually enjoyed watching the games...the women play a SMART brand of basketball. They also showed a good bit more fire and heart than Dakich's last couple of teams. In fact, up until this season I PREFERRED watching the women. As soon as my schedule permits, I hope to see both squads live instead of via tape delay on BCSN [/i]

[Peregrinner]

I'm gonna go ahead and say maybe I shouldn't have blown up like I did. It was just a bit distressing to have the sting of last night's game still fresh, then see everyone saying the sky is falling in the football forum and then see this post that seemed (and may or may not be) dismissive of the women's team and women's basketball in general.

[Falconboy]

Wow, I simply can't let this thread go unanswered. I simply refute the notion that the BG women's game is un-athletic, I happen to think that our team is quite athletic although not up to a level than men are , but that doesn't bother me and absolutely doesn't make our women's basketball team boring in any way shape or form. Like most of you I don't watch the WNBA , for a myriad of reasons, primarily cuz of the not knowing really any of the stars or caring about them as 98% of the players are all from the Big conference schools and no BG players in league.

Some made an excellent point earlier about why some prefer college BB over the NBA , those are same reasons why I love watching BG women's basketball , its purer , played with passion and great skill. I have been hooked ever since Coach Miller's 3rd season I think when the squad of Lindsey Austin and 6 freshman made it to the Mac championship on 2 buzzer beaters. It was the most exciting thing to happen to BG hoops in probably forever. I can't even imagine not watching the falcon women play. I can guarantee you that even if BG mens hoops get back to the pinnacle of the Mac and starts getting NCAA bids and all that I will still be supporting the womens' hoops program as well. I had an angry post ready for 137 but decided why bother.

[Falcon137]

I never intended for this to be a bash on womens hoops. I shouldn't have said a few things in my 1st post but thats it. I was simply trying to understand why this university in particular values womens bball more so than mens. I know programs like UCONN and Tennessee also hold women bball in a high spot but they are consistently winning national championships.

I stand by my post about shooting #'s. In no way by me saying that women are not better shooters than men does not belittle womens bball.

I have gone to BG women's games, I have been to Dayton women's games, as well as women's NCAA Elite 8 games. I don't find the brand of bball as exciting but it's basketball and seeing a player like a Candice Parker is a treat. But I simply wanted to know why people here mainly students seem to favor womens bball over the mens.

I do not hate women's bball.

[Falconboy]

I never intended for this to be a bash on womens hoops. I shouldn't have said a few things in my 1st post but thats it. I was simply trying to understand why this university in particular values womens bball more so than mens. I know programs like UCONN and Tennessee also hold women bball in a high spot but they are consistently winning national championships.

I stand by my post about shooting #'s. In no way by me saying that women are not better shooters than men does not belittle womens bball.

I have gone to BG women's games, I have been to Dayton women's games, as well as women's NCAA Elite 8 games. I don't find the brand of bball as exciting but it's basketball and seeing a player like a Candice Parker is a treat. But I simply wanted to know why people here mainly students seem to favor womens bball over the mens.

I do not hate women's bball.

Why do you get the "feeling" the the students favor the women over the men?? Maybe cuz for right now BG women's BB is kicking but and the men not so much. You've got to understand something. BG men's hoops haven't done much since Keith Mcleods Sr. year. The BG women have been really good for 3+ years now with 3 Mac titles and 3 NCAA appearances with the latest having the team advancing the to Sweet Sixteen. So get some perspective bro.

I could argue that the support for BG women's BB could be better than it is. But its not hard to figure out why we barely cracked 2k crowds for BG men hoops in like 3 years.

[Falcon137]

I never intended for this to be a bash on womens hoops. I shouldn't have said a few things in my 1st post but thats it. I was simply trying to understand why this university in particular values womens bball more so than mens. I know programs like UCONN and Tennessee also hold women bball in a high spot but they are consistently winning national championships.

I stand by my post about shooting #'s. In no way by me saying that women are not better shooters than men does not belittle womens bball.

I have gone to BG women's games, I have been to Dayton women's games, as well as women's NCAA Elite 8 games. I don't find the brand of bball as exciting but it's basketball and seeing a player like a Candice Parker is a treat. But I simply wanted to know why people here mainly students seem to favor womens bball over the mens.

I do not hate women's bball.

Why do you get the "feeling" the the students favor the women over the men?? Maybe cuz for right now BG women's BB is kicking but and the men not so much. You've got to understand something. BG men's hoops haven't done much since Keith Mcleods Sr. year. The BG women have been really good for 3+ years now with 3 Mac titles and 3 NCAA appearances with the latest having the team advancing the to Sweet Sixteen. So get some perspective bro.

I could argue that the support for BG women's BB could be better than it is. But its not hard to figure out why we barely cracked 2k crowds for BG men hoops in like 3 years.

Some perspective would be to look at other programs around the country. At almost any school in the country you will see twice the amount of people at a mens game than a womens game, BG is an exception to the rule. Kicking butt or not it is strange for a women's athletic team to out draw the men. You do realize they play mens and womens basketball in other schools around the country, and why it is odd no matter the level of success for women to outdraw men. Except in those special circumstances like Tennessee in the 90's where they were head and shoulders above everyone else in womens basketball and the men were not very good. Get the perspective, bro?