U of Minnesota Gophers Women

[JACKGUYII]

I would love to have seen the Jacks play the #11 Gophers this year. We gave them a battle two years ago at Williams Arena. Gophers have arguably the best center in the country in Janel McCarville. They also have Stephanie Bolden's younger sister (Shannon) who is a defensive stopper. Graduated from the Gophers is one of the best women's players I have ever seen (Lindsay Whalen) who led them to the final four last year and starred in the WNBA this year. They beat their last two opponents Wisconsin and New Mexico by 40. Beat North Dakota in a Exhibition game 75-47. Lost to #1 LSU who eventually lost to Jacks opponent Rutgers now #3 in the country.  This is how we would have matched up with the Gophers this year.


Gophers                                            

Shannon Schonrock  PG 5'6              
AprilCalhoun            SG5'8                
J. McCarville             C  6'2              
Jamie Broback           F 6'3                
Shannon Bolden       F 5'11              

Jacks

Heather Sieler           PG 5'7
Brooke D.                  SG 5'10
Shannon S.                C   6'0
Sarita D.                     F   6'2
Megan V.                    F 5'11

Vogel and Bolden would be a great matchup.

[Texas_Jacks_Fan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

Hypothetical Question:
If the Gophers and Jacks met in WBB this year at Frost on a Friday/Saturday night would it sell out?

My vote: Yes

[jackmd]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

I think 7,000 at best, I hope I would be wrong.

[FargoBison]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

The Gophers crushed Purdue last night 58-38, I think they would probably do the same to either NDSU or SDSU especially if the game was at the Barn. Maybe a sold out Frost would result in a closer game but I still think the gophers would win by at least ten points, they are solid even when McCarvile doesn't do much. McCarvile only scored one point and spent most of the game on the bench due to foul trouble and they still had lttle problem with the boilmakers.

Have the SDSU women ever sold out a game before? If they have I don't think they would have any problem doing so agaisnt the best team in the region and one of the better teams in country. I'm pretty NDSU would sell out.

[SDSUFAN]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

I dont think the women have ever come close to selling out, and with doubleheaders in the past, we really dont have a good average of what their attendence has been. I believe they may take a turnstile reading when the Women's game ends, in order to get a total, but with a double header its hard to get a good reading. I suppose now with games being single the turnstile count will be a little more accurate.

You would hope we draw a good crowd with U of Minneosta, but it would have to take some promoting to reach the casual fan. There are a lot of fans including me who do not realize that U of Minn is a top program, and doing real well this year.

[SDsportsFan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

I don't think we would sell out, I think Jackmd was pretty accurate when he guessed 7,000. Does anyone remember what he had when we beat USD to advance to the Elite 8 the year we won it all. I think there were about 6,000 or so that night, wasn't there. Do you think there is any chance that the women's game vs. NDSU will outdraw the men's game? I bet it might if they had two separate games in Fargo. UND and NDSU often play their men's and women's game on separate days and the women's game draws just as good if not better than the men's game does. I don't think that would ever happen in Brookings though.

[Texas_Jacks_Fan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

U of Minnesota would be a lot more attractive of a game than that game vs usd, and would have national appeal- not just a regional game among DII schools. I think on a normal year the men would consistantly outdraw the WBB team, however this years womens team, and really the past few womens team have really connected with the avg. Jack fan. (see St. Joseph MO.)
I think in the future you will see attendence at womens games near the top of Division one.
Certain schools have great attendance at WBB games like Tennessee, Texas Tech,and La. Tech. I don't know why we couldnt strive to get 4-5000 per game (WBB)when recognizable teams start coming to Frost.

[SDsportsFan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

U of Minnesota would be a lot more attractive of a game than that game vs usd, and would have national appeal- not just a regional game among DII schools.

So are you saying that you do think a game with the Lady Gophers would sell out? If you are, you may very well be right.
Do you think a regular season game against the Gophers would be a lot more attractive to SD fans than a game between two SD teams for the right to go to the Elite 8? Too bad we don't have more casual basketball fans here I would like to get their input on what would be more attractive to them. Obviously TexasJack feels the Gopher game would be more attractive. Is that the way most of you feel?

[Texas_Jacks_Fan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

Yes, I believe this year due to the success of both teams the game would sell out. dont forget the 2,000+ Gopher fans that would be there.

[SDsportsFan]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

Yes, I believe this year due to the success of both teams the game would sell out. dont forget the 2,000+ Gopher fans that would be there.

You might be right about this. I wonder how the Gopher fans would travel, they wouldn't have far to go. Hopefully we will some day see how many fans that game would draw and hopefully your prediction of a sell out would be right. Are the Gopher fans knowing for traveling well? What do their home games draw? I think they get really good support. A lot of schools shut down last year to watch their tournament games.

[NC2003]

Re: U of Minnesota Gophers Women

Last season's Final Four appearence by the Gopher women in New Orlean's drew MANY fans. I was in attendence and was very surprised at how much maroon and gold was present. I have no idea what the Gopher fan count was, but I do know there was a chartered plane for fans to watch them play...all be it was a Final Four game! It would be safe to bet that Gopher fans would travel to Brookings for a game.