Forgive me for potentially stirring up this debate, but seeing this post just tells me how far I hope we've come in general interest and engagement and will be even more evident when we can get back into the Convo again. My Facebook Memories from just a few years ago show nice crowds, student sections and excitement. I'm not debating whether they were great people who had bad luck or whatever, because that may all be 100% true...but the previous administration sucked the life out of the Convo, the student section, this chat room--everywhere! For example, at the beginning I couldn't find a single seat in my section to add and within a couple years my section had been gutted with nothing but vacancy's. Diehards we're not only not attending away games, but also uncharacteristically skipping home games. People (like me) who contributed regularly on here going silent, no trips to Cleveland and the bubble just popped. And while you could blame it on fickle fans, or "attendance is down everywhere," there was just a lack of a vibe then and just a way better vibe now (though no doubt, ending the season as it did helps immensely). I hope I'm not speaking prematurely, but I'm thinking JB has the "it" factor that will bring fans/students back and put an entertaining product on the floor. So yes Jeff, it's nice to see this board, which went dead, start to have some vibrance again. I hope we're back on the upswing and even some down years, will keep us engaged.

Society and the internet changed drastically between 2012 and 2021.

Message boards died and young adults only made time for premier events. If it isn’t for a championship or isn’t at the highest level, they are not interested.

It’s why we can beat conference-leading Toledo in December and no one on campus cares and when we win an NCAA tournament game those same people are dancing on Court Street.

There is no middle class. There is no well drink. It all has to be top shelf or it’s beneath everybody.

No judgment here, it’s just how everybody’s hectic life and tiny attention spans now work.

I don’t see those trends reversing. To make money and fill an arena, you must be nationally relevant or you’re in trouble.

I agree with the last two posts. I think another factor is lack of interest in or loyalty to institutions. When I was an undergrad, I attended basketball games because I thought it was a cool way to show my support for my university. Today, entertainment is much more individualistic. Most undergrads I know have little if any sense of loyalty to their university.

How do we increase interest under these conditions?