Maybe the Academy of Art isn't putting much money into uniforms and using it for other program-related purposes?

I don't understand the logic of having everyone in "BCS." What does that do for our athletes?

If the argument is about FCS teams being a minor league for FBS teams -- well, in basketball we're already the minors for the big conferences. Nothing is going to change that. NIL money will lure the best away because it's money and that talks.

If UCD's primary task is to educate, and we're not willing to subvert admissions to the needs of the athletic department, then we should accept that which we are: the minors. And it's fun to watch. The teams are competitive. Sometimes students attend the games but how many times does football fill the stadium? How many times does the Pavilion need to roll out the top bleachers? Darn few - especially when we're not on ESPN's linear channels.

College sports may be irredeemably broken. Perhaps we should ask who we are and what we want - deriving from our first principles how UCD should fit into the world as it currently exists. Where should our focus be? I'd say focus on our athletes first which means education first, competition second. But there are other choices. We should be up front about making those choices.

We really enjoyed the games down in SoCal. Good cycling along the Anaheim River's bike path. It's a LOT of basketball to do both men and women's games but fun. I liked the Honda Center but I'm flexible.

I'll add that Henderson isn't good for having any of the student bodies enjoy the games. Now UCD students aren't going to rush down to SoCal either - they hardly rush into the Pavilion - but in general we might see more students attending. It's easy to go to SoCal either by car, plane or even train. And there's always Disneyland!

We have a year left on the contract with Henderson. I recommend feeding back to the AD about the situation. Finding an arena of the right size is important.

I have no issues with having the tournament at a school site as long as there isn't preferential treatment for that school's fans.

Looks like the Player of the Year was correctly called! Wow - what a 2nd half.

Hawai'i clearly knew the comeback was possible since the Ags did something quite similar to them a few years ago. That was some 2nd half for Hawai'i.

The Fullerton v UC Irvine game is fabulous. It'll be replayed on ESPN-U tonight at 10 or so. The ESPN+ feed is good - much less image compression - probably better cameras - no breakup of the video.

The allure of a big program with lots of attention and the $$$ of NIL makes for a pretty strong reason for a high level athlete to want to leave. If you want to monetize your abilities then it really makes sense. Being as athletic as your basic rock I have no idea if the idea of team loyalty has much meaning compared to playing at the next level and, perhaps, having the NBA give you a really good look.

I'll wish Pepper well whatever his decision.

I've watched ESPN+ on my AppleTV streaming over Comcast as well as on my iPhone over 5G. The breakups happen at the same point in the game regardless. It's definitely a screwup on the part of ESPN+ and whatever production crew they hired to do the tournament. Or whoever is their internet service provider - possibly ACME who helps out the coyote from time to time.

The bad transmission out of Henderson continues during the Cal Poly game. It's 32-26 POLY at the half. ESPN+ has stinky streaming.

I'm seeing a lot of breakup from the ESPN+ feed. Today worse than yesterday. Anyone else experiencing this?

Thanks for posting those! I really appreciate your sharing those clips.

Hickey ROCKED as a venue. They also did closed circuit (B&W) TV down into the "women's gym" for overflow toward the end of the season. Mike Lien played in Hickey. Gyms had real character then. The Stanford gym with that suspended floor was memorable - you could watch it move! I gather shin splints weren't an issue there.

What I'll miss most by not going to Henderson: the Hawai'i band. They are fantastic.

That was the 1969 NCAA Div II Western regional.

SF State beat UCI 81-55, UNLV beach UCD 84-81
Then SF State beat UNLV 77-72 while the Age lost to UCI 82-70

Great memories

That was a terrific game Toke69. I was there and vividly remember it. A great season. The loss the next night at Hayward was awful. Bob Johnson must be the calmest player I can remember.

But the game against UNLV was also terrific. Tom Cups had a super game, was fouled in the last moments but the officials swallowed their whistles, possibly because the home crowd was throwing wood blocks onto the court. I vaguely remember those blocks were handed out as noise makers. Well done, idiots. SF State played UC Irvine. I remember the UCI band featured an electric violin. The Aggie All Male Maverick Marching Band found a way to make the trip and were super.

Cal Poly needs a Ted Lasso BELIEVE sign because they sure find ways to auger in during the last minutes of a game. They are a very very competitive team. The Beach can't take them for granted that's for sure. I don't think any of the men's teams can be taken for granted.

I wish the championship was still in SoCal. Las Vegas/Henderson holds no attraction to me.

At least we're on the other side of the bracket from Fullerton!

Two words: Transfer Portal. The lure of $$$ from the top conferences will be difficult to counter.