Hey, Baylor Nation, let’s fill the Alamo City with green and gold! Oh, wait. We have class.
Friday’s NCAA first-round game against No. 11 Nebraska marks No. 6 Baylor’s fourth tournament appearance in seven years.
This is a game that every BU fan in the land should attend. The problem? It is set to take place at 11:40 a.m.
Not only is this an undesirable time slot, the scheduling will restrict the masses of students from making the journey to San Antonio.
Baylor and the NCAA should have planned more accordingly for this game.
The 11:15 – 12:05 a.m. time slot is a busy time for a lot of students.
This means that many Baylor students who would otherwise have the opportunity to travel the three hours to the AT&T Center will be forced to choose between sacrificing an absence or not showing their support for the Bears.
If this game was either at a more reasonable time or Baylor was to afford students the opportunity to make the trip, the basketball team would be sure to feel the support of the fans.
The Baylor vs. Nebraska game is an interesting one in comparison to the others being played in San Antonio on Friday. The former conference rivals are two of the hottest teams in the country, each having won 10 of their last 13 games.
Out of the three others pairs, Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Creighton, Providence vs. Virginia and North Carolina Central vs. Iowa State, Baylor is the only Texas team and the only one with a local fan base that would ensure a massive turnout. This matchup is an attractive one, but it is set at the least attractive time.
As we saw in the Big 12 Championship last week, fan turnout and school spirit can definitely boost or wound a team.
It was apparent that the Iowa State crowd, which significantly outnumbered Baylor’s, greatly enhanced the morale of their players; whereas Baylor’s turnout definitely didn’t help the Bears maintain their momentum.
We all saw how that ended. Baylor has the home court advantage here and we should be able to take advantage of that as a Baylor Nation.
We understand and agree that Baylor is a university, meaning that learning should be first on the agenda. But this is a one-time event.
It’s not something that is going to have an effect on the semester as a whole. Baylor shouldn’t force students to choose between class and this game. The institution works hard to promote student involvement in athletics, so it should not restrict students’ participation in the first-round game. Student Activities even planned a bus trip.
How can students take advantage of this if they are in class?
This is the beginning of what Baylor Basketball has worked for since the end of last season. These games impact Baylor’s basketball image and the school as a whole.
Both Baylor administration and the scheduling committee should have taken into consideration the relationship between the timing and proximity.
Ultimately, students who choose to take the high road and go to class will be forced to watch live updates, bring a laptop or tablet to class or miss the game.
Maybe professors should use this as a way to engage their students. Watch it as a class.
