Razorbacks Basketball Notebook

Attendance low for early season games

Arkansas fans congratulate players following an NCAA college basketball game in Fayetteville, Ark., Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. Arkansas beat SMU 89-78. (AP Photo/Sarah Bentham)

— Arkansas is averaging 8,171 fans per game and 12,101 tickets sold through the first three games of its men's basketball season.

An announced crowd of 8,927 was on-hand for the Razorbacks' 89-78 win over SMU on Monday. It was a smaller crowd than many expected in part because the Mustangs were undefeated entering the game and coached by Basketball Hall of Fame member Larry Brown.

"No offense to Arkansas, but I’ve been in loud buildings,” said Brown, who was asked if the opposing crowd affected his team Monday. “I was in Barnhill, and you talk about a loud building.

"I think their quality of play affected us more than anything. We were completely out-coached."

Smaller crowds have become the new normal for Arkansas at the 19,000-plus seat Bud Walton Arena, especially for non-weekend, nonconference games. Even with increased overall attendance under third-year head coach Mike Anderson, the Razorbacks have averaged 13,377 and 11,885 tickets sold for nonconference weeknight games the last two seasons, respectively.

Arkansas' first two games this year were on a Friday night. An announced crowd of 6,543 attended the season-opener against SIU-Edwardsville and 9,042 was the announced attendance for a game last week against Louisiana-Lafayette.

The non-weekend attendance hasn't been much better for conference games in recent years. Arkansas' highest number of tickets sold for a midweek Southeastern Conference game under Anderson was 13,816 for an upset of No. 2 Florida last season.

In with the new

There is a notable difference in what has become known as the game day experience, or what happens during timeouts.

Games at Bud Walton Arena now feature more piped-in music over the arena speakers - often coinciding with advertisements - and fewer songs played by the pep band. Prior to the first game of the year, a DJ was located court side. A video featuring players away from basketball was played during the first media timeout Monday.

Some fans were upset when the new way interrupted tradition Monday night. At one point a hog call was drowned out by music being played over the arena speakers.

Arkansas had taken a 33-20 first half lead, forcing an SMU timeout. In the past, hog calls were common when the road team called a timeout.

Mike Waddell, an assistant athletics director for the university who was hired earlier this year to enhance game day experience, attempted to explain the mix-up on his Twitter account.

"We have previously sold sponsor elements that have to run this season, out next (year) in the team called timeouts," Waddell wrote on Twitter.

"The spot had already started when fans did impromptu call. Toothpaste out of tube so to speak."

Writing just after halftime of Monday's game, Waddell said the goal next year is for no in-game commercials, but sponsored video features will continue "as they help pay the bills."

A more subtle change this season has been with public address announcer John George, whose signature "timeout" call has been absent. George has been the Razorbacks' public address announcer for basketball the past 33 seasons and also serves as announcer for SEC Basketball Tournament games.

Game times longer

A new hand check emphasis for officials was on display Monday night.

The teams combined to commit 52 personal fouls and shoot 66 free throws. As a result, the game lasted 2 hours, 14 minutes, which is expected to be more of a normal game time this season.

"I came from the NBA and I hate those new rules," Brown said. "I like to see games go up and down, but they didn't ask me about them."

The new rule allows a player "freedom of movement", similar to what is allowed in the NBA. The new rule was implemented this year to increase scoring after college basketball had its lowest point output in more than three decades last season.

"They're bragging in the NBA that points are up - no, fouls are up," Brown said. "When we can decide how to get shots up, when people can take more shots - you know, to me 60 and 57 shots is not the way the game is supposed to be played.

"I do understand the intent and that they are trying to do the right things, but we've got to figure out a way to get more shots. Then we'll have a great game."