Think back to the Northwestern men’s basketball program of old. Among the images that come to mind — likely a fleeting memory of a glorious full-court pass amidst the thought of many sub-.500 seasons — is a student section that so often went unoccupied. I mean, who blames a bunch of busy, over-achieving nerds for not wanting to go to a random Wednesday night basketball game when the line favors the opponent by double digits?
This case study serves as a perpetual chicken or the egg situation. Was the basketball team bad because people didn’t show up to cheer for their made baskets, or did students not show up because the ‘Cats were often doomed before the tip?