More from Burman

Some follow-up from my talk with Wyoming athletics director Tom Burman. For more, see my column in Sunday’s Wyoming Tribune Eagle at http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/02/14/sports/20sports_02-14-10.txt

As you would imagine, he is concerned that fans aren’t showing up to men’s basketball games. UW is on pace to have its worst home record and lowest home attendance in Arena-Auditorium history.

A 9-16 record and 2-9 mark in the Mountain West will do that to even the most loyal of fan bases.

I asked him if he thinks the relationship damage between fans and the program is irreversible.

“I don’t think it’s irreversible,” he said. “They’ll come back when we win. They’re emotional like I am and you can’t allow emotion to get in the way. But for fans I understand that and that’s all right.

“Wyoming basketball fans have got out of the habit. We haven’t given them a consistent reason to get back into the habit. We’ve got to give them a consistent reason. If we do and they still don’t come back then I think we have problems.”

Another sore spot among fans has been the men’s basketball schedule. Fans don’t want to see non-Division I foes like Peru State and Adams State, nor do they want to see unknown Division I foes like Texas State and Prairie View A&M.

Burman said he’s tried to help coach Heath Schroyer with the scheduling, and even he’s found it hard to get teams to come to Laramie.