Half Court Tuition Shots

A less serious topic than much of the recent debate, but at the last two games, which were part of my four-pack, I watched the contest where students took a shot at winning a semester of tuition. I realize the prize is a large value item, but does anyone else think the requirements are a little ridiculous? Grabbing your own rebound, it's pretty darn difficult to even get a layup, free throw, three-point, and half-court shot off in 25 seconds. It seems to me either it should be a maximum of two shots from each location or a longer time frame than 25 seconds. Maybe that's the point, but they could run that contest for 100 years and never get anyone to make those 4 shots in 25 seconds while having to grab their own rebound.

Im trying to remember which game it was, maybe the Butler/Gonzaga game last week where the student had like 30 seconds to hit a half court shot for a prize of 18k. They had a rack of balls set next to him and what do you know he nailed it on the first shot!
If the school wanted to generate a solid student section for games and Im not talking GU, BYU or St Marys but all the others why dont they buy an insurance policy or get a corporate sponsor (I think it was State Farm in the above example) and do something like that? Ever go to a golf course where there is a car to be had if you hit a hole in one? Those are done by insurance policies purchased by the tournament sponsor. I dont know how much money they are to buy but I think that every student would come to a game (or until halftime is over) if there was a big cash prize on the line.

Woodless! posted a video of a guy who was able to do it, so it is possible.

I cringe every time a student comes onto the court for one of these contests. It seems more often than not, it's people who have never shot a basketball in their lives.

Let's bring back full court bowling. I heard a story about a guy getting a strike in that contest.

blacksheep wrote:Woodless! posted a video of a guy who was able to do it, so it is possible.

I cringe every time a student comes onto the court for one of these contests. It seems more often than not, it's people who have never shot a basketball in their lives.

Let's bring back full court bowling. I heard a story about a guy getting a strike in that contest.

The first girl they brought on couldn't have made the distance of the three point shot, much less the half court shot.

I'm not saying made the basket, just throwing a ball that far.

This was discussed in a previous thread, but I can't find it off hand... the contest is in fact an insurance policy; the Athletic Department pays a fee/premium to the company to run the contest, and it is the insurance company that pays if there is a winner, so they set the rules/guidelines.

It is a cost/benefit relationship. If they eased up on the rules or requirements, then the prize would have to be reduced. I guess you can argue for either.

I believe there was a fan who won a cruise recently with a similar 3-shot setup at a small school back East... but of course I cant find that footage, either.

PilotNut wrote:This was discussed in a previous thread, but I can't find it off hand... the contest is in fact an insurance policy; the Athletic Department pays a fee/premium to the company to run the contest, and it is the insurance company that pays if there is a winner, so they set the rules/guidelines.

It is a cost/benefit relationship. If they eased up on the rules or requirements, then the prize would have to be reduced. I guess you can argue for either.

I believe there was a fan who won a cruise recently with a similar 3-shot setup at a small school back East... but of course I cant find that footage, either.

Alright, Here it is. Courtesy of Woodless!

Old three point line, and he stepped over half court.

Well, there you go. Consider me super impressed. Pretty impressive!

hey everyone--long time reader, first time poster.

as for the video above, the kid starts further back at halfcourt but has 30 seconds, while we only have 25.
i know of several people, myself included, who have attempted the same challenge in howard in the hopes that our names are drawn...here's what i found:
definitely doable. even if you miss one free throw, you still have about 3 seconds to think about your shot at halfcourt. missing a 3 makes it nearly impossible, due to the time consumed by the shot itself and/or chasing down the rebound. i made it through once making each shot on the first attempt, got to halfcourt, and had about 6 seconds to think about the shot before missing it.
of course, this is without the pressure of the crowd...but i'd like to think it is possible. and for a graduating senior with the hopes of earning the cash equivalent of a free semester tuition, that would be quite a gift.

classof13 wrote:hey everyone--long time reader, first time poster.

as for the video above, the kid starts further back at halfcourt but has 30 seconds, while we only have 25.
i know of several people, myself included, who have attempted the same challenge in howard in the hopes that our names are drawn...here's what i found:
definitely doable. even if you miss one free throw, you still have about 3 seconds to think about your shot at halfcourt. missing a 3 makes it nearly impossible, due to the time consumed by the shot itself and/or chasing down the rebound. i made it through once making each shot on the first attempt, got to halfcourt, and had about 6 seconds to think about the shot before missing it.
of course, this is without the pressure of the crowd...but i'd like to think it is possible. and for a graduating senior with the hopes of earning the cash equivalent of a free semester tuition, that would be quite a gift.

Welcome to PN. Glad to see that someone is getting some practice in

classof13 wrote:of course, this is without the pressure of the crowd...but i'd like to think it is possible. and for a graduating senior with the hopes of earning the cash equivalent of a free semester tuition, that would be quite a gift.

Haha, as a guy who was called out of the stands years ago to make a simple free throw, and failed miserably, I can attest that walking out in front of a crowd affects you.

up7587 wrote:Haha, as a guy who was called out of the stands years ago to make a simple free throw, and failed miserably, I can attest that walking out in front of a crowd affects you.

How many fans could fit into Howard Hall before the fire marshal closed down the stands ....it couldn't have been that BIG a crowd, could it?

Actually, it was in the early years of the EACC.

As I slinked off the court in shame, Buzz said to me, "bend your knees."

How about this half court shot!

blacksheep wrote:How about this half court shot!

Yep, saw that on SportsCenter awhile back.....

Not to take anything away from the young lady, as I would never make the shot AND would end up in the hospital in traction, but she had apparently attempted this shot 14 times previously before finally making the shot in the video.

Again....I point that only to let others know that UP's half court 3-point shooting is about average for the nation, I guess.