Basketball teams, students party at Plucker’s

Nearly 200 students, fans, and players from SMU’sbasketball teams tipped off the 2003-2004 basketball seasonThursday night at Plucker’s.

The event, hosted by Mustang Maniacs, SMU’s SportMarketing Athletics Advisory Committee and Plucker’s WingFactory, gave fans a chance to meet the players and arouse interestin the upcoming season.

“Hopefully, this event will help get fans and the studentbody involved,” sophomore point guard Bryan Hopkins said.”The teams want to let the students know that we’rehere and that we need their support,” he said.

Hopkins, a pre-season All-Western Athletic Conference selection,also hoped that the event would “put a buzz aroundcampus.”

At the event, students were able to enjoy free fried pickles,chips and queso and, of course, hot wings. Prizes included moviepasses, t-shirts and a raffle for four Dallas Maverickstickets.

Students were also able to sign up to be official members of theMustang Maniacs — the student group that sits courtsideduring home basketball games.

“It was a really fun way to start the season off and itreally got everyone excited for the upcoming season. It was coolthat fans and players got to hang out together,” seniormarketing major Felicia Carr said. “It really brought theschool together,” she said.

“There was a really great turnout tonight, and hopefullythe promotion will give fans and players confidence in the upcomingseason,” senior advertising major Preston Phillips said.

The event at Plucker’s, which the SMAAC and members of thebasketball teams promoted at Wednesday night’s “Stormthe Dorms” event, will hopefully draw fans to the stadium forthe women’s first home game against TCU on Nov. 24 and thefirst men’s home game against Texas Tech on Dec. 1.