Bradley Bracket Buster opponent announced

[Da Coach]

Next year's game against Loyola likely will be televised in Chicago. That would be a benefit to Bradley, who gets rare coverage by the Chicago media. If we played Drexel or USD, it likely wouldn't be televised in Chicago, and nobody would care. I am sure there were other considerations that are not so obvious. Possibly Drexel was not even an option available to Bradley.

 

[squirrel]

Is it that hard to schedule a game against the CAA?

The problem is they are teams in the same boat we are, have the ability to buy games.

But I pointed out at another forum the following. . .

JL's first year the ink was dried on our last series vs. the WCC (Pepperdine) or MWC (UNLV)--although the talks for the Vegas series had already been underway between Mo and Spoon.

Otherwise the last willingly scheduled series vs. A10, CAA, MWC, or WCC was George Washington, which ended in 2000. We have had a couple series against CUSA, but that league's not even what it was 5 years ago.

But programs like Creighton, Wichita, and Northern Iowa each have one if not two games against those leagues every year.

 

[TheAsianSensation]

Next year's game against Loyola likely will be televised in Chicago. That would be a benefit to Bradley, who gets rare coverage by the Chicago media. If we played Drexel or USD, it likely wouldn't be televised in Chicago, and nobody would care. I am sure there were other considerations that are not so obvious. Possibly Drexel was not even an option available to Bradley.

There is certainly media-related reasons for Loyola; I perfectly understand that.

But 2 things:

a) We're going to be good next year. We need a top schedule. There is a tradeoff between scheduling for media exposure and scheduling for strength. I'd argue in favor of strength here.

b) If we want the Chicago market, let's accept Drexel (or any other opponent)....and we can get Loyola anyways. Let's have both.

 

[squirrel]

Next year's game against Loyola likely will be televised in Chicago. That would be a benefit to Bradley, who gets rare coverage by the Chicago media. If we played Drexel or USD, it likely wouldn't be televised in Chicago, and nobody would care. I am sure there were other considerations that are not so obvious. Possibly Drexel was not even an option available to Bradley.

How does Chicago benefit Bradley? How many recruits do we get from Chicago? Perhaps that we've had the success vs. Chicago teams of late has kept players away from THEM, but when that hurts them and we keep playing bad teams, it hurts us more than it helps.

If BU wants national respect, it needs to move beyond the Horizon.

 

[cpacmel]

Next year's game against Loyola likely will be televised in Chicago. That would be a benefit to Bradley, who gets rare coverage by the Chicago media.

What channel in Chicago do you think will pick this game up?

 

[squirrel]

There is certainly media-related reasons for Loyola; I perfectly understand that.

But 2 things:

a) We're going to be good next year. We need a top schedule. There is a tradeoff between scheduling for media exposure and scheduling for strength. I'd argue in favor of strength here.

b) If we want the Chicago market, let's accept Drexel (or any other opponent)....and we can get Loyola anyways. Let's have both.

I don't have a problem with Loyola.

I actually want them on our schedule every year, with 2 of every 3 being in Peoria.

 

[TheAsianSensation]

I hate to keep harping and sound like a broken record. I really do.

But this simply has to be reinforced.


In the past 2 years, 9 of our 18 non-conference game slots have been committed to the Horizon League. HALF. I don't care what league you are - even if it's the Big 10 - playing half of your non-con games against a single conference hampers your ability to get an outstanding RPI, severly limits your exposure, and quite frankly, bores your fans.

 

[squirrel]

I hate to keep harping and sound like a broken record. I really do.

But this simply has to be reinforced.


In the past 2 years, 9 of our 18 non-conference game slots have been committed to the Horizon League. HALF. I don't care what league you are - even if it's the Big 10 - playing half of your non-con games against a single conference hampers your ability to get an outstanding RPI, severly limits your exposure, and quite frankly, bores your fans.

Irresponsible. But boy that Chicago exposure sure serves us well.

 

[thefish7]

The problem is they are teams in the same boat we are, have the ability to buy games.

But I pointed out at another forum the following. . .

JL's first year the ink was dried on our last series vs. the WCC (Pepperdine) or MWC (UNLV)--although the talks for the Vegas series had already been underway between Mo and Spoon.

Otherwise the last willingly scheduled series vs. A10, CAA, MWC, or WCC was George Washington, which ended in 2000. We have had a couple series against CUSA, but that league's not even what it was 5 years ago.

But programs like Creighton, Wichita, and Northern Iowa each have one if not two games against those leagues every year.

I think this is supposed to be an attack on Les' scheduling? It ignores a series scheduled with the Big 10's Michigan State, Big East's DePaul, Big 12's Iowa State (granted they haven't exactly been a strong opponent, but conference wise they are), entry into extempt tournaments (though Mo was restricted by NCAA rules in this area), a long series with Butler (a top midmajor program) and a series with Wright State (another strong midmajor in recent years, even if ANOTHER Horizon opponent).

 

[squirrel]

I think this is supposed to be an attack on Les' scheduling? It ignores a series scheduled with the Big 10's Michigan State, Big East's DePaul, Big 12's Iowa State (granted they haven't exactly been a strong opponent, but conference wise they are), entry into extempt tournaments (though Mo was restricted by NCAA rules in this area), a long series with Butler (a top midmajor program) and a series with Wright State (another strong midmajor in recent years, even if ANOTHER Horizon opponent).

It wasn't selective omission. I was only drawing a comparison to leagues with the same profile as the Valley (specifically MWC, CAA, A10, CUSA, and WCC--the best non-BCS hoops leagues).

And I don't even have a general problem with Horizon opponents. I don't group them together with the other leagues mentioned above. I like the Loyola and Butler series. But its the volume of games vs. an inferior league kills any RPI building you can accomplish in your non-con, which has done nothing but result in MORE games against the Horizon League. Yes, I am saying they are directly related.

 

[thefish7]

There is certainly media-related reasons for Loyola; I perfectly understand that.

But 2 things:

a) We're going to be good next year. We need a top schedule. There is a tradeoff between scheduling for media exposure and scheduling for strength. I'd argue in favor of strength here.

b) If we want the Chicago market, let's accept Drexel (or any other opponent)....and we can get Loyola anyways. Let's have both.

I agree with you on Horizon games... We've played too many... We should get a shot in their tournament!

I'm not sure I want a lot more strength in next year's schedule. It's already a really strong schedule... Butler, Iowa State (not sure they count here), BYU, and 2 of Illinois, Ok St, or Utah. Put in a couple of decent midmajors, plus two likely cupcakes from the Las Vegas tournament, and your schedule's basically full.

 

[thefish7]

It wasn't selective omission. I was only drawing a comparison to leagues with the same profile as the Valley (specifically MWC, CAA, A10, CUSA, and WCC--the best non-BCS hoops leagues).

Okay, I hear that. One thing I'd like to know (and don't), is how many of those teams scheduled "up" as often as we did? Our non-con schedules for the last years have been, as far as I can tell, some of the toughest around. So while I'd love to trade a couple of Horizon games for some other good midmajor competition, I've got no real grounds to complain.

 

[TheAsianSensation]

We should point out that outside of Les' fetish with the Horizon League , he is the best scheduler in the MVC. 2 for 1 with Michigan St, 2 for 1 with Iowa St, 2 reasonable tournaments the past 2 years, Butler.......he's doing quite alright. I'd just rather get a Horizon equivalent than the actual Horizon team.

 

[squirrel]

I agree with you on Horizon games... We've played too many... We should get a shot in their tournament!

I'm not sure I want a lot more strength in next year's schedule. It's already a really strong schedule... Butler, Iowa State (not sure they count here), BYU, and 2 of Illinois, Ok St, or Utah. Put in a couple of decent midmajors, plus two likely cupcakes from the Las Vegas tournament, and your schedule's basically full.

The thing is the selection committee loves teams that challenges themselves. This is what's forgotten. If you suffer through a murderous schedule and survive, you are going to get every benefit of the doubt.

But if you play one game against a BCS and play 2 or 3 cupcakes, you don't get the same benefits, even in winning.

The committee looks for reasons to keep teams out. Don't give them one.

 

[thefish7]

The thing is the selection committee loves teams that challenges themselves. This is what's forgotten. If you suffer through a murderous schedule and survive, you are going to get every benefit of the doubt.

But if you play one game against a BCS and play 2 or 3 cupcakes, you don't get the same benefits, even in winning.

The committee looks for reasons to keep teams out. Don't give them one.

I agree, but with the tournaments I think we're playing 2-4 BCS opponents each season. Take this season... Sure we didn't have any wins but we played Florida, MSU, and Butler. If we'd've won 1 or 2 of those, all of this sudden the schedule looks great. We're out this year because we didn't win any of those and because we lost to UMKC and UWM... But we wouldn't have been out because of the schedule.

 

[thefish7]

We should point out that outside of Les' fetish with the Horizon League , he is the best scheduler in the MVC. 2 for 1 with Michigan St, 2 for 1 with Iowa St, 2 reasonable tournaments the past 2 years, Butler.......he's doing quite alright. I'd just rather get a Horizon equivalent than the actual Horizon team.

Hehe, and the Iowa St series was actually a 1.75 for 1.25... Or something like that.

 

[squirrel]

Okay, I hear that. One thing I'd like to know (and don't), is how many of those teams scheduled "up" as often as we did? Our non-con schedules for the last years have been, as far as I can tell, some of the toughest around. So while I'd love to trade a couple of Horizon games for some other good midmajor competition, I've got no real grounds to complain.

In general they have not had awful schedules. Creighton this year did, because they played 3 SWAC teams which is unforgivable.

UNI, DU and CU get a little bit of break in that they get the Big 10/Big XII in-states on a rotating basis. UNI played at LSU in 2006 (the Tigers were a Final Four team). Wichita has not hesitated to take buy games at Syracuse, LSU, and had a nice home-and-home deal with Providence. CU and WSU have also played more games against the MWC and Southland (I'd bundle in the middle tier of mids with the Horizon, MAAC, MAC, and SoCo--respectable), due to regional proximity. I get that.

Another thing that needs to stop is games against UMKC. Since people laughed at them for publicly indicating they wanted to be in the MVC, they have gone 4-1 or 5-1 against Valley teams.

 

[thefish7]

UMKC was a tournament game right? I don't think we actually "scheduled" them. I try not to look down on programs trying to get up in the world, since that's what we're trying to do... Key is to NOT lose to those guys.

 

[squirrel]

UMKC was a tournament game right? I don't think we actually "scheduled" them. I try not to look down on programs trying to get up in the world, since that's what we're trying to do... Key is to NOT lose to those guys.

Right. . .but other Valley teams have scheduled them. And yeah, I'll throw 'em a bone, but you don't lose to them. Just be advised that the 'Roos play with an edge against Valley teams. Just avoiding them at least makes sure those L's don't occur.

 

[thefish7]

Yeah, and using the dreaded eye test, UMKC looked quite a bit better against us than several MVC opponents (Indiana St, in 4 games I've seen, have to be the very worst MVC team I've ever seen play) we've played this year. Maybe they have a point. Same goes for UWM... When I went up there at least a couple of their very gracious fans would love to have a shot at playing in a conference "like the MVC." Admittedly, as a guy with something of a conference inferiority complex, it was a little shocking to hear that to some we are the high-and-mighty.