• Welcome to BradleyFans.com! Visitors are welcome, but we encourage you to sign up and register as a member. It's free and takes only a few seconds. Just click on the link to Register at the top right of the page, and follow instructions. If you have any problems or questions, click on the link at the bottom right of the page to Contact Us.

Announcements of Non-Conference Schedules

but that article does indeed detail how incredible HARD it is for decent mid-majors to complete their schedule and get opponents to want to play...other than the bottom feeders who will accept a guarantee or the 2-for-1's with extra appearance fees added on!

But note, even UMass isn't willing to schedule 1-and-1's with other midmajors like Quinnipiac & and Holy Cross....they are insisting on 2-for-1's....so they are actually admitting they are doing exactly what they are ticked that other bigger programs are doing to them!!

But in the end, the story also details lots of reasons it is very hard to get those home-and-home arrangements, and obviously one of them they aren't freely admitting is hidden in this statement...
"In a concession to the rough economy...
...more mid-major opponents are spurning ...home-and-home deals...

UMass, which has its own budget constraints and cannot afford
an overload of "paid" home games..."

and they are obviously, then, looking for opponents on the east coast (thus Quinnipiac, Seton Hall, Holy Cross, UCF, etc..)
and they are really NOT looking to travel so far as to consider an opponent like BU.

They are trying like crazy to avoid the travel expenses....
so in the end, it is very unlikely they would do a home-and-home vs. Bradley!


Lastly...there are 270 mid-majors and low majors....and how many are looking to fill home-and-home dates??
Not many.....even if you use UMass as such an example, and really they are not since they aren't likely to want to travel outside of the east and they seem to prefer 2-for-1's with some lower mid-major patsies..
but are there any others in the midwest? I suspect (and I even know through other sources)
that there are very, very few...almost none.......
 
squirrelgotdead said:
UMass is looking to fill 3 open dates as well. They are saying too many mid-majors this year are wanting buys. . .meaning they aren't looking for 1-1 series. They want either 1 and done or 2-for-1's.

http://www.masslive.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/06/umass_basketball_schedule_for.html

I'm also not opposed to doing an in-season home-and-home if necessary. In fact, it's a good way to ensure schedule quality.
Click to expand...

If UMass is having so much trouble... and if they think it's ok to schedule an in-season home-and-home series with someone.... why not just use those 2 dates and play 2 more teams in the A10 that they don't get to play H-n-H with?
 
squirrelgotdead said:
Because more conference games lowers your RPI ceiling.
Click to expand...

tornado said:
More games against teams with RPI's of 300 will more severely hamper your "RPI ceiling".
Click to expand...

Last year, UMass only got to play St Joe's (105 RPI) and URI (68 RPI)twice.

I understand the inbredness of the RPI of playing more Conference opponents.

But it's only 25% - Opponent's Opponents Average Winning Percentage. Some forget about the 50% which is your Opponent's Average Winning Percentage. So maybe it would have been better for UMass to add a Non-Conference Road Game at Dayton (27 RPI) or Temple (30 RPI) or get Xavier (17 RPI) to come in for a Non-Conference Home Game.

What's funny is... I recall an argument from someone over the Bracketbuster. They thought it would be better to play a 3rd game against an MVC school in a Non-conference matchup rather than a 4th team from the Horizon or even anyone else in the BracketBuster pool.

:roll:
 
Two separate issues here. . .

In BU's case, because the direct opponent and opponents opponents were better than what was available for the BracketBuster.

That does not apply to a team that is putting together it's schedule right now.

Opponents opponents are also important here. . .the depth of quality in the A10 simply isn't there.
 
squirrelgotdead said:
Two separate issues here. . .

In BU's case, because the direct opponent and opponents opponents were better than what was available for the BracketBuster.

That does not apply to a team that is putting together it's schedule right now.

Opponents opponents are also important here. . .the depth of quality in the A10 simply isn't there.
Click to expand...

Ok... so for UMass... the depth isn't there for them to pick up a Non-Conference game against a top A10 team. But the Amer East, Ivy, MEAC, Northeast, and Patriot Conference's all offer a better game for them cause of the quality in league depth?

And so also... if the depth of quality isn't there in the A10, MVC schools shouldn't schedule A10 teams?
 
UMass still has the option to schedule up. It is possible they aren't looking to do that. For them to schedule another couple A10 teams, it's likely those teams are inferior to them or will drag on their RPI.

A Valley school would get a quality A10 opponent by scheduling UMass. Yes the A10 deadweight still might affect the RPI (but only 1 time, as opposed to the doubling up x .500 oppopp), but the inherent benefit of a quality A10 team that pulls a few conference wins over high RPI league rivals gives the MVC team playing them a higher ceiling.

You keep assuring me you get the RPI, but I really wonder.;)
 
I have it on pretty good authority that BU and every other school in the Valley has called every one of those guys with open dates already,
but there are far more details to be worked out such as dates available, guarantees, buyout terms, and agreements on refs,
return dates, and other financial issues, etc...and so our people are already on to it, but it's just not as easy as buying a movie ticket.
 
No sweat. The bottom line is (and this comes from somebody whose company's mission is to assist schools in their scheduling) is that ALL coaches are afraid to play ANYBODY.

While I credit a coach for going to someplace like UCLA and UNC, I don't give them a pass when they play UMKCs at a rate of 2-to-1.

But when you get to the middle ground, the margin for error becomes so little and guys' careers and job security are at stake, they all become cowards.

And that is sad.
 
Nebraska announces it's schedule is complete........except for the dates of some of the conference games, but their full non-conference schedule is set,
including a game AT CREIGHTON.

Home games vs. Chicago State, USC-Upstate, UMKC, Texas-Pan American, Southern Utah, Maryland Eastern Shore, SE Louisiana, and Jackson State are sure to thrill the season ticket holders!
In fact, even looking at TCU & Oregon State, then the highest RPI of any non-conference team on their home schedule will is well over 150!
http://www.huskers.com//pdf5/419235.pdf?SPSID=20&SPID=24&DB_OEM_ID=100

one thing I find really unusual....one of their preseason exhibition games is against Arkansas-Fort Smith...
one of the powerhouse junior colleges in NJCAA.
This has to be the first time I have ever seen a D-I school ever schedule or play against a junior college!
(in all fairness, the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith is transitioning to a full four year status, but still played in NJCAA as a junior college in 2008-2009.
In the 2009-2010 season they will, for the first time, be competing at the NCAA D-II level).
 
tornado said:
Nebraska announces it's schedule is complete........except for the dates of some of the conference games, but their full non-conference schedule is set,
including a game AT CREIGHTON.

Home games vs. Chicago State, USC-Upstate, UMKC, Texas-Pan American, Southern Utah, Maryland Eastern Shore, SE Louisiana, and Jackson State are sure to thrill the season ticket holders!
In fact, even looking at TCU & Oregon State, then the highest RPI of any non-conference team on their home schedule will is well over 150!
http://www.huskers.com//pdf5/419235.pdf?SPSID=20&SPID=24&DB_OEM_ID=100

one thing I find really unusual....one of their preseason exhibition games is against Arkansas-Fort Smith...
one of the powerhouse junior colleges in NJCAA.
This has to be the first time I have ever seen a D-I school ever schedule or play against a junior college!
(in all fairness, the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith is transitioning to a full four year status, but still played in NJCAA as a junior college in 2008-2009.
In the 2009-2010 season they will, for the first time, be competing at the NCAA D-II level).
Click to expand...

Arkansas Fort Smith is one of the schools that Nebraska head coach Doc Sadler used to coach. I assume that is why they are on the schedule.

By the way, Creighton and Nebraska play every year. The location alternates between Omaha and Lincoln.
 
DoubleJayAlum said:
By the way, Creighton and Nebraska play every year. The location alternates between Omaha and Lincoln.
Click to expand...

It's nice to see the "Big State U" play a non-BCS in-state H-n-H. Too bad the "Big State U" in the state of Illinois doesn't do this on a regular basis.
wink.gif
 
Illinois has yet to release their non-conference schedule, but one opponent is going to be Idaho State,
as an Idaho State release says their playing at Illinois.........
http://www.idahostatesman.com/sports/story/811053.html


Speaking of Idaho State, guess what the lead story on their basketball web page is???
It's a really nice story and interview with Bradley assistant Alvin Brooks III
"Catching Up With ... Alvin Brooks III"
3291143.jpeg

http://isubengals.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060309aab.html



Kansas State announces their non-conference schedule...
http://www.kansascity.com/177/story/1269306.html

Loyola, WIU, IUPUI, Ft. Hays State, but also some nice opponents in Xavier, UNLV, Alabama, Wash. State.
 
Interesting on Loyola and WIU back-to-back at K-State. Probably just coincidence, but I wonder if they are doing a traveling partner thing for a road trip.
 
It has not been officially announced yet, but I know Iowa State's schedule will include:
Home games with Bradley, Iowa, Northern Iowa and Houston
Road games with Drake and California
Game at the United Center against Duke
Games at the Sears Center against two of the following: St Louis, Notre Dame and Northwestern

Very solid start to the schedule
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top