MBB schedule: Non-conference blueprint

This is a spin-off from the thread, “Our bball schedule is a disgrace.”

I think the non-conference schedule should mix some cake with a few legitimate tests (also keeping the intra-state games). There’s a little less flexibility with the new Big 12 round-robin. I prefer a bit more schedule strength than this idea, but I took into account there are only 13 games.

My proposal assumes:

1: ISU’s program improves enough to get an invite to a decent early-season tournament and/or draw a home-and-home vs. relevant opponents.

2: Program is consistent enough that SOS/RPI is worth consideration.

3: Sample opponents are based on current/recent strength, and this would be an “average” schedule — some years might be more challenging, others less so.

Here it is:

N.J.I.T.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
v. Decent Tourney Invite1 (Washington State)
v. Decent Tourney Invite 2 (Vanderbilt/South Florida)
South Dakota
@Drake
Northern Iowa
Illinois-Chicago
Iowa
Eastern Washington
@Minnesota (home and home)[1]
Texas-Arlington
Bryant

[1] I would like to play Minnesota frequently. A regional rivalry w/ a major conference team. This is probably as easy to establish than most other home-home series.

What do you like/dislike about my proposal? What would you change?

Seems about the same caliber as this year.

We play in South Padre next year.

I like the idea of Minnesota every year - Nebraska will need to be looked at as an OOC option as well.

Wow. That is a really tough schedule for a team that hasnt made post-season play since 2005.

What I would like to see is us try to eliminate the 300+ RPI teams. Those teams just kill you when it comes to RPI even if you win. I'd like them to schedule D2 teams over Texas Southern and stuff because it just screws your RPI.

CrossCyed, when will there be info on the South Padre tourney? Do you know? My parents live about an hour from there and we'd love to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cyclones500

This is a spin-off from the thread, “Our bball schedule is a disgrace.”

I think the non-conference schedule should mix some cake with a few legitimate tests (also keeping the intra-state games). There’s a little less flexibility with the new Big 12 round-robin. I prefer a bit more schedule strength than this idea, but I took into account there are only 13 games.

My proposal assumes:

1: ISU’s program improves enough to get an invite to a decent early-season tournament and/or draw a home-and-home vs. relevant opponents.

2: Program is consistent enough that SOS/RPI is worth consideration.

3: Sample opponents are based on current/recent strength, and this would be an “average” schedule — some years might be more challenging, others less so.

Here it is:

N.J.I.T.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
v. Decent Tourney Invite1 (Washington State)
v. Decent Tourney Invite 2 (Vanderbilt/South Florida)
South Dakota
@Drake
Northern Iowa
Illinois-Chicago
Iowa
Eastern Washington
@Minnesota (home and home)[1]
Texas-Arlington
Bryant

[1] I would like to play Minnesota frequently. A regional rivalry w/ a major conference team. This is probably as easy to establish than most other home-home series.

What do you like/dislike about my proposal? What would you change?

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If I was Minnesota I wouldn't schedule a series with ISU. I wouldn't want Fred in the mix for Minny talent any more than he may already be.

Minnesota has the B10 Network to expose themsleves to Iowa talent so I see nothing in it for the Gophers.

RPI will be fine if we win in the B12. Non conf won't mean a thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cydkar

If I was Minnesota I wouldn't schedule a series with ISU. I wouldn't want Fred in the mix for Minny talent any more than he may already be.

Minnesota has the B10 Network to expose themsleves to Iowa talent so I see nothing in it for the Gophers.

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To play a good team from the state of Iowa?


In future years a non-conference schedule like this year should be fine. We lose four games against NU and CU, and pick games against UT, A$M, Baylor, and Ok St (plus OU is historically good).

Would love to add Minnesota, UIC, and maybe DePaul, Northwestern, or Loyola regularly. It would be good to play the Chicago teams just because of proximity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by isuno1fan

RPI will be fine if we win in the B12. Non conf won't mean a thing.

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Agreed. Unless you have a team that can win 8-9 games in the Big 12, strength of schedule really doesnt matter much.


This year has been good so far. I do agree that we should eliminate the REALLY bad teams, and keep teams in the 200s coming in vs 300s

from chicago so all for playing one chicago area team from in chicago. northwestern is looking good, and if we play depaul, it's a win vs. a big east opponent.

I agree that we need to add another area opponent to do home and homes with. I think Minnesota and Northwestern are great candidates, but I would maybe like to see Wisconsin with our recent success recruiting there.Then I also agree that a Chicago area team would be nice.
A schedule I would like to see would include:
-Iowa, Drake, UNI (3)
-Wisconsin or Minnesota (1)
-Chicago School such as Northwestern (1)
-Either a couple of nice tournament opponents from BCS schools, or we need to play a couple of more BCS schools, such as playing Nebraska, or trying to play a school from out east for exposure (2)
- 6 pattsies (200+ RPI)

A schedule like that would give us 5 games against BCS schools. Plus UNI or Drake may be strong at times, especially recent UNI teams. That would still allow us to play 6 games against nobodies to get some wins.

I don't mind us playing a bunch of cupcakes but what I'd like to see is to play some of them on the road. I think that would prepare the team better for the hostile environments they will see during conference play. I honestly think that much of the reason we struggle during conference play is because we play 90% of the nonconf games at home. Lets put this another way, if we can't go into Cupcake U's house and beat them there why would you think we'd be able to go into Lawrence or Austin or even Lincoln or Boulder and beat those teams there? Upgrade the schedule? Easy, play the cupcakes home and home.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by isufan

I agree that we need to add another area opponent to do home and homes with. I think Minnesota and Northwestern are great candidates, but I would maybe like to see Wisconsin with our recent success recruiting there.Then I also agree that a Chicago area team would be nice.
A schedule I would like to see would include:
-Iowa, Drake, UNI (3)
-Wisconsin or Minnesota (1)
-Chicago School such as Northwestern (1)
-Either a couple of nice tournament opponents from BCS schools, or we need to play a couple of more BCS schools, such as playing Nebraska, or trying to play a school from out east for exposure (2)
- 6 pattsies (200+ RPI)

A schedule like that would give us 5 games against BCS schools. Plus UNI or Drake may be strong at times, especially recent UNI teams. That would still allow us to play 6 games against nobodies to get some wins.

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Count me as adamantly against a schedule like that.
Going forward, we should play schedules like this one- maybe one game easier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rickybaby

I don't mind us playing a bunch of cupcakes but what I'd like to see is to play some of them on the road. I think that would prepare the team better for the hostile environments they will see during conference play. I honestly think that much of the reason we struggle during conference play is because we play 90% of the nonconf games at home. Lets put this another way, if we can't go into Cupcake U's house and beat them there why would you think we'd be able to go into Lawrence or Austin or even Lincoln or Boulder and beat those teams there? Upgrade the schedule? Easy, play the cupcakes home and home.

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Like you alluded to at the end, playing a cupcake on the road does not really prepare you for Big 12 road games. What it does do, is take away from your income and fanbase building, and slightly increase your chance for a bad loss. Horrible idea imo.

There are ways to improve your road performance that do not include diminishing home-court advantage.

You almost have to go undefeated in the non conference with this type of schedule. No thanks, it has to get tougher next year if we want to make the tournament. This isn't college football where all you need is a certain amount of wins and you're in the tournament. The selection committee looks at things like non conference SOS and quality wins. Something we would both be lacking in.