Big Four Tournament?

**CyFan61** · 12-07-2011, 10:22 AM

I agree that a modified system with ISU and Iowa playing Drake and UNI would be better.

For example, Friday at Wells Fargo would be ISU-Drake and Iowa-UNI, then Saturday would be ISU-UNI and Iowa-Drake.

Keep the home-and-home going for Iowa-ISU like it already is. And this way, you also don't have to deal with a conference game for UNI-Drake.

Another thing to think about is I'm not sure if Iowa Corn would want their big Cy-Hawk Game overshadowed if, for example, UI and ISU were both 0-2 in the round robin when they played for it.

**BigBake** · 12-07-2011, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

I guess we could argue that there's nowhere down for our noncon schedule to go, since we play the weakest one in the Big 12. Like you're saying, that doesn't exactly help us.

I think the best solution is simply to play better and win those games, at home and on the road.

Agree, I'd love to add a couple more big names to our schedule. Get in on some of the more prestigious tournaments that occur early season.

I don't think you can plan year to year which teams will be quality/tough opponents but I think you look to have a certain number of games against certain conferences.

Getting a game against Michigan was a great move. Need more with teams out of Big 10, Big East, ACC, PAC 12 etc.

**CycloneErik** · 12-07-2011, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by BigBake

Agree, I'd love to add a couple more big names to our schedule. Get in on some of the more prestigious tournaments that occur early season.

I don't think you can plan year to year which teams will be quality/tough opponents but I think you look to have a certain number of games against certain conferences.

Getting a game against Michigan was a great move. Need more with teams out of Big 10, Big East, ACC, PAC 12 etc.

I'm curious whether it has anything to do with our lack of consistent intensity. The teams we schedule don't get anyone very fired up. I'm starting to believe that it communicates to the team and the fans what the coaches' expectations really are. They understand that SOS is a factor. If it's not there in front of them, I wonder if that question creeps in.

Of course, as a paying customer, I hate paying only for bottom-feeding teams. Play somebody. Love scheduling the Michigan game. Schedule a couple more games like that.

**alarson** · 12-07-2011, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

It's been posted here over and over than plenty of big-time BCS programs, including North Carolina, schedule this sort of game on the road.

Keep it just as it is. If you're scared of the competition, what's the point of athletics?

That is completely false. There are very few regular ongoing home and home series between major programs and midmajors. There are one off deals here and there, but even then most of the time theyre 2 or 3 for 1. And extremely rare to see a team have two of these like we do. At very least it needs to end with drake, at least UNI is a regents institution.

It would be an improvement to turn the road games into games at the well (ISU and iowa play drake or UNI at the well, and play the other at home). Iowa-ISU will stay home and home.

**kingcy** · 12-07-2011, 11:38 AM

Why should ISU drop UNI for a Praie View A&M? This team gets more out of playing the instate schools than playing a pushover. As a fan I can get excited about playing UNI and Drake, I could care less about playing some no name and blowing them out. You have to remember playing the instate schools puts butts in the seats of Hilton, they dont have to pay for them to come to Hilton, and they are cheap road games.

**IHavNoCyCash** · 12-07-2011, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by CyForPresident

Dannen: UNI hoops future with Iowa, Iowa State cloudy: Big Four event coming? | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

If we do this, do it right. 3 games in 3 days for each team. A round-robin over the second weekend in December with the winner getting a trophy. Slap a Hy-Vee sponsor on it and call it good.

Friday Night
ISU vs Drake
Iowa vs UNI

Saturday Night
ISU vs UNI
Iowa vs Drake

This would be it..no way UNI will play Drake so early...similar format to the South Padre Invitational...if Iowa and ISU win both games then the tourney will extend to when Iowa an Iowa State play their normal game...if UNI and Drake tie then the first game of the MVC series between the 2 will determine it.

**Klonz** · 12-07-2011, 02:52 PM

Maybe I am dreaming, but I swore Pollard suggested this a couple years ago and Iowa didn't like it, now Barta is acting like the brain-child?

I also believe McCaffery spoke of changing the series in either his job acceptance speech or an interview soon after he was hired.

Interesting that there are no quotes from Drake AD or JP.

I kind of like the idea. It isn't anyone's fault except our own when we lose to UNI or Drake. We have had little stability in the program for years, with player defections, coaching changes, bad hires, etc...

**DRCHIRO** · 12-07-2011, 03:40 PM

I'm split
We shouldn't be scared to play at UNI and Drake but a big 4 tourney in Des Moines sometime in December would be an absolute blast.

**rholtgraves** · 12-07-2011, 04:00 PM

ISU and Iowa should not play at UNI or at Drake.

**cybsball20** · 12-07-2011, 04:06 PM

Pretty cowardly on ISU and Iowa's part not to play at UNI or Drake. UNI and Drake need the game to help fund their programs and at least for UNI, that's less money coming from taxpayers. It's even more rediculous if we only play one or the other. I would love a Friday-Saturday double header playing each though... Downtown would be electric.

**alarson** · 12-07-2011, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

Pretty cowardly on ISU and Iowa's part not to play at UNI or Drake. UNI and Drake need the game to help fund their programs and at least for UNI, that's less money coming from taxpayers. It's even more rediculous if we only play one or the other. I would love a Friday-Saturday double header playing each though... Downtown would be electric.

It is not ISU's responsibility to be subsidizing UNI\Drake. It is not 'cowardly', it is doing what is best for our institutions. Most other major schools rarely have one, much less two of these ongoing series with mid-majors, there is little reason for us to have them.

**cybsball20** · 12-07-2011, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

It is not ISU's responsibility to be subsidizing UNI\Drake. It is not 'cowardly', it is doing what is best for our institutions. Most other major schools rarely have one, much less two of these ongoing series with mid-majors, there is little reason for us to have them.

I didn't say it was their responsibilty, but it's good for the fans and the people of the state. If the team takes care of business it's a win-win. A win over a team with a decent RPI on the road is ALWAYS a good thing, mid major or not. Replace this game with another hyphenated school and it is TOTALLY a cowardly move, nothing else.

**brokenloginagain** · 12-07-2011, 04:31 PM

i understand it looks bad for both programs coming off losses, but that's just coincidence. we have an 18 game schedule in the b12 now, if we want to keep the michigans and virginias on the schedule, as well as maybe play games where we recruit, and also play better tourneys, we have to make some changes.

and you can't cut out the buy-in games at home, because we need those for revenue. so an in-state road game starts to make less and less sense.

next year we will play @iowa, "neutral" in vegas for two games against either Cinci, UNLV, or Oregon, plus we'll have virginia at home. that's plenty for OOC RPI purposes, IMHO. that's four "loseable" games. that's fine if we're coming off 3 tourneys and have a loaded team. maybe not ideal for the current state of the program.

**Mizzoulander** · 12-07-2011, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by alarson

It is not ISU's responsibility to be subsidizing UNI\Drake. It is not 'cowardly', it is doing what is best for our institutions. Most other major schools rarely have one, much less two of these ongoing series with mid-majors, there is little reason for us to have them.

I agree with this. Rick Majerus (now coaching at St. Louis Univ.) has been complaining loudly about how Missouri won't schedule SLU for a home-and-home. The response is that MU doesn't do home-and-homes with in-state teams, due to the small number of road game slots available.

They HAVE tried to schedule SLU in Columbia, but without the return trip (Mizzou plays Illinois in STL every year already).

It always comes across as the big bad state school afraid to play the hometown little guy, but in the end, you've got to do what's best for your program. It's not like Iowa or ISU would replace them with garbage teams. You can't play EVERY game at home.

If ISU is losing opportunities to play home-and-homes against other major conference programs, or some quality mid-majors (think Butler or San Diego St.) outside of Iowa, that's a problem. Nothing against UNI or Drake...most of us like to see them do well. But if the non-conference season is about:

1) Preparing for conference play
2) Building your RPI, and
3) Getting exposure in new areas...

then perhaps UNI and Drake aren't the best options.

**chuckd4735** · 12-07-2011, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Mizzoulander

I agree with this. Rick Majerus (now coaching at St. Louis Univ.) has been complaining loudly about how Missouri won't schedule SLU for a home-and-home. The response is that MU doesn't do home-and-homes with in-state teams, due to the small number of road game slots available.

They HAVE tried to schedule SLU in Columbia, but without the return trip (Mizzou plays Illinois in STL every year already).

It always comes across as the big bad state school afraid to play the hometown little guy, but in the end, you've got to do what's best for your program. It's not like Iowa or ISU would replace them with garbage teams. You can't play EVERY game at home.

If ISU is losing opportunities to play home-and-homes against other major conference programs, or some quality mid-majors (think Butler or San Diego St.) outside of Iowa, that's a problem. Nothing against UNI or Drake...most of us like to see them do well. But if the non-conference season is about:

1) Preparing for conference play
2) Building your RPI, and
3) Getting exposure in new areas...

then perhaps UNI and Drake aren't the best options.

This is the best argument I have seen on the subject thus far. Weird that it comes from an inbreed...