Decision Coming Soon On Iowa Big 4 Basketball's Future

[jaretac]

My guess is that it's probably this, or it could be a tournament:

Day One:
ISU v UNI (Game 1)
Iowa v Drake (Game 2)

Day Two:
Game 1 loser v Game 2 loser
Game 1 winner v Game 2 winner

In the following year, it'd be ISU v Drake and Iowa v UNI on the first day.

Other than these 2 choices, I'm not sure what other options there are. If I had to bet, my money is on it being the scenario you laid out, though...especially since I don't recall the AD's having ever broached the subject of a tournament, instead using terms like "series" and "event".

ISU/Iowa will play each other home and away.

[Frak]

I thought that this was already pretty much decided. Pollard suggested doing something like this 3-4 years ago. It's going to be a double header in WF every year. No more road games in CF or at Knapp.

This year, it would be:

ISU vs Drake (Wells Fargo)
Iowa vs UNI (Wells Fargo)
UNI @ISU
Drake @ Iowa
Iowa @ ISU

Next year, it would be:

ISU vs UNI (Wells Fargo)
Iowa vs Drake (Wells Fargo)
Drake @ ISU
UNI @ Iowa
ISU @ Iowa

[IcSyU]

My guess is that it's probably this, or it could be a tournament:

Day One:
ISU v UNI (Game 1)
Iowa v Drake (Game 2)

Day Two:
Game 1 loser v Game 2 loser
Game 1 winner v Game 2 winner

In the following year, it'd be ISU v Drake and Iowa v UNI on the first day.

Other than these 2 choices, I'm not sure what other options there are. If I had to bet, my money is on it being the scenario you laid out, though...especially since I don't recall the AD's having ever broached the subject of a tournament, instead using terms like "series" and "event".

Like jaretac said, Iowa and Iowa State will stay play home and away.

Additionally, UNI and Drake aren't going to play each other a third time.

[DistrictCyclone]

Like jaretac said, Iowa and Iowa State will stay play home and away.

Additionally, UNI and Drake aren't going to play each other a third time.

Right, I was thinking the potential tournament game would be in addition to ISU/Iowa's home & away series.

The possibility of a third Drake/UNI matchup (or fourth if you count the MVC tournament) would not be preferable for those programs, either.

[BigCojones]

count me in the group that could careless if Drake and UNI are on the schedule at all.

[cybsball20]

I thought that this was already pretty much decided. Pollard suggested doing something like this 3-4 years ago. It's going to be a double header in WF every year. No more road games in CF or at Knapp.

This year, it would be:

ISU vs Drake (Wells Fargo)
Iowa vs UNI (Wells Fargo)
UNI @ISU
Drake @ Iowa
Iowa @ ISU

Next year, it would be:

ISU vs UNI (Wells Fargo)
Iowa vs Drake (Wells Fargo)
Drake @ ISU
UNI @ Iowa
ISU @ Iowa

The bolded games will not happen.

[DRCHIRO]

The bolded games will not happen.

Why not?

[cybsball20]

Why not?

UNI and Drake will be giving up home games and need to replace them with either another home game or a guaranteed pay out game. ISU and Iowa haven't been paying those schools because of the return game and likely won't pay the large guarantees that UNI and Drake need to make their budgets work. If ISU and Iowa are going to pay, they want a near guaranteed win, not a rivalry game. So, if this goes down the days of playing all the in state schools is over and that sucks.

[cigaretteman]

The bolded games will not happen.

That's my understanding as well. With expanded conference schedules, neither ISU nor Iowa want to play both Drake and UNI every year. They would rather have more flexibility to schedule other non-conference opponents.

[cybsball20]

That's my understanding as well. With expanded conference schedules, neither ISU nor Iowa want to play both Drake and UNI every year. They would rather have more flexibility to schedule other non-conference opponents.

Yes, so say goodbye to a game that people actually care about and hello to another directional state game

[kingcy]

If this happens ISU will not play UNI or Drake besides at the Well. They will play one of them every year and Iowa will play the other. Then play Iowa every year rotating between IC and Ames, until Iowa doesnt want to play ISU anymore.

Why is Barta the one putting this all together? I know they dont want to play both UNI and Drake but why isnt Pollard talking about this.

[VeloClone]

If this happens ISU will not play UNI or Drake besides at the Well. They will play one of them every year and Iowa will play the other. Then play Iowa every year rotating between IC and Ames, until Iowa doesnt want to play ISU anymore.

Why is Barta the one putting this all together? I know they dont want to play both UNI and Drake but why isnt Pollard talking about this.

Maybe he is perfectly content for Barta to take the heat when there is sympathy around the state for the "little guys" getting shut out. I think it is a smart play to take the benefit and limit the amount of heat you take.

[kingcy]

Maybe he is perfectly content for Barta to take the heat when there is sympathy around the state for the "little guys" getting shut out. I think it is a smart play to take the benefit and limit the amount of heat you take.

I think it has more to do with Iowa not wanting to play both teams every year so he is the one driving this.

[VeloClone]

I think it has more to do with Iowa not wanting to play both teams every year so he is the one driving this.

Well, I think if Pollard had an issue with it, we probably would have heard about it by now or at least see it die a quick death. I certainly haven't. I think there is something for ISU to gain in this in JP's eyes as well.

[rebecacy]

Completely disagree. Love the big 12 tourney. I would drop drake and uni from the schedule completely before dropping the tourney.

THIS!!!!!