Scheduling Question

[FarmerClone]

Wow, this could end up looking like a pretty good non-con...if we end up playing Ok St, Illinois, Butler, BYU, and Iowa St I would be very happy. Each could be an at-large tourney team next year as well as an RPI top 50. Iowa St has been bad the past few years, but they have most of the team back and some talent coming in (including Chris Colvin for those who remember BU going after him). And Butler loses nobody. Illinois loses some quality seniors, but have a heck of a recruiting class coming in.

If we could add just one more game along the lines of a Dayton, Xavier, Western Kentucky, etc at home we could really have a nice schedule even after the filler teams are added in...maybe we'll get a crack at Utah Valley or NJIT next year!

If Brackins comes back for ISU, we have the chance to be MUCH improved. If he bolts for the NBA, we will still likely be very mediocre. We have an incoming JUCO player Marquis Gilstrap that ESPN rates as a top 30 player in the 2009 class and the second best JUCO. We also have Colvin who should add some athleticism and ball handling to our backcourt. Throw in LA Pomlee and Scott Christopherson off of redshirt seasons and the fact we only lose three players, two of which are walk ons (though one was a starter) and we have potential to be better. But it all starts with Brackins.

[FarmerClone]

I say Brackins goes...he is being talked about like LaMarcus Aldridge...who went lottery and is doing great in the NBA.

the talk around is that he is already being projected as a lottery this year if he wants to go....
the NBA folks are no fools when it comes to talent plus potential.
http://www.nbadraft.net/2009mock_draft

I would not be shocked if Brackins goes or stays. He has improved a ton, but has a ton of things to improve upon as well. If he comes back, he will be the preseason Big 12 POY and with the new players ISU has coming in, he should have some help around him making him look even better. Some sites list him as a 20-30 range pick, some top 15. If he feels the top 15 is legit, he needs to go. If it is 20-30, coming back and getting into the top 10 would be worth millions. Until a month ago, none of the mock drafts had him anywhere to be found and if he does not do well at the pre-draft camps and workouts, he may well drop to the second round. Time will tell and I simply hope whatever he decides that it works out for him because he is all class.

[shaunguth]

Confirmed.....

-- Nov. 13 at Brigham Young

-- Nov. 22 and 24 home games as prelude to the Las Vegas tournament

-- Nov. 27-28 at Las Vegas against two among a field of Oklahoma State, Utah and Illinois

-- December home date against Loyola

-- Dec. 20 at Iowa State

4-5 games left to be scheduled, but I thought Butler was already scheduled as a road game for next season.

[real fan]

I think Butler decided against playing us next season.

[shaunguth]

I think Butler decided against playing us next season.

That's disappointing. I'd like to play them every year. Twice a year!

Would love to see a couple QUALITY home games added to the schedule.

Any idea what type of opponent we can expect for the two "Las Vegas" home games?

[ifarania]

As far as this Mountain West series, tell them to play AT Wyoming!! I'll be there. At minimum, send isu there so I can go after them and be at peace with the universe.

[TheAsianSensation]

I think Butler decided against playing us next season.

Dangit.

We could've had something really, really, really special with our non-con. We're talking Top 5 non-con SoS special here.

[BU RICK]

Playing Illinois in the finals of the Las Vegas tournament and winning, would be all we need to have a happy non-conference First we have to beat either Oklahoma State or Utah and Illinois has to beat the one we don't play for us to meet in the final. Winning those two games would be a great non-conference. We've got it set up, just like we did with Florida and Michigan State, we just need to do it this time.