Review of Missouri Valley Non-Conference Scheduling

[Nacho]

We won't be able to give ISU their first loss this year. Even with the weak schedule I don't see the going 7-4 probable 6-5...

Just curious which games you see as the 5 losses?

Not saying it can't/won't happen, just curious if you would expand on the prediction...

@ SIU-E
vs. North Florida
@ UIC
vs. Norfolk State
vs. Southeast Missouri State
vs. St. Bonaventure
vs. Central Michigan
vs. Niagara
@ Ohio
@ Utah
vs. Grambling State

[TheAsianSensation]

We won't be able to give ISU their first loss this year. Even with the weak schedule I don't see the going 7-4 probable 6-5...

A team of diseased yaks could go 9-2 against that schedule.


And just to reiterate other points made: the point is not about how ISU prepares itself to succeed. If they think this strategy helps them the best for preparing for March, so be it. The point is that they are hurting themselves and the conference by basically eliminating their chances of an at-large bid and hurting the conference's power rating, and therefore, the chances of EVERY team in the conference.

The real reason we're mad is because they're hurting the chances of the entire conference. Our at-large chances take a hit because ISU's pathetic SoS numbers get factored into ours. Same with UNI. Creighton. Everybody. Who cares if ISU harms themselves. It's the innocent bystanders that are going to pay for ISU's mistakes.

[bugregshu]

Last year's schedule only prepared them enough to get an NIT bid.

This should read "Last year's schedule caused them not to get an NCAA bid." Play and beat a few decent teams, and ISU could have made a run in the tourney.

[shaunguth]

Last year's schedule only prepared them enough to finish 3rd in the MVC.

Last year's schedule only prepared them enough to make it to the MVC championship game.

Last year's schedule only prepared them enough to get an NIT bid.

Yes.....but there are some around here that believe you haven't done anything unless you've actually won the MVC and/or MVC tournament!

I was also under the impression last year's in-season "tournaments" were meant to prepare them enough to actually win the tournament in St. Louis, therefore bypassing the NIT. Why else would you schedule like that? Looks to me like all the eggs are in the MVC tournament basket again this year.

[shaunguth]

The game at Bradley was not as close a game as the final score might suggest if you were not there. Isu's largest lead was 1 point in the first 5 minutes of the first half, and after that, Bradley never trailed the rest of the game. BU lead by as much as 14 in the 2nd half, and held double digit leads until the final couple minutes. I can see that someone who saw the game could use the term "spanked", as the outcome was never in doubt.

I do recall leaving Carver that night being extremely unimpressed with the mighty, undefeated redbirds as a team!

[Jack Bauer]

I do recall leaving Carver that night being extremely unimpressed with the mighty, undefeated redbirds as a team!

I was impressed with ISU's talent, and very unimpressed the way Jank was using it.

[lovebrave1]

Knock them for the scheduling all you want, but until we beat some of these mighty teams we are scheduling does it help us that much to schedule them. I gotta a good feeling if the beloved Jim Les wasnt a BU legend most would be calling for his head. I dont wanna hear win comparisons of all the great coaches either Tornado, because Les does not have this program in that great of shape and some folks need to wake up. Jank has figured something out because they have been one win away from the dance the last two years with this schedule and even though they ended up in the NIT, atleast people have heard of that post season tourney.

[tornado]

.. Jank has figured something out because they have been one win away from the dance the last two years ...

if you mean they didn't win the Valley title, sure, but if you mean one more win would have gotten at-large consideration...then..
no way...no freakin' way....
ISU could have won 30 games and still would NOT have gotten a bid with those schedules...

but if BU fans can't use the injuries and close games as excuses, then why are we doing that here...
The 2008 game might have been "one game" but it was an enormous blowout that ISU wasn't even in the same universe as Drake, and last spring..ISU just tuckered out, the result of not being toughened by their early schedule.
Their softie schedule, I believe, killed both them and their at-large chances.

[lovebrave1]

Tuckered out then maybe thats why our guys didnt play for a title from to tough of a schedule. Im just sayin people on this board need to worry more about Bradley right now and how their competing. Admitting there is a bit of a problem is the first step.

[tornado]

How many times out of the last 8 meetings has ISU knocked off Bradley?

[MacabreMob]

I do recall leaving Carver that night being extremely unimpressed with the mighty, undefeated redbirds as a team!

I was impressed with ISU's talent, and very unimpressed the way Jank was using it.

Didn't Champ miss the 2nd half cause of cramps or something? I'm not making an excuse or anything, I'm just saying...

[lovebrave1]

Tornado beating ISU means ****. I mean yeah its good for fun purposes, but lets start getting real. QUIT worrying about ISU there not the problem. Im starting to wonder if you love BU or just hate ISU that much

[SFP]

Tuckered out then maybe thats why our guys didnt play for a title from to tough of a schedule. Im just sayin people on this board need to worry more about Bradley right now and how their competing. Admitting there is a bit of a problem is the first step.

Why come in for your first post and bash the guy? OK with that out of the way what most of us are saying because the JL stuff has been hashed out every which way, is that ISU's pathetic schedule is going to not just effect them but everyone else in the conference. It will undoubtedly pull down the overall SOS of the whole league. That my friend no one can argue.

[bugregshu]

Tornado beating ISU means ****. I mean yeah its good for fun purposes, but lets start getting real. QUIT worrying about ISU there not the problem. Im starting to wonder if you love BU or just hate ISU that much

Welcome to this board. You've got some things to learn.

[MacabreMob]

Tornado... Im starting to wonder if you love BU or just hate ISU that much

Welcome to this board. You've got some things to learn.

LOL! Ain't that the truth. Tornado hates more than just ISU... he's an EOH (Equal Opportunity Hater).