Valley needs to strengthen it's schedule

[PeoriaLou]

I know we had to play Wofford and Presbyterian as part of the Vegas tourney, but why can't we schedule teams like Temple, New Mexico, or Houston instead of NIU, Loyola, and Idaho St?

[SFP]

I know we had to play Wofford and Presbyterian as part of the Vegas tourney, but why can't we schedule teams like Temple, New Mexico, or Houston instead of NIU, Loyola, and Idaho St?

Scheduling can be quite difficult guys! I know because I was helping us get a game out west and it was not that we could not find someone it was that the timing was not right. You have to schedule some of these teams a year out and sometimes they pan out and sometime they do not. Saying all this though if you are willing to go on the road then you can schedule some pretty good teams. Playing home games against decent teams is the hard part. I'd like us to try and schedule Gonzaga and the likes myself.

[tornado]

Scheduling can be quite difficult guys! ...

it is difficult I agree........

but in order to get the caliber of schedule that ISU has had 3 years in a row, you have to go out of your way and try really hard to get the worst opponents possible...
there's no way you can blame "scheduling is hard" for this bad of a slate of opponents, they had to be hand picked for some bizarre reason!!
Especially whan last year they went way out of their way to PROMISE and pledge that this year the schedule would be lots stronger...and their fans even came over here and told us to be prepared for their blockbuster tough schedule, then they came out with this...

http://www.goredbirds.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/ilsu-m-baskbl-sched.html

Then when they still had ONE more spot open...they started the buzz that it would be an eye-popping opponent that people would ooohhh, and aaaahhhh about....
then it turned out to be a home game with Grambling!!!

[Braveman]

Scheduling can be quite difficult guys! I know because I was helping us get a game out west and it was not that we could not find someone it was that the timing was not right. You have to schedule some of these teams a year out and sometimes they pan out and sometime they do not. Saying all this though if you are willing to go on the road then you can schedule some pretty good teams. Playing home games against decent teams is the hard part. I'd like us to try and schedule Gonzaga and the likes myself.

WHile I wouldn't want Wofford every year- they are an NCAA team!

[Bradleyguy10]

I really think most Valley schools WOULD schedule up if they could...but aside from pre season tournaments, it's easier said than done when you are in a "mid-major" . And I agree, we SHOULD compete for a top 3 spot next year too...but since we have never finished above 4th under Les, I don't have a lot of optimism, and then even if we DO finish 3rd, we would likely still have to win the Valley tourney to go dancing

I think it's easier than what some people expect. It's hard to get a GOOD deal from top BCS schools such as a 2 for 1 and almost impossible to get a home 'n home. But if you really want to play the big boys they'll take you. You just have to be their bi***. I don't care if we don't get a deal...take the buy games go on the road and play 4 or 5 GOOD BCS teams with no return game. That's something those schools won't say no to often. Again, I'm not an expert on this, but that's what I've gathered from reading

[TheAsianSensation]

There's economic factors in play, remember. Just taking Bradley for example, if we went out and played 3 buy games against BCS, we're probably giving up 2 home games on average. And the fan base that isn't as much concerned about RPIs and SoSs will wonder why their team isn't playing in front of them more often.

Delicate balance.

[sycamorefan]

Scheduling can be quite difficult guys! I know because I was helping us get a game out west and it was not that we could not find someone it was that the timing was not right. You have to schedule some of these teams a year out and sometimes they pan out and sometime they do not. Saying all this though if you are willing to go on the road then you can schedule some pretty good teams. Playing home games against decent teams is the hard part. I'd like us to try and schedule Gonzaga and the likes myself.

Post of the year! I used to work in ISU's athletic office and they were always like i think were gonna get a series with so and so...that would very commonly turn into, "Well that fell thru BUT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT LOUISVILLE!"... It's impossible sometimes to get a series against a tough school!