EIU releases their schedule -- they come to Peoria

[houstontxbrave]

How could you possibly execute this philosophy? If we only play teams as good or better than us, we, by definition would finish about .500. I know that's an exaggeration, but come on, make a reasonable non-con schedule that accomplishes this goal. Now extrapolate that out to if EVERYONE used that philosophy, no one could ever get a game. BU year in and year out has one of the best balanced non-BCS schedules in the country, and yet they still get criticized at every turn. We're gonna play teams that aren't as good as us, we're going to play teams that are better than us, both have their reasons, and thinking otherwise isn't reality.

I do not think it is important or worth our time or energizes to make it a point to play instate schools. I prefer if we play like teams, I understand to balance a schedule you have to play other teams, but it does not have to be an instate school. I want the best possible schedule that is going to be most beneficial to out program.

I do not want to have to play WIU just because they are in Illinois.

I do not see why it is wrong to want to play schools like Butler, SLU etc who are in similar conferences and in similar "mid major" situations.

[houstontxbrave]

This isn't college football. There is room for error. In 2006, Bradley lost to Loyola, Butler, Drake, SIU twice, Wichita State twice, Creighton, Missouri State, Indiana State and still got an at large bid. There wasn't even a signature non-conference win. It was a better conference then and Bradley played very well down the stretch against some good teams.

2006 was and is a long ways away from the NCAA D1 landscape of today. Go and lose to EIU, W Carolina and see how far you get with the committee today. Even if you go 13-5 in conference. Lose to those names and likely RPIs and your begging for a bid. Replace the EIU lose to a Butler and I dont think the impact of that lose is as severe.

Bradley or any other MVC team can not afford to lose to a school like EIU ever.

[squirrelgotdead]

make a reasonable non-con schedule that accomplishes this goal. Now extrapolate that out to if EVERYONE used that philosophy, no one could ever get a game.

This is exactly one of the major fundamental problems in the game right now.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, the influx of new DI members the last 15-25 years has changed the scheduling game.

What has happened is it has become easier for BCS level and MVC, A-10, CUSA and CAA level mids to buy and win more games. Even 10 years ago, Bradley could go out and buy a football school for a home game. Now everyone of those schools is dumping their windfall football profits into other areas of their budgets, chief among them, buying NCAA basketball home games.

As a result, the market for buy games has dozens more active buyers and fewer/pickier sellers by the time Bradley gets to pick. It has become easier for schools Bradley could buy without batting an eyelash even 10 years ago to go out and buy their non-con schedules.

And Bradley has become marginalized in that market.

When the NCAA split in 1973, there were fewer than 200 members that were considered Division I, of which Bradley was one. Since then, Division I has nearly tripled in size.

[it's boogie time]

2006 was and is a long ways away from the NCAA D1 landscape of today.

Northern Iowa would have made the tournament the last two years if need be as an at large and they have some bad losses like Evansville, DePaul, Wyoming , Iowa, Drake and Indiana State. They were 5-5 in non-conference play in 2008-2009 with only wins over Texas Southern, Chicago State, Auburn, North Dakota and South Dakota State.

I'm sorry that I don't subscribe to the theory that everyone is out to get the mid-majors. You put a good team together and you'll make the tournament. If you have a team that has a poor frontcourt, you'll have to use smoke and mirrors to try and not let that become exposed in the non-conference.

I would love to hear what Valley teams should have made the tournament in this new landscape of D1 basketball. I don't recall seeing any coming through Carver Arena that didn't make it.

[LittleBrave]

Northern Iowa would have made the tournament the last two years if need be as an at large and they have some bad losses like Evansville, DePaul, Wyoming , Iowa, Drake and Indiana State. They were 5-5 in non-conference play in 2008-2009 with only wins over Texas Southern, Chicago State, Auburn, North Dakota and South Dakota State.

I'm sorry that I don't subscribe to the theory that everyone is out to get the mid-majors. You put a good team together and you'll make the tournament. If you have a team that has a poor frontcourt, you'll have to use smoke and mirrors to try and not let that become exposed in the non-conference.

I would love to hear what Valley teams should have made the tournament in this new landscape of D1 basketball. I don't recall seeing any coming through Carver Arena that didn't make it.

2 years ago, Creighton got shafted by the NCAA with a 26-7 record and shared the Valley title with UNI. They lost to the Redbirds by a good margin, which ultimately cost them. But they were worthy of an At-Large berth IMO. Maybe it was the conference's S.O.S. that cost them.

[squirrelgotdead]

I do not think it is important or worth our time or energizes to make it a point to play instate schools. I prefer if we play like teams, I understand to balance a schedule you have to play other teams, but it does not have to be an instate school. I want the best possible schedule that is going to be most beneficial to out program.

I agree with you houston. . .

I think Bradley needs a clear philosophy.

I don't have problems going on the road occasionally. But I do have problems when every year now we see games like that @ WCU.

Another reason to get out of the BB. . .the tendency for us to get bad road games. Milwaukee, NIU, Tenn Tech etc. . .those are schools we should never really go to. Drexel and VCU are the only good draws we've ever gotten from the thing.

I'm ok partially with NIU being on last year and this. . .good opp for a road win last year, and I think they will contend for the MAC's NCAA bid this year.

[tornado]

.. Maybe it was the conference's S.O.S. that cost them.

don't blame the "conference"!!!

The conference had the 8th best RPI behind only ONE other non-power conference..

Here's who to blame for Creighton getting "shafted" in 2009 with a 26-7 record...

Creighton - SOS of 111, and non-conference SOS 224