Wichita State beefing up their non-conference schedule

[Da Coach]

Wichita State signs agreement to play Alabama home & home-

http://www.midmajormadness.com/2013/5/29/4376592/wichita-state-and-alabama-sign-two-year-agreement

[Monmouth_Bradley_Fan]

"have added a slew of talented players, including Top 100 recruit 8'8 power forward Shaquille Morris."

Holy smokes! I wan't that guy!

[Da Coach]

Wichita State continues to "beef up" their non-conference schedule. They have also agreed to a home and home series with St. Louis University.

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/20/saint-louis-wichita-state-agree-to-home-and-home-series/

[lefty]

Wichita State continues to "beef up" their non-conference schedule. They have also agreed to a home and home series with St. Louis University.
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcspor...d-home-series/

that's what happens when you win...hopefully we can work up to that

[Old Coach]

that's what happens when you win...hopefully we can work up to that

I agree.

[Da Coach]

that's what happens when you win...hopefully we can work up to that

Seriously? I don't think we can blame 2 years in a row of nearly the worst non-conference schedule in the country on lack of winning? I thought we won 18 games last year?
There are close to 200 D1 teams in the country with worse winning percentages than Bradley last year, and nearly all of them are able to schedule stronger non-conference schedules than Bradley. How do they do it?

[Old Coach]

Seriously? I don't think we can blame 2 years in a row of nearly the worst non-conference schedule in the country on lack of winning? I thought we won 18 games last year?
There are close to 200 D1 teams in the country with worse winning percentages than Bradley last year, and nearly all of them are able to schedule stronger non-conference schedules than Bradley. How do they do it?

I think it depends on who you are and where you are in the pecking order. Bradley could get a much beefier schedule against BCS teams if they didn't expect games at Carver Arena in return. In order to get home & homes with teams like SLU, Bradley is going to have to greatly increase its credibility amongst that level of opponent.

[lefty]

I think it depends on who you are and where you are in the pecking order. Bradley could get a much beefier schedule against BCS teams if they didn't expect games at Carver Arena in return. In order to get home & homes with teams like SLU, Bradley is going to have to greatly increase its credibility amongst that level of opponent.

Exactly. I thought that was kind of obvious

[kds]

In my opinion and everybody has one, I think there is a reason for the poor non conference schedule. It all boils down to who makes the final decision who Bradley plays and their objective. I don't think the Coach makes the final decision it comes from higher up and I don't mean Dr Cross.

[Da Coach]

In my opinion and everybody has one, I think there is a reason for the poor non conference schedule. It all boils down to who makes the final decision who Bradley plays and their objective. I don't think the Coach makes the final decision it comes from higher up and I don't mean Dr Cross.

Why would "higher ups" do that? It's the main factor killing the fan interest and attendance. Bradley was 6-1 in their home pre-conference games last year, with the only loss being to Michigan, so we can't blame it on the oft seen excuse of "losing". In fact, in 5 of those 6 wins, Bradley's attendance set records for all time lows (4 at Carver Arena and 1 at the RC). And in the 6th win we were 16 fans shy of setting a 6th record low.
I expect we will see more of the same this coming season.

[bradbasketball44]

I agree that a better non conference schedule with help with the attendance. But you have to also win a few games against better competition. As, I look at the schedule, I see us going 4-0 to start. then I look for a game that can really boost our attendance, and if we beat Illinois, I think it will infuse a good life into the attendance numbers.

[kds]

Why would "higher ups" do that? It's the main factor killing the fan interest and attendance. Bradley was 6-1 in their home pre-conference games last year, with the only loss being to Michigan, so we can't blame it on the oft seen excuse of "losing". In fact, in 5 of those 6 wins, Bradley's attendance set records for all time lows (4 at Carver Arena and 1 at the RC). And in the 6th win we were 16 fans shy of setting a 6th record low.
I expect we will see more of the same this coming season.

I think you miss understood my point. I feel that the Administration wants a bad home non-conference schedule to have low attendance because they have an agenda

[tornado]

...expect we will see more of the same this coming season.

almost certainly, judging from the number of people who have told me they are not renewing..
how far will it go while media and even a few fans whistle the kind of silliness we keep seeing about how we are sooooo much better, and we were one of the most improved teams in the galaxy...

WIU, FGCU, and a few other programs we've talked about here also had improved teams but oddly there it translated into enormous big increases in attendance and even attendance records!

[Chico]

I think you miss understood my point. I feel that the Administration wants a bad home non-conference schedule to have low attendance because they have an agenda

I don't know whether to agree with you or not, but it's hard to figure out the ridiculous scheduling going on the last couple years.

[Da Coach]

I have heard various "agenda" theories many times before, and I have been told by some of the "higher ups" that Bradley would make more money selling 4,000 tickets to a game in the RC than what Bradley makes for each game at the Civic Center. But I don't think I can believe that is what anyone wants.
I could accept the bad schedule last year when we were "rebuilding", but not again this year, when we are supposed to be so much improved. With the MVC being substantially weaker this year, there is no reason Bradley shouldn't be able to compete for the top 3 or 4 slots. But with the SOS we'll have, it won't do us any good.
#CBA
#CITagain