Schedule

[peoriaspitfire]

I know it's not easy to make a schedule and there are a lot of variables to take into account but I think we should be trying as hard as we can to schedule top 20 caliber teams every year even if they won??™t do a 1 for 1 or 2 for 1 with us. How exciting would it be every year to have at least 1 or two teams like North Carolina, Duke, Michigan State, UCLA, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, etc??¦ on our schedule even if they are road games. Besides those teams, let??™s try getting games with Gonzaga & Xavier and keep the games with teams like Butler. We should also be playing Illinois every year!

Perhaps we could broker some deals with these teams, so if we win at their place then they have to come play in Peoria!

[MacabreMob]

I have been in favor of playing Xavier for years.

I like the idea of high profile opponents on the schedule every year. Yea.. we might get the donut out of the 3 game deal with Mich St... but I like the opportunity we had this past week. I say more 2-for-1's or heck... even take a buy game at a place like Cameron or Rupp.

[peoriaspitfire]

No reason to be afraid I say. The hope is to eventually field a team that won't settle for losses of any sort. Like you said before somewhere, BU still hasn't proved itself enough on the road. I already feel that BU can beat anyone at home but going on the road can be quite an adventure most of the time.

[Gwright]

We should also be playing Illinois every year!

I have been dreaming (note, dreaming) about having the Illini come out to Peoria. When was the last time it happened, if it ever happened?

And do you think there is any chance we could hoodwink them into taking a trip out here?

[bugregshu]

Last thing I heard is that Bruce Weber and the Illini refuse to play Bradley anymore, home, neutral, or away, because it "will not benefit them."

[tornado]

Read this story about ISU and Cincy and the scheduling issues that plague all mid-majors.
I think the BU folks do pretty well considering how few decent teams out there want to come and play at Carver.

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/12/10/sports/doc475cb20b389f4360340717.txt

[houstontxbrave]

I have been dreaming (note, dreaming) about having the Illini come out to Peoria. When was the last time it happened, if it ever happened?

And do you think there is any chance we could hoodwink them into taking a trip out here?

Illinois played us from 98-00 three separate times and including last seasons loss we are 0-4 versus the Illini in the last 4 meetings. One game was in Champaign, one in Chicago, one in Peoria.

The win they had versus us might not do anything for them other then it got them into the NCAA tourney last season.

I am sure they would schedule BU but there is no way they will ever play again in Peoria.

[Beninator]

I like the approach that John Calipari took when he was at UMASS.
--play anyone, anywhere at anytime which will make your team better
off in the long run....
As for scheduling... I like the Xavier idea mentioned above and I would really like to see us schedule a series with Vanderbilt...

[VromanFan]

I have been dreaming (note, dreaming) about having the Illini come out to Peoria. When was the last time it happened, if it ever happened?

And do you think there is any chance we could hoodwink them into taking a trip out here?

As mentioned earlier it was the 99-2000 season when they came to Carver as part of the three game series. It happened because Kruger and Molinari had a friendship through a previous coaching stint somewhere...I wouldn't hold your breath on another series....

[Chico]

How about a home and home with Arizona St. Lot of BU fans out here.

[BradleyBrave]

As mentioned earlier it was the 99-2000 season when they came to Carver as part of the three game series. It happened because Kruger and Molinari had a friendship through a previous coaching stint somewhere...I wouldn't hold your breath on another series....

Weber has said several times that he won't play BU at BU. He won't even take the Illini to the place that made him who he is, Southern Illinois. Whether that's his decision or Illinois AD Ron Guenther's decision is anyone's guess. My guess is that it's a little of both.

[Beninator]

How about a home and home with Arizona St. Lot of BU fans out here.

I like your ASU idea as well Chico... At least there arent any ice storms out there!!!

[Les is More]

IMO higher profile teams are afraid to play against us because we are a scary team that is capable of playing them real hard and ultimately lose.

I understand their side, I am sure Les would love to play the higher profile teams to step up our strength, but also the conference.

[squirrel]

My thoughts on scheduling have changed a little bit the last couple seasons.

3 years ago, if you played a home-and-home in-season against one school it was a faux pas. Now, if you can find a good team (i.e. Butler, Oregon, or St. Mary's) it gives you two solid games. And with the RPI being weighted, you get a bump for playing a quality team on the road. I think a record number of teams are playing non-con home-and-homes this season (or even a neutral-away deal would still be ok, if against a BCS-type).

I also want Loyola on every year (with Bradley hosting 2 of every 3 years), as I believe such a long-standing non-conference rivalry is important and both programs have a strong history.

So that's 3 games.

Ultimately, I want to see a scheduling partnership (in place of the Bracket Buster) with the Atlantic 10 and Colonial, where each team will play one home game and one road game (i.e. Bradley goes to George Mason, hosts St. Joseph's).

That would be 5 games.

Then figure in your holiday tournament, giving you 8-9 games.

Then schedule the best/toughest opponent game you can land for an even 10 games.

I know it's not as sexy as people might like, but it's practical and effective.

[MacabreMob]

My thoughts on scheduling have changed a little bit the last couple seasons.

3 years ago, if you played a home-and-home in-season against one school it was a faux pas. Now, if you can find a good team (i.e. Butler, Oregon, or St. Mary's) it gives you two solid games. And with the RPI being weighted, you get a bump for playing a quality team on the road. I think a record number of teams are playing non-con home-and-homes this season (or even a neutral-away deal would still be ok, if against a BCS-type).

I also want Loyola on every year (with Bradley hosting 2 of every 3 years), as I believe such a long-standing non-conference rivalry is important and both programs have a strong history.

So that's 3 games.

Ultimately, I want to see a scheduling partnership (in place of the Bracket Buster) with the Atlantic 10 and Colonial, where each team will play one home game and one road game (i.e. Bradley goes to George Mason, hosts St. Joseph's).

That would be 5 games.

Then figure in your holiday tournament, giving you 8-9 games.

Then schedule the best/toughest opponent game you can land for an even 10 games.

I know it's not as sexy as people might like, but it's practical and effective.

Holiday tournament games count as 1. (just like conference tournament games count as 1)

So with 18 MVC games, 1 for the Conf Tourney, that's 19 of the 29 allowed leaving 10 more. {and I could be wrong, but I believe if you don't play in a holiday tourney, you get to schedule 30 games instead of 29}

Anyway - Your scenario leaves the schedule open for 3 more games.