Bradley schedule- BU to play Eastern Tennessee and SEMO

[mportsch]

Obviously, Bradley's schedule isn't complete, but here's how I see the known opponents ranking nationally this season (all my opinion based on where they finished last year and what they are losing/adding):

10 @Michigan St
60 Butler
80 UIC
170 @UW Milwaukee
180 ETSU
270 SEMO

If a couple more top 100 type teams are added (with one preferably a top 50), that's not a bad schedule at all. The SEMO game certainly hurts the RPI, but the others aren't that bad.

Bradley has a good chance to go 5-1 in those games, so I think Les can afford to add a couple other tough games without risking a subpar nonconference record. The road game at Michigan State will do wonders for the RPI, win or lose, as MSU should be really good this year, and the home games against Butler and UIC offer realistic opportunities for wins against the top 100. I'll reserve total judgment until the full schedule is released.

[thefish7]

Good call, mportsch-- Would love to see an away game at Stanford, for example.

[Da Coach]

Here is another tournament that looks like it had trouble filling their field. Wright State just agreed to participate in this year's San Juan Shootout, and there are now 4 teams in the field. Last year's shootout included host Puerto Rico-Mayaguez in a 5-team field. Prior to last year, the tournament had 8 teams.

http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/stories/070908aac.html

Last year's results-

http://dcindex-choop.blogspot.com/2007/10/san-juan-shootout.html

[it's boogie time]

Is this a Bradley team that can thrive off of a tough non-conference schedule if the athletic department puts one together?

Just my opinion, but there are a lot of unknowns on this roster and a bunch of cupcakes at the beginning might not be the worst thing. After Maniscalco, Wilson & Warren, there isn't too much returning experience. This might take some time to gel.

[chitown fanatic]

The committee doesn't care about us gelling as a team, that's what practice and exhibitions are for. I don't see why we can't go on the road and be bought by one of the big boys(kansas , Duke, etc.) to offset these weak home games, or form a Peoria Classic with other teams whose exempts have been cancelled. Does that mean they'd still come to our gym? Yes. But it also would be an exempt tourney where the teams could get 3 or 4 more games on their schedule, instead of being stuck with only 9 non-cons. And we know that 20-10 still looks a lot better than 18-9

[it's boogie time]

Getting drilled on the road doesn't do you any good, regardless of the opponent's rpi. Of course the committee doesn't care when a team gels, they just see the embarassing loss in November.

Last year, BU had some experienced guards going into the season opener and didn't put up much of a fight in a non-hostile enviroment. Just my opinion, but you put a few cupcakes in there before going to UIC and the result might have been different. BU was playing a lot better ball just a few weeks later.

I love the attitude of playing anybody/anywhere/anytime when you have the right team.

[squirrel]

The committee doesn't care about us gelling as a team, that's what practice and exhibitions are for. I don't see why we can't go on the road and be bought by one of the big boys(kansas , Duke, etc.) to offset these weak home games, or form a Peoria Classic with other teams whose exempts have been cancelled. Does that mean they'd still come to our gym? Yes. But it also would be an exempt tourney where the teams could get 3 or 4 more games on their schedule, instead of being stuck with only 9 non-cons. And we know that 20-10 still looks a lot better than 18-9

The collective "we" does not "know that 20-10 still looks better than 18-9." In essence they are the same. A 20-win season now with expanded schedules is next to mediocre.

[squirrel]

Getting drilled on the road doesn't do you any good, regardless of the opponent's rpi. Of course the committee doesn't care when a team gels, they just see the embarassing loss in November.

Last year, BU had some experienced guards going into the season opener and didn't put up much of a fight in a non-hostile enviroment. Just my opinion, but you put a few cupcakes in there before going to UIC and the result might have been different. BU was playing a lot better ball just a few weeks later.

I love the attitude of playing anybody/anywhere/anytime when you have the right team.

I would hope we would want to play the best competition available. Anybody, anywhere, anytime.

[Beninator]

I would hope we would want to play the best competition available. Anybody, anywhere, anytime.

Exactly.... John Calipari used that approach at UMASS... That philosophy will benefit the program for the long run.

[Out of Bounce]

Exactly.... John Calipari used that approach at UMASS... That philosophy will benefit the program for the long run.

Beninator and squirrel, you are so right. Playing cubcakes won't help when the time comes to play the cookie monsters at home or on the road. We don't have to go out and get killed everynight by the best in the country. But play good quality competition that will give your team a challenge and allow them to stride to get better. This also keeps your name form becoming a cupcake eater. If you win great and if you lose you learn from your mistakes and move on. Eating cupcakes and watching the bench play the second half doe's nothing for the team. A win playing cupcakes is meanness but a bad night, with a lost to one, will be with you the rest of the season.

Play the best competition available. Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime.

[Lakeview Brave]

[QUOTE=BradleyBrave;85143]As I said before, BU is doing the best they can under the circumstances. If we go out and finally win a conference title, all this SOS jargon will affect will be our seeding in the NCAA's.QUOTE]

Exactly!

[Bradleyguy10]

Just a question...

I agree and understand that if we keep winning it'll be harder to schedule big guys like evansville just landed, but aren't there plenty of consistently good mid-majors that are exactly like us that wouldn't mind playing us. Or are we not scheduling those types of games because the big boys are going to boost us up a little even if we lose, and that won't be the case if we lose to another midmajor. Basically what I'm asking is would it be really terrible to schedule other mid-majors who are consistently good. Does the risk of losing outweigh the reward of winning, and thats why we don't ever schedule games like that? I'm genuinely asking...because I wouldn't mind seeing some good mid on mid games. I'd like playing VCU to continue. Shoot get Davidson in there, they have a good SOS. I like that we got Butler, but why can't we do more of this if its so tough to get BCS schools to play us....i'm curious

[BU ICEMAN]

Just a question...

I agree and understand that if we keep winning it'll be harder to schedule big guys like evansville just landed, but aren't there plenty of consistently good mid-majors that are exactly like us that wouldn't mind playing us. Or are we not scheduling those types of games because the big boys are going to boost us up a little even if we lose, and that won't be the case if we lose to another midmajor. Basically what I'm asking is would it be really terrible to schedule other mid-majors who are consistently good. Does the risk of losing outweigh the reward of winning, and thats why we don't ever schedule games like that? I'm genuinely asking...because I wouldn't mind seeing some good mid on mid games. I'd like playing VCU to continue. Shoot get Davidson in there, they have a good SOS. I like that we got Butler, but why can't we do more of this if its so tough to get BCS schools to play us....i'm curious

It's a good question, but if it becomes widespread, I think the risk is creating a de facto mid-major league that feasts on each other, while the big boys remain unscathed....but as many have said, which bears repeating:

Play the best competition available. Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime.

[Beninator]

Just a question...

I agree and understand that if we keep winning it'll be harder to schedule big guys like evansville just landed, but aren't there plenty of consistently good mid-majors that are exactly like us that wouldn't mind playing us. Or are we not scheduling those types of games because the big boys are going to boost us up a little even if we lose, and that won't be the case if we lose to another midmajor. Basically what I'm asking is would it be really terrible to schedule other mid-majors who are consistently good. Does the risk of losing outweigh the reward of winning, and thats why we don't ever schedule games like that? I'm genuinely asking...because I wouldn't mind seeing some good mid on mid games. I'd like playing VCU to continue. Shoot get Davidson in there, they have a good SOS. I like that we got Butler, but why can't we do more of this if its so tough to get BCS schools to play us....i'm curious

I agree with your post.. Scheduling is difficult, by why not try to get a Davidson with a Curry,or a Gonzaga, Butler...et al.... My main concern would be to schedule mid-majors from a variety of conferences though...

[Bradleyguy10]

It's a good question, but if it becomes widespread, I think the risk is creating a de facto mid-major league that feasts on each other, while the big boys remain unscathed....but as many have said, which bears repeating:

Play the best competition available. Anybody, Anywhere, Anytime.

Yeah I'm not saying only do this year in and year out...if we CAN get a BCS school then believe me I'm all for an upset (because we all know that's what it will be), but if they are looking for a good team to play this season..my first thought would be to schedule a mid that you know to be good, and have 2-3 of them each year out of a 6-7 game nonconf. schedule.