Non-Con schedule "officially" posted

[real fan]

There is no doubt it is a confusing tournament but if we get 4 games out of this then it is a good thing as we need to play as many games as we can before the start of the conference season as we have a lot of new players that need real game experience and playing 3 more games should help us more then 3 more days of practice.

[squirrel]

This is like nothing I've ever seen before. . .

Yea, usually they are tiered into four levels, and BU would typically fall into either tier 1 or tier 2 depending on the rest of the field.

In this case, I think they are tier 2.

My best guess (and that's all it is) is that the Fort Myers games are just extras. . .but they may be working on some sort of secondary competition.

[mike radigan]

Click for schedule.

Unless I overlooked a reply in all of this, the schedule above states both our exhibitions will be at Carver. Can I then assume the Red-White will be there too, or...

[TheAsianSensation]

Well, think of it this way:

Old system: You win the first game, lose to Syracuse in the 2nd game and you're done for the tournament.

New system: 4 games no matter what, one guarantee game against Syracuse, no title

I really hate the message they're sending with this tournament setup. But in a way, it's better than we get 2 extra games against Richmond-type teams that we wouldn't get otherwise. Of course, if we beat Syracuse, that means we lose 2 MARQUEE games. Which is the part to be furious about.

[Gwright]

I know JL and staff did what they could despite a lot of scheduling hardships.
I know that we will get at least one shot at a Florida or 'Cuse type
I know that scheduling for a team in our position is tough

But this schedule is downright bad no matter how we spin it. If this was ANY other teams schedule in the valley we would BLAST it for hurting conference SOS and RPI.

[MacabreMob]

Well, think of getting a buy game (which some of us think is a good thing to do from time to time). Here it is. We get a Buy game at either Florida or Syracuse. Oh, and then we get to play 3 extra (bonus) games on a Neutral floor which are all winnable. Winning games on a Neutral floor are better than winning at home for RPI purposes.
Due to the situation Bradley fell into, I think this is an acceptable deal this season.

But I also agree with the comment.... I don't like the signal being sent by setting up "Tournies" like this. But then again, Squirrel was right about how it had to be set up to be attractive to all involved.

[Bravesfan]

This is like nothing I've ever seen before. . .

Yea, usually they are tiered into four levels, and BU would typically fall into either tier 1 or tier 2 depending on the rest of the field.

In this case, I think they are tier 2.

My best guess (and that's all it is) is that the Fort Myers games are just extras. . .but they may be working on some sort of secondary competition.

I was just going to ask that same question. Would Bradley get a trophy for winning the "tier 2" portion of this tournament?

[Bravesfan]

I know JL and staff did what they could despite a lot of scheduling hardships.
I know that we will get at least one shot at a Florida or 'Cuse type
I know that scheduling for a team in our position is tough

But this schedule is downright bad no matter how we spin it. If this was ANY other teams schedule in the valley we would BLAST it for hurting conference SOS and RPI.

True, but such is the life for successful mid-majors. However, a schedule like I suggested on the "Non-conference schedule" thread would likely solve some of these problems. Loading up the schedule with like-minded and strong mid-majors who are in the same boat as us would really help the team and conference RPI. I don't know if Les has spoken to teams like St. Joseph's or Western Kentucky, but loading up on teams like that would make us less concerned about having to schedule Florida Gulf Coast type teams every year to fill out our schedule.

[brocks]

That tourney has "winnable" games, I agree . . . but Richmond is a "trap game," potentially. We will be favored, but they will be dangerous. They have a good young coach who has been recruiting rather well. It's funny . . . in the last 4 or 5 years, both UR and BU have beaten Kansas. I'll bet Self wanted NOTHING to do with that region!

[squirrel]

Thinking about this more. . .

There would be 16 teams overall. . .

The 4 Tier 1 teams go to KC.

There are 2 groups of 3 Tier 2 teams. . .this would be BU

There are 2 groups of 3 Tier 3 teams. . .

There are two sites (Fort Myers and I've seen nothing on where the other site may be) where the non-KC participants go, and the each of the Tier 2 teams play one game each against the Tier 3 teams. . .

What is interesting is FGCU would likely be Tier 3, but is a nice location in FL that I'm sure the teams had no trouble agreeing to go to.

So only 2 of our 3 games down there are neutral.

[it's boogie time]

I don't think I'll be too worried about the Florida Gulf Coast game at thier arena. The two guys that had great games against Bradley last year, Landon Adler & Adam Liddell, aren't on the roster this year.

Ft. Myers does sound like a better place than Peoria to spend Thanksgiving.

If you were a Florida or Syracuse fan, would book a flight, hotel and game ticket to Kansas City if there was a chance the team might not play there?

[SFP]

So when we beat either Florida or Syracuse what are they going to say when the head on over to KC....and you know I will be pulling for the team we beat to win in KC

Funny format that is produced due to NCAA rules and loop holes that will not be changed because they favor the biggies.

[bugregshu]

What I interpret this tournament as is a little different.

- Four TIER 1 teams

- Four TIER 2 teams

- Eight TIER 3 teams

BU is a TIER 2 team. Each TIER 2 team plays a TIER 1 team as a showcase game.

After that, TIER 1 teams compete in a 4 team bracket.

TIER 2 and TIER 3 teams each play ONE TIER 2 team, and TWO TIER 3 teams.

It doesn't seem likely that there is a championship for TIER 2 or TIER 3 teams.

Ex.
BU plays Richmond (TIER 2), UMKC (TIER 3), FGCU (TIER 3)
UMKC plays BU (TIER 2), FGCU (TIER 3) TEAM X (TIER 3)
Richmond plays BU (TIER 2), TEAM X (TIER 3), TEAM Y (TIER 3)
FGCU plays BU (TIER 2), UMKC (TIER 3), TEAM Y (TIER 3)
TEAM X plays Richmond (TIER 2), UMKC (TIER 3), TEAM Y (TIER 3)
TEAM Y plays Richmond (TIER 2), FGCU (TIER 3), TEAM X (TIER 3)

and that would be half of the 12 team bracket, with the other half being filled by teams that haven't been announced yet, but there would be 4 other TIER 3 teams, and 2 other TIER 2 teams.

Basically I think that theres 4 main teams, 12 other teams. The best of the other teams (BU, Richmond + 2 others) get a showcase game against a top 4 team, and then win or lose, they play against 2 lower quality teams, and 1 equal quality team.

Just a theory though, I know its kind of confusing, but hopefully it makes sense

[Beninator]

Agreed, two big games, one OK game with Butler and thats it. If we have more than 3-4 losses I'm gonna be very upset.

I usually wait until I see the r/w scrimmage, but I think we will be in the 3-4 loss area. I hope that I am wrong about this.

Not the best sked, but the things I like about it:

-Teams get rewarded for winning games away from home. There are 6 games away from home not including the BB.

-Anything less than 9-2 would be a real disappointment. This is a schedule full (with the obvious exceptions) of teams we can and should beat anywhere, anytime.

-Catching Syracuse or Florida so early in the season we have a real good opportunity to surprise them. This is not a typical game 1, 2, or 3 for those schools.

Interesting assessment..imo There are way too many question marks on this team to state that anything less than a 9-2 record is a disappointment.

FGCU in Ft Myers= possible trap game..

I would like a shot at the 'Cuse... I have never been a Boeheim fan.

[SFP]

I would like a shot at the 'Cuse... I have never been a Boeheim fan.

Our style of play would be best if we played the 'Cuse and their zone D. 3s would be falling all night!

SM to AW on the top of the key and he hits another 3!