Ewwwwww!

[Sec_112]

NU announced the pre-conference schedule today.

We've been down this road. I understand they want to lighten the load on an inexperienced group, but do they really need to go THAT light. The home schedule is HORRIBLE. I hate when they do this.

 

[NJCat]

NU announced the pre-conference schedule today.

We've been down this road. I understand they want to lighten the load on an inexperienced group, but do they really need to go THAT light. The home schedule is HORRIBLE. I hate when they do this.

Seems pretty typical. Five power conference games and 6 tune-ups.

 

[CappyNU]

2019 KenPom of the 7 home games:

Quincy - exhibition
Merrimack - new to D1 (NEC conference)
Providence - 79 (4-seed in NIT), only losing one senior reserve, should be a challenge and a good idea of how f'd we'll be for the year
Radford - 122, co-conference champs of Big South, lost 1 starter and 1 reserve from last year
Norfolk State - 244, won MEAC, #8 seed in NIT, lost two starters
SIU-Edwardsville - 330
Hartford - 194, graduated literally 93% of their minutes played last year, they will be crap

So 1 good game, and two games that should be blowouts but if they aren't, we're in for a long season, plus 4 crap games. That will surely draw the fans in.

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

We’re so unproven and raw, that if there was ever a year to have an easy non-con schedule, this is it. Even if we’re really bad this year, we’ll get a few wins. The Fort Myers Tip Off will be interesting, though probably unsuccessful. I definitely didn’t want a meat-grinder this gear...this team is waaaaay too inexperienced.

 

[JournCat]

This is the least excited I've been to see a Collins team. There's not a single interesting game on this schedule.

 

[NUThump]

This is the least excited I've been to see a Collins team. There's not a single interesting game on this schedule.

I am more excited for this year than last year. More unknowns, so I will be watching every game with great interest.

 

[freewillie07]

I really couldn’t care less about the noncon.

This year isn’t about the strength of schedule. It’s about NU itself. Need to see signs of life from the young guys or the program isn’t going anywhere. Doesn’t matter if it’s against Hartford or Kentucky.

Just win.

 

[JournCat]

I am more excited for this year than last year. More unknowns, so I will be watching every game with great interest.

Last year, there was the Law-Pardon core combined with Taylor and Turner and a group of promising freshmen. This year has the makings of a "Year Zero" style burndown.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

This schedule suggests Collins isn't expecting much.

 

[Styre]

This schedule suggests Collins isn't expecting much.

Yup. To even make the NIT with that schedule would require a +.500 conference record.

 

[freewillie07]

Yup. To even make the NIT with that schedule would require a +.500 conference record.

What is the alternative? Have a challenging noncon and probably lose a bunch more games?

That would still require +.500 conference record to make NIT.

 

[Styre]

What is the alternative? Have a challenging noncon and probably lose a bunch more games?

...yes?

To get a bit more in depth, here are the non-con games by the quadrant ranking system based on NET ratings:

Q1: Kansas State (23)

Q2: at DePaul (109), at Boston College (134)

Q3: vs. Providence (77), Pittsburgh (120), vs. Radford (137), Bradley (176)

Q4: vs. Hartford (188), vs. Norfolk State (247), vs. SIUE (329), vs. Merrimack (N/A)

At least they've mostly kept the truly awful teams off the schedule, with only 3 opponents outside the top 200. But the only game with a pulse is the K-State game and that one might not even happen.

 

[Aging Booster]

NU announced the pre-conference schedule today.

We've been down this road. I understand they want to lighten the load on an inexperienced group, but do they really need to go THAT light. The home schedule is HORRIBLE. I hate when they do this.

Al McGuire once famously said, in tempering hype of an undefeated team, that his Marquette team, early in the season, had only played "the little sisters of the poor". This became a descriptor for many years thereafter. I see Norfolk State on the schedule - alma mater of Hall of Famer, Bobby Dandridge.

 

[hdhntr1]

Al McGuire once famously said, in tempering hype of an undefeated team, that his Marquette team, early in the season, had only played "the little sisters of the poor". This became a descriptor for many years thereafter. I see Norfolk State on the schedule - alma mater of Hall of Famer, Bobby Dandridge.

We referred to the schedule of ND FB as being that long before McGuire

 

[purplejustice]

Expectations have reached a new low with this schedule. Sad.

 

[Medill '03]

This schedule suggests Collins isn't expecting much.

Precisely. And he shouldn't.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Al McGuire once famously said, in tempering hype of an undefeated team, that his Marquette team, early in the season, had only played "the little sisters of the poor". This became a descriptor for many years thereafter. I see Norfolk State on the schedule - alma mater of Hall of Famer, Bobby Dandridge.

Great name drop, Ageless One. If my memory isn't failing me, I remember Dandridge playing for some terrific Bucks teams in the early '70's against some equally tough Bulls teams. Some great battles there.

 

[IdahoAlum]

Great name drop, Ageless One. If my memory isn't failing me, I remember Dandridge playing for some terrific Bucks teams in the early '70's against some equally tough Bulls teams. Some great battles there.

Also played for Dick Motta's 1978 Bullets NBA championship team.

 

[bringbacktherantboard]

Who knows, DePaul and Providence might be really good next year. DePaul certainly showed a ton of improvement last season, and if they make similar strides this season they should be pretty formidable. Providence could very well be an NCAA Tourney-caliber team. Sure, they "only" made the NIT last season, but they made the NCAAs every season from 2014-2018. Those of you listing them as a Quadrant 3 team really don't know how good they'll be. We should wait and see.

 

[Alan Smithee_rivals156293]

Precisely. And he shouldn't.

Right. And I have received his message.

 

[Medill90]

Last year, there was the Law-Pardon core combined with Taylor and Turner and a group of promising freshmen. This year has the makings of a "Year Zero" style burndown.

Maybe. But I'm going to do my "glass is 1/72nd full" thing until the first few games are played

 

[IGNORE]

NU announced the pre-conference schedule today.

We've been down this road. I understand they want to lighten the load on an inexperienced group, but do they really need to go THAT light. The home schedule is HORRIBLE. I hate when they do this.

CCC wants a shot of winning a few games this year.