I'm personally tired of NU scheduling non-competitive home games prior to the Big Ten season. I see this kind of scheduling as a lame attempt to inflate our wining percentage and improve team self-confidence, when in reality it diminishes competitive preparation. I'm not sure who schedules these games (I'm assuming the AD in consultation with the head coach), but the games are generally a boring blowout with almost no people in attendance. I enjoy seeing skilled, well-coached, more highly rated teams, and I think I deserve this as a season ticket holder. Yes, I'd like us to have a better team, but the pre-Big Ten home schedule is the main reason I would consider not renewing my season tickets. These games are just not worth the money.
What Season Ticket Holders Demand
- Thread starter CatJones
- Start date
No reason not the schedule Loyola. Good for both schools. Not sure why they've not really been a regular on the schedule over the years given DePaul and UIC have been.
I agree, but this isn't an NU-only issue. Most of the B10 schedules similarly weak opponents, relative to their expected strength. The B10 conference schedule provides enough mathematical strength.
I think the only way to solve the issue is for the tournament committee to start requiring a stronger out-of-conference schedule. Deduct SOS math for anything less than 250. Admittedly, then you're further damaging 250+ NET ranked programs.
As I've said in the past, I also agree with playing more local schools regularly in home and homes. I can't imagine there's any math that doesn't find it advantageous to reduce opponent payouts, have more tickets sold, reduce travel costs, increase interest and maybe more coverage. If NU can't play .500+ over a five years period against DePaul, Loyola, UIC and another directional school, the B10 schedule probably won't matter anyhow.
I think the only way to solve the issue is for the tournament committee to start requiring a stronger out-of-conference schedule. Deduct SOS math for anything less than 250. Admittedly, then you're further damaging 250+ NET ranked programs.
As I've said in the past, I also agree with playing more local schools regularly in home and homes. I can't imagine there's any math that doesn't find it advantageous to reduce opponent payouts, have more tickets sold, reduce travel costs, increase interest and maybe more coverage. If NU can't play .500+ over a five years period against DePaul, Loyola, UIC and another directional school, the B10 schedule probably won't matter anyhow.
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If we hosted Loyola, we'd probably be embarrassed by the colors in the stands, but now that they're moving to the Atlantic 10, maybe we can muster up the courage to engage.
We played the weakest schedule in the Big Ten, other than Iowa ,who played nobody other than their mandated game against Virginia in the Big10/ACC challenge.
That's been the case only for the last 5 years. We've rarely played them prior, in fact we have yet to play them this century.
Oh you're right! Missed it.
They got slaughtered by Iowa State.
The rest of it is
Longwood, Kansas City, NC-Central, Alabama State, Western Mich, Portland St, @Virginia, @Iowa St, Utah St, SE La, W. Illinois.
Ours looks just as bad if not worse.
Utah State at least made the NIT. The Mountain West usually puts up some good basketball teams.
They were the Northwestern of the mountain west. Ended dead last in the kenpom luck rating.
We were last before our last home game against MN
Well, okay, technically. They would not have made it as an at-large bid. The Utah State game, which was played on a neutral court, is considered by most a higher-quality win.