0U Dropping WSU from it's schedule

[SHOCKvalue]

This was brought up and buried in another thread, but I really thought this development was newsworthy enough to open a dedicated thread for discussion.

http://www.kansas.com/sports/shockers/story/769934.html

OU and WSU are not scheduled to play next season. Sooners coach Sunny Golloway said he is filling mid-week schedule spots with TCU and Arkansas, opponents he likes for their RPI potential.

Ironically, here are the average season final, historic RPI's since the start of the Super Regional era (1999) for the four programs.

UA- 19th
WSU- 30th
0U- 32nd
TCU- 48th

http://sebaseball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1048&CID=690574

This doesn't even spotlight the past two seasons, where our RPI has embarrassed their's.

You want some more context? How about the fact that if we were in the B12, our average final RPI over the past 10 seasons (a period in which most would agree we have been less than nationally dominant) would place us in 4th- behind only UT, UNL, and BU.

If Sonny's looking at some imaginary future treadline, then perhaps he should take a peek at the past couple of seasons' recruiting rankings. Those numbers won't help his logic either.

Thoughts?

[shocks771]

The article in the paper also said that we are adding a game against Oklahoma State and are trying to get Missouri back on the schedule. While it sucks to lose a mid-week game against a team that is so close to Wichita, we really won't be losing anything by replacing the two Oklahoma games with games against OSU and Missouri.

[SHOCKvalue]

The article in the paper also said that we are adding a game against Oklahoma State and are trying to get Missouri back on the schedule. While it sucks to lose a mid-week game against a team that is so close to Wichita, we really won't be losing anything by replacing the two Oklahoma games with games against OSU and Missouri.

Yeah, I certainly agree that the loss of 0U, with the gain of Mizzou and an additional matchup against OSU, is a net positive.

However, I just don't appreciate the slight from the guy down in Norman who hasn't even done enough in his career to garner an simple asterisk in the annals of college baseball history.

[ABC]

Sonny was the first to put his name in to WSU's hat when Stephenson termporarily bolted for OU.

I know we play this game all of the time, but if WSU was the Big 12, our RPI would have been even much higher b/c we would be replacing UNI with Tex A&M and the like.

[Shocker85]

The article as I read it doesn't say in so many words that OU is dropping WSU due to RPI concerns, merely that Galloway likes the addition of TCU and Arkansas for their RPI potential. You could, however, read between the lines and take that away from it. There could be conflicts or bad timing involved, although I'd think regionally OU would want to play WSU and could find a mid-week spot or two. WSU recruits Oklahoma hard, and if the Sooners continue their relative dominance of WSU I'd think it would help their recruiting.

I think the dropping of WSU from Arkansas schedule is due to animosity between DVH and GS and that the trip is just a bit far for a single game. Anderson at NU doesn't much like traveling so far for a single game either. OSU's long absence from WSU's schedule was due to Holliday's hatred of GS. Maybe Galloway doesn't like GS much either.

WSU will quickly get back to 'normal' RPI levels - probably next year. The MVC continues to be a drag on WSU's RPI, but if the Shox get back to a dominant level where 40 wins are the norm it wouldn't hurt our opponents RPI too badly. The opponent-opponent (SoS) portion of the RPI is only 25%, so it hurts the Shox RPI much more than anyone the Shox play.

If GS was a bastard about RPI, he would have dropped KU and KSU long ago. Each of thom has had some decent seasons, but overall haven't been too strong. GS would rather play regionally close D1 teams mid-week and understands the value there.

I guess we'll just have to wait for regionals to whip the Sooners in future seasons.

BTW, it's Sunny with a "u".

--'85.

[pogo]

I don't think the decision to drop WSU from ou's schedule reflects sunny's fear of losing to the Shocks. When he was at oru he beat us like a drum on a regular basis.

[shocks771]

I agree that it sure would be nice to get Arkansas back on the schedule. I've always hated the Nebraska and Arkansas excuse of "it's too far to travel for a single game". While it does hold some merit, why don't they just schedule a two-game Tuesday/Wednesday series every year and play one season home and one season away? I'm guessing that the reason that doesn't happen is because the big boys don't like playing more than four games in a single week if they can keep from it.

[CharlieHog]

I agree that it sure would be nice to get Arkansas back on the schedule. I've always hated the Nebraska and Arkansas excuse of "it's too far to travel for a single game". While it does hold some merit, why don't they just schedule a two-game Tuesday/Wednesday series every year and play one season home and one season away? I'm guessing that the reason that doesn't happen is because the big boys don't like playing more than four games in a single week if they can keep from it.

You can't get away from 5 game weeks now. We scheduled 6 of those this year.

[shocks771]

You can't get away from 5 game weeks now. We scheduled 6 of those this year.

Hopefully with the shortened schedule WSU & Arkansas will start playing again and I think a two-game series would be a good draw for both teams. Even if it doesn't happen there are enough good midwestern teams that are within 6 hours of Wichita that we should have no trouble continuing to get good mid-week games.

[SekShocker]

I was stuck in Oklahoma City last week during the OU V WSU game and was forced to listen to the OU broadcast, so not only was what was happening on the field horrendous, so was the broadcast. From the email's that, I think his name is Chuck Kelly, was getting, they are still not over the whole Gene thing yet and I think dropping us just goes into more of that, or maybe it is a scheduling thing, but IMO it is has deeper roots than just scheduling conflicts.

The announcer also kept saying that Eck was so nice because the Shockers used to share it with the minor league team that used to be in Wichita. Way to do your homework. He and ole Sunny had some not so nice comments about the turf infield and natural grass outfield. Cory Lassley is also our catcher. Hearing other teams announcers just makes you appreciate MK and TE that much more.

[Hovpen]

I listen to a lot of broadcasters and MK and TE are among the tops. They sometimes even call it like it is even though it goes against the shocks and can be about as neutral as you can get and still cheerlead. And they do their homework on the visitors.

[shoxlax]

I listen to a lot of broadcasters and MK and TE are among the tops. They sometimes even call it like it is even though it goes against the shocks and can be about as neutral as you can get and still cheerlead. And they do their homework on the visitors.

It's gotta drive both those guys nuts knowing this team is just a shell of teams of the past, especially in the mental arena.