Non conference scheduling

[RoyalShock]

I'd say SIU would have made for a better game at Intrust due to being an old MVC rival, Of course, that may not have worked for the Salukis.

Speaking of, did we know they would be on the schedule?

[WuShock16]

Yea .. my main comment was around the number of non-con home games, exhibition or not. Lower than previous years. Though probably a decent trade off to get some decent neutral games.

So it will be 16 games for the season ticket package. Usually 17 or 18, but it seems like I remember a 16-game season ticket group at some point in the past, so not awful.

Not much marquee value for non-conference home games, but that's probably by design for this squad. Gotta get some confidence built before we get to the KC games and conference play.

[Onegreatracer]

This schedule is disgusting

[Onegreatracer]

Had an opportunity to play a little golf with a former WSU basketball player and had a few conversations about the old valley conference and the new AAC conference and recent changes. He said ADKS had told a "Group" of them that an emphasis to upgrading the pre conference schedule in ALL sports was being pushed to give each team a greater chance at an at large invite rather than hoping to win the conference tournament. This seems to go along with ADKS comments on Sports Daily he made recently. He also admitted that he stayed at home to watch lesser opponents games rather that drive across town to watch in person. He said these types of games held little appeal to players or recruits and knew of at least a couple of people who dropped their tickets because of it. So hopefully we will see fewer buy games that hold little to not interest. Go Shocks

So much for this

[Shock Top]

I believe the schedule should improve going forward, with Mills working on the schedule.

[SubGod22]

This schedule is disgusting

I don't know about disgusting, but it's not sexy.

Lipsomb is a solid game
Western Kentucky is a solid game
Myrtle Beach is a solid tournament
Norfolk State could be a solid game
Richmond is a solid game
Missouri is a good game
South Dakota State could be a solid game
SIU isn't much of a game
KSU should be a good game
KU is a good game

Schedule strength should be pretty solid. Name recognition for the average fan isn't much.

We should win our home games, but losing one or two isn't out of the realm of possibility. The games outside of Wichita could get unpleasant. I don't remember exactly how the MTE lines up.

[Stickboy46]

I don't know about disgusting, but it's not sexy.

Lipsomb is a solid game
Western Kentucky is a solid game
Myrtle Beach is a solid tournament
Norfolk State could be a solid game
Richmond is a solid game
Missouri is a good game
South Dakota State could be a solid game
SIU isn't much of a game
KSU should be a good game
KU is a good game

Schedule strength should be pretty solid. Name recognition for the average fan isn't much.

We should win our home games, but losing one or two isn't out of the realm of possibility. The games outside of Wichita could get unpleasant. I don't remember exactly how the MTE lines up.

Yea .. its not awful. 3 P5 schools, a decent not great MTE, then a couple decent but not great mid majors in Richmond and Western Kentucky. Lipscomb has some decent history and obviously SIU we have history with. My only complaints in the extra non-D1 in Friends and the Intrust Game will likely be very lightly attended with us not being expected to be good and its not a high level opponent.

As a season ticket holder, I would have liked some better home games or maybe 1 or 2 more home games but that's just how these other multi year agreements have landed.

[Stickboy46]

I believe the schedule should improve going forward, with Mills working on the schedule.

It will be interesting. He's historically used 3-4 non- D1 games as part of the regular season (not counting exhibitions). I don't think that will fly here.

[WuShock16]

This schedule is disgusting

At first look, I agreed with you and still am not thrilled, but the numbers look a little better than I thought. I won't check all the Myrtle Beach ratings until I see the bracket released (should be any day now based on release of last two bracket releases for that event), but there are not any boat anchors with 200 or larger rankings at least based on last season.

OPPONENT	KenPom	NET
Lipscomb	153	147
Western Kentucky	173	169
Norfolk St	194	183
Richmond	150	160
Missouri	57	47
South Dakota St	174	162
Southern Illinois	139	122
Kansas State	21	19
Kansas	9	9

[1972Shocker]

Not sure how many of the games on the schedule were locked in prior to the current leadership. Seeing Friends on the schedule is a bit disappointing. It would be interesting to hear the story behind that. Just couldn't find anyone else? Had some kind of commitment to Friends to fulfill for some reason? HCPM just likes to use Non-D1 opponents for coaching reasons?

It remains to be seen how the scheduling will play out under HCPM and Kevin Saal. I think it is way too early to make any informed judgement on that.

Last year the Shockers schedule was ranked #161 against teams with an average NET ranking of 169.5. ORU's non-conference SOS last year was #24. So hopefully we will see some improvement moving forward.

Will have to wait and see how the current schedule plays out but based on last year's net rankings FWIW and using the average NET ranking from last year for the other 7 teams in the Myrtle Beach Invitational (129) as a proxy for those 3 games the previous year's average NET rankings for this year's schedule (excluding Friends of course) would be 112.7.

The 2 stinkers at Myrtle Beach based on last year's NET rankings are Coastal Carolina (293) and Wyoming (219). The other 5 teams averaged 78.2 in the NET ranging from 44 to 109.

As I said we'll have to see how things shake out this year, but this year's schedule has the potential to be a modest upgrade from last year.

[Stickboy46]

Not sure how many of the games on the schedule were locked in prior to the current leadership. Seeing Friends on the schedule is a bit disappointing. It would be interesting to hear the story behind that. Just couldn't find anyone else? Had some kind of commitment to Friends to fulfill for some reason? HCPM just likes to use Non-D1 opponents for coaching reasons?

It remains to be seen how the scheduling will play out under HCPM and Kevin Saal. I think it is way too early to make any informed judgement on that.

Last year the Shockers schedule was ranked #161 against teams with an average NET ranking of 169.5. ORU's non-conference SOS last year was #24. So hopefully we will see some improvement moving forward.

Will have to wait and see how the current schedule plays out but based on last year's net rankings FWIW and using the average NET ranking from last year for the other 7 teams in the Myrtle Beach Invitational (129) as a proxy for those 3 games the previous year's average NET rankings for this year's schedule (excluding Friends of course) would be 112.7.

The 2 stinkers at Myrtle Beach based on last year's NET rankings are Coastal Carolina (293) and Wyoming (219). The other 5 teams averaged 78.2 in the NET ranging from 44 to 109.

As I said we'll have to see how things shake out this year, but this year's schedule has the potential to be a modest upgrade from last year.

I think HCPM "plays the numbers game" when it comes to SOS. As I mentioned above, every year I looked back through he had 3-4 non D1 Games on the schedule. Non-D1 games do not effect NET or SOS. They are are just in your record. They also provide you zero benefit from a resume standpoint. They eliminate opportunities for good wins which is really the primary thing that matters come March. So if he has his way, I'd expect Friends and others on the schedule multiple times every year.

[Aargh]

Oh, it's SOUTH DAKOTA State at IBA, not SAN DIEGO State. I was wondering why San Diego State at IBA was a bad game.

Should be plenty of good seats available at IBA.

[TrackSuitAndTie]

I think HCPM "plays the numbers game" when it comes to SOS. As I mentioned above, every year I looked back through he had 3-4 non D1 Games on the schedule. Non-D1 games do not effect NET or SOS. They are are just in your record. They also provide you zero benefit from a resume standpoint. They eliminate opportunities for good wins which is really the primary thing that matters come March. So if he has his way, I'd expect Friends and others on the schedule multiple times every year.

Last year I believe WSU only played 12 non-con games so the 13th being a non-D1 team doesn't really bother me in a year where they aren't expected to make the NCAAT. Also, if there was a year to schedule multiple non-D1 teams it would be this one, but Friends is the only one (exhibition game notwithstanding). As such, I'm not sure HCPM intends to play Friends and others on the schedule multiple times every year.

[Stickboy46]

Last year I believe WSU only played 12 non-con games so the 13th being a non-D1 team doesn't really bother me in a year where they aren't expected to make the NCAAT. Also, if there was a year to schedule multiple non-D1 teams it would be this one, but Friends is the only one. As such, I'm not sure HCPM intends to play Friends and others on the schedule multiple times every year.

I'm just going off the last 4 years of schedules at Oral Roberts. One doesn't bother me either .. especially this year. If we start getting multiple .. I won't be happy.

[WuShock16]

Oh, it's SOUTH DAKOTA State at IBA, not SAN DIEGO State. I was wondering why San Diego State at IBA was a bad game.

Should be plenty of good seats available at IBA.

Last year, parts of the upper deck were closed for OSU. They legit might have to completely close the entire upper level for this one.