The whole "weak schedule" thing

[RoyalShock]

So, I looked at Gonzaga's home schedule all the way back to 99-00, the season after they first got to the national scene by reaching the Elite 8.

From that time forward, I could find ONE game that might be a "buy game" - a game at UCLA in the 99-00 season. (but since I didn't have access to their schedule in earlier years, I don't know if UCLA made it up north)

They had a lot of games in neutral sites such as playing both OU and OkSU in Oklahoma City, Stanford and Cal in Oakland etc. OSU returned the game in Seattle. They also played at each other's home arenas.

Some of GU's "neutral" games were in the Spokane arena rather than their campus arena - not really neutral, such as OU's return game.

They played Mizzou in Seattle and then played Mizzou the next year in Columbia.

They played at Arizona, then played Arizona in Phoenix and Seattle.

They played at Illinois 2x, played Illinois 2x in Indianapolis (weird), and had a home game vs Illinois.

They played Florida in Sunrise, Fla in 00-01.

What about the Michigan State game in 09-10? (Admittedly, ESPN doesn't go into detail about location or whether it was a tournament, just gives vs. or @.

[ABC]

What about the Michigan State game in 09-10? (Admittedly, ESPN doesn't go into detail about location or whether it was a tournament, just gives vs. or @.

One game in Michigan, one game in Washington (I'll have to look it up again if it was in Spokane or Seattle)

[Shockeriffic]

WSU only willingly scheduled one game against an opponent with an RPI over 150. William and Mary and Tennessee State were picked by the CBE and Davidson was picked by Bracketbusters. The results are the same if you use kenpom instead of RPI.

Somewhat related question, what's forcing us to honor the Bracketbusters return games? Detroit is terrible now since they lost four starters from last year.

[ShockerFever]

No, you go off the rails when anyone has a different opinion. Followed shortly by personal attacks. That's your shtick.

Ken's stats have a lot of value at this point of the season because they are better predictors of end of season ratings - RPI included. But since you'll disparage the RPI whenever that's inconvenient as well, I doubt you'll see the difference.

I'm going to grab some popcorn now. And maybe a beer for the ensuing drinking game :)

I don't have a shtick. Somebody has a shtick here alright. I think it's pretty obvious who.

I don't care for opposing opinions. It's expected. But when somebody always takes the same damn side in everything and does it just to see himself spit out quadratic equations, that's where I draw the line.

But thanks for interjecting and setting me straight.

[Shock Therapy]

WSU only willingly scheduled one game against an opponent with an RPI over 150. William and Mary and Tennessee State were picked by the CBE and Davidson was picked by Bracketbusters. The results are the same if you use kenpom instead of RPI.

Somewhat related question, what's forcing us to honor the Bracketbusters return games? Detroit is terrible now since they lost four starters from last year.

I would guess that a contract was signed for our bracket buster game that also guarantees the return game. If that's the case, then there is nothing that we can do about it.

[AndShock]

WSU only willingly scheduled one game against an opponent with an RPI over 150. William and Mary and Tennessee State were picked by the CBE and Davidson was picked by Bracketbusters. The results are the same if you use kenpom instead of RPI.

Somewhat related question, what's forcing us to honor the Bracketbusters return games? Detroit is terrible now since they lost four starters from last year.

I believe I've seen talk of us not honoring it for whatever reason. Maybe we are able to buy it out if we so choose.

[ShockerEngr]

I believe I've seen talk of us not honoring it for whatever reason. Maybe we are able to buy it out if we so choose.

I imagine there's a penalty if we choose not to schedule them for the return game. If it's not too unreasonable, that may be an option to get out. It's probably on the order of a what a buy game would cost, so it would come down to whether we'd want to spend the money.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

I imagine there's a penalty if we choose not to schedule them for the return game. If it's not too unreasonable, that may be an option to get out. It's probably on the order of a what a buy game would cost, so it would come down to whether we'd want to spend the money.

How do we say "Anyone, anywhere, anytime!" then back out of an agreement to play?

Show up and show them up. Show that we are not the same as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

[ShockerEngr]

How do we say "Anyone, anywhere, anytime!" then back out of an agreement to play?

Show up and show them up. Show that we are not the same as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

don't disagree - just thinking of how we might get out of one if we so chose.

[AndShock]

How do we say "Anyone, anywhere, anytime!" then back out of an agreement to play?

Show up and show them up. Show that we are not the same as Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

If the choice is playing a road game @ Detroit vs starting a home-and-home @ UCLA I really hope we choose the latter.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

If the choice is playing a road game @ Detroit vs starting a home-and-home @ UCLA I really hope we choose the latter.

Alabama Fan: I hope between Wichita St and Texas, we choose the latter.

[AndShock]

Alabama Fan: I hope between Wichita St and Texas, we choose the latter.

If we were projected to be a 250+ RPI team next year while Texas was projected to be a Top 50 RPI team I wouldn't blame them. My thoughts on this would be much different if Detroit wasn't a part of Bracket Busters.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

So, like us last year, and each of the last several years graduating 4 or 5 seniors, we should overlook those we "assume" will be weaker because of losses with no other regards to the program?

[Blackmag]

I dont feel like we need to sell our souls for the sake of a so called blue blood game. If we keep winning and going to the big dance everything will take care of itself. We have played quite a few big time schools over the years and have more than held our own. SOS and RPI is all subjective as I see it. At the start of every season the rankings come out before anyone has even played a game. And who do you think is given the the highest rankings every year. Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio State ect. Which conferences have multiple teams in the top 25, yep the BCS boys.....and at the end of the year the top 25 doesnt look at all like it did at the start. Big time bias. Shockers started out ranked 17th after a final four run with most of its starters back, look wear Louisville, Michigan,and Syr. started the year. The little guys always have to do more to get noticed....but I guess thats just the way it will always be. Is it fair...I dont think so, thats why I dont take the SOS and RPI all that serious

[Play Angry]

Detroit's gonna suck. We should probably honor the commitment because we gave our word, but don't compare them to us and play the no respect card.