2010-11 SCHEDULE IS OUT

[tropicalshox]

I really doubt that HCGM and staff are just lazily sitting around and holding off on the releasing a poor schedule out of choice.

HCGM no doubt wants to get to the NCAA Tournamnet in the worst way. Personally, I'm concerned that if we don't starting making the dance on a regular basis going forward HCGM will start looking for other opportunities, especially if diffuculty in scheduling contributes to the difficulty in making the dance.

If it is mostly a matter of money then that needs to be addressed and is something the fans can actually influence. I'd be willing to kick in $100 or so per year to a Shocker MBB Scheduling Fund if that, in fact, would resolve or significantly help in scheduling decent opponents. If we could get 5,000 fans to kick in an average of $100 each per year that would generate $500,000 annually to use towards upgrading the schedule. The other and probably better option is to raise season ticket prices $50 per year to raise the extra $500,000 to use for scheduling. Maybe a combination of a voluntary fund and ticket prices increases would work.

If it is not a money issue then the question is what, if anything, can be done to resolve the scheduling issues or are do we just have to get used to BOHICA.

I like this idea. A put up or shut idea. Perhaps someone can suggest this to the AD.

If we get word from the administration that it would help scheduling, I'm in for $100.

[Steeleshocker]

I haven't finished reading this entire thread (I mean, seriously, it started yesterday afternoon), but here are my thoughts.

I think we would be willing to do home and home with similar schools in similar situations (CAA, WCC, etc.), but we have a certain number of home games that we like to have every year, and none of those schools wanted to be the team to come to our house THIS year. They'd be willing for us to go to their place and come back when a few of our players had graduated, but not the other way around.

[AMaizNShocks]

I really doubt that HCGM and staff are just lazily sitting around and holding off on the releasing a poor schedule out of choice.

HCGM no doubt wants to get to the NCAA Tournamnet in the worst way. Personally, I'm concerned that if we don't starting making the dance on a regular basis going forward HCGM will start looking for other opportunities, especially if diffuculty in scheduling contributes to the difficulty in making the dance.

If it is mostly a matter of money then that needs to be addressed and is something the fans can actually influence. I'd be willing to kick in $100 or so per year to a Shocker MBB Scheduling Fund if that, in fact, would resolve or significantly help in scheduling decent opponents. If we could get 5,000 fans to kick in an average of $100 each per year that would generate $500,000 annually to use towards upgrading the schedule. The other and probably better option is to raise season ticket prices $50 per year to raise the extra $500,000 to use for scheduling. Maybe a combination of a voluntary fund and ticket prices increases would work.

If it is not a money issue then the question is what, if anything, can be done to resolve the scheduling issues or are do we just have to get used to BOHICA.

I like this idea. A put up or shut idea. Perhaps someone can suggest this to the AD.

If we get word from the administration that it would help scheduling, I'm in for $100.

I'd be up for that too, but there would need to be some accountablity. How about a "keep the dough" refund for everyone who paid, if we get more than two cupcakes on the schedule?

[ShockTalk]

I really doubt that HCGM and staff are just lazily sitting around and holding off on the releasing a poor schedule out of choice.

HCGM no doubt wants to get to the NCAA Tournamnet in the worst way. Personally, I'm concerned that if we don't starting making the dance on a regular basis going forward HCGM will start looking for other opportunities, especially if diffuculty in scheduling contributes to the difficulty in making the dance.

If it is mostly a matter of money then that needs to be addressed and is something the fans can actually influence. I'd be willing to kick in $100 or so per year to a Shocker MBB Scheduling Fund if that, in fact, would resolve or significantly help in scheduling decent opponents. If we could get 5,000 fans to kick in an average of $100 each per year that would generate $500,000 annually to use towards upgrading the schedule. The other and probably better option is to raise season ticket prices $50 per year to raise the extra $500,000 to use for scheduling. Maybe a combination of a voluntary fund and ticket prices increases would work.

If it is not a money issue then the question is what, if anything, can be done to resolve the scheduling issues or are do we just have to get used to BOHICA.

I like this idea. A put up or shut idea. Perhaps someone can suggest this to the AD.

If we get word from the administration that it would help scheduling, I'm in for $100.

I would be in as well, I'm just not sure how much better opponent(s) those dollars would buy. Help get solid home/home? One, two, or three better opponents? 200-250 RPI range instead of 300-350? If the last, I guess I might not be interested.

I'm just not sure this is the real issue. HCGM came from a school where a solid buy-in meant good revenue. Now he's at a school where an additional near sell-out crowd may mean good revenue. Or, maybe he just feels playing more weaker opponents is good for the team. Maybe, he's just like many of the others we're critical of and he's not willing to "risk" playing better opponents on the road.

:noidea:

[AMaizNShocks]

Maybe, he's just like many of the others we're critical of and he's not willing to "risk" playing better opponents on the road.

You don't really believe that do you? I think HCGM would take all comers, anywhere, anytime? What could he possible gain by continually scheduling and dominating weaker opponents? Sure, he'd build up the confidence level of his team (maybe), and they would all feel good about themselves (maybe), until they came up against a really good team, over confident, and ripe for a beat down. Where does that leave him then? Square one?

[ShockTalk]

Maybe, he's just like many of the others we're critical of and he's not willing to "risk" playing better opponents on the road.

You don't really believe that do you? I think HCGM would take all comers, anywhere, anytime? What could he possible gain by continually scheduling and dominating weaker opponents? Sure, he'd build up the confidence level of his team (maybe), and they would all feel good about themselves (maybe), until they came up against a really good team, over confident, and ripe for a beat down. Where does that leave him then? Square one?

No, I don't. But he does have his limits as to what he (and the school) will accept, as they very well should. I know it's just one example, but the only real difference between us, currently, and Butler during their 4 year building program, is each school's location and whether that impact was what made for the large difference in quality and type of schedule during those periods. Both schools have had strong home court advantages and I don't think we're worse off financially than Butler was during their 4 year building process. Just looking for reasons as to why we have to settle for so many cupcake games while Butler didn't.

[vbird53]

There are too many factors at hand in scheduling (WSU doesn't put together theirs in a vacuum), for some to be criticizing the schedule in such ways. Much of what is done clearly cannot be controlled by WSU. This is clearly a better schedule than last years:

A) in the premier early season tourney
B) replace TCU with SDSU
C) neutral court games vs. LSU and Tulsa (don't neutral court wins count more toward the rpi than a home win?)
D) should be in line for a great BB match-up

And now for the reality check: as an outsider to the BCS leagues, the deck is stacked against us no matter what we do. Until the league that we play in steps up, and demands more commitment from league members, nothing is going to change. The bulk of our schedule is made up of the conference slate, and also happens to be the most important part. Cupcake world is a fact of college basketball

Our in-state "rivals" bring in some of the true bluebloods:
KU: Longwood, Valpo, N. Texas, Tex AM Corpus Christi, Ohio, Colorado St., UT Arlington, Miami (OH), and UMKC
KSU: James Madison, Presbyterian, Texas Southern, Emporia St., Alcorn St., Loyolla, UMKC, N. Florida, and Savannah St.

[AMaizNShocks]

Maybe, he's just like many of the others we're critical of and he's not willing to "risk" playing better opponents on the road.

You don't really believe that do you? I think HCGM would take all comers, anywhere, anytime? What could he possible gain by continually scheduling and dominating weaker opponents? Sure, he'd build up the confidence level of his team (maybe), and they would all feel good about themselves (maybe), until they came up against a really good team, over confident, and ripe for a beat down. Where does that leave him then? Square one?

No, I don't. But he does have his limits as to what he (and the school) will accept, as they very well should. I know it's just one example, but the only real difference between us, currently, and Butler during their 4 year building program, is each school's location and whether that impact was what made for the large difference in quality and type of schedule during those periods. Both schools have had strong home court advantages and I don't think we're worse off financially than Butler was during their 4 year building process. Just looking for reasons as to why we have to settle for so many cupcake games while Butler didn't.

I'd like to know what happened this year with the schedule like everyone else, but I don't think it's because HCGM is afraid to schedule the tough games. In fact I believe it's quite the opposite, most are afraid to schedule the shox. Location could certainly be a factor favorable for Butler, but I was curious if the Indiana legislature had any influence on in-state scheduling? Do they play in-state D1 schools, and if so is it mandated? If we could get the spineless D1 schools in this state to man up, it would certainly help our situation. Maybe we could start a petition or something.

Fixed. I realize Butler is Private so their State goverment probably has no say but I stand by my statement about other KS D1 schools. Our legislators could do something if they had the guts.

[another shocker]

Newbie here. LSU could be tough in Shreveport. They brought in that coach from Stanford last year and they are moving up fast. SDSU there will be VERY tough. The Maui is the best, most written about pre-season tourney. Hey, isn't this schedule better than last years (Texas Tech, Pitt)?

[ShockTalk]

There are too many factors at hand in scheduling (WSU doesn't put together theirs in a vacuum), for some to be criticizing the schedule in such ways. Much of what is done clearly cannot be controlled by WSU.

Maybe. For the most part, you are correct.

This is clearly a better schedule than last years:

A) in the premier early season tourney
B) replace TCU with SDSU
C) neutral court games vs. LSU and Tulsa (don't neutral court wins count more toward the rpi than a home win?)
D) should be in line for a great BB match-up

Agreed.

And now for the reality check: as an outsider to the BCS leagues, the deck is stacked against us no matter what we do.

Maybe again. Butler seemed to handle it well, but "location" could be a strong factor.

Until the league that we play in steps up, and demands more commitment from league members, nothing is going to change. The bulk of our schedule is made up of the conference slate, and also happens to be the most important part.

Absolutely!

Cupcake world is a fact of college basketball

Our in-state "rivals" bring in some of the true bluebloods:
KU: Longwood, Valpo, N. Texas, Tex AM Corpus Christi, Ohio, Colorado St., UT Arlington, Miami (OH), and UMKC
KSU: James Madison, Presbyterian, Texas Southern, Emporia St., Alcorn St., Loyolla, UMKC, N. Florida, and Savannah St.

And I'd be just as p o'd, maybe more so, with that schedule with the level of play they're at and the money they have to throw around. However, I'm assuming that these are all one and dones. There are a few there I might consider home/home with and UMKC ain't one of them.

[pinstripers]

I don't care if we EVER play the cats or the beakers. I would like home and home with UMKC, ORU, StLoo, and Tulsa forever, tho.

[Kung Wu]

Is it possible that ADs and DoBO's at BCS schools are micro-managing their football and basketball schedules to the nth degree even more than ever due to all the talk of conference alignment this year?

I am thinking they have their butts clenched tighter than a rookie in a prison shower, which means scheduling lower and middle of the road BCS schools just got a LOT more difficult if you are a threat to their W/L record.

Just guessin' tho.

[wu_shizzle]

Just so you don't think it's just us with the cupcakes, these are some highlights of the Oklahoma State nonconference: Oklahoma City, Campbellsville (Ky.), Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Nicholls State.

They are playing SMS in Stoolwater, but I don't know if the Bears are getting a return or just got bought.

[shockmonster]

Boy, I'm glad to find out that this is a problem that we have to deal with. We've never had this problem before with other coaching staffs. I think that you are all on the right track and will soon find a way to solve the problem. :roll:

[Shocker Rocker]

Just so you don't think it's just us with the cupcakes, these are some highlights of the Oklahoma State nonconference: Oklahoma City, Campbellsville (Ky.), Houston Baptist, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Nicholls State.

They are playing SMS in Stoolwater, but I don't know if the Bears are getting a return or just got bought.

The difference is that BCS schools play those school because they want to (and don't have the guts to play schools like us).