2010-11 SCHEDULE IS OUT

[Aargh]

Gotta change the way we are thinking.


It will be nice to see Mason Felter get some playing time in the Roundhouse.

Sorry, Doc, but Mason has left the building. This lineup might get a few looks:
<pre>
25 Brown, Derek G 6-5 185 Sr.
3 Jones, Trey G 6-1 167 Fr.
15 Vautravers, Randall F 6-4 160 Fr.
11 Walker, Josh F 6-8 234 So.
21 Orukpe, Ehimen C 7-0 247 So.
</pre>

[ShockRef]

Just wondering how Doug feels about this gem at Valley HQ.

It's almost, dare I say it... Illinois State-like. 8)

[GoShockers89]

Not sure I understand the rationale for scheduling such a weak OoC home schedule. I don't buy into the argument that no one of decent to strong RPI will play in Wichita. This begs the question to schedule 1:2 against tough competition and bring some good teams to Koch or IBA.

We waited a long time for this schedule and frankly speaking the home OoC leaves a lot to be desired.

Why do you think you know who would or would not play us? Why would you assume that the coaches are turning down quality teams that are willing to play in Wichita? Wouldn't the amount of time it took to release the schedule suggest that the coaches didn't see these cupcakes as their first choice and were trying to hold out for better competition?

So you would suggest that we literally could not, under any circumstances, sign up three better home games than these at any point in the last five months? I certainly understand we weren't going to get any home and homes with UCLA this season, but my goodness, you can't tell me that a more savvy scheduler couldn't at least purchase games against a Fairfield, Princeton, Iona, etc. instead of teams that are the very worst of the very worst. Seems silly to act like it was COMPLETELY inevitable that we'd end up with a barbell schedule to this extreme.

With Maui, the MVC-MWC game, UMKC and LSU locked in ahead of time, and a BB game, it's not like we had to assemble a 12 game OOC schedule from scratch.

[WuDrWu]

Gotta change the way we are thinking.


It will be nice to see Mason Felter get some playing time in the Roundhouse.

Sorry, Doc, but Mason has left the building. This lineup might get a few looks:
<pre>
25 Brown, Derek G 6-5 185 Sr.
3 Jones, Trey G 6-1 167 Fr.
15 Vautravers, Randall F 6-4 160 Fr.
11 Walker, Josh F 6-8 234 So.
21 Orukpe, Ehimen C 7-0 247 So.
</pre>

Hey guys, just so you know, Mason plays for Newman. THAT'S why I said he would get some playing time.

[derbycpa]

What a bunch of complainers.

[The Mad Hatter]

Not sure I understand the rationale for scheduling such a weak OoC home schedule. I don't buy into the argument that no one of decent to strong RPI will play in Wichita. This begs the question to schedule 1:2 against tough competition and bring some good teams to Koch or IBA.

We waited a long time for this schedule and frankly speaking the home OoC leaves a lot to be desired.

Why do you think you know who would or would not play us? Why would you assume that the coaches are turning down quality teams that are willing to play in Wichita? Wouldn't the amount of time it took to release the schedule suggest that the coaches didn't see these cupcakes as their first choice and were trying to hold out for better competition?

So you would suggest that we literally could not, under any circumstances, sign up three better home games than these at any point in the last five months? I certainly understand we weren't going to get any home and homes with UCLA this season, but my goodness, you can't tell me that a more savvy scheduler couldn't at least purchase games against a Fairfield, Princeton, Iona, etc. instead of teams that are the very worst of the very worst. Seems silly to act like it was COMPLETELY inevitable that we'd end up with a barbell schedule to this extreme.

With Maui, the MVC-MWC game, UMKC and LSU locked in ahead of time, and a BB game, it's not like we had to assemble a 12 game OOC schedule from scratch.

The competition for these buy-out games is crazy and dependent upon travel and existing game schedules, so no, I am not convinced that we passed on higher quality teams. I don't have inside knowledge, but I don't see it as more reasonable to assume that we passed up on better buy outs than to assume that we couldn't get better ones.

1-2 sounds nice in theory, but doing it very often puts you behind the 8 ball in a big way down the road. Then again, with what we have done to LSU so far in that 1-2 series, I don't know that many schools are too keen on even doing that with us.

Do I think we can schedule better? Yes, but it will mean going on the road and giving up games in Koch. I would be in favor of going on the road instead of playing a cupcake at home, but I am in favor of that precisely because of how difficult it is to get quality teams into CKA.

[RoyalShock]

Very, very, very disappointing. I wish our DoBO was more mathematically inclinced, because he just shot the big toe off of our at-large chances.

Unbelievable pressure to beat UCONN.

What details and/or inside knowledge do you have that would justify blaming our DoBO for the schedule? The only real facts we know are the contact names used on the site where programs advertise for needed opponents. And our DoBO was NOT one of them listed.

[Good News]

I agree on the schedule quality, but just as a devil's advocate I'll throw it out there - we've discussed and seen evidence of the increasing price of guarantee games in the last couple of years. A while ago someone posted an article about the Alcorn State team that talked about it. Games that we used to pay $50K to $60K for are approaching $100K as the prices are driven up by big conference schools with larger budgets.

Unless we play ball and pay up, we'll be stuck with the bottom of the barrel. Or ticket prices go up, or the athletic department's bottom line is affected.

The problems of scheduling home and home series instead of guarantee games has already been beat to death so I won't even go there.


UConn or Bust

[rmwigdnal]

downer

What a downer for such a good team.
6 D1 teams are within 3 hours driving distance...we are playing 2 of them.
I hate the greed for money that has taken over college sports.

[ShockerFever]

What a bunch of complainers.

You must like the NIT.

[1972Shocker]

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.

[derbycpa]

No matter what the schedule is all you have to do is win. If we don't, do we deserve to be in tournament anyway? Sounds to me like you all have determined we are not good enough to win the Valley Tournament. I am not worried.

[1972Shocker]

No matter what the schedule is all you have to do is win. If we don't, do we deserve to be in tournament anyway? Sounds to me like you all have determined we are not good enough to win the Valley Tournament. I am not worried.

Everybody thinks we are good enough to won the MVC Tournament. But just because we are good enough doesn't mean we will. (Our history in the MVC Tournament isn't exactly stellar). Nice to have a fall back position just in case we fall short of winning the MVC Tournament.

[ShockerFever]

No matter what the schedule is all you have to do is win. If we don't, do we deserve to be in tournament anyway? Sounds to me like you all have determined we are not good enough to win the Valley Tournament. I am not worried.

Yes. If we go 30-0, we will make the NCAA Tournament. However, the likelihood of that happening and the realistic hope for that happening is not really that high. That's the point of having good RPI's and SOS's so you don't have to be perfect (i.e. UNI last year) in order to make the dance.

Were we good enough to win the Valley Tournament in 2006? Guess not.

I'm glad you're not worried about our zero tournament titles in St. Louis.

[1972Shocker]

Another approach might be for us to become a seller instead of a buyer. I would be willing to take a couple of one and done road games with quality opponents each year to replace a couple of these cupcakes without any reduction in season ticket prices for two fewer games.

Maybe losing these games hurts more than it helps but at least you have an opportunity to give your RPI a boost.