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The Lady Shocks announced their non-conference schedule today which includes a pretty tough opening salvo of games after a pair of exhibition games.
That opening salvo includes at Creighton (Big East Co-Champs in 2016-17), at Oklahoma State, home vs South Dakota, at Tennessee then a tournament at New Mexico where the Shocks will play New Mexico, Illinoi and UC-Irvine.
That is followed by a home game against former Valley rival Missouri State with the Shocks returning the favor in Springfield about a week later. They also have a road game st South Dakota State.
The back half of the non-con schedule is significantly less challenging with home games against Western Illinois, Savannah State, UMKC, Chicago State, Alcorn State.
With the exception of Missouri State that home schedule won't excite too many Shocker fans although Western Illinois and maybe South Dakota will be tough home games. Glad to see the Shocks keeping Missouri State on the schedule. I hope that continues.
Western Illinois did have a decent year last year winning The Summit League title and finishing with an RPI of 61 and they look like they have most of their key players returning. South Dakota State had and RPI of 45 and South Dakota had an RPI of 80 last year both also out of The Summit League. By comparison the Shockers had an RPI of 178 last year. The Summit League was 11th in RPI last year vs 17th for the Valley so these 3 games plus the 2 Missouri State games should be competitive games for the Shocks. Missouri State had an RPI of 167 last year.
Savannah State, UMKC, Chicago State and Alcorn State had an average RPI of 309 last year. I believe Savannah State is transitioning thier program down to the D-II level.
Last year the Shocks:
Beat Creighton 62-54 at home last year in the non-con season opener.
They eeked out a 2-point win at home over UMKC.
They lost to South Dakota State at home by 20.
They lost twice to Missouri State. 62-73 in Springfield and 60-65 at home.
That opening salvo includes at Creighton (Big East Co-Champs in 2016-17), at Oklahoma State, home vs South Dakota, at Tennessee then a tournament at New Mexico where the Shocks will play New Mexico, Illinoi and UC-Irvine.
That is followed by a home game against former Valley rival Missouri State with the Shocks returning the favor in Springfield about a week later. They also have a road game st South Dakota State.
The back half of the non-con schedule is significantly less challenging with home games against Western Illinois, Savannah State, UMKC, Chicago State, Alcorn State.
With the exception of Missouri State that home schedule won't excite too many Shocker fans although Western Illinois and maybe South Dakota will be tough home games. Glad to see the Shocks keeping Missouri State on the schedule. I hope that continues.
Western Illinois did have a decent year last year winning The Summit League title and finishing with an RPI of 61 and they look like they have most of their key players returning. South Dakota State had and RPI of 45 and South Dakota had an RPI of 80 last year both also out of The Summit League. By comparison the Shockers had an RPI of 178 last year. The Summit League was 11th in RPI last year vs 17th for the Valley so these 3 games plus the 2 Missouri State games should be competitive games for the Shocks. Missouri State had an RPI of 167 last year.
Savannah State, UMKC, Chicago State and Alcorn State had an average RPI of 309 last year. I believe Savannah State is transitioning thier program down to the D-II level.
Last year the Shocks:
Beat Creighton 62-54 at home last year in the non-con season opener.
They eeked out a 2-point win at home over UMKC.
They lost to South Dakota State at home by 20.
They lost twice to Missouri State. 62-73 in Springfield and 60-65 at home.
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