(07-15-2015 07:56 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The biggest difference between this year and last year is eight home non-conference games vs. just five last year. Oregon State and Fresno State are bigger names too than last year's best home NC draw of William & Mary.

I'm shortchanging Cal - they will be preseason top-25 and a possible Pac-12 championship contender. No one else on the schedule is top-25 caliber (unless Oregon State is a lot better than I realize), but there aren't a ton of RPI dregs either. Most of the D1 teams on this schedule won between 14 and 18 games last year.

No SWAC teams either. If the conference is any decent, we have a chance to be okay in RPI if we are improved as a team as we all expect. The schedule certainly gives us a chance to be in the mix for one of the postseason tournaments.

I do wish that we would drop one of the non-Div 1 games and use it to secure a game with a former SWC foe.

I guess I just don't understand this schedule.

I guess its a morale building aspiration, designed to maximize chances of a winning aggregate record.

Three non D1 opponents seems ridiculous. My quick check seems to show that last year, mid major icons Gonzaga and Butler played one each.

This schedule concedes that an at large bid is impossible. Our only path to the tournament is winning CUSA tournament. But not sure these games help us to build the capability to win games in March.

Why can't we get road games at the likes of Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas, LSU, Maryland?

This a very, very long way from "anyone, anywhere, any time".

(07-16-2015 06:36 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  I guess I just don't understand this schedule.

I guess its a morale building aspiration, designed to maximize chances of a winning aggregate record.

Three non D1 opponents seems ridiculous. My quick check seems to show that last year, mid major icons Gonzaga and Butler played one each.

This schedule concedes that an at large bid is impossible. Our only path to the tournament is winning CUSA tournament. But not sure these games help us to build the capability to win games in March.

Why can't we get road games at the likes of Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas, LSU, Maryland?

This a very, very long way from "anyone, anywhere, any time".

I do not know the answers to your questions, but perhaps they are prioritizing additional home games over better opponents at this point, figuring that a few improved seasons to the point where Rice is not an RPI drag will help schedule better home opponents?

There are a large number of schools that are baked into the tournament and who as a matter of course play only home games OOC and play lots of bad teams.

Michigan State is the one I know best.

They lost at home last year to Texas Southern, which is about the worst thing that could have happened to them for RPI, yet they still gathered an at large bid comfortably (7 seed) and of course reached the final four.

IMHO, our OOC road schedule is a lost opportunity.

MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

(07-16-2015 07:07 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

I also don't agree with MemOwl's gripe here. The schedule may not be great, but it's solid, and there's no question that a priority of Coach Rhoades and Dr. K is to build excitement for the program from within the Rice community (students, supporters, alumni). One can only do that we a robust home schedule; something we did not have last year. From everything I'm hearing, season ticket sales may very well be well in excess of 2,000 this coming year at Tudor (which would be the most in decades). The goal is to feed that growth so it continues to build going forward, and you do that by winning at home. We also have a very young team, with all but 4 of our likely rotation of 9 - 10 players new to the program. Building a winning record before conference play starts will in turn build confidence and momentum.

Net, net-- I think this is the right schedule for Year 2 of the Rhoades era. Assuming we perform as many of us expect, and have our first winning season in quite some time and are truly competitive in CUSA play, then I would expect Rhoades to be more willing to schedule a tougher road schedule in 2017, including games at UT and A&M.

(07-16-2015 07:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 07:07 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

I also don't agree with MemOwl's gripe here. The schedule may not be great, but it's solid, and there's no question that a priority of Coach Rhoades and Dr. K is to build excitement for the program from within the Rice community (students, supporters, alumni). One can only do that we a robust home schedule; something we did not have last year. From everything I'm hearing, season ticket sales may very well be well in excess of 2,000 this coming year at Tudor (which would be the most in decades). The goal is to feed that growth so it continues to build going forward, and you do that by winning at home. We also have a very young team, with all but 4 of our likely rotation of 9 - 10 players new to the program. Building a winning record before conference play starts will in turn build confidence and momentum.

Net, net-- I think this is the right schedule for Year 2 of the Rhoades era. Assuming we perform as many of us expect, and have our first winning season in quite some time and are truly competitive in CUSA play, then I would expect Rhoades to be more willing to schedule a tougher road schedule in 2017, including games at UT and A&M.

I dont see any problem w this schedule based on where the program is NOW. It will an extremely young team, and hopefully one that will be adding even better athletes in the coming years as the program gains stature. Regardless, the only reasonable shot at the NCAA's this coming season is to win CUSA. I dont believe its that far-fetched based on the improvement of last year's team during conf regular season play and the CUSA tourney

I too like the schedule. The idea of the two non-DI games is normally the first game of the year and the first game back after Finals. This year that is true for after Finals (the St Thomas game which I am guessing will be the School Days, or Daze if you have attended it before, game). The St Ed's game is just before Finals. As far as HBU is concerned Walt pointed out HBU is DI and they beat us last year and lost by IIRCC 2 at UH.

(07-16-2015 07:07 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

I was counting Incarnate Word as the 3rd, and realize that was a mistake. They are in the Southland.

(07-16-2015 07:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  I also don't agree with MemOwl's gripe here. The schedule may not be great, but it's solid

Walt, you have made a consistent point (and I agree wholeheartedly) that Bailiff mania should be taken with a big grain of salt as he has few wins against Top 75 teams and has never been competitive in the 4th quarter against a Top 50 team.

The MBB schedule does not have a single Top 80 team from last year on it, nor does it have a single team that appeared in the Big Dance.

The odds of scheduling 11 OOC D1 opponents at random and having zero of them having been a P5 or new Big East team that was in the big dance are 37%.

I assert that this is schedule reflects a strategy of competitive avoidance.

(07-16-2015 07:07 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

Cal and New Mexico are challenges relative to our performance over the past 5 years. So is HBU.

But they are 2-3 quantum levels away from the challenge of Todd Graham playing at Florida State and at UCLA in year 1 following a 1-10 season or to David Bailiff playing at Baylor this year

Anyone, anywhere, anytime (but not until Coach Rhoades gets his career record over .500)

It is insane not to play Houston.

(07-16-2015 09:15 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  It is insane not to play Houston.

Agree but not sure where the fault lies. Perhaps UH saw the game should be at Tudor this year.

(07-16-2015 09:02 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 07:07 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  MemOwl... Not sure if I see your point... Well certainly not a murderer's row, this schedule has a couple challenges in Cal and New Mexico... A few good "barometer" games against a weak P5, a traditionally strong G5, and a mediocre G5... Then a bunch of games we should win...

Also, Houston Baptist is now D1 so it's only 2 D2 teams.

Cal and New Mexico are challenges relative to our performance over the past 5 years. So is HBU.

But they are 2-3 quantum levels away from the challenge of Todd Graham playing at Florida State and at UCLA in year 1 following a 1-10 season or to David Bailiff playing at Baylor this year

Anyone, anywhere, anytime (but not until Coach Rhoades gets his career record over .500)

UNM has been in the tourney 4 of the past 6 years, Cal has been in 3 of the past 6. In 2006, FSU only went 7-6 as did UCLA. To say that those teams were 2-3 quantum levels above the Cal and UNM teams we'll face is an exaggeration!

(07-16-2015 09:15 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  It is insane not to play Houston.

UH's non-conference schedule is probably worse than ours. Cal and LSU are pretty even. Murray State and Rhode Island are okay but not big names really. It's kind of sad that neither team plays each other (or TSU for that matter).

11/13/15 vs. Montana Tech (exhibition)
11/18/15 vs. Prairie View A&M
11/21/15 vs. Florida A&M
11/28/15 vs. ULM
11/30/15 vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley
12/02/15 vs. Murray State
12/08/15 at Rhode Island
12/13/15 vs. LSU

GLOBAL BASKETBALL CLASSIC FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
12/16/15 vs. North Carolina Central Hofheinz Pavilion TBA
12/19/15 vs. Eastern Illinois Hofheinz Pavilion TBA

GLOBAL BASKETBALL CLASSIC 3RD & CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
12/21/15 vs. Grand Canyon , Las Vegas
12/22/15 Marshall/Wyoming, Las Vegas

12/28/15 vs. Nicholls State

(07-16-2015 08:58 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 07:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  I also don't agree with MemOwl's gripe here. The schedule may not be great, but it's solid

Walt, you have made a consistent point (and I agree wholeheartedly) that Bailiff mania should be taken with a big grain of salt as he has few wins against Top 75 teams and has never been competitive in the 4th quarter against a Top 50 team.

The MBB schedule does not have a single Top 80 team from last year on it, nor does it have a single team that appeared in the Big Dance.

The odds of scheduling 11 OOC D1 opponents at random and having zero of them having been a P5 or new Big East team that was in the big dance are 37%.

I assert that this is schedule reflects a strategy of competitive avoidance.

Disagree, You're forgetting an important point-- namely, that top 50 - 75 caliber clubs load up their OOC schedule with home games. I'm sure we could have scheduled a bunch of road games against quality opposition, but that would have been at the expense of more home games...and, as I mentioned in my above post, the priority for this year was to build excitement and home attendance, which has the added benefit of easing the transition for what will be a young, albeit talented, team.

(07-16-2015 10:27 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 09:15 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  It is insane not to play Houston.

UH's non-conference schedule is probably worse than ours. Cal and LSU are pretty even. Murray State and Rhode Island are okay but not big names really. It's kind of sad that neither team plays each other (or TSU for that matter).

11/13/15 vs. Montana Tech (exhibition)
11/18/15 vs. Prairie View A&M
11/21/15 vs. Florida A&M
11/28/15 vs. ULM
11/30/15 vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley
12/02/15 vs. Murray State
12/08/15 at Rhode Island
12/13/15 vs. LSU

GLOBAL BASKETBALL CLASSIC FIRST & SECOND ROUNDS
12/16/15 vs. North Carolina Central Hofheinz Pavilion TBA
12/19/15 vs. Eastern Illinois Hofheinz Pavilion TBA

GLOBAL BASKETBALL CLASSIC 3RD & CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
12/21/15 vs. Grand Canyon , Las Vegas
12/22/15 Marshall/Wyoming, Las Vegas

12/28/15 vs. Nicholls State

Probably worse than ours? That OOC is a total joke, and only one true road game, along with the Las Vegas tourney against lousy competition.

And you wonder why they have 500 fans there

(07-16-2015 10:28 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 08:58 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(07-16-2015 07:17 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  I also don't agree with MemOwl's gripe here. The schedule may not be great, but it's solid

Walt, you have made a consistent point (and I agree wholeheartedly) that Bailiff mania should be taken with a big grain of salt as he has few wins against Top 75 teams and has never been competitive in the 4th quarter against a Top 50 team.

The MBB schedule does not have a single Top 80 team from last year on it, nor does it have a single team that appeared in the Big Dance.

The odds of scheduling 11 OOC D1 opponents at random and having zero of them having been a P5 or new Big East team that was in the big dance are 37%.

I assert that this is schedule reflects a strategy of competitive avoidance.

Disagree, You're forgetting an important point-- namely, that top 50 - 75 caliber clubs load up their OOC schedule with home games. I'm sure we could have scheduled a bunch of road games against quality opposition, but that would have been at the expense of more home games...and, as I mentioned in my above post, the priority for this year was to build excitement and home attendance, which has the added benefit of easing the transition for what will be a young, albeit talented, team.

Basketball must be different. Winning home games against Hawaii and New Mexico State didn't do a lot for football attendance.

Karlgaard does not ascribe to the philosophy of anytime, anyplace, anywhere. That was a different guy.

Why is it insane not to play Houston? The last few games against UH were not close to sellouts. In football and baseball there's rivalry, but in basketball the UH game is just another game.