(08-16-2016 01:42 PM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(08-16-2016 07:21 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(08-16-2016 06:10 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  Yes, playing a successful hoops program on the road does enhance rpi. Win or lose it helps. In fact the SOS is the most important metric in the calculation. Several leagues actually have bylaws on scheduling so the entire league rpi benefits which matters when they start playing each other in conference.

Also, those OOC games have nothing to do with conference standings so I'm not sure where you were going with that one. In a 31 game schedule it is ok to lose a few games and learn valuable lessons against the best.

We get it. JMU Nation is scared of playing good teams.
That is un-American and anti-competitive.

What athlete has ever said they don't want to play the best competition? None that are worth anything at all.

Yep- that's the other part of it- recruiting. Kids like to play the best players and teams- many solid-good mid major recruits grew up playing AAU against kids that wind up going to P5 schools so they know that they can compete against them. That and a few games against regional rivals in front of decent crowds is enough to make them feel like they are playing big time D1 college hoops. It balances out the games at Drexel or at Elon (no offense to Drexel or Elon). If JMU is actively recruiting in Florida and that's where Rowe is from why couldn't they have played an away game or two vs a P5 in Florida or Georgia or North Carolina? Why couldn't they play a road game at VCU or VaTech without a return game? There's no down side. Maybe Deane tried but I'm surprised they came up empty- not one P5 game on the schedule.

the only problem with the recruiting theory is that basketball schedules are not like football.

they are not made years in advance. most of the games we scheduled this year were done after the two recruiting periods. kids had no clue the majority of games we were going to play this season.

What you say is very true, but if a coach builds a reputation of quality opponents the recruit can believe him when he mentions some of the teams he's trying to schedule.

With all that said, I still wish we'd play EMU or Bridgewater for our first game. Years ago we almost always had a Christmas Tourney in Richmond with four VA teams to look forward to and took care of our off time. It'd be nice to have it come back.