The unofficial online home for fans of the Old Dominion University Monarchs. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(12-19-2017 09:37 AM)odu09 Wrote:  Here are some opponents that the Top 25 teams just played yesterday. RPI was from yesterday, before the results:

#2 Michigan State played Houston Baptist RPI #300.

#12 Gonzaga played IUPUI RPI #311.

#14 Kansas played Omaha RPI #277.

#15 TCU played Texas Southern #190.

#18 Arizona played North Dakota State #109.

#24 Florida State played Charleston Southern #321.

#25 Creighton played UT Arlington #59.

That was just one day. I wonder how upset these fanbases are that they aren't playing top quality teams every game? Good job by Creighton.

I can't speak for the fan base of any of these top rated teams, or for the ODU fan base. I can say that the difference between most of these rated teams and ODU is likely to be the following -

Most of these teams play in conferences that will have them playing quality teams in conference play throughout the 2nd half of the season. They don't have to play similar types of teams several times throughout the non-conference schedule to have played a strong schedule. They are all likely to have accumulated a few wins over some strong teams by the end of the season if for no other reason than that they are a very good team and had a few opportunities to do so. Those same two components are what used to provide ODU the strong opportunity to end the season with a win or two over teams that would be considered very nice wins.

Look, I'm not saying that ODU should be playing a different schedule this season from the one that they are. I don't think that they have been as strong of a team the past few seasons as the ODU teams of the 2004 - 2011 era that routinely racked up wins over bigger named opponents, won conference championships, and had several NCAA appearances. My only thought is why is it taking ODU so long to get back to that level? When/if they ever do then they should be playing a stronger out of conference schedule.