(10-01-2014 11:29 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(10-01-2014 09:34 AM)emussuperfan Wrote:  

(10-01-2014 02:34 AM)emu steve Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 09:35 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  The NCAA allows for teams to schedule up to 31 games for the regular season so for teams in the MAC we have 18 conference games and up to 14 OOC games. Looks like EMU was able to get 9 games scheduled and then had to make a choice- either schedule non-D1 games or don't play. It would be ideal to get more D1 matchups but ultimately any game is better than no game at all. Akron wasn't able to fill their schedule last year and they had a 3 week gap between games at one point.

I think a bigger challenge for EMU, and a lot of teams, is scheduling the right type of D1 team- not too good, not too bad. The average RPI last year for teams on EMU's OOC schedule this year is 166. Personally, I think anything around 150 for a MAC team is pretty good. The challenge for EMU is that the teams are all either really good or really bad. Lots of easy wins and lots of probable big losses. That can make it tough for a team to know how good it really is.

Unfortunately as long as power conf. teams are able to buy out all of their OOC games as home games getting quality opponents to travel will be a challenge for the rest of us.

RPIs for this year's OOC schedule-

10 Michigan
17 Michigan St
43 Dayton

107 Missouri St
179 Oakland

242 Youngstown St
265 Coppin St
298 UNC-Greensboro

337 Longwood

N/A Concordia
N/A Marygrove
N/A Rochester
N/A St. Francis (Ill)

Excellent post. +2

(some) Folks here think of scheduling as something which a coach has a high degree of control, but that isn't really true. Note the 'case study' of Akron's problem.

There is a big difference between how a HC wants to schedule and how he is actually able to schedule.

I'm willing to bet that EMU was not able to get more D-I opponents and had to settle for four non D-I games or, as you indicate, not have a full schedule.

The problem also is that all, but one (Oakland), of the attractive games are on the road.

P.S. also as a mid-major gets better it becomes HARDER, not easier, to schedule. Other coaches don't want to schedule a rising program. Other coaches want to play teams they can beat.

if you had really read my post you would have noticed that it was about the home schedule and not the full schedule. yes we play a fine away schedule but the home schedule sucks big time and will not draw many fans. and people will whine no one is coming to the games!?

Yes, Super, I read your post.

AND if YOU had read my post and the previous poster we indicate the great difficulty in scheduling the type of HOME games you desire.

If EMU wanted they could schedule MSU, UofM, KY, 'Cuse, Duke, etc. on the road until the cows come home.

All it takes is a sense of masochism and desire to cash in on said masochism.

Then people, players, coaches have no reason to whine when people don't show up for these crappy games! And play only away games! Even MAC game! Its no way to build a fan base!

PerimeterPost, I like your style! Interesting presentation. For comparison to last year's schedule:

Average RPI of Opponents 87

Duke 9
Syracuse 16
Kentucky 17
Umass 23
Green Bay 58
Cleveland State 91
Robert Morris 129
Purdue 145
Oakland 181
Texas Arlington 199
Albion N/A
Concordia N/A
Rochester College N/A

The irony is that despite the huge difference in average oppent RPI of 166 this year compared to 87 last year, the record is likely only going to improve from 8-5 to 10-3.