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Cdizzle wrote:MSU, ISUr, and UE are teams that should be entering an up cycle with intent of reaching the tournament. SIU is probably a year away. Maybe not just this year, but their windows are opening. They aren't all going to make it, but none will make it if effort isn't made. Starting that decent quality H/H on the road the year before you think you'll be really good sounds like a good plan.

And if we're just going to throw our hands up because "Evansville is Evansville" then I think it's fair to expect some frustration with the current make-up and direction of the league.

I don't think it is out of line to question the make-up of the league. The bad spot teams are in is that there are really no viable options to get much better by leaving the league or by bring in new members. The only real chance MVC teams have for a better league is for the current MVC teams to step up their game.

Born2Shock wrote:This is just D+ quality work here:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bvlh6fwIYAIYPT0.jpg

And a strange definition of "best".

ahahahahahaha

Holy crap

good job good effort Evansville

To be fair, the schedule isn't a complete disaster; there's a good pocket collection of opponents who are decent to good - it's just that there's a couple harmful cupcakes with zero higher-end quality opponents to balance it, so they're looking at a 250 SoS.

It has become almost impossible to come up with a top 150 schedule for a Valley team anymore. I suppose you might be able to schedule a bunch of road games against Top 10 teams, but I'm not even sure that can be done. Drake and UNI have each lost the in state quality opponents and they are pretty much impossible to replace.

Born2Shock wrote:This is just D+ quality work here:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bvlh6fwIYAIYPT0.jpg

And a strange definition of "best".

Oh dear God no.

Drakey wrote:It has become almost impossible to come up with a top 150 schedule for a Valley team anymore. I suppose you might be able to schedule a bunch of road games against Top 10 teams, but I'm not even sure that can be done. Drake and UNI have each lost the in state quality opponents and they are pretty much impossible to replace.

"almost impossible" is a really, really big stretch.

We have several teams in this league who do a horrible job avoiding multiple 300ish RPI grenades year after year. Sometimes you get stuck with one in an MTE or when a contract commitment gets reneged. Sucks, but it happens. Most of the time, however, those teams have bit the bullet willingly for whatever reason, be it that the super shitty opponents are cheaper to buy, happen to be close (lower travel expenses), etc.

Failure to book home and homes with North Carolina or UCLA isn't why Valley OOC schedules have sucked eggs the last few years.

Born2Shock wrote:This is just D+ quality work here:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bvlh6fwIYAIYPT0.jpg

And a strange definition of "best".

But we'll be playing the champs of the 23rd and 24th best conferences! And the runner-up in the 24th best conference! And RPI is meaningless! And the moon is made of cheese!

Scheduling cupcakes makes sense when you already have 2 games against a Top 5 team on your schedule.

Loyola's schedule is shaping up. Not fully announced and according to Basketball Travelers, was recently looking. But it should look something like this:

1.) Friday, November 21, 2014 @ Michigan State 17
2.) Saturday, November 29, 2014 @ Kent State 215
3.) Saturday, December 06, 2014 @ UIC 316
4.) (Probable Return) @ Campbell 317
5.) (Probable Return) Tulane 220
6.) (Strongly Rumored) Jackson State 299
7.) OPEN
8.) OPEN
9.) OPEN

Las Vegas Classic (2 Home games, 2 in Vegas):
12/17/14 Abilene Christian 343
Southern Utah (rumored) 348
Monday, December 22, 2014 Texas Tech 123
Tuesday, December 23, 2014 Houston/Boise St. 143/81

Games with dates have been announced. Right now, our average RPI is about a 206, up from the 255 from last season. It depends on our draw in the LVC and who takes up the open games. Apparently, we have pushed back a return game from Fordham and Creighton to 2015-16

EDIT: More good news for Loyola: Rockhurst's schedule came out, and we're not on it. It's a plus for us given that they're usually our go-to D2 game. However, I still wouldn't be surprised if we play another D2 school.

EDIT2: Dayton's schedule is out. We're not on it.

lusuperfan wrote:4.) (Probable Return) @ Campbell 317

Fortunately, the Campbell game last year was not a h/h, so we shouldn't be going there this year.

ahunte1 wrote:

lusuperfan wrote:4.) (Probable Return) @ Campbell 317

Fortunately, the Campbell game last year was not a h/h, so we shouldn't be going there this year.

Nice so that should bump up our opponents' average RPI (from last season) to under 200. Still not a strong schedule, but a start.