mvcfan wrote:Yes. Some Evansville fans (on their message board) are saying that The Aces were unlucky with their shooting yesterday and don't give any credence to KenPom who ranks them in the Top 12 on defensive efficiency. I just wish that the Aces would have played a quality non-con schedule so they could gauge themselves against others then just the Shockers because I think that they would have done well.
The schedule is inexcusable. I think a realistic goal for this year was a home game in the NIT - given what was returning and what they accomplished last year. Of course I would 1000x rather see an NCAA berth, but I will cut them some slack.
The excuses about the schedule frustrate the heck out of me. I've heard them all but it boils down to this - the head coach would rather fatten up on cupcakes than play tough teams. I'm not someone who makes ridiculous claims like IU, Purdue, or UK should come play at the Ford Center. Not gonna happen. Also, even regional teams like Xavier, Butler, and Dayton probably would only agree to LT deals, something that would have been difficult to do this year.
But there had to be better options than scheduling 3 SWAC teams - even if it meant road games. Any MAC, Summit, OVC, or Horizon team would have been an improvement. As an example of creative scheduling here are a few examples:
SIU - North Texas, Missouri St. - Oral Roberts, UA Little Rock - Central Arkansas, Belmont - Lipscomb, and Belmont - Valpo.
All of those school played non-conference home & home games and none of those were part of MTEs either. Belmont did it with 2 other schools. But they were already coming to Evansville, which means UE would have had a road game there. I will concede SLU (Crews) - but two former assistants are now at UM-KC. So there are no favors to be asked?
I just think there had to be better options.