2018-19 VU Schedule

[FieldGoodie05]

...and, according to the ranking above, Valpo has done exactly that. Unfortunately, as a MM, you can't build an at-large resume by yourself. Every MVC program needs to do it's part. Every  SOS affects your SOS, every opponent win (or loss) and every opponent's opponent win (or loss) affects your RPI. Lousy OOC schedules by sister programs are lazy, self-serving, and detrimental to everyone.

Oh, I almost forgot - "Sheduling is hard, don't ya know?"

Mark Twain: "There are a thousand excuses for every failure, but no good reason."

Yes you can.  That's what Gonzaga does every year (even though they're really a major program in a mid-major league) because outside of BYU and St. Mary's being considered every couple of years, there's no one in the WCC that builds their resume.  It's harder than ever, but programs in mid-major conferences absolutely have to make a go of it basically by themselves in the non-conference schedule to have a shot.

I don't disagree that schools should still be trying to schedule more difficult games rather than relying on the conference tournament for their NCAA bid.  But optics such as a 20 win season are still important for some coaches to keep their jobs or in recruiting, and few coaches want to take risks if it means they could lose their jobs.

Well put, we often forget that coaches are mostly lip service when they say "tournament or bust" in most years.  In the over whelming majority of schools (non P5), a good record is important to alumni and therefore longevity.

We often forget that many coaches want to win, but they also like not moving every 4-years!!!  Many have family and uprooting the kids 4+ times during their childhood is tough.

[wh]

...and, according to the ranking above, Valpo has done exactly that. Unfortunately, as a MM, you can't build an at-large resume by yourself. Every MVC program needs to do it's part. Every  SOS affects your SOS, every opponent win (or loss) and every opponent's opponent win (or loss) affects your RPI. Lousy OOC schedules by sister programs are lazy, self-serving, and detrimental to everyone.

Oh, I almost forgot - "Sheduling is hard, don't ya know?"

Mark Twain: "There are a thousand excuses for every failure, but no good reason."

Yes you can.  That's what Gonzaga does every year (even though they're really a major program in a mid-major league) because outside of BYU and St. Mary's being considered every couple of years, there's no one in the WCC that builds their resume.  It's harder than ever, but programs in mid-major conferences absolutely have to make a go of it basically by themselves in the non-conference schedule to have a shot.

I don't disagree that schools should still be trying to schedule more difficult games rather than relying on the conference tournament for their NCAA bid.  But optics such as a 20 win season are still important for some coaches to keep their jobs or in recruiting, and few coaches want to take risks if it means they could lose their jobs.

Well put, we often forget that coaches are mostly lip service when they say "tournament or bust" in most years. In the over whelming majority of schools (non P5), a good record is important to alumni and therefore longevity.

We often forget that many coaches want to win, but they also like not moving every 4-years!!!  Many have family and uprooting the kids 4+ times during their childhood is tough.

That's why you look skeptically at coaches comments about how hard scheduling is. That's why you wonder whether that's the real reason good mid majors can't ever seem to get together for home-and-homes. That's why you don't leave coaches to their own devices when it comes to OOC scheduling.

The MM benchmark for effective, conference-wide OOC scheduling is the A-10. Following are OOC scheduling rules that A-10 programs must follow:

https://www.vcuramnation.com/forums/threads/a10-basketball-scheduling-requirements-visiting-ticket-allotment.11783/

Note: This is from 4 years ago.

[VU2014]

Loyola tried like hell to put together a strong schedule but ONLY 1 P5 agreed to play them. You need to read the CBS article that talked about it.

Listen at 29:10: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-podcast-a-discussion-on-rick-pitinos-book-and-loyola-chicagos-scheduling-difficulties/

We have also experienced scheduling problems when we have rosters with a heavier amount of upperclassmen. It's no mistake that Purdue and Northwestern decided to play us in rebuilds years. I guarantee you if we had the same year as Loyola, we wouldn't be getting Texas Tech on the schedule. Bob Huggins is old school so maybe he'd give us the opportunity against WVU, but that's a big maybe.

No excuse for MSU. Might be the fact that their new HC doesn't want to play tough competition in his first season. He's on his honeymoon phase.

I've been pounding the table for scheduling standards in the MVC, but Coaches don't typically want it because they want the flexibility to schedule for how good they expect to be from season-to-season. The bottom needs to do everything possible to set up the top teams resumes. Marty Simmons leaving eville is a win from a MVC scheduling perspective. Dan Muller at ISUr has stepped up his scheduling the last few seasons. Hinson has somewhat improved as well.

[crusadermoe]

Agree with the author of the article.   Take the situation as you find it, not as you would like it.   

Take any 2 for 1 and take money in buy games.   It's just reality.

[VU2014]

Agree with the author of the article.   Take the situation as you find it, not as you would like it.   

Take any 2 for 1 and take money in buy games.   It's just reality.

I disagree on taking any 2 for 1. It has to be the right team and the right timing for it to make sense for a 2 for 1. It's just sad that it's come to this in college basketball. The system is rigged against even deserving mid-majors from having a chance to earn a at-large bid.

[IrishDawg]

Loyola tried like hell to put together a strong schedule but ONLY 1 P5 agreed to play them. You need to read the CBS article that talked about it.

Listen at 29:10: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/college-basketball-podcast-a-discussion-on-rick-pitinos-book-and-loyola-chicagos-scheduling-difficulties/

We have also experienced scheduling problems when we have rosters with a heavier amount of upperclassmen. It's no mistake that Purdue and Northwestern decided to play us in rebuilds years. I guarantee you if we had the same year as Loyola, we wouldn't be getting Texas Tech on the schedule. Bob Huggins is old school so maybe he'd give us the opportunity against WVU, but that's a big maybe.

No excuse for MSU. Might be the fact that their new HC doesn't want to play tough competition in his first season. He's on his honeymoon phase.

I've been pounding the table for scheduling standards in the MVC, but Coaches don't typically want it because they want the flexibility to schedule for how good they expect to be from season-to-season. The bottom needs to do everything possible to set up the top teams resumes. Marty Simmons leaving eville is a win from a MVC scheduling perspective. Dan Muller at ISUr has stepped up his scheduling the last few seasons. Hinson has somewhat improved as well.

What's odd to me is that Loyola wound up in the Ft. Myers Tip-off, a tourney with Richmond, Boston College and Wyoming, and this was announced in July.  Organizers are the ones who put these fields together and have nothing to do with the coaches themselves, so am I to believe that this was the best non-conference tournament they could get into when Northern Iowa was in the Battle for Atlantis this past season and Valpo's in a significantly better field at Myrtle Beach?

It's not surprising at all that Power Programs aren't jumping at the chance to play Loyola, especially in a home and home environment.  Here are the P5 programs that visited these respective mid-major programs the year after their Final 4 runs.

George Mason - Mississippi State (this was part of a home and home that started the previous season)
Butler - Stanford (Also had a home and home start with Louisville that season)
VCU - None (Had a home and home start with Alabama and their former coach Anthony Grant which was agreed to when he left VCU)
Wichita State - Tennessee (this was part of a home and home that started the previous season)

3 of these schools (excludes George Mason) had established themselves as really good programs by the time they went to the final 4, and teams weren't beating down their door to play at their gym.  Loyola hadn't made a tournament in 33 years and expects to be treated better?  It takes time and consistent success for scheduling to get worked out for mid-major programs.  I'm not saying it's fair (it's clearly not), but things aren't going to change overnight for Loyola (or any program for that matter) when it comes to scheduling.

[FieldGoodie05]

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24886323/nick-saban-sounds-alabama-students-not-showing-louisiana-lafayette-game

Well gents, here's arguably the best college football program of the last 10-years seeing poor student attendance......

For me, this is the new "norm" due to many circumstances.  But here we be!

[FieldGoodie05]

Agree with the author of the article.   Take the situation as you find it, not as you would like it.   

Take any 2 for 1 and take money in buy games.   It's just reality.

I disagree on taking any 2 for 1. It has to be the right team and the right timing for it to make sense for a 2 for 1. It's just sad that it's come to this in college basketball. The system is rigged against even deserving mid-majors from having a chance to earn a at-large bid.

I'm only 10'ish years older than you VU2014, but you'll get it.  The real world will creep in and slow your crusade for "right and wrong".  I'm not saying you cave after 10-years like me, but she's coming for you!!! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[VUGrad1314]

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/24886323/nick-saban-sounds-alabama-students-not-showing-louisiana-lafayette-game

Well gents, here's arguably the best college football program of the last 10-years seeing poor student attendance......

For me, this is the new "norm" due to many circumstances.  But here we be!

It can't possibly be because nobody was interested in watching Louisiana Lafayette a 1-3 Sun Belt team that hasn't finished with a winning record since 2014... Nope this generation just hates sports... My favorite part of the article was when the long-snapper tried to shame his fellow students by using a post about student attendance for a primetime conference game with CFP implications to make his point.

[talksalot]

Game times posted for a bunch of MVC Games....

Wed January 2, Illinois State HOME  7pm
Sat January 5, Missouri State AWAY  1pm
Tue January 8, Bradley HOME  7pm
Sat January 12, Southern Illinois  AWAY 3pm MVC Network -- Possible AMTRAK Trip
Tue January 15, Loyola AWAY - TBA
Sat January 19, Northern Iowa - HOME  3pm MVC Network
Wed January 23, Indiana State - AWAY 6pm -- Weather Permitting
Sat January 26, Drake - HOME 7pm
Tue January 29 Missouri State - HOME  7pm
Sat February 2, Evansville, AWAY  1pm MVC Network -- DEFINITE ROAD TRIP
Tue February 5 Illinois State AWAY   TBA
Sun February 10 Loyola HOME  3pm
Wed February 13 Indiana State HOME  7pm
Sat February 16 Drake AWAY TBA
Wed February 20 Southern Illinois HOME 7pm
Sat February 23 Northern Iowa AWAY - TBA
Web February 27 Bradley Away 7pm -- Weather Permitting
Sat March 2 Evansville HOME  TBA

[zvillehaze]

Sat February 2, Evansville, AWAY  1pm MVC Network -- DEFINITE ROAD TRIP

If not for a conflicting home Butler game, I would be making this trip also.  I encourage Valpo fans to make this trip if they can.  The Ford Center is a great place to watch a game and downtown Evansville has many food/entertainment options.  Casino just a few minutes from the arena ... assume Todd might be playing a few hands of poker on Friday night.

[VU2014]

Sat February 2, Evansville, AWAY  1pm MVC Network -- DEFINITE ROAD TRIP

If not for a conflicting home Butler game, I would be making this trip also.  I encourage Valpo fans to make this trip if they can.  The Ford Center is a great place to watch a game and downtown Evansville has many food/entertainment options.  Casino just a few minutes from the arena ... assume Todd might be playing a few hands of poker on Friday night.

Another game I have marked on the calendar.

[vu72]

Sat February 2, Evansville, AWAY  1pm MVC Network -- DEFINITE ROAD TRIP

If not for a conflicting home Butler game, I would be making this trip also.  I encourage Valpo fans to make this trip if they can.  The Ford Center is a great place to watch a game and downtown Evansville has many food/entertainment options.  Casino just a few minutes from the arena ... assume Todd might be playing a few hands of poker on Friday night.

I'll be making the 1.5 hour drive from Nashville and may also play a few hands!

[crusadermoe]

Thanks for the game times, T.L.!!

[VU2014]

Game times posted for a bunch of MVC Games....

Wed January 2, Illinois State HOME  7pm
Sat January 5, Missouri State AWAY  1pm
Tue January 8, Bradley HOME  7pm
Sat January 12, Southern Illinois  AWAY 3pm MVC Network -- Possible AMTRAK Trip
Tue January 15, Loyola AWAY - TBA
Sat January 19, Northern Iowa - HOME  3pm MVC Network
Wed January 23, Indiana State - AWAY 6pm -- Weather Permitting
Sat January 26, Drake - HOME 7pm
Tue January 29 Missouri State - HOME  7pm
Sat February 2, Evansville, AWAY  1pm MVC Network -- DEFINITE ROAD TRIP
Tue February 5 Illinois State AWAY   TBA
Sun February 10 Loyola HOME  3pm
Wed February 13 Indiana State HOME  7pm
Sat February 16 Drake AWAY TBA
Wed February 20 Southern Illinois HOME 7pm
Sat February 23 Northern Iowa AWAY - TBA
Web February 27 Bradley Away 7pm -- Weather Permitting
Sat March 2 Evansville HOME  TBA

NBC SportsNet Chicago just picked up the Valpo vs Loyola game on January 15th.

https://twitter.com/ValpoBasketball/status/1048228410990972928

[VUGrad1314]

Any exposure is good exposure. Absolutely love that Valpo will be featured on NBCS-Chicago so much.

[VU2014]

Anyone know when we'll know the TV schedule for the Non-Conference portion of the schedule?

[VULB#62]

My apologies if this news got posted or got discussed elsewhere.

[Tweet]1049731911856328704[/Tweet]


Cool that it's at the ARC.

[talksalot]

don't know what time this indoor sport occurs (since it's a secret)... but the Drake football team will be playing on Brown Field that afternoon...

[bbtds]

don't know what time this indoor sport occurs (since it's a secret)... but the Drake football team will be playing on Brown Field that afternoon...

Sincerely, I think most of the fans at the football game will probably rather move inside to the "secret" basketball game after the first half.

[VULB#62]

Food for thought.

Enjoy 60 more days of summer in Myrtle Beach

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sponsor-story/visit-myrtle-beach/2018/08/20/5-reasons-get-myrtle-beach-fall/1040314002/?mvt=i&mvn=27f988ed4df84325b72159e9403eeab2&mvp=NA-USAT-11238597&mvl=AdUnit-%2F7103%2Fusatoday%2Fnative-front_tile%2F%2A+Fn-Branded+Content+%28Default%29+%5BDesktop+Front+Master+-+Branded+Content%5D

[also posted to the Myrtle Beach thread]

[zvillehaze]

Agree that just getting into any early season tournament is not that difficult, however getting into an early season tournament that includes the opportunity to play a P5 team(s) on a neutral court is another matter entirely. That is very difficult for a mid-major and usually involves 1) building relationships with the people running the tournaments (often by playing in an inferior tournament they run first), 2) planning an additional year or two in advance relative to all other basketball scheduling and 3) a six figure entry fee payment - a major investment for programs without P5 money.

Relating specifically to the tournament, based on the article details, Nevada paid over $200k to "Las Vegas Tournamnt Inc." and got home games against Radford and UC Davis, and neutral site games against Southern Illinois and San Francisco. (the article breaks these payments out on a per game basis, but since the money is going to the tournament promoter and not the opposing school, it's really better to look at this collectively as payment for tournament participation, as opposed to individual "buy" games).

I know I'm late to the game, but must have missed this discussion the first time around.  From these posts, is ml2 suggesting that Valpo is paying in excess of $100k to participate in the Myrtle Beach Invitational this year?  Does anyone else think that seems like a lot of money, especially since a school like Valpo would normally BE PAID $90-$100k to play at WVU, which is part of the MTE.  Just curious.

[zvillehaze]

The good news is that the neutral/road schedule should balance this out.  The problem is that these games are going to be extremely difficult to win, especially the Texas A&M game, which Valpo's going to have to play 2 games in 48 hours, and have to fly from Indiana to Texas.
Western Kentucky - 47
West Virginia - 12
UNLV - 107
GW - 192
Texas A&M - 29

Texas A&M projected by KenPom to be a .500 team.  Saw they just lost a closed scrimmage to Stephen F. Austin from the lowly Southland Conference.

[IrishDawg]

The good news is that the neutral/road schedule should balance this out.  The problem is that these games are going to be extremely difficult to win, especially the Texas A&M game, which Valpo's going to have to play 2 games in 48 hours, and have to fly from Indiana to Texas.
Western Kentucky - 47
West Virginia - 12
UNLV - 107
GW - 192
Texas A&M - 29

Texas A&M projected by KenPom to be a .500 team.  Saw they just lost a closed scrimmage to Stephen F. Austin from the lowly Southland Conference.

Those ratings in my previous post was were they ended up last year.  Them being a projected .500 team considering they're rated #48 speaks more to the difficulty of their schedule than the result against Stephen F. Austin, who is basically rated in the same spot in the preseason (#134) as Valpo (#131).  Plus, yes, it's a scrimmage, but teams like Syracuse have lost to a Division II school and wound up not only making the NCAA tournament, but getting a 3 seed in it as well.  Still going to be tough to turn around and win at their place considering they play an in-state rival in Ball State and once that game is over, the team has less than 48 hours before the start of the A&M game, regardless if they're down this year or not.

[VU2014]

Very true. When we play non-D1's we are essentially their Superbowl and often times our games don't approach the game with the proper mindset (especially the vets). Remember that disastrous 1st half vs Trinity Christian two years ago? Nobody on our team got up for that game and they were winning in the first half and at half time coach had to light a fire under their @$$. That was embarrassing.

The guys need to show up against UIndy, PNW, and Concordia. I think the most dangerous Non-D1 game will be against UIndy. It's not a regular season game but UIndy is a good non-D1 program. We recruited one of their kids pretty hard this offseason, but ended up transferring to Loyola.

https://twitter.com/CBB_Central/status/1056182593270542336