2016-2017 Non Conference Schedule

[MADXSTER]

I'll update this post as we go along...

HOME
Wake Forest - Dec 17th
Utah
Northern Iowa
Lehigh
Buffalo
North Dakota State - 11/30/16
Eastern Washington - 12/20/16


AWAY
Cincinnati
Baylor - Dec 3rd(possibly)
Colorado - Dec 7th

NEUTRAL
Puerto Rico Tip-Off - Nov 17, 18, 20. Field is Oklahoma, Missouri, UNI, Clemson, Tulane, Arizona State, and Davidson

Missouri - Nov 17
Davidson/Clemson winner - Nov 18

[GoMuskies]

Home - Lehigh

[RetireFiftyTu]

Is Xavier being in a Gavitt Game confirmed?

[XUFan09]

Is Xavier being in a Gavitt Game confirmed?
Officially, I don't think so. However, just about everyone seems to be hearing the same thing, that Xavier is in it this year and out next year. I can't remember when we'll learn the opponent, based on when we learned about Michigan.

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[xu82]

I'll update this post as we go along...

Home
Wake Forest
Gavitt Game (TBA)

Away
Colorado
Cincinnati

Nuetral
Puerto Rico - 3 games (Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona State, UNI, Tulane, Clemson, Davidson)

An early season win (knock on wood) over Oklahoma carries weight in the polls, even if they aren't the same team anymore. Those early season polls suck, but if they make us look good I'm all for them! I'd rather look good in March than November, but both works for me as well.

(Having said all that, past early season tournament performance still makes me squeamish about next year.)

[XMuskieFTW]

I'm really starting to wonder about us being in gavitt this year with Puerto Rico. Last year Gavitt was the Tuesday-Friday of the first full week of the season. That week we are in Puerto Rico Thursday-Sunday and the following week are all the thanksgiving tourneys. I also have heard we are trying to schedule a game not related to gavitt the Monday before Puerto Rico. So unless Gavitt gets moved back to December this year, I don't see any way we will be a part of it.

[gladdenguy]

If we get a home Gavitt game I'm hoping Wisconsin or Ohio State.

[fellahmuskie]

Greg Christopher said before the season started that we would be in the Gavitt Games, that it would be at home, and that they decide on the matchups in April based on previous season's results. Of course, that was six months ago, so take it with a grain of salt.

[JTG]

If we get a home Gavitt game I'm hoping Wisconsin or Ohio State.

OSU ok, I'll pass on Wisconsin, that's like having a 2 hr root canal, fuck that stupid ass slow it down white guy basketball.

[Olsingledigit]

OSU ok, I'll pass on Wisconsin, that's like having a 2 hr root canal, fuck that stupid ass slow it down white guy basketball.
I have heard possible Mich St and Indiana also. I would prefer one of those two to either Wisconsin or Ohio State. Being from Indiana, Ohio State is not a huge deal for me.

[waggy]

Who's going to be good? Indiana lost Farrell, but Blackmon should be healthy. OSU is going to be young, right? Wisconsin should be pretty good.

[Juice]

Who's going to be good? Indiana lost Farrell, but Blackmon should be healthy. OSU is going to be young, right? Wisconsin should be pretty good.

IU will be good. Michigan State loses a lot but brings in a top 3 class. OSU returns all their good and important players. Wisconsin loses no one. Maryland loses a lot but has a decent amount of talent left over if Trimble stays. Plenty of good games for X. I think the Big Ten is going to be much better than this past season.

[XMuskieFTW]

I want MSU. They'll probably be a top 5 team come the end of the season, but if we can get a team relying mostly on freshman the second or so week of the season at home, that's a massive opportunity to crush them before they have a chance to gel.

[waggy]

I wouldn't count on IU being win the B1G good again.

[AviatorX]

I wouldn't count on IU being win the B1G good again.

Really? With Thomas Bryant back in the fold, IU is pretty much a consensus top 15 team with a higher ceiling depending on Troy Williams' NBA decision and what Crean does with that scholarship if it opens/if someone else transfers. IU will be very good, especially in the front court.

[xukeith]

Call me stupid as I am out of it but what is the Gavitt game?

[paulxu]

Google is your friend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavitt_Tipoff_Games

[THRILLHOUSE]

Call me stupid as I am out of it but what is the Gavitt game?

Hi Stupid. Gavitt Game is basically the Big East/Big Ten Challenge. Our game vs. Michigan this past season was part of the Gavitt Games.

[SC in DC]

Hey Keith--you're stupid! There, feel better! (LOL)

[gladdenguy]

I have heard possible Mich St and Indiana also. I would prefer one of those two to either Wisconsin or Ohio State. Being from Indiana, Ohio State is not a huge deal for me.

X would beat Ohio St. at home. Indiana should be pretty good next year....especially with big Thomas coming back. I could do Indiana as well. Michigan St. will probably play Nova.

[xubrew]

I'll update this post as we go along...

Home
Wake Forest
Gavitt Game (TBA)
Lehigh

Away
Colorado
Cincinnati

Nuetral
Puerto Rico - 3 games (Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona State, UNI, Tulane, Clemson, Davidson)

We can play an extra game. We can start a home and home with any of these teams and get an extra game out of it. Or, just schedule a one shot neutral site deal. I think we should do this. You're allowed to play four.

[XMuskieFTW]

We can play an extra game. We can start a home and home with any of these teams and get an extra game out of it. Or, just schedule a one shot neutral site deal. I think we should do this. You're allowed to play four.

I'm always an advocate for this. Usually only happens if it's a guy game though. Which of those teams realistically would be bought? Tulane? Not sure any of the other ones would want to without a home and home

[paulxu]

Usually only happens if it's a guy game though.

I sure hope it's a guy game. Meanwhile, Clemson would be ideal for me to attend if a H/H...but not the most ideal opponent for our schedule.

[XMuskieFTW]

I sure hope it's a guy game. Meanwhile, Clemson would be ideal for me to attend if a H/H...but not the most ideal opponent for our schedule.

buy game, guy game. Same thing. Gotta pay for both.

[xubrew]

I'm always an advocate for this. Usually only happens if it's a guy game though. Which of those teams realistically would be bought? Tulane? Not sure any of the other ones would want to without a home and home

The games you're talking about are where you technically have twelve teams in it. You have eight bracketed teams, and four other teams. The four other teams play two buy games, and then two games against each other. So, everyone gets four.

Last year, Monmouth and USC played, as did Dayton and Alabama. I think it typically works out great. The year we were in the tournament with Tennessee I think we counted our game with them as an unbracketed exempt game. I'm a fan of playing as many as they let you play. If three is good, then four is better. The whole point is to get a few extra games in, so let's get in as many as we can.

[XMuskieFTW]

The games you're talking about are where you technically have twelve teams in it. You have eight bracketed teams, and four other teams. The four other teams play two buy games, and then two games against each other. So, everyone gets four.

Last year, Monmouth and USC played, as did Dayton and Alabama. I think it typically works out great. The year we were in the tournament with Tennessee I think we counted our game with them as an unbracketed exempt game. I'm a fan of playing as many as they let you play. If three is good, then four is better. The whole point is to get a few extra games in, so let's get in as many as we can.

I'm just saying that if we were to play a home game and not return it as a home/home we'd probably be paying for that game. That's what I meant as a buy game. We did this in 14-15 I believe with Long Beach State. We played them at home and then played them in the Wooden Legacy a week or two later. I'm definitely all for a 4th game. I just think they only team we'd probably be able to get to play us at Cintas without a return trip is Tulane. Maybe Davidson and UNI also. I'd love to see it happen, but I'm doubtful it will. Usually that game is played the Monday before the tournament and I know as of last week X was actively looking for teams to schedule a game for that Monday.

[xubrew]

I'm just saying that if we were to play a home game and not return it as a home/home we'd probably be paying for that game. That's what I meant as a buy game. We did this in 14-15 I believe with Long Beach State. We played them at home and then played them in the Wooden Legacy a week or two later. I'm definitely all for a 4th game. I just think they only team we'd probably be able to get to play us at Cintas without a return trip is Tulane. Maybe Davidson and UNI also. I'd love to see it happen, but I'm doubtful it will. Usually that game is played the Monday before the tournament and I know as of last week X was actively looking for teams to schedule a game for that Monday.

Or, just schedule it as the first game of a home and home and return the game next year.

[XMuskieFTW]

Or, just schedule it as the first game of a home and home and return the game next year.

I would love to see that happen with Oklahoma. Clemson or Arizona State would probably be fine too. I can't see us going H/H with any of the other teams though.

[X-band '01]

The games you're talking about are where you technically have twelve teams in it. You have eight bracketed teams, and four other teams. The four other teams play two buy games, and then two games against each other. So, everyone gets four.

Last year, Monmouth and USC played, as did Dayton and Alabama. I think it typically works out great. The year we were in the tournament with Tennessee I think we counted our game with them as an unbracketed exempt game. I'm a fan of playing as many as they let you play. If three is good, then four is better. The whole point is to get a few extra games in, so let's get in as many as we can.

Xavier played Abilene Christian as the unbracketed game that year, not Tennessee. UT was already the 2nd leg of an original home-and-home series that started the year before. Xavier could have also met Wake Forest in Atlantis, but it would not have counted towards the Skip Prosser Classic.

[xubrew]

Xavier played Abilene Christian as the unbracketed game that year, not Tennessee. UT was already the 2nd leg of an original home-and-home series that started the year before. Xavier could have also met Wake Forest in Atlantis, but it would not have counted towards the Skip Prosser Classic.

You are correct.

But, playing Abeline Christian as a buy game, and playing Tennessee as an unbracketed game would have also worked. I think Wake was too far outside the 14 day window.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Marquette is confirmed as out of the Gavitt Games: https://twitter.com/Matt_Velazquez/status/719579209719353344
Creighton is almost certainly out as well due to playing in the Paradise Jam: https://twitter.com/JohnBishop71/status/714943582289813504 (that tweet is from the Creighton radio play by play announcer so fairly reliable source.
Xavier is in the Puerto Rico Tip Off, which is the 17th, 18th, and 20th so they will have to play on the 14th or 15th. So it is looking like a pretty rough turnaround for the Puerto Rico Tournament. Villanova is also in the Charleston Classic, which is the same weekend as the Puerto Rico Tip Off, so they will have a tough turnaround as well.
A quality link here for keeping track of the Gavitt Games and future Big East non-conference schedules: http://whiteandbluereview.com/future-big-east-basketball-schedules/

[LA Muskie]

I thought I saw a rumor that we were looking for a game the Monday before the tourney...


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[XMuskieFTW]

I thought I saw a rumor that we were looking for a game the Monday before the tourney...


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My buddy who has access to some scheduling info said we are looking to start a high major home/home either the monday before puerto rico, december 3rd, or december 10th. I assume we are looking to fill all 3 of those dates, but since the Monday before Puerto Rico was an option, I assume no Gavitt then.

[GoMuskies]

I think Wichita State would fit in there nicely. :) They may not be high major, but they're probably better than whatever high major we're actually going to find (looking at you Auburn, Mizzou and Wake).

[XMuskieFTW]

I think Wichita State would fit in there nicely. :) They may not be high major, but they're probably better than whatever high major we're actually going to find (looking at you Auburn, Mizzou and Wake).

How is Wichita even going to be the next two years without Van Vleet and Baker? I figure they'll be decent, but will they even be a top 50 or so team?

[GoMuskies]

I'm sure they'll be pretty good. They had the Valley freshman of the year, and Frankamp is still a McD All-American. The new PG got hurt right at the beginning of the year and missed all but one or two games, and he's expected to be a good one. They've got a random assortment of big guys returning who are all average/serviceable. No idea what they're bringing in recruiting wise.

I'm sure it's not going to happen, but next year would be a great time to start a home and home at Wichita. They'll be quite beatable next year, and when they're better the following year you'd have them at home.

[XMuskieFTW]

I'm sure they'll be pretty good. They had the Valley freshman of the year, and Frankamp is still a McD All-American. The new PG got hurt right at the beginning of the year and missed all but one or two games, and he's expected to be a good one. They've got a random assortment of big guys returning who are all average/serviceable. No idea what they're bringing in recruiting wise.

I'm sure it's not going to happen, but next year would be a great time to start a home and home at Wichita. They'll be quite beatable next year, and when they're better the following year you'd have them at home.

I would be all for that series. My buddy is moving to Wichita next week, so I'd definitely make the trip. They're a solid programs so I think if we could somehow swing it, that would be great.

[BMoreX]

My buddy who has access to some scheduling info said we are looking to start a high major home/home either the monday before puerto rico, december 3rd, or december 10th. I assume we are looking to fill all 3 of those dates, but since the Monday before Puerto Rico was an option, I assume no Gavitt then.

Isn't December 3 the Colorado game? Or is that game later in December?

[XMuskieFTW]

Isn't December 3 the Colorado game? Or is that game later in December?

Colorado is on December 7th.

[XUFan09]

Isn't December 3 the Colorado game? Or is that game later in December?
I heard December 3 too, but maybe that was tentative.

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[XMuskieFTW]

Quote Originally Posted by Masterofreality View Post

Ok, boys and girls....

I have an official date for the Xavier Colorado game in Boulder. Unfortunately for some, it will not be on a weekend, but that won't stop me.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016. Get yer oxygen masks and skis ready. Nuts will probably bring a huge duffle bag to stash all of the legal cannabis he can find in Boulder. I'm sure Sweet 16 wants to join me on this epic trip.

In the immortal words of Ozzie Ozbourne- "Flying High Again....."

[Masterofreality]

Colorado- December 7 in Boulder, people.

From a highly placed Colorado *Source* who knows and would NEVER lie to me.

Now, that being said, it wouldn't be the first time that dates have been adjusted around on a schedule to fit certain things...that's why they aren't released until August!

[bobbiemcgee]

http://espn.go.com/chalk/story/_/id/15141893/college-basketball-latest-2017-college-basketball-title-odds-westgate-las-vegas-superbook

Vegas odds only 20-1 next year.

[BMoreX]

Gavitt Games...

EDIT:
St Johns Minnesota
DePaul Rutgers
Villanova Purdue
Butler Northwestern
Georgetown Maryland
Seton Hall Iowa
Providence Ohio State

One to go...

[XMuskieFTW]

Gavitt Games...

Minnesota St Johns
DePaul Rutgers
Purdue Villanova
Butler Northwestern
Georgetown Maryland

Probably leaves us with Wisconsin Indiana or msu

[Musketeer_15]

Gavitt Games...

Minnesota St Johns
DePaul Rutgers
Purdue Villanova
Butler Northwestern
Georgetown Maryland

Providence @ OSU

Supposedly Creighton and Marquette are out this season, which means we get either Wisconsin, IU, or MSU.

[XMuskieFTW]

Assuming the big ten doesn't leave a team out two years straight that leaves MSU Wisconsin seton hall and us. Rutgers and Maryland the two teams playing two years in a row.

[AviatorX]

Assuming the big ten doesn't leave a team out two years straight that leaves MSU Wisconsin seton hall and us. Rutgers and Maryland the two teams playing two years in a row.

Seton Hall is at Iowa. IU also still on the board, although IU is playing an early season game against Kansas in Hawaii so not sure they'll do both. MSU is in the Champions Classic at MSG that same week. Probably going to be Wisconsin at Cintas.

[XMuskieFTW]

I really hope it's msu or Indiana and not wiscy. Don't need to watch that shot another 737383 times.

[xu82]

I really hope it's msu or Indiana and not wiscy. Don't need to watch that shot another 737383 times.

If we beat them by a thousand, it wouldn't be enough to make me feel better.

[AviatorX]

Seton Hall is at Iowa. IU also still on the board, although IU is playing an early season game against Kansas in Hawaii so not sure they'll do both. MSU is in the Champions Classic at MSG that same week. Probably going to be Wisconsin at Cintas.

Quoting myself, but IU is also scheduled to play Louisville in Indy on NYE and should draw a top ACC team at home in the ACC/BIG challenge on top of the Kansas game on Veteran's Day. If you add @XU to that, it's a pretty loaded non-con, something that hasn't really been a characteristic of the Crean era.

[XMuskieFTW]

Quoting myself, but IU is also scheduled to play Louisville in Indy on NYE and should draw a top ACC team at home in the ACC/BIG challenge on top of the Kansas game on Veteran's Day. If you add @XU to that, it's a pretty loaded non-con, something that hasn't really been a characteristic of the Crean era.

Do the schools have any choice who they schedule in these challenges or do the conferences just decide it. My guess is the schools have no say.

[AviatorX]

Do the schools have any choice who they schedule in these challenges or do the conferences just decide it. My guess is the schools have no say.

I doubt they get to hand pick match ups or anything like that, but I could definitely see the AD putting in a call telling whoever schedules these things that it's not a good year for them, especially with 14 teams in the BIG and only 8 games. Just guessing though.

Edit: Don't think Wisconsin was in the games last year, so unless they're left out two years in a row, it'll be the Badgers. That said, think MSU hasn't participated yet and won't be next year.

[XMuskieFTW]

I doubt they get to hand pick match ups or anything like that, but I could definitely see the AD putting in a call telling whoever schedules these things that it's not a good year for them, especially with 14 teams in the BIG and only 8 games. Just guessing though.

Edit: Don't think Wisconsin was in the games last year, so unless they're left out two years in a row, it'll be the Badgers. That said, think MSU hasn't participated yet and won't be next year.

Yea. At this point I'd be shocked if it was anyone other than Wisconsin. Which will make me infinitely sad. PTSD will occur.

[AviatorX]

Yea. At this point I'd be shocked if it was anyone other than Wisconsin. Which will make me infinitely sad. PTSD will occur.

Agreed, sucks. But a likely top 15 team in the Cintas the first week of the season is a pretty significant silver lining.

[XMuskieFTW]

Agreed, sucks. But a likely top 15 team in the Cintas the first week of the season is a pretty significant silver lining.

I'd rather play Rutgers.

[Xville]

Wisconsin is probably going to be in the top 3 if not win the big 10 next year, so I'm happy to play them. We lost, it sucked and it happened, what better way to exorcise the demons by beating them at cintas?

[XMuskieFTW]

Creighton hosting Wisconsin. Guess we are out this year now.

[SalukiMuskie]

Creighton will host Wisconsin per Jon Rothstein

[xu82]

Go Creighton!

Ugh....

[BMoreX]

Well that sucks.

[paulxu]

If Maryland can play Georgetown, O-lie-O State should play us.

[XMuskieFTW]

Now guy who does radio for creighton saying gavitt not confirmed for them. WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO ME.

[Juice]

Xavier has no Gavitt game this year.

[TUclutch]

Xavier has no Gavitt game this year.

t's official. Shannon Russell wrote an article with quotes from Greg Christopher. Based on the quotes, he didn't sound happy and seemed surprised they weren't given a home game

[XMuskieFTW]

t's official. Shannon Russell wrote an article with quotes from Greg Christopher. Based on the quotes, he didn't sound happy and seemed surprised they weren't given a home game

This is garbage. We were told we would host, then accommodated the big east, and they still blindside us fairly late in the scheduling window. Not happy about that. Going to be a lot tougher to schedule a very good team this last minute, and even then, it won't be a top 15 matchup at the 'tas like we were expecting.

[GuyFawkes38]

Ugh. What a mess.

[XUFan09]

It would have been fine if this was cleared up months ago. As it happened this late, though, it really sucks for scheduling.

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[XMuskieFTW]

I have faith in Mario to make the magic happen with the scheduling. We'll still have a solid nonconference.

[Xavier]

I have faith in Mario to make the magic happen with the scheduling. We'll still have a solid nonconference.

We do? Maybe UC, but beyond that are any expected to be top 25? I think X needs to schedule top tier teams in the non con. (Not a lot, I'd love two but I'd be happy with one).

Beyond Nova, what was the best seed X played in the regular season? Dayton as a 7 seed? I understand the BE is huge, I think adding a potential top 15 team in the non con could do wonders come March. Nova played Oklahoma and Virginia last year.

[XMuskieFTW]

We do? Maybe UC, but beyond that are any expected to be top 25? I think X needs to schedule top tier teams in the non con. (Not a lot, I'd love two but I'd be happy with one).

Beyond Nova, what was the best seed X played in the regular season? Dayton as a 7 seed? I understand the BE is huge, I think adding a potential top 15 team in the non con could do wonders come March. Nova played Oklahoma and Virginia last year.

Yea the one major thing we've lacked in scheduling the past few years is top 10-15 games.

Colorado will be a nice game for us. They return 4 starters and 2 key bench players contributing 67% of their minutes and points and have one four star recruit coming in. Should be a tourney team again.

Really hoping to see some more good high major games. Even if we have to play a "neutral" game that is a road game, I'd like to see a top 10-15 game. Just no more SEC bottom feeders please.

[XUMIOH12]

wow sucks for us we got screwed out of the Gavitt games this year. I heard we were supposed to get that home game for sure this year, then obviously got screwed. Guess we are still looking for a marquee home game OOC this year.

[X-band '01]

Given the timing of the Gavitt Games, it just didn't make sense to play one right before jumping on a plane for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. I don't have an issue with Xavier sitting out this season.

[Masterofreality]

We did get screwed. I know that the admins were counting on getting a quality home game out of the Gavitt. Now we have to scramble.

[JTG]

This sucks, but if it came down to Wisky or not at all, I'm ok with it. Butler gets Northwestern and IU a few weeks later. They have a BIG game every year, in that they rotate between IU and Purdue in Indy.

[Milhouse]

I love how easy everyone thinks scheduling is and how we should be able to get an OOC. It's simply not that easy. I'm sure Mario has reached out to every TOP 50 program trying to set up a home and home over the course of his career here. This is very unfortunate as X was relying on this game for over a year.

[sgarcia]

A big thumbs down for the Gavitt Games so far IMO. The matchups have been very poor these first two years.

[paulxu]

Something's not right with all this.
All BE teams get to play 6 times (I think) in 8 years.
There is NO reason the actual teams for any year aren't known well in advance.
This is a BIG misstep by the BE conference office to go this late to decide which teams are in/out.
First mistake of this size that I've seem them make in 3 years.

[Cheesehead]

A big thumbs down for the Gavitt Games so far IMO. The matchups have been very poor these first two years.

I would tend to agree on this. I hope X can find someone decent to fill the date.

[sgarcia]

Something's not right with all this.
All BE teams get to play 6 times (I think) in 8 years.
There is NO reason the actual teams for any year aren't known well in advance.
This is a BIG misstep by the BE conference office to go this late to decide which teams are in/out.
First mistake of this size that I've seem them make in 3 years.

Doing some quick math 4 BE teams will end up playing 7 times and the fewest any of the B1G teams can play is 4 times. I'll just assume that the top B1G teams will only play 4 times because they care much more about the B1G/ACC challenge than this.

[XMuskieFTW]

Given the timing of the Gavitt Games, it just didn't make sense to play one right before jumping on a plane for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. I don't have an issue with Xavier sitting out this season.

We're going to play that Monday before Puerto Rico whether it's Gavitt or just a buy game. I expect that's when Nova will play since they have Charleston the same time we have Puerto Rico. There's no reason the couldn't have made this work. Very frustrating.

[BMoreX]

Really disappointed in the Big East office right now. They screwed up.

[scoscox]

A big thumbs down for the Gavitt Games so far IMO. The matchups have been very poor these first two years.

Agree. Could care less about it if the only teams that will play are the Rutgers' and Northwesterns of the world. If Villanova can only draw Purdue, I don't have much faith that the Big Ten really gives a hell about it.

[X-ceptional]

Really disappointed in the Big East office right now. They screwed up.


You aren't the only one:

We are disappointed not to be a part of the Gavitt Games this season. We expected to host a Big Ten team and alerted the Big East office more than a year ago to our limited date availability because of the Puerto Rico exempt tournament.-Greg Christopher (http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/xavier/2016/04/13/xavier-excluded-next-gavitt-games/83013494/)

[THRILLHOUSE]

A big thumbs down for the Gavitt Games so far IMO. The matchups have been very poor these first two years.

Yeah, outside of getting G'Town and Maryland to start playing each other again, it's been pretty underwhelming. For them to not include a Xavier team that should be a Pre-season Top 10 team makes no sense.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, outside of getting G'Town and Maryland to start playing each other again, it's been pretty underwhelming.


Our matchup with Michigan was pretty fantastic. I mean, we had no idea Michigan was actually going to kinda suck last year, but at the time it was fan-dam-tastic.

[muskiefan82]

Yeah, outside of getting G'Town and Maryland to start playing each other again, it's been pretty underwhelming. For them to not include a Xavier team that should be a Pre-season Top 10 team makes no sense.

Unless you're in the B1G and are, frankly, scared to death of your national perception when you get your teams beat up in the Gavitt games AND THEN follow with beat downs in the ACC/B1G challenge.

[XMuskieFTW]

Our matchup with Michigan was pretty fantastic. I mean, we had no idea Michigan was actually going to kinda suck last year, but at the time it was fan-dam-tastic.

The Michigan team we played was probably a borderline top 25 team with a healthy Levert. A shame he got injured.

[gladdenguy]

The Michigan team we played was probably a borderline top 25 team with a healthy Levert. A shame he got injured.

And without Levert Michigan should have beaten a Notre Dame team who went to the Elite 8. Had a double digit lead at halftime and had them down the entire game til about 8 min left. It was still a real good win on the road.....especially with Levert.

[XUMIOH12]

im guessing none of the Big 10 teams would agree to a road game that Monday

[JTG]

Something's not right with all this.
All BE teams get to play 6 times (I think) in 8 years.
There is NO reason the actual teams for any year aren't known well in advance.
This is a BIG misstep by the BE conference office to go this late to decide which teams are in/out.
First mistake of this size that I've seem them make in 3 years.

Agreed! Xavier and Marquette sit, while Flagships DePaul and St. John's play. Since Butler has a Big Ten game every year why didn't they sit out. Could it be that the BIG didn't like having their asses handed to them in Michigan's Crisler Arena last year ?

[Musketeer]

im guessing none of the Big 10 teams would agree to a road game that Monday

sounds right to me. If it is the Monday after the opening weekend, i cant imagine a B1G team would want to bring their high horse down to Xavier to lose.

[Bmuskie]

I wonder if the Big East just shot themselves in the foot in another way. Remember that each Big East team must play 6 times over the 8 years while each Big Ten team must play 4 times. This does put Xavier in a good baragining position later. Meaning that the Big East can only say no to XU one more time. If XU plays its cards right it could put the Big east in a situation where Xavier is dictating not only where they play but who they play and when they play it. If it were me, Had the Big East played nice and worked with XU this year I (being XU) would have played nice and helped out in years to come. Being that they didn't play nice I would turn the screws in the future to make sure XU gets what it wants.

[XMuskieFTW]

I wonder if the Big East just shot themselves in the foot in another way. Remember that each Big East team must play 6 times over the 8 years while each Big Ten team must play 4 times. This does put Xavier in a good baragining position later. Meaning that the Big East can only say no to XU one more time. If XU plays its cards right it could put the Big east in a situation where Xavier is dictating not only where they play but who they play and when they play it. If it were me, Had the Big East played nice and worked with XU this year I (being XU) would have played nice and helped out in years to come. Being that they didn't play nice I would turn the screws in the future to make sure XU gets what it wants.

Pretty sure the Big East dictates the who and where of the matchups. We have to accommodate them on the when. We have no control in the situation or we would have tied their hands this year.

[Olsingledigit]

Pretty sure the Big East dictates the who and where of the matchups. We have to accommodate them on the when. We have no control in the situation or we would have tied their hands this year.
I agree

[markchal]

This is a bummer. Our non-con is gonna be garbage and we really need to step it up in coming years. I agree with the poster who mentioned the toughest team we played outside of Nova/SH was a 7-seed Dayton squad. Even though they stunk, the Michigan win was big for opening eyes to us last year. And now we're playing the type of non-con we used to kill UC for.

[XUFan09]

This is a bummer. Our non-con is gonna be garbage and we really need to step it up in coming years. I agree with the poster who mentioned the toughest team we played outside of Nova/SH was a 7-seed Dayton squad. Even though they stunk, the Michigan win was big for opening eyes to us last year. And now we're playing the type of non-con we used to kill UC for.
Our noncon is not going to be garbage, nor is it comparable to those schedules UC put out.

It's going to be disappointing relative to expectations, but your claim is a pretty big exaggeration.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[XMuskieFTW]

Can we wait and see our schedule before we say it's horrible? So far we have 4 games scheduled and a tournament. Two of the teams(Colorado and UC) will likely be top 50 rpi teams. Wake I have no clue about, I'll assume they suck. Our first scheduled buy game is great for a buy game. Lehigh will likely win the Patriot and be a top 150 rpi team. So far, our schedule is solid. Let's wait and see what the rest of it is.

[paulxu]

Pretty sure the Big East dictates the who and where of the matchups.

That's fine. Just do it in a reasonable time frame, with notice to the school, so you don't hamstring Mario in his scheduling.

[LA Muskie]

Given the timing of the Gavitt Games, it just didn't make sense to play one right before jumping on a plane for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. I don't have an issue with Xavier sitting out this season.
The problem isn't us sitting out Gavitt this year. It's that we had no opportunity to plan for the empty high-major home slot that is now a gaping hole on our schedule.

[LA Muskie]

I tend to doubt this was the BE's fault. At least not primarily. I just don't think ANY BiG teams -- and certainly none with availability that Monday -- wanted to come get a beat-down at Cintas. Seriously.

[Newswired]

I tend to doubt this was the BE's fault. At least not primarily. I just don't think ANY BiG teams -- and certainly none with availability that Monday -- wanted to come get a beat-down at Cintas. Seriously.

Precisely. The BE has no comment because anything they say would likely make the BiG look bad. They know Xavier will be loaded next year and that the 'Tas is one of the toughest places to play.

[paulxu]

It's going to be easier for them next year?

They can't duck us forever.

[xu82]

It's going to be easier for them next year?

They can't duck us forever.

But they seem intent on trying......

[Xavier]

Our noncon is not going to be garbage, nor is it comparable to those schedules UC put out.

It's going to be disappointing relative to expectations, but your claim is a pretty big exaggeration.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

It's not garbage, but it's lousy. Especially with top tier teams. Mario does a good job playing the numbers game, but we don't play anyone that's expected to do much of anything. I don't think X was scared of Wisconsin...but I think playing big name teams goes a long way in March. Again, the best team X will play in non con looks to be UC who, if we are lucky, will float in and out of the top 25 all year.

[xubrew]

Do the schools have any choice who they schedule in these challenges or do the conferences just decide it. My guess is the schools have no say.

I'm not really sure about the Gavitt Games. For the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, a friend of mine at ESPN told me that ESPN forks out the money, and therefore they have the biggest say in who plays who. The thing about the Gavitt Games is that it involves two networks and two conferences. So, I really don't know who it is that's ultimately making the decisions.


This sucks, but if it came down to Wisky or not at all, I'm ok with it. Butler gets Northwestern and IU a few weeks later. They have a BIG game every year, in that they rotate between IU and Purdue in Indy.

I'm not singling you out when I say this. If anything, I'm singling myself out. Going into the tournament I was dreading playing Wisconsin, and everyone else seemed excited about it. Now, no one wants to play Wisconsin in the Gavitt Games, yet I would have loved it. I seem to be completely backwards from everyone else on this board much of the time, including this time.


Utah just posted something on Basketball Travelers. They're looking to start a home and home on the road against a top 25 team. of course, this kind of sucks because the reason they now need a game like that is due to ending the series with BYU. But, they want a top 25 team on the road, and they gave several dates. So, there's potential there. Allegedly.

I wish we could have played Michigan State. in fact part of me would love for us to try and get that game scheduled anyway and just play it as a game that isn't part of the Gavitt Games. OOC games that include two highly ranked teams aren't all that common. In any given season, there are probably less than ten total. If we have a chance to be one of the less than ten, then we should pursue it, IMHO.

I just hope we don't end up with another buy game. I hope we can find at least a halfway decent game. Is Wichita available?? What about Oklahoma?? We're in the tournament with them this year. We could start a home and home, and if we time it right (which we should be able to since the dates are now available) we can play it as an extra exempt game.

[MuskieFan5]

Any chance we start a Home-and-Home with Dayton?

[xubrew]

Any chance we start a Home-and-Home with Dayton?

They're looking for one. That's always a fun argument/discussion, but it's too early in the offseason. You don't want to start off opening the big present because all the others are disappointing after that. We're not playing them, so there's no point in arguing about it other than it's fun to argue about.

[Musketeer]

Utah would be a good team to get in here. Wont be as good as the last couple years, but will still be a solid team

[GoMuskies]

Is Wichita available??

Do I need to put in a call to someone?

[XU 87]

Any chance we start a Home-and-Home with Dayton?

I have heard after the way Christi Mack was treated the last time X played there, there is no way X plays in their gym as long as Mack is still the coach.

[xudash]

Any chance we start a Home-and-Home with Dayton?

No.

[muethibp]

There's no point in playing UD home-and-home. It would be a very tough game to win up there, as it always was. There's benefit in tough road games but it should come along with some combination of big conference opponent, big market exposure, and prominent TV coverage - and Dayton offers none of those.

[XMuskieFTW]

Pretty sure I looked up Utah and they're going to be baddd next year. Don't really want to schedule them.

[xubrew]

Pretty sure I looked up Utah and they're going to be baddd next year. Don't really want to schedule them.

You're right about that. So, Utah's out.

Michigan State is looking for a buy game. What about a neutral court OOC game?? That won't happen either, but it would be a nationally televised showcase game.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Texas A&M a possibility? Don't know if their schedule is already full or if they would even want to schedule Xavier.

[XMuskieFTW]

Texas A&M a possibility? Don't know if there schedule is already full or if they would even want to schedule Xavier.

They were looking to start a H/H at home for this coming year. I imagine we already have 1 or 2 high major games scheduled that we don't know about yet. I wish they released game info as soon as they had it confirmed. A&M would be a solid H/H

[X-band '01]

Don't think Xavier has scheduled any new H/Hs with any SEC schools yet; you know one or two is probably around the corner. A&M would be a nice addition, assuming they're interested in beefing up their schedule.

[XMuskieFTW]

Don't think Xavier has scheduled any new H/Hs with any SEC schools yet; you know one or two is probably around the corner. A&M would be a nice addition, assuming they're interested in beefing up their schedule.

Georgia was looking to start a H/H this year in Georgia. I know we're trying to schedule a H/H starting at home though, because the only HM nonconference team we have at home this year is Wake. Also Bonnies want to get bought by a high major team. Would love to get them at home as one of our buy games.

[bobbiemcgee]

Colorado- December 7 in Boulder, people.

From a highly placed Colorado *Source* who knows and would NEVER lie to me.

Now, that being said, it wouldn't be the first time that dates have been adjusted around on a schedule to fit certain things...that's why they aren't released until August!

Note to those traveling to Denver. The new billion dollar leg of the Light Rail from inside the Denver Airport terminal to Downtown Union Station (also new and $2 billion) begins Friday. Hotels are sprouting up all along the route. 9 bucks to DT or all day, for that matter, anywhere it goes. Ridership estimated at 57,000 the first day. Leaves every 15 minutes. Old people like paulxu = half price.

[GIMMFD]

Pretty sure I looked up Utah and they're going to be baddd next year. Don't really want to schedule them.

Yeah someone mentioned Oklahoma and I feel the same, I mean they lost 4 key seniors. Wouldn't really want them either, but I'm totally okay with Witchita, Greg Marshall can coach his tail off.

[xudash]

Note to those traveling to Denver. The new billion dollar leg of the Light Rail from inside the Denver Airport terminal to Downtown Union Station (also new and $2 billion) begins Friday. Hotels are sprouting up all along the route. 9 bucks to DT or all day, for that matter, anywhere it goes. Ridership estimated at 57,000 the first day. Leaves every 15 minutes. Old people like paulxu = half price.

Young people like paulxu doing a joint prior to boarding and then enjoying the ride from there, while wearing a Sony Walkman with a cassette tape of the Zombies playing - - priceless.

[xu82]

Young people like paulxu doing a joint prior to boarding and then enjoying the ride from there, while wearing a Sony Walkman with a cassette tape of the Zombies playing - - priceless.

...or Bing Crosby on a portable 8 track?

[XMuskieFTW]

Yeah someone mentioned Oklahoma and I feel the same, I mean they lost 4 key seniors. Wouldn't really want them either, but I'm totally okay with Witchita, Greg Marshall can coach his tail off.

Oklahoma still has Woodard and lattin so I think they'll be decent. Id take a H/H with them if we are still trying to secure one this late in the game. I would love to do a home and home with Wichita.

[paulxu]

Young people like paulxu doing a joint prior to boarding and then enjoying the ride from there, while wearing a Sony Walkman with a cassette tape of the Zombies playing - - priceless.

I resemble that remark. And yes, no one told me about her. Right in my wheelhouse.

[xudash]

I resemble that remark. And yes, no one told me about her. Right in my wheelhouse.

We've met. I really like and respect you. So, I wasn't about to lob the 8-Track grenade in at you. XU82 went down that funny road.

The thing is, I cranked up my Apple TV thingy the other night, went to YouTube and pulled up the Zombies when they appeared on Jimmy Fallon in 2011 to perform Time of the Season: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjf8F3v18DY

It's fun watching the younger generation(s) enjoying some classic music from, in this case, the 60's.

[paulxu]

Dash...I took it in good humor all the way.
Would be good to share another one at Dana's someday.
(guessing a 2% hit on anyone knowing my middle line of the post)

Also, at one time I had a top of the line reel-to-reel.

[xu82]

Dash...I took it in good humor all the way.
Would be good to share another one at Dana's someday.
(guessing a 2% hit on anyone knowing my middle line of the post)

Also, at one time I had a top of the line reel-to-reel.

Heard it just yesterday on my way back from Nashville. I'd rather be a 2%'er in some other category.

Didn't Banacek have a mean reel to reel system?

[SM#24]

Also Bonnies want to get bought by a high major team. Would love to get them at home as one of our buy games.
I don't think we'll ever schedule Bona's as long as Mack and Schmidt are the coaches...too good of friends.

[GIMMFD]

Oklahoma still has Woodard and lattin so I think they'll be decent. Id take a H/H with them if we are still trying to secure one this late in the game. I would love to do a home and home with Wichita.

I'm still not sold on them, they do have 2 ESPN top 100 recruits coming in which will help, but I still think it's a rebuilding process.

[xudash]

Dash...I took it in good humor all the way.
Would be good to share another one at Dana's someday.
(guessing a 2% hit on anyone knowing my middle line of the post)

Also, at one time I had a top of the line reel-to-reel.

Would thoroughly enjoy another session at Dana's with you and nuts and whomever else strolls in. Might be back up again this summer and will let you know if that's the case.

2% is probably about right. After all, She's Not There.

You know, the other funny thing happening now is that some people are playing vinyl records on record players that cost as much as small cars. I'm not sure if that's about coming full circle or not. Otherwise, reel-to-reel and 8-track are absolutely toast.

[paulxu]

After all, She's Not There.

Hell, I'm not sure she ever was.

[XMuskieFTW]

Crosstown Shootout will be during conference play in January or February this coming season per Rothstein.

[X-band '01]

That's probably one of the "concessions" that Xavier makes to UC for the series games played at 5/3 Arena. Not terribly surprising when you consider that the Bearcats don't get as many chances for quality wins that time of year.

[xubrew]

Crosstown Shootout will be during conference play in January or February this coming season per Rothstein.

I hate this. I mean, I'd rather play it in February than not at all, but it's stupid to play it then.

The Crosstown Shootout is useful because it's an intense OOC game that helps get you ready for intense conference games, especially if you're playing it on the road. It also provides you with a big time game at a time of the season when there are very few big time games. Playing it in February makes it less useful. I mean, Cincinnati could actually sell out a game in December, and build some momentum up earlier in the year. What a novel idea!! And for them, I guess it is a novel idea. So novel that they'd rather not play it then.

[Xavier]

I figured this to be the case. Didn't X always schedule it mid conference schedule when in the A-10? I think its a good idea for the team in the weaker conference. A high level OOC game when they other team is battling in the tougher conference and you want a bigger test than your conference foes. For UC it makes sense to be during conference play. For X, it makes sense to be before.

[xubrew]

I figured this to be the case. Didn't X always schedule it mid conference schedule when in the A-10? I think its a good idea for the team in the weaker conference. A high level OOC game when they other team is battling in the tougher conference and you want a bigger test than your conference foes. For UC it makes sense to be during conference play. For X, it makes sense to be before.

It's largely due to ESPN. In fact, it's probably entirely due to ESPN. They want the game during "Rivalry Week." We'll play them on the same week of the Duke v UNC game.

The American isn't great, but it's hardly a one bid league. They have multiple games against tournament caliber teams, and even a few against ranked teams.

[bourbonman]

Crosstown Shootout will be during conference play in January or February this coming season per Rothstein.

I'm just extremely hopeful we don't have Villanova or Seton Hall before or after the date. I hate distractions while in the Big East schedule.

[blobfan]

...or Bing Crosby on a portable 8 track?

You mean a truck/van? That's probably the only portable 8 track that ever hit the market.

[paulxu]

Time for more of this:

http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2016/4/27/11518752/game-film-breaking-down-sumners-crosstown-dunk-xavier-uc-ellis-is-so-scared

[GoMuskies]

[QUOTE=paulxu;553772]Time for more of this:

[url]http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2016/4/27/11518752/game


I'll take Ed's dunk at Wake as the play of the year.

[paulxu]

OK then.

http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/2015/12/22/10655938/watch-edmond-sumner-unleashes-a-huge-dunk

[bobbiemcgee]

Teams are saying they won't go to N. Carolina, Mississippi or Tenn. due to the LBGT thing. Maybe Mario can call UNC, NC State and Memphis for games @ Cintas.

[GoMuskies]

Teams are saying they won't go to N. Carolina, Mississippi or Tenn. due to the LBGT thing. Maybe Mario can call UNC, NC State and Memphis for games @ Cintas.

Or...games at UNC, NC State or Memphis. We don't have to be part of an idiotic boycott.

[Milhouse]

Or...games at UNC, NC State or Memphis. We don't have to be part of an idiotic boycott.

They need the game to be a home game and on a specific date. They open on Friday night and then play the following thursday in puerto rico. They want to be leaving on Tuesday for puerto rico to make sure all goes smoothly.

They aren't going to want to play Friday, Travel Sunday, play monday travel back monday night and then fly to puerto rico tuesday.

[XMuskieFTW]

They need the game to be a home game and on a specific date. They open on Friday night and then play the following thursday in puerto rico. They want to be leaving on Tuesday for puerto rico to make sure all goes smoothly.

They aren't going to want to play Friday, Travel Sunday, play monday travel back monday night and then fly to puerto rico tuesday.

Are we only looking to schedule a game that Monday now? I know we were looking to schedule games December 3rd and 10th along with that monday or are the December dates filled now?

[bobbiemcgee]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_29850493/sidelined-lgbt-laws-ncaa-policy-could-keep-teams

[XMuskieFTW]

Xavier will host Buffalo per rothstein. So far, Lehigh and buffalo are two really solid buy games.

[paulxu]

Not to derail this thread by going off topic, but does anyone have information on our non-conference schedule?

[THRILLHOUSE]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/leaving-now-grandpa-simpsons.gif

[xubrew]

Anyway, VCU and Arkansas are looking for home and homes.

[muskiefan82]

Anyway, VCU and Arkansas are looking for home and homes.

Arkansas would work.

[Juice]

Anyway, VCU and Arkansas are looking for home and homes.

Is this coming from that scheduling site?

[Xavier]

I discussed it a little bit earlier. I really believe Xavier needs to add one or two top 20 programs to the OOC schedule. Again, I'm fully aware Mario plays the SOS game well. Playing the high profile teams is more beneficial in March, I think. I don't think Xavier was scared of Wisconsin but at the same time I felt like they didn't know what to expect. Questions like "how good is this team" "how comparable are they to who we have played" kind of go out the window when you are playing top 15 teams throughout the year.

I get it, we played the National Champions. Heck, we beat them. Take a look at who they played in the non conference schedule: Oklahoma and Virginia. I think I'm in the minority on this, but you get a good idea of where you stand/what you need to work on when you play top teams, I think those games against nova and Oklahoma were very beneficial to Nova. They got four cracks at top 5/10 teams. That will get you ready. I just don't want the OOC scheduling to be watered down, have some good tests-that pays off much more than playing the number games.

Beyond UC, is there a game that really excites you in the OOC schedule? Admittedly I don't know much about some of the teams, maybe a few are returning a lot. From what I do know, I think UC is really the best non con game because 1) obvious rivalry and 2) they appear to be the most talented.

[xubrew]

Is this coming from that scheduling site?

I saw it on basketball travelers.

[IreneHenry]

I will always stand by you through thick and thin. I would bend backwards and jump through hoops just to see you smile.

[XMuskieFTW]

I discussed it a little bit earlier. I really believe Xavier needs to add one or two top 20 programs to the OOC schedule. Again, I'm fully aware Mario plays the SOS game well. Playing the high profile teams is more beneficial in March, I think. I don't think Xavier was scared of Wisconsin but at the same time I felt like they didn't know what to expect. Questions like "how good is this team" "how comparable are they to who we have played" kind of go out the window when you are playing top 15 teams throughout the year.

I get it, we played the National Champions. Heck, we beat them. Take a look at who they played in the non conference schedule: Oklahoma and Virginia. I think I'm in the minority on this, but you get a good idea of where you stand/what you need to work on when you play top teams, I think those games against nova and Oklahoma were very beneficial to Nova. They got four cracks at top 5/10 teams. That will get you ready. I just don't want the OOC scheduling to be watered down, have some good tests-that pays off much more than playing the number games.

Beyond UC, is there a game that really excites you in the OOC schedule? Admittedly I don't know much about some of the teams, maybe a few are returning a lot. From what I do know, I think UC is really the best non con game because 1) obvious rivalry and 2) they appear to be the most talented.

Honestly Lehigh and buffalo both really excite me. Neither game is that prolific but both teams should win their conference and end up top 150 teams. Really impressed with those two buy games. Think it will be like Stephen f Austin and Murray two years ago.

[paulxu]

I saw it on basketball travelers.

How'd you sneak in there?

[Drew]

Arkansas would work.

Did Arkansas even make the tournament? VCU would be the better team.

[xubrew]

Did Arkansas even make the tournament? VCU would be the better team.

Arkansas was supposed to suck last year, but didn't suck as bad as expected. It was a rebuilding year and they should be better this year.

[muskiefan82]

Did Arkansas even make the tournament? VCU would be the better team.

Arkansas fits with the "let's play as many SEC OOC opponents as we can" theme that seems to have been going on for some time now. That's my reasoning.

[Xville]

I discussed it a little bit earlier. I really believe Xavier needs to add one or two top 20 programs to the OOC schedule. Again, I'm fully aware Mario plays the SOS game well. Playing the high profile teams is more beneficial in March, I think. I don't think Xavier was scared of Wisconsin but at the same time I felt like they didn't know what to expect. Questions like "how good is this team" "how comparable are they to who we have played" kind of go out the window when you are playing top 15 teams throughout the year.

I get it, we played the National Champions. Heck, we beat them. Take a look at who they played in the non conference schedule: Oklahoma and Virginia. I think I'm in the minority on this, but you get a good idea of where you stand/what you need to work on when you play top teams, I think those games against nova and Oklahoma were very beneficial to Nova. They got four cracks at top 5/10 teams. That will get you ready. I just don't want the OOC scheduling to be watered down, have some good tests-that pays off much more than playing the number games.

Beyond UC, is there a game that really excites you in the OOC schedule? Admittedly I don't know much about some of the teams, maybe a few are returning a lot. From what I do know, I think UC is really the best non con game because 1) obvious rivalry and 2) they appear to be the most talented.

Completely agree 10000% . We need high profile non-con opponents on our schedule. Just one or two even if we lose, would make a huge difference come March

[GoMuskies]

Arkansas fits with the "let's play as many SEC OOC opponents as we can" theme that seems to have been going on for some time now. That's my reasoning.

Which is smart, because they're "name" teams that suck at basketball.

[xubrew]

How'd you sneak in there?

I know people at the door

[paulxu]

Well get back in there then, and find us some decent OOC games.

[XUMIOH12]

heard Xavier is starting home and homes this year AT Baylor and VS Utah. Still has to be finalized.

[X-band '01]

This would be awesome.

[BMoreX]

If that's true, that's a goddamn job well done by Mario given the hand X was dealt.

[XMuskieFTW]

Utah will be very down from last year but still a solid game. Really excited about at Baylor though. That would be great. So far we are 5-5 on scheduling good games.

[Musketeer]

wow i would like both of those a lot. both good teams, but ones we should beat.

[XMuskieFTW]

utah loses 4 of their top 6 scorers including 57% of their scoring, but look like they have some guys who will step up. They'll probably be a borderline tourney team.

baylor lose 3 of their top 5 starters including 47% of their scoring, but have some strong pieces coming back and a top 100 recruit. Seems like they should make the tourney.

Neither team will likely be a top 25 team, but both are good games. Those two along with another tournament team in colorado, and our nonconference looks really solid. Also I think Lehigh will win their league and Buffalo may do the same. So, so far on our schedule, wake may be the weakest game. Very happy with what mario has done for the schedule.

[Juice]

utah loses 4 of their top 6 scorers including 57% of their scoring, but look like they have some guys who will step up. They'll probably be a borderline tourney team.

baylor lose 3 of their top 5 starters including 47% of their scoring, but have some strong pieces coming back and a top 100 recruit. Seems like they should make the tourney.

Neither team will likely be a top 25 team, but both are good games. Those two along with another tournament team in colorado, and our nonconference looks really solid. Also I think Lehigh will win their league and Buffalo may do the same. So, so far on our schedule, wake may be the weakest game. Very happy with what mario has done for the schedule.

Considering the circumstances of a few weeks ago, having these two teams on the schedule is a really good job by Mario.

[XMuskieFTW]

Considering the circumstances of a few weeks ago, having these two teams on the schedule is a really good job by Mario.

For sure. I think both teams best returning players were a few sophomores last year, so both teams should be good the next two years. Very happy with the schedule. Hopefully we can get two more solid buy games to round out the schedule.

[THRILLHOUSE]

heard Xavier is starting home and homes this year AT Baylor and VS Utah. Still has to be finalized.

Oh wow. Glad I decided to re-enter this thread. Still hoping someday X makes a trip to Austin, but I'll accept Waco for now.

[Xavier]

Considering the circumstances of a few weeks ago, having these two teams on the schedule is a really good job by Mario.

....what circumstances? The fact that he didn't do it before? Or the fact that he was just hoping the Big East Big 10 match up would have been better?

[XMuskieFTW]

....what circumstances? The fact that he didn't do it before? Or the fact that he was just hoping the Big East Big 10 match up would have been better?

Well we were expecting a Gavitt home game against a top 25 team and then got blindsided by the Big East later in the scheduling game that we wouldn't have a game this year. Seems like we had to scramble a bit to fill that game.

[XUFan09]

....what circumstances? The fact that he didn't do it before? Or the fact that he was just hoping the Big East Big 10 match up would have been better?
...there isn't a Big East-Big 10 matchup. That is the major issue. The Big EAST assured Xavier that they would get them a matchup when Xavier warned the conference of its scheduling restrictions for the game. So, Xavier was including at minimum a decent major conference opponent when planning their schedule, and suddenly late in the scheduling process, they didn't have that and have had to scramble. So, yeah, it looks like Mario has done a great job, considering the shitty circumstances thrust upon him.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[XUFan09]

Well we were expecting a Gavitt home game against a top 25 team and then got blindsided by the Big East later in the scheduling game that we wouldn't have a game this year. Seems like we had to scramble a bit to fill that game.
Yeah, usually the big matchups are already determined, and when a last few are being figured out, there's usually more flexibility on when those games can be scheduled.

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[Xavier]

Again, he wouldn't scramble for decent teams to schedule if he didn't rely on a Big 10 team. That's my point, did it stink? Yes. Did he put himself in a position to scramble? Yep. It looks like he was really banking on us playing a top Big 10 team and that didn't happen. Either that or Xavier is content with this type of OOC schedule. Hope that isn't the case and Mario was relying on playing a top Big 10 team.

[AviatorX]

Again, he wouldn't scramble for decent teams to schedule if he didn't rely on a Big 10 team. That's my point, did it stink? Yes. Did he put himself in a position to scramble? Yep. It looks like he was really banking on us playing a top Big 10 team and that didn't happen. Either that or Xavier is content with this type of OOC schedule. Hope that isn't the case and Mario was relying on playing a top Big 10 team.

Yeah, that's exactly what the posters above are saying happened. It's not like the schools are surprised with a Gavitt Games matchup the day they are released -- there's definitely a back and forth between the league/schools so that those in charge of scheduling know what they are working with. When that got pulled out from underneath Mario, he had to scramble. Can't blame him for that.

[Xavier]

Fair enough, just a little disappointed in the overall non con schedule. I guess if we were playing the top team in the big 10 it would be more acceptable. Regardless, he still put himself in the situation. Learn the lesson and try to avoid that next season. I said it before, I am in the minority but Mario plays the SOS game well, I'd rather see a couple tougher teams even if it results in having to schedule more "gimme" games and an overall lower SOS.

[XMuskieFTW]

Fair enough, just a little disappointed in the overall non con schedule. I guess if we were playing the top team in the big 10 it would be more acceptable. Regardless, he still put himself in the situation. Learn the lesson and try to avoid that next season. I said it before, I am in the minority but Mario plays the SOS game well, I'd rather see a couple tougher teams even if it results in having to schedule more "gimme" games and an overall lower SOS.

I think you're really undervaluing the nonconference schedule so far. We have UC again. We have colorado who will probably be as good if not better than the Michigan team we played last year. Baylor and Utah are massive steps up from the auburn and missouri games. Buffalo and Lehigh are going to be better than any of the buy games we had this past year. Just because we don't have any top 10 games on the schedule doesn't mean it isn't stacked. My guess is between colorado, baylor, and UC, 1-2 of them will be top 25 and all 3 will make the tourney. That paired with what looks like an improved big east next year will probably see our sos of 30 last year closer to 15 this year.

[Xu Red Dogg]

Fair enough, just a little disappointed in the overall non con schedule. I guess if we were playing the top team in the big 10 it would be more acceptable. Regardless, he still put himself in the situation. Learn the lesson and try to avoid that next season. I said it before, I am in the minority but Mario plays the SOS game well, I'd rather see a couple tougher teams even if it results in having to schedule more "gimme" games and an overall lower SOS.

I'm struggling to understand any of the points you are trying to make here... Sentence by sentence, not one makes any sense to me.

[XUGRAD80]

I'm struggling to understand any of the points you are trying to make here... Sentence by sentence, not one makes any sense to me.

I think he wants X to play a couple more top 20 teams, and then schedule a couple more cup cakes, instead of taking on 4 top 30-50 teams.....even if it hurts the overall SOS.

The only reason I can see for that is the POTENTIAL of gaining some MORE national exposure via POSSIBLE national TV coverage. But I think X is far beyond the NEED to schedule like that. The Conference foes combined with the current OOC schedule, combined with the rankings and tourney history over the years....people know who Xavier is. So do potential recruits. If X just wins games then the TV people will seek to put XAVIER games on the national broadcast. We should want X to get to a point where people want to tune in NOT to see who X is playing, but just to SEE X.

I'm happy with the schedule as is....it puts X on in front of fans/recruits from all around the country, will still be a challenge, and allows X to play against many different styles of play. Should be great preparation for the BE, which should be its main purpose anyway.

[casualfan]

I think his point is that he'd like to see us test ourselves a bit more in the OOC portion of the schedule to help prepare for tougher games later in the season.

Look at last year. We ended up losing to a Wisconsin team that was 33 in Kenpom.

We didn't play a single team OOC ranked higher than that and aside from UC we didn't play a single team OOC ranked in the top 50.

So our toughest OOC game away from Cintas was against USC, a team ranked more than 20 spots below Wisconsin.

Now in Big East play we played 3 teams ranked higher than that, but i think there's an argument to be made that conference games are a bit different because of scheme familiarity, etc.

I don't know that the point about playing more cupcakes is on track, but i do think there is something to playing some top 15-25 teams in the non conference.

Those are the type of teams you typically have to beat come tournament time to make a deep run and having some experience playing against a really good unfamiliar foe early in the season could prove to be beneficial down the stretch.

[Xville]

I think his point is that he'd like to see us test ourselves a bit more in the OOC portion of the schedule to help prepare for tougher games later in the season.

Look at last year. We ended up losing to a Wisconsin team that was 33 in Kenpom.

We didn't play a single team OOC ranked higher than that and aside from UC we didn't play a single team OOC ranked in the top 50.

So our toughest OOC game away from Cintas was against USC, a team ranked more than 20 spots below Wisconsin.

Now in Big East play we played 3 teams ranked higher than that, but i think there's an argument to be made that conference games are a bit different because of scheme familiarity, etc.

I don't know that the point about playing more cupcakes is on track, but i do think there is something to playing some top 15-25 teams in the non conference.

Those are the type of teams you typically have to beat come tournament time to make a deep run and having some experience playing against a really good unfamiliar foe early in the season could prove to be beneficial down the stretch.

Exactly. Obviously playing oklahoma aND Virginia in the non conference last year helped nova win the tourney. They knew what it took.

[XMuskieFTW]

According to Travelers, Baylor was looking for the H/H to start between December 2nd and 7th. Since we already have Colorado the 7th, looks like we'll likely play Baylor the weekend of the 3rd. Back to back tough road games a few days apart will be a huge test for this team.

[casualfan]

According to Travelers, Baylor was looking for the H/H to start between December 2nd and 7th. Since we already have Colorado the 7th, looks like we'll likely play Baylor the weekend of the 3rd. Back to back tough road games a few days apart will be a huge test for this team.

Are these games for sure? I know a poster mentioned them earlier in this thread, but i haven't seen them reported anywhere else.

[XMuskieFTW]

Are these games for sure? I know a poster mentioned them earlier in this thread, but i haven't seen them reported anywhere else.

Not for sure. Baylor was looking for a home/home starting at home Dec. 2-7 and Utah was looking for a home/home against a top 25 starting on the road, so both games fit what the teams were looking for. No confirmation anywhere though.

[casualfan]

Not for sure. Baylor was looking for a home/home starting at home Dec. 2-7 and Utah was looking for a home/home against a top 25 starting on the road, so both games fit what the teams were looking for. No confirmation anywhere though.

Thanks. I wasn't sure if this as one of those scout pay-site open secrets.

[THRILLHOUSE]

...

[casualfan]

...

So it was lifted from scout?

I'm sure Rick and those guys wouldn't appreciate that, but it makes me feel better about it being real info.

[THRILLHOUSE]

So it was lifted from scout?

I'm sure Rick and those guys wouldn't appreciate that, but it makes me feel better about it being real info.

Oh no, I was just deleting my post cause FTW already answered.

Anyway, Rothstein confirms X-Baylor:

@JonRothstein
Baylor and Xavier will start a home-and-home series next season in Waco, source told @CBSSports. Return game at Cintas Center in 17-18.

[RetireFiftyTu]

So far the confirmed non-conference schedule looks like this:
Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov 17, 18, 20. Field is Oklahoma, Missouri, UNI, Clemson, Tulane, Arizona State, and Davidson
@ Colorado Dec 7
vs Wake Forest Dec 17
@ UC Jan or Feb
vs Lehigh date unknown
vs Buffalo date unknown
@ Baylor date unknown but probably Dec 3

[XUFan09]

Again, he wouldn't scramble for decent teams to schedule if he didn't rely on a Big 10 team. That's my point, did it stink? Yes. Did he put himself in a position to scramble? Yep. It looks like he was really banking on us playing a top Big 10 team and that didn't happen. Either that or Xavier is content with this type of OOC schedule. Hope that isn't the case and Mario was relying on playing a top Big 10 team.
Rely on a Big 10 team? Either you don't understand how the Gavitt Games work or you are suggesting something foolish. I'll start with the former, in case some bad assumptions need to be cleared up.

Every team in the Big East is contractually obligated to participate in the Gavitt Games in eight out of the ten years that it runs. Because putting together a schedule takes a lot of planning and organization, the conference notifies all teams whether or not they will be participating that season well in advance, as two teams sit out every year. This gives those not participating the chance to work out their schedule with the absence of that game, and it lets those participating know that they have a game that week (the days on which the Games occur are already set). Teams also have a general idea of what caliber team they'll play (someone moderately near their level, so though Xavier wouldn't know whether or not it would be a top 25 team, they knew it wasn't the likes of Rutgers).

You make it sound like Xavier was counting on a game that only a possibility, something in the works that might or might not happen. That's not how the Gavitt Games work. Though the opponent wasn't clear, the fact that Xavier was set to participate this year was already established and thus Xavier was planning their schedule around that, just like the other seven teams participating. That's why this was such a big screwup for the Big East, and they were lucky that Creighton could accommodate a game on late notice when they originally weren't slated to be in it this year. If they couldn't have, the Big East might have ended up violated a major contract.

The other possibility is that you are aware of all of this, but you still wanted Xavier to plan for that tiny chance that the Big East would screw this up. That would go over well most of the time. Xavier works on scheduling another team, maybe even gets everything but the final contract established, but then they back out, saying, "Just kidding, you were just the backup to the small chance that a game we were set to have got screwed up. We weren't really serious about this." That's a fantastic way to manage relationships with other programs for future scheduling. I'm sure they'll pick up the phone next time.

Now, the question of whether to schedule more top 10-25 games in general is different, one about recruiting philosophy. You also have to deal with the issue that a lot of top programs probably wouldn't want a home-and-home with Xavier.

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[Masterofreality]

Oh no, I was just deleting my post cause FTW already answered.

Anyway, Rothstein confirms X-Baylor:

@JonRothstein
Baylor and Xavier will start a home-and-home series next season in Waco, source told @CBSSports. Return game at Cintas Center in 17-18.

I'm sure that Rothstein's "Source" is...

Xavierhoops.com. :jumpforjoy:

[X-band '01]

If that were the case, he'd also list Utah. Apparently that one isn't confirmed yet.

[Masterofreality]

If that were the case, he'd also list Utah. Apparently that one isn't confirmed yet.

C'mon Band! Stop throwing cold water on my Scorching Hot Take!!

[MuskieCinci]

Rely on a Big 10 team? Either you don't understand how the Gavitt Games work or you are suggesting something foolish. I'll start with the former, in case some bad assumptions need to be cleared up.

Every team in the Big East is contractually obligated to participate in the Gavitt Games in eight out of the ten years that it runs. Because putting together a schedule takes a lot of planning and organization, the conference notifies all teams whether or not they will be participating that season well in advance, as two teams sit out every year. This gives those not participating the chance to work out their schedule with the absence of that game, and it lets those participating know that they have a game that week (the days on which the Games occur are already set). Teams also have a general idea of what caliber team they'll play (someone moderately near their level, so though Xavier wouldn't know whether or not it would be a top 25 team, they knew it wasn't the likes of Rutgers).

You make it sound like Xavier was counting on a game that only a possibility, something in the works that might or might not happen. That's not how the Gavitt Games work. Though the opponent wasn't clear, the fact that Xavier was set to participate this year was already established and thus Xavier was planning their schedule around that, just like the other seven teams participating. That's why this was such a big screwup for the Big East, and they were lucky that Creighton could accommodate a game on late notice when they originally weren't slated to be in it this year. If they couldn't have, the Big East might have ended up violated a major contract.

The other possibility is that you are aware of all of this, but you still wanted Xavier to plan for that tiny chance that the Big East would screw this up. That would go over well most of the time. Xavier works on scheduling another team, maybe even gets everything but the final contract established, but then they back out, saying, "Just kidding, you were just the backup to the small chance that a game we were set to have got screwed up. We weren't really serious about this." That's a fantastic way to manage relationships with other programs for future scheduling. I'm sure they'll pick up the phone next time.

Now, the question of whether to schedule more top 10-25 games in general is different, one about recruiting philosophy. You also have to deal with the issue that a lot of top programs probably wouldn't want a home-and-home with Xavier.

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Pretty much this exactly, but I also wanted to mention how restrictive the scheduling is because dates have to match up. Even if Xavier finds another team that matches the criteria of being a good team like Baylor that wants a home and home, the date of the game has to be agreed upon and make sense for both teams.

It's also really hard to get home and home games with top twenty teams. Outside of maybe 5 programs the top twenty can be pretty fluid, so when you schedule the game you think you are getting a really good team and then they shit the bed. By definition there are also only twenty teams in the top twenty every year. I am pretty sure Mario and Mack would welcome in North Carolina, UK, UCLA, Kansas, Duke, MSU, etc. whenever those teams want to play at Cintas, but between tournaments and made for TV games there aren't many possibilities for those guys to do home and homes.

[xubrew]

Rely on a Big 10 team? Either you don't understand how the Gavitt Games work or you are suggesting something foolish. I'll start with the former, in case some bad assumptions need to be cleared up.

Every team in the Big East is contractually obligated to participate in the Gavitt Games in eight out of the ten years that it runs. Because putting together a schedule takes a lot of planning and organization, the conference notifies all teams whether or not they will be participating that season well in advance, as two teams sit out every year. This gives those not participating the chance to work out their schedule with the absence of that game, and it lets those participating know that they have a game that week (the days on which the Games occur are already set). Teams also have a general idea of what caliber team they'll play (someone moderately near their level, so though Xavier wouldn't know whether or not it would be a top 25 team, they knew it wasn't the likes of Rutgers).

You make it sound like Xavier was counting on a game that only a possibility, something in the works that might or might not happen. That's not how the Gavitt Games work. Though the opponent wasn't clear, the fact that Xavier was set to participate this year was already established and thus Xavier was planning their schedule around that, just like the other seven teams participating. That's why this was such a big screwup for the Big East, and they were lucky that Creighton could accommodate a game on late notice when they originally weren't slated to be in it this year. If they couldn't have, the Big East might have ended up violated a major contract.

The other possibility is that you are aware of all of this, but you still wanted Xavier to plan for that tiny chance that the Big East would screw this up. That would go over well most of the time. Xavier works on scheduling another team, maybe even gets everything but the final contract established, but then they back out, saying, "Just kidding, you were just the backup to the small chance that a game we were set to have got screwed up. We weren't really serious about this." That's a fantastic way to manage relationships with other programs for future scheduling. I'm sure they'll pick up the phone next time.

Now, the question of whether to schedule more top 10-25 games in general is different, one about recruiting philosophy. You also have to deal with the issue that a lot of top programs probably wouldn't want a home-and-home with Xavier.

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What role does the Big East actually play in the scheduling??

The reason I ask is because a friend of mine from ESPN basically said that when it comes to the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, "We paid for it, and we can match them up how we want." And, he's right. The conference league offices have very little (if any) say on who plays who.

With the Gavitt Games, who is it that's actually making the decisions?? I do know that ESPN wanted to match up Maryland and Georgetown, and since they got it despite those two teams wanting to avoid each other for the last quarter century, I can't help but think that the networks have some say in it. But, since there are two networks, then who is it that's actually deciding??

Whoever it is, I think they failed by leaving us out, and I'm not saying that because I'm a homer. You can generally count the total number of OOC top fifteen match ups on two hands. You can generally count the total number of top ten OOC match ups on one hand. They had a chance to stage a game between two highly ranked teams that would have been one of the five to ten biggest OOC games of the entire basketball season.....and they essentially passed on it for whatever reason. Michigan State should be playing us, and if not us, then at least Nova. It wouldn't have been been the showcase game of the Gavitt Games, it would have turned out to be one of the bigger OOC games of the college basketball season. Yet, it's not happening.

Fail. I don't know who's actually making the final decisions, but whoever it is, they failed.

[Muskie]

Big props for the return to scheduling talk.

[X-band '01]

It should be easier if Fox winds up with the lion's share of Big Ten rights in a couple of years; then they'll be free to set some better matchups instead of splitting with ESPN.

I just think the timing of the Gavitt Games would have been bad either way with a trip to Puerto Rico in the same week, but I can definitely understand being upset at the Big East by being left out when they were told to expect a home game next season.

[XUFan09]

What role does the Big East actually play in the scheduling??

The reason I ask is because a friend of mine from ESPN basically said that when it comes to the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, "We paid for it, and we can match them up how we want." And, he's right. The conference league offices have very little (if any) say on who plays who.

With the Gavitt Games, who is it that's actually making the decisions?? I do know that ESPN wanted to match up Maryland and Georgetown, and since they got it despite those two teams wanting to avoid each other for the last quarter century, I can't help but think that the networks have some say in it. But, since there are two networks, then who is it that's actually deciding??

Whoever it is, I think they failed by leaving us out, and I'm not saying that because I'm a homer. You can generally count the total number of OOC top fifteen match ups on two hands. You can generally count the total number of top ten OOC match ups on one hand. They had a chance to stage a game between two highly ranked teams that would have been one of the five to ten biggest OOC games of the entire basketball season.....and they essentially passed on it for whatever reason. Michigan State should be playing us, and if not us, then at least Nova. It wouldn't have been been the showcase game of the Gavitt Games, it would have turned out to be one of the bigger OOC games of the college basketball season. Yet, it's not happening.

Fail. I don't know who's actually making the final decisions, but whoever it is, they failed.
Like in most cases, the TV networks get a lot of input when they want to (e.g. Maryland-Georgetown). Overall, the scheduling is run by the respective league offices. The programs just provide their scheduling limitations and maybe give some input on what type of game they're looking for (which may or may not be ignored), and then the leagues decide who is participating, followed by who can play whom. I imagine the TV networks work as an intermediary between the two conferences also.

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[xubrew]

It should be easier if Fox winds up with the lion's share of Big Ten rights in a couple of years; then they'll be free to set some better matchups instead of splitting with ESPN.

I just think the timing of the Gavitt Games would have been bad either way with a trip to Puerto Rico in the same week, but I can definitely understand being upset at the Big East by being left out when they were told to expect a home game next season.

You're right, but this presents another issue that drives me crazy in the world of college sports.

BIG TIME ADMINISTRATOR: We can't schedule the games we want because of the timing of the event.

LOWLY FAN: Oh, well, that sucks. But, if the timing of the event is the problem, then who decided on the timing?

BIG TIME ADMINISTRATOR. Well, we did, of course.

LOWLY FAN: Oh, well, then how about deciding to change it?

BIG TIME ADMIN: We can't do that! We've already decided, and once we've decided it can't be changed because changing it would probably result in the world getting thrown off of it's axis!


So, changing or slightly altering the timing of the event or the format of the event to make the event better is entirely out of the question. I don't know why, but my best guess is that they're afraid the planet will be thrown out of it's normal orbit and the world would soon end. That's why we can't play Michigan State. Scheduling an extra game a few days earlier or later would, in their minds, cause the world to end.

But, hey, we got Baylor and Utah!!!

[muskiefan82]

But, hey, we got Baylor and Utah!!!

I am not sure X has Utah yet.

[GoMuskies]

Isn't Utah going to suck in a big way next year?

[XUFan09]

Isn't Utah going to suck in a big way next year?
They have decent pieces coming back. I could see them at minimum being a top 100 team. That's good for a road game.

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[XMuskieFTW]

They have decent pieces coming back. I could see them at minimum being a top 100 team. That's good for a road game.

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It would be a home game.

[xubrew]

Since joining the Big East, we've played a grand total of ONE out of conference game against a team that ended up finishing the season in the top 25, and that was Cincinnati from three years ago.

And, with that in mind, I think it's safe to say that UC is a fixture game and not a game that we really had to actively work to schedule.

When we were in the A10, we played noticeably more good teams OOC. So, I find it hard to believe that we were able to get good/ranked teams in the schedule when we were in the A10, but suddenly find ourselves unable to do it now.

Is it safe to conclude that we don't want to play ranked teams out of conference?? I mean...we're not playing ranked teams out of conference, whereas we were before. If that's the case, then I'd like to know why?? I know we're in a better conference now and have more good games in conference, but I don't see that as a reason to not play tough OOC games as well. If anything, get a few big wins in the bank so you have some insurance in case we struggle in league play.

[XMuskieFTW]

Since joining the Big East, we've played a grand total of ONE out of conference game against a team that ended up finishing the season in the top 25, and that was Cincinnati from three years ago.

And, with that in mind, I think it's safe to say that UC is a fixture game and not a game that we really had to actively work to schedule.

When we were in the A10, we played noticeably more good teams OOC. So, I find it hard to believe that we were able to get good/ranked teams in the schedule when we were in the A10, but suddenly find ourselves unable to do it now.

Is it safe to conclude that we don't want to play ranked teams out of conference?? I mean...we're not playing ranked teams out of conference, whereas we were before. If that's the case, then I'd like to know why?? I know we're in a better conference now and have more good games in conference, but I don't see that as a reason to not play tough OOC games as well. If anything, get a few big wins in the bank so you have some insurance in case we struggle in league play.

I think that we're really trying to balance the schedule out more than we used to. In the past we would play top 25 teams, but also teams worse than 250 decently often. Now, we pretty much play teams 25-150 with the occasional 200. Just looking at this coming season, Buffalo and Lehigh could easily be top 150 which would mean all our entire nonconference schedule so far could be top 150 teams(although I assume wake will be worse than that). I think our goal is to play a sos around 15-30 every year. We don't want it too tough, but not too easy. Would you rather play Oregon on the road and Fordham at home, or Baylor on the road and a team who should win their mid major at home? I don't really know. I know there's a ton of analysis done now with building schedules for optimal RPI and I think that may be a lot of why we don't see these top tier games. That and most top teams wouldn't go H/H with us.

[GoMuskies]

Michigan and Wichita State were both on (or supposed to be on) the schedule and were both highly ranked teams in the preseason. Sometimes it just doesn't work out like expected when the schedule is put together.

[XUFan09]

They have decent pieces coming back. I could see them at minimum being a top 100 team. That's good for a road game.

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It would be a home game.

Ah, that's unfortunate then.

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[xubrew]

I think that we're really trying to balance the schedule out more than we used to. In the past we would play top 25 teams, but also teams worse than 250 decently often. Now, we pretty much play teams 25-150 with the occasional 200. Just looking at this coming season, Buffalo and Lehigh could easily be top 150 which would mean all our entire nonconference schedule so far could be top 150 teams(although I assume wake will be worse than that). I think our goal is to play a sos around 15-30 every year. We don't want it too tough, but not too easy. Would you rather play Oregon on the road and Fordham at home, or Baylor on the road and a team who should win their mid major at home? I don't really know. I know there's a ton of analysis done now with building schedules for optimal RPI and I think that may be a lot of why we don't see these top tier games. That and most top teams wouldn't go H/H with us.

Seemingly every year, there is a team from the MAC that I think will be really good going into the season. Seemingly every year, they still end up needing the automatic bid to make the NCAAs, so I can't say that I was ever right about them. But, for what it's worth, I think Buffalo is going to be really good this year. I'm not nearly as sold on Lehigh. I know they finished strong and have the core of their team back, and I do think they'll be good by Patriot League standards, but I don't think they're good enough to end up inside the bubble like I think Buffalo will. But, since I think Buffalo will, then they probably won't.


Michigan and Wichita State were both on (or supposed to be on) the schedule and were both highly ranked teams in the preseason. Sometimes it just doesn't work out like expected when the schedule is put together.

True, but again, we didn't really schedule either team. One was a Gavitt game, and the other was in an exempt tournament, and we didn't even end up playing them. But, to your point, it looked like those were probable top 25 teams that we would play, and perhaps we just figured any more would be overdoing it. But, still, ONE top 25 team in three years?? I can't help but think that's not an accident.

[paulxu]

The only top 25 team we played OOC in the 5 years before joining the BE was Wake, and that's probably because of the Skip Prosser game.

You have to go back a little ways to find the Dukes, Indiana's, Illinois and Memphis who seem to have fallen during Sean's tenure.

[XMuskieFTW]

The only top 25 team we played OOC in the 5 years before joining the BE was Wake, and that's probably because of the Skip Prosser game.

You have to go back a little ways to find the Dukes, Indiana's, Illinois and Memphis who seem to have fallen during Sean's tenure.

I think we played a top 25 vandy in 2011 or 2012 and top 25 butler somewhere in 2009-2011 when they were still in the horizon. Was florida top 25 when we played them?

[XUFan09]

I think he's referring to final top 25 rankings, rather than mid-season ones (which can be notoriously inaccurate).

Heck, I think one season both Rhode Island and Dayton were ranked when we played them. Spoiler: They didn't finish the season there.

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[paulxu]

I just looked at our schedule on ESPN and I think the ranking listed for a team is what the rank was on the date you play them. Not sure.

[xubrew]

I think we played a top 25 vandy in 2011 or 2012 and top 25 butler somewhere in 2009-2011 when they were still in the horizon. Was florida top 25 when we played them?

If you're referring to 2011-2012 Vandy and Memphis were both top 25 teams that year, although Memphis arguably had no business being in the Top 25. Maybe not even arguably. I think Gonzaga was also in the rankings that same year, although I wouldn't swear to it. They were a #7 seed in the tournament and made the round of 32.

Butler stunk that year.

But, that's three OOC games in one year against teams that were wearing white in the round of 64. Cincinnati would actually make it four, as they earned a good seed and made the Sweet Sixteen that year. We've played a grand total of two teams who wore white in the Round of 64 since joining the Big East. Regardless of where the cut off is (in the rankings, NCAA Tournament, top eight seeds, or whateve) the OOC schedule isn't as tough or as exciting as it used to be, and I'm thinking that has to be on purpose.

Am I wrong??

[XMuskieFTW]

If you're referring to 2011-2012 Vandy and Memphis were both top 25 teams that year, although Memphis arguably had no business being in the Top 25. Maybe not even arguably. I think Gonzaga was also in the rankings that same year, although I wouldn't swear to it. They were a #7 seed in the tournament and made the round of 32.

Butler stunk that year.

But, that's three OOC games in one year against teams that were wearing white in the round of 64. Cincinnati would actually make it four, as they earned a good seed and made the Sweet Sixteen that year. We've played a grand total of two teams who wore white in the Round of 64 since joining the Big East. Regardless of where the cut off is (in the rankings, NCAA Tournament, top eight seeds, or whateve) the OOC schedule isn't as tough or as exciting as it used to be, and I'm thinking that has to be on purpose.

Am I wrong??

I think the high major games definitely aren't as exciting, but the buy games are more exciting in general.(As exciting as you can get for buy games) Would love to see us schedule a top 15 every year. Worse teams manage to do it regularly, so I don't see why we can't/won't.

[X-band '01]

I think he's referring to final top 25 rankings, rather than mid-season ones (which can be notoriously inaccurate).

Heck, I think one season both Rhode Island and Dayton were ranked when we played them. Spoiler: They didn't finish the season there.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Was that the year Dayton was #8 nationally and were disemboweled at Cintas?

[XUFan09]

Was that the year Dayton was #8 nationally and were disemboweled at Cintas?
Haha may have been.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[Cheesehead]

Was that the year Dayton was #8 nationally and were disemboweled at Cintas?

I have nothing to add, I just really liked reading the above sentence.

[THRILLHOUSE]

@JonRothstein 2m2 minutes ago
Xavier and Northern Iowa will start a home-and-home series next year at Cintas Center, source told @CBSSports. Return game at UNI in 17-18.

[GoMuskies]

@JonRothstein 2m2 minutes ago
Xavier and Northern Iowa will start a home-and-home series next year at Cintas Center, source told @CBSSports. Return game at UNI in 17-18.

This is bullshit.

[THRILLHOUSE]

Utah series official now as well:

http://goxavier.com/news/2016/5/26/mens-basketball-adds-home-and-home-series-with-baylor-northern-iowa-and-utah.aspx

[XMuskieFTW]

@JonRothstein 2m2 minutes ago
Xavier and Northern Iowa will start a home-and-home series next year at Cintas Center, source told @CBSSports. Return game at UNI in 17-18.

This will be a nonbracketed game as part of Puerto Rico too so it won't count against our game limit. Still 2 more games left to schedule. I like it.

[X-band '01]

They must be going nuts on the UNI board - outside of North Carolina, they haven't had too many teams play home and home.

Question is, how many of their main pieces are back from last season? I think Wes Washpun graduated, although I think Wyatt Lohaus (Brad Lohaus's son) is supposed to be back.

[X-band '01]

Also good to see that the Utah series starts at Cintas this season.

[X-band '01]

HOME
Wake Forest
Utah
Northern Iowa
Lehigh
Buffalo

AWAY
Cincinnati
Baylor
Colorado

NEUTRAL
Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Looks like that leaves room for 3 more noncon games. Will the SEC scheduling streak survive?

[XMuskieFTW]

They must be going nuts on the UNI board - outside of North Carolina, they haven't had too many teams play home and home.

Question is, how many of their main pieces are back from last season? I think Wes Washpun graduated, although I think Wyatt Lohaus (Brad Lohaus's son) is supposed to be back.

Losing 3 of their top 4 and 53% of their scoring. Return 5 contributors and have 4 incoming recruits. Most of the guys returning were sophomores so they look like they might not be that great this year but will be better in 2017

[XMuskieFTW]

HOME
Wake Forest
Utah
Northern Iowa
Lehigh
Buffalo

AWAY
Cincinnati
Baylor
Colorado

NEUTRAL
Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Looks like that leaves room for 3 more noncon games. Will the SEC scheduling streak survive?

Only leaves room for 2 more. 31 is the limit. My guess is two more buy games.

[XMuskieFTW]

Does anyone know the rule for nonbracketed games? How long before/after the tourney do we have to play the game?

[xubrew]

Does anyone know the rule for nonbracketed games? How long before/after the tourney do we have to play the game?

The rule for exempt tournaments is that all games have to be played within fourteen days (whether they're bracketed or not. Some exempt events aren't bracketed at all), all teams must be from different conferences, and you're allowed up to four games.

That's really it.

[xufan2434]

I like these 3 series a lot. Gives X 3 more quality non conference opponents. And the fact that 2 of them start at home is nice for a change. Utah has been really good the last couple years. Obviously they lost Wright 2 years ago and Poetkl this year, but they should be solid again next year. To be honest, I don't remember who all Baylor is losing but they've been in the mix pretty regularly the last 6 years.

Regardless of who they're all losing from last year, these are good programs that have proven to be consistent recently. That's all I would ask for in terms of who X is going to schedule. There's questions with every team going into the year, but for the most part consistent programs are going to produce quality games

[xubrew]

HOME
Wake Forest
Utah
Northern Iowa
Lehigh
Buffalo

AWAY
Cincinnati
Baylor
Colorado

NEUTRAL
Puerto Rico Tip-Off

Looks like that leaves room for 3 more noncon games. Will the SEC scheduling streak survive?

That's a pretty damn good schedule!

[X-band '01]

Only leaves room for 2 more. 31 is the limit. My guess is two more buy games.

Because UNI is the nonbracketed game, it's included as an exempt game; it still leaves 3 spots open if Xavier decides to fill them all.


Does anyone know the rule for nonbracketed games? How long before/after the tourney do we have to play the game?


The rule for exempt tournaments is that all games have to be played within fourteen days (whether they're bracketed or not. Some exempt events aren't bracketed at all), all teams must be from different conferences, and you're allowed up to four games.

That's really it.

The game will be played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving weekend. There's still the possibility that they could play each other in Puerto Rico, but it would have to be the Sunday before Thanksgiving since both teams will be assured of being on opposite sides of the PR bracket.

[XMuskieFTW]

Because UNI is the nonbracketed game, it's included as an exempt game; it still leaves 3 spots open if Xavier decides to fill them all.







31 is the limit with the 4th exempt game. We are at 11 nonconference and 18 conference currently.

[XMuskieFTW]

Anyone see a date for the Baylor game anywhere?

[X-band '01]

31 is the limit with the 4th exempt game. We are at 11 nonconference and 18 conference currently.

Damnit you're right. I had a brainlock and thought you could go 14, but I remembered that there were 12 noncon games last year with 1 unscheduled game.

Or should I pull an _LH and derail this thread again?

[xubrew]

31 is the limit with the 4th exempt game. We are at 11 nonconference and 18 conference currently.


Damnit you're right. I had a brainlock and thought you could go 14, but I remembered that there were 12 noncon games last year with 1 unscheduled game.

Or should I pull an _LH and derail this thread again?


Oh come on, XBand!! You can do better than that!! You have to come up with a completely nonsensical line of reasoning to insist that you're still right.

Here, watch me....

Hey XMuskieFTW, the conference tournament counts as a game! What makes you so sure that they're not going to cancel the Big East Tournament next year?? Have you seen any announcements from the Big East that specifically say they're not going to cancel the tournament?? You just can't assume these things. We may need to schedule a third game.

[bobbiemcgee]

That's a pretty damn good schedule!

A++ Another great job by MM. Pulled it out of the fire.

[RetireFiftyTu]

Anyone see a date for the Baylor game anywhere?

Not for this years game. The return game at Cintas is Tue, Nov. 28, 2017.

[bobbiemcgee]

Mack and Rothstein on Lance:

http://www.iheart.com/show/Lance-McAlister/?episode_id=27527047


sez Sumner could go off "like a volcano".

[KabeX]

A++ Another great job by MM. Pulled it out of the fire.

I really appreciate and respect those in any profession or trade who are really good at their job. MM appears to be one of THE BEST at his. Damn fortunate to have him.

[Muskie]

Because I wish to throw a gallon of gas on an otherwise fading fire: The Case for Dayton (http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2016/5/27/11796642/the-case-for-dayton) (From Banners on the Parkway). Have at it.

[paulxu]

He could use a good editor over there.


One of those should to an old not friend.

There's got to be some missing words there.

And I think he overlooks that Mario couldn't just get Dayton for one game, especially at Cintas. Would need to be a H/H from their perspective.

[Muskie]

He could use a good editor over there.



There's got to be some missing words there.

And I think he overlooks that Mario couldn't just get Dayton for one game, especially at Cintas. Would need to be a H/H from their perspective.

I think it works. It's awkward but I get his message. I doubt Dayton would ever just come to Cintas.

[XMuskieFTW]

Because I wish to throw a gallon of gas on an otherwise fading fire: The Case for Dayton (http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2016/5/27/11796642/the-case-for-dayton) (From Banners on the Parkway). Have at it.

This article annoyed me a bit tbh. It ignores the fact that there is zero chance Dayton would schedule us unless it was a Home/Home, and there's no chance we would schedule a home/home with them. Also saying there are already cream puffs on our schedule? Please tell me where. Maybe Wake? Lehigh should be outright favorite to win the Patriot League and Buffalo should compete for the MAC after making the tourney and returning so many pieces. Last I checked, top 150 rpi teams aren't cupcakes.

Finally, this whole we need a game that "stirs the blood" I find to be crap. Any decent fan can appreciate and get excited for teams like Utah, Northern Iowa, etc. We have the UC rivalry. We don't need to play Dayton.

Our last two games are going to be buy games. That's just how scheduling and balancing your schedule works. Our schedule is already by far better than it was last year in terms of both the home/home games and buy games. We even got lucky to have a 31st game this season against a good Northern Iowa program. I'm hoping we can schedule two more games like Lehigh and Buffalo so we're tested every night, but let's be realistic, you're going to have a dud non conference game on the schedule(nku). I'm expecting something like IPFW and morehead state to round out the schedule, and I'll still be ecstatic with the overall schedule.

[Masterofreality]

Because I wish to throw a gallon of gas on an otherwise fading fire: The Case for Dayton (http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2016/5/27/11796642/the-case-for-dayton) (From Banners on the Parkway). Have at it.

Screw 'em. Wouldn't want to give them the publicity. Let them wallow in mediocrity and anonymous status in a tertiary league.

[bobbiemcgee]

Can Mack wear the Blue BE Pullover? Honestly, after the way they treated his wife, I think Mack could care less about UD unless we meet in another tournament game. F'em.