Big East Scheduling

[Xville]

This has been a topic of discussion for all of us since Selection Sunday. Now, it has been announced that the Big 12-Big East battle will conclude after next season. This on the heels of the Gavitt Games being cancelled as well.

So, what's the end game here and can someone tell me what Val's plan actually is going forward? I see this as quite an issue.

[STL_XUfan]

This has been a topic of discussion for all of us since Selection Sunday. Now, it has been announced that the Big 12-Big East battle will conclude after next season. This on the heels of the Gavitt Games being cancelled as well.

So, what's the end game here and can someone tell me what Val's plan actually is going forward? I see this as quite an issue.

From a fan perspective, it sucks because they are typically fun games. However, from a strategy point, it might actually be a net positive. This allows Mario, and the rest of the BE teams, the freedom to schedule in a way to game the NET system to ensure we do not have a repeat of this season with the middle of our conference being left out in the cold.

[Xavier]

I’ve seen the expanded conferences need to make room for conference games. But also the committee seemed to be impressed with the numbers game and I won’t be surprised to see a push with the Big East to manipulate the numbers in the OOC scheduling. Stinks, but unfortunately rewarded.

[Xville]

Gaming the net system seems to make sense, but Val's comments and feedback were that "Gavitt said to just keep scheduling the way we are scheduling."

So, what's really up?

Is it hey X can now go play @ whatever mid to lower tier P6 school so that if they win, that props up the net?

And/Or the Big 12/Big 10 schools cancelling these series' to make it harder on the Big East?

[XU_Lou]

Sounds like a grand conspiracy.... geez.

[Xville]

Going back to this since Miller just mentioned it on the podcast. He stated that he saw the end of the Gavitt Games and the Big 12-Big East challenge as a positive for X and the Big east challenge. He stated that it gives X flexibility, and that he knows the team better than anyone and what a particular team can handle year to year so let him, Greg and Mario set the schedule accordingly. Long story short, he sees it as a big postive that they are ending. Said that when the Big East was reformed, it made a lot of sense to have these type of arrangements, but now it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Fair enough Sean!

[D-West & PO-Z]

Going back to this since Miller just mentioned it on the podcast. He stated that he saw the end of the Gavitt Games and the Big 12-Big East challenge as a positive for X and the Big east challenge. He stated that it gives X flexibility, and that he knows the team better than anyone and what a particular team can handle year to year so let him, Greg and Mario set the schedule accordingly. Long story short, he sees it as a big postive that they are ending. Said that when the Big East was reformed, it made a lot of sense to have these type of arrangements, but now it just doesn't make a lot of sense.

Fair enough Sean!

I am not surprised at all that a coach would prefer the flexibility to set their own schedule and not leave it in someone else's hands. Miller clearly hated the schedule this year (despite fans liking it bc of the big games).

It isn't like X will struggle to find quality opponents. I like the idea of Sean and Mario and co deciding who to schedule for each Xavier team.

[XUMIOH12]

I am not surprised at all that a coach would prefer the flexibility to set their own schedule and not leave it in someone else's hands. Miller clearly hated the schedule this year (despite fans liking it bc of the big games).

It isn't like X will struggle to find quality opponents. I like the idea of Sean and Mario and co deciding who to schedule for each Xavier team.

Right. Xavier won't have an issue scheduling home and homes with good opponents. The challenges are fun, but Xavier got screwed in them this year haha. The additional flexibility is probably a positive so you can work the schedule the way that's best each year.

[Xville]

The only thing I thought was weird was that the Senior Associate of the Commissioners' office tweeted out that they would love to continue both of these series'. I wonder if the other coaches feel the way Sean does.

[JTG]

I don't blame Sean for feeling screwed this year. He had a middling, at best team, due to summertime injuries and was dealt the top team in the B1G and the Big12. I think due to the composition of the ACC, that would be a decent matchup with the Big East. As for scheduling, I don't see alot of Power5 schools signing up for Xavier+Miller+Cintas.

[D-West & PO-Z]

I don't blame Sean for feeling screwed this year. He had a middling, at best team, due to summertime injuries and was dealt the top team in the B1G and the Big12. I think due to the composition of the ACC, that would be a decent matchup with the Big East. As for scheduling, I don't see alot of Power5 schools signing up for Xavier+Miller+Cintas.

Well as of the last several seasons the slots we could fill those teams with were taken up by the challenge games. I don't think X will have trouble signing up some quality home and home games.

[webxu]

I would love to get games against Gonzaga again. Add Louisville and bring in COC to the Tas...

[MHettel]

I would like for the BE to schedule wins. That doesn't mean each team should have the SAME schedule. Uconn right now can schedule a fairly difficult slate and still walk through it. But Gtown and DePaul need to drop down and play some lower schools.

we need teams entering conference play to average 9-3 or so. there will be plenty of chances for good wins once we start playing each other IF we all do the work OOC.

A medicore collective OOC performance PLUS the 20 game conference schedule is a recipe for 3-4 bids.....

(side note....I dont wanna hear the bitching an moaning about XUs schedule last year. I get that Purdue and Houston were kinda "unwinnable", but losing to Delaware, Oakland, and UW is just unacceptable).

[JTG]

I would love to get games against Gonzaga again. Add Louisville and bring in COC to the Tas...

Those games will just not happen. Coaches don't like to play friends unless they have to⁷

[SM#24]

(side note....I dont wanna hear the bitching an moaning about XUs schedule last year. I get that Purdue and Houston were kinda "unwinnable", but losing to Delaware, Oakland, and UW is just unacceptable).

I'd be curious to know besides having a 19-14 record, what our KenPom and NET would have been winning those three. I think it would have a significant jump. I'm guessing it's not easily calculable so we can only speculate.

[MHettel]

I'd be curious to know besides having a 19-14 record, what our KenPom and NET would have been winning those three. I think it would have a significant jump. I'm guessing it's not easily calculable so we can only speculate.

Back in the day, when we used the RPI, I could have told you with 100% certainty EXACTLY what the impact would have been. But the Ken Pom ratings and the NET are both considerably more complicated but not considerably better at measuring relative team strength.