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View Full Version : Poll: Should the Conference Season be Interrupted with Non-Conference Games



Muskie
01-10-2009, 12:26 PM
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Many of us hate the playing a non-conference game in the middle of the conference schedule. What say you?

XU 87
01-10-2009, 12:33 PM
A game is a game. What difference does it make if it's a conference team or a non-conference team?

golfitup
01-10-2009, 01:04 PM
A game is a game. What difference does it make if it's a conference team or a non-conference team?

Agree to agree.

vee4xu
01-10-2009, 01:40 PM
Generally, my answer is no and that is what I responded to the poll. However, I believe this deal with LSU came about late because X and KSU decided not to play the third game of that series in Manhattan, KS. So, if X has to play this game during the A-10 season in order to get the return visit from LSU next year, it is worth it. Also, it may be that when a team is scheduling a BCS OOC game versus another team, their date options are limited. This too may have an impact on scheduling. But, I think this year's issue is the lateness of when LSU and X tried to do a home-and-home deal.

ATL Muskie
01-10-2009, 02:30 PM
I voted yes, as long as it's a top tier team. I think it can be helpful when considering tourney seeding, especially if we take one or two very bad losses in A-10 play. As we all know, the scribes and the talking heads remember what you did in late Feb and March and not so much what you did in Nov. I realize the selection committee looks at your body of work, but when you're mired in a conference schedule full of a lackluster, shitty teams, then a high profile game could help elevate your stock a bit more. And, it could get your guys focused on playing tougher teams, which is what you'll see in the Dance.

Fireball
01-10-2009, 03:11 PM
I agree with ATL here. Because the A-10 at times tends to have more than its share of cupcakes I wanted to see Xavier challenged a bit before it gets to March, to avoid what seems to be the Gonzaga syndrome. They tend to play a pretty good non-conference schedule and play well against it. Then they play their conference schedule which has few high-quality teams in it. Then, they seem to be unprepared in March and get dumped in the second round.

Having a high-rated opponent in the middle of a cake conference schedule is a good idea, not that LSU is that this year.

Kahns Krazy
01-11-2009, 10:09 PM
I just answered "yes", because it's not like we've been scheduling North West Southern Tennessee Technical College of Northern South Carolina during the regular season.

I can't remember a mid-conference OOC game that wasn't for a good reason. I think the scheduling at X is top-notch, and I trust them to continue to do the same thing as they see fit.

XU05and07
01-12-2009, 09:38 AM
I just answered "yes", because it's not like we've been scheduling North West Southern Tennessee Technical College of Northern South Carolina during the regular season.

I can't remember a mid-conference OOC game that wasn't for a good reason. I think the scheduling at X is top-notch, and I trust them to continue to do the same thing as they see fit.

They are pretty tough this year...a big RPI boost if we play them at their house

American X
01-12-2009, 10:01 AM
it's not like we've been scheduling North West Southern Tennessee Technical College of Northern South Carolina

Charlotte lost at home to them and one of their starters is a midget.

XUOHTX
01-12-2009, 11:27 AM
I agree with ATL here. Because the A-10 at times tends to have more than its share of cupcakes I wanted to see Xavier challenged a bit before it gets to March, to avoid what seems to be the Gonzaga syndrome. They tend to play a pretty good non-conference schedule and play well against it. Then they play their conference schedule which has few high-quality teams in it. Then, they seem to be unprepared in March and get dumped in the second round.

Having a high-rated opponent in the middle of a cake conference schedule is a good idea, not that LSU is that this year.

My thoughts exactly. If we continue to blow out A10 opponents by 26 we will be very soft come tourney time. Not that LSU is a great team, but they at least give us a different look from a good conference.

chico
01-12-2009, 04:05 PM
I voted yes, as long as it's a top tier team. I think it can be helpful when considering tourney seeding, especially if we take one or two very bad losses in A-10 play. As we all know, the scribes and the talking heads remember what you did in late Feb and March and not so much what you did in Nov. I realize the selection committee looks at your body of work, but when you're mired in a conference schedule full of a lackluster, shitty teams, then a high profile game could help elevate your stock a bit more. And, it could get your guys focused on playing tougher teams, which is what you'll see in the Dance.

I agree, too, but would ad that if it's a neutral site game against a big opponent I'd be for it (like if CBS wanted the Duke game in Feb.).

Jumpy
01-13-2009, 08:47 AM
I agree with the resounding sentiment that it is a good thing to throw a more difficult game from an established team in the middle of a rather weak conference schedule. Helps to keep the guys in tourney form.

Dblue
01-13-2009, 05:32 PM
I'm in agreement with just about everyone else, I'd go a step further and say I'd like to see Xavier play an A10 game in the last week of December to make room for a couple of High caliber teams in mid January and mid February (keep the team sharp for March)

xnatic03
01-14-2009, 09:55 AM
I will be attending this game with my dad. I'm really looking forward to this trip, and it will be my first road trip for a Xavier game since the Paradise Jam 2 years ago. I like how it breaks up the monotony of the conference season as well.

MADXSTER
01-15-2009, 12:12 PM
We should dub the conference season Part I and Part II

toledodan
01-18-2009, 08:20 PM
playing lsu after going up to olean should be interesting. it will be hard to get through this week without losing a game. if we are able to beat st. bonaventure we have the next 3 at home and really could start 8-0 in conference. does anyone else feel the bony game is a trap game?

dnyed
01-20-2009, 10:05 PM
Playing an out of conference game should be a staple. Hell, schedule two or three of them. This year the A10 is awful. If X wins the tourney we very well might be the only team that dances, maybe Dayton but we have yet to kick their arse twice. I would like to see a annual game with Memphis in early Feb. It would help both of us get ready for the tourney and still give some recovery time if one loses. At this point we could go 28-2 but not beat but 1 top 25 team in our last twenty games. We play some good teams but they are not good enough to be ranked.

ATL Muskie
01-25-2009, 12:45 AM
Tonight was a great example of this type of scheduling. Tough, tournament-like atmosphere. A good test for X and a chance to get another scalp.

GuyFawkes38
01-25-2009, 12:52 AM
I really don't understand why having out of conferences games late in the season is an issue.

More to the point, the A10 isn't great. We should support policies which give us flexibility to schedule out of conference games late in the season.

XU 87
01-26-2009, 11:11 AM
Tonight was a great example of this type of scheduling. Tough, tournament-like atmosphere. A good test for X and a chance to get another scalp.

I was thinking the same thing. With the A-10 being down this year, X isn't going to get these type of games on the road playing LaSalle and Fordham.

I would include Duquesne, but with the XH bus trip, this looks to be an X home game.

Emp
01-29-2009, 04:54 PM
The top tier team choice is rhetorical. We are not going to be scheduling Wofford mid conference any time soon.

Sean has said it was an opportunity to be on ESPN, and a win-win proposition. Even if we lost we get them back at our place next year. The possibility of losing and losing great ranking was balanced by both a long term and short term upside.

As in most things, it all depends on the rest of the schedule, when and where.

The caveat for me is, never UC after Christmas again if we can avoid it. That game takes too much out of our team, players and us as fans.

Masterofreality
02-16-2009, 07:26 PM
Never UC anymore during conference. The dump is the proper rivalry week game.

LSU was perfect this year, however. With some of the slugs like LaSuck and Fordham you can get sloppy. LSU kept the team sharp.

I'm with ATL.