Is next season's schedule too advanced for our talent?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

In Buzz's last year, we played 2 ranked teams in non-con: No. 10 Ohio State and No. 8 Wisconsin. Lost both. Also played a San Diego State team that wasn't ranked but would go on to have a fine season. Lost to 'em. Played a good New Mexico team that made the NCAAs (but lost in the first round). Lost to 'em. The only other decent team we played was Arizona State, who finished 10-8 in a meh Pac-12. Lost to them, too. The rest of the schedule was populated with Southerns and Gramblings and IUPUIs.

So if this year's non-con really is on a par with that one, I hope our lads take care of business better than Buzz's 0-5 showing against good teams.

Geez, I forgot how bad that schedule was. I went back and looked, we played FIVE sub 300 RPI opponents...and a sixth who was ranked 285th. No wonder our computer numbers were so bad....well that and going 1-5 against the significant opponents (George Washington made the NCAAs that year as a 9 seed).

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I love the NC schedule, regardless of outcome. It is going be a good test for the squad and will definitely make the team better down the road. I never would question a schedule being too difficult. Every year I am jealous of other programs having big time NC match ups. While these are not true big time match ups, it is a big step in the right direction.

Blue Blooded Kansas, Louisville, and Indiana as well as top 15 Tennessee and Kansas State not big time enough for you?

[Goose]

TAMU,

I like the schedule. Based off our post last week on potential point spreads, IU and Louisville are not the blue bloods of the past. Again, I am quite happy with the schedule.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Heck, I think we may know whether this team is ready for Prime Time by the time we chow down on turkey in late November.

Don't get me wrong, I agree that Coach Wojo needs a full year and I'm firmly in his camp. But, if we're at a losing record by the time we play the Badgers and our defense is still shaky, then I think when the NCAA Tournament Committee convenes in March to select, we better have blown through the Big East schedule and wasted Villanova at least once or we're going to be seeing three nasty letters: N-I-T again!

If this team is in the NIT, Wojo's seat will be legitimately hot. 

But I also could see this team with 3 or 4 losses by the time they play Wisconsin.  That doesn't mean this team won't be playing in the NCAAs, though.  But 75% of Scoop will still be calling for Wojo's head even if all three losses are to top 10 caliber teams (Kansas, Tennessee, K State), and a potential road loss at a talented Indiana team.  Obviously I hope (and think we can) win some of those games, but this team isn't going to be 12-0 at the end of December. 

[Galway Eagle]

I love the NC schedule, regardless of outcome. It is going be a good test for the squad and will definitely make the team better down the road. I never would question a schedule being too difficult. Every year I am jealous of other programs having big time NC match ups. While these are not true big time match ups, it is a big step in the right direction.

I'm confused. Is there a year or team you can reference to get an idea of the schedule you would like? Or maybe how many high majors and good mid majors?

[Goose]

Hurler,

You are confused? What about me? I have said multiple times that I am excited for the NC schedule.

[Galway Eagle]

Hurler,

You are confused? What about me? I have said multiple times that I am excited for the NC schedule.

the statement step in the right direction would imply you're happy because it's better than previous years but still not what you would like. So I am confused because this is the best schedule I recal since I started following MUBB so I was wondering if you could reference a year or ideal schedule so I could get a better idea of what the end point of the right direction would look like.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

the statement step in the right direction would imply you're happy because it's better than previous years but still not what you would like. So I am confused because this is the best schedule I recal since I started following MUBB so I was wondering if you could reference a year or ideal schedule so I could get a better idea of what the end point of the right direction would look like.

Sounds like he's looking for the type of schedule Michigan State usually plays. 

[Goose]

J5 and Hurler

You can pick apart all of my posts and try and point out negatives. I really do not care. The NC is quite good, and I have noted that several times. If every year was similar, I would not have a gripe.

[Galway Eagle]

J5 and Hurler

You can pick apart all of my posts and try and point out negatives. I really do not care. The NC is quite good, and I have noted that several times. If every year was similar, I would not have a gripe.

I wasn't trying to. I think you read the wrong emotion in my post...

[Goose]

Hurler

I would not call the NC schedule one for the ages, but definitely not playing a slew of stiffs. Hence, my calling it a step in the right direction. If that direction remains the same moving forward, it is a good NC slate. Someone noted KO's NC schedule in year two and it was very tough. That said, it brought some excitement to BC in December.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU,

I like the schedule. Based off our post last week on potential point spreads, IU and Louisville are not the blue bloods of the past. Again, I am quite happy with the schedule.

I'm still confused as to how Kansas...a blue blood and a projected top 5 team this season is not a "big time matchup" as you put it. I would argue that the others I mentioned could also be considered big time matchups but could understand why others would disagree. Kansas I would argue is the biggest of the big time matchups next season other than maybe Kentucky.

[Goose]

TAMU

If you want to push it further, I am fine with that. Quite honestly, MU, at this point, is not a national big time opponent for anyone. I love the fact we are playing Kansas, but would love it more if we were a top ten team. In my world, big time match up is game that both sides of the same to lose. MU against Kansas, hardly the same stakes for both teams.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU

If you want to push it further, I am fine with that. Quite honestly, MU, at this point, is not a national big time opponent for anyone. I love the fact we are playing Kansas, but would love it more if we were a top ten team. In my world, big time match up is game that both sides of the same to lose. MU against Kansas, hardly the same stakes for both teams.

Ah, I see what you are saying now. I was just confused because I thought you were commenting on the quality of our opponents, not on our own quality.

I certainly won't argue that our game against Kansas is even on their fan's radar. But from what I have seen, Indiana and Kansas State fans are very excited to be playing us and we will be one of the biggest names that they will have on their schedule this season.

[brewcity77]

Kansas is the probable #1 team to start the season. Tennessee is most likely at worst top-10. K State not far behind. IU, Louisville, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Buffalo are all going to be in the mix for postseason play.

Those are all probable top-75 kenpom opponents. Of the typical bluebloods, that's more than Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Villanova, Arizona, or Michigan State played last year and equal to the 6 that North Carolina played.

Will there be tougher schedules? Maybe. Probably. But it's the equal of pretty much any blue blood in the country.

I'm very curious, based strictly on what we know now, what more anyone could ask and what past schedule (not just MU but any program) should be the model we strive for.

[Goose]

TAMU

OK, not sure how you were confused on my feelings regarding our opponents. Said multiple times, I really like the NC schedule.

[Warrior1969]

Blue Blooded Kansas, Louisville, and Indiana as well as top 15 Tennessee and Kansas State not big time enough for you?

This  Who the heck do you want us to play The Cavs?, Warriors?

[Galway Eagle]

This  Who the heck do you want us to play The Cavs?, Warriors?

They play the warriors during every team scrimmage

[brewcity77]

OK, not sure how you were confused on my feelings regarding our opponents. Said multiple times, I really like the NC schedule.

I think it's this aspect...

I would not call the NC schedule one for the ages, but definitely not playing a slew of stiffs. Hence, my calling it a step in the right direction.

As noted, there are potentially three top-15 opponents and six tournament contenders. As far as the names on the jerseys across from us, I'm not sure what more MU could be expected to do. Now taking this into account...

Quite honestly, MU, at this point, is not a national big time opponent for anyone. I love the fact we are playing Kansas, but would love it more if we were a top ten team.

...makes more sense if you mean that the problem with the schedule is less who we are playing and more who we are. If the problem is that Marquette isn't as far along (which ties nicely back to the original post and thread title question) then I see where you are coming from, but I think it's a question of clarifying that any qualms you have is not with the opposition, but with the perception of Marquette nationally. I think we all hope this year is when we finally get back to being that type of team. We'll see if it pans out or not, but on paper, there's a lot to like.

[Goose]

brew

To be honest, I get bashed for being negative on the progress of the program and worded my posts not to come across negative MU. Only a fxxkin idiot could bash the teams on the schedule. My hope is, that in a couple of years the games are as big to the opposition as it is to MU and the fan base.

[LoudMouth]

The schedule is soft IMO...I wish we would be able to get out of the automatic game against the mid-major of UW-Madison. Maybe switch it out with UW-Green Bay or UWM

[muguru]

I'm confused. Is there a year or team you can reference to get an idea of the schedule you would like? Or maybe how many high majors and good mid majors?

Michigan State every year

[brewcity77]

brew

To be honest, I get bashed for being negative on the progress of the program and worded my posts not to come across negative MU. Only a fxxkin idiot could bash the teams on the schedule. My hope is, that in a couple of years the games are as big to the opposition as it is to MU and the fan base.

I agree wholeheartedly. I like this schedule because I think it's the best way to show early if what Wojo has been building toward is going to work. I hope it does, but still have some skepticism, mainly because of the defense. If we end up tallying 5-6 losses in non-con, the pitchforks will be out before the calendar turns to 2019.

[muguru]

Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic schedule compared to most years for MU. That being said, it would be nice, even if only for one year, to beef up the home schedule. Now, if KU and UL and Tennessee(or even two of the 3), were at home...NOW you are talking. Buffalo is decent, but they are not in the upper echelon of CBB...get some "heavy hitters" at home and I think everyone would be happy.

[Its DJOver]

Don't get me wrong, this is a fantastic schedule compared to most years for MU. That being said, it would be nice, even if only for one year, to beef up the home schedule. Now, if KU and UL and Tennessee(or even two of the 3), were at home...NOW you are talking. Buffalo is decent, but they are not in the upper echelon of CBB...get some "heavy hitters" at home and I think everyone would be happy.

There's nothing wrong with getting home games like that, although I imagine it would be difficult to get those teams to come, but if you get 3+ top 15 home games a year, you are bound to lose a couple, which would lead certain people to bash the program saying that we never defend home court as well as we should.  It's kinda hard to have it both ways.