MUScoop

There are about 4 threads on the schedule for the upcoming season and not once have I seen anyone complain about the OOC portion of the schedule.  I can't remember the last time no one complained.

I was always fine with the OOC schedule we had but I know many out there were not impressed with the strength of schedule.  How does everyone feel about this season's opponents?

Here's last season's RPI rankings for this year's OOC opponents (kind of pointless, yes, but I'm bored):

2. Tennessee
11. Wisconsin
33. Dayton
103. NC State
130. Northern Iowa
178. UWM
184. Central Michigan
213. Chicago St.
218. IPFW
292. Western Carolina
320. Texas Southern
333. Presbyterian
Houston Baptist--provisional D-1 this season

Really, this isn't that different from last year's OOC schedule in terms of quality.  I think the beef was more that the home non-conference slate was horrible, and we had to wait until January to see a decent opponent at the Bradley Center.  This season, it's helpful that the Wisconsin game is at home, and the Dayton and Northern Iowa games are in Chicago.

Quote from: Cooby Snacks on September 04, 2008, 11:10:13 PM
This season, it's helpful that the Wisconsin game is at home, and the Dayton and Northern Iowa games are in Chicago.

In regards to this topic, it's also helpful that PRN doesn't post as much anymore (though - I'm sure he's still out there...)

Quote from: rocky_warrior on September 05, 2008, 12:07:33 AM
In regards to this topic, it's also helpful that PRN doesn't post as much anymore (though - I'm sure he's still out there...)

I'm sure he's dusting off the keyboard right now.

I've posted on schedule quality every year .. maybe it took this many years to get tired.

8 cupcakes this year is about average.  Every year, it's the same thing.  1-2 high OOC interest games, 6-10 low-interest.  Every year, I express my desire for ~3 high interest OOC games, and every year, a bunch of non-season ticket holders come out to tell me the 27 reasons why it can't be done, why we can't do what (insert team here, Gonzaga, DePaul) does, that I'm a bad basketball fan, that I should be happy with all the BE games, and that I should stop complaining and continue to fund their team without debate. 

There!  Boy, I just saved a lot of time.  The whole debate in one paragraph.  I should put that on the wiki for next year (and the next, and the next.)

....
HOWEVER .. On the plus side, NC State is a new home & home, which I will consider a high-interest homer next season, regardless of their RPI finish in 09.  I don't think Crean would have pulled the trigger on any H&H that ever started away, so there is a ray of light.

Quote from: mu_hilltopper on September 05, 2008, 02:46:19 PM
I don't think Crean would have pulled the trigger on any H&H that ever started away, so there is a ray of light.

Wake Forest and Nebraska come to mind.  I think you would have seen another home and away this year, beginning with the away game, regardless of coach.  I believe the reason MU did not want to start a home and away last year on the road was due to the fact that MU played at UW and also had one more away BE game than the prior year.  This year, with UW coming to MU, I think MU was more willing to go on the road first.  Hopefully, this sets a precedent of setting up home and aways with other BCS schools (even if they aren't top level) that alternate according to the UW game so that MU always hosts at least either UW or another BCS team every year.

wake forest, arizona and nebraska are ones i can think of

Good points.  I guess I was focusing on the last couple seasons, where potential away H&Hs were negated.

Quote from: YoungMUFan4 on September 05, 2008, 04:17:53 PM
wake forest, arizona and nebraska are ones i can think of

Nebraska started at home.  We played them in Milwaukee on 12/21/04 and in Lincoln on 11/30/05.

Hilltopper, it has been frustrating the last couple years to hear MU was supposedly close to setting up some home and homes and then those match-ups never came to fruition.