[Cracked Sidewalks] The Future of Non-Conference Scheduling

[Benny B]

Maybe we could work something out with DePaul. The two of us could host Illinois and Notre Dame on a rotating basis at the UC. Obviously we couldn't play the Demons, but each of us could play one of the others. Have a double-header.

Or we simply leave that old rule out of the new conference bylaws and screw DePaul.... but I like this idea much, much better.  Call it the Hiawatha Classic.

[JTBMU7]

i've come to dislike the neutral court games over the past few years. there are too many of them and it rarely ends up being a good atmosphere. i think big games should be held on campus. MU-Wash in the garden last year had about 40 people in the stands. Same for ND-Temple at the Barclays this year. Both were great games played in semi-empty stadiums. i've been to the Mu-Wisc game now 3 years in a row, always a sell out, always a big draw, always on nat'l tv with a chance to show off your home floor/students etc... 

however, in the case of Mizzou-Ill, IU-Butler, ND-MU, Dep-ND, etc., when such a large portion of both of your alumni bases live there, it can make for a cool made-for-tv setting.

i think there are benefits to both, but i like the idea of home/home better than a neutral site game, even though any game the UC would be sweet.

[Benny B]

Get Illinois, DePaul, ND and Marquette to play two games (one home or away, one neutral) on a four-year rolling format where you invite a couple of guests every year for the neutral court games.  Rent the UC for a day, and bang out a triple-header of marquee match-ups.

Call it The Hiawatha/South Shore Classic, presented by Steve Novak's Used Car Outlets (f/k/a Bob Rohrman Used Car Superstores)

SAMPLE ROTATION (guests in brackets, schools used for example only, i.e. close proximity, heavy Chicago fan bases, and/or national followings)
Year 1:
Illinois at Marquette
DePaul at Notre Dame
Illinois vs. DePaul at United Center
Notre Dame vs. [Michigan State] at United Center
Marquette vs. [Mizzou] at United Center

Year 2:
DePaul at Illinois
Notre Dame at Marquette
Notre Dame vs. DePaul at United Center
Marquette vs. [Kentucky] at United Center
Illinois vs. [Georgetown] at United Center

Year 3:
Marquette at Illinois
Notre Dame at DePaul
Notre Dame vs. Marquette at United Center
Illinois vs. [Butler] at United Center
DePaul vs. [Kansas] at United Center

Year 4:
Illinois at DePaul
Marquette at Notre Dame
Marquette vs. Illinois at United Center
DePaul vs. [Vanderbilt] at United Center
Notre Dame vs. [North Carolina] at United Center

[Marqevans]

Throw in Northwestern and Loyola and make it a tournament