Scrimmages or Exhibitions?

[Galway Eagle]

This may have been posted in the past and didn't see it as I'm new on MUScoop, but out of curiosity do you think it was better for the scrimmages this year?  It's not like we did them with top teams or anything and that bothers me.  Plus if we did exhibitions against say UWWhitewater, UWStephen's Point, North-Central College, Il-Wesleyan they'd all be real good (all but Stephen's point D3 top 10) opponents to test us at the BC.  

[JakeBarnes]

This may have been posted in the past and didn't see it as I'm new on MUScoop, but out of curiosity do you think it was better for the scrimmages this year?  It's not like we did them with top teams or anything and that bothers me.  Plus if we did exhibitions against say UWWhitewater, UWStephen's Point, North-Central College, Il-Wesleyan they'd all be real good (all but Stephen's point D3 top 10) opponents to test us at the BC. 

Personally I think the scrimmages are better. You can work on a lot of specific situations if you so choose and you tend to get a higher caliber team for these.  As an undergrad alum from IL Wesleyan, I'm honored you'd throw them in there, but schools on that level really won't challenge the team in a way Buzz is looking for (not a lot of bangers in the CCIW... primarily shooters). Honestly, turning the focus to just down the road from IWU and scrimmaging against Illinois State was a much better decision (ISU is predicted to be the #2 team in the MVC and has a preseason #30 big man... a bit of a better challenge than facing a top team in the CCIW).

The primary benefits of an exhibition is that we get to watch it.  Outside of that, I don't really see the benefit for the team.

[GOO]

Buzz thinks the scrimmages are better for the team.

Season ticket holders don't have to pay $30 plus bucks a seat for an exhibition game.

We both win.  I guess Marquette looses the revenue from the season ticket holders for the exhibition game.  But really, if they charge a few extra bucks to make it up, I'm okay with that.

[Nukem2]

Exhibitions were fun and a chance to watch the team play 2 more times.  But, the scrimmages are obviously better for team development, though the exhibitions did give the newer guys chances to play in front of crowds under the bright lights prior to the real games.  As long as MU can afford to miss the extra revenue, we'll have scrimmages.

[brewcity77]

Scrimmages all day.

Illinois State has a NBA-caliber big man in Jackie Carmichael (think Kyle O'Quinn) and is expected to be one of the better mid-majors in the country. They were picked second in the MVC to Creighton. If we scrimmaged Mississippi State, USC, Nebraska, or Wake Forest, no one would be complaining because they play in major conferences. Illinois State would pound the crap out of all four of those teams. According to Pomeroy, ISU is 100+ spots better than any of those four.

George Mason was picked 3rd in the CAA, behind Drexel and Delaware, though again according to Pomeroy they are much better than any of those high-majors listed above. They are favored at home against Virginia and on a neutral court against Maryland. GMU is pretty darn good.

The scrimmage allows coaches to work on exactly what they want to work on against legitimate competition, unlike playing a team like West Eastern State after the Ivans have already graduated. No one wants to pay to see the type of "competition" you are talking about. In addition, I'd rather not give our opponents footage to work off of if we don't have to. There's no real benefit to an exhibition other than to prove you can beat nobodies at home by 30. We'll have plenty of time to do that come November, December, and February 9th.

[bilsu]

The answer some what depends on how young your team is? I would think an exhibition in front of people would do more to get a young team ready. When James, McNeal and Matthews were freshmen playing in front of a crowd in your actual area was more important. When the three were seniors they had plenty of game experience so an exhibition in front of fans had very little value. I do think they should do one of each. Ohio St. played an exhibition game this week, so they have an advantage of playing in front of a crowd.

[brewcity77]

I'm not worried about anyone in our first seven not having played in front of a crowd this year. They all have 30+ games under their belts and know the score.

[Galway Eagle]

Didn't UW Stephens point take us to like 8 points or something when the big 3 were juniors? I feel like certain teams could be beneficial, and in the case of Whitewater and Stephens point they could get enough fans here to make it a worthwhile crowd.

Though I will say I feel stupid I thought it was George Washington we were scrimmaging lol 

[tower912]

Scrimmages.    The new guys get a feel for how talented the opposition is going to be this year much quicker scrimmaging high-mid-majors than they would playing against Viterbo, UWSP, etc. 

[Galway Eagle]

Scrimmages.    The new guys get a feel for how talented the opposition is going to be this year much quicker scrimmaging high-mid-majors than they would playing against Viterbo, UWSP, etc. 

I agree Viterbo would be worthless.  Really I was only hinting to the D3 powerhouses like UWSP and UWWW. 

[Skatastrophy]

D3 powerhouses

Oxymoron.

[Dawson Rental]

I agree Viterbo would be worthless.  Really I was only hinting to the D3 powerhouses like UWSP and UWWW.  

You asked your question, and you got the right answer with some good reasons supporting it.  So why are you clinging to having a game against a D3 "powerhouse"?  In addition, scrimmages are much longer affairs where coaches can practice specific situations against better competition.  MU does not give up game revenue from exhibitions lightly.  They bite the bullet and do it because scrimmages are a far more effective way to prepare for the season.

[muwarrior69]

In addition, I'd rather not give our opponents footage to work off of if we don't have to.

I agree. Buzz has footage from Ohio States exihibition to prepare from. They don't.

[Dawson Rental]

I agree. Buzz has footage from Ohio States exihibition to prepare from. They don't.

Rumor has it that the Illinois State scrimmage took place on a boat in Chicago harbor.

[Galway Eagle]

Rumor has it that the Illinois State scrimmage took place on a boat in Chicago harbor.

Seriously?  Cause that'd be some serious preparation

[Galway Eagle]

You asked your question, and you got the right answer with some good reasons supporting it.  So why are you clinging to having a game against a D3 "powerhouse"?  In addition, scrimmages are much longer affairs where coaches can practice specific situations against better competition.  MU does not give up game revenue from exhibitions lightly.  They bite the bullet and do it because scrimmages are a far more effective way to prepare for the season.

Cause I'm in class and pretty bored right now.  Just trying to continue a good chat. 

[Dawson Rental]

Seriously?  Cause that'd be some serious preparation

Posts in teal are kidding or sarcastic.

[spartan3186]

I agree. Buzz has footage from Ohio States exihibition to prepare from. They don't.

I understand the point of this post, but I don't know that we can gain that much from watching an exhibition game of Ohio State. For instance, when Syracuse lost an exhibition game a few years ago they played pretty much exclusively man-to-man rather than their famous 2-3 zone. Teams will try a lot of things in an exhibition they wouldn't try, or need the most work on.

I think you'd be better off watching the game tape from the '11-'12 season than an exhibition game. The coach stayed the same, I'm willing to bet the offense is not dramatically different.

[Jay Bee]

I understand the point of this post, but I don't know that we can gain that much from watching an exhibition game of Ohio State. For instance, when Syracuse lost an exhibition game a few years ago they played pretty much exclusively man-to-man rather than their famous 2-3 zone. Teams will try a lot of things in an exhibition they wouldn't try, or need the most work on.

Amen I think MU should totally ignore tOSU's exhibition game footage. Exact same team as last year.

[Galway Eagle]

Posts in teal are kidding or sarcastic.

Shows how new I am here

[4everwarriors]

Don't worry man, you still have to go through the Scoop hazin' and get ripped a bit to be a full fledged member.

[bilsu]

I would think Ohio St would not use any new wrinkles in an exhibition game, because they would not want to tip MU to a new offensive set or defense. Those are better practiced in a closed scrimage. Although, it would not surprise me to find out the other team's coach in a scrimage passes off information to a future opponent.