Non conference schedule

[jsheim]

Just to chime in...as has been pointed out, RPI-wise, away wins are a big plus. The impact of that 1.4 on our 25% of the RPI is big (compared to the .6 for a home win).

But all those cupcakes are home....it must be a money thing. No payday away.

QUESTION: does anyone know the Stetson connection? Is it just another random team to play or is there a relationship? It just seems like such an out-of-the-blue team to play in the idle of Conference play.

[jsglow]

Yep.  There's no way to win with this whole scenario, and their fans with complain and find ways to bitch about us no matter what happens, so screw it.  They complain we're afraid of them, so we play and beat them 5 more times.  They complain they never get to play at their place, so we play there and beat them and they complain we didn't have enough of our fans show up to sell out the game (attendance was 7,120 out of 10,783).  If UWM would actually happen to win a game, we'd never hear the end of it.

I'd rather do a 3-1 with Loyola and get an extra game for our Chicago area fans, or even UWGB or Detroit.

I'd personally love a Loyola series.  Lots of MU fans here in Chicago would probably take advantage in that one away year.

[rocky_warrior]

QUESTION: does anyone know the Stetson connection? Is it just another random team to play or is there a relationship? It just seems like such an out-of-the-blue team to play in the idle of Conference play.

I think random, but conveniently placed in our big east bye week.   So probably one of the few non-con teams willing to come to Milwaukee in Jan (Perhaps they have a conference bye week too).

[jsheim]

I think random, but conveniently placed in out big east bye week.   So probably one of the few non-con teams willing to come to Milwaukee in Jan (Perhaps they have a conference bye week too).

ty

[Litehouse]

Another non-conference game idea...  the Vikings new stadium is opening next year and hosting the Final Four in 2019.  Minnesota might want to host an event there as a trial run to work out the kinks before the Final Four.  Maybe they could set-up an early season double-header with Minnesota vs. Marquette and Wisconsin vs. someone else (maybe Louisville if Richard wants to bring in Rick).  Maybe it could be part of the Gavitt Games.  MU would bring a decent number of fans to the Twin Cities for something like that.

[GooooMarquette]

Another non-conference game idea...  the Vikings new stadium is opening next year and hosting the Final Four in 2019.  Minnesota might want to host an event there as a trial run to work out the kinks before the Final Four.  Maybe they could set-up an early season double-header with Minnesota vs. Marquette and Wisconsin vs. someone else (maybe Louisville if Richard wants to bring in Rick).  Maybe it could be part of the Gavitt Games.  MU would bring a decent number of fans to the Twin Cities for something like that.

Like the idea.  Potential for good games, and a much shorter drive for me than Milwaukee.

[brewcity77]

I would say there is interest in the home state teams. The last time we played UW GB at home 14,208 attendance and there were actually butts in the seat at the game not just ticket sales. UWM games always have had good attendence. Remember, I am saying to substitute these games for the really lousy cupcakes not the high major games with Iowa , LSU etc

MU alumni are really good at supporting road games. When we play DePaul we are half the arena. A Loyola road game in Lincoln Park would be very well attended. When we play  St. Johns in the garden a very good crowd comes out. Heck I have even seen substantial turnouts in places like Hartford when we played U Conn

UWM and UWGB may draw more than standard buy game cupcakes, but is it enough to justify giving up a home game every 4 years? That means losing all the revenue for ticket sales for that game, reducing the package size for STHs, and risking a loss. Remember, we didn't just lose to UWGB at the Resch, we came very close to losing to UWM at the Cell.

MU alumni are really good at supporting road games. When we play DePaul we are half the arena. A Loyola road game in Lincoln Park would be very well attended. When we play  St. Johns in the garden a very good crowd comes out. Heck I have even seen substantial turnouts in places like Hartford when we played U Conn

That's all well and good, but think about who these games benefit. Playing teams like UWGB, UWM, and Loyola do not give any significant MU fans a chance to see the team that don't already have it. All of the fans going to those games have the chance to drive at most 3 hours, and most of them less driving time than that, about 15-20 times per year to see Marquette.

Our program is strong enough to survive an occasional loss to a mid major.

One of my models for this type of scheduling is Michigan State. They play some super high majors but also due to their geography have scheduled the directionals plus an Oakland or U of D has worked well for them.

If I had my way, I'd do things differently. I'd look at 3-for-1s with schools in places that don't usually get to see Marquette, but in fertile recruiting grounds and where we have alums who would relish the chance to see the team in person. California, Texas, and Florida would all be good places to start. But playing the local schools? There's no point to it. It doesn't help us with alums or recruits. (4 games)

I'd also hope to find an annual home-and-home to compliment Wisconsin. If you can't get ND or Louisville, so be it. Minnesota, Iowa State, Cincinnati, or Vandy would all be good pairings. Guarantee one high-major home game every year, and also one road game for the RPI boost. (2 games)

For exempt tourneys, only take on tournaments that guarantee us 4 games. Whether it's three neutral site and one home game or two of each doesn't matter, but maximize the chances to be seen and bring in revenue. (4 games).

That leaves 3 games left. Most years, one will be a Gavitt Game, so you only need to fill two actual dates. If you can find a home-and-home or neutral site game (like the Washington game in NYC) great, if not, 2-3 low major buy games wouldn't hurt that much.

I think they did the right thing this year with the team they had. In the future I think they can be more creative. I don't have high confidence in Mr. Broeker in that regard, the push will have to come from his boss.

We are somewhat handicapped by not having full control over our venue. I'm skeptical to how much we are handicapped, but not being the primary tenant (or even secondary) is a negative. Schools like 'Nova, Creighton, and Butler don't have that same issue. Hopefully the new arena will help us in that regard by moving us a step up the food chain.

I think looking at this year as a negative is unfair to all parties involved. Look at the past five years. Exempt tourneys in the Virgin Islands, Maui, California, Orlando, and NYC. They do a good job with those events (and back to NYC and Maui the next two years). Also seen home-and-homes with Arizona State, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, and LSU, all quality programs. Neutral site games with New Mexico and Washington. And over that time (going by kenpom, it's easier) we played 15 sub-300 opponents or worse (average of 3).

This year is the outlier. We all know it's a crap schedule, they know it's a crap schedule, and everyone involved knows why. Let's see how they do next year before we throw Broeker, Wojo, and Scholl under the bus, especially as I think Broeker has done a pretty good job over the balance of the past decade or so.

[Jay Bee]

QUESTION: does anyone know the Stetson connection? Is it just another random team to play or is there a relationship? It just seems like such an out-of-the-blue team to play in the idle of Conference play.

- Wojo, like ZFB, wears Stetson cologne
- They have one player with the name Cockfield and another guy named B.J.
- Their head coach shares a name with Buzz's wife
- Revenge time. Corey Williams graduated in '92, but cheered for his Oklahoma St. team when they beat us in the '93 tourney

[Dr. Blackheart]

QUESTION: does anyone know the Stetson connection? Is it just another random team to play or is there a relationship? It just seems like such an out-of-the-blue team to play in the idle of Conference play.

Oliver Lee was from DeLand Florida, home of the Hatters. His parents were professors there. As part of his recruitment, MU agreed to a 2-1 agreement (and a 5-4 over the rest of the 80's), with the 1 while The O was still in school, leading to an embarrassing loss. Like the smoke emanating from his dorm room, this loss signified that the McGuire Era had finally gone poof.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19790214&id=wW1NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5foDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3153,4052154&hl=en

This year's game was likely a late replacement for a high major, non-conference TV game that fell through.

[NotAnAlum]

I'd really like to see MU play in the Battle 4 Atlantis.  That tourney always draws good teams.  Its in a great vacation spot but easy enough to get to.  The venue is nice (compared to some of the other venues these holiday tournaments are played in) and the time zone makes the games good for TV.  Any reason why MU hasn't been asked.  I know St Johns is there next Thanksgiving.

[MUfan12]

Any reason why MU hasn't been asked.  I know St Johns is there next Thanksgiving.

I think MU tends to work with Gazelle and ESPN Events for their non-con tournaments, and Atlantis is promoted by another group.

2014- Disney (ESPN)
2015- Legends (Gazelle)
2016- 2K Classic (Gazelle)
2017- Maui (ESPN)

[warriorchick]

I'd really like to see MU play in the Battle 4 Atlantis.  That tourney always draws good teams.  Its in a great vacation spot but easy enough to get to.  The venue is nice (compared to some of the other venues these holiday tournaments are played in) and the time zone makes the games good for TV.  Any reason why MU hasn't been asked.  I know St Johns is there next Thanksgiving.

It bugs me that they play in what looks like a ballroom. I picture the catering manager asking the refs, "When is this game going to be over? " We have to set up for the Horowitz-Flanagan wedding!"

[Loose Cannon]

It bugs me that they play in what looks like a ballroom. I picture the catering manager asking the refs, "When is this game going to be over? " We have to set up for the Horowitz-Flanagan wedding!"

   So True.

[79Warrior]

It bugs me that they play in what looks like a ballroom. I picture the catering manager asking the refs, "When is this game going to be over? " We have to set up for the Horowitz-Flanagan wedding!"

That is because it is.