Lunardi Says..

[MU82]

I've been pondering this idea for a while now and I'm curious what you all would think:

Gonzaga should sign a deal with the Big East to play two non-con games vs Big East teams every year for 5 years.  One home, one away.  One in the middle of conference season instead of during the fall.  It would give Gonzaga some late-season seasoning against quality teams and it would provide another chance for conference RPI boosting for the Big East on a yearly basis.  Plus, it would build the bridge between us and another similarly minded Catholic basketball school.

Hell, MU should sign a perpetual home-and-home with Gonzaga ourselves, to build up a rivalry between the top two Catholic basketball schools in the nation.

Very interesting idea. Too bad you're not commish of one of the conferences!

I actually like the MU/Zags idea more. Send a note to Scholl and let us know what he says.

As for Gonzaga not wanting to have to play crappy DePaul ... as somebody said, going to Chicago is a good trip for any school. And DePaul won't be crappy forever. Sports are cyclical. All it takes are leaders with vision. Saying something won't work because one team might suck 5 or 10 years down the line is kinda silly.

[MUBurrow]

That seems pretty win-win as long as Few is there. I don't think you'd want to lock into that for more than 3-5 years at a time, because if Few bolted, that might turn into having that deal with San Francisco. But the Zags will be legit as long as Few is their coach, and if the arrangement turned into a really good one for the Zags, could produce some bargaining leverage as the realignment and affiliation wheels continue to turn.

[brewcity77]

Gonzaga should sign a deal with the Big East to play two non-con games vs Big East teams every year for 5 years.  One home, one away.  One in the middle of conference season instead of during the fall.  It would give Gonzaga some late-season seasoning against quality teams and it would provide another chance for conference RPI boosting for the Big East on a yearly basis.  Plus, it would build the bridge between us and another similarly minded Catholic basketball school.

It's too bad that the bottom of the WCC is usually so terrible. What I'd like to see is maybe an annual series between the two leagues. Do it in February on a weekend. Top-5 from the Big East play the top-5 from the WCC. You can't do the entire league because the bottom of their league is so bad, but you'd generally get 3 marquee games (Gonzaga, BYU, St. Mary's), help out somewhat like-minded schools, and it'd be better than playing cupcakes.

The problem, of course, is how deep into the league you go. Would their perennial doormats sign off on a series deal that they would likely rarely benefit from?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

It's too bad that the bottom of the WCC is usually so terrible. What I'd like to see is maybe an annual series between the two leagues. Do it in February on a weekend. Top-5 from the Big East play the top-5 from the WCC. You can't do the entire league because the bottom of their league is so bad, but you'd generally get 3 marquee games (Gonzaga, BYU, St. Mary's), help out somewhat like-minded schools, and it'd be better than playing cupcakes.

The problem, of course, is how deep into the league you go. Would their perennial doormats sign off on a series deal that they would likely rarely benefit from?

Pass.  That series helps the WCC more than the BE.  Just wait for Marquette at Loyola Marymount. Yawn.

Just do Gonzaga outright.

[brewcity77]

Pass.  That series helps the WCC more than the BE.  Just wait for Marquette at Loyola Marymount. Yawn.

Just do Gonzaga outright.

Which is why I'd only want to go five deep. And agreed, it helps them more than us, but if we're winning 80%, that still helps us. The top-three are solid, after that, it gets sketchy quick. However, even the lower-level WCC teams are better than another buy game against Grambling.

[MU82]

That seems pretty win-win as long as Few is there.

Did you say the same when Monson was there?

Maybe Few's top assistant would be an even better head coach than Few, just as Few has been better than Monson.

I mean, who's better? Izzo or Heathcote? Heck, many (maybe most) here would argue that Buzz was a nice improvement on Crean.

[GoldenDieners32]

Lunardi new bracket has us in the tourney as a 8 seed playing VT in the midwest. If we win that game we would play kansas, i like are chances against kansas. Kansas has a good backcourt but no front court
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

[MUBurrow]

Did you say the same when Monson was there?

Maybe Few's top assistant would be an even better head coach than Few, just as Few has been better than Monson.

I mean, who's better? Izzo or Heathcote? Heck, many (maybe most) here would argue that Buzz was a nice improvement on Crean.

Sure, Few's top assistant might be great. But I wouldn't bet my future scheduling flexibility on it.

[B. McBannerson]

Heck, many (maybe most) here would argue that Buzz was a nice improvement on Crean.

Two jagholes

[Benny B]

Lunardi new bracket has us in the tourney as a 8 seed playing VT in the midwest. If we win that game we would play kansas, i like are chances against kansas. Kansas has a good backcourt but no front court
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

By the time the tourney rolls around, KU may not have a back court either.

[keefe]

Would looooove to play Gonzaga

In a later round perhaps because if we play the Zags on the first weekend it is short tournament for us

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

However, even the lower-level WCC teams are better than another buy game against Grambling.

Why is this always the go to scheduling meme?  Wouldn't a road game more likely replace a game like Vanderbilt or Georgia?

A mediocre home game would be roughly on par with the Fresno St game.  If MU wants to host Univ of San Fran, just do it as a buy game.

[wadesworld]

Would they be able to withstand Buzz's mind games as he whispers to them from the opposing bench?

Those are nothing compared to Wojo's mind games they experience every day!

[brewcity77]

Why is this always the go to scheduling meme?  Wouldn't a road game more likely replace a game like Vanderbilt or Georgia?

A mediocre home game would be roughly on par with the Fresno St game.  If MU wants to host Univ of San Fran, just do it as a buy game.

Because you won't get those Gonzaga, BYU, and St. Mary's games otherwise, and those are worthwhile. And I'm willing to take one of them in lieu of a Vandy or Georgia.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Because you won't get those Gonzaga, BYU, and St. Mary's games otherwise, and those are worthwhile. And I'm willing to take one of them in lieu of a Vandy or Georgia.

So call Gonzaga and St. Mary's and try to schedule a home and home!  Why do we need to make it a mini-conference challenge?

Truth be told, the WCC has one big fish: Gonzaga.  I bet Gonzaga would demand to get another big fish.  So you get Gonzaga vs Villanova, maybe one other good game, and a bunch of mediocrity.  I don't see the logic.

Plus, St. Mary's is good some years but mediocre the others.  The Gaels have 4 NCAA appearances and 5 NIT appearances in the last 10 years.  This year they're likely a tourney team but they haven't danced the last 3.  I wouldn't complain about them being on the schedule but I don't see the need to add an extra 2-3 games of mediocrity by roping in the rest of the conference.

Finally, BYU does nothing for me.  Look at rpiforecast which lists the following expected rpi's:

Georgia 63.1
BYU 66.7
Vandy 78.9

So RPI wise and resume wise it's essentially a wash.  I'd still take the SEC teams over the WCC team from a brand and excitement standpoint.

[rocket surgeon]

Lunardi new bracket has us in the tourney as a 8 seed playing VT in the midwest. If we win that game we would play kansas, i like are chances against kansas. Kansas has a good backcourt but no front court
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

and kansas is struggling with sophomore carlton bragg, having just suspended him for the 2nd time in the last couple months. they say the suspension is due to "violation of team rules" and unrelated to the sexual assault that occurred in his dorm last month.

         

[dgies9156]

Lunardi new bracket has us in the tourney as a 8 seed playing VT in the midwest.
http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/bracketology

You don't think Lunardi did that for effect?

We may be an 8 seed, but there's a lot of 9 seeds we can play. I'd be shocked if we ended up playing the Hillbilly and his band of goofballs. That's too much even for the NCAA.

[GoldenDieners32]

You don't think Lunardi did that for effect?

We may be an 8 seed, but there's a lot of 9 seeds we can play. I'd be shocked if we ended up playing the Hillbilly and his band of goofballs. That's too much even for the NCAA.

I looked at the other 8 and 9 seeds and the only one we would lose to is Dayton...Even with kostas not playing its too much

[Newsdreams]

I looked at the other 8 and 9 seeds and the only one we would lose to is Dayton...Even with kostas not playing its too much

We wouldn't have to play that game we already beat them.

[GoldenDieners32]

I'd really like a matchup with ISU against Deonte

[Benny B]

We wouldn't have to play that game we already beat them.

ssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... it's a secret.

[PGsHeroes32]

I'd really like a matchup with ISU against Deonte

That game would approach 100 if both teams brought their strokes

[GGGG]

That game would approach 100 if both teams brought their strokes

Hell with Deonte on the floor, we might score 150.

[KampusFoods]

Hell with Deonte on the floor, we might score 150.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

You don't think Lunardi did that for effect?

We may be an 8 seed, but there's a lot of 9 seeds we can play. I'd be shocked if we ended up playing the Hillbilly and his band of goofballs. That's too much even for the NCAA.

I've always wondered if Lunardi looked for storylines in his brackets. I remember being paired against IU in one. There was another where X and Arizona (former X coach) were in line to play in the second round. There have been others. Probably coincidence but you never know