2017-2018 OOC Schedule

[GGGG]

Funny story, their basketball coach, Tracy Didly, is the current acting athletic director for Chicago State. So he's probably just being fiscally responsible!

Wasn't Tracy Didly the name of the hooker in the Louisville case?

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Funny story, their basketball coach, Tracy Didly, is the current acting athletic director for Chicago State.

Fitting because a game against Chicago St is worth didly.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wasn't Tracy Didly the name of the hooker in the Louisville case?

That was Katrina Powell....but that was funny

[barfolomew]

Iowa, Purdue, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Wisconsin, us. That's 6 teams buying them and they never go further than Iowa. They probably just funded their entire athletics department for a couple years.

Wonder if Chicago State will have to close its doors before it plays any of those games...
Hope MU has not paid in advance.

[Billy Hoyle]

Iowa, Purdue, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Wisconsin, us. That's 6 teams buying them and they never go further than Iowa. They probably just funded their entire athletics department for a couple years.

More like funded their university, which is in serious danger of shutting down.

[barfolomew]

More like funded their university, which is in serious danger of shutting down.

That's a great point Billy Ho'... wish I'd made it.   

[Newsdreams]

Broeker tweeted that it is a postponed game from last year
https://twitter.com/mikebroeker/status/875495808027807744

[brewcity77]

Here's the schedule as it stands:

• Nov. 10 - TBD Bradley Center
  
• Nov. 14 - Purdue Bradley Center, Gavitt Game
  
• Nov. 20 - TBD Maui Invitational (Cal, Chaminade, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU, Wichita State)
  
• Nov. 21 - TBD Maui Invitational (Cal, Chaminade, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU, Wichita State)
  
• Nov. 22 - TBD Maui Invitational (Cal, Chaminade, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, VCU, Wichita State)
  
• Nov. 29 - Chicago State Bradley Center
  
• Dec. 2 - Georgia Bradley Center
  
• Dec. 9 - @Wisconsin Kohl Center
  
• TBD - American Bradley Center
  
• TBD - Mount St. Mary's Bradley Center, Maui Invitational

Quite possible that the season opener will be American. Seems like MSM would make sense before we go to Maui, but that makes Nov. 16 as the only real option, as the team will likely be traveling by the 17th. Finals are December 11th-16th, so likely no games then and I'd guess Dec. 19th or 20th will be Froling's debut. As the Big East will probably start play the 27th-28th, that means Harry will probably only have 2 games to get acclimated before our first Big East game.

EDIT: Also, this is why Marquette should release the entire schedule at once, rather than piece-by-piece. We already know 8/13 dates and 9/13 opponents (with Maui being from a set pool). Pretty pointless to roll it out slowly.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

There should still be 2 or 3 games/opponents yet to be announced, right?  Assuming buy games, but hoping for another decent game. 

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Broeker tweeted that it is a postponed game from last year
https://twitter.com/mikebroeker/status/875495808027807744

I wonder if that was the 13th OOC game, and that we can expect to be back to 13 this year??

[brewcity77]

There should still be 2 or 3 games/opponents yet to be announced, right?  Assuming buy games, but hoping for another decent game.

If I were guessing, I'd say it will ultimately look like this:

• Nov. 10 - American
  
• Nov. 14 - Purdue
  
• Nov. 16 - Mount St. Mary's
  
• Nov. 20 - Maui California
  
• Nov. 21 - Maui Notre Dame/Chaminade
  
• Nov. 22 - Maui Wichita State/VCU/Michigan/LSU
  
• Nov. 26 - Buy Game
  
• Nov. 29 - Chicago State
  
• Dec. 2 - Georgia
  
• Dec. 5 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 9 - @ Wisconsin
  
• Dec. 19 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 23 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 27 - Big East Play Begins

The lines in black are already set in stone. I am confident the season opener will be Nov. 10, but don't know who the opponent will be. This leaves us with 4 unknown opponents. I expect they will all be buy games. My sincere hope is that one is top-150, about on par with Fresno last year, and the other three are projected in the 150-250 range. Really like to see American and Chicago State as the two worst projected teams on the schedule.

I'm also guessing on Maui, but my expectation is they will have the big mid-majors (Wichita & VCU) play in the first round, and be hoping for a Wichita/ND final. That likely gives Chaminade to ND in the first round. Considering we've played Michigan and LSU the past two years in exempt tournies, they may try to keep us away from them initially, which puts us on the ND side against California in the first round. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see us matching with Cal, Michigan, LSU, or VCU in the first round.

[barfolomew]

This leaves us with 4 unknown opponents. I expect they will all be buy games. My sincere hope is that one is top-150, about on par with Fresno last year, and the other three are projected in the 150-250 range. Really like to see American and Chicago State as the two worst projected teams on the schedule.

I think those are pretty good guesses, Brew.

I would personally like to see one of the buy games exchanged with a 3-for-1 or even a 2-for-1 with an MVC or A10 team. It seems we've been screwed recently RPI-wise by sub-250 teams that looked decent at the time of scheduling.

[jsglow]

Great work brew.  Personally, I'd make a minor change. I do think they'll play a buy game on December 16th as Finals end.  This past year was the first time they didn't in recent memory.  They could do December 16, 19/20, and 22/23 eliminating that need for an 11/16 to get squeezed in before Maui.  But all 3 are Buy games for sure.

[PGsHeroes32]

If I were guessing, I'd say it will ultimately look like this:

• Nov. 10 - American
  
• Nov. 14 - Purdue
  
• Nov. 16 - Mount St. Mary's
  
• Nov. 20 - Maui California
  
• Nov. 21 - Maui Notre Dame/Chaminade
  
• Nov. 22 - Maui Wichita State/VCU/Michigan/LSU
  
• Nov. 26 - Buy Game
  
• Nov. 29 - Chicago State
  
• Dec. 2 - Georgia
  
• Dec. 5 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 9 - @ Wisconsin
  
• Dec. 19 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 23 - Buy Game
  
• Dec. 27 - Big East Play Begins

The lines in black are already set in stone. I am confident the season opener will be Nov. 10, but don't know who the opponent will be. This leaves us with 4 unknown opponents. I expect they will all be buy games. My sincere hope is that one is top-150, about on par with Fresno last year, and the other three are projected in the 150-250 range. Really like to see American and Chicago State as the two worst projected teams on the schedule.

I'm also guessing on Maui, but my expectation is they will have the big mid-majors (Wichita & VCU) play in the first round, and be hoping for a Wichita/ND final. That likely gives Chaminade to ND in the first round. Considering we've played Michigan and LSU the past two years in exempt tournies, they may try to keep us away from them initially, which puts us on the ND side against California in the first round. That said, I wouldn't be surprised to see us matching with Cal, Michigan, LSU, or VCU in the first round.

If they seed the teams based off preseason expectations have to believe it would be MU/VCU with WSU waiting.

[brewcity77]

If they seed the teams based off preseason expectations have to believe it would be MU/VCU with WSU waiting.

In recent years, when Maui has two mid-majors, they've paired them together. Dayton and Gonzaga in 2013 then BYU and San Diego State in 2014 stand out in that regard.

I don't think they actually "seed" the tournament. I think the main focuses are to get the best possible final (on paper WSU/ND) and getting Chaminade into primetime (usually the first evening slot). I don't think we will see Chaminade or WSU on the first day, but anyone else is possible. Here's my rationale for games...

Wichita State/VCU: The mid-major faceoff, opener on the first day to draw attention with a top-5 team.
Michigan/LSU: Two teams with national followings, also two teams we've played the past two years. Not sure if they'll pay attention to that, but that's the rationale I'm using.
Chaminade/Notre Dame: Silverswords generally get one of the bigger names, and ND has the biggest following.
Cal/Marquette: Sets up the potential Catholic rivalry game. Could easily see this changed with the Michigan/LSU game, or any of those four interchanged between games.

I'm sure some of these will be wrong, either way we should know in about 3-4 weeks, as they usually announce the second half of July.

[Dawson Rental]

I think those are pretty good guesses, Brew.

I would personally like to see one of the buy games exchanged with a 3-for-1 or even a 2-for-1 with an MVC or A10 team. It seems we've been screwed recently RPI-wise by sub-250 teams that looked decent at the time of scheduling.

Economics does matta.  Must have that many buy games.  Every year.

[brewcity77]

Economics does matta.  Must have that many buy games.  Every year.

Here's my idea that would guarantee 16 home games every year (we've had as few as 16 recently) & most years 17, with one more for an exhibition:

• 2 Games: UW/Gavitt alternating home/away for a HM home & away game each year. If no Gavitt game, play a neutral site game (like Vandy) to keep up schedule quality.
  
• 4 Games: Exempt Tourney that gives 2-3 HM games & 1-2 home games, depending on the tournament.
  
• 4 Games: MM 3-for-1 series Target the Horizon, Summit, MVC, MWC, OVC & MAC. Play one road game each year & get three higher-quality home games than typical buys.
  
• 1 Game: HM Home-and-Home with the ideal to have a home game in years we play 3 HMs in an exempt tourney (like Maui) to ensure 17 D1 home games annually.
  
• 2 Games: True buy games If you can get a Fresno, great, but one of these will be the lid-lifter & one other just for numbers.

That's 13 games that would give us 5-6 high majors per year, 1-2 high majors at home per year, 2-3 road games per year, and generally a higher quality of schedule. With an exhibition, we would guarantee 17-19 games at the Silk Exotic Entertainment Center per year, in line with most seasons (I think we've only had one with 20+ in recent memory).

And while RPI is supposedly going to be less of a focus, schedule quality will still matter. SOS will still matter and advanced metrics like Pomeroy still use schedule quality as an important part of their ratings.

It would take more planning, and finding multiple mid-major partners, but if you can get say Detroit, Western Michigan, Loyola-Chicago, and Air Force, all of which we have some history with, and give them a marquee game every few years in exchange for a better home schedule for us, I think it's worth it. And if you know who you are playing because it's a contracted deal, it should be easier to lock them into dates early rather than having to scramble last minute (thus alleviating some of the second-choice scheduling issues).

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Looks good brew.  I know that it's been said that we aren't in the business of doing 3 for 1s.  Something about the economics.  I have no idea if it's legitimate or an excuse.  But that's a schedule that I would love to see as a fan.

[brewcity77]

Looks good brew.  I know that it's been said that we aren't in the business of doing 3 for 1s.  Something about the economics.  I have no idea if it's legitimate or an excuse.  But that's a schedule that I would love to see as a fan.

I've been told repeatedly they don't want to give up a home game if they aren't getting a high-major in return. Which I get, but I think this would lead to a stronger schedule, a more balanced and entertaining home schedule, better positioning for March, and all that without sacrificing home games. If they want more punch in the home games, they could either go with 3 MM 2-for-1 series or reduce the number of true buy games to 1 while adding another HM home-and-home, alternating with the one already slated in there.

[barfolomew]

I've been told repeatedly they don't want to give up a home game if they aren't getting a high-major in return. Which I get, but I think this would lead to a stronger schedule, a more balanced and entertaining home schedule, better positioning for March, and all that without sacrificing home games. If they want more punch in the home games, they could either go with 3 MM 2-for-1 series or reduce the number of true buy games to 1 while adding another HM home-and-home, alternating with the one already slated in there.

+1

Even if you have to do three true buy games to get to the magic number (either 16 or 17), it's better than having to do four or even five.

[SlowJoe]

Starting to unveil the schedule for next year and the exhibition game is against Lindenwood on November 4th.

[bradley center bat]

Going by the invoice on season tickets for the Bradley Center charge. Marquette will have 18 home dates that includes the exhibition game. So, unless something ends up on the road, MU will play 12 non-conference games.

[brewcity77]

Going by the invoice on season tickets for the Bradley Center charge. Marquette will have 18 home dates that includes the exhibition game. So, unless something ends up on the road, MU will play 12 non-conference games.

If ever there's a year when we'd get a shock non-conference opponent starting on the road, this would be that year.

[Dr. Blackheart]

If ever there's a year when we'd get a shock non-conference opponent starting on the road, this would be that year.

Like on the way to Maui?

[brewcity77]

Like on the way to Maui?

I would guess either on the way back or later on in December.