First Game at New Arena?

[GooooMarquette]

They wanted it to feel like home.

[Herman Cain]

I would like to see us play Alabama and Coach Avery Johnson.  I think we could win and it would draw a good crowd.

[LAZER]

I would like to see us play Alabama and Coach Avery Johnson.  I think we could win and it would draw a good crowd.

Alabama? Lol

[Herman Cain]

Alabama? Lol

One of Al's prescriptions for scheduling was to schedule a school with a national reputation in football, but none in basketball.

[GoldenWarrior11]

One of Al's prescriptions for scheduling was to schedule a school with a national reputation in football, but none in basketball.

Any team from the south? Check.

What about Boston College? Jesuit team. Solid name. Been weak for a couple of years now.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I would like to see us play Alabama and Coach Avery Johnson.  I think we could win and it would draw a good crowd.

Why would Alabama draw a good crowd compared to any other high major? Especially given that the first game of the season will be during football season so the rednecks won't even realize their basketball team is playing.

[Herman Cain]

Why would Alabama draw a good crowd compared to any other high major? Especially given that the first game of the season will be during football season so the rednecks won't even realize their basketball team is playing.

It is a home game for us. We don't rely on rednecks to show up.

[naginiF]

It is a home game for us. We don't rely on rednecks to show up.

As some on this board have shown very well, you don't have to live in the south to be a redneck.

If the first game is close to the opening of the arena we'll probably get a cupcake the first game to let the arena be the star of the night followed by a brand name i.e. any decent 'power 5'.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

As some on this board have shown very well, you don't have to live in the south to be a redneck.

In New England they are referred to as Swamp Yankees.

[T-Bone]

I could see them pushing up the Wisconsin game next year as the opener.  It'll be in-line with the series, and will get the entire state of WI to see what they paid for.

[GGGG]

I could see them pushing up the Wisconsin game next year as the opener.  It'll be in-line with the series, and will get the entire state of WI to see what they paid for.

They could.  But UW doesn't generally like playing Saturday games during football season.  A Sunday afternoon during the Packer season would be a dud too.

So then it's a Friday night?  That might be OK.

[MUfan12]

I could see them pushing up the Wisconsin game next year as the opener.  It'll be in-line with the series, and will get the entire state of WI to see what they paid for.

And have a third of the crowd in red for the first game in the new joint? I don't think they'll want to share that event.

For the record, I do think it'll be a high major.

[DCHoopster]

I could see them pushing up the Wisconsin game next year as the opener.  It'll be in-line with the series, and will get the entire state of WI to see what they paid for.

They would sell out the Badger game anytime they play, I think they would want somebody else for the opener, louisville, ND or Duke

[Benny B]

It's not going to be Duke unless it's part of an ACC - Big East challenge or something... K won't schedule a game against a former assistant, let alone a return game.

It's not going to be Wisconsin for all the reasons mentioned.

It's not going to be Notre Dame because a) Brey is still afraid of MU and b) it would necessitate a return game, and Domers don't like it when there's more than a couple dozen MU fans at the Joyce.

I would say the best shot at getting a high-major in the first game of the season is through a conference challenge.  Otherwise, it would have to be a 1-for-1 deal and there would have to be something in it for the other team, especially in the return game, for which MU has something that other opponents don't, e.g. I'm thinking someone relatively close for whom MU might prompt a bit of an attendance bump (or alumni bus trip opportunity), or might be half the travel cost, or might want a little RPI help (in case they end up finishing middle of their conference), etc... someone like an Iowa State or a second-tier Big Ten team (Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern immediately come to mind).

[Litehouse]

ND would be my first choice, but everyone has already addressed that.  The new Arena might be a good opportunity to set up a home-and-home with Gonzaga.

I think the first game will end up being a smaller opponent, and then a bigger name for the 2nd or 3rd game.  That way they can get a big crowd for the first game because of the novelty, and then get another big crowd for the premier game.

[cheebs09]

Could this be where the Utah game that fell through goes? Has a Majerus tie-in and a relatively big name.

[wadesworld]

How far out do big-name non-conference matchups typically get scheduled?  I know it isn't football where UW and UCLA are already scheduling games for 2929 and 2030, but how much time would we have to negotiate something with a big time opponent?

[GGGG]

How far out do big-name non-conference matchups typically get scheduled?  I know it isn't football where UW and UCLA are already scheduling games for 2929 and 2030, but how much time would we have to negotiate something with a big time opponent?

They are likely already having those discussions. 

[GoldenWarrior11]

What about a former Big East foe?  Pittsburgh, Syracuse, UConn, West Virginia or Cincinnati would all be good too.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Another challenge for getting a big ticket opponent is that we are likely to be better in 2019 than we are in 2018. Home and homes between quality opponents usually get scheduled between two teams when each feels they have a reasonable chance of winning one or both games. If a team has to play us when we're good in 2018 on the road, and then again when we're better in 2019 at home,  they risk losing both games. Not going to be as many takers.

[MU82]

Another challenge for getting a big ticket opponent is that we are likely to be better in 2019 than we are in 2018. Home and homes between quality opponents usually get scheduled between two teams when each feels they have a reasonable chance of winning one or both games. If a team has to play us when we're good in 2018 on the road, and then again when we're better in 2019 at home,  they risk losing both games. Not going to be as many takers.

Kentucky, Kansas or UNC, then. Obviously!

[GooooMarquette]

They would sell out the Badger game anytime they play, I think they would want somebody else for the opener, louisville, ND or Duke

But we wouldn't sell out Louisville, Notre Dame or Duke anytime too?   I haven't seen the list of our largest crowds recently, but last time I saw it, I'm pretty sure Wisconsin was only one or two of the top 10 games. 

If the goal is to get a sellout for a game that otherwise would have a small crowd, we might as well play the Montana Bible and Dishwasher Repair College.

[wildbillsb]

"...we might as well play the Montana Bible and Dishwasher Repair College."


What's their mascot again?

[GooooMarquette]

"...we might as well play the Montana Bible and Dishwasher Repair College."


What's their mascot again?

Golden Eagles.

[GGGG]

"...we might as well play the Montana Bible and Dishwasher Repair College."


What's their mascot again?