2018-19 Non-Conference Schedule

[brewcity77]

All good points. Thanks for the home-game info, Panther. I would guess they do want to maximize the number of home games this year to show off the new digs and capitalize on ticket sales in the first year when people will be most likely to want to get in and see the place. It's also possible they will simply wait to start another home-and-home until 2019 and start it at home like this K-State series, though this is the first high-major H&H I remember starting at home in a long time.

[Its DJOver]

All good points. Thanks for the home-game info, Panther. I would guess they do want to maximize the number of home games this year to show off the new digs and capitalize on ticket sales in the first year when people will be most likely to want to get in and see the place. It's also possible they will simply wait to start another home-and-home until 2019 and start it at home like this K-State series, though this is the first high-major H&H I remember starting at home in a long time.

Ohio State was canceled neutral site in 12-13, played at home in 13-14, and on the road in 14-15

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

That would be cool. However, Nova playing at UConn is considered a "High major/mid major" series.

True,  but it's with one of the most recognizable and strongest mid majors. I'd be down with it

[Bocephys]

Ohio State was canceled neutral site in 12-13, played at home in 13-14, and on the road in 14-15

I wouldn't call what either team did during that 2013 matchup "playing basketball".

[brewcity77]

Niagara and Kent State should be solid.

Nicholls State would have been solid this season but lose just about everybody.

Niagara returns 3 starters and their two projected backcourt starters both got a lot of experience last year, especially down the stretch when one of their graduating seniors was out. They'll likely be in the mix with 3-4 other teams for the MAAC title. Kent State I really feel kind of bad for. They will likely start 3 seniors and two juniors, including two very good seniors in the backcourt and a 7-foot center that started his career at St. John's and posted 7 double-doubles last year. But they have a really good Buffalo team in their division.

Nicholls State, on the other hand, graduated their top five players in terms of minutes and saw their coach leave. They'll almost certainly be sub-300. As far as the Big South, there are a few intriguing teams, but NCAA team Radford almost certainly leads the list. They return 4 starters and add a grad transfer from Kansas State.

[drewm88]

One more note on the K-State series. This is a really savvy bit of scheduling to get the home game at the Silk first. K-State returns virtually all their team and will be very strong. Most likely a top-15 type team. We definitely would rather play them at home this year. Then next year, after Barry Brown, Kamau Stokes, and Dean Wade graduate, we get the road game when we have what should be our senior-laden, loaded team. While it's entirely possible we go 0-2, we did position ourselves as well as possible to win both games.

Same is true for both teams.

[Herman Cain]

Would like to see us use the full 31 game schedule. If for some reason we can't get a decent 13th non conference game, we should then go to a DII which does not count in RPI but does give some headline optics of an additional win. Maybe use it during the bye week. Creighton has done that in the past.

[Nukem2]

Would like to see us use the full 31 game schedule. If for some reason we can't get a decent 13th non conference game, we should then go to a DII which does not count in RPI but does give some headline optics of an additional win. Maybe use it during the bye week. Creighton has done that in the past.

Creighton did that this past season against Bemidgi State (sp?) though the Jays then lost at home to MU.  So that did not work out too well.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Close. Bemidji State

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The D2 route is not a bad option. There could be benefit to a tune up game in the middle of conference play that doesn't impact your computer numbers. The worry is always what if someone gets hurt playing a meaningless game? Personally, I think the risk is low enough.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

The D2 route is not a bad option. There could be benefit to a tune up game in the middle of conference play that doesn't impact your computer numbers. The worry is always what if someone gets hurt playing a meaningless game? Personally, I think the risk is low enough.

No different than getting hurt in a meaningless practice.

  I'm not all that excited about the idea of playing a D 2 school. But if we do, we do.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Not sure if posted yet, but Rothstein had some very positive things to say in his column this AM. 

https://frshoopz.com/cbb/rothstein-files-romeo-langford-makes-indiana-a-big-ten-contender/

2. Marquette is scheduling like it's preparing for a breakthrough season

If recruiting is the lifeblood of every program, then scheduling is the veins and arteries — seriously.

Putting together a schedule with the adequate amount of big-time games is critical to being on the right side of the bubble on Selection Sunday and with the looks of things, it appears that the Golden Eagles have taken strides in that area heading into next season.

In addition to 18 Big East games, Marquette will play two tilts in the Preseason NIT along with Kansas, Tennessee, and Louisville; all three of those teams are currently ranked in the FRS Sports Preseason Top 25 and Kansas and Tennessee is ranked in the top six. Steve Wojciechowski's squad also will play a road game against a Big Ten team in the Gavitt Games and host both Wisconsin and Kansas State in December; the Wildcats are currently ranked 13th in the FRS Sports Preseason Top 25 and return the majority of their nucleus from last year's team that reached the Elite Eight.

That's 23 high major games and if the Golden Eagles win their fair share, they won't just be playing for a spot in the 2019 NCAA Tournament; they'll be playing for a high seed in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

This is one of the Big East's more unique teams entering next season with the return of two all-league players in Markus Howard and Sam Hauser along with the additions of three potentially key front court pieces in Nebraska transfer Ed Morrow, Brendan Bailey, and Joey Hauser — the younger brother of Sam Hauser. The 6-8 Bailey is a former 4-star recruit who missed the past few seasons due to a Mormon Mission.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He didn't even mention the game against Buffalo who on paper should be one of the top 40 teams in the country next season. Just goes to show how good and challenging of a schedule we have next season.

I seriously don't get the love for Louisville. I've seen them in a couple of top 25s and a lot of way too early bracketologies. How does an NIT team lose 4 starters, only bring in two new players, a grad transfer from Samford and a transfer who scored 3.4 points a game for a sub-100 UConn squad, and jump into the tournament? That makes no sense to me. Mack is good....but I don't think that good.

[Marquette4life]

Sorry if this is already posted, we are also playing Southern on 12/28

[Mr. Nielsen]

Sorry if this is already posted, we are also playing Southern on 12/28

Nope, that is new. Where did you see that?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sorry if this is already posted, we are also playing Southern on 12/28

Huh, so we are. It looks like MU is updating the schedule online as games are set:

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/marq-m-baskbl-sched.html

And....woof. Southern is about as bad of Division 1 team as there is. They were 326 in KenPom last season, lose 4 starters including their best player, and play in the worst conference in basketball. Couldn't find a bigger RPI drag if you tried.

Oh well, every schedule has at least one dog on it. And 5 years in we certainly have a pattern.  Morgan State (332), Presbyterian (328), SIU-E (318), American (328), and now Southern (326 last season). Wojo has scheduled a sub 300 team as the last game before Big East play in every season. Seems like he values an easy tune up game before playing the big boys. Seems like a reasonable strategy....though we are 1-3 in Big East openers.

[brewcity77]

That's disappointing. Not that we have a tune-up game, but the lack of another home-and-home. Would have loved a table-setter for the 2019-20 season.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

That's disappointing. Not that we have a tune-up game, but the lack of another home-and-home. Would have loved a table-setter for the 2019-20 season.

What makes you think that it is 100% confirmed no more home and homes?

[UWW2MU]

Sorry if this is already posted, we are also playing Southern on 12/28

I must have been letting myself get too excited about all the bigger game announcements, even if it's just for name recognition on low PRI teams, that seeing this leaves me quite disappointed.   Although I'm glad there's an additional non-con game scheduled at least.

[tower912]

Plenty of high major games on Marquette's OOC schedule.  Southern won't  hurt anything.  Unless Marquette loses.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Huh, so we are. It looks like MU is updating the schedule online as games are set:

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/sched/marq-m-baskbl-sched.html

And....woof. Southern is about as bad of Division 1 team as there is. They were 326 in KenPom last season, lose 4 starters including their best player, and play in the worst conference in basketball. Couldn't find a bigger RPI drag if you tried.

Oh well, every schedule has at least one dog on it. And 5 years in we certainly have a pattern.  Morgan State (332), Presbyterian (328), SIU-E (318), American (328), and now Southern (326 last season). Wojo has scheduled a sub 300 team as the last game before Big East play in every season. Seems like he values an easy tune up game before playing the big boys. Seems like a reasonable strategy....though we are 1-3 in Big East openers.

Just pulled the schedule up.

They have:

11/06: UMBC (home)
11/10: TBA (home - preseason NIT)
11/17: TBA (home - preseason NIT)
11/21: Kansas/Lou/Tenn (Preseason NIT)
11/23: Kansas/Lou/Tenn (Preseason NIT)
11/27: TBA (home)
12/1: K state (home)
12/4: TBA (home)
12/8: Wisconsin (home)
12/18: TBA (home)
12/21: Buffalo (home)
12/28: Southern (home)

So still 3 TBA buy games, and 2 NIT preseason home games opponents to be announced.

Hopefully a home and home road game is still in the works, because I am going to pull my hair out if MU only schedules 12 non-con games and leaves another game on the table AGAIN this season.

EDIT: Missing / was forgetting TBA Gavitt B10 road game.  That would get us to 13.   

[brewcity77]

What makes you think that it is 100% confirmed no more home and homes?

Look at the OP, which I've updated as we have gone along. We are almost certain to play a road Gavitt Game. Everything else is locked into a location. If we were playing another home-and-home, that December 28 spot would've been it.

[GGGG]

Look at the OP, which I've updated as we have gone along. We are almost certain to play a road Gavitt Game. Everything else is locked into a location. If we were playing another home-and-home, that December 28 spot would've been it.

I also think there was some thought that the Dec 28 game was going to be the first BE game of the year so a home and home could have conceivably started in the Spring.  But obviously that's not the case now.

[brewcity77]

I also think there was some thought that the Dec 28 game was going to be the first BE game of the year so a home and home could have conceivably started in the Spring.  But obviously that's not the case now.

Yup, was more saying that knowing we have that date as a buy game means no more home and homes.

[Jay Bee]

And....woof. Southern is about as bad of Division 1 team as there is. They were 326 in KenPom last season, lose 4 starters including their best player, and play in the worst conference in basketball. Couldn't find a bigger RPI drag if you tried.

Remember, tge KemPom tank of teams you play doesn't impact your RPI. In fact, the RPI of teams you play doesn't impact your RPI.

Southern was 13-18 for RPI purposes and had a winning record in their conference - which will again be overall a conf they could win many games in. You could find a lot worse.