Art of nonconference schedule

[KoldBeer]

Here's a good story from ESPN on the art of scheduling. It covers a lot of different types of programs but it's interesting to read different coaches thoughts on scheduling. As our program continues to grow, our schedule needs to grow with it. I'd love to see UNT get an at large bid some day.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7982706/the-art-nonconference-scheduling-men-college-basketball

[gksmith]

"Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski, who is the 2013 chair of the men's basketball selection committee, said that 10-member group is always looking for teams that play challenging nonconference schedules."

This is where you build your RPI so you can get consideration for the NCAAs without winning the conference tournament. That is not to say every non-conference game needs to be against a Kentucky-esk team but playing DII, III, NAIA teams can wreck your RPI. Those games need to be used for exhibition.

[CMJ]

"Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski, who is the 2013 chair of the men's basketball selection committee, said that 10-member group is always looking for teams that play challenging nonconference schedules."

This is where you build your RPI so you can get consideration for the NCAAs without winning the conference tournament. That is not to say every non-conference game needs to be against a Kentucky-esk team but playing DII, III, NAIA teams can wreck your RPI. Those games need to be used for exhibition.

Actually Division II III and NAIA teams don't count in your RPI positively or negatively. Playing a bunch of world beaters in the OOC is not smart for your RPI either, if you lose the majority. Scheduling smartly would mostly consist of playing schools like ourselves (ie not in a power league, winning about 20 games) with one or two bigger games thrown in the mix.

The RPI is 25% your record, 50% your opponents record, and 25% your opponents opponents record. So to really game the system we need the Belt to schedule smartly (ie few moneybag types of games) and to WIN with their more reasonable schedules. Then, when you get into league play, instead of all but 2 schools having losing records (bringing just about everyone down further) -- everyone has decent to good marks. Then the cycle feeds on itself. We all get boosted up if we all schedule smartly. When a ULM or a FIU manage to lose 20+ and all but the the top 3-4 schools have losing records going into March --- there is very little room the top couple of schools have. But, if most schools had .500 or better and 4-5 of those teams had 20 wins, suddenly we all look much improved for an extra bid.

Edited May 30, 2012 by CMJ