YSU Penguin Athletics > YSU Penguin Athletics

2014-15 Mens Basketball Schedule

(1/8) > >>

goodnews:
I found the following opponents for the upcoming season.

@Robert Morris
Kent State
@Illinois State
@Eastern Michigan Round Robin with Longwood and UNC Greensboro
@Texas A&M

I assume there are 1 or 2 return games from last year (UMKC)?

Lets_Talk:
I wish YSU would play a schedule more like that of Oakland. Yes, there likely would be few OOC wins, but the competition level would prepare YSU well for the HL, and the program could possibly generate more revenue with the payouts for the road games. Football is now expected to play 1 "blood game" (as some call them) every year. That is for an OOC schedule of 3 or 4 games, depending on if an 11-12 game schedule. That is 25% when 4 OOC games, and 33% when 3 OOC games. So, I do not see why it is asking to much for the men's basketball team to play 4 or 5 of these type games, given the OOC typically consists of 15 or 16 games.

 Away - MSU, Arizona, Maryland, Clemson, Iowa State, Pitt, Morehead State, Eastern Michigan;
Home - Western Michigan, Western Carolina, Chicago State, Georgia State, Toledo, and 2 non d-1's

IAA Fan:
I understand your feelings and agree Lets_Talk. However, I am going to predict that Oakland's non-conference schedule will begin to change drastically as a member of the HL. This level of mid-major requires more wins. Although the non-DI schedule needs to be reduced and eliminated from our schedule ...outside of scrimmage and home-opener. For Oakland, a string of power losses will mean no at-large bid and difficulty scheduling enough home games.

Lets_Talk:
This is the 2nd year for Oakland in the HL. Why do they need to change their schedule? This schedule is attractive to recruits. It enables Oakland to be on television several times. I watched at least 4-5 of their OOC games on TV last year, and I'm not talking HL Network or ESPN 3.

Also, it enables Oakland to have money to pay to better quality D1 teams for OOC home games. They still have 2 games against non D1 teams on the schedule. And, with Butler gone, there is not likely to be any teams from the HL making the tournament as an at-large team. Not too mention, the reason Butler was able to make tournament as an at-large team was due to playing a very strong OOC schedule, and wining some of those games.

The road to the tournament from the HL is winning the Conference Tournament. Winning the regular season gets a team a bid to NIT. Having a record of .500 or better and willingness to pay money, allows school to be in CBI or CIT, whichever tournament it was that YSU played Oakland in 2013.

Oakland had a record of 11-20 last year against D1 teams, yet their RPI was 188. Montana had record of 15-13, and RPI of 189. ETSU went 18-16 against D1 teams last year, and had RPI of 208. St. Francis(NY) was 17-14, with RPI of 187. And, there were other teams with winning records, that had lower RPI's than Oakland.

With Oakland now in the HL, their talent level ought to increase. And, as the talent level increases, they are more likely to win a few of these road games, and more of the home games against solid D1 teams.

IAA Fan:
Let's look at a couple of factors:

1. Oakland is in Detroit ...most other schools in the HL are not. They are a quick invite for a tournament in a basketball city. That being said, UDM is traditionally a very good program, much better than Oakland & they do not have this type of schedule. You will start to see Oakland's schedule become more similar to UDM's.

2. As you said, Oakland will improve. All the more reason that major teams will stop scheduling them.

3. Mid-major schools are always going to have to play on the road for bigger programs. They need home games. No matter what sports-casters say ...it is very difficult to find home and home series again top programs. Especially now, as top schools will simply create a tournament. The challenge for OU and YSU is to be invited to these tournaments. Then we are back to location ...Detroit vs. Youngstown.


The again, YSU can sell over 200,000 football tickets on a good year ...just how many home basketball games will it take to do the same for Oakland? 40-50 games maybe?  I hope that you are right and we can schedule a few more larger teams, but not too many.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page