Once again, Illinois State has loaded their schedule with no-name non-conference teams to fatten their record.
North Florida, Norfolk State, Southeast Missouri State, St. Bonaventure, Central Michigan, Niagara, at SIU-Edwardsville, at Illinois-Chicago, at Ohio, at Utah and vs. Grambling State.
The game against Utah is part of the first installment of the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Conference Challenge so I don't give them credit for scheduling this game. They had better win it and have less than five conference losses to make the NCAA tournament this season.
That is a grand total of 3 games the entire season, including conference games, against 2009 NCAA tourney teams. That is no way to impress the NCAA selection committee. Let the argument begin about how none of the Big 6 conference teams were willing to schedule a game with a good mid-major. Kansas plays 2009 NCAA tourney mid-major teams Radford, Cornell and Temple this season along with 21 game winner Hofstra, 19 game winner Belmont and 18 game winner La Salle.
Illinois State fans need to demand that their athletic department step up and give their basketball team a chance to get to the next level. They have a great coaching staff and have had some very talented players, but their scheduling labels them as a fourth-tier team.
I agree about the non conference schedule, does that include the BRACKET BUSTER game? But I think the MVC is a better conference than they are given credit for. However the schedule doesnt matter if they win the MVC tourny championship.
Let the argument begin about how none of the Big 6 conference teams were willing to schedule a game with a good mid-major. Kansas plays 2009 NCAA tourney mid-major teams Radford, Cornell and Temple this season along with 21 game winner Hofstra, 19 game winner Belmont and 18 game winner La Salle. Four of those six games are in Lawrence, one is at the Sprint Center in KC. The only road game is at Temple. I don't begrudge the Jayhawks for having the power to say, "Play here or you don't play us at all." They're an elite basketball powerhouse.
But it isn't for a lack of trying on ISU's end when it comes to non-conference scheduling. They would love to play Kansas in Lawrence, even if it meant traveling to the moon to do so. Most BCS teams give a two-word response when ISU calls: "Not interested". So they take what they can get.
You are both right. Isn't it funny Illinois plays low end mid majors every year and it's rare ILLINOIS ST gets a game with them. That would help greatly but for whatever reason Illinois seems to be the only major team that doesn't play in-state "pushovers". Really hurts ISU's, UIC's, for the years they have a good team and don't get the chance to raise their profile with a upset or respectable loss to a BCS school. Purdue gives it to Indiana St and Ball St, USC and UCLA play all them UC schools, W Virginia plays Marshall, Tulsa gets games with the 2 okl schools, and the list goes on. ILLINOIS SUCKS
I remember when Kevin Stallings coached at ISU, I believe he said ISU asked the top 60 RPI schools for a home and away. Every school rejected. If a team rejects a home and away against a school, that should be taken under consideration by the selection committee. Was it Missouri State, a few years ago had an RPI of 21 or so, and did not make the tournament.
As a fan, I would love to see ISU make the big dance. However, I don't want to lose 3 home games a year, because teams like U of I won't do a home and away. ISU just needs to take care of business out on the court. If they go 25-5 this year,they are in. If they had to a tougher schedule and played more games on the road, they may only need to go 21-9.
Bruce Weber doesnt have the basketballs to play us, hes scared, and when he hears rumblings of playing us his tail goes between his legs. HE IS A SISSY
St. Bonaventure, Niagra, Ohio, and Utah will probably all win 20+ games and make their case for the NCAA tournament. Niagra and Ohio will probably both get an automatic bid as well. Most teams schedule cupcakes with one or two marquee matchups in non-conference play. Being a low-major, ISU is forced to schedule 4 solid mid-major opponents.
