Really good scheduling this upcoming season

[BigTime]

I think the national guys may be down a bit on the Big 12 since the conference vastly underperformed last year.

We have a strong returning team and playing all these high profile games will give us a chance to solidify a 1 or 2 seed come March regardless of how the national pundits view the conference if the team performs well.

Well done by Lon and company.

 

[geeoh]

Did we ever get confirmation that Creighton is coming to Norman next season? Or will that happen at a later date?

 

[CoachTalk]

Most polls have 3 big 12 teams in the top 10.

 

[Zimwillett]

I think the national guys may be down a bit on the Big 12 since the conference vastly underperformed last year.

We have a strong returning team and playing all these high profile games will give us a chance to solidify a 1 or 2 seed come March regardless of how the national pundits view the conference if the team performs well.

Well done by Lon and company.

I think people overestimate the impact of the conference's performance in the previous season's tournament. Seriously, how many times in February or March did you hear a commentator mention a conference's performance in the 2014 tournament? And I'm absolutely certain the committee won't consider anything close to that as selection criteria. All of the conference metrics they use (RPI, etc.) have nothing to do with last season. The only impact it has will be on preseason rankings, and even that will be minimal.

I think the Big 12 will be stronger at the top (KU, OU, and ISU should all be top 10-15 teams), but not as deep next year. It probably won't be the RPI #1 conference, but it will still be respected enough that the champion, and possibly the runner up, will be in the conversation for 1/2 seeds.

But you are right, this schedule is custom made for tournament seeding. The committee always rewards teams that play tough nonconference schedules.

 

[thewez]

Pretty sure Creighton has to happen. We agreed to a home and home with them and we already went there. I'm sure if Creighton tried to not come here there would be some sort of buyout.

 

[thebigabd]

I still like the idea of more regional scheduling, except with 1 blockbuster game (like the Wisconsin game).... just run through and kick the crap out of all the Texas and Kansas schools. Gives you plenty of good games and some patsies as well. Although the below schedule would probably be described as very difficult.

OU fans could drive to Tulsa, ORU, Arkansas, KC, and some of these other ones. Of course, OU fans don't travel very well.

Tulsa
ORU
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Colorado
Colorado State
UMKC
Nebraska
Creighton
UT-Arlington
UTEP
UT-Corpus Christi
UTSA
Houston

 

[Sooner-Bred]

I still like the idea of more regional scheduling, except with 1 blockbuster game (like the Wisconsin game).... just run through and kick the crap out of all the Texas and Kansas schools. Gives you plenty of good games and some patsies as well. Although the below schedule would probably be described as very difficult.

OU fans could drive to Tulsa, ORU, Arkansas, KC, and some of these other ones. Of course, OU fans don't travel very well.

Tulsa
ORU
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Colorado
Colorado State
UMKC
Nebraska
Creighton
UT-Arlington
UTEP
UT-Corpus Christi
UTSA
Houston

Wouldn't happen, for recruiting purposes.

Kids don't want to look at your schedule for next season and see that they aren't going anywhere cool.

The George Mason game last year was great, because kids saw the Sooners go to DC, and DC recruits got to see the Sooners.

But when Coach Kruger sits down with a kid and tells him "Your freshman year, we're going to the Bahamas and Las Vegas!"

Or "We're going to Hawaii TWICE!"

Recruits get excited about that kind of stuff

 

[thebigabd]

Wouldn't happen, for recruiting purposes.

Kids don't want to look at your schedule for next season and see that they aren't going anywhere cool.

The George Mason game last year was great, because kids saw the Sooners go to DC, and DC recruits got to see the Sooners.

But when Coach Kruger sits down with a kid and tells him "Your freshman year, we're going to the Bahamas and Las Vegas!"

Or "We're going to Hawaii TWICE!"

Recruits get excited about that kind of stuff

That's a good point... going to NYC to play in the preseason NIT, Hawaii for the Maui event, etc is probably a good recruiting draw. The Alaska thing used to be a big deal and now its a big waste of time.

Of course, if you are trying to recruit Texas, playing a ton of games in Texas may give you the opportunity to get more exposure to those players. Not sure how the recruiting part of it works though. Do recruits just show up to games and its not considered a "visit"?

 

[BoulderSooner]

Most polls have 3 big 12 teams in the top 10.

this .. the big 12 is not going to be disrespected at all

 

[SoonerTraveler]

... OU fans could drive to Tulsa, ORU, Arkansas, KC, and some of these other ones. Of course, OU fans don't travel very well.

Sad, but true.

I've always wanted to visit Madison, Wisconsin, as one of my best friends is a Wisconsin grad. Going there in late November 2016 would not be my first choice, but, there it is.

 

[j2d2]

OU "fans" dont even attend at Norman llike they should. I'm in Naples, Florida and just wish I could go to games - mens'', womens' and softball.

 

[Stikboy]

I didn't think scheduling was done far enough in advance in BB to affect recruiting.. Of course, if OU is always going to cool destinations for holiday tournaments, like they have been lately, that's a selling point. But not sure any of our signees know or knew where specifically they'd be playing their frosh year or beyond when they signed. Correct me if I'm wrong..

 

[chuckb]

I still like the idea of more regional scheduling, except with 1 blockbuster game (like the Wisconsin game).... just run through and kick the crap out of all the Texas and Kansas schools. Gives you plenty of good games and some patsies as well. Although the below schedule would probably be described as very difficult.

OU fans could drive to Tulsa, ORU, Arkansas, KC, and some of these other ones. Of course, OU fans don't travel very well.

Tulsa
ORU
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Colorado
Colorado State
UMKC
Nebraska
Creighton
UT-Arlington
UTEP
UT-Corpus Christi
UTSA
Houston

Yuck! What a bunch of cupcakes! I'd much rather lose more games against good times than spend our time thumping the likes of UT - Arlington and UMKC.

 

[Zimwillett]

I still like the idea of more regional scheduling, except with 1 blockbuster game (like the Wisconsin game).... just run through and kick the crap out of all the Texas and Kansas schools. Gives you plenty of good games and some patsies as well. Although the below schedule would probably be described as very difficult.

OU fans could drive to Tulsa, ORU, Arkansas, KC, and some of these other ones. Of course, OU fans don't travel very well.

Tulsa
ORU
Arkansas
Arkansas State
Colorado
Colorado State
UMKC
Nebraska
Creighton
UT-Arlington
UTEP
UT-Corpus Christi
UTSA
Houston

If the ultimate goal is to impress the selection committee, I couldn't think of a much worse approach.

OU gets at least 16 "regional" games per year (conference play minus WVU). Throw in the non-conference game or two that will inevitably be scheduled against regional teams, the conference tournament, and OU is already playing about half its schedule (or more) against regional teams. I think that's more than enough.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I didn't think scheduling was done far enough in advance in BB to affect recruiting.. Of course, if OU is always going to cool destinations for holiday tournaments, like they have been lately, that's a selling point. But not sure any of our signees know or knew where specifically they'd be playing their frosh year or beyond when they signed. Correct me if I'm wrong..

I'm only guessing, but I think the OU coaching staff has a pretty good idea of the pre-season trips coming up over the next several years. If they do, they are certain to share this information with the recruits that are brought into Norman for visits.

 

[Laxtothemax12]

who are we playing in SEC challenge?

 

[61sooner]

This tough scheduling is great. You may have a much better RPI even if your record is like 23-12 then 28-7 playing cupcakes. Has to be a good recruiting tool and sharpens your team for conference and post season play. What you really gain by playing 4-6 really lower tier D1 teams unless you have so many underclassmen you aren't organized when the season starts. But if OU can reload each year this should really pay off.