WOOT! Non-conference schedule released!!

[tmeyer3307]

Play two top 10 teams in the non conference and call it good! Seems like KU always does this!

 

[sperry]

No one (certainly not me) is suggesting that we play a slate filled with subpar teams but there is a HUGE middle ground between that and playing the nation's toughest schedule, which we did last year and for which we'll likely be in the running this season, it appears. Especially when virtually all our tough games are played away from LNC.

With this nonconference schedule and our always tough conference slate, we could be significantly improved this season (I expect we will be) and still be on the outside looking in at tourney time (or in the field, but with a lousy seed). I hope, should that happen, you'll still feel it was worth it to take on such a rugged slate of opponents and that you won't have turned on the team because the final record isn't what we all hoped it was.

The committee heavily weights strength of schedule. It's much easier to play your way into the tournament through having a tough schedule than to play yourself out of the tourney. Because frankly, if you're worth a damn you'll get the wins you need, and if you aren't the committee isn't letting you in no matter what you do.

And the fans are rewarded with games worth watching. I do agree with you that I wish we could do more home and homes, but nobody seems to be doing those anymore.

 

[deejay1]

Let's look at the 6 tough games away from Norman everyone is concerned about:

1. We're locked into the Big 12/SEC Challenge, and this season happens to be our year to play an SEC team on the road. We really have no choice in scheduling Alabama on the road.

2. We played Wichita State in OKC last year, and the terms of the agreement have us returning the game this season. So we have no choice with playing WSU on the road this year, outside of possibly cancelling or postponing the return game and paying damages to WSU.

3. OU is one of the "Elite" NIKE teams, and I'm sure it would have been unwise to inform NIKE that we were not interested in participating in the PK80 tournament in Portland. We could have opted out and played 3 more games in Norman, but I would imagine it would have been an uncomfortable decision to tell NIKE "no."

4. That only leaves the road game at USC as one that was truly optional with regard to whether to schedule it or not. I assume this is a home and away agreement, with USC returning the game to Norman/OKC next year or later. It would have been nice to have the first game in Oklahoma, but who knows what negotiating issues were involved.

 

[sheepdogs1]

It might help in recruiting some to schedule the team to play in a regular season tournament, which a number of teams obviously do, and you have to take the good w/the bad. Moving on, we are forced to play a team from the SEC due to the challenge, so it's a moot point, as there is no choice but to switch conferences I guess. We signed a home and away contract w/the Shockers so there's really nothing that can be done. And again, we take part in a 'classic' to bring some notoriety to the team/school and we play USC.

 

[usedtobe1]

I'm guessing the Sooners will go 8-4 and would be thrilled with 9-3 in non-conference games. The Phil Knight Invitational will be a really tough 3-game test. Getting out of there at 1-2 is very possible. 2-1 would be awesome. If they lose to Arkansas in the first game, we should pick up a win against Portland and have a toss-up game against Georgetown for 5th place. If they beat Arkansas, then they play North Carolina and then someone like Michigan State.

The other non-conference games away from home are tough. Alabama has 4 starters back, a 6'11' transfer who is good, and the #7 recruiting class. USC might win the PAC 10. Wichita State might be the most winnable game.

I think OU will win their 6 home games including the one with Northwestern.

 

[skyvue]

Sky, I'm not saying you're wrong. That's why I said there are two schools of thought in this debate.

There may even be more than two schools of thought; all I know is, I have never said we should play only (or primarily) "subpar...powder puffs" or anything like it.

As for the importance of playing a tough schedule: As with most things, it's a matter of degree. 60+ teams made the tourney last season playing a weaker schedule than we did. If we were facing three or four tough teams in the upcoming nonconference season, I'd not be saying a word, but we're not -- we're playing eight before we even start conference play.

I'm not sure why some of our fans think it's vital we play so many tough teams when literally no team in the country last season played (and no more than a handful this season, if that, will play) as tough a schedule. Given the conference we play in, not making the tourney due to a poor SOS is simply not a concern and it hasn't been for many seasons.

 

[colston15]

I've expressed it here before, so I won't belabor it, but I sure hope we don't lose out on a tourney berth because of our very difficult nonconference schedule. I mean, toughening up for conference play is great in theory, but it's not going to be mean much if we accumulate very many losses before conference play begins.

I think most of us would be happy with 11-6 or 10-7 in conference play, but I doubt we’ll make the tourney at 18-12 or 17-13.

It’s also disappointing to see all of our big games, save for Northwestern (if they qualify as a big game), taking place outside of Norman. I mean, it won’t impact me, since I live so far away, but it’d be nice for the home fans to get see some better competition (and for us to have home-court advantage against some of our tougher competition).

I'm not predicting doom and gloom. We might come out of the gate on fire and go 11-2, but that's asking a heckuva lot from a still-young team with a freshman point guard, especially with all those games away from home.

Why schedule marquee non-conference home games that will draw 8,500 people and look bad on TV?

It's been proven time and again that basketball is an afterthought until January.

 

[skyvue]

Why schedule marquee non-conference home games that will draw 8,500 people and look bad on TV?

It's been proven time and again that basketball is an afterthought until January.

I'd rather win at home in front of 8,500 people than lose on the road.

And if we throw in the towel and schedule no compelling home games, we can be certain the crowds will be small. We have a chance to build some buzz right now, if the team can come out strong, as there's definitely going to be interest in seeing Trae Young play. But the home fans won't get to see him in person against decent competition until December 22, when the students will be gone and everyone else will be busy with holiday activities.

 

[skyvue]

I've had my say and will leave it there. Hopefully, we'll come out like a house a-fire and enter conference play undefeated and my concerns will be proven unfounded.

 

[chuckb]

If I were the head coach, I would want to enter conference at 12-0, and 12-1 at the worst. I'd fill the schedule with recognizable name schools, but pretty easy wins. I'd throw in 1-2 tougher games to get on TV and boost the RPI.

If you schedule a bunch of easy teams that insure your record is 12-0 or 12-1, you don't boost your RPI, you hurt it.

The argument for an easy schedule is that the wins will boost the team's confidence right before you enter conference play. The argument for a more difficult schedule is to help prepare the team for close conference games and to boost the RPI. I prefer a combination of the 2 and I think this year's schedule offers that...some easy games and some tougher ones.