The MVC Report - Northern Iowa Panthers preview

[MVCfans]

I don't know how anyone can possibly think UNI's schedule is better than WSU's. It defies logic.

I agree that all Valley schools could probably upgrade their schedules. As far as my thinking that UNI's schedule is maybe a bit better than WSU's, it's open to interpretation. Here is ESPN's breakdown of UNI and WSU:

NORTHERN IOWA

Toughest: at Saint Mary’s (Nov. 15), at Iowa State (Nov. 30)
Next-toughest: at Old Dominion (Nov. 12), Iowa (Dec. 6), at BracketBusters
The rest: South Padre Island Invitational (Nov. 20-26), Colorado State (Dec. 3), Milwaukee (Dec. 10), Loras (Dec. 19), Ohio (Dec. 20)
Toughness scale (1-10): 7 -- The Panthers get a higher grade here for the sheer logistical tap dance they’ll perform to open the season. Northern Iowa travels to Norfolk to face Blaine Taylor’s always-reliable Old Dominion team, then hopscotches the country for a 2 a.m. ET tilt against Saint Mary’s in the Tip-Off Marathon. And it’s not like the Panthers are traveling from Chicago. Getting anywhere from Cedar Falls isn’t easy. The South Padre Island Invitational lacks a little luster -- with Northern Colorado, Western Carolina, Rice and Providence making up the field -- but an away BracketBuster could be huge for a team expected to challenge in the Valley.

WICHITA STATE

Toughest: Puerto Rico Tip-Off (Nov. 17-20), UNLV (Dec. 4)
Next-toughest: UAB (Nov. 25), at Tulsa (Dec. 7), at BracketBusters
The rest: Charleston Southern (Nov. 13), Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 1), Utah State (Dec. 10), Chicago State (Dec. 14), Newman University (Dec. 19)
Toughness scale (1-10): 6 -- This isn’t a bad schedule but for the Shockers, NIT winners a season ago and potential top-25 team this season, but it’s a little light. The Puerto Rico Tip-Off could help. Wichita State gets to go after a BCS scalp in Colorado to start and a game against either Maryland or Alabama will give a real pop to the strength-of-schedule rating. UNLV at home provides a great opportunity to turn some heads, and a road BracketBuster game could be huge.

[2livewu]

I agree with the comment about the home games. It makes some of those games that much more winnable. Playing tougher opponents doesn't really make for a better schedule if you end up losing all of those games (not saying Bradley will lose all of the games mentioned, but Wisconsin and Michigan are probably a stretch).

No offense intended, but thought processes like that are what guarantee mediocrity at best. Bradley doesn't play all tough teams, but they do play a couple powerhouses.

You are only going to improve when you challenge yourself. I firmly believe that, and the facts support me.

[unipanther99]

I agree with the comment about the home games. It makes some of those games that much more winnable. Playing tougher opponents doesn't really make for a better schedule if you end up losing all of those games (not saying Bradley will lose all of the games mentioned, but Wisconsin and Michigan are probably a stretch).

No offense intended, but thought processes like that are what guarantee mediocrity at best. Bradley doesn't play all tough teams, but they do play a couple powerhouses.

You are only going to improve when you challenge yourself. I firmly believe that, and the facts support me.

I completely agree with you. But in the end, a win at St. Mary's is probably better than a neutral court loss to Wisconsin, no? It's probably about a wash numbers wise, and you get a win.

[unipanther99]

I will add that UNI would LOVE to play Wisconsin. But I don't think the feeling is mutual.

[2livewu]

I agree that all Valley schools could probably upgrade their schedules. As far as my thinking that UNI's schedule is maybe a bit better than WSU's, it's open to interpretation. Here is ESPN's breakdown of UNI and WSU:

No doubt it is subjective. You know what they say about opinions.

ESPN's analysis is troubling and extremely difficult to understand. Their rating for Creighton is beyond bizarre.

[Khan4Cats]

ODU, St Marys, Milwaukee, Ohio, Providence, Iowa, Iowa State, Colorado St. That is a really good slate of non-con games.

I don't know everybody else's schedules off hand, but if you can fine one that is definitely better than that one, feel free to post it.

2. Wichita State

Colorado (N), Maryland or Alabama (N), Purdue, Temple, Iona or W. Michigan (N), UNLV, UAB, Utah State, @ Tulsa, Charleston Southern

I don't know how anyone can possibly think UNI's schedule is better than WSU's. It defies logic.

You forgot to add Chicago State and Cal State Fullerton with Charleston Southern, all of whom are worse than ANYTHING on UNI's schedule except Loras, and Loras won't be a drag on UNI's RPI all year. UNI isn't really looking at trying for an at-large bid this year, but there is more room for error on the Panther's schedule than the Shockers, and UNI is even willing to venture away from home to test themselves. Staying home all non-conference may work for BcS schools, but don't expect the Shockers to be treated the same by the committee.

Hope you guys beat a mediocre Colorado team in the first tourney game because Iona and Western Michigan aren't going to be teams that wins over them are going to jump out at anyone.

[2livewu]

No, I didn't leave them off. The original person listed 8 games, so I compared to 8 games.

I won't defend Chicago State. But again, if you think the difference between playing a 300RPI and 210RPI equals out between a 40RPI and 130RPI you're deranged.

And as far as playing home games, that's life when you have support and can pay the money and there just might be a reason teams aren't afraid to play you.

I'd rather have a schedule that at least gives my team a chance at an at large bid than one that's just around as good as I hope my team will be.

But as mentioned before, that's exactly what appears to be the criteria for "best schedule" in the Valley of even.

[Khan4Cats]

Average RPI of teams scheduled to play, not counting "possible" tournament opponents:

UNI- 117.5 (no additional possibilities)
WSU-136.8 (need to win first tourney game or possibility of Western Mich to drag, could get big boost if meet Purdue)
MSU-142.4 (set)
BU-164 (could get BYU boost or Nevada anchor)
CU-166.8 (set)
UE-169.3 (set)
DU-171.4 (have to win first game or are looking at 200+ RPI in next rounds)
InSU-201 (same as WSU, must win to get good second/third games, could get anchors instead)
IlSU-207.4 (get a good second game regardless)
SIU-216.3 (should get a good second game, but need to be on positive side because third game is not appealing)

Not so hard to see the logic in saying UNI has one of the best schedules.

As a whole, though, the league has few eye-opening win possibilities on the docket. UE with Butler and North Carolina, Bradley with Michigan and Wisconsin, Indiana State with Vanderbilt, Missouri State has West Virginia, Southern Illinois has Kansas State. That's pretty much it for the guaranteed games that will be eye-opening. All the others are mid-majors, some of which are pretty good, but let's face it, they aren't teams that will be marked in as "at-large" bids by most pundits like the BcS teams. The UAB's, Tulsa's, Utah State's will be fighting for the scraps with all of the other mid-major schools come March.

[valleychamp]

Average RPI of teams scheduled to play, not counting "possible" tournament opponents:

UNI- 117.5 (no additional possibilities)
WSU-136.8 (need to win first tourney game or possibility of Western Mich to drag, could get big boost if meet Purdue)
MSU-142.4 (set)
BU-164 (could get BYU boost or Nevada anchor)
CU-166.8 (set)
UE-169.3 (set)
DU-171.4 (have to win first game or are looking at 200+ RPI in next rounds)
InSU-201 (same as WSU, must win to get good second/third games, could get anchors instead)
IlSU-207.4 (get a good second game regardless)
SIU-216.3 (should get a good second game, but need to be on positive side because third game is not appealing)

Not so hard to see the logic in saying UNI has one of the best schedules.

As a whole, though, the league has few eye-opening win possibilities on the docket. UE with Butler and North Carolina, Bradley with Michigan and Wisconsin, Indiana State with Vanderbilt, Missouri State has West Virginia, Southern Illinois has Kansas State. That's pretty much it for the guaranteed games that will be eye-opening. All the others are mid-majors, some of which are pretty good, but let's face it, they aren't teams that will be marked in as "at-large" bids by most pundits like the BcS teams. The UAB's, Tulsa's, Utah State's will be fighting for the scraps with all of the other mid-major schools come March.

You're deranged!!!

[WSUbballer]

UNI fans defending UNI's scheduling tactics; WSU fans defending theirs. Surprise!

I'll continue the tradition.

First off, I don't think averaging RPI's from last year is the best way to rank a schedule. You can get a good gauge on things, but to think everyone is destined for the same RPI this season is pretty silly. And then to rank them, and call it game, set, and match is a fairly blind stab-in-the-dark attempt.

I don't know why Khan you slammed WSU's schedule in comparing to UNI's, but then knocked WSU for playing good mid-majors in the process. Yet, when you look at UNI's schedule, their best games are mid-major opponents. Now, I know you said UNI is not setting up for an at-large bid and that I will agree with. At least, you can admit that.

The original poster said UNI's indicated that theirs may have been the best using examples of Providence, Iowa, Iowa State, Colorado State, Milwaukee, and Ohio. Not really seeing the love for Providence, coming off their 4-14 season in the Big East.. ditto with conference cellar dwellers Iowa and Iowa State. Those teams are not relevant and aren't very noteworthy at all (at least outside the state of Iowa). Ohio is middling MAC team who may make headway in that conference, but still is nationally irrelevant. Colorado State also made a big push last year, but again they are expected to be a middling MWC team. I don't see anything noteworthy, outside of the midmajor opponents of Old Dominion and St. Mary's. So to call that scheduling "better than any other in the Valley" is hardly an absolute fact. I guess I can understand the statement if said poster hadn't looked at any others off hand.