WSpringsBird wrote:BuBrave2006 wrote:squirrel wrote:Maybe if the Redbirds would actually challenge themselves out of conference for a change, their NCAA fortunes would improve.
Not to defend ISUr here, because I certainly hate doing that. But last season, they did play @ #1 Kentucky and #2 Maryland, as well as @ San Diego St. So i'll cut them a little bit of slack with regard to scheduling. That being said, In a year where they have a legit shot at an at-large bid, it would be nice to see them with more than one game against the RPI top 50 (3, potentially 4 if Wichita creeps in there but still).
Yeah, that was an odd criticism. IlSU's nonconference strength of schedule was 7th in the country last year. It's 70th this year, but as is the case with WSU's non-conference schedule, it probably looked better than that when it was put together. Next year we're playing in a tourney in Puerto Rico that includes, among others, Florida State and South Carolina. You may fairly criticize Dan Muller for many things, but he has really elevated the level of the nonconference schedule.
This is true. The level has significantly risen since the Jank days.