Next years non-conference schedule

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I've already said my piece on Bradley's schedule but I will give Wardle and their athletic department the benefit of the doubt and say that I trust them to do better once their agreements with some of the worst teams in D1 (of which they were 1 just two short years ago) are over after this year. With the program now on more solid footing they should have the flexibility and the ability to attract better team and (hopefully) build a schedule that rivals any of the toughest in the MVC. As Mikovio points out, they're already trending the right way.

Exactly. I doubt very many people had Bradley in the upper half of the conference this soon after a complete rebuild. It doesn't really say much for the rest of the conference.

Astute point. It’s embarrassing for an 8th rated conference to allow a school to roll through it with a 9-9 record in Year 3 of a rebuild.

[MissouriValleyUnite]

I've already said my piece on Bradley's schedule but I will give Wardle and their athletic department the benefit of the doubt and say that I trust them to do better once their agreements with some of the worst teams in D1 (of which they were 1 just two short years ago) are over after this year. With the program now on more solid footing they should have the flexibility and the ability to attract better team and (hopefully) build a schedule that rivals any of the toughest in the MVC. As Mikovio points out, they're already trending the right way.

Exactly. I doubt very many people had Bradley in the upper half of the conference this soon after a complete rebuild. It doesn't really say much for the rest of the conference.

Sorry, but you're a little off in your thinking. Usually only takes a good coach into his 3rd year to have a program humming. McDermott who had a massive rebuild at UNI made the NCAA tourney his 3rd year, Counzo won the league at MSU in his 3rd year, Marshall won 25 games and went to the NIT his 3rd year. i believe this is already year 4 in the Bradley rebuild process. Not knocking what BW has done, just saying it's not monumental comparatively.

[goramblers2011]

Loyola vs. Maryland is official - Saturday, December 8 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore and noted as a "highlight" of Maryland's non-conf schedule.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp ... story.html

[BradleyFan71]

I've already said my piece on Bradley's schedule but I will give Wardle and their athletic department the benefit of the doubt and say that I trust them to do better once their agreements with some of the worst teams in D1 (of which they were 1 just two short years ago) are over after this year. With the program now on more solid footing they should have the flexibility and the ability to attract better team and (hopefully) build a schedule that rivals any of the toughest in the MVC. As Mikovio points out, they're already trending the right way.

Exactly. I doubt very many people had Bradley in the upper half of the conference this soon after a complete rebuild. It doesn't really say much for the rest of the conference.

Astute point. It’s embarrassing for an 8th rated conference to allow a school to roll through it with a 9-9 record in Year 3 of a rebuild.

Agreed. Those bottom five teams must be REALLY bad to let Bradley pass them up so quickly!

[BradleyFan71]

I've already said my piece on Bradley's schedule but I will give Wardle and their athletic department the benefit of the doubt and say that I trust them to do better once their agreements with some of the worst teams in D1 (of which they were 1 just two short years ago) are over after this year. With the program now on more solid footing they should have the flexibility and the ability to attract better team and (hopefully) build a schedule that rivals any of the toughest in the MVC. As Mikovio points out, they're already trending the right way.

Exactly. I doubt very many people had Bradley in the upper half of the conference this soon after a complete rebuild. It doesn't really say much for the rest of the conference.

Sorry, but you're a little off in your thinking. Usually only takes a good coach into his 3rd year to have a program humming. McDermott who had a massive rebuild at UNI made the NCAA tourney his 3rd year, Counzo won the league at MSU in his 3rd year, Marshall won 25 games and went to the NIT his 3rd year. i believe this is already year 4 in the Bradley rebuild process. Not knocking what BW has done, just saying it's not monumental comparatively.

I guess Bradley is way behind in their rebuild effort with only a 5th place finish. I didn't realize an NCAA tournament or league titles were the norm in year 3 of a complete overhaul.

He clearly should have been scheduling much tougher in years 2 and 3.

[BEARZ77]

Not way behind, but you took a dig at the rest of the league like Bradley being a 5th place team after 3 years was a big deal. i just noted historically how it really wasn't. BW went 5-27, but 3-15 and 9th place his 1st year in the MVC. Counzo did a little better in noncon at 11-20 overall, but was also 3-15 but last place in the MVC. But he won 50 games the next two years and a MVC title in year 3. I'll say this, if MSU is being picked as 4th or 5th place team heading into Ford's 4th year, I won't be crowing about it. I ain't saying it won't happen, hell could be worse, but i won't be acting like that's some great shakes and thumbing my nose at the league if we are.

[underdawg]

We'll probably play Nevada, we will play Buffalo twice (!) home-and-home Nov and December! working on a P-5

[MissouriValleyUnite]

We'll probably play Nevada, we will play Buffalo twice (!) home-and-home Nov and December! working on a P-5

Buffalo returns 3 15+ PPG scorers from a team that smoked Arizona in the ncaa tournament. Just get a buy game at a P5 and beat UMass to ensure Nevada and that’s 4 Q1/Q2 opportunities.

Loyola vs. Maryland is official - Saturday, December 8 at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore and noted as a "highlight" of Maryland's non-conf schedule.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/terp ... story.html

“Matchups with Virginia, Loyola-Chicago highlight Maryland men's nonconference basketball schedule”

That’s a nice headline.

[VUGrad1314]

I've already said my piece on Bradley's schedule but I will give Wardle and their athletic department the benefit of the doubt and say that I trust them to do better once their agreements with some of the worst teams in D1 (of which they were 1 just two short years ago) are over after this year. With the program now on more solid footing they should have the flexibility and the ability to attract better team and (hopefully) build a schedule that rivals any of the toughest in the MVC. As Mikovio points out, they're already trending the right way.

Exactly. I doubt very many people had Bradley in the upper half of the conference this soon after a complete rebuild. It doesn't really say much for the rest of the conference.

Your scheduling improvements can start by adding schools like Belmont and\or Murray State on Home and Homes. These teams should already be playing games in the area, so getting a series started should be fairly easy.

[VUGrad1314]

Loyola will be playing Niagara this year as part of their tournament. I think their other game is Grambling State.