2023-24 OOC Schedules

[Adunk33]

Oct 29: IWU
Nov 6: D2 Lourdes
Nov 11: @ SLU
Nov 16: EIU
Nov 20: Fort Meyers Tip Off: Long Beach State
Nov 21: Fort Meyers Tip Off: High Point/Iona
Nov 22: Fort Meyers Tip Off: Louisiana/Hofstra/Buffalo/Wright State
Dec 6: Northern Kentucky
Dec 9: Norfolk State
Dec 17: North Dakota State
Dec 21: SEMO
Dec 29: @Kentucky

Redbirds put the final touches on their schedule by hosting in-town D3 Illinois Wesleyan. It'll be a double header with the women playing IWU at 1pm with the men to follow. First time the men are playing in 40+ years and 50+ for the women, despite being separated by about 5 minutes.

Should be a fun one for the community.

[Bulldog2323]

Drake is out:

11-8: Lipscomb
11-14: SW Minnesota State
11-19/20/21: Cayman Islands Classic, open against Oakland
11-25: Texas Southern
12-6: St. Louis
12-9: "neutral site" vs Nevada in Henderson, NV
12-14: Grambling State
12-19: Alcorn State
12-22: at UAB

Sadly all the P5 teams backed out of the Cayman Islands Classic. Only true road game is at UAB. There were several reports and rumors Drake was supposed to play St. Thomas and Chicago State as well, don't know what happened there.

Looks like the rest of the Valley did better than Drake on the non-conference. My view has leaned towards if we can't get P5 games we might as well go to 22 Valley Games.

[Action10]

Drake is out:

11-8: Lipscomb
11-14: SW Minnesota State
11-19/20/21: Cayman Islands Classic, open against Oakland
11-25: Texas Southern
12-6: St. Louis
12-9: "neutral site" vs Nevada in Henderson, NV
12-14: Grambling State
12-19: Alcorn State
12-22: at UAB

Sadly all the P5 teams backed out of the Cayman Islands Classic. Only true road game is at UAB. There were several reports and rumors Drake was supposed to play St. Thomas and Chicago State as well, don't know what happened there.

Looks like the rest of the Valley did better than Drake on the non-conference. My view has leaned towards if we can't get P5 games we might as well go to 22 Valley Games.

It does stink that Drake couldn't get a big name game or two, but I totally disagree on the 22 game schedule. UNI seems to always put together quality schedules and SIU has scheduled big name opponents (even during the Hinson tenure when everyone complained about the schedules), so why is it so hard for Drake?
I looked back, they have played 6 teams from the power conferences (I'm including the Big East and also the American before Cincinnati and Houston left) in the 5 years DeVries has been there. UNI almost gets to that number in individual seasons. I know Jacobsen is secure in his job and that UNI is in a unique position, but scheduling isn't rocket science.
I don't mean to bash anyone, it's just an interesting dynamic watching how MVC teams schedule. There is a big contrast in who they schedule and what their priorities are.

[jturner38]

INSU
11/6 - Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
11/10 - @Alabama
11/14 - IUPUI
11/21 - Rice (Vegas)
11/22 - Pepperdine (Vegas)
11/24 - Toledo (Vegas)
12/5 - @NIU
12/9 - USI
12/16 - Ball St (@Pacers Arena)
12/19 - Tennessee State
12/29 or 12/30 - @Michigan State - Haven't played each other since 79 NCAA Championship Magic vs Bird

[racernation]

Murray State is hosting SMU on December 22. A nice get for the Racers.

Known Schedule

Nov. 1 - opponent TBA - Exhibition game at old Racer Arena
Nov. 6 - vs. Midway (Non DI)
Nov. 10 - vs. Tennessee Tech
Nov. 14 - vs. Western Kentucky
Nov. 20 - UNC-Wilmington (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Nov. 22 - App State (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Dec. 9 - at Austin Peay
Dec. 22 - vs. SMU
Dec. 30 - vs. MTSU

[just ducky]

A decent Valpo schedule considering their youth and near total change in coaches and roster.

Nov 5 Trinity Christian (the only non D-1)
Nov 10 IUPUI
Nov 14 Green Bay
Nov 17 at Illinois
Nov 21 Western Illinois
Nov 25 Southern
Dec 6 at Central Michigan
Dec 9 at Virginia Tech
Dec 16 Chicago St
Dec 19 Samford
Dec 29 at Elon

[racernation]

Murray officially released their non conference schedule today.

Nov. 1 - Brescia - Exhibition game at old Racer Arena
Nov. 6 - vs. Midway (Non DI)
Nov. 10 - vs. Tennessee Tech
Nov. 14 - vs. Western Kentucky
Nov. 20 - UNC-Wilmington (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Nov. 22 - App State (Fort Myers Tip-Off)
Two MVC Games TBD
Dec. 9 - at Austin Peay
Dec. 13 - at Mississippi State
Dec. 16 - vs. SE Louisiana
Dec. 18 - at Little Rock
Dec. 22 - vs. SMU
Dec. 30 - vs. MTSU

[siudawgs]

SIU released its non-conference schedule: https://siusalukis.com/news/2023/9/7/me ... edule.aspx

A really deep, strong home schedule, highlighted by Oklahoma State and SLU. They are in a four-team event in Cancun with James Madison, Fresno State and New Mexico State. And just one noncon true road game (Wichita State), which is a definite scheduling oddity this year.

[PretzelDawg]

SIU released its non-conference schedule: https://siusalukis.com/news/2023/9/7/me ... edule.aspx

A really deep, strong home schedule, highlighted by Oklahoma State and SLU. They are in a four-team event in Cancun with James Madison, Fresno State and New Mexico State. And just one noncon true road game (Wichita State), which is a definite scheduling oddity this year.

Hopefully, I'm wrong about this, but SIU just doesn't have the team to compete with this schedule this year.

[siudawgs]

SIU released its non-conference schedule: https://siusalukis.com/news/2023/9/7/me ... edule.aspx

A really deep, strong home schedule, highlighted by Oklahoma State and SLU. They are in a four-team event in Cancun with James Madison, Fresno State and New Mexico State. And just one noncon true road game (Wichita State), which is a definite scheduling oddity this year.

Hopefully, I'm wrong about this, but SIU just doesn't have the team to compete with this schedule this year.

Not ideal to get marquee home games in a year with so much uncertainty, but a fun schedule for fans nonetheless. The reality is nobody has a great feel for what kind of year it's going to be unless you've been going to practice because there are a lot of new faces in the mix. Certainly understand the skepticism, though, until proven otherwise ... there ain't much scoring returning.