ESPN Non Conference Schedule Rating

[herkyattack]

One downside to this schedule is the attendance figures are going to take a hit this year. I don't imagine there will be a lot of people at a lot of the cupcakes.

 

[9YRPLAN]

We have nine games outside of the in-state rivalries and the ACC challenge. One of those nine is a legitimate opponent (Creighton). I happen to think it's the right decision for where our program is right now, but don't pretend that our hands are tied, because they aren't.

do you realize that 1) we need home games for revenue and 2) good teams often wont travel to play a team with a 150+ RPI on the road, even for a return game?

yes, we could probably get one more decent game on there, but would that really change anyone's opinion of the schedule?

 

[IAJay]

There is an old saying that you have to learn how to walk before you can run. Right now Iowa just needs to learn how to win again before they can expect to "run" with the big boys when it comes to OOC scheduling. I have no problem scheduling Cupcake U right now.

BTW, I disagree with those of you saying Creighton is tougher than UNI. The UNI game is a rivalry game and they are going to Cedar Falls where Iowa has not won very often lately. I am sure Creighton will be tough but it is played in Des Moines where Iowa should have a home crowd advantage.

I say that the Creighton game is tougher because they are a solid candidate to be in the Top 25 this year while UNI is starting over. I don't know how one sided the game in Des Moines will be.

In regard to the rest of the schedule I agree with Sportstalent. I have witnessed Nebraska "learn how to win" every non conference season and it never seems to pay off. The whole learn how to win thing is getting completely overblown right now. The only games they will actually "learn" anything from are the toss up games on the schedule. You learn nothing when you play that many cream puffs.

 

[MisterLucky]

I think that everyone who is in favor of this year's schedule has hopes that the future schedules are tougher. No one wants a schedule full of patsies. Besides, it isn't like there aren't tough games on this year's schedule.

 

[ssckelley]

I say that the Creighton game is tougher because they are a solid candidate to be in the Top 25 this year while UNI is starting over. I don't know how one sided the game in Des Moines will be.

I get that but UNI is still a rivalry game played on their home court. Creighton will be tough and Iowa may very well lose both of them.

In regard to the rest of the schedule I agree with Sportstalent. I have witnessed Nebraska "learn how to win" every non conference season and it never seems to pay off. The whole learn how to win thing is getting completely overblown right now. The only games they will actually "learn" anything from are the toss up games on the schedule. You learn nothing when you play that many cream puffs.

I get that, ISU is another example of that from last year. But Iowa is coming off back to back 20 loss seasons where even cream puffs have given them a battle, some even ended up as losses. For this team the non conference is perfect to build momentum. When this team gets better and this recruiting class hits the court then I would hope they will schedule a better OOC.

 

[DodgerHawki]

Have you forgotten the last 4 years of Iowa basketball?

Iowa needs to schedule tougher. Playing cupcakes does absolutely nothing to prepare them for conference play and false confidence is not learning how to win.

Playing against some quality programs and actually learning something is what will help them win later. There are some quality games, but not enough, get rid of the games that are winnable by starting walk-ons.

The other thing by playing a little bit better schedule, when Iowa beats teams like MSU and Purdue, it means a little more. Meaning that beating some other decent programs outside of league and then some in league, people remember that more. The program is looked as upcoming, not the good team having a bad day.

Even with the improvement of the talent level, there are no games on our non-conference schedule that are winnable by starting walk-ons. What will prepare Iowa for conference play is playing well, regardless of competition, and getting game time for the new guys who are going to contribute. There are opportunities for Iowa to do something in the non-con. Beating Creighton, Clemson or Iowa State would be a positive for the program. The biggest thing at this time for the program is to break the cycle of losing. Iowa needs a year where it finishes above .500 overall. I know, not much of an accomplishment but this is where our program is at.

 

[sportstalent]

I say that the Creighton game is tougher because they are a solid candidate to be in the Top 25 this year while UNI is starting over. I don't know how one sided the game in Des Moines will be.

In regard to the rest of the schedule I agree with Sportstalent. I have witnessed Nebraska "learn how to win" every non conference season and it never seems to pay off. The whole learn how to win thing is getting completely overblown right now. The only games they will actually "learn" anything from are the toss up games on the schedule. You learn nothing when you play that many cream puffs.

Mark this day down...we actually agree on something...

 

[sportstalent]

Re: Have you forgotten the last 4 years of Iowa basketball?

Even with the improvement of the talent level, there are no games on our non-conference schedule that are winnable by starting walk-ons. What will prepare Iowa for conference play is playing well, regardless of competition, and getting game time for the new guys who are going to contribute. There are opportunities for Iowa to do something in the non-con. Beating Creighton, Clemson or Iowa State would be a positive for the program. The biggest thing at this time for the program is to break the cycle of losing. Iowa needs a year where it finishes above .500 overall. I know, not much of an accomplishment but this is where our program is at.

I am actually complimenting our walk-ons with that statement...but I do think they would be able to beat Campbell, so that one could be dropped.

And I agree with you about having new guys that can contribute will help in conference play, having a bench will be vital to improvement, it will be interesting seeing Iowa have some options on the bench. The worst thing in the last two years was watching the guys on the floor struggle and lose all their confidence with nobody to turn to for a spark.

 

[PatrickAdamovicz]

Btw, Iowa State's schedule is ranked just as Iowa: 2 out of 10. It basically says they will have trouble getting an at large bid with their out of conference slate.