ESPN Non Conference Schedule Rating

I

IAJay

Well-Known Member
I would switch the UNI and Creighton game but otherwise I agree with the article.

IOWA

Toughest: Clemson (Nov. 29), at Northern Iowa (Dec. 6), at Iowa State (Dec. 9)
Next-toughest: vs. Creighton in Des Moines (Nov. 20)
The rest: Chicago State (Nov. 11), North Carolina A&T (Nov. 14), Northern Illinois (Nov. 17), Campbell (Nov. 23), IPFW (Nov. 26), Brown (Dec. 3), Drake (Dec. 17), Central Arkansas (Dec. 19), Boise State (Dec. 22)
Toughness scale (1-10): 2 -- The good news? Iowa won't have to spend much on airfare until the Big Ten season starts. The bad news? The price of air miles may not be worth the ridicule. If you look closely, you'll notice that Iowa's only nonconference games outside of Iowa City will be played ... in Iowa. That's not to say those games don't present some degree of difficulty -- Creighton is on the rise, Iowa State will have its best team in years and UNI is a very difficult place to play. But thanks to a home year in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, the farthest trip the Hawks will make before Dec. 28 is a two-hour ride west on I-80. It's a half-step removed from playing every nonconference game at Carver-Hawkeye.
 




This is a good year to have a weak non-conference schedule.

Hopefully they are jelled by the time conference play begins.

Fair assessment on ESPN's part and I am not complaining at all with a home freindly schedule.
 


we really do not have a lot of flexibility in our OOC schedule. we are sort of at the mercy of how much talent the in-state schools and our ACC opponent bring in any given year.
 


I see no problem with our schedule and I don't think anyone should care if it is favorable or not. Truthfully, our program is on the rise and we need W's plain and simple. Bring on as many easy games as possible imo!
 


9YRPLAN said:
we really do not have a lot of flexibility in our OOC schedule. we are sort of at the mercy of how much talent the in-state schools and our ACC opponent bring in any given year.
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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.
 


I would bump Creighton ahead of UNI in terms of talent and potential, but since it is on a neutral court in DSM, it will probably be a better opportunity for a W
 


I have no problem at all with this years schedule. Let the program gain some confidence with wins and then in a couple years start scheduling some tougher opponents.
 


9YRPLAN said:
we really do not have a lot of flexibility in our OOC schedule. we are sort of at the mercy of how much talent the in-state schools and our ACC opponent bring in any given year.
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How do you figure? are we forced to schedule Chicago State and Boise?

Not complaining im seeing only 2-3 losses in the non conference, hopefully it gives the boys so confidence for Big 10 ball..
 


yeah, i won't be happy if this is how we schedule opponents in 3-4 years, but i'm okay with it for now. we need to get some wins under our belt and gel more as a team. this is probably the best way to do it, for now. it would be nice to see them start scheduling some reasonable games in the future, though.
 


H8IAST8 said:
I would bump Creighton ahead of UNI in terms of talent and potential, but since it is on a neutral court in DSM, it will probably be a better opportunity for a W
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I agree it will be neutral as far as both teams playing, but the crowd will definitely be rockin' for the hawks. Des Moines will represent!
 


I doubt anyone will ridicule Iowa's schedule other than maybe a few ISU fans. Then again, if others do that means Iowa racked up a lot of wins. I will take it. This program has to learn how to win again
 


JonDMiller said:
I doubt anyone will ridicule Iowa's schedule other than maybe a few ISU fans. Then again, if others do that means Iowa racked up a lot of wins. I will take it. This program has to learn how to win again
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I'm no Iowa State fan but considering you brought them up,how did their weak schedule work out for them last year?

I would rather see the team get tested more because they start out with a brutal 5 or 6 games in Big 10 play. Any confidence or momentum is going to get knocked right out of them.

From a fan standpoint,i can't make it to a lot of the February games, so the tipping point for not renewing my season tickets was our pathetic non-conf. schedule.
 


JonDMiller said:
I doubt anyone will ridicule Iowa's schedule other than maybe a few ISU fans. Then again, if others do that means Iowa racked up a lot of wins. I will take it. This program has to learn how to win again
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This was A&M and Baylor's way to get noticed and build their program a few years ago
 




Frankly, I don't give a damm about what ESPN thinks about our preconference schedule. If we can come out the other end with 9 or more wins and a ton of confidence going into league play, I would think that all Hawk fans will be happy.
 


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.
 


Normally I would agree with you, but not this year and not this team. This is a perfect schedule for Coach McCaffery's second year given the current state of the program.
 
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Up until twelve years ago sellouts were the norm regardless of the opponents - that trend continued for a period of time under alfraud but quickly slid into the "Who Dat" category. We have now spent more than enough time in purgatory and its time to get the arena filled once again.

IMO the schedule is exactly what the program needs right now. The team needs to feel what its like to win and this schedule should allow them to do just that. I believe the general consensus is that we may lose up to 3 games but not likely anymore than that leading in to conference play.

We will have five games under our belt before Clemson comes in. Clemson is going to be the litmus test for this team. If we can win that game then we will see post season play - guaranteed.
 


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.
 


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