(11-09-2010 03:46 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  How does one accomplish this in Basketball? Is it all in the scheduling?

IMO, it starts there. If you play good teams, assuming you have a commitment to the sport, your team must get better. This could be attracting more ambitious coaches (not ones who are happy with mediocrity), attracting better players, more fan support, improving the conference reputation, getting into the NCAA tournament (at-large or conference winner), etc.

Each item above helps out every other item, and one of the few things the administration has control over is the schedule. Scheduling easy wins against lesser opponents doesn't help you get into the NCAAs, or get better players, coaches, fans, etc. Everyone (fans, coaches, NCAA committee, players) can see through a 20+ win season with no wins over <200 RPI (because your RPI isn't much better).