I think the leagues that have it (Big XII, AAC, Big East) are more competitive and interesting than those that don't.

For that reason, I'm hoping they keep the AAC at 11 (one division) and play 20 league games next year. Are there any other leagues that play 20? I know it has been discussed.

AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

Yep. Plus, we have a certain number of home games we have to play at FedExForum. Not saying it won't happen, but it definitely causes us some issues, to go to 20.

20 league games may be a bit much. I wouldn't want to give up a marquee OOC game to play some of the new AAC teams twice and I also don't know if we should give up a cupcake home game either for a pontentially RPI crushing loss with conference ramifications.

Until the league improves, the top teams can't afford that kind of RPI hit. I'd rather see more OOC games on the schedule.

(01-28-2014 12:52 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  20 league games may be a bit much. I wouldn't want to give up a marquee OOC game to play some of the new AAC teams twice and I also don't know if we should give up a cupcake home game either for a pontentially RPI crushing loss with conference ramifications.

I don't blame the established programs for looking at it that way. If I were in their shoes, I'd hold the exact same opinion.

The Sun Belt Conference played a 20-game league schedule last season, and I think they had done it for some year in the past, as well.

(01-28-2014 01:02 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 12:52 PM)HartfordHusky Wrote:  20 league games may be a bit much. I wouldn't want to give up a marquee OOC game to play some of the new AAC teams twice and I also don't know if we should give up a cupcake home game either for a pontentially RPI crushing loss with conference ramifications.

I don't blame the established programs for looking at it that way. If I were in their shoes, I'd hold the exact same opinion.

The Sun Belt Conference played a 20-game league schedule last season, and I think they had done it for some year in the past, as well.

I think the Big East maxed out at 18 games. I don't see a problem with the RPI hit as that is 2 additional games (one home and one away) and there are probably 2 duds on the current schedule that have worse RPI, just guessing. Decreasing the number of home games seems like a bigger issue.

Go Bearcats

(01-28-2014 12:59 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  Until the league improves, the top teams can't afford that kind of RPI hit. I'd rather see more OOC games on the schedule.

Agree. I just can't see Memphis, UConn & Cincy agreeing to playing ECU and Tulane twice per season. For selfish reasons I'd love to have 20 conference games though.

That said, those programs could consider playing the traditional dregs of AAC basketball as their "easy wins" maybe???? Then instead of playing a couple of cream puffs to open the season crank it up a notch for OOC.

I'd be against it, as it would hamper our ability to play four non-D1 schools every year. [/sarcasm]

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

Don't forget Temple and the Big 5 round robin every year against Villanova, St. Joes, Penn and LaSalle. That's not going away. Fewer ooc games limits their flexibility for scheduling of other ooc games after the Big 5 games are considered. Temple will be good in basketball again, it's just a matter of patience.

(01-28-2014 08:48 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

Don't forget Temple and the Big 5 round robin every year against Villanova, St. Joes, Penn and LaSalle. That's not going away. Fewer ooc games limits their flexibility for scheduling of other ooc games after the Big 5 games are considered. Temple will be good in basketball again, it's just a matter of patience.

Good point. You just have to hope that next season UC, UConn, Memphis, SMU, and Temple should all play home and home with each other because that group will likely be the top of the league. Temple is struggling this season but everything that could go wrong for them has and its not like every game is a blowout. UCF, USF, ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, and Houston are probably are fighting to get into that next group.

No way the American is dumb enough to sacrifice one of their better games just so ECU, Tulsa, or Tulane gets a home date with one of the big boys?

(01-28-2014 09:14 PM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 08:48 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

Don't forget Temple and the Big 5 round robin every year against Villanova, St. Joes, Penn and LaSalle. That's not going away. Fewer ooc games limits their flexibility for scheduling of other ooc games after the Big 5 games are considered. Temple will be good in basketball again, it's just a matter of patience.

Good point. You just have to hope that next season UC, UConn, Memphis, SMU, and Temple should all play home and home with each other because that group will likely be the top of the league. Temple is struggling this season but everything that could go wrong for them has and its not like every game is a blowout. UCF, USF, ECU, Tulane, Tulsa, and Houston are probably are fighting to get into that next group.

No way the American is dumb enough to sacrifice one of their better games just so ECU, Tulsa, or Tulane gets a home date with one of the big boys?

Agree. I think USF can break-through too. They've had their up and down years, but they've proven they can compete - had a very good 2012 in the old Big East and NCAA tournament. I would love to see them be more consistent year-to-year.

I love the 18 game schedule this year. I think 20 in the future will hurt us. We can play against bigger names with 18. All about that RPI.

The Big 10 never played 20 conference games when they had 11.

It was either 18 (playing 8 schools home and home, and the other 2 schools once) or 16 (6 home and homes, 4 singles).

Either way, everybody played everybody at least once a year. I hope we do the same.

(01-28-2014 10:16 AM)jlbphila Wrote:  I think the leagues that have it (Big XII, AAC, Big East) are more competitive and interesting than those that don't.

For that reason, I'm hoping they keep the AAC at 11 (one division) and play 20 league games next year. Are there any other leagues that play 20? I know it has been discussed.

That was one of the few downfalls in the old Big East...as with a mega conf with 15 or 16 teams (I just knew it was a lot), the conf missed out on some great potential home-home series.

Same thing is now happening in the new ACC...as with 15 teams...some of the good home-home match-ups are now a thing of the past.

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

I agree. If you look at it like these double games are replacing the Kennesaw States, UMass Lowells, and Appalachin States of the non-conference, then you are improving your SOS and RPI.

On the other hand, if this prevents more quality OOC games from being scheduled, then forget it.

(01-29-2014 11:08 AM)stxrunner Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 10:30 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  AgreI would love to see 20 conference games next season. Even games against ECU, Tulane, UCF, and Tulsa are more interesting than buy games. The only problem with more conference games is that UC, UConn, and Memphis might not want to give up prime non-conference games.

I agree. If you look at it like these double games are replacing the Kennesaw States, UMass Lowells, and Appalachin States of the non-conference, then you are improving your SOS and RPI.

On the other hand, if this prevents more quality OOC games from being scheduled, then forget it.

Also, adding conf games means more national TV games...as most of those really bad non-conf games weren't on TV and/or were only on ESPN3.

Yeah this kinda depends what 2 games do you think would be dropped for 2 additional conference games? Would it be a marque matchup or a cupcake? I hope it goes 20 game for selfish reasons, but I'm not worried about it either way. All the teams will have to come to Minges with some regularity no matter what and that will be fun.