Gophers 5 Best Non-Conference Home Schedules (based on RPI) since 1992-93 Season

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SelectionSunday

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This year's non-conference home schedule checks in at #4 of 25. The average RPI (noted in parentheses) of Gopher non-conference home opponents this past season was 147.

Top 5 The Barn/Minneapolis Non-Conference Opponents (circa 1992-93 season)
#1 1998-99 (Gophers NCAA 1st round)
Cincinnati (9) – NCAA qualifier
Oregon (40) – Power 6
Appalachian State (86)
Seton Hall (88) – Power 6
Winthrop (153) – NCAA qualifier
Montana State (164)
Eastern Michigan (219)
Sacramento State (296)
Average RPI: 131.875

#2 1995-96
Cal (52) -- @ Metrodome – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Mount Saint Mary’s (65)
Nebraska (73) – Power 6
Charleston Southern (184)
Mercer (210)
Bethune Cookman (289)
Average RPI: 145.5

#3 1997-98 (Gophers NIT Champs)
Nebraska (37) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Utah State (48) – NCAA qualifier
Eastern Michigan (60) – NCAA qualifier
Fresno State (76)
Villanova (85) -- @ Target Center – Power 6
Alabama (86) – Power 6
Western Carolina (247)
FAU (259)
Campbell (266)
Sacramento State (304)
Average RPI: 146.8

#4 2016-17 (Gophers NCAA 1st round)
Arkansas (28) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Texas-Arlington (45)
Louisiana (114)
Arkansas State (120)
Georgia Southern (122)
Saint John’s (140) – Power 6
Southern Illinois (145)
Mount Saint Mary’s (150) – NCAA qualifier
LIU (224)
Northern Illinois (239)
NJIT (290)
Average RPI: 147

#5 2012-13 (Gophers NCAA 2nd round)
South Dakota State (62) – NCAA qualifier
North Dakota State (75)
Richmond (91)
Tennessee State (105)
Lafayette (153)
Toledo (194)
North Florida (229)
American (277)
Average RPI: 148.25
 

A Look at Pitino's 4 Non-Conference Home Schedules

And where they rank (based on average RPI) in last 25 seasons.

#4 2016-17 (Gophers NCAA 1st round)
Arkansas (28) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Texas-Arlington (45)
Louisiana (114)
Arkansas State (120)
Georgia Southern (122)
Saint John’s (140) – Power 6
Southern Illinois (145)
Mount Saint Mary’s (150) – NCAA qualifier
LIU (224)
Northern Illinois (239)
NJIT (290)
Average RPI: 147 (11 home games)

#13 2015-16
South Dakota State (28) – NCAA qualifier
Louisiana-Monroe (96)
Clemson (131) – Power 6
Omaha (143)
Milwaukee (173)
South Dakota (197)
Kansas City (286)
Chicago State (348)
Average RPI: 175.25 (8 home games)

#15 2013-14 (Gophers NIT Champs)
Florida State (54) – Power 6
South Dakota State (138)
Wofford (153) – NCAA qualifier
Montana (183)
Coastal Carolina (196) – NCAA qualifier
Omaha (219)
Lehigh (236)
Texas A&M Corpus Christi (248)
New Orleans (260)
Average RPI: 187.444 (9 home games)

#25 2014-15
Western Kentucky (117)
NC Wilmington (146)
Western Carolina (221)
Southern (229)
Seattle (280)
Furman (293)
North Dakota (310)
UMBC (346)
Franklin Pierce (352) -- non-Division I
Average RPI: 254.888 (9 home games)
 

Power 6 Home Opponents since 1992-93 Season

Power 6 Opponents by Season (33)
1992-93 (0)
1993-94 (2): Clemson, Georgia
1994-95 (0)
1995-96 (2): Cal, Nebraska
1996-97 (2): Saint John’s, West Virginia
1997-98 (3): Alabama, Nebraska, Villanova
1998-99 (2): Oregon, Seton Hall
1999-00 (2): Marquette, Virginia (ACC)
2000-01 (2): Georgia, Nebraska
2001-02 (2): Nebraska, Oregon
2002-03 (3): Georgia, Georgia Tech (ACC), Texas Tech
2003-04 (1): Nebraska
2004-05 (1): Florida State (ACC)
2005-06 (0)
2006-07 (3): Arizona State, Clemson (ACC), Iowa State
2007-08 (0)
2008-09 (1): Virginia (ACC)
2009-10 (0)
2010-11 (1): Virginia (ACC)
2011-12 (2): USC, Virginia Tech (ACC)
2012-13 (0)
2013-14 (1): Florida State (ACC)
2014-15 (0)
2015-16 (1): Clemson (ACC)
2016-17: (2): Arkansas, Saint John’s (Gavitt)

Mandated by B1G: 10 (9 ACC Challenge, 1 Gavitt Games)
Scheduled by U of M: 23
 

Non-Conference Home Games vs. NCAA Qualiifers since 1992-93 Season

NCAA Qualifiers by Season (32)
1992-93 (1): Memphis (28)
1993-94 (1): James Madison (82)
1994-95 (2): Cincinnati (22), Texas Southern (112)
1995-96 (1): Cal (52)
1996-97 (1): LIU (81)
1997-98 (3): Nebraska (37), Utah State (48), Eastern Michigan (60)
1998-99 (2): Cincinnati (9), Winthrop (153)
1999-00 (1): Valparaiso (211)
2000-01 (2): Georgia (27), NC Greensboro (177)
2001-02 (2): Oregon (34), NC Wilmington (57)
2002-03 (1): NC Asheville (186)
2003-04 (1): Princeton (121)
2004-05 (0)
2005-06 (2): UAB (32), Oral Roberts (131)
2006-07 (0)
2007-08 (0)
2008-09 (2): North Dakota State (87), Cornell (115)
2009-10 (1): Morgan State (103)
2010-11 (2): Akron (107), Wofford (109)
2011-12 (1): South Dakota State (43)
2012-13 (1): South Dakota State (62)
2013-14 (2): Wofford (153), Coastal Carolina (196)
2014-15 (0)
2015-16: (1): South Dakota State (28)
2016-17 (2): Arkansas (28), Mount Saint Mary’s (150)
 

RPI Top 50 Non-Conference Home Games since 1992-93 Season

RPI Top 50 Opponents (17)
#5 Georgia (2002-03)
#9 Cincinnati (1998-99)
#22 Cincinnati (1994-95)
#27 Georgia (2000-01)
#28 Memphis (1992-93)
#28 South Dakota State (2015-16)
#28 Arkansas (2016-17)
#32 UAB (2005-06)
#34 Oregon (2001-02)
#37 Nebraska (1997-98)
#40 Oregon (1998-99)
#43 South Dakota State (2011-12)
#45 Clemson (2006-07)
#45 Texas-Arlington (2016-17)
#48 Utah State (1997-98)
#48 Texas Tech (2002-03)
#49 West Virginia (1996-97)
 


Wow! That's seemingly a lotta work! Thank you! I had in my head we played way better non conference opponents under Musselman and Dutcher. But mostly it was just one game each non conference season with Marquette.
Sometimes we played a good team in the Pillsbury Classic and sometimes a lesser name school was really good. But it wasn't a Michigan State or Kentucky like schedule even back in the day.
Be nice if we played Marquette or Iowa St each year unless it's a recruiting advantage to them more than us? So, then just somebody big time that's perennially good that you could gauge each year on and build a rivalry with. We did have Cincinnati for a few years. Something like that.
What were your conclusions from your research, other than our home game schedule needs strengthening? Pretty bad the last 17 years.
 

SelectionSunday said:
This year's non-conference home schedule checks in at #4 of 25. The average RPI (noted in parentheses) of Gopher non-conference home opponents this past season was 147.

Top 5 The Barn/Minneapolis Non-Conference Opponents (circa 1992-93 season)
#1 1998-99 (Gophers NCAA 1st round)
Cincinnati (9) – NCAA qualifier
Oregon (40) – Power 6
Appalachian State (86)
Seton Hall (88) – Power 6
Winthrop (153) – NCAA qualifier
Montana State (164)
Eastern Michigan (219)
Sacramento State (296)
Average RPI: 131.875

#2 1995-96
Cal (52) -- @ Metrodome – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Mount Saint Mary’s (65)
Nebraska (73) – Power 6
Charleston Southern (184)
Mercer (210)
Bethune Cookman (289)
Average RPI: 145.5

#3 1997-98 (Gophers NIT Champs)
Nebraska (37) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Utah State (48) – NCAA qualifier
Eastern Michigan (60) – NCAA qualifier
Fresno State (76)
Villanova (85) -- @ Target Center – Power 6
Alabama (86) – Power 6
Western Carolina (247)
FAU (259)
Campbell (266)
Sacramento State (304)
Average RPI: 146.8

#4 2016-17 (Gophers NCAA 1st round)
Arkansas (28) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Texas-Arlington (45)
Louisiana (114)
Arkansas State (120)
Georgia Southern (122)
Saint John’s (140) – Power 6
Southern Illinois (145)
Mount Saint Mary’s (150) – NCAA qualifier
LIU (224)
Northern Illinois (239)
NJIT (290)
Average RPI: 147

#5 2012-13 (Gophers NCAA 2nd round)
South Dakota State (62) – NCAA qualifier
North Dakota State (75)
Richmond (91)
Tennessee State (105)
Lafayette (153)
Toledo (194)
North Florida (229)
American (277)
Average RPI: 148.25
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What I take from this is that if you schedule decent non-conference home games there is a 100% chance you will make the NCAA's or win the NIT (I'm counting 1996.) I wonder if Pitino views it the same way? :cool:
 

Not sure why but

howeda7 said:
What I take from this is that if you schedule decent non-conference home games there is a 100% chance you will make the NCAA's or win the NIT (I'm counting 1996.) I wonder if Pitino views it the same way? :cool:
Click to expand...

It seems so obvious the best way to prepare your team for conference and post season is a tough non conference schedule. It is definitely how a team improves the most. It prepares them, conditions them to what is required to beat good teams. It forces you to get better! Why Kentucky, Michigan St, Louisville etc are the only among the few teams to do it I'm not sure. I know coaches want the wins in non conference to keep their jobs but it's short sighted. Sit down with the AD and explain what you are trying to accomplish. Like you said though, our non conference schedule last year was helpful. Hopefully it is as hard or preferably harder next year.
 

So you are not including the Sioux Falls games?
 



Otis said:
So you are not including the Sioux Falls games?
Click to expand...

No.

If it's played in Minnesota (Metrodome, Target Center, etc.), I'm counting it. Have only had a few of those, and none since 1998, I think.
 

60's Guy said:
It seems so obvious the best way to prepare your team for conference and post season is a tough non conference schedule. It is definitely how a team improves the most. It prepares them, conditions them to what is required to beat good teams. It forces you to get better! Why Kentucky, Michigan St, Louisville etc are the only among the few teams to do it I'm not sure. I know coaches want the wins in non conference to keep their jobs but it's short sighted. Sit down with the AD and explain what you are trying to accomplish. Like you said though, our non conference schedule last year was helpful. Hopefully it is as hard or preferably harder next year.
Click to expand...

The game at Arkansas will be no picnic.
 

howeda7 said:
The game at Arkansas will be no picnic.
Click to expand...

And we should add another true road game. Should play 2 true roadies every year. That still would leave room for plenty (9-10) non-conference home games and a neutral-siter (or 2) if Pitino continues to choose that route.
 

SelectionSunday said:
And we should add another true road game. Should play 2 true roadies every year. That still would leave room for plenty (9-10) non-conference home games and a neutral-siter (or 2) if Pitino continues to choose that route.
Click to expand...

Is the B1G/Big East thing happening again? If so, I would assume we'll get a road game.
 



howeda7 said:
Is the B1G/Big East thing happening again? If so, I would assume we'll get a road game.
Click to expand...

The Gavitt Games started in 2015 and will span eight years. Each Big East team will participate a minimum of 6 times, B1G teams a minimum of 4 times. Haven't heard either way whether Gophers will participate next season, but with the high expectations this would be a perfect year to play on the road. That could be the 2nd true roadie.

Absent that, I hope Pitino announces a couple home & homes, one starting on the road, the other at home. That would guarantee a quality home game in 2018-19, assuming the agreement is for back-to-back seasons.
 

SelectionSunday said:
The Gavitt Games started in 2015 and will span eight years. Each Big East team will participate a minimum of 6 times, B1G teams a minimum of 4 times. Haven't heard either way whether Gophers will participate next season, but with the high expectations this would be a perfect year to play on the road. That could be the 2nd true roadie.

Absent that, I hope Pitino announces a quality home-and-home that starts on the road. That would guarantee a quality home game next season (assumes the games are in back-to-back seasons).
Click to expand...

I agree, or keep doing the Gopher Classic, bring in a quality P6 opponent and give them a return game the following year, while also bringing in quality mid major teams, or teams favored to win their conference that will help the resume. Thought it was a nice tactic to upgrade the schedule. I am hoping for a home ACC game, a road Big East Opponent, be fun to play at Xavier or Butler or Pitino alma mater Providence. Game @ Arkansas, the four Golden Gopher classic games. Throw in a neutral site game or two and sprinkle the rest of the schedule with cupcakes and call it good
 

bemidjigopher said:
I agree, or keep doing the Gopher Classic, bring in a quality P6 opponent and give them a return game the following year, while also bringing in quality mid major teams, or teams favored to win their conference that will help the resume. Thought it was a nice tactic to upgrade the schedule. I am hoping for a home ACC game, a road Big East Opponent, be fun to play at Xavier or Butler or Pitino alma mater Providence. Game @ Arkansas, the four Golden Gopher classic games. Throw in a neutral site game or two and sprinkle the rest of the schedule with cupcakes and call it good
Click to expand...

Love the idea of playing Providence. Would be a really good matchup. Ed Cooley can coach, and Friars have pretty much everyone back. X would be fine, too, J.P. Macura's senior year.
 

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