All Things 2013-2014 Gophers Schedule Thread

[mnsportsgeek]

It's almost 3 o'clock. Hurry up and release it already.

 

[GopherLady]

Just posted it on another thread, so it didn't get lost - but here is the press release:

Gophers Announce 2013 Non-Conference Basketball Schedule
The University of Minnesota men's basketball program announced its 2013 non-conference schedule today. The schedule includes 13 games, nine of which will be played at Williams Arena. The entire 2013-14 schedule with game times and television rights will be released by the Big Ten Conference at a later date.

The Golden Gophers open the regular season with four of their first five games at Williams Arena, including the season-opening tilt against Lehigh University on Fri., Nov. 8. Minnesota will leave the friendly confines of “The Barn” for four games during the non-conference season, beginning with a trip to Richmond, Va. to finish the home-and-home series. The Gophers defeated Richmond 72-57 last season in Minneapolis.

Minnesota will play three games in Maui at the Lahaina Civic Center as part of the 2013 EA SPORTS Maui Invitational Nov. 25-27. The Gophers open play on Nov. 25 against Syracuse University on ESPN2 and will play either the University of Arkansas or the University of California in the second round. The remaining field includes Baylor, Dayton, Gonzaga and Chaminade.

The entire EA SPORTS Maui Invitational will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks. Games will also be broadcast live on the WatchESPN mobile app and WatchESPN.com.

The Maroon and Gold's season officially begins on Fri., Nov. 1, in an exhibition matchup with the Wolves from Cardinal Stritch University, the reigning NAIA Division II National Champions. Minnesota's other exhibition game will be Mon., Nov. 4 against Concordia-St. Paul.

Minnesota returns its top two scorers from a team that finished the 2012-13 season 21-13 overall, including a win over UCLA in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Gophers’ Non-Conference Opponents:

Lehigh (Friday, Nov. 8 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Dr. Brett Reed (7th season)…first appearance against Gophers…finished 21-10 last season…made the postseason three of the last four years…posted three-straight 20-win seasons…lost to Wyoming in the CBI Tournament. Top returning scorer: Mackey McKnight (Sr. Guard – 11.9 ppg last season).

Montana (Tuesday, Nov. 12 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Wayne Tinkle (8th season)…Gophers lead series 3-1…finished 25-7 last season…reigning Big Sky Conference champions…back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances…lost to Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament second round. Top returning scorer: Kareem Jamar (Sr. Guard/Forward – 14.2 ppg last season).

Richmond (Saturday, Nov. 16 – Robins Center) - Coached by Chris Mooney (9th season)…series tied 1-1…Gophers won 72-57 last season…finished 19-15 last season…made the postseason five of the last six years…lost to Wright State in CBI Tournament. Top returning scorer: Cedrick Lindsay (Sr. Guard – 12.0 ppg last season).

Coastal Carolina (Tuesday, Nov. 19 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Cliff Ellis (7th season)…Gophers lead series 1-0…finished 14-15 last season. Top returning scorer: Warren Gillis (Jr. Guard – 10.5 ppg last season).

Wofford (Thursday, Nov. 21 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Mike Young (12th season)…Gophers lead series 2-0…finished 13-19 last season. Top returning scorer: Spencer Collins (So. Guard – 12.4 ppg last season).

Syracuse (Monday, Nov. 25 – Lahaina Civic Center) - Coached by Jim Boeheim (37th season)…Gophers lead series 1-0…defeated Orange in the 1990 Sweet 16…finished 30-10 last season…lost to Michigan in the Final Four… Top returning scorer: C.J. Fair (Sr. Forward – 14.5 ppg last season).

Florida State (Tuesday, Dec. 3 – Williams Arena – B1G/ACC Challenge) - Coached by Leonard Hamilton (12th season)…series tied 4-4…Gophers won 77-68 last season…finished 18-16 last season…made eight-straight postseason appearances… Top returning scorer: Okaro White (Sr. Forward – 12.4 ppg last season).

New Orleans (Saturday, Dec. 7 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Mark Slessinger (3rd season)…first appearance against Gophers…finished 8-18 last season…first season as member of the Southland Conference. Top returning scorer: Cory Dixon (Sr. Forward – 8.7 ppg last season).

South Dakota State (Tuesday, Dec. 10 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Scott Nagy (19th season)…Gophers lead series 16-0…Gophers won 88-64 last season…back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances…reigning Summit League champions…lost to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament second round. Top returning scorer: Jordan Dykstra (Sr. Forward – 12.5 ppg last season).

Nebraska Omaha (Friday, Dec. 20 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Derrin Hansen (9th season)…first appearance against Gophers…finished 11-20 last season…third season as a member of Division I…second season as a member of the Summit League. Top returning scorer: Justin Simmons (Sr. Guard – 16.7 ppg last season).

Texas A&M Corpus Christi (Saturday, Dec. 28 – Williams Arena) - Coached by Willis Wilson (3rd season…first appearance against Gophers…finished 6-23 last season. Top returning scorer: Will Nelson (Sr. Forward – 13.6 ppg last season).

 

[SelectionSunday]

Gophers (final)

Average RPI of opponents currently ranks 4th of 5 among B1G schools that have released their complete NC schedules.

GOPHERS
Nov. 8: LEHIGH (107)
Nov. 12: MONTANA (74)
Nov. 16: @ Richmond (91)
Nov. 19: COASTAL CAROLINA (259) -- Maui on Mainland
Nov. 21: WOFFORD (249)
Nov. 25: vs. Syracuse (14) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 26: vs. Cal (53)/Arkansas (95) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 27: vs. Gonzaga (6)/Baylor (70)/Dayton (114)/Chaminade -- Maui Invitational
Dec. 3: FLORIDA STATE (84) -- ACC/Big 10 Challenge
Dec. 7: NEW ORLEANS (346)
Dec. 10: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (62)
Dec. 20: OMAHA (285)
Dec. 28: TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (322)

Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 172.09

 

[WanderingGopher]

Average RPI of opponents currently ranks 4th of 5 among B1G schools that have released their complete NC schedules.

GOPHERS
Nov. 8: LEHIGH (107)
Nov. 12: MONTANA (74)
Nov. 16: @ Richmond (91)
Nov. 19: COASTAL CAROLINA (259) -- Maui on Mainland
Nov. 21: WOFFORD (249)
Nov. 25: vs. Syracuse (14) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 26: vs. Cal (53)/Arkansas (95) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 27: vs. Gonzaga (6)/Baylor (70)/Dayton (114)/Chaminade -- Maui Invitational
Dec. 3: FLORIDA STATE (84) -- ACC/Big 10 Challenge
Dec. 7: NEW ORLEANS (346)
Dec. 10: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (62)
Dec. 20: OMAHA (285)
Dec. 28: TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (322)

Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents (to date): 172.09

Thanks for all the number crunching, SS.

One note - the average RPI of 172 doesn't take into account the two additional games at Maui, which should at least help the average (either a 53 or 95, then a 6, 70, 114 or nothing).

Why is it that we have so many brutally low RPI teams on the sched this year though? Is it because of the new staff? (I.e., couldn't get started on scheduling soon enough mostly dregs were left?)

To me, the whole issue of "average RPI" and average "strength of schedule" is a little misleading, though it's benefitted the Goph's in recent years. My point is, it really doesn't make any difference as a practical matter whether you're playing the #100 team at home or the #300 team at home - either way it should be a win, and it usually is. However, to the RPI number crunchers there is a big difference.

 

[bleedsmaroonandgold]

Thanks for all the number crunching, SS.

One note - the average RPI of 172 doesn't take into account the two additional games at Maui, which should at least help the average (either a 53 or 95, then a 6, 70, 114 or nothing).

Why is it that we have so many brutally low RPI teams on the sched this year though? Is it because of the new staff? (I.e., couldn't get started on scheduling soon enough mostly dregs were left?)

To me, the whole issue of "average RPI" and average "strength of schedule" is a little misleading, though it's benefitted the Goph's in recent years. My point is, it really doesn't make any difference as a practical matter whether you're playing the #100 team at home or the #300 team at home - either way it should be a win, and it usually is. However, to the RPI number crunchers there is a big difference.

I agree with the bold part. To me, a team who schedules mostly games against #300+, but then plays 4 games against the top 20 has a much tougher schedule then someone who schedules #95-108. If I am assessing the real difficulty of a schedule, I look to who has more high quality opponents, not who has the better weak opponents.

As always, thanks for doing the leg work SS.

 

[Rouser]

Average RPI of opponents currently ranks 4th of 5 among B1G schools that have released their complete NC schedules.

GOPHERS
Nov. 8: LEHIGH (107)
Nov. 12: MONTANA (74)
Nov. 16: @ Richmond (91)
Nov. 19: COASTAL CAROLINA (259) -- Maui on Mainland
Nov. 21: WOFFORD (249)
Nov. 25: vs. Syracuse (14) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 26: vs. Cal (53)/Arkansas (95) -- Maui Invitational
Nov. 27: vs. Gonzaga (6)/Baylor (70)/Dayton (114)/Chaminade -- Maui Invitational
Dec. 3: FLORIDA STATE (84) -- ACC/Big 10 Challenge
Dec. 7: NEW ORLEANS (346)
Dec. 10: SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (62)
Dec. 20: OMAHA (285)
Dec. 28: TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI (322)

Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 172.09

Maui games are awesome. Rest of schedule.. Meh

 

[SelectionSunday]

Thanks. I use the average RPI mostly as a point of comparison to other teams' schedules.

This isn't a great schedule. The home portion once again stinks with no BCS/major-conference opponents (excluding the Challenge) for the 6th time in 7 years.

That said, there's enough potential "top-100ish" pop in it (Montana, Richmond, Syracuse +1 or +2 others in Maui, and Florida State) for the Gophers to build a decent resume. My gut says the Gophers will need to win 4 of those games (2 or 3 of Montana/Richmond/Florida State combo + 1 or 2 in Maui?) to have a respectable resume heading into conference play.

 

[WanderingGopher]

Wofford has a Minnesota guy -- C.J. Neumann. There's a possible matchup with Justin Cobbs and Cal in the Maui tournament, also Sam Dower of Gonzaga (though unlikely). Nebraska Omaha has 3 Minnesota guys - Mike Rostampor, Simon Krych and Marcus Tyus.

Not sure if there are any other interesting angles or connections. Surprisingly, SDSU has no Minnesota guys.

I thought we were supposed to be playing NDSU too.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Wofford has a Minnesota guy -- C.J. Neumann. There's a possible matchup with Justin Cobbs and Cal in the Maui tournament, also Sam Dower of Gonzaga (though unlikely). Nebraska Omaha has 3 Minnesota guys - Mike Rostampor, Simon Krych and Marcus Tyus.

Not sure if there are any other interesting angles or connections. Surprisingly, SDSU has no Minnesota guys.

I thought we were supposed to be playing NDSU too.

Broman?

 

[jaymil]

The Gophers will play Florida State on Tuesday, December 3rd at 8:30 PM CT on ESPNU.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation

 

[SelectionSunday]

The Gophers will play Florida State on Tuesday, December 3rd at 8:30 PM CT on ESPNU.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation

As previously projected by Ope3, Gophers relegated to ESPNU. That's where they put the "crappiest" games (in their estimation).

 

[jaymil]

PiPress Gophers Now (@GophersNow) tweeted at 1:24 PM on Wed, Aug 28, 2013:Exciting #B1G opener for the #Gophers men's basketball team this season hosting Michigan at 6 PM on Jan. 2 at Williams Arena.