Crafting a 2014-15 Nonconference Schedule

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SelectionSunday

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Boredom has set in until the NCAA tourney resumes Thursday, so thought I'd put together a mythical 2014-15 nonconference schedule for the Gophers. The only things we know for sure are the neutral-siter vs. Louisville and the NIT Season Tip-Off that includes host schools Minnesota, Georgia (SEC), Gonzaga (WCC), and Saint John's (Big East) along with 12 other teams TBD. Taking a stab at the ACC Challenge opponent (presumably on the road), as well.

Final 2013-14 RPI is noted in parentheses, as well as conference affiliation. Please, no wagering.

Home (9)
1. NIT Season Tip-Off (Round of 16) -- TBD; this will be a delicious cupcake
2. NIT Season Tip-Off (Round of 8 or consolation) -- TBD; likely a decent 150ish-type opponent
3. Tulsa (73) -- American (2014 NCAA qualifier; Danny Manning coach)
4. Robert Morris (129) -- Northeast (perennial NEC contender; back-to-back NITs)
5. Auburn (169) -- SEC (start of home-and-home series; Bruce Pearl would add some intrigue)
6. North Dakota (197) -- Big Sky (regional opponent; conference tourney semis & finals last 2 seasons)
7. Northern Illinois (217) -- MAC (Midwest opponent on an upswing)
8. Texas Southern (239) -- SWAC (2014 NCAA qualifier)
9. South Dakota (255) -- Summit (regional opponent; soft pastry squeezed in between Louisville & start of NIT)

Road (1)
1. @ Clemson (79) -- ACC Challenge; also figure to be near the middle of their conference

Neutral (3)
1. vs. Louisville (14) -- ACC; would rather have a home-and-home with the 'Ville, but will take it
2. NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals -- (most likely) vs. Gonzaga (20)
3. NIT Season Tip-Off finals/3rd-place -- (most likely) vs. Saint John's (67) or Georgia (74)

Average RPI of Projected Opponents (excludes Gonzaga/Georgia): 139.2

Games vs. RPI Top-100 Opponents: likely 4, perhaps 5

Games vs. Teams from NCAA Multi-Bid Conferences: 6 (Tulsa, Auburn, Clemson, Louisville, Gonzaga, Saint John's/Georgia)

Avoid the Bad Loss Games: 7 (both NIT home games, Robert Morris, UND, NIU, Texas Southern, South Dakota)
 

Well, the gophers RPI is finally improving even if it is only slightly.
 

SelectionSunday said:
Boredom has set in until the NCAA tourney resumes Thursday, so thought I'd put together a mythical 2013-14 nonconference schedule for the Gophers. QUOTE]

So what do we do with the real 13-14 season?
Click to expand...
 


I actually like Tom Izzo's schedule at MSU this season. I see a lot of recognizable names from real conferences on the schedule. I wouldn't mind having a schedule that included Kentucky, Virginia Tech, UNC, Oklahoma, and Texas. Its a good balance of getting real competitive teams (not just padding SOS by loading the schedule up with teams that we should be by 10 rather than by 25), but its not like he played Arizona every week.
 


I'd like to see Harvard on the schedule with all the Minnesotans on the roster
 

Isn't it sad that a simple game against Auburn would be the best home game, and we likely won't even get that? Hope I'm wrong.
 

howeda7 said:
Isn't it sad that a simple game against Auburn would be the best home game, and we likely won't even get that? Hope I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

I here ya'. Have learned not to expect anything eyebrow-raising with regards to the nonconference home schedule. It's going to be a ACC opponent every other season, and anything more than that will be cause for rejoicing. Sad.

That said, I'll take a home-and-home vs. ANY major-conference opponent, and I mean any. I'd take playing one of the worst the major conferences have to offer. ... i.e. DePaul (Big East), TCU, gulp (Big XII), Wazzu (Pac 12), or Mississippi State (SEC).

Holding out hope that the second NIT Season Tip-Off opponent will be someone decent. Probably a better chance of that happening than of the Gophers scheduling a decent home-and-home.
 

New York

I thought I heard Richard on the radio say, "We are going to New York next year." Is he being presumptious about wining the two at the Barn or is there some deal in the preseason NIT that guarantees the host schools get to MSG no matter what?

Is the trip to NYC an assured one next fall or not? Do we have dates?
 



Holy Man said:
I thought I heard Richard on the radio say, "We are going to New York next year." Is he being presumptious about wining the two at the Barn or is there some deal in the preseason NIT that guarantees the host schools get to MSG no matter what?

Is the trip to NYC an assured one next fall or not? Do we have dates?
Click to expand...

I took it as he's expecting they'll make it to MSG after winning their first 2 games at The Barn.

Semifinals will be Nov. 26 (day before Thanksgiving), finals and 3rd-place game Nov. 28.
 

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