SelectionSunday
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 24,837
- Reaction score
- 5,195
- Points
- 113
Thanks to TJGopher for some of the heavy lifting on this. Here's a snapshot look (in order of final 2008-09 RPI) at the Gophers' 2009-10 nonconference schedule. If these teams are correct, I'd say OVERALL the Gophers' nonconference schedule is better than last season, but only because the Charmin-soft NABC "Classic" was replaced by the strong field of the 76 Classic. In terms of the HOME nonconference schedule, on paper I think this one looks weaker than last season. ... and that's saying something.
Games with ** have not been confirmed on those schools' athletic web sites. Records are regular season & Division I opponents only.
vs. Butler (#24) -- Finished 25-5 overall, regular-season champ of Horizon League.
at Miami of Florida (#65) -- Finished 17-12, tied for 7th (of 12) in the ACC.
**STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (#74) -- Finished 20-7, Southland regular season & tournament champ.
SAINT JOSEPH'S (#105) -- Finished 17-15, tied for 5th (of 14) in Atlantic 10.
**MORGAN STATE (#130) -- Finished 22-11, MEAC regular season & tournament champ.
**UTAH VALLEY (#238) -- Finished 15-11, 2nd best RPI of D-I independents.
**TENNESSEE TECH (#272) -- Finished 10-18, 8th (of 10) in the Ohio Valley Conference.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (#283) -- Finished 11-20, 7th (of 10) in Summit League.
BROWN (#307) -- Finished 9-19, last (8th) in Ivy League.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (#329) -- Finished 9-20, tied for 5th (last) in MAC West.
Potential 76 Classic Opponents:
Round 2: UCLA (#33) or Portland (#120)
Round 3: West Virginia (#21), Clemson (#28), Texas A&M (#36), Long Beach State (#156)
Average RPI of Opponents: 182.7
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 217.25
NCAA Qualifiers (3): Butler, Stephen F. Austin, Morgan State
Top 100 (3): Butler, Miami of Florida, Stephen F. Austin
BCS Opponents (1): Miami of Florida
And using last year's nonconference schedule as a comparison. ...
vs. Louisville (4)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (87)
VIRGINIA (114)
CORNELL (115)
BOWLING GREEN (157)
at Colorado State (212)
EASTERN WASHINGTON (231)
GEORGIA STATE (233)
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (247)
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (283)
HIGH POINT (325)
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL (#344, non-DI)
Average RPI of Opponents: 196
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 213.6
NCAA Qualifiers (3): Louisville, North Dakota State, Cornell
Top 100 (2): Louisville, North Dakota State
BCS Opponents (2): Louisville, Virginia
Games with ** have not been confirmed on those schools' athletic web sites. Records are regular season & Division I opponents only.
vs. Butler (#24) -- Finished 25-5 overall, regular-season champ of Horizon League.
at Miami of Florida (#65) -- Finished 17-12, tied for 7th (of 12) in the ACC.
**STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (#74) -- Finished 20-7, Southland regular season & tournament champ.
SAINT JOSEPH'S (#105) -- Finished 17-15, tied for 5th (of 14) in Atlantic 10.
**MORGAN STATE (#130) -- Finished 22-11, MEAC regular season & tournament champ.
**UTAH VALLEY (#238) -- Finished 15-11, 2nd best RPI of D-I independents.
**TENNESSEE TECH (#272) -- Finished 10-18, 8th (of 10) in the Ohio Valley Conference.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (#283) -- Finished 11-20, 7th (of 10) in Summit League.
BROWN (#307) -- Finished 9-19, last (8th) in Ivy League.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (#329) -- Finished 9-20, tied for 5th (last) in MAC West.
Potential 76 Classic Opponents:
Round 2: UCLA (#33) or Portland (#120)
Round 3: West Virginia (#21), Clemson (#28), Texas A&M (#36), Long Beach State (#156)
Average RPI of Opponents: 182.7
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 217.25
NCAA Qualifiers (3): Butler, Stephen F. Austin, Morgan State
Top 100 (3): Butler, Miami of Florida, Stephen F. Austin
BCS Opponents (1): Miami of Florida
And using last year's nonconference schedule as a comparison. ...
vs. Louisville (4)
NORTH DAKOTA STATE (87)
VIRGINIA (114)
CORNELL (115)
BOWLING GREEN (157)
at Colorado State (212)
EASTERN WASHINGTON (231)
GEORGIA STATE (233)
SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (247)
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (283)
HIGH POINT (325)
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL (#344, non-DI)
Average RPI of Opponents: 196
Average RPI of Home Opponents: 213.6
NCAA Qualifiers (3): Louisville, North Dakota State, Cornell
Top 100 (2): Louisville, North Dakota State
BCS Opponents (2): Louisville, Virginia