Gopher Opponent Schedule Part 3: Central Michigan Chippewas (Dec. 13)

[SelectionSunday]

Scheduling anyone other than Ball State or Central Michigan from the MAC West probably isn't a good idea in terms of strength of schedule. However, Gopher fans will get to watch a real talent in Chippewas sophomore guard Trey Zeigler, who was recruited by almost all of the big boys before deciding to play for his father Ernie at CMU.

CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Nov. 15: CHARLOTTE (225)
Nov. 21: @ Pepperdine (243)
Nov. 24: vs. New Mexico State (139) -- Great Alaska Shootout
Nov. 25: vs. Southern Miss (63) or UC-Irvine (296) -- Great Alaska Shootout
Nov. 26: vs. Murray State (117), San Francisco (120), Dartmouth (311) or Alaska-Anchorage (non-DI) -- Great Alaska Shootout
Dec. 3: @ Temple (30)
Dec. 10: @ Tennessee State (232)
Dec. 13: @ Minnesota (85)
Dec. 16: UIC (292)
Dec. 18: @ Iowa State (138)
Dec. 20: @ Nebraska (89)
Dec. 22: @ Wright State (124)
Jan. 7: TOLEDO* (338)
Jan. 11: @ Eastern Michigan* (324)
Jan. 14: @ Northern Illinois* (318)
Jan. 18: BALL STATE* (167)
Jan. 21: @ Western Michigan* (174)
Jan. 25: @ Bowling Green* (245)
Jan. 28: AKRON* (107)
Jan. 31: KENT STATE* (78)
Feb. 4: @ Ohio* (163)
Feb. 8: BUFFALO* (166)
Feb. 11: @ Miami-Ohio* (111)
Feb. 14: EASTERN MICHIGAN* (324)
Feb. 18: BRACKET BUSTER
Feb. 22: @ Toledo* (338)
Feb. 26: NORTHERN ILLINOIS* (318)
Feb. 29: @ Ball State* (167)
March 2: WESTERN MICHIGAN* (174)
March 5, 7-10: MAC Tournament

Average RPI of All Opponents: 196.5
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 159.7

Top-100 Opponents (4): Temple (30), Kent State (78), Minnesota (85), Nebraska (89)

Games vs. NCAA Qualifiers (2): Temple (30), Akron (107)

Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS) Rankings for Gopher Opponents
1. USC (104.4)
2. Appalachian State (180.538)
3. Central Michigan (196.5)

Nonconference SOS for Gopher Opponents
1. Appalachian State (113.875)
2. USC (120.583)
3. Central Michigan (159.7)

 

[SelectionSunday]

Gopher Opponent Schedule Part 4: Bucknell (Nov. 11)

Just like last season when they played Wofford, the Gophers open their season at home against a NCAA qualifier. And just like last season, the opponent (Bucknell) returns many of its key players and is expected to make a return trip to March Madness. There's one other thing Bucknell shares with Wofford circa 2010-11. Coach Dave Paulsen put together a nonconference schedule intended to test his experienced & talented Patriot League squad, which includes leading scorer Mike Muscala of Roseville. The Bison have 7 NCAA qualifiers on their schedule, most notably Syracuse, Vanderbilt, George Mason and Princeton.

This has a chance to be a decent win for the Gophers. No, not an eye-opener, but perhaps what in the end could be a quality win (top 100-type) on the Gopher resume.

BUCKNELL
Nov. 11: @ Minnesota (85)
Nov. 15: @ Vanderbilt (27) -- Legends Classic
Nov. 19: ST. FRANCIS-PA (259)
Nov. 22: @ Marist (305)
Nov. 25: PRINCETON (40) -- Legends Classic
Nov. 27: MOREHEAD STATE (77) -- Legends Classic
Nov. 30: @ George Mason (24)
Dec. 3: @ LaSalle (169)
Dec. 6: @ Binghamton (300)
Dec. 17: RICHMOND (41)
Dec. 20: @ Syracuse (18)
Dec. 22: @ Boston U (129)
Dec. 28: LOYOLA-MARYLAND (129)
Dec. 31: CORNELL (210)
Jan. 3: @ Dartmouth (311)
Jan. 7: @ Army* (279)
Jan. 11: COLGATE* (313)
Jan. 14: @ Lafayette* (220)
Jan. 18: @ Lehigh* (205)
Jan. 21: HOLY CROSS* (285)
Jan. 25: AMERICAN* (128)
Jan. 28: @ Navy* (299)
Feb. 4: ARMY* (279)
Feb. 8: @ Colgate* (313)
Feb. 11: LAFAYETTE* (220)
Feb. 15: LEHIGH* (205)
Feb. 18: @ Holy Cross* (285)
Feb. 22: @ American* (128)
Feb. 25: NAVY* (299)
Feb. 29, March 3, 7: Patriot Tournament

Average RPI of All Opponents: 194.206
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 144.933

Top-100 Opponents (7): Syracuse (18), George Mason (24), Vanderbilt (27), Princeton (40), Richmond (41), Morehead State (77), Minnesota (85)

Games vs. NCAA Qualifiers (7): Syracuse (18), George Mason (24), Vanderbilt (27), Princeton (40), Richmond (41), Morehead State (77), Boston U (129)

Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS) Rankings for Gopher Opponents
1. USC (104.4)
2. Appalachian State (180.538)
3. Bucknell (194.206)
4. Central Michigan (196.5)

Nonconference SOS for Gopher Opponents
1. Appalachian State (113.875)
2. USC (120.583)
3. Bucknell (144.933)
4. Central Michigan (159.7)

 

[SelectionSunday]

Gopher Opponent Schedule Part 5: Virginia Tech Hokies (Nov. 30)

Seth Greenberg's nonconference schedule should be plenty difficult enough in 2011-12 with tilts vs. Kansas State, BYU, the Gophers, Oklahoma State, St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island, as well as potential NIT Season Tip-Off games with George Mason, Syracuse and (again) Oklahoma State. Tech also gets Duke twice and North Carolina once during the ACC slate. If the Hokies fall just short of the NCAA tourney once again, it won't be because they didn't play anyone.

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES
Nov. 12: EAST TENNESSEE STATE (91)
Nov. 14: MONMOUTH (286) -- NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 15: GEORGE MASON (24) or FIU (286) -- NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 23: vs. TBD -- NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 25: vs. TBD -- NIT Season Tip-Off
Nov. 27: ST. BONAVENTURE (122)
Nov. 30: @ Minnesota (85)
Dec. 4: KANSAS STATE (23)
Dec. 7: @ Rhode Island (101)
Dec. 11: NORFOLK STATE (270)
Dec. 17: CAMPBELL (280)
Dec. 19: NORTH FLORIDA (148)
Dec. 22: EASTERN MICHIGAN (324)
Dec. 31: @ Oklahoma State (61)
Jan. 7: @ Wake Forest* (260)
Jan. 10: FLORIDA STATE* (55)
Jan. 14: @ Boston College* (58)
Jan. 19: NORTH CAROLINA* (6)
Jan. 22: @ Virginia* (141)
Jan. 25: BYU (5)
Jan. 28: @ Maryland* (98)
Feb. 2: DUKE* (4)
Feb. 4: CLEMSON* (57)
Feb. 9: @ Miami-Florida* (73)
Feb. 12: BOSTON COLLEGE* (58)
Feb. 16: @ Florida State* (55)
Feb. 18: GEORGIA TECH* (168)
Feb. 21: VIRGINIA* (141)
Feb. 25: @ Duke* (4)
March 1: @ Clemson* (57)
March 4: NC STATE* (125)
March 8-11: ACC Tournament

Average RPI of All Opponents: 112.714
Average RPI of Nonconference Opponents: 149.666

Top 100 Opponents (16): Duke (4), Duke (4), BYU (5), North Carolina (6), Kansas State (23), Florida State (55), Florida State (55), Clemson (57), Clemson (57), Boston College (58), Boston College (58), Oklahoma State (61), Miami-Florida (73), Minnesota (85), East Tennessee State (91), Maryland (98)

Games vs. NCAA Qualifiers (9): Duke (4), Duke (4), BYU (5), North Carolina (6), Kansas State (23), Florida State (55), Florida State (55), Clemson (57), Clemson (57)

Overall Strength of Schedule (SOS) Rankings for Gopher Opponents
1. USC (104.4)
2. Virginia Tech (112.714)
3. Appalachian State (180.538)
4. Bucknell (194.206)
5. Central Michigan (196.5)

Nonconference SOS for Gopher Opponents
1. Appalachian State (113.875)
2. USC (120.583)
3. Bucknell (144.933)
4. Virginia Tech (149.666)
5. Central Michigan (159.7)