Gophers' Big 10 "1-game" opponents?

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SelectionSunday

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Johnny, TJ, Anonymous, you guys are always in tune with what's going on with regards to the Gophers. Have any of you heard which two Big 10 opponents the Gophers will play only once this season? I know the Big 10 will announce it in the coming month(s), but I thought maybe one of you has heard something. The only thing we know for sure is that we'll play Iowa & Purdue twice, as we only played them once each of the last two seasons. I sure hope we get the big boys like MSU twice, as I want to see both favorites (also Purdue) at The Barn.
 


Maybe Wisconsin and Illinois. Heard it at least third-hand, though, so no guarantees on that.
 

If my understanding is correct, it's a 2-year cycle so the 1-game opponent would be for this year and next. If we're indeed losing 1 game a year for the next 2 years against Illinois and Wisconsin, I'm a bit disappointed.

I'm someone that would rather play the top teams twice in the BT than not (have the opposite opinion in FB where winning one more game in the BT regular season regardless of opponent can really improve the team's overall position for bowls and national perception. Only teams aiming for a National Championship given the BCS formula including SOS should one care). I want this Gopher BB team to be tested and tested often as we now have aspirations for March. SOS does matter. I'd rather play NW once than Illinois. I'm especially disappointed if Wisconsin is one of the 1-game teams. While Wisconsin is on a slight downward trend, they still won't hurt the SOS/RPI because while he may resemble his team's mascot more than any other coach in college BB, he has a system in place that will always make them respectable on the court. I can't imagine a Bo Ryan team not However, not getting a chance to beat Wisconsin twice a year for the next 2 years where our squad looks pretty darn good is disappointing. There's a talent drain happening in Madison and after getting the short end of the stick for the past 9 years in the rivarly, now's the chance to make things right.
 

Pewterschmidt said:
If my understanding is correct, it's a 2-year cycle so the 1-game opponent would be for this year and next. If we're indeed losing 1 game a year for the next 2 years against Illinois and Wisconsin, I'm a bit disappointed.

I'm someone that would rather play the top teams twice in the BT than not (have the opposite opinion in FB where winning one more game in the BT regular season regardless of opponent can really improve the team's overall position for bowls and national perception. Only teams aiming for a National Championship given the BCS formula including SOS should one care). I want this Gopher BB team to be tested and tested often as we now have aspirations for March. SOS does matter. I'd rather play NW once than Illinois. I'm especially disappointed if Wisconsin is one of the 1-game teams. While Wisconsin is on a slight downward trend, they still won't hurt the SOS/RPI because while he may resemble his team's mascot more than any other coach in college BB, he has a system in place that will always make them respectable on the court. I can't imagine a Bo Ryan team not However, not getting a chance to beat Wisconsin twice a year for the next 2 years where our squad looks pretty darn good is disappointing. There's a talent drain happening in Madison and after getting the short end of the stick for the past 9 years in the rivarly, now's the chance to make things right.
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I tend to agree. There's no reason they can't say you play your football rivals twice every year (Bucky and Iowa) and everyone else rotates off in 2 year cycles.
 


In hoops, the Big Ten has never protected any opponents so that they are always double plays. There have been years when Indiana and Purdue have only played once and the same with Michigan and Michigan State.

Does it make sense? Probably not. But it's the reality.
 

Ohio State at Michigan State
Northwestern at Ohio State
Illinois at Michigan
Minnesota at Illinois
Indiana at Penn State
Michigan State at Indiana
Iowa at Wisconsin
Penn State at Iowa
Michigan at Purdue
Purdue at Northwestern
Wisconsin at Minnesota
 

Simple solution: adopt a round robin conference schedule that will produce a true Big Ten champ.

I know the coaches will complain about it but it just makes too much sense not to happen.
 

This scheduling almost undoubtedly put Wisco in the tourney this past year. They didn't have to host Michy St. or play at Ohio St, two games they probably would have lost. As a 12 seed in the tournament, one more loss and you're probably out. Plus, their 10-8 Big Ten record got them the #4 seed in the B10 tourney, while our 9-9 record put us in the #8-#9 game. If we did play a round-robin, things may have turned out much differently.
 



There are aprox 6 strategic games involved in the one game schedule.
WI at the barn is good for us.
Having to go to IL, not so hot.

WI might be on the down cycle but I would rather not have to go to the spit bin to play them there, and IL, don't exactly know what they'll end up with this year. I would call it a 50/50.
 

This has never made since to me. Just add 2 more games to each teams schedule! I think the conference probably feels like those would be 2 potential losses on some team's schedules thus lessening their chances at the NCAA's or NIT's which isn't good for the conference overall but I'd still like it. However the previous example of Wisky is the perfect example of why they won't do it. However it can be flipped since we would've beat Iowa at home last year (I can't remember who else we played only once, maybe NW?) and if we'd have had 2 extra wins we probably would've been a higher NCAA seed and 2 extra wins would've put PSU in the dance
 

oleboy41 said:
This has never made since to me. Just add 2 more games to each teams schedule! I think the conference probably feels like those would be 2 potential losses on some team's schedules thus lessening their chances at the NCAA's or NIT's which isn't good for the conference overall but I'd still like it. However the previous example of Wisky is the perfect example of why they won't do it. However it can be flipped since we would've beat Iowa at home last year (I can't remember who else we played only once, maybe NW?) and if we'd have had 2 extra wins we probably would've been a higher NCAA seed and 2 extra wins would've put PSU in the dance
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We only played Purdue once, and it was at home, so that additional game would have most likely been a loss. Still, a loss at Purdue probably wouldn't have hurt our tournament resume very much.
 

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