Nonconference Sked Update

[SelectionSunday]

Nonconference Sked Update (TBD home game vs. ACC)

With Shooter's recent tidbit about Bucknell opening the Gophers' schedule, here's what we've been told about the Gophers' 2011-12 nonconference slate. Last year's RPI is noted in parentheses.

Home (likely 8)
1. Oakland (53) -- NCAA qualifier
2. Bucknell (79) -- NCAA qualifier
3. South Dakota State (183)
4. North Dakota State (238)
5. ACC opponent TBD -- projecting Boston College (58)
6. TBD
7. TBD
8. TBD

Road (likely 1)
1. @ TBD

Neutral (3 of these 7 @ Old Spice Classic)
Dayton (70) -- NIT qualifier
Indiana State (84) -- NCAA qualifier
Fairfield (97) -- NCAA qualifier
Arizona State (161)
Texas Tech (165) -- projecting Red Raiders as 1st-round opponent
DePaul (234)
Wake Forest (260)

 

[From the Barn]

This should get stickied at the top, since it'll likely be the number one topic of conversation for the next few months, and it might cut down on lots and lots of people asking about the schedule.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I would certainly be willing to update it as we hear reports from Sid, Shooter, out-of-town media outlets, opposing coaches, etc.

 

[Blizzard]

Damn. Wasn't the field for the Old Spice Classic fairly strong last year?

 

[SelectionSunday]

It's usually a strong field -- not Maui Invitational strong -- but strong. This easily appears to be the weakest Old Spice field in its 6-year existence.

 

[Monty519]

Yeah, we're gonna need another higher quality non-conference opponent based on that Old Spice Classic lol. Or else, we'll Virginia Tech ourselves out of the tourney if we're on the bubble at all.

 

[howeda7]

Has anyone heard anything about a potential matchup with UCLA at the Target Center as the first half of a "home-and-home", with the return game in Anaheim? I'm always skeptical when I hear something like this because Tubby has yet to schedule a Big 6 opponent in Minneapolis (excluding the required ACC Challenge) in his four years here.

Wasn't the hold-up on a similar series with Kansas the fact that the Gophers wanted to play at the Barn? I understand that is the preference, but if playing at Target Center is the sacrafice needed to get UCLA or Kansas, you do it. It's not like selling an extra 3,000 tickets is a bad thing either. And unlike Kansas, UCLA won't bring several thousand fans with them.

 

[howeda7]

Yeah, we're gonna need another higher quality non-conference opponent based on that Old Spice Classic lol. Or else, we'll Virginia Tech ourselves out of the tourney if we're on the bubble at all.

Maybe we can man up and schedule VCU and/or Richmond. We know VT won't.

 

[tjgopher]

Maybe we can man up and schedule VCU and/or Richmond. We know VT won't.

Actually, I've heard a home-and-home with VCU is a possibility at some point down the road.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I'd have no problem with a game at Target Center or the X. I enjoyed it when Clem scheduled games at Target Center and the Dome. It was something different, but more importantly it meant a quality opponent, or at minimum a name opponent (re: Cal, West Virginia, Villanova) the average fan would recognize.

 

[sidefx182]

Like it has been stated before, if the schedule doesn't get beefed up, people are not going to want to pay the new seat charges. I don't understand why we would be scared to play at the Target Center. I mean, they get huge crowds for the highschool tourny. I have a feeling the Target Center would sell out with a huge Gopher following. If we do get UCLA, we know one ticket would be sold to K-Love!

http://sportstearsinourbeers.blogspot.com/

http://mnsportssidefx.blogspot.com/

 

[Monty519]

That would be an interesting dynamic to play Love's alma mater at Target Center

 

[dpodoll68]

Actually, I've heard a home-and-home with VCU is a possibility at some point down the road.

I'd have no problem scheduling VCU. They return one starter off a mid-major 4th-place team. They'll be extremely lucky to even sniff the tournament next year.

I've been telling anyone who'll listen that Shaka Smart made a terrible career move by not going to a BCS school. Brad Stevens is smart for staying at Butler, because they've had a prolonged run of success, where graduating/departing players are replaced by quality players and the train keeps on rolling. Smart had a team full of some other guy's recruits who got hot for 3 weeks. In 3 years, Stevens will still be dancing consistently either at Butler or a blueblood-level school, while no one who's not a fan of a CAA team will remember Smart's name.

 

[SelectionSunday]

I agree dpodoll68. Not that Smart isn't a good coach, but those were pretty much Anthony Grant's VCU recruits. Doesn't mean that Smart won't be able to sustain building on the success Jeff Capel & Grant had at VCU, but I'm not sure turning down the likes of NC State (if he was offered, as reported) was a good idea. His number will never be hotter than it is right now.

 

[howeda7]

I'd have no problem scheduling VCU. They return one starter off a mid-major 4th-place team. They'll be extremely lucky to even sniff the tournament next year.

I've been telling anyone who'll listen that Shaka Smart made a terrible career move by not going to a BCS school. Brad Stevens is smart for staying at Butler, because they've had a prolonged run of success, where graduating/departing players are replaced by quality players and the train keeps on rolling. Smart had a team full of some other guy's recruits who got hot for 3 weeks. In 3 years, Stevens will still be dancing consistently either at Butler or a blueblood-level school, while no one who's not a fan of a CAA team will remember Smart's name.

I'm not sure accepting an 8-year contract at $1.2 million per year can be considered a 'terrible career move.' Especially when the most viable alternative was to accept ~4 years at only a slightly higher salary in a career death-trap at NC State.

Much like the hot NFL coordinator who goes to the Super Bowl, the run to the Final Four meant that most of the good jobs were filled by the time he was available. It's not as though he won't have other opportunities. Will Smart get VCU back to the Final Four or even Sweet 16 anytime soon? Probably not. But VCU is still a good mid-major job that has sent its last two coaches on to BCS jobs with far less success than Smart just had. Anthony Grant mostly won with Jeff Capel's players. So what? He can still coach and his Alabama paychecks still have more zeros then most people's.

 

[overpass]

I'm not sure UCLA is coming. There was an article about them playing their home games at LA Sport Arena and it said:

Home schedule highlights include Texas and Richmond on Dec. 2 and Dec. 23, respectively. Among the notable road games are the Maui Invitational Nov. 21-23 and at St. John's Feb. 18.

So if they are coming it's not notable.

 

[Holy Man]

I'm not sure UCLA is coming. There was an article about them playing their home games at LA Sport Arena and it said:



So if they are coming it's not notable.

We're not notable in LA. Not surprising. If the Bruins won't come, maybe we can get Wahsington. Crucial to get a decent NC home game or two, whether at the Barn or elsewhere.

 

[CrocShots]

I think a home and home with Marquette would be a good thing to start. It's relatively close, They're a Big East school, And regularly make the tournament. Not to mention there are a lot of Alums/students in/from the Milwaukee area.

 

[SelectionSunday]

To answer my own question about UCLA

UCLA recently released its entire 2011-12 schedule, and the Gophers are not on it.

 

[SelectionSunday]

Sked updated with TBD home opponent for ACC Challenge.

Knowing that we'll be at home, now would be a perfect time to think about renewing a home-and-home with Iowa State. We need a true road game in 2011-12, and the return game (presumably 2012-13) would come when we're on the road for the Challenge. Certainly would be a lot of interesting dynamics (read: Royce, Freddy) to start playing the Cyclones this season.

 

[TC-Monkey]

Wasn't the hold-up on a similar series with Kansas the fact that the Gophers wanted to play at the Barn? I understand that is the preference, but if playing at Target Center is the sacrafice needed to get UCLA or Kansas, you do it. It's not like selling an extra 3,000 tickets is a bad thing either. And unlike Kansas, UCLA won't bring several thousand fans with them.

I don't think we should be giving up the Barn, just to play teams like KU or UCLA. Or NC or Duke for that matter. The Barn is our home, and it's our advantage. We ain't getting that at Target Center.

If the big boys want to play us, they can schedule home-and-away at the Barn, a neutral site out of town, or they can walk. My opinion.

 

[howeda7]

I don't think we should be giving up the Barn, just to play teams like KU or UCLA. Or NC or Duke for that matter. The Barn is our home, and it's our advantage. We ain't getting that at Target Center.

If the big boys want to play us, they can schedule home-and-away at the Barn, a neutral site out of town, or they can walk. My opinion.

So you'd rather play St. Joseph's at the Barn then UCLA or Kansas at the Target Center? Why? Having 18,000 fans filling the joint rooting for you isn't a home court advantage? That's silly. Of course it is, and the U is selling an extra 4,000 tickets. They're not asking us to play in Milwaukee or Des Moines.

 

[dpodoll68]

So you'd rather play St. Joseph's at the Barn then UCLA or Kansas at the Target Center? Why? Having 18,000 fans filling the joint rooting for you isn't a home court advantage? That's silly. Of course it is, and the U is selling an extra 4,000 tickets. They're not asking us to play in Milwaukee or Des Moines.

We could sell 15,000 more tickets per game by playing in the Metrodome than at TCF.

 

[howeda7]

We could sell 15,000 more tickets per game by playing in the Metrodome than at TCF.

If that's what it took to get Florida or Alabama to play us, that would be fine with me. We got USC without doing that, but I don't see why playing one game a couple miles off-campus is some deal-breaker.

 

[TC-Monkey]

So you'd rather play St. Joseph's at the Barn then UCLA or Kansas at the Target Center? Why? Having 18,000 fans filling the joint rooting for you isn't a home court advantage? That's silly. Of course it is, and the U is selling an extra 4,000 tickets. They're not asking us to play in Milwaukee or Des Moines.

Yes, i'd rather play St. Joesph at the barn than KU at Target Center. And I'm not certain we'd have 18,000 fans rooting for us at Target Center. It wouldn't be a season-ticket holder game, so students and dedicated long-term ticket holders would have to buy an extra ticket. Would they, esp. the students who mostly have limited budgets anyway? I guess i'd be happy if 1/2 of season ticket holders bought tickets, i'd guess maybe you sell 6500 to that crew. That leaves 12,500 tickets to sell to the non-season ticket holders. You might sell 3/4 of those, but i doubt they create the environment that you get at the Barn. You might think it would be like a game at the Barn, but i have my doubts. My guess is that you sell 14,000 tickets to the game. And at least 2000 of those go to KU alumni/supporters in the area. I don't think that's silly, i think that's realistic.

 

[howeda7]

Yes, i'd rather play St. Joesph at the barn than KU at Target Center. And I'm not certain we'd have 18,000 fans rooting for us at Target Center. It wouldn't be a season-ticket holder game, so students and dedicated long-term ticket holders would have to buy an extra ticket. Would they, esp. the students who mostly have limited budgets anyway? I guess i'd be happy if 1/2 of season ticket holders bought tickets, i'd guess maybe you sell 6500 to that crew. That leaves 12,500 tickets to sell to the non-season ticket holders. You might sell 3/4 of those, but i doubt they create the environment that you get at the Barn. You might think it would be like a game at the Barn, but i have my doubts. My guess is that you sell 14,000 tickets to the game. And at least 2000 of those go to KU alumni/supporters in the area. I don't think that's silly, i think that's realistic.

Why is it automatic that they couldn't include it in the season-ticket? There's no reason it couldn't be done that way. And in both the Kansas and UCLA rumors, the return game was also off-campus. It's not as though they were demanding we come to Allen or Pauley Pavillion without returning the favor. Would Kansas have a couple thousand fans there? Yes. But they will at the Barn too. UCLA would have very few in either case.

We haven't had a non-conference home game the likes of UCLA or Kansas in decades. If this is what it takes to get it, fine. I hope those of you who would rather play St. Josephs at the Barn aren't complaining about the home schedule when that's the best home game once again.

 

[TC-Monkey]

Why is it automatic that they couldn't include it in the season-ticket? There's no reason it couldn't be done that way. And in both the Kansas and UCLA rumors, the return game was also off-campus. It's not as though they were demanding we come to Allen or Pauley Pavillion without returning the favor. Would Kansas have a couple thousand fans there? Yes. But they will at the Barn too. UCLA would have very few in either case.

I hear what you're saying, but it won't happen that way.

To make this successful, you want alcohol sales, that won't happen if its part of the season package. You gotta charge more for the game, that will p*** off the season ticket holders (last thing we need now anyway). You'd also make the season package more expensive, which would drive down the sales of season tickets to the Barn. Finally, you've got the headache of mapping a season ticket holder premium seat to its corresponding premium position in the new venue.

There's simply no way its part of the season ticket package. Season ticket holders would get first rights to buy tickets though.

 

[dpodoll68]

If that's what it took to get Florida or Alabama to play us, that would be fine with me. We got USC without doing that, but I don't see why playing one game a couple miles off-campus is some deal-breaker.

Moving games to neutral sites is nothing more than an admission that you are a second-class program. It doesn't matter if it's 2 miles or 2,000 miles off campus. It is no longer a home game. If it is a series that is frequently/always played at a neutral site, like Georgia/Florida, Mizzou/Illinois, etc., that is one thing, but a random series that is meaningless to the fan base of either team should not be played anywhere other than our home field/floor. Do you think Indiana fans were happy with playing a "home" game at FedEx Field? If you want to hold up Indiana football as a model to exemplify, be my guest, but I'd rather at least present the illusion that my program is first-class.

 

[TC-Monkey]

Why is it automatic that they couldn't include it in the season-ticket? There's no reason it couldn't be done that way. And in both the Kansas and UCLA rumors, the return game was also off-campus. It's not as though they were demanding we come to Allen or Pauley Pavillion without returning the favor. Would Kansas have a couple thousand fans there? Yes. But they will at the Barn too. UCLA would have very few in either case.

We haven't had a non-conference home game the likes of UCLA or Kansas in decades. If this is what it takes to get it, fine. I hope those of you who would rather play St. Josephs at the Barn aren't complaining about the home schedule when that's the best home game once again.

I'd be more comfortable with the arrangement if we got a return visit to a neutral site, say Sprint Center in Kansas City for KU. I still don't think it's a great deal when it's all said and done, though. It's the season ticket holders that get jobbed. But if it gets us a new practice facility...

 

[TC-Monkey]

Moving games to neutral sites is nothing more than an admission that you are a second-class program. It doesn't matter if it's 2 miles or 2,000 miles off campus.

Agree totally. That's why i'd rather we got neutral game site in return.