Potential Nonconference Home-and-Home

[SelectionSunday]

According to the Basketball Travelers Inc. (scheduling) web site, it's pretty slim pickings if the Gophers are still looking for a BCS home-and-home series beginning with the 2012-13 season. Among Power 6 schools, Arizona State, Mississippi State and Texas Tech are the only ones advertising for a home-and-home series beginning on the road (the Gophers need the 1st game to be in Minneapolis).

Of more interest to me would be 3 other schools from quality conferences looking for a home-and-home starting on the road: LaSalle (A-10), New Mexico (Mountain West) and Saint Louis (A-10). We shouldn't be above scheduling a straight-up home-and-home with any of those 3.

I've always thought a home-and-home with New Mexico would make sense for a program like Minnesota; the programs have similar histories. New Mexico has pretty much always been a good program. There would be no shame in losing to the Lobos (if that's what people are worried about), and the return trip would offer the opportunity for Gopher fans to visit another classic venue (The Pit). Ditto if we accepted a home-and-home with LaSalle. ... LaSalle indicates the return game would be played at the Palestra, not at its regular home arena (Tom Gola Arena).

All 3 are expected to be quality teams in 2012-13.

 

[Holy Man]

La Salle

I'll take La Salle any time. Their program is on the rise, they are located in a city with large talent base that would be excellent to establish some recruiting visibility, and if they could pull it off in the Palestra, I would be there in a heartbeat. Helps to have relatives in Philly who would put me up for the night as well. For the rap the Philly pro sports fans get, my experience of their college fans has been great. Knowledgeable, welcoming, and decidedly not obnoxious. Get to work, Joe.

 

[From the Barn]

There are other ways to schedule games.

 

[SelectionSunday]

True.

Merely pointing out that some possibilites for a decent home-and-home do exist out there, if we're truly interested. Am curious to see who we come up with in 2012-13.

 

[howieramone]

I'll take La Salle any time. Their program is on the rise, they are located in a city with large talent base that would be excellent to establish some recruiting visibility, and if they could pull it off in the Palestra, I would be there in a heartbeat. Helps to have relatives in Philly who would put me up for the night as well. For the rap the Philly pro sports fans get, my experience of their college fans has been great. Knowledgeable, welcoming, and decidedly not obnoxious. Get to work, Joe.

Any of the Big Five would be fine with me. LaSalle would be great!

 

[sal]

A road trip to Philly...

and seeing the Gophs at the Pelestra has always been near the top of my list for a road game. Albuquerque and The Pit would be road trip worthy as well, maybe get some chicken at Los Pollos Hermanos. Santa Fe is close by and it's also worth some time. I'm in.