Will Richard Pitino put together a non-conference home schedule that Gopher fans will clap about?
The month of July is about as slow as it gets for college basketball fans, but one thing we do learn is the nonconference schedules for most of the nation’s 351 Division I programs. By the end of the month, those of us in Big Ten Country should know the full non-league slate of our favorite team, as well as those of our conference brethren.
For some reason, probably because I hold Gopher season tickets, I’ve always been fascinated how schools/coaches handle their nonconference schedules, most specifically their home schedules. I enjoy gauging which schools make an honest effort to give their season-ticket holders a fair shake for their hard-earned money, and which ones year-in and year-out, quite frankly, seem unbothered providing their loyal ticket-buyers nothing but a steady stream of soft pastry (read: cupcakes).
Generally speaking, referring to the major conferences, if a coach schedules two or maybe three home games vs. some combination of: (1) major-conference opponents (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC); (2) recent “notable” powers from non-Big 6 conferences (i.e., the likes of Gonzaga, Memphis, Temple, UNLV, Xavier); and/or (3) opponents expected to finish in the neighborhood of the RPI top-50 (a crapshoot, I know), I think they’ve done their job. There’s an attempt being made by the school to give its season-ticket holders a few decent games before the conference fun starts in January.
However, if there’s anything less than that? Mom always said if you don’t have anything good to say. …
To that end, did a little research dating back to the 2007-08 season. I figured the start of the Tubby Smith era in Minnesota was a good starting point. For comparison’s sake, here’s a look at the number of RPI top-50 HOME opponents each Big Ten school has played since that time. Because matchups for conference challenges like the ACC/Big Ten and Big 12/Pac 10 are determined by the conferences, I have excluded those games.
The numbers, in particular, are not kind to the Gophers, Penn State, and Purdue. Combining the last six seasons, each has played only one RPI top-50 opponent on its home court. Penn State I’ll excuse, but Purdue and the Gophers, not so much.
RPI Top-50 Home Opponents since 2007-08 Season (conference challenges excluded)
MICHIGAN (5): #1 Duke (2008-09), #1 Kansas (2010-11), #4 UCLA (2007-08), #33 Iowa State (2011-12), #35 Harvard (2010-11)
WISCONSIN (5): #9 Marquette (2011-12), #18 UNLV (2011-12), #20 Marquette (2007-08), #41 Texas (2008-09), #50 Marquette (2009-10)
OHIO STATE (4): #5 Kansas (2012-13), #21 West Virginia (2008-09), #24 Butler (2008-09), #30 Florida (2011-12)
NORTHWESTERN (4): #8 Baylor (2011-12), #12 Butler (2009-10), #14 Stanford (2007-08), #23 Butler (2012-13)
MICHIGAN STATE (4): #11 Kansas (2008-09), #11 Texas (2010-11), #36 Gonzaga (2009-10), #41 Boise State (2012-13)
INDIANA (3): #2 Kentucky (2009-10), #2 Kentucky (2011-12), #18 Connecticut (2007-08)
NEBRASKA (3): #25 Creighton (2012-13), #40 Creighton (2008-09), #43 South Dakota State (2011-12)
IOWA (2): #10 Drake (2007-08), #45 Iowa State (2012-13)
ILLINOIS (2) — #25 Gonzaga (2011-12), #26 Vanderbilt (2009-10)
PURDUE (1): #4 West Virginia (2009-10)
PENN STATE (1): #30 Temple (2008-09)
MINNESOTA (1): #43 South Dakota State (2011-12)
NOTE
Though played in a school’s home state, and vs. an opponent from out of state, the following were not counted as home games, though most certainly had a “home flavor” to ’em:
2007-08: Michigan State vs. Texas (6) — Auburn Hills; Purdue vs. Louisville (13) — Indianapolis; Illinois vs. Arizona (37) — Chicago
2008-09: Indiana vs. Gonzaga (26) — Indianapolis
2009-10: Illinois vs. Gonzaga (36) — Chicago
2011-12: Illinois vs. UNLV (18) — Chicago; Iowa vs. Creighton (24) — Des Moines
NEXT MONTH
After all Big Ten nonconference schedules have been released, we’ll take a look at the number of “Power 7” home opponents (excluding conference challenges) each Big Ten school has scheduled since 2007-08. That list also won’t be kind to Minnesota.
With the advent of the new American Athletic Conference (the “American”) and some major changes to the Big East, starting with the 2013-14 season, begrudgingly we’ll add 8 schools to the “Power 7” list: Butler (Big East); Central Florida (American); Creighton (Big East); Houston (American); Memphis (American); SMU (American); Temple (American); and Xavier (Big East). These schools now are being included with the aforementioned ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, and SEC — certainly a reach for several of ’em (Central Florida, Houston, SMU) to be considered in that company, I know — but work with me.
Will Young Mr. Pitino schedule opponents from any of these conferences, or others that may have a fighting chance to end up in the season-ending RPI top 50? We’ll find out soon.