22-23 Schedule

[ISU86]

I'll give a pass for year 1 for sure. I just hope Pedon's scheduling philosophy doesn't mirror Jancovich. I can't think of a Jancovich non conference schedule that was weaker than this one. Definite pass on year 1.

I do know a lot of coaches understand the record is what matters on a resume so to be able to mention a turnaround from X wins to Y wins in a year sounds impressive. The quality of those wins is never mentioned in these articles.
Outside of the Cayman Islands tournament, Ball State is the only game I care about other than practice time for the kids.

I fully support coach Pedon, just saying these opponents don't excite me at all.

Pedon making Jankovich's World Vision Invitational, Basketball Travelers Classic, Global Sports Roundball Classic, etc. look daunting ... at least we hosted those.

Also wonder if W IL is a h/h?

 

[DaveBird10]

Updated with what we know so far. I'd imagine they add a game the week of Xmas or new years.
10/29: Wooster
11/7: Western Illinois
11/10: at EIU
11/12: at Northwestern State
11/17: Northwestern State
11/21: vs LSU (Cayman Islands)
11/22: vs TBD (Cayman Islands)
11/23: vs TBD (Cayman Islands)
11/29-12/4 (two MVC games, one home, one away)
12/7: vs EMU
12/10 - SIUE
12/17: vs Ball State (at Indianapolis)
12/19- Chicago State

With the 20 conference games I believe 1 or both of those games will be during that week between Xmas and new years like the Missouri State game last year.

 

[Adunk33]

With the 20 conference games I believe 1 or both of those games will be during that week between Xmas and new years like the Missouri State game last year.

Correct. This is the schedule. Underwhelming but as others have said, I'm giving a year 1 pass.

As far as Eastern and Western Illinois being on there, Pedon mentioned something on a podcast a few weeks ago that ties this together, and apologies for not having the link readily available. One of the hosts mentioned the "rivalry" between ISU and Illannoy and asked if Pedon had learned about it and if it would be a priority to get them on the schedule. He said that he wasn't sure on any rivalry with them but said he would root for them and all Illinois schools when they aren't playing the Birds because it makes the state look better. It goes to show he sees value in having a presence in the state. If I had to guess, EIU/WIU are both H/H. I'd be surprised if NIU isn't on the schedule next year.

It feels like the same people bashing the schedule, would be the same people who would be bashing the team after losses to higher level teams. The returning guys have no confidence. They need some games that they can compete and that are winnable. I think the early schedule is built to get them ready to compete in the MTE. Hopefully, they can learn how to win together early and be competitive against a solid field in Cayman.

They'll hit the ground running! The season starts with 3 games in 6 days.

 

[TIMMY]

The schedule gets a pass for this year.
I think you get more out of playing well against a good team than beating up a bad team but that's just me.

 

[DWRedbird]

The schedule gets a pass for this year.
I think you get more out of playing well against a good team than beating up a bad team but that's just me.

I agree with this overall, though I would say you need a mix of confidence building games to help get you ready for the tougher games.

I'll give the schedule pass this year, though I have to imagine it won't help us bring fans back, but if it is like this next year I'm not going to be super enthused.

 

[redbirds2000]

There is no doubt the Hulman Center is a nicer/better arena, but I said better atmosphere. EIU holds 5,400. The atmosphere of ISU @ EIU would be fun to attend. That place would be sold out and rocking. ISU @ Indy State on a Sunday afternoon with 2,800 people?? Wake me up for the last minute. Some of the smaller gyms/arenas create the best atmospheres. Redbird Arena is a great venue. The atmosphere is awful. It hasn't been rocking since Wichita or the UCF game.

Now we find out.

 

[redbirds2000]

I agree with this overall, though I would say you need a mix of confidence building games to help get you ready for the tougher games.

I'll give the schedule pass this year, though I have to imagine it won't help us bring fans back, but if it is like this next year I'm not going to be super enthused.

I'm curious. What is the ideal schedule and why? Who should we be doing H/H with (actual schools named)? Which holiday tourney should we be in? Who should we be getting bought by?

 

[redbirds2000]

I'm curious. What is the ideal schedule and why? Who should we be doing H/H with (actual schools named)? Which holiday tourney should we be in? Who should we be getting bought by?

Just for fun, let's look at the 16-17 schedule and take out these road losses @ Murray ("bad loss" under .500 team), @TCU (Didn't hurt us, good team. Eventually won NIT), and @Tulsa ("bad loss" under .500 team). Replace them with EIU, WIU, and NIU and win all three. This would obviously nose dive the SOS and RPI, but those original games didn't help in the end either. The rest of the season plays out the same. They would enter that second Wichita game at (22-1). Might even be ranked at that point? At least getting some national attention. Then, they enter Selection Sunday with a record of (30-3), two losses to a top 20 team and a "kind of bad loss" to San Francisco (20 win team). 30 wins would definitely change the tune of the selection committee. We gained nothing from those 3 road losses, but if those are wins against EIU, WIU, and NIU, does the committee look at us differently? Not because of "strength of schedule", not because of "quality wins", not because of "RPI", but because of 30 wins. I am not sure they have left very many 30 win teams out of the tournament who were "co-champs" with a top 20 team. We were in the First Four Out at (27-6) with 2 "bad losses" and 1 "kind of bad loss". Does (30-3) with 1 "kind of bad loss" jump us over Kansas State, Providence, or Wake Forest?

 

[DWRedbird]

I'm curious. What is the ideal schedule and why? Who should we be doing H/H with (actual schools named)? Which holiday tourney should we be in? Who should we be getting bought by?

I would schedule a couple of easier games to start the year, maybe keep Eastern, Western and throw in someone like Central Michigan. The tourney we are in is fine, then I'd go with some mid tier big 5 teams, maybe land a pair of buy games with say Miami of the ACC and Minnesota of the B10, and then with any games left (as I don't feel like counting) see if you can snag h/h with teams from the A10, Big East, or MWC, say St. Louis, Wichita, and New Mexico. Something of that nature would provide a good schedule, something to get fans excited and give us bullets foe the end of the years assuming we win most of them.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't take two to tango, and getting the other teams to agree is key, but the schedule this year is too weak.

 

[Redbird222]

I would schedule a couple of easier games to start the year, maybe keep Eastern, Western and throw in someone like Central Michigan. The tourney we are in is fine, then I'd go with some mid tier big 5 teams, maybe land a pair of buy games with say Miami of the ACC and Minnesota of the B10, and then with any games left (as I don't feel like counting) see if you can snag h/h with teams from the A10, Big East, or MWC, say St. Louis, Wichita, and New Mexico. Something of that nature would provide a good schedule, something to get fans excited and give us bullets foe the end of the years assuming we win most of them.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't take two to tango, and getting the other teams to agree is key, but the schedule this year is too weak.

Tulsa was the game that probably Hurst the most. TCU was decent. MuSt was rhe opening game and T Wills wasn't even expected to play because of a sports hernia. Some strange calls at the end if the Tulsa game but Dan getting the technical sealed the deal.

 

[jbird]

Maybe I'm just too idealistic, but I've always wondered why Redbird "fans" come to a game...........or not...........based on what team will be on the other bench.

I can understand how some casual locals or area folk would be more willing to come to a game when there was an intriguing opponent, but Redbird fans should be there to see the Redbirds regardless of whether the opponent is Missouri or Missouri-St.Louis.

 

[SgtHulka]

Tulsa was the game that probably Hurst the most. TCU was decent. MuSt was rhe opening game and T Wills wasn't even expected to play because of a sports hernia. Some strange calls at the end if the Tulsa game but Dan getting the technical sealed the deal.

 

[redbirds2000]

I would schedule a couple of easier games to start the year, maybe keep Eastern, Western and throw in someone like Central Michigan. The tourney we are in is fine, then I'd go with some mid tier big 5 teams, maybe land a pair of buy games with say Miami of the ACC and Minnesota of the B10, and then with any games left (as I don't feel like counting) see if you can snag h/h with teams from the A10, Big East, or MWC, say St. Louis, Wichita, and New Mexico. Something of that nature would provide a good schedule, something to get fans excited and give us bullets foe the end of the years assuming we win most of them.

Now I'm not saying it doesn't take two to tango, and getting the other teams to agree is key, but the schedule this year is too weak.

No way we are in a position to expect a H/H from St. Louis, Wichita (They will buy us before a H/H happens), A10 (Maybe bottom tier teams), Big East, MWC (Maybe bottom tier teams). Too weak for what? If you get to Sunday in St. Louis, it does not matter who you played in November or December. Do you think Pedon is in the huddle saying, "Let's go guys! Remember that time we tried really hard at New Mexico and almost won! Now let's go get that automatic bid!" We are at a point where we need Ws. Confidence needs to be built. Interest needs to be stirred. This program is dormant. Bullets for the end of the year? We are so far from an at-large bid it isn't even funny. We have plenty of opportunities to get ready for Arch Madness in conference play. Get hot in St. Louis, get a good draw in the NCAA, and get lucky. With the way these conferences are shifting, we may be in a much tougher conference than the past few years with a lot less opportunity for an at-large bid to be handed out. Winning Arch Madness is probably our only way in for years to come. If you are expecting the schedule below, you are going to be very disappointed every year. Even the best programs (Drake, Bradley, UNI, Murray, Belmont) in the conference are not pulling schedules like that. Wichita was starting to get a schedule similar to this when they left the conference. I would say Loyola pulled a non-conference schedule almost identical to this last year. But that took a Final 4 and a Sweet 16 appearance to make that happen.
EIU
WIU
Central Michigan
Miami
Minnesota
Wichita
St. Louis
New Mexico
LSU (Cayman)
Akron (Cayman)
Tulane (Cayman)

 

[DWRedbird]

No way we are in a position to expect a H/H from St. Louis, Wichita (They will buy us before a H/H happens), A10 (Maybe bottom tier teams), Big East, MWC (Maybe bottom tier teams). Too weak for what? If you get to Sunday in St. Louis, it does not matter who you played in November or December. Do you think Pedon is in the huddle saying, "Let's go guys! Remember that time we tried really hard at New Mexico and almost won! Now let's go get that automatic bid!" We are at a point where we need Ws. Confidence needs to be built. Interest needs to be stirred. This program is dormant. Bullets for the end of the year? We are so far from an at-large bid it isn't even funny. We have plenty of opportunities to get ready for Arch Madness in conference play. Get hot in St. Louis, get a good draw in the NCAA, and get lucky. With the way these conferences are shifting, we may be in a much tougher conference than the past few years with a lot less opportunity for an at-large bid to be handed out. Winning Arch Madness is probably our only way in for years to come. If you are expecting the schedule below, you are going to be very disappointed every year. Even the best programs (Drake, Bradley, UNI, Murray, Belmont) in the conference are not pulling schedules like that. Wichita was starting to get a schedule similar to this when they left the conference. I would say Loyola pulled a non-conference schedule almost identical to this last year. But that took a Final 4 and a Sweet 16 appearance to make that happen.
EIU
WIU
Central Michigan
Miami
Minnesota
Wichita
St. Louis
New Mexico
LSU (Cayman)
Akron (Cayman)
Tulane (Cayman)

I'm not saying we'd get that without making the tournament, but you asked for the idea schedule and I provided it. Cupcake schedules are great for padding coaches wins, but they don't prepare you for conference play and they sure as shit get you nothing when the year is over. I'm giving this year a pass, especially because I've long held that scheduling takes two and as a mid major there is very little reason to put us on the schedule, especially with how we've been the past few years. But I'd like to see a better schedule next year overall.

Maybe I'm just too idealistic, but I've always wondered why Redbird "fans" come to a game...........or not...........based on what team will be on the other bench.

I can understand how some casual locals or area folk would be more willing to come to a game when there was an intriguing opponent, but Redbird fans should be there to see the Redbirds regardless of whether the opponent is Missouri or Missouri-St.Louis.

The second part is what you have to pull in if you want Redbird arena full. Casual fans can turn into diehard fans if you give them good games and winning teams.

 

[Bird Friend]

Just for fun, let's look at the 16-17 schedule and take out these road losses @ Murray ("bad loss" under .500 team), @TCU (Didn't hurt us, good team. Eventually won NIT), and @Tulsa ("bad loss" under .500 team). Replace them with EIU, WIU, and NIU and win all three. This would obviously nose dive the SOS and RPI, but those original games didn't help in the end either. The rest of the season plays out the same. They would enter that second Wichita game at (22-1). Might even be ranked at that point? At least getting some national attention. Then, they enter Selection Sunday with a record of (30-3), two losses to a top 20 team and a "kind of bad loss" to San Francisco (20 win team). 30 wins would definitely change the tune of the selection committee. We gained nothing from those 3 road losses, but if those are wins against EIU, WIU, and NIU, does the committee look at us differently? Not because of "strength of schedule", not because of "quality wins", not because of "RPI", but because of 30 wins. I am not sure they have left very many 30 win teams out of the tournament who were "co-champs" with a top 20 team. We were in the First Four Out at (27-6) with 2 "bad losses" and 1 "kind of bad loss". Does (30-3) with 1 "kind of bad loss" jump us over Kansas State, Providence, or Wake Forest?

Yes. But it probably doesn't change the outcome.

 

[Phantom]

Alright, we got WIU coming here for a game...Brennan & Pedon can start schmoozing Nick Irvin

 

[Manchester Matt]

Alright, we got WIU coming here for a game...Brennan & Pedon can start schmoozing Nick Irvin

Irvin is at Arizona State now.

 

[Phantom]

Irvin is at Arizona State now.

Well s**t. Totally missed that.

 

[crazzymark]

One word....weak

 

[crazzymark]

Why not have 15 non-league wins against lower division wins before you go and get annihilated by Valparaiso LOL