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Post by wsutommygun on Apr 3, 2014 13:22:55 GMT -5
mrose, I can't speak for anyone else but,if I scheduled based on RPI it would be on a 3 or 5 year average. Things can change quickly based on how you do and how your opponents do. Like it or not, if I were the other team, I'd sell scheduling WSU as a team with back-to-back 20 win seasons and postseasons. They would be free to offer less money and we'd be free to say we have other options ( I still say I'd prefer all D-1 but,... ).
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Post by mrose on Apr 3, 2014 15:49:54 GMT -5
I agree with you, tommygun, about using a RPI avg. over a period of years. That helps to define the program and starts the weeding out process. I believe that's really important and I get deeper into that later in my comment. That said, I would also look at the year just passed (overall wins/losses and to whom, RPI, strength-of-schedule, and most importantly who is returning--things such as % of scoring, % of rebounding, % of assists, % of minutes, etc). Many things can happen (injuries, transfers, suspensions, coach leaving), but to the best of my ability I want to know what type of team I'm scheduling for the next 1 or 2 years and not just rely on their 3 or 5 year avg RPI.
As far as selling the opposing team to their fan base--that's not their job. Yes, when the schedule comes out there will be a blurb about how many 20+ win teams are on the schedule and how many programs played in postseason. If there's a major returning leading scorer (e.g., Doug McDermott) or rebounder or potential player of the year or McDonald's All-American they may be highlighted too. If ranked in the final ranking that might be included too...
As we all know, the NCAA postseason carries the most weight then the NIT and lastly the two lesser tournaments. When "selling" an opposing program--as to season ticket holders--teams that advance in the NCAA/NIT will receive some additional text highlighting their success. Teams that play in the CBI or CIT typically get the 3 letters of the tourney after their name in (parentheses) unless they advance to the final.
So, back to selling the WSU program--which is our job--not theirs and how the avg. RPI over a period of years can and should be used. Of course the best way, as mentioned above, to sell the program is to make the NCAA/NIT and then have success by winning a game. Though the basketball travelers post was done in January and the back-to-back postseasons weren't known yet I'm not sure why the program would not highlight the avg. RPI over the past several years (this was known, excluding this year's final RPI). Rather than highlighting the accomplishments and the sustained relative performance of the program over the past years the selling point is--WE LOSE 5 SENIORS! How is that selling the program? Now, it was an assistant that wrote the post, but I believe that's part of the culture that emanates from higher up. Does it come from BD? I don't know. Grant? I don't know. Is BD just aloof to the early stages of WSU schedule making? If so, does that explain this past year's schedule? They way I read it is, we're not going to be very good next year. Seriously, why else put we lose 5 seniors in an ad looking for games? If I'm an assistant at Missouri or some other BCS school looking for buy games from programs within the top 150-175 RPI I probably wouldn't pursue WSU thinking they're expecting a drop-off next year. The more I think about it, it sounds like it's trying to target terrible BCS programs like TCU, DePaul, Oregon State/Washington State, into buying a game with WSU hoping they believe it'll be a win to pad their record. If we're looking for games like that why not put a positive spin (sell) on it and post an ad stating we're searching for games with rebuilding BCS programs? To properly sell a product it helps if the seller believes in the product...
And that leads me to this: Is there a lack of confidence within the program about WSU's ability to compete? Is that why this past year's schedule was weak--a sense the program as it's made up can't compete night in and night out with RPI top 150 programs? Is there a sense within the program next year will be a step back? After all, we're losing 5 seniors, and we may need another weak schedule.
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Post by Big D on Apr 4, 2014 18:38:32 GMT -5
This topic is about next year's schedule. STOP hijacking threads to discuss the style of ball we play.
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Post by Dr J on Apr 5, 2014 10:58:14 GMT -5
I hope we can schedule teams with a reasonable RPI and close enough for more fan attendance. I would like to see one or two games with power conference teams even if we only go there for one year. A two for one would be a bonus contract. I want to see the time when we have close to 7,000+ attendance in the Nutt House. Will be wanting to see an improvement in our schedule. GO RAIDERS
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Post by wolf41 on Apr 5, 2014 14:37:35 GMT -5
I too am hopeful that we can improve our SOS this next season. I don't expect much, given all the new faces, but I too would like to see WSU have some more success before I ride off into the sunset. The players that we have recruited for next season appear to be very promising and it appears that we are giving more attention to getting some big men with talent and size. Donlon may not like the style of play, but he may also see that adding such players is a necessity in D-I basketball. So I would love to see WSU have an SOS that is in the top half of the country or near that. I like playing regional teams OOC because it makes a week end road trip a possibility. So best of luck to the men and women's team next season and the baseball and softball this season.
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Post by grossie on Apr 22, 2014 11:06:59 GMT -5
Uptempo, I think you're being optimistic that we would go 15-0. ;-)
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Post by BasketBallJones on Apr 22, 2014 13:19:06 GMT -5
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Post by wolf41 on Apr 22, 2014 15:47:26 GMT -5
I'm always optimistic at this time of year about next season's schedule. But this year I have serious doubts about our 14-15 SOS. With the loss of five seniors along with potentially losing a Griffin due to concussions, or a Hopkins, or Sledge I could see us taking the easiest schedule as a soft approach back to the future. In any case, I don't expect to hear anything about the schedule for a looong time. Given the above, I would hope that WSU would see the wisdom of announcing info as it becomes available, to hold the interests of our fans with tidbits scattered along the way. But that is akin to "PR" and WSU has never been known for that, at least in sports. So I expect the fans will be kept in the dark for as long as possible, until the schedule is made known, long after we have been asked to pony up $ for the unknown schedule. It seems WSU tries to mimic Mike Brown in its PR approach.
I would hate to give up our great seats, but this year my wife and I will seriously consider it. We may opt to just buy individual game tickets to see games of interest to us, like the HL teams and good mid-majors, if we have any at WSU. Movies, WSU Theatre, ballet, the Schuster Theatre, the Victory theatre, etc. are all viable options for our entertainment dollars. There are also trips to DC, Pitt., or Chicago to see our kids on weekends. This year we wasted many of our tickets in Nov./Dec. as we didn't care about the teams we were playing.
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Post by Dr J on Apr 22, 2014 17:55:13 GMT -5
I noticed on the site for games. We are looking to be bought for opening night and Cincinnati is offering a guarantee for then.
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Post by Big D on Apr 22, 2014 18:34:24 GMT -5
I noticed on the site for games. We are looking to be bought for opening night and Cincinnati is offering a guarantee for then. You are looking at one of our ads for last season.
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Post by keithfromxenia on Apr 22, 2014 20:09:42 GMT -5
Wolf, last year we were supposed to have a really good team and our schedule was just awful. Our sos was about 250 and I would guess our non con sos was 300+. This year we are projected to be not very good. Do you think we will put together a schedule as bad or worse than this past year?? If so, look for our attendance to take another hit.
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Post by uptempo on Apr 22, 2014 23:47:59 GMT -5
Uptempo, I think you're being optimistic that we would go 15-0. ;-) just trying to be my usual optimistic ray of raider sunshine…looking forward to next season.
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Post by wolf41 on Apr 23, 2014 6:26:17 GMT -5
KofX, That's what I'm afraid of. I have heard that we have "some" good teams on the schedule. If so, I applaude that. But I'm still leary about the balance of the schedule. I guess we'll find out in Sept. For now I'll focus on the Reds.
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Post by hhgreen on Apr 23, 2014 6:37:40 GMT -5
Face it if we lose 3 maybe 4 games we are not going to the NCAA Big Dance unless the RPI is high like top 60. We will need to win the conference tourney to make it unless we go through undefeated and have a couple marquee wins.
Need to play at least 2 or 3 top teams on their home court and win one and then schedule no less than top 150 teams after that. Be good to get a Xavier or Cinci for a 2 for 1 deal.
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Post by Dr J on Apr 23, 2014 7:55:14 GMT -5
The ad I was looking at didn't mention opening night but we were interested in being bought or a MTE with good guarantee" we may already have opening night scheduled.
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