schedule for next year?

[PantherHawk]

Anyone got any info on it? I would hope the AD is trying to get UNI some decent games!

I would like us to play some bigger schools! I know we get Iowa, ISU, Wyoming, Sienna. I would hope we can get against another Big 10 school. What about a deal with like Northwestern or Minny? Would either of those two schools work?

anyone got any info i would appreciate it!

[ceaser150]

Re: schedule for next year?

We are in the Paradise Jam tournament with some really good teams. We may get another shot at Purdue. Check out this thread:

http://www.panthernation.com/showthread.php?t=21666

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: schedule for next year?

Silent Earl, that was a good post, why keep deleting your good stuff?

As for the schedule, it looks like this:

Home: Iowa, Siena, Wyoming, Bracket Busters
Away: Iowa State, Denver
Neutral: Paradise Jam (Tennessee, Purdue, Boston College, DePaul, St. Joes, South Dakota St., East Carolina)

Schedule has 13 home games, 11 road games, and 3 neutral games so far.

That leaves 3 more games to be added.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: schedule for next year?

With UNI returning all fives starters from a NCAA Tournament team, no BCS schools will give UNI a chance. As someone familiar with scheduling practices, it's not going to be possible, unless someone is scheduling without doing research on UNI. I'm not sure that Jake will really want to push this team too much either (beyond the current schedule). All the games currently listed (minus Denver) have the chance to have top 100 RPI's. This isn't an Illinois State schedule where there are alot of teams brought in as cupcakes, this is a schedule that has potentially 5 BCS games, a Mountain West, a Siena team with most everyone back, and a Bracket Busters opponent that could be a marquee game. If this were March Madness 2010, then we could get some other BCS programs added, but with almost half your non-con being possibly BCS schools, why kill your chances at at-large bids by going on the road to Minnesota or Wisconsin (or whomever) when you can build your win total and play games in front of your fans to compliment your already tough non-con schedule?

With 35 of 50 MVC starters back, the conference is going to be very tough. Our RPI and SOS is not going to be an issue next year.

My ideal scheduling for the last three games would be:
H: Northern Illinois (start of a home/home)
H: North Dakota
A: South Dakota State (start of 2-for-1, with two games in CF the following two years)

[DWadle1983]

Re: schedule for next year?

Who would UNI fans like to see targeted in those 3 games?

I think they will want one more home game for sure. So, who can we get to come to Cedar Falls and where are we willing to travel?

To help increase the team's exposure statewide, to help the RPI, and since the teams that may still have open spots at this point are teams that aren't at least high mid-major conference teams, how realistic would it be to schedule a couple games outside of Cedar Falls, such as one in Des Moines, and maybe another in Sioux City depending upon the facilities available.

I mention helping RPI, because wouldn't games that far away from Cedar Falls be considered neutral court games. Also, I don't get the sense UNI has drawn well at home for what we might call no-name non-conference teams.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: schedule for next year?

My ideal scheduling for the last three games would be:
H: Northern Illinois (start of a home/home)
H: North Dakota
A: South Dakota State (start of 2-for-1, with two games in CF the following two years)

Don't we already have UND on the schedule? I think this year was the start of a 2 for 1 with them kind of like we had with SDSU. Plus, next year will count as a full D-I game with them.

I don't see us getting SDSU on the board again next year as we already face them at the Paradise Jam (we shouldn't, but they are in the field).

I wouldn't mind NIU or even UW-Green Bay. Maybe start something with Valpo or Western Illinois (think Molinari wants to face us?). Otherwise, I agree with what has been said about not needing to add another BcS school as we could likely face 5 next year already: Iowa and ISU, plus if we get the 3 seed in the Jam Depaul in Rd 1 and assuming a win there, Purdue in round 2 and possibly Tennessee or Boston College after that (assuming those 3 win their 1st games).

[JD720]

Re: schedule for next year?

To help increase the team's exposure statewide, to help the RPI, and since the teams that may still have open spots at this point are teams that aren't at least high mid-major conference teams, how realistic would it be to schedule a couple games outside of Cedar Falls, such as one in Des Moines, and maybe another in Sioux City depending upon the facilities available.

I mention helping RPI, because wouldn't games that far away from Cedar Falls be considered neutral court games. Also, I don't get the sense UNI has drawn well at home for what we might call no-name non-conference teams.

As a fan, I like that idea, but I think games like that are a tough sell financially. You are moving the game from a facility that we own to one that we have to either rent and/or share revenue with, which means we have to sell more tickets than we would in Cedar Falls.

I don't see us selling more tickets in Des Moines than Cedar Falls unless we move our "home" game with ISU or Iowa there, which I would not be in favor of.

Back to the original question, I like playing the mid majors in Chicago, especially as we continue to recruit there. I wouldn't mind playing Minnesota every once in a while for the same reason, but that would be a road game only.

Other than that, I like the idea of playing some of our MVFC rivals. It's an opponent our fans recognize for the home games and its a cheap trip for the road games.

[06panther10]

Re: schedule for next year?

I'm pretty sure we are already playing North Dakota again next year.

Why can't we get some MVFC schools to throw us a bone in basketball? WIU, YSU, NDSU? Those would be decent non-conf matchups.

[Coachdags]

Re: schedule for next year?

UNI is playing UND at North Dakota next year (2010).......Done Deal 2 for 1, UND goes to Cedar Falls in 2011

[Newshound]

Re: schedule for next year?

Yes, UNI travels to North Dakota next year.

There are two games still to get. One will be a Division II game. Guaranteed. Like it or not, UNI will play a non-D1 game every year Jake is the head coach.

So, the options for the other game is still out there. I don't look for it to be anyone in a top 12 or 15 conference.

UNI already feels it has enough challenges on that schedule with Siena, the Paradise Jam, Iowa, Iowa State (if Brackins returns) and an improved Wyoming team.

I really feel the first game of the Paradise Jam will determine if UNI has any prayer at an at-large berth next season. They'll probably play St. Joe's in a 4-5 game. If they win, they'll get a crack at Purdue or Tennessee and maybe both. If they lose, they'll end up playing DePaul and South Dakota State. That doesn't do anything to help the resume. Got to win the first one for that tournament to be worthwhile.

[Trapped in California]

Re: schedule for next year?

I would vote for MN or WI, as those are areas we recruit.

[JayJ79]

Re: schedule for next year?

if UNI played NIU, the espn people would be all sorts of confused.

[PantherHawk]

Re: schedule for next year?

What about a game with Western Kentucky? I mean we play them in football, and i think it would be a good non-conf game.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: schedule for next year?

What about a game with Western Kentucky? I mean we play them in football, and i think it would be a good non-conf game.

We played them in football. No longer on UNI's schedule, and I doubt we ever see them again. They moved up to FBS football. A game with them is really not beneficial with the current team/style we play. We can't bus there, it's not a regional game (as BG is like 12 hours away), and there aren't any other sports that you would see them playing UNI in anymore at a high level. Plus, I think they already play SIU, Evansville, and InSU on a regular basis...at least SIU/Eville. Also, it's not a recruiting territory for UNI (and vice versa for WKU). Unless WKU or UNI become top 25 teams, neither would benefit from this in the eyes of the regular fans or tv execs.

[GoCatz!]

Re: schedule for next year?

I'd actually like to see them travel up to Wisc. GB so the Koch brothers get a chance to play in front of their friends and family. I have always liked the idea of scheduling a road game near the home towns of players.