Looking at 2015-2016

[BCPanther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Diamond Head, SFA, Richmond, Iowa State, possibly Carolina.

We'll find out about this team early. Probably to our advantage that Diamond Head is at Christmas rather than Thanksgiving.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Billy Packer was possible the worst announcer of all time

He actually claimed this week that this year's Kentucky team could beat the good Bob Knight Indiana teams.

I assume he means the IU team that went undefeated? Scott May, Kent Benson, etc? I remember them being dominant as a kid, but that was so long ago. Athletes are so much bigger and stronger now that it's very tough to compare eras. It's pretty easy to envision Willy Cauly-Stein torching Knight's teams for 30+ points.

FWIW, there is a local Chicago radio show I listen to frequently where the hosts are pretty well connected nationally. I remember them saying that in person, Billy Packer is a crusty, rude, arrogant jacka$$. I have no way to confirm that for myself, but seems like it makes sense.

[jon mcloud]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I assume he means the IU team that went undefeated? Scott May, Kent Benson, etc? I remember them being dominant as a kid, but that was so long ago. Athletes are so much bigger and stronger now that it's very tough to compare eras. It's pretty easy to envision Willy Cauly-Stein torching Knight's teams for 30+ points.

This. You watch games from the 70s and nobody on the floor can dribble with their left hand. Looked up their roster and IU only had one guy averaging 10mpg who was 6'8". Kentucky would run circles around that team and that's not a knock on IU at all. The game and it's athletes have changed.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Next year's schedule will be the most challenging to date for UNI basketball. Quite possibly, outside of UND, no sub 150 RPI games.

[ubuntuCAT]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Next year's schedule will be the most challenging to date for UNI basketball. Quite possibly, outside of UND, no sub 150 RPI games.

Are you talking non-conference? Because half our conference was 150+ this year.

[Purrrrrfect]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

But the conference returns bout 70% of its players. Conference was young this year. We may have been the oldest. Expectations are/should be higher next year

[SteinPizza]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Next year's schedule will be the most challenging to date for UNI basketball. Quite possibly, outside of UND, no sub 150 RPI games.

That's a good thing too. If you want your younger players to improve, then play better competition. It also helps keep coaches perspective in place regarding recruiting. I'm not saying it's happened at UNI, but I've seen situations where certain staffs seem to get complacent about who they go after and bring in, thinking that it's good enough to just win, or be competitive in, their conference. Play some teams outside your comfort zone, be exposed to higher level athletes, and it puts things in a proper (national) perspective. IMO, Iowa Football is a good example of this, and not just the last few years. Bottom line, you'll lose a few, but it could also pay dividends down the road.

[otter]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

But the conference returns bout 70% of its players. Conference was young this year. We may have been the oldest. Expectations are/should be higher next year

I remember hearing during one of the games we were the oldest team in the conference and SIU was the youngest. Thankfully we do play deep into our bench so that helps with the senior burn off.

SIU did lose Jalen Pendleton who would have been a senior next year.

[CyCarp]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

http://www.dailylobo.com/article/2015/03/27-mens-basketball-season-wrap-up

I don't see a post for next year's schedule yet, but according to this article we'll be playing at New Mexico. Not sure if it's MVC/MWC challenge or if it's a non-bracket game for the Diamond Head Classic, as NM is in that also.

[SteinPizza]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

I remember hearing during one of the games we were the oldest team in the conference and SIU was the youngest. Thankfully we do play deep into our bench so that helps with the senior burn off.

SIU did lose Jalen Pendleton who would have been a senior next year.

IMO as a Valley basketball fan, the teams that will be fun to watch next year are ISUr, Evansville, and Loyola. All young, all with a potentially really good core playmaker to build around, and EU and ISUr have some size.

Also, I'm going to guess that both Baker and FVV return for WSU. I don't see FVV as NBA caliber right now, and Baker kind of disappeared last night against Notre Dame. That may hurt him a bit in the eyes of some scouts. If you're Baker why not stay and improve your game, put on some needed muscle, etc. Leaving early to be a really late first or second round pick does squat for your chances of sticking and actually playing in the league. There are plenty of those guys who are only good enough to be playing in the D league or Europe, and very few of those guys stand out enough to get the call back up to the league. If they do, they're the first guy to get cut.

[BCPanther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

http://www.dailylobo.com/article/201...season-wrap-up

I don't see a post for next year's schedule yet, but according to this article we'll be playing at New Mexico. Not sure if it's MVC/MWC challenge or if it's a non-bracket game for the Diamond Head Classic, as NM is in that also.

That's got to be our Mountain West challenge game.

[06panther10]

Looking at 2015-2016

http://www.dailylobo.com/article/201...season-wrap-up

I don't see a post for next year's schedule yet, but according to this article we'll be playing at New Mexico. Not sure if it's MVC/MWC challenge or if it's a non-bracket game for the Diamond Head Classic, as NM is in that also.

WTH?

I thought we were pretty much locked in to play a home game in this event. Not only are we going on the road for yet another non conf game, but we play a middle of the pack MWC team that we could potentially play in Hawaii as well? Makes no sense.

Out schedule is brutal.

[isu87]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

That's got to be our Mountain West challenge game.

it is part of the MVC-MWC challenge, Indiana State hosts Wyoming, the other matchups haven't been revealed yet.

[BCPanther]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

WTH?

I thought we were pretty much locked in to play a home game in this event. Not only are we going on the road for yet another non conf game, but we play a middle of the pack MWC team that we could potentially play in Hawaii as well? Makes no sense.

Out schedule is brutal.

Agreed, we're going to be seriously short on non-con home games. SFA is the only one locked in at this point and would assume we'll play UND here instead of there.

Hopefully the Carolina game actually happens.

FWIW, New Mexico's best player missed the whole year with an injury and an appendectomy. They'll be much, much better next year. I just don't want to play them twice. Looking at seeding, using this year's RPI, we don't have much of a chance, I guess...

Seeding for Diamond Head should look like this...
1-UNI
2-Oklahoma
3-BYU
4-Harvard
5-Auburn
6-Hawaii
7-New Mexico
8-Washington St

[Kyle]

Re: Looking at 2015-2016

Doesn't Oklahoma get the one seed? They were a higher seed in the tourney and made it further than us.