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Regarding WSU in Maui, Who will they play if they lose to Uconn? Do they need to win that game to make the trip worth while?

valleychamp wrote:Regarding WSU in Maui, Who will they play if they lose to Uconn? Do they need to win that game to make the trip worth while?

To put it simply.. yes.

WSU-UCONN loser would play the loser of Michigan State and... yep, you guessed it.. Chaminade. Even a win there and WSU would be designated to likely play Virginia or Oklahoma, both of whom are down on the totem pole.

The key of the whole trip is in the first game.

Thats unfortunate. We screwed ourselves in the Virgin Islands tournament this past year in a similar situation by losing to Depaul, and it took a very long time to recover as far as our RPI and respect was concerned.

I'm talking about games that are locked in stone, without having to win one to get one (or two).

I think WSU has the potential to have a very nice schedule, but if they don't win that first game, their schedule is about like last year's was - which wasn't good.

I'm aware that scheduling for a team like WSU - one that will be able to beat just about anyone - is tougher than it is when there is no fear of losing (UE).

And I am in complete agreement that the first Maui game is the key...if you don't win that, you're pretty much screwed for an at-large unless one or two of your locked in games really surprise (and you beat them) - or you pull what UNI did last year and win a ton of games in a row (which you could).

These are the knowns right now:
San Diego State would be a marquee win - you need that one.
LSU was 2-14, 11-20 last year. They aren't good.
Tulsa lost all of its good players and, quite frankly, underachieved last season.
UMKC - was 6-12, 12-18 last year.
Not mentioned: the home cupcakes.

Creighton has finalized a home-and-home with Northwestern beginning this year on the road.

Thus, notable non-conference games include:
- BYU (home)
- Nebraska (road)
- Iowa State (neutral - Des Moines)
- St. Joes (home)
- Northwestern (road)

They will all take place before Echenique is eligible.

bigdawg wrote:

OkoboJay wrote:Creighton has finalized a home-and-home with Northwestern beginning this year on the road.

Thus, notable non-conference games include:
- BYU (home)
- Nebraska (road)
- Iowa State (neutral - Des Moines)
- St. Joes (home)
- Northwestern (road)

They will all take place before Echenique is eligible.

I suppose any BCS game is good, especially a home-home. I wonder if this pisses off fans in Peoria or Normal?

I doubt NU is looking to play any in-state in the non-con.

45otseoj wrote:

bigdawg wrote:

OkoboJay wrote:Creighton has finalized a home-and-home with Northwestern beginning this year on the road.

Thus, notable non-conference games include:
- BYU (home)
- Nebraska (road)
- Iowa State (neutral - Des Moines)
- St. Joes (home)
- Northwestern (road)

They will all take place before Echenique is eligible.

I suppose any BCS game is good, especially a home-home. I wonder if this pisses off fans in Peoria or Normal?

I doubt NU is looking to play any in-state in the non-con.

Why do you doubt that?

They played NIU and Chicago State last season and DePaul and Chicago State the year before that. They have also played UIC recently (2006 and 2004).

And Northwestern is traveling to DeKalb to play NIU this season too.

Ali wrote:
Does Northwestern really count as a BCS team? With Nebraska and Northwestern on the schedule, all Creighton needs to do is add South Florida and they'll play every BCS team never to win a tourney game.

Yes-At least now they get benefit of the doubt, because even without Coble, they are a quality team, just probably not an NCAA team (but even without him in the past they've been a tough out). I don't think they would play any in-states out of the MVC unless it was neutral or at Welsh-Ryan, unless there were special circumstances.

WuDrWu wrote:

TylerDurden wrote:The funny thing is that the Valley's worst team (UE) has it's best non-conference schedule.

Not if WSU beats UCONN.


UCONN
Michigan State
Either the SEC preseason favorite in Kentucky or the PAC10 preseason favorite in Washington
LSU neutral (yeah right)
@ San Diego State (they are my favorite for MWC and a probable top 25 team)
Home against a decent Tulsa team
UMKC
Road Apples to be named later


That is 5 HIGH quality games away from home. And yes, I understand that beating UCONN is beyond key. But if they do, the toughest schedule is WSU's, end of discussion.


Unfortunately, Butler has opted out of the BB this season, taking that possibility away from WSU hosting a Final Four team for the 2nd time in 6 seasons. There doesn't appear to be any meat in this year's matchups. Too bad.

I think WSU pounds UCONN. UCONN will have a bunch of new individual one on oner's.

cpacmel wrote:

45otseoj wrote:

bigdawg wrote:I suppose any BCS game is good, especially a home-home. I wonder if this pisses off fans in Peoria or Normal?

I doubt NU is looking to play any in-state in the non-con.

Why do you doubt that?

They played NIU and Chicago State last season and DePaul and Chicago State the year before that. They have also played UIC recently (2006 and 2004).

And Northwestern is traveling to DeKalb to play NIU this season too.

*that they think they might lose too.