If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
Missouri Baptist is NAIA, Maryville is D2. Very pathetic home non-con. Worst in recent memory, by far!
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
What's sad is the road portion of the non-con schedule is pretty solid, so it wouldn't have taken much to make it a good non-con schedule overall. The team should be improved and can handle a big-boy schedule. And it's not like Mullins needs to rack up cheap wins to show fake progress, as the fan base is squarely in his corner.
Not sure whether it's the intense financial crunch or dicey relationships with SLU and Murray or some combo (yes, I know it's challenging getting good teams to C'dale), but this home non-con schedule is as cringy as anything the past regime lined up.
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
What's sad is the road portion of the non-con schedule is pretty solid, so it wouldn't have taken much to make it a good non-con schedule overall. The team should be improved and can handle a big-boy schedule. And it's not like Mullins needs to rack up cheap wins to show fake progress, as the fan base is squarely in his corner.
Not sure whether it's the intense financial crunch or dicey relationships with SLU and Murray or some combo (yes, I know it's challenging getting good teams to C'dale), but this home non-con schedule is as cringy as anything the past regime lined up.
The MVC screwed Southern in regards to the home game with SLU. It had to be moved to next year because the MVC scheduled SIU to play at Evansville on December 1.
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
What's sad is the road portion of the non-con schedule is pretty solid, so it wouldn't have taken much to make it a good non-con schedule overall. The team should be improved and can handle a big-boy schedule. And it's not like Mullins needs to rack up cheap wins to show fake progress, as the fan base is squarely in his corner.
Not sure whether it's the intense financial crunch or dicey relationships with SLU and Murray or some combo (yes, I know it's challenging getting good teams to C'dale), but this home non-con schedule is as cringy as anything the past regime lined up.
The MVC screwed Southern in regards to the home game with SLU. It had to be moved to next year because the MVC scheduled SIU to play at Evansville on December 1.
I’ve seen that, but if both teams wanted to play the game, they probably could have found a way to make it happen.
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
What's sad is the road portion of the non-con schedule is pretty solid, so it wouldn't have taken much to make it a good non-con schedule overall. The team should be improved and can handle a big-boy schedule. And it's not like Mullins needs to rack up cheap wins to show fake progress, as the fan base is squarely in his corner.
Not sure whether it's the intense financial crunch or dicey relationships with SLU and Murray or some combo (yes, I know it's challenging getting good teams to C'dale), but this home non-con schedule is as cringy as anything the past regime lined up.
I'm pretty sure SIU could bring in a decent MAC school and do a home and home. It's possible SIU couldn't replace Murray State and Saint Louis on the schedule in time but I've seen Northern Iowa adding games as recently as last week (they added Vermont on 9/23). To replace Murray State and Saint Louis with an NAIA and D2 team with the roster we have returning is pretty bad. And really, Alcorn State is basically a D2 team too, SIU will beat them by 30+ and pad their stats.
Worst Home schedule I HAVE EVER SEEN PITIFUL 😡. That is saying a lot with the previous regime. Mullins better grow up and do the scheduling himself instead of letting an inexperienced asst coach do it for him. I understand scheduling is hard but come on we aren't asking for a power5 schools to come to Carbondale but how about a few top mid-major's or hell even a few DECENT MID-MAJOR's D1 schools. NOT ONE decent home game. As far as the MVC screwing SIU on the St Louis game maybe we should have told the MVC we cant change the game because it is our ONLY decent home game or asked the Valley to get a date that worked for both schools. Getting paid by a Tulsa program 58k for no return game is an insult, that I would have certainly blasted Barry Hinson for doing and so would most of you on this forum. Hell that is less than we use to make on home games and we won't make 58k we have to get to Tulsa. Finally we can't even agree on a road date with one of our closest rivals so we have to schedule an NAIA program instead. Finally we are still short 1 game not bloody likely we will add one. This is going to be HUGE ISSUE IF Bryan can't figure out how to schedule better. He better hope the Valley adds more than Belmont. IF you can't tell I am pissed about this schedule.
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It’s bad no doubt. I’m not sure you can blame it all on the staff though. Money is tight and nobody is lining up to play SIU this year. I’m sure it was tough
I sincerely understand fans frustrations, but if I may offer an alternate point of view. This team has finished 2 games UNDER .500 the past 2 seasons. SIU has not earned the right to demand top schools (Mid Major or other) come to play in a tough environment. And while they absolutely have legitimate excuses for their issues last year (namely injuries), the fact remains that they haven't exceeded expectations.
Perhaps racking up a good number of wins prior to conference, allows this team to build some confidence and momentum which may carry over to the conference games.
Regardless, I am confident that next year's schedule will be much more challenging to coincide with the high expectations that are sure to come after this season.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Western Michigan(2), Wisconsin-Green Bay, Ball State, Illinois-Chicago, IUPUI, IPFW, Northern Kentucky(2), etc all have non-D1 teams on their schedules.
When I say hat these schools using the "no one will play us" nonsense is an excuse this is what I mean.
Home and homes are there to be had. They just refuse to schedule them.
And what you end up with is an abysmal home schedule like this that is quite honestly embarrassing and should in and of itself disqualify them from postseason discussion outside of winning their conference tournaments.
Just looking around the rest of the Valley, Evansville is bringing in #100 KenPom American Athletic Conference UCF to the Ford Center. Valpo is bringing in #74 KenPom Toledo to the ARC. Both of these teams have been on SIU's level if not lower the past few years.
I don't think anyone is asking for Indiana to come to the Banterra Center but there are games to be had that's better than an NAIA team, D2 team, and Alcorn State. Those 3 games are insulting. I'm not totally against playing D2/NAIA teams to open the season as a way to figure out rotations but 2 in one season is overkill. KenPom doesn't even count those in their formula so they are just wins that nobody will care about at the end of the season.
This team will be under a ton of pressure to go into non-conference play with 3 losses or less given this schedule. Colorado, @ Tulsa, and @ San Francisco are going to be tough. Plus whoever they play after Colorado in the MTE. You lose all 3 to Colorado/Tulsa/San Francisco, you're basically throwing away any shot of a end the season tournament given they'd only get quality wins in Valley play.
It’s bad no doubt. I’m not sure you can blame it all on the staff though. Money is tight and nobody is lining up to play SIU this year. I’m sure it was tough
Why not try and schedule a home and home with a MAC school then? There are plenty of decent MAC schools that would bring in a better crowd than Missouri Baptist or Maryville. I generally don't know why anyone would waste their time on a Tuesday Night going to see SIU win by 50 over an NAIA school 14 games into the season.
As I said, I don't mind scheduling D2/D3/NAIA schools at the beginning of the season when you're trying to figure out rotations and give Freshmen some game minutes but scheduling both of them towards the end of non-conference season is pointless to me. There's no way that's preparing you for Valley play.
It’s bad no doubt. I’m not sure you can blame it all on the staff though. Money is tight and nobody is lining up to play SIU this year. I’m sure it was tough
Why not try and schedule a home and home with a MAC school then? There are plenty of decent MAC schools that would bring in a better crowd than Missouri Baptist or Maryville. I generally don't know why anyone would waste their time on a Tuesday Night going to see SIU win by 50 over an NAIA school 14 games into the season.
As I said, I don't mind scheduling D2/D3/NAIA schools at the beginning of the season when you're trying to figure out rotations and give Freshmen some game minutes but scheduling both of them towards the end of non-conference season is pointless to me. There's no way that's preparing you for Valley play.
I get it this is not good. I am just trying to calm the storm. I hinted this was coming last week but I did not know how bad it actually was. Still one open slot though so we will see
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
This is instructive. Let's play Name That Team. Who pray tell, is playing at home this year these powerhouse schools: Brescia, Cumberland, Bellarime, Campbellsville, Tennessee Wesleyan. Then they play teams like SEMO, Austin Peay, TN Tech and the rest of the 22nd rated conference in the country. Hint- they very badly want in the MVC, and their praises are being sung very loudly on this board.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
If you wanted to go to a home non-conference game this year, the best team they'll play is Austin Peay who finished as a #215 KenPom team last year. Your other options are Alcorn State (342), Southern Miss (256), SEMO (269), or two Division 2 schools. That's not a good way to build momentum in the community.
This is instructive. Let's play Name That Team. Who pray tell, is playing at home this year these powerhouse schools: Brescia, Cumberland, Bellarime, Campbellsville, Tennessee Wesleyan. Then they play teams like SEMO, Austin Peay, TN Tech and the rest of the 22nd rated conference in the country. Hint- they very badly want in the MVC, and their praises are being sung very loudly on this board.
The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.
James Madison
November 26th and December 28th there will be no students anyway. Gonna need some promotions: H.S. and grade school discounts/free, pep band competition, company group sponsored tickets.
“The best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.”
-- Al McGuire
