Scheduling

[carolann]

Scheduling keeps coming up on other threads so I decided to start a new thread for the topic. I think the following quote from Clay Kallam at fullcourt press expresses my view succinctly:

Scheduling is as much an art as a science. Each team requires different types of preparation, depending on such factors as experience, talent, league strength and postseason aspirations.

That said, I'm satisfied with the Tx schedule this year. I was a little concerned about playing Wisconsin and USC (could have been Florida) so early because the team has a lot of newcomers and is playing differently from last year. While not as tough as some years, the non-conference schedule combined with the Big 12 schedule, should give Texas a very good RPI. Having gotten by Wisconsin and USC, Texas is almost assured of a good win/loss record going into conference and should go to the big dance with a finish in the top half of the conference. In the past, when Texas could count on whipping through the Southwest conference, Texas could play an extremely tough non-conference schedule with everything to gain and little to lose. The games made the team better and if enough of the games were won, Texas could count on a high NCAA seed. Getting in the NCAA was not a question. In the Big 12, I think schools have to do a balancing act with the schedule. To many early losses could jeopardize a NCAA bid or good seed. In an earlier post, someone asked what the Longhorns' tough schedules gained them. That is a legitimate question. Last year, the early big non-conference wins gave Texas an invitation to the NCAA after a poor conference showing. Texas wasn't able to capitalize but they gained their chance.

Other schools in the Big 12 have their own reasons for their schedules. IMO, Baylor could benefit from a better schedule this fall but who knew Baylor would rise so fast? The Baylor schedule is fitting for where the program was just 2 years ago. I'm sure Baylor may schedule differently as the program establishes itself. K-State was hammered by its schedule last year. This year, the school looks set for at least a WNIT bid with an average showing in the Big 12. A high conference finish would propel the school into the NCAA tournament.

Finally, schools want a certain number of home games for their fans. The weak schools who don't require a home and home help fill the schedule.

[schooner2]

Talk about a complicated issue. Thing is, one may never know exactly why a schedule is the it is. There are so many pressures to do this or that.

Recruiting may be a big issue. May be a big issue for just one season, so a coach sets up a home and away series with a team for just two seasons.

A lot of teams like to play mainly within their region (again a recruiting issue here). But this may also be as stated by you carolann, to cut down on traveling costs.

Who knows if coaches are trying to play the RPI game or not. Would they ever even own up to that it if it were true?

Schedules should change relative to a team's ability. Carolann also mentioned this. You don't want to obliterate a team's confidence (if the team ain't Top 25 caliber) by playing everyone in the Top 10. Then again, there has to be some preparation made for the NCAA Tournament by playing good teams outside the conference.

Coach Coale has mentioned several times playing in marquee matchups that end up being televised. She has referred to this as being crucial to improving the image, the exposure of a team.

OU has set up games because the coach befriends another coach, like with UCONN. And that also was setup because Coale was a former high school coach that wanted to bring a couple of her high school players back to Norman. Stanford was the other team this was done for.

I think we could probably come up with many more reasons.

But, I've yet to see a definitive analysis showing why teams must play at least, say, 5 Top 15 teams in order to become battled tested for the NCAA. Sounds good. But then you just go back to last year when SMSU played 3 or 4 good games early on in the season up through mid-December and then that's it. But yet they make the Final 4.

Going far into the Big Dance seems to encompass some luck. And other factors like having a team that's burned out (too tired). Or finds themselves going against a team that happens to match up perfectly against them. It only takes one loss and you're out as we all know.

[carolann]

Something else a friend reminded me, Texas probably likes to stay home during the first couple of weeks in December because of finals. Another reason why Texas will, again, be playing schools such as Lamar and Southwest Texas with RPIs in the 250 range. Southwest Texas is in San Marcos so their players won't have to travel really either.