Basketball scheduling

[TillmansNumber1]

Just three years ago twenty wins were expected, and this year the Cajuns won just eight division one games. Only one of those games was out of conference, and the Cajuns beat only one team with a winning record (Louisiana-Monroe).

The Cajuns are ranked at 271 in the latest RPI. There are now five teams with fewer wins ahead of the Cajuns in the RPI. San Jose State, from the lowly WAC, has four wins and ranks fourty three spots ahead of the Cajuns.

The Cajuns scheduling hurts chances to create local interest, sell tickets, sell advertising and entice transfer students to play for the Cajuns.

This year's OOC schedule hurt the Cajuns and destroyed local interest. The Cajun played just two teams going to the postseason and played many, at best, bubble teams from tiny, one bid conferences. The latter hurts the Cajuns RPI and resume for postseason play.

The NCAA permits teams to have 13-14 OOC games each season. The Cajuns can use this time to prepare for the SBC schedule. There are a few principles that should guide the Cajuns in their schedule making.

1. All home games must be wins. They should be wins before the tip. In addition, they must be games against teams from Louisiana or surrounding states to drive down the payout the Cajuns must pay and also to sell some tickets to fans of the opposing teams, if they can make the game. Home losses are destructive from a ticket sales standpoint. The games against Nevada and UTK were nice, but the damage was obvious. Attendance, which used to get the Cajuns ranked in the average top 100 of all programs, was at an all time low this year. Home wins, even against terrible teams, sell tickets.

Also, Games played around holidays and near finals can be played at Blackham to drive down cost, generate some tickets sales from the old timers wanting to see a game or two in Blackham.

1a. All games must be against D-1 teams. There are 337 basketball programs playing division 1. Excluding LSU, who should never play the Cajuns in any sport, there are 336 programs the Cajuns can schedule. It's financially irresponsible to play a team who will not help you in the win column.

2. Road games must be in areas with easily navigable airports close to the schools to drive down travel cost. Road games, for the most part, will likely have to be losses against high RPI teams who can offer a signifcant payout and time for the Cajuns on TV. As it stands, the ESPN family shows more games for OJ Mayo, West Virginia's basketball freak of nature, than it does for the Ragin Cajuns. When mothers ask coaches when they can see their baby play on TV, it matters not if the Cajuns have a chance of winning (though that never hurts), it just matters that a mother can see her son or daughter on TV.

3. The Cajuns should roll into conference play with 8-9 wins, especially if they play 13-14 OOC games. Just like football, the number of division one wins generates local interest, sells tickets, develops a winning tradition the Cajuns no longer have, and makes advertising with the Cajuns an easier sell.

If the Cajuns can roll in with 8-9 wins, they can conceivably win 16-17 games a year, even if Robert Lee is the coach. The SBC is an awful conference and the Ivy League, which cannot and does not offer athletic scholarships, ranks higher than the SBC. So, the Cajuns can get quite a few wins in the SBC; this year, with very little talent and experience, the Cajuns won seven.

The Cajuns, under Lee, are probably a 16-18 win team.

All that being said, the following schedule was suggested at the beginning of the year. It follows the three rules and would certainly improve the Cajuns' RPI, increase ticket sales, generate local interest and keep the program from drifting toward mediocrity.

vs Centenary
vs Texas San Antonio
@ Pittsburgh
vs Southern (BLACKHAM)(games after Thanksgiving are usually not well attended)
vs Nicholls St
@ Duke
vs Southeastern
@ Kansas
vs McNeese (BLACKHAM) (should no longer be a 1-1; game must always be in Lafayette)
vs Grambling
@ UCLA
vs Texas Arlington
@ Memphis
@ Northwestern (chance for Cajuns to get an upset. Unlikely, but worth a shot because Big10 RPI will rub off on Cajuns and Chicago is a great recruiting area)
vs Rice
CONFERENCE

Predicted OOC record: 8-6 or 7-7. That's the difference between a 15-16 win season and an eight win season. The Cajuns would still be a long shot for the NIT, but they'd be closer than this year.

[RustyR]

I agree with the scheduling part of the post. But as for getting people back in the stands im not sure what its going to take. I can remember games when I was a kid with Sydney Grider and Kevin Brooks the Dome was packed. One game against UNO I think we lost in OT it seemed like there wasnt an open chair in the Dome. Just seems to me there used to be more students there also. Then again it was an exciting brand of basketball when you had Micheal Allen gunning up 28 ft jump shots and hitting them. Or Mark Considine gunning up 3's at the end of the game lol just joking. Truly believe with these young guys coming in if they get eligable, with Dees, Milsap, Bloom, Gary, Daigle, Leggo, Johnson (who needs to get stronger), Wallace and the Frosh from Lake Charles the future is brighter than most people think. Maybe we should run a 3-4 guard offense and just run a fast break running and gunning offense. Get a rebound and just release everybody dunking and high scoring is what people want to see and gets people excited. Not saying dont run any set plays but with only one true big man maybe thats what we need to do.

[SlappyCajun]

Just three years ago twenty wins were expected, and this year the Cajuns won just eight division one games. Only one of those games was out of conference, and the Cajuns beat only one team with a winning record (Louisiana-Monroe).

The Cajuns are ranked at 271 in the latest RPI. There are now five teams with fewer wins ahead of the Cajuns in the RPI. San Jose State, from the lowly WAC, has four wins and ranks fourty three spots ahead of the Cajuns.

The Cajuns scheduling hurts chances to create local interest, sell tickets, sell advertising and entice transfer students to play for the Cajuns.

This year's OOC schedule hurt the Cajuns and destroyed local interest. The Cajun played just two teams going to the postseason and played many, at best, bubble teams from tiny, one bid conferences. The latter hurts the Cajuns RPI and resume for postseason play.

The NCAA permits teams to have 13-14 OOC games each season. The Cajuns can use this time to prepare for the SBC schedule. There are a few principles that should guide the Cajuns in their schedule making.

1. All home games must be wins. They should be wins before the tip. In addition, they must be games against teams from Louisiana or surrounding states to drive down the payout the Cajuns must pay and also to sell some tickets to fans of the opposing teams, if they can make the game. Home losses are destructive from a ticket sales standpoint. The games against Nevada and UTK were nice, but the damage was obvious. Attendance, which used to get the Cajuns ranked in the average top 100 of all programs, was at an all time low this year. Home wins, even against terrible teams, sell tickets.

Also, Games played around holidays and near finals can be played at Blackham to drive down cost, generate some tickets sales from the old timers wanting to see a game or two in Blackham.

1a. All games must be against D-1 teams. There are 337 basketball programs playing division 1. Excluding LSU, who should never play the Cajuns in any sport, there are 336 programs the Cajuns can schedule. It's financially irresponsible to play a team who will not help you in the win column.

2. Road games must be in areas with easily navigable airports close to the schools to drive down travel cost. Road games, for the most part, will likely have to be losses against high RPI teams who can offer a signifcant payout and time for the Cajuns on TV. As it stands, the ESPN family shows more games for OJ Mayo, West Virginia's basketball freak of nature, than it does for the Ragin Cajuns. When mothers ask coaches when they can see their baby play on TV, it matters not if the Cajuns have a chance of winning (though that never hurts), it just matters that a mother can see her son or daughter on TV.

3. The Cajuns should roll into conference play with 8-9 wins, especially if they play 13-14 OOC games. Just like football, the number of division one wins, generates local interest, sells tickets, develops a winning tradition the Cajuns no longer have, and makes advertising with the Cajuns an easier sell.

If the Cajuns can roll in with 8-9 wins, they can conceivably win 16-17 games a year, even if Robert Lee is the coach. The SBC is an awful conference and the Ivy League, which cannot and does not offer athletic scholarships, ranks higher than the SBC. So, the Cajuns can get quite a few wins in the SBC; this year, with very little talent and experience, the Cajuns won seven.

The Cajuns, under Lee, are probably a 16-18 win team.

All that being said, the following schedule was suggested at the beginning of the year. It follows the three rules and would certainly improve the Cajuns' RPI, increase ticket sales, generate local interest and keep the program from drifting toward mediocrity.

vs Centenary
vs Texas San Antonio
@ Pittsburgh
vs Southern (BLACKHAM)(games after Thanksgiving are usually not well attended)
vs Nicholls St
@ Duke
vs Southeastern
@ Kansas
vs McNeese (BLACKHAM) (should no longer be a 1-1; game must always be in Lafayette)
vs Grambling
@ UCLA
vs Texas Arlington
@ Memphis
@ Northwestern (chance for Cajuns to get an upset. Unlikely, but worth a shot because Big10 RPI will rub off on Cajuns and Chicago is a great recruiting area)
vs Rice
CONFERENCE

Predicted OOC record: 8-6 or 7-7. That's the difference between a 15-16 win season and an eight win season. The Cajuns would still be a long shot for the NIT, but they'd be closer than this year.

Very interesting theory. Just don't think it as practical as you make it sound. One why would grambling come to the Dome, when they could get paid fifty thousand to go someplace else and take a "loss before the ball is tipped". Every "win" that you try to bring in is trying to be brought in by every other team of our caliber and higher looking for a win. For instance, basically the whole SWAC played at College Station this year. Let's try to outbid them. The away games are crazy. Those would be maulings. Remember how good the 04-05 team was. Remember what Kansas did to them. The secret is to play big name football teams in basketball. They have the same money that everyone else has, i.e. like your Northwestern scenario, + Vandy, Ole Miss, (used to be Texas AM, but no more), Florida State, Miami, Penn St. Name still looks good, money is still nice win is more probable. Finally, I think you always try to get big name teams at your place. It generates excitement. We were down this year and we played Nevada and Tennessee competitively. If it were 04-05 we may have gotten a win or both. The best RPI boost we got all year in 04-05 was beating Southern Illinois at home.

[Cajunsmike]

Also, Games played around holidays and near finals can be played at Blackham to drive down cost, generate some tickets sales from the old timers wanting to see a game or two in Blackham.

Blackham Coliseum would not drive down costs as we have a set no. of dates reserved every year for Cajun basketball. Actually, the cost would increase as the court would have to be moved from the Dome as Blackham's court is barely acceptable for practice much less games. This is a moot point anyway as once the indoor facility is open we won't even practice at Blackham. The university plans to make an effort to bring more non basketball events to Blackham in the winter as a result of this.

[Kal]

games with mcneese should be a 2-1. You have to help them out as well.

[TillmansNumber1]

Very interesting theory. Just don't think it as practical as you make it sound. One why would grambling come to the Dome, when they could get paid fifty thousand to go someplace else and take a "loss before the ball is tipped". Every "win" that you try to bring in is trying to be brought in by every other team of our caliber and higher looking for a win. For instance, basically the whole SWAC played at College Station this year. Let's try to outbid them. The away games are crazy. Those would be maulings. Remember how good the 04-05 team was. Remember what Kansas did to them. The secret is to play big name football teams in basketball. They have the same money that everyone else has, i.e. like your Northwestern scenario, + Vandy, Ole Miss, (used to be Texas AM, but no more), Florida State, Miami, Penn St. Name still looks good, money is still nice win is more probable. Finally, I think you always try to get big name teams at your place. It generates excitement. We were down this year and we played Nevada and Tennessee competitively. If it were 04-05 we may have gotten a win or both. The best RPI boost we got all year in 04-05 was beating Southern Illinois at home.

According to RPI websites written by Ken Pomeroy, who is employed by ESPN for RPI purposes, the Cajuns' best RPI game in the 2004/2005 season, regardless of outcome, was not a win over 17th ranked Southern Illinois, but a loss to number 1 Kansas. The Cajuns also had quality losses to LSU and Charlotte, both of whom ranked in the top 30 RPI. Games against a high RPI teams, even games that involve the Cajuns losing, help raise the team's RPI, which does translate into a better seed in tournaments. (In 2004, the Cajuns had an RPI of 71 and earned a 14 seed against NC State; in 2005, the Cajuns team trounced by Kansas had an RPI of 47 and earned a 13 seed.) A lower seed means a more favorable matchup which might give way to a first round upset.

The Cajuns tried the "good at football maybe not great at basketball" theory this year against Ole Miss (which isn't easy to get to) and were promptly destroyed by fifteen. Vanderbilt and the other schools wouldn't offer nearly the payout, the RPI boost or the potential tv audience Duke, Kansas, Xavier of Ohio, Pittsburgh and UCLA could offer. In addition, schools like Penn State, who suck at basketball, are often difficult to get to, which drives up the travel cost and drives down the money the Cajuns would make from a matchup.

If the Cajuns can go 8-5 out of conference, even if the losses are by a ton, on TV, and give the Cajuns a boost in the RPI, it's worth it come NIT and NCAA postseason tournament time. More important, it gets the Cajuns on TV, which helps in recruiting. It cannot be emphasized enough that the WCC had games not involving Gonzaga on the ESPN family of networks constantly this year. Though the WCC is ranked 14th overall in conference rankings and the Sun Belt is 21st, the Cajuns must get on TV and one way is by playing difficult competition in the beginning of the season.

The Cajuns can create a better schedule than this year, which yielded an RPI ranking of 271 out of 336, which is the bottom twenty percent.

[jdebaillon]

What makes you think that teams like Duke, Kansas, UCLA, and Memphis would be willing to schedule us? What makes us so special? Duke had a down year but are a lock for the tournament because their schedule is no. 3 in the country. I hate to break it to you but adding us would not help that schedule ranking. Also, where are we getting the money to even fly to LA? Your post is very unrealistic. Winning is winning and that is how you get fans from Lafayette, Louisiana to come to your games. I will be the first to say that I wish it wasn't that way. Our best shot at making the tournament, as it is in every sport, is to win our conference tournament. Very rarely will we get an at large bid out of the sunbelt.

[SlappyCajun]

According to RPI websites written by Ken Pomeroy, who is employed by ESPN for RPI purposes, the Cajuns' best RPI game in the 2004/2005 season, regardless of outcome, was not a win over 17th ranked Southern Illinois, but a loss to number 1 Kansas. The Cajuns also had quality losses to LSU and Charlotte, both of whom ranked in the top 30 RPI. Games against a high RPI teams, even games that involve the Cajuns losing, help raise the team's RPI, which does translate into a better seed in tournaments. (In 2004, the Cajuns had an RPI of 71 and earned a 14 seed against NC State; in 2005, the Cajuns team trounced by Kansas had an RPI of 47 and earned a 13 seed.) A lower seed means a more favorable matchup which might give way to a first round upset.

The Cajuns tried the "good at football maybe not great at basketball" theory this year against Ole Miss (which isn't easy to get to) and were promptly destroyed by fifteen. Vanderbilt and the other schools wouldn't offer nearly the payout, the RPI boost or the potential tv audience Duke, Kansas, Xavier of Ohio, Pittsburgh and UCLA could offer. In addition, schools like Penn State, who suck at basketball, are often difficult to get to, which drives up the travel cost and drives down the money the Cajuns would make from a matchup.

If the Cajuns can go 8-5 out of conference, even if the losses are by a ton, on TV, and give the Cajuns a boost in the RPI, it's worth it come NIT and NCAA postseason tournament time. More important, it gets the Cajuns on TV, which helps in recruiting. It cannot be emphasized enough that the WCC had games not involving Gonzaga on the ESPN family of networks constantly this year. Though the WCC is ranked 14th overall in conference rankings and the Sun Belt is 21st, the Cajuns must get on TV and one way is by playing difficult competition in the beginning of the season.

The Cajuns can create a better schedule than this year, which yielded an RPI ranking of 271 out of 336, which is the bottom twenty percent.

Thats good for ken pomeroy. I am not doubting his rankings or anything like that. However, that year when we were playing in the Sunbelt Conference tourney and our NCAA tournament resume came on screen, they showed our record versus people in the top 25 of the rpi. We were 1-2. When we beat Southern Illinois, they were ranked #15 in the rpi. So, if you honestly believe that a 40 point shilacking (spelling?) at Kansas helped our tournament resume more than beating #15 rpi Southern Illinois, you are not right. Kansas may have helped our strenght of schedule, but the new buzz word in NCAA tournement selection committee cirlces is "signature wins", not "signature 40 point blow outs"

Also, when is the last time you have seen Xavier of Ohio on TV. I don't know where they even came from. Cany anyone name one of their players. Two years ago the biggest payout we received came from UTEP, and it was a win. Nothing attracts recruits more than winning. Believe me you cannot say, hey come to UL, we got trounced on national TV four times.

About the Ole Miss game, that is my point exactly. We lost by fifteen in a year where we were 9-20, at their place. So if we have a good team and go in there, we might win. Do you know what would have happened if we would have gone in to Kansas or UCLA this year. Like Al Davis said, "just win baby".

[rhineaux]

Thats good for ken pomeroy. I am not doubting his rankings or anything like that. However, that year when we were playing in the Sunbelt Conference tourney and our NCAA tournament resume came on screen, they showed our record versus people in the top 25 of the rpi. We were 1-2. When we beat Southern Illinois, they were ranked #15 in the rpi. So, if you honestly believe that a 40 point shilacking (spelling?) at Kansas helped our tournament resume more than beating #15 rpi Southern Illinois, you are not right. Kansas may have helped our strenght of schedule, but the new buzz word in NCAA tournement selection committee cirlces is "signature wins", not "signature 40 point blow outs"

Also, when is the last time you have seen Xavier of Ohio on TV. I don't know where they even came from. Cany anyone name one of their players. Two years ago the biggest payout we received came from UTEP, and it was a win. Nothing attracts recruits more than winning. Believe me you cannot say, hey come to UL, we got trounced on national TV four times.

About the Ole Miss game, that is my point exactly. We lost by fifteen in a year where we were 9-20, at their place. So if we have a good team and go in there, we might win. Do you know what would have happened if we would have gone in to Kansas or UCLA this year. Like Al Davis said, "just win baby".

I see both arguements. If you can go to a big name school, and even if you get trounced, you spread your name. Any pub is good pub. But, pulling an 2006 FAU football move isn't the best either. Getting a big payout from a BCS power is good, but also trying to work out a 2 for 1 with a Baylor, Ole Miss, MSU, LSU, or other BCS programs that usually aren't that good or are average teams, will work out too. the problem with playing those teams is readiness. A team like UL, at the beginning of the season, has a much smaller chance of actually pulling off the victory, just becasue most of the big schools have better talent for the msot part and can rely on that to win, happens all the time in football.

The thing i like about playing at ACC powers, Big Ten Powers, Kansas', TAMU's, etc. is the weathering by the other team's fans that our tema would get. I was at that Kansas game a couple years ago, and when i walked into the actual arena where the floor was, I thought to myself, "holy ____". I can only imagine what the players thought when they hit the floor a half an hour later when the arena was really full, and louder. and it never stopped. So if we can get a game or two like that, with 10k-15k rabid fans, then going in front of 3k at UNT will be like nothing.

I do agree that RL needs to scale back the scheduling for a couple years, until we can get some wins under our belts. then once we get the program to where it should be in a couple years, then we need to get back to scheduling lots more BCS games, and trying to get on TV and such.

And as far as the RPI argument, your record isn't weighted as much as your opponents records, and their opponents records.

[Cajun Express]

Thats good for ken pomeroy. I am not doubting his rankings or anything like that. However, that year when we were playing in the Sunbelt Conference tourney and our NCAA tournament resume came on screen, they showed our record versus people in the top 25 of the rpi. We were 1-2. When we beat Southern Illinois, they were ranked #15 in the rpi. So, if you honestly believe that a 40 point shilacking (spelling?) at Kansas helped our tournament resume more than beating #15 rpi Southern Illinois, you are not right. Kansas may have helped our strenght of schedule, but the new buzz word in NCAA tournement selection committee cirlces is "signature wins", not "signature 40 point blow outs"

Also, when is the last time you have seen Xavier of Ohio on TV. I don't know where they even came from. Cany anyone name one of their players. Two years ago the biggest payout we received came from UTEP, and it was a win. Nothing attracts recruits more than winning. Believe me you cannot say, hey come to UL, we got trounced on national TV four times.

About the Ole Miss game, that is my point exactly. We lost by fifteen in a year where we were 9-20, at their place. So if we have a good team and go in there, we might win. Do you know what would have happened if we would have gone in to Kansas or UCLA this year. Like Al Davis said, "just win baby".

I might be missing something, but don't these teams have to be willing to put you on their schedules on a given year. I mean you have a problem with Tennesee, Nevada and several others? I guess I don't think you can always get the schedule you or the coaches might want for lots of reasons.

[RaginEsquire06]

I do agree that RL needs to scale back the scheduling for a couple years, until we can get some wins under our belts. then once we get the program to where it should be in a couple years, then we need to get back to scheduling lots more BCS games, and trying to get on TV and such.

First off...I don't claim to be as informed as you guy's are regarding the pertinent didactics which cause or fail to cause a basketball program to be successful! You fellas are truly bonafide sports guru's and I love reading your post!

IMO...as a person who simply loves the game of college basketball, it seems to me that playing "top notch" out of conference basketball teams is totally viable and should always be considered. Playing teams with incredible basketball tradition and manned with elite talent like Duke, Tennessee, LSU, and Kansas will always be a "win-win" situation! Whether we win or lose, the benefits of playing such teams provides way too many positives to discount; such as, affirmative exposure, great pay-outs, and team pride which usually manifest from being associated with such prominent fan based schools. Don't forget that most kids coming out of high school want to be associated with top-notch conferences...so if they can't play for them because of their own personal lack of fortune or virtue...the next best thing is playing on a team that competes against these highly publicized and desirable conferences. As always, this will be a great recruiting tool...as there will always be more athletes who are "not" blessed with the innate, elites type physical attributes necessary to be recruited and ultimately signed by the aforementioned programs.

I think our main concern should be dominating and establishing a winning hierarchy in our own conference...whether our RPI is optimum or not...with success in our conference, good things are sure to follow for our program!

[SlappyCajun]

No, if you read the rest of my posts, I have no problem with the schedule. In fact, I was arguing quite to the contrary. This entire situation is hypothetical based on a completely new schedule. I don't think that you can get whoever you want on your schedule that is what I was saying. I was replying to another poster who said we should get instate Louisiana schools scheduled as our must win games. And we should go on the road to out of state schools for our big pay outs. You are correct. Obviously, the whole thing is contingent on who will actualy be willing to put you on the schedule.