Non Conference Basketball

[ZoomZoom]

UL has released their non conference schedule

HOME: Loyola (non D-1), McNeese, Southeastern, Youngstown State, UC Santa Barbara

AWAY: Arizona State, TCU, Wyoming, Louisiana Tech

NEUTRAL: Las Vegas tournament (UC Irvine, Detroit Mercy, TBA (we think it's Eastern Mich.)

Basically replaced Nicholls and UNO with Youngstown State and UCSB. Perception is an upgrade. Reality, neither moves the strength of schedule or crowd size in a positive manner. I'm content letting Nicholls and especially UNO rot on the SLC vine. UNO's pecking order in NOLA region has always been 4th at best. "Scooter" will out hustle UNO on any player they are competing for.

Yes, renewed our tickets.

[Cajunsmike]

Basically replaced Nicholls and UNO with Youngstown State and UCSB. Perception is an upgrade. Reality, neither moves the strength of schedule or crowd size in a positive manner. I'm content letting Nicholls and especially UNO rot on the SLC vine. UNO's pecking order in NOLA region has always been 4th at best. "Scooter" will out hustle UNO on any player they are competing for.

Yes, renewed our tickets.

You are correct in that crowd size won't be impacted by the Big West or Horizon Teams. However, Jay said today that UC Santa Barbara may be one of the best non conference teams we have had here for the regular season in a few years. They probably do improve strength of schedule. As far as RPI goes, I don't pay as much attention to it as much as how teams finish in their league. Reason is the RPI is so heavily schedule based it can give a false barometer of a team's ability. . A team could play 6 or 7 money games on the road and struggle in most of those but still be a decent club when they play on neutral sites. Ever notice how the number of road teams winning increases when conference play starts. Reason is familiarity with opponents and venues to some degree but you are not using officials against you to start with. All of this is why RPI was done away with. Wish they could find something to replace it in baseball as well.

[Hatch]

Basically replaced Nicholls and UNO with Youngstown State and UCSB. Perception is an upgrade. Reality, neither moves the strength of schedule or crowd size in a positive manner. I'm content letting Nicholls and especially UNO rot on the SLC vine. UNO's pecking order in NOLA region has always been 4th at best. "Scooter" will out hustle UNO on any player they are competing for.

Yes, renewed our tickets.

I think a better comparison would be to say that Youngstown and UCSB replaced Southern and Prairie View as those were the money games last year. The SLC teams we have played recently have been home and homes or a 2 for 1 as we are finishing with SLU this year. Having a few somewhat regional home and home series is needed in my opinion. Getting a Southern Miss, Tulane, or Houston in a home and home would be a big step in the right direction but that is much easier said than done. Maybe Coach Marlin can call Hunter and remind him of that gift for his grandchild a few years back and see if he wants to return the favor.

[wcd35]

2018 Season Ending RPI for Non Conference Games

N/A Loyola (N.O.) FYI they are NAIA not D2.
333 McNeese State
49 Texas Christian
293 Youngstown State
329 Wyoming
61 UC Irvine
248 Detroit Mercy
N/A TBD--TEAM TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER
228 SLU
39 Arizona State
103 La Tech
163 UCSB

Better comparison is using the NET ranking which is the official ranking NCAA uses now. Doesnt change a whole lot in general; some go up and some down:

Final 2018:
N/A Loyola (N.O.)
327 McNeese State
47 Texas Christian
262 Youngstown State
323 Wyoming
71 UC Irvine
233 Detroit Mercy
N/A TBD
249 SLU
62 Arizona State
123 La Tech
164 UCSB