Non Conference Basketball

[talktomewillis]

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.)

[cjr3888]

I’d say this is better than previous schedules and a step in the right direction for home games.

[talktomewillis]

Here's the entire schedule, complete with dates:

https://ragincajuns.com/schedule.aspx?path=mbball

[cajun_lannister]

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.)

Like the one d2 school and UC Santa Barbara is a pretty good top 150 team.

Youngstown State is pretty terrible but better than Costa Rica Junior College

Seems like Maggards involvement has helped

[CajunT]

I’d say this is better than previous schedules and a step in the right direction for home games.

Agree 100%! Outside of Loyola, this is the type of schedule we need to play yearly.

[ULvictory]

Hey, it’s a schedule I can get on board with! Time to give credit where credit is due.

Well done to Dr. Maggard and the coaching staff.

Also to add, I see we play Detroit Mercy in Vegas. Isn’t Justin Miller there now?

[RaginDave]

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

[Hatch]

Hey, it’s a schedule I can get on board with! Time to give credit where credit is due.

Well done to Dr. Maggard and the coaching staff.

Also to add, I see we play Detroit Mercy in Vegas. Isn’t Justin Miller there now?

Yes Detroit Mercy is where Miller went. Not sure if he was granted eligibility for this season or if he will be sitting as a transfer.

[Hatch]

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.)

It has been referenced before that the Youngstown and UCSB games would be money games with no return. Was any further info released on that?

[CajunRebel]

So how much did we pay for the 293rd ranked team to come play at the Cajundome?

[Cajunsmike]

It has been referenced before that the Youngstown and UCSB games would be money games with no return. Was any further info released on that?

I was told money from the MTE we are in allowed us to buy Youngstown State and UC Santa Barbara. We won't be going to those places. MTE involves road games against Wyoming and TCU along with the two in Vegas. From what I understand Cal Irvine did well last year. If we play them in Vegas, it will be a good test. Regardless of the source of the funds, good to see that we are buying games for the second year in a row. Dr. Maggard actually believes one non D1 game is OK as somewhat of a tuneup. We probably will play two "secret" scrimmages against nearby D1 schools to help us prepare for the year as no exhibitions are listed. I don't expect to see more than one non D1 going forward. Someone said Youngstown State was terrible. They did struggle last year with a 12 and 20 record. However their conference record was 8 and 10 with most of their conference victories late in the season. They also return just about their entire team. They are in the same league (pretty sure it is the Horizon) as Illinois-Chicago which reached the Final Four in 2018 (remember Sister Jean). I don't expect that game to be a cakewalk. I believe they are the school that took awhile to sign the contract delaying the full release until now. Some were hoping it would be released last week. Cal Santa Barbara won over 20 games last year, were 10 and 6 in the Big West, and lost in the conference tournament semi finals. They also return several players including their best guy who was one of the best inside performers in the Big West last year. That game will definitely be a challenge. I imagine most fans prefer playing teams from the Horizon and Big West than the SWAC. However, Prairie View turned out to be good last year. McNeese will be much improved with all their transfers eligible. The non conference schedule should help us prepare for conference play all the way around this season. I also noted that the road games at LA Tech and ULM are on Saturdays. That makes it easy for fans to attend. Finally, Justin Miller did transfer to Detroit Mercy. From what I understand, he was not granted a waiver and must sit out the upcoming season. If we do play them in Vegas, not sure how much he can tell his team about us due to all the new guys we will have.

[talktomewillis]

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

The RPI is no longer valid in college basketball