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Post by bigdobber on Jan 6, 2009 8:18:41 GMT -5
Considering the success of the out of conference schedule, the expectations in the A10 have been raised. One thing that does stand out is our Strength of Schedule is quite low. Does anyone know where Schmidt and Watson want to take the out of conference schedule over the next few years?
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Post by njbona02 on Jan 6, 2009 10:15:26 GMT -5
I would assume that as we improve and grow the program the OOC will also improve. We did play 2 BCS teams this season and some teams are traditionally strong having por years such as princeton. In the next couple of seasons I would think some bigger names will lineour schedule.
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Post by towniegrad on Jan 6, 2009 12:23:05 GMT -5
It would be very nice if bona put some focus on eastern schools, regional competitors and some of the catholic colleges that have traditionally emphasized basketball. It would stimulate more fan interest and better regional media coverage.
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Post by bona1977 on Jan 6, 2009 12:34:22 GMT -5
You are right towniegrad. It is Watson's intent to upgrade the schedule, but only after we have upgraded out talent. You will see next year a more challenging schedule, with more of a local flavor.
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Post by tomangelone on Jan 6, 2009 12:55:14 GMT -5
You are right towniegrad. It is Watson's intent to upgrade the schedule, but only after we have upgraded out talent. You will see next year a more challenging schedule, with more of a local flavor. Do I smell teams like UB, Syracuse, or maybe Siena?
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Post by West End Stench on Jan 6, 2009 13:11:11 GMT -5
You are right towniegrad. It is Watson's intent to upgrade the schedule, but only after we have upgraded out talent. You will see next year a more challenging schedule, with more of a local flavor. Do I smell teams like UB, Syracuse, or maybe Siena? And hopefully Albany, mostly for the purpose of them being "local"... I won't go so far as to call them "challenging". I want nothing more than to beat Will Brown's teams as often as possible.
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Post by tomangelone on Jan 6, 2009 13:37:27 GMT -5
What about playing Penn State or Pitt? How about Cleveland State or Akron? I understand that a heck of a lot more goes into scheduling than waving a magic wand at teams falling in line with convenience, but all of these schools have had stellar '08-'09 campaigns and none are any farther than three to four hours from SBU.
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Post by bonabacker95 on Jan 6, 2009 14:44:34 GMT -5
Could also consider Toledo, Marquette, West Virginia, Seton Hall, St Johns, Quinnipac, Vermont, Boston College, Villanova, UCONN all in our region. I dont know how many are beneficial except Marquette, Pitt, UConn, and BC.
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Post by tomangelone on Jan 6, 2009 14:57:30 GMT -5
Could also consider Toledo, Marquette, West Virginia, Seton Hall, St Johns, Quinnipac, Vermont, Boston College, Villanova, UCONN all in our region. I dont know how many are beneficial except Marquette, Pitt, UConn, and BC. Jim Calhoun insisted he'll never schedule SBU again after the 88-70 drubbing JR Bremer and Marques Green laid on him in 2001-2002. I'm not sure why he said that. Does he expect OOC opponents to just come in and lay down against the Huskies? At any rate, I doubt we'll see UConn any time soon.
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Post by Sipowicz on Jan 6, 2009 15:26:01 GMT -5
I've also heard over the years, that ST. JOHN's does not want to schedule us either.
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Post by triple302 on Jan 6, 2009 16:17:25 GMT -5
I think playing a game or 2 against Cleveland area opponents is a decent idea. It seems to be the only local city that we don't visit all of that often and there are some good progams around there. Also, expanding some play against the big east is a great idea. I am not saying we should play Pitt, UCONN or any of the other powers, but playing mid level big east teams and competing will show recruits that going to SBU and being a star is much better than being a role player at a team like St. Johns or Rutgers.
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Post by bigdobber on Jan 6, 2009 16:27:10 GMT -5
From what I remember the problem always seems to be getting teams to Olean. I just wonder if taking a page out of Temple's strategy of playing 4-5 top teams on the road is worth pursuing as the program develops. I received a call from someone who insists that the Bonnies are back and heading for a top 50 ranking over the next 2-3 years, adding that the staff feels very high on the guys who will be available for next year. We only lose Carter and Benson. It just seems to me that if you are aiming at that kind of ranking that the out of conference schedule must be getting beefed up. I think you will see some big games over the next few years on our schedule but expect them on the road. You will not get the Big East to come up here in my opinion. Based on our current road record, it seems like we play well on the road, so this may be the way we go.
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Post by ceharv on Jan 6, 2009 20:58:42 GMT -5
bigdobber - you hit the nail on the head. We can probably sched all these teams as long as we don't insist on a return trip. Not too long ago, didn't both Pitt and Seton Hall buy their way out of a return trip? We're likely going to need to sched one-way trips for a while if we want to play just about any big east team or similar conference. Have to say tho, when you can pull off the upset on the road, it is a thing of beauty - I was at the Pitt upset with Winn and Palmer here in the 'burgh. I can still recall how quiet their old gym was at the end, with a bunch of us taking our lives in our hands chanting "this is Bona territory." I'm sure those in attendance at the UConn game have similar memories. Can't wait to get back to that!
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Post by Bona84 on Jan 6, 2009 21:24:42 GMT -5
Clearly home and homes with a return at the RC are preferable. But, if we can get some scheduling commitments with some return games in Buffalo or Rochester for some of the Big Boys, I think we should do so.
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Post by thebonafan08 on Jan 6, 2009 22:42:09 GMT -5
Do I smell teams like UB, Syracuse, or maybe Siena? And hopefully Albany, mostly for the purpose of them being "local"... I won't go so far as to call them "challenging". I want nothing more than to beat Will Brown's teams as often as possible. Will Brown said after the game on the safe confines of his radio show he and the athletic director will never schedule a game with Saint Bonaventure after the last game. Will Brown is a piece of shit. I am so happy we have Schmidt and am very happy I had the opportunity to make signs for the game that got published in the Albany times union, personally mentioned by Will Brown and of course my post that was also put in Albany Times Unione. Now that it is done with I personally hope to never see Albany on the schedule as long as that prick is the coach. I agree with most of the sentiment here, teams like seton hall, st. johns would be great but trying to get a big east team out to Olean is pretty hard.
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