2024 - 2025 Schedule Thread

[billiken_roy]

the difficulty of constructing a good schedule imo is a product of the changing times of the NCAA.  we are in the midst of D-1 being separated and the big boys as pete described above arent about to let us play in their sandbox if they can at all help it.  our only chance is to begin dominating our conference, winning just about every game and getting into the second and third round of the NCAA tourney.   basically we become the Gonzaga of the midwest.   if we do not, i believe we are doomed to be left behind with 200+ other current D-1 teams and will be nothing more than a new subset of the NCAA.  

 

[slu72]

It’s a bummer not playing any P6 teams, but maybe a blessing in disguise. While I remain cautiously optimistic about this year I think it’s going to be a season of OJT and improving as the season progresses. Hopefully we’ll have the momentum going into DC and win the tourney. Unless we go like 30-3 in reg season our only shot at the dance is taking all the marbles in DC. 

[billikenfan05]

It's pretty simple. Travis Ford just stopped working on the future when he knew his time was up. Am I disappointed with the schedule, sure. But at least Schertz doesn't seem like he's just guessing.

[ACE]

5 hours ago, billiken_roy said:

the difficulty of constructing a good schedule imo is a product of the changing times of the NCAA.  we are in the midst of D-1 being separated and the big boys as pete described above arent about to let us play in their sandbox if they can at all help it.  our only chance is to begin dominating our conference, winning just about every game and getting into the second and third round of the NCAA tourney.   basically we become the Gonzaga of the midwest.   if we do not, i believe we are doomed to be left behind with 200+ other current D-1 teams and will be nothing more than a new subset of the NCAA.  

 

Yep, Ford talked about it his last couple years here. I know his name is a four-letter word, but he was right, because Schertz is saying the exact same thing about the challenges of scheduling for programs like SLU. Home-homes against schools like Seton Hall, Auburn and Kansas State will likely be a thing of the past. There is absolutely no incentive for P6 schools to schedule those any more. Neutral site games are about our only chance. Scheduling games against quality teams, but not big name opponents, like Utah State and Boise State is about the best we're going to be able to do. This issue is bigger than SLU, it's about the state of college basketball.

[HoosierPal]

There is always two sides to every story, but Bradley Coach Brian Wardle, went on You Tube two days before our schedule dropped, asking for two games, either home or away.   It sure would have been nice to have Bradley on the schedule over Billy Woods or Avila.   

I'll assume that he and Schertz talked and that we couldn't work a date out.  But that is the side of the story we haven't heard, nor will we.

[Lord Elrond]

The best way to get SLU some games against P6 teams is to get into an MTE. Maybe the St Louis tourism commission could start up an MTE at Enterprise Center and include the Billikens?

[longtimelistenerfirsttimec]

as i posted before i do not think the MVC  has any interest in helping SLU or this coach in anyway we stole their best  coach and their most marketable player (with all due respect to Drake fans who think they lost the best coach)

[Compton]

1 hour ago, ACE said:

Yep, Ford talked about it his last couple years here. I know his name is a four-letter word, but he was right, because Schertz is saying the exact same thing about the challenges of scheduling for programs like SLU. Home-homes against schools like Seton Hall, Auburn and Kansas State will likely be a thing of the past. There is absolutely no incentive for P6 schools to schedule those any more. Neutral site games are about our only chance. Scheduling games against quality teams, but not big name opponents, like Utah State and Boise State is about the best we're going to be able to do. This issue is bigger than SLU, it's about the state of college basketball.

I agree with all of that. If home-homes are a thing of the past, neutral sites are hard to schedule, and MTEs are unreliable, it might be worth considering away games (gasp!), which can be better for NET and not much different than a neutral site game from a fan perspective. There are good solutions to the challenges faced by schools like SLU, and none of them include playing two D-II games. Regional match-ups and rivalries should be nurtured. There was nothing wrong with playing SIU-C every year. Other folks have called for Bradley and/or Drake. Missouri St. is in a new conference. We now have two potential D-I cross-town opponents. P5 teams may have "absolutely no incentive" to schedule us (for home-homes), the same goes for us scheduling D-II programs (at all). That's what the pre-season/exhibitions are for.

[3star_recruit]

8 minutes ago, Compton said:

I agree with all of that. If home-homes are a thing of the past, neutral sites are hard to schedule, and MTEs are unreliable, it might be worth considering away games (gasp!), which can be better for NET and not much different than a neutral site game from a fan perspective. There are good solutions to the challenges faced by schools like SLU, and none of them include playing two D-II games. Regional match-ups and rivalries should be nurtured. There was nothing wrong with playing SIU-C every year. Other folks have called for Bradley and/or Drake. Missouri St. is in a new conference. We now have two potential D-I cross-town opponents. P5 teams may have "absolutely no incentive" to schedule us (for home-homes), the same goes for us scheduling D-II programs (at all). That's what the pre-season/exhibitions are for.

If there are good solutions to the challenges faced by schools like SLU then why are so many schools not exercising them?

[Compton]

9 minutes ago, 3star_recruit said:

If there are good solutions to the challenges faced by schools like SLU then why are so many schools not exercising them?

That's just the thing! A lot of schools are exercising them. It's SLU that's coming up short. Let's take a look at games scheduled against P5 and D-II schools by teams that finished in the bottom 2/3 of the A10 last year: 

• Duquesne - P5 Games: 1, D-II games: 1
• Bonnies - 1, 1
• George Mason - 2, 1
• St. Joseph - 3, 0 
• LaSalle - 1, 1
• Rhode Island - 1, 1 
• Fordham - 3 (possibly 4), 1 
• Davidson - 2, 1 
• SLU  - 0, 2
• GW - 1, 1 

One team has the least P5 games and most D-II games. 

[Aquinas]

I understand there is no TV for this exhibition game, but does anyone  know if there is a radio broadcast?

[dlarry]

On 10/7/2024 at 10:55 AM, Compton said:

I agree with all of that. If home-homes are a thing of the past, neutral sites are hard to schedule, and MTEs are unreliable, it might be worth considering away games (gasp!), which can be better for NET and not much different than a neutral site game from a fan perspective. There are good solutions to the challenges faced by schools like SLU, and none of them include playing two D-II games. Regional match-ups and rivalries should be nurtured. There was nothing wrong with playing SIU-C every year. Other folks have called for Bradley and/or Drake. Missouri St. is in a new conference. We now have two potential D-I cross-town opponents. P5 teams may have "absolutely no incentive" to schedule us (for home-homes), the same goes for us scheduling D-II programs (at all). That's what the pre-season/exhibitions are for.

I'd be OK with scheduling 2 for 1's with bordering state schools. When the 2 for 1 cycle is over hopefully the program is up and running and schools wont be as hesitant to play at Chaifetz. 

If/when Schertz gets us where we want to be the scheduling will begin to take care of itself. 

[brianstl]

The fact that it appears that SLU has to have 18 home games at Chaifetz makes scheduling more difficult. It limits the dates you have available for neutral site games, it makes it pretty much impossible to schedule a home and home when a P5 program would demand the SLU home game at Enterprise and limits the number of 2 for 1’s you can have on the same schedule cycle.

[gobillsgo]

11 hours ago, brianstl said:

The fact that it appears that SLU has to have 18 home games at Chaifetz makes scheduling more difficult. It limits the dates you have available for neutral site games, it makes it pretty much impossible to schedule a home and home when a P5 program would demand the SLU home game at Enterprise and limits the number of 2 for 1’s you can have on the same schedule cycle.

I’ve said it before, and maybe I’m wrong on this, but I think most season ticket holders would happily give up a home game vs Avila for a top 40ish game at a neutral site or on the road.  I know I would. Maybe those in the expensive seats don’t agree. 

[shempie]

2 hours ago, gobillsgo said:

I’ve said it before, and maybe I’m wrong on this, but I think most season ticket holders would happily give up a home game vs Avila for a top 40ish game at a neutral site or on the road.  I know I would. Maybe those in the expensive seats don’t agree. 

Can the athletic department/arena afford to give up the revenue though? I would bet that is the main driver behind the number of home games.

[thunderdan]

Anyone else get tickets for Illinois St.? Lots of great seats available, and pretty cheap (I got 3, in the front row, for $17 each).

https://goredbirds.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:ISU:B24:B05:&linkID=illinoisst&dataAccId=798&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_illinoisst

[VeniceMenace]

On 10/15/2024 at 8:36 AM, Aquinas said:

I understand there is no TV for this exhibition game, but does anyone  know if there is a radio broadcast?

No broadcast (per KMOX) and no Robbie Avila for Rockhurst game...limited action for Avila in the following exhibition, per CJS on KMOX this morning.

[Aquinas]

1 hour ago, VeniceMenace said:

No broadcast (per KMOX) and no Robbie Avila for Rockhurst game...limited action for Avila in the following exhibition, per CJS on KMOX this morning.

Ugh. Thanks for getting  back to me. 

[HoosierPal]

 

[Pistol]

22 hours ago, thunderdan said:

Anyone else get tickets for Illinois St.? Lots of great seats available, and pretty cheap (I got 3, in the front row, for $17 each).

https://goredbirds.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventInfo?ticketCode=GS:ISU:B24:B05:&linkID=illinoisst&dataAccId=798&locale=en_US&siteId=ev_illinoisst

I was planning on going and taking the kids to this one, but the later start makes it challenging. We'd be getting home at about 10:30 Eastern time on a school night.