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Post by blackpantheruwm on Jul 25, 2010 1:13:01 GMT -5
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Post by vu72 on Jul 25, 2010 8:07:25 GMT -5
A very well thought out piece. While I don't diagree with your comments about the value of Valpo getting blown out at places like Michigan State, I think you need to remember that these games are sometimes scheduled years in advance. The Valpo team who was blown out (nine new players and a bunch of freshman) won't be the Valpo team who would play them this year. So keep your scheduling eyes and ears open as Valpo is putting together a schedule that will be as tough as anyone in the conference (Kansas, Purdue etc)with a much improved home schedule as well. Now, we just need to win a couple of those and this year just may be the year we accomplish such wins.
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Post by dylanrocks on Jul 25, 2010 8:27:34 GMT -5
I think all he's saying, 72, is that it's fine if you overschedule slightly with, say, Wisconsin and Purdue. But don't go overboard with Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette and Duke, too.
... and leave the low-majors (Georgia Southern, Troy, IPFW) and no-majors (IU-South Bend, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Concordia University Wisconsin) on your baker's shelves.
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Post by wh on Jul 25, 2010 8:44:46 GMT -5
If your point is that scheduling needs to become an ingredient in the cake rather than icing, I completely agree. However, the critically indispensable ingredient will always be recruiting, for which there is no substitute. Look at the MVC. Just a few years ago, creative non-conference scheduling was being credited for elevating team RPI's and earning them multiple bids in the tournament. But look at them over the past 3 or 4 years - same scheduling philosophy, but only 1-bid. Why? Simply put, the talent pool at schools like S. Illinois, Bradley, Drake and others just isn't what it used to be. In the three years we have been part of the HL, only Butler has been strong enough to earn at-large consideration. The other 27 rosters have been no where close. If anyone hopes to make that leap, they are going to have to start recruiting higher rated players than the ones they've had. So far, the only clear evidence I see of that happening is several players for Detroit and Jay Harris for Valpo. Everyone elses best recruits appear to be status quo for the best players they lost. That isn't going to get the job done.
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Post by dylanrocks on Jul 27, 2010 7:30:49 GMT -5
Kyle Kelm, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound second-team all-state player, is rated pretty highly. He was a major-level recruit until he broke his foot prior to his senior year. Still, he returned to play every meaningful minute of every game and led his team to an unbeaten season.
It appears to me that there's quite an infusion of talent coming into the league this year.
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