Should LB change his stance on playing against ex-coaches?

[ponyinNC]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I seem to remember a quote from HCLB that stated something like - "I don't want to schedule games against people I've coached with"...or something to that effect.

Given his prestige amongst coaches, and his standing in the basketball community, I would think, if he wanted to, HCLB could get a game against just about anyone in the nation. His coaching tree is more like a forest.

Also, given the fact that we missed the tourney this year for lack of OOC scheduling, I have to ask the question - should HCLB call in some favors and get some home and homes with the likes of Kansas, Kentucky, UNC, Nova, Maryland, UCLA, et al?

It is obvious that the big boys in the B12 won't schedule us (aside from TCU) for home and home series. Brown has already stated that BU, UT OKST have no desire to schedule lil ole SMU.

HCLB doesn't seem to be the type of guy that calls in favors (although he is the Godfather, so why not??). But perhaps, in this rare case, he needs to.

[Rebel10]

He said that he would want to play them in the NCAA tournament but not regular season. I have no problem with that.

[ponyinNC]

He said that he would want to play them in the NCAA tournament but not regular season. I have no problem with that.

Yes, but how do we get to the tourney without playing those type of teams?

Just food for thought. I have nothing but respect for LB so I obviously defer to his better judgment.

[leopold]

Obviously this discounts a number of high profile programs, but we there should be more than enough left over to help our OOC sked. We played Virginia, A&M, and Arky this year alone, we're scheduling Indiana, we will be okay.

Trust Larry at this juncture. He knows what he's doing.

[Rebel10]

There are more good teams out there than KU, UNC, UC, and Maryland.

[ponyinNC]

There are more good teams out there than KU, UNC, UC, and Maryland.

obviously. but if we have trouble scheduling them?

Bottom line is I trust in Larry, so my opinion isn't really worth jack squat.

[Pony147]

I don't think that is our problem. The top of our schedule is fine (assuming that most of LB's friends are coaches at good schools). I think our ceiling is fine, we just need to raise the floor.
Just my opinion

[mrydel]

Our scheduling problem was not the high level teams, but rather the low level teams. We need to stay away from the 200+ RPI and schedule some 100-150 RPI. That along with Ark, IU, NCSU, and our conference is a good start. We do not have to play all top ranked teams.

[East Coast Mustang]

Considering what LB has done for this program in 23 months, he can schedule the Iranian national team for all I care

[Rebel10]

Our scheduling problem was not the high level teams, but rather the low level teams. We need to stay away from the 200+ RPI and schedule some 100-150 RPI. That along with Ark, IU, NCSU, and our conference is a good start. We do not have to play all top ranked teams.

That really sums it up imo. We need more mid range teams on the schedule.

[LA_Mustang]

mrydel is right. Look at BYU's schedule. It is ranked 17th toughest, which I still don't really understand how it is that tough, but they played five tourney team OOC (Iowa St, UT, UMass, Oregon and Wichita St.). Those are all good teams but not exactly murders row. They also scheduled a few middle of the road schools (Utah St, Stanford and Utah) and a couple of terrible schools (Prairie View A&M and UNT).

I know it's impossible to predict which teams will make the tourney and which teams will be down but we've got to replace a few of the Texas-PA, Ark-PB and McNeese St with 75-150 RPI type schools

[East Coast Mustang]

How on Earth did Tennessee get in over us? They only beat two tournament teams (UVa in a rout and Xavier) and played in the SEC which was abysmal this year.

[Alaric]

I believe LB also nuanced these remarks by saying he would ask them to schedule SMU in the future if we needed them to (for rpi, exposure, etc) - didn't he say that somewhere?

Beat the Anteaters. BTW, the cali schools have some great mascots (anteaters, gauchos, banana slugs)