NCAA hoops: 2016-2017 edition

[U-Ute]

Exhibition games are underway. If you can call them "games".

Kentucky: 156
Asbury: 63

Not a typo.

[snafu]

The vaunted Arizona Wildcats beat Chico State 78-70 at home.

[chrisrenrut]

The vaunted Arizona Wildcats beat Chico State 78-70 at home.

They may have had the equipment manager and towel boy playing as reserves. They had Smith retire due to an ACL injury (his third in 30 months), Comanche is out for academic reasons, and Trier is not suiting up for games for unknown reasons. I thought I read where they only had 7 scholarship players available for one exhibition game.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

So Chris Reyes made his debut as a Wave tonight. Dude shoots 10-11 and scores a solid 20 points.


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[sancho]

Frank Jackson has been great for duke so far.

[sancho]

I watched Oregon yesterday. They lost, but they are clearly good as expected. Athletic ballers all over the place. I think Dillon Brooks got a new tattoo on his chest.

The Pac-12 so far:

Arizona, 1 good win (MSU), no losses, Lousy Finn who should have been a Ute is tearing it up.
CU, loss to Notre Dame
Cal, loss to SDSU
UW, loss to Yale
ASU, losses to UNI and Davidson
WSU, losses to Creighton, and Loyola (chicago)
Oregon, losses to Baylor and Georgetown
OSU, losses to Lamar and Nevada
USC, a good win (@ Texas A&M)
UCLA, nothing really
Utah, nothing at all
Stanford, wins vs Harvard and CSU (are those good wins?)

So the conference has two good wins so far. Tennessee/Oregon and Texas/CU today.

[sancho]

Oregon/Tennessee going to OT on ESPN2.

Edit: Brooks with the game winning 3.

[Old Standing ute]

Ogbe averaging 24 minutes, 14 points, 3 rebounds, shooting over 60% from field & from 3.

at UVU.

[Rocker Ute]

Giac resigns at Drake. I think he is probably a good assistant coach, but not a head coach.

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/806237776500797440

Wonder what Mark Few thinks of all of this.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

Colorado keeping things close with Xavier early in the second half.


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[Dwight Schr-Ute]

Colorado pulled off the win. Washington getting boat raced by Gonzaga.


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[sancho]

Colorado pulled off the win. Washington getting boat raced by Gonzaga.


Xavier with back to back road losses. We are not going to Cincy at a good time.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

Xavier with back to back road losses. We are not going to Cincy at a good time.

Are you kidding?! They're going to be absolutely demoralized. They're going to look across at Van Dyke, and Rawson, and Johnson and tell each other, there's no way we can hang with these guys. And we roll.


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[Applejack]

Giac resigns at Drake. I think he is probably a good assistant coach, but not a head coach.

https://twitter.com/jeffborzello/status/806237776500797440

Wonder what Mark Few thinks of all of this.

I'm going to call for a trademark ruling on your avatar.

[LA Ute]

Wonder what Mark Few thinks of all of this.

I hope that whenever anyone thinking of hiring a head basketball coach asks Few for a recommendation, he gives one, but adds a standard caveat:

"I must disclose that I once enthusiastically recommended Ray Giacoletti as a D1 head coach."

[sancho]

There's something wrong with this world if Bryce Alford can be a starter on a top 5 team.

[U-Ute]

There's something wrong with this world if Bryce Alford can be a starter on a top 5 team.

You can calm your nerves when you realize that its because of Ball and despite Alford.

[DrumNFeather]

Iowa coach refuses to shake hands with North Dakota players and coaches after a North Dakota player steels the ball from an Iowa player at the end of the game and tries to score: http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/watch-north-dakotas-final-play-pompts-iowa-coach-to-leave-floor-without-handshake/

[LA Ute]

What will Grayson Allen learn from his suspension? Here's some advice

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18331439/jay-williams-offers-duke-grayson-allen-some-advice-how-become-better-player-person

What do you all think?

[sancho]

What will Grayson Allen learn from his suspension? Here's some advice

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18331439/jay-williams-offers-duke-grayson-allen-some-advice-how-become-better-player-person

What do you all think?

I didn't read it, but I think there is some potential for addition by subtraction for Duke. Allen has not been shooting well, and he's a bit out of control. This is a great chance for Frank Jackson.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

This is great.

814681153693159424


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[LA Ute]

This is great.

814681153693159424


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LOL!


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[U-Ute]

LOL!


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The best part is when the guy puts his arm around him.

[U-Ute]

What's the latest with Seely? Will we see him this year?

[Diehard Ute]

What's the latest with Seely? Will we see him this year?

Nope. Redshirting.


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[DrumNFeather]

Butler knocks off #1 Villanova.

[UtahsMrSports]

so this could be big......

http://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2017/01/13/ncaa-tournament-selection-process-to-consider-using-different-metrics-analytics/?utm_network=twitter&utm_post=6730324&utm_source=TW%20%40NBCSports&utm_tags=srm%5Bcollege%20basketball%5D

[sancho]

Who do y'all follow on twitter for national college basketball? I have a list of guys I like for football, but I can't really find anyone for basketball. Luke Winn of SI hardly ever posts. Seth Davis of SI spams my feed with non-sports stuff, and his basketball stuff is rarely insightful. Goodman of ESPN posts about nearly every roster move across the country but doesn't give much by way of opinion or analysis.

[UtahsMrSports]

Who do y'all follow on twitter for national college basketball? I have a list of guys I like for football, but I can't really find anyone for basketball. Luke Winn of SI hardly ever posts. Seth Davis of SI spams my feed with non-sports stuff, and his basketball stuff is rarely insightful. Goodman of ESPN posts about nearly every roster move across the country but doesn't give much by way of opinion or analysis.

Jon Rothstein I think his name is is ok.

[sancho]

#1,2,3,4 have all lost over the past few days.

Congrats two utes.

[Mormon Red Death]

#1,2,3,4 have all lost over the past few days.

Congrats two utes.
Yeah that was a heck of a game last night.

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[The Thrill]

Looks like Utah is slowly creeping into the top 25. Jon Wilner with the only vote for Utah at 25. Obviously beating Oregon should do it.
Does Gonzaga move to #1?

http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/team/u/2016

[U-Ute]

Looks like Utah is slowly creeping into the top 25. Jon Wilner with the only vote for Utah at 25. Obviously beating Oregon should do it.
Does Gonzaga move to #1?

http://collegepolltracker.com/basketball/team/u/2016


I hope not. There are too many Cougar fans that would use it as justification when Gonzaga pummels them by 20 about how great BYU is.

[sancho]

#6 FSU goes down at Syracuse. #9 UNC getting blown out at Miami. #14 ND lost to GT. #15 Wiscy in OT at Rutgers.

I think basketball is wide open this season.

[Dwight Schr-Ute]

This clip is fantastic!

825421110745366529


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[sancho]

Do you enjoy watching officials take over games? Turn on duke/wake for a ridiculous whistle fest.

[Hayes6]

Do you enjoy watching officials take over games? Turn on duke/wake for a ridiculous whistle fest.

Duke suks lol

[sancho]

Duke suks lol

great comeback in a horrible game

Duke took a timeout at the end down one, and it worked.

[sancho]

Why do Oregon's stars all look like they are in their 30s?

[justaute]

Colorado has a real chance of upsetting Oregon.

[sancho]

Colorado has a real chance of upsetting Oregon.

Wish it were us handing them a loss, but it sure is fun to see Oregon go down in a full pout.

[justaute]

Over. Oregon has never won at CU, but it owns Utah. sigh...

[sancho]

Duke/Unc with another great one.

Ucla with an incredible comeback to beat the ducks.

[justaute]

Duke/Unc with another great one.

Ucla with an incredible comeback to beat the ducks.

Duck/Bruins...terrific game. Ball just took control at the end of the game. That step-back, long 3. Wow.

[Scorcho]

Duck/Bruins...terrific game. Ball just took control at the end of the game. That step-back, long 3. Wow.

he has the craziest release of a shot, it works but its funky

[DrumNFeather]

The NCAA Selection Committee released their first bracket today with the top 16 teams and among those are: Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon, with the Ducks currently getting sent out West, and UCLA heading to New York and Arizona to Tennessee.

They brought Jerry Palm on to project the rest of the bracket, and he had 5 Pac 12 teams in pretty comfortably:

2 - Oregon
3 - Arizona
4 - UCLA
7 - USC
8 - Cal

[snafu]

If we could just sneak in to the dance this year that would be a huge accomplishment for this team after all the changeover. That would be three years in a row and we could keep building momentum going forward. Make it happen Utes!

[sancho]

Watching Gonzaga beat St Mary's while I wait for the Pac-12 games to start.

Quick - without looking it up, what are St Mary's quality wins?

By the way, the worst charge/block call of the year - the one vs SFU - cost us top 50 and top 100 RPI wins.

[DrumNFeather]

Watching Gonzaga beat St Mary's while I wait for the Pac-12 games to start.

Quick - without looking it up, what are St Mary's quality wins?

By the way, the worst charge/block call of the year - the one vs SFU - cost us top 50 and top 100 RPI wins.
Yeah - USF at 94...ISU at 36 or so...even if we split last week you're talking about 4 RPI top 100 wins.

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[DrumNFeather]

Here's a nutty stat for you...of the teams currently in the RPI top 100, 23 of them are sub .500 in their conferences. By my count...at least 5 of those teams are currently projected to be in the field by Joe Lunardi.

[snafu]

It seems Mark Few has some bitter feelings towards the fans in SLC. The Zags are widely expected to play in SLC for their opening round games as the overall number 1 seed in the West. As much as I want to root for the Zags I just can't get there. I hope they get bounced in SLC again.

"Few recalled that scene in Tuesday's postgame news conference. When I asked if he would welcome another assignment to Salt Lake City, he said, "If they want to cheer for us, yeah. If they do that crap they did last time, then no. … If we have a following, make it some kind of advantage for us."

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5027589-155/kragthorpe-gonzaga-should-be-coming-to

[Diehard Ute]

It seems Mark Few has some bitter feelings towards the fans in SLC. The Zags are widely expected to play in SLC for their opening round games as the overall number 1 seed in the West. As much as I want to root for the Zags I just can't get there. I hope they get bounced in SLC again.

"Few recalled that scene in Tuesday's postgame news conference. When I asked if he would welcome another assignment to Salt Lake City, he said, "If they want to cheer for us, yeah. If they do that crap they did last time, then no. … If we have a following, make it some kind of advantage for us."

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5027589-155/kragthorpe-gonzaga-should-be-coming-to

The crap that every arena does....root for the underdog....a local underdog at that.

Few seems to forget he's not the underdog.


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[sancho]

As much as I want to root for the Zags

Why would any of us want to root for them? They are the only western power outside our conference. They pounded us last year. Few cancelled the NY Eve series we were going to have with them after we beat them. And they always blow it against our rival and give our rival a quality win. Gonzaga is easy to root against.

[snafu]

Why would any of us want to root for them?

Mostly because I have lived in WA for several years now.

[Utah]

It seems Mark Few has some bitter feelings towards the fans in SLC. The Zags are widely expected to play in SLC for their opening round games as the overall number 1 seed in the West. As much as I want to root for the Zags I just can't get there. I hope they get bounced in SLC again.

"Few recalled that scene in Tuesday's postgame news conference. When I asked if he would welcome another assignment to Salt Lake City, he said, "If they want to cheer for us, yeah. If they do that crap they did last time, then no. … If we have a following, make it some kind of advantage for us."

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5027589-155/kragthorpe-gonzaga-should-be-coming-to

Whatdidwe
What did SLC fans do to him last time he was here?

Did we throw things? Did we disrupt the game? Did we pour drinks on his players?

Or

Did we just boo?

If it's the latter...

[sancho]

Mostly because I have lived in WA for several years now.

All the more reason to root against them! They are the private school up there. Root for the schools your tax dollars support!

[Rocker Ute]

Whatdidwe
What did SLC fans do to him last time he was here?

Did we throw things? Did we disrupt the game? Did we pour drinks on his players?

Or

Did we just boo?

If it's the latter...

Few is a pansy still torqued about the whole Giac thing. Last time they were here there was a loud contingency cheering for the teams they were playing, bolstered by local fans looking for the defeat. I doubt anything was thrown at them or whatever (NCAA tournament makes that too hard for SLC fans to do that. The schools in the tournament have sections near the floor, the random SLC fan gets upper bowl seats etc.)

[utefansince79]

As for Few thinking it was crap for the local fans to cheer against them last time they played tourney games in Salt Lake, that's what comes with having a high seed. There was once a simply epic game between highly favored Zona and the Zags in the Hunty where fans were solidly cheering for Gonzaga to pull the upset. That's the way it goes in the tourney with many neutral fans cheering for the upset to happen.

[sancho]

Thank you, basketball gods, for a third Duke/Carolina game this season.

[sancho]

Thank you, basketball gods, for a third Duke/Carolina game this season.

Woo. Heckuva game.

[sancho]

Well, that Duke run was great. Four in a row.

So, who's your last 1-seed? People (including me) seem to think Gonzaga, Kansas, and Villanova are locks. But for the last spot, you have:

-UNC. Won the toughest conference in at least 5 years.
-Duke. A ton of top 50 wins. Won the ACC conference tournament. 2-1 vs UNC.
-Oregon/Arizona winner. Not as many top wins as UNC/Duke, but fewer losses too. Only one bad loss between them.
-Kentucky?

[sancho]

I can't remember the last time there were no at-large bid thiefs in the conference tournaments. Would have been a good year to be a bubble team.

[sancho]

Well, that Duke run was great. Four in a row.


Frank Jackson is what Lorenzo Bonam would be with better ball handling/outside shooting. I love watching both of them drive and finish at the rim.

[justaute]

Frank Jackson is what Lorenzo Bonam would be with better ball handling/outside shooting. I love watching both of them drive and finish at the rim.

I think Jackson also has much higher BB IQ.

[UTEopia]

Frank Jackson is what Lorenzo Bonam would be with better ball handling/outside shooting. I love watching both of them drive and finish at the rim.

With more explosiveness and athleticism, I would be Frank Jackson.

[LA Ute]

With more explosiveness and athleticism, I would be Frank Jackson.

I have always felt that way about Tom Brady. With a couple more inches of height, and a ton more athletic ability, I could be him. I was so close, and yet so far.

[chrisrenrut]

I have always felt that way about Tom Brady. With a couple more inches of height, and a ton more athletic ability, I could be him. I was so close, and yet so far.

You'll need higher football IQ as well.

[Rocker Ute]

Mark Few is still whining about his treatment here. The guy is a wanker...

Guess what Few, every stadium in the nation is going to cheer for the underdog upsetting the #1 seed, we all want to see it.

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5048451-155/gonzaga-arizona-saint-marys-northwestern-highlight


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[LA Ute]

You'll need higher football IQ as well.

Whatever it takes. If I could have gotten all that, I would've been awesome.

[U-Ute]

Tom Crean fired from Indiana.

[snafu]

Tom Crean fired from Indiana.

Yep. So who is the next UCLA coach gonna be? Bye bye Alford...

[U-Ute]

Yep. So who is the next UCLA coach gonna be? Bye bye Alford...

Does he do that? How well has it gone for other heroes who returned home to coach? It seems like that rarely ends well.

[Utah]

Wouldn't UCLA cry tears of joy if Alford left? Haven't they been trying to move on from him and his contract for a couple of years now?

[concerned]

Wouldn't UCLA cry tears of joy if Alford left? Haven't they been trying to move on from him and his contract for a couple of years now?


I would be shocked if IU went after Alford. He record isn't as good as Crean's. He isnt going to return IU to the level of Kansas or Kentucky, which is the stated goal.

You keep reading that they are going after Sean Miller's brother at Dayton, or Greg marshal at Wichita State.

[U-Ute]

I would be shocked if IU went after Alford. He record isn't as good as Crean's. He isnt going to return IU to the level of Kansas or Kentucky, which is the stated goal.

You keep reading that they are going after Sean Miller's brother at Dayton, or Greg marshal at Wichita State.


I think Marshall would be a great fit.

[concerned]

I think Marshall would be a great fit.

On Dan Patrick yesterday morning, they pointed out that Crean made $3.3 million a year. Marshall makes $3.3 million a year now, so they would really have to bump the salary to get him presumably.

[Scorcho]

Ducks impressive 1st half = 55 points.

Iona with the Dave Rose matador defensive scheme

[Scorcho]

USC with the upset, PAC-12 is now 4-0

[sancho]

John Thompson fired at Georgetown.

[SeattleUte]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18984268/georgetown-hoyas-parting-ways-john-thompson-iii

omg

[sancho]

Indiana gets Archie Miller, the best hire anyone could make this year.

[Scorcho]

Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein (https://twitter.com/JonRothstein) 45m45 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/847496868464476160)More



Arizona's Lauri Markannen will declare for the 2017 NBA Draft and sign with an agent, he announced.

[DrumNFeather]

Jon Rothstein‏Verified account @JonRothstein (https://twitter.com/JonRothstein) 45m45 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/JonRothstein/status/847496868464476160)More



Arizona's Lauri Markannen will declare for the 2017 NBA Draft and sign with an agent, he announced.


TJ Leaf as well.

[chrisrenrut]

Does he do that? How well has it gone for other heroes who returned home to coach? It seems like that rarely ends well.

In this vein, Georgetown appears to be hiring Patrick Ewing as their new coach.

[U-Ute]

Wichita State moving to AAC.

850346774879510528

[SoCalPat]

Wichita State moving to AAC.

850346774879510528

That's a good move for them, and will benefit baseball as well (you'll get an argument from some that WSU is still a baseball school). MVC reportedly interested in Belmont to fill WSU's shoes, which would be a good move.

[sancho]

Rumors of Ohio State in talks with McDermott. Question - if McD leaves Creighton, can that Epperson kid re-open his recruitment? I assume he would just follow McD to OSU if possible, but I'm curious what the rules are.

[DrumNFeather]

Ohio State hires Butler's coach. Utes visit the Bulldogs in Late Nov/Early Dec. Only three scheduled games that we know of, the others are all up in the air as far as the specific dates go (BYU, Butler, Xavier).

[sancho]

How would you like a 20 game conference schedule? I'm all for it. The closer we get to a home/away round robin, the better.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19617216/big-ten-discussing-20-game-conference-slate (http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19617216/big-ten-discussing-20-game-conference-slate)

[UTEopia]

How would you like a 20 game conference schedule? I'm all for it. The closer we get to a home/away round robin, the better.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19617216/big-ten-discussing-20-game-conference-slate (http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/19617216/big-ten-discussing-20-game-conference-slate)

x:)xWe now play 18, so it would also give us one more quality home game. I wonder if it would cause coaches to eliminate some of the better OOC competition. Ideally, I would like to see an OOC basketball schedule that has 4 high quality opponents, 4 mid-level opponents and 4 games you should never lose.

[sancho]

x:)xWe now play 18, so it would also give us one more quality home game. I wonder if it would cause coaches to eliminate some of the better OOC competition. Ideally, I would like to see an OOC basketball schedule that has 4 high quality opponents, 4 mid-level opponents and 4 games you should never lose.

I wouldn't mind going even further - go to 22 conference games for a true round robin.

Coaches/ADs would be afraid the extra losses would hurt them in selection. But (1) selection relies less and less on W/L record and more and more on other things, and (2) if all P5s play more conference games, there are fewer quality games for mid-majors. The P5s can hurt the mid-major SOS while boosting their own.

[Utah]

I wouldn't mind going even further - go to 22 conference games for a true round robin.

Coaches/ADs would be afraid the extra losses would hurt them in selection. But (1) selection relies less and less on W/L record and more and more on other things, and (2) if all P5s play more conference games, there are fewer quality games for mid-majors. The P5s can hurt the mid-major SOS while boosting their own.

I think this is a great idea, but you can only do this if the other P5 conferences are doing it as well. Most of the SEC's prestige and reputation comes from only playing 8 games in conference. Put the SEC in a 9 game conference schedule and suddenly their SOS drops big time as does the number of ranked teams they have.

[sancho]

I think this is a great idea, but you can only do this if the other P5 conferences are doing it as well. Most of the SEC's prestige and reputation comes from only playing 8 games in conference. Put the SEC in a 9 game conference schedule and suddenly their SOS drops big time as does the number of ranked teams they have.

Yes, but in basketball? The SEC has no reputation there to consider.

[Utah]

Yes, but in basketball? The SEC has no reputation there to consider.

True, but if the PAC-12 plays more conference games then other conferences then we get more losses, which = PAC-12 in inferior in the "experts" eyes.

I don't know if it would hurt come selection Sunday (hopefully not), but it would hurt with week to week rankings and perceived strength of the conference.

[SoCalPat]

I wouldn't mind going even further - go to 22 conference games for a true round robin.

Coaches/ADs would be afraid the extra losses would hurt them in selection. But (1) selection relies less and less on W/L record and more and more on other things, and (2) if all P5s play more conference games, there are fewer quality games for mid-majors. The P5s can hurt the mid-major SOS while boosting their own.

You're asking all schools to give up two home games. That will never happen. You're also asking for conference season to start either during finals or during Christmas break. Again, another non-starter.

[sancho]

You're asking all schools to give up two home games. That will never happen. You're also asking for conference season to start either during finals or during Christmas break. Again, another non-starter.

I've always wanted the season to start in January, which, if I understand correctly, can't happen because of a golf tournament in Georgia.

I think it's shortsighted to believe the revenue from December games against Savannah State would be greater than what comes from a better product all around. Very few teams sell out in college basketball, and the U can't give away tickets to the awful December games. College basketball can either putt along with the status quo or make some changes.

[UTEopia]

I've always wanted the season to start in January, which, if I understand correctly, can't happen because of a golf tournament in Georgia.

I think it's shortsighted to believe the revenue from December games against Savannah State would be greater than what comes from a better product all around. Very few teams sell out in college basketball, and the U can't give away tickets to the awful December games. College basketball can either putt along with the status quo or make some changes.

the problem with a January start is that you are pushing March Madness into the same timeframe as the NBA and NHL Playoffs. IMO opinion, the problem with college basketball in December is the lack of quality games as opposed to the timing.

[SoCalPat]

the problem with a January start is that you are pushing March Madness into the same timeframe as the NBA and NHL Playoffs. IMO opinion, the problem with college basketball in December is the lack of quality games as opposed to the timing.

Sancho noted that with his subtle reference to The Masters.

[SoCalPat]

I've always wanted the season to start in January, which, if I understand correctly, can't happen because of a golf tournament in Georgia.

I think it's shortsighted to believe the revenue from December games against Savannah State would be greater than what comes from a better product all around. Very few teams sell out in college basketball, and the U can't give away tickets to the awful December games. College basketball can either putt along with the status quo or make some changes.

We need Savannah State to justify the cost to season ticket holders. Take games away, and you can't charge as much.

Also, because of the contract with the Pac-12 Network, we need to supply inventory for the channel. Scheduling more conference games takes away from that inventory.

The guarantees we pay for games like these are shockingly low. We paid College of Idaho $5K plus expenses a few years back. I highly doubt Savannah State or teams of its ilk get much more, seeing they usually package road trips so they can save on costs.

You want more meaningful games? Start with applying heat on the man who puts our schedule together. But there isn't an athletics administrator or TV network exec in the country that's pushing for more league games while keeping the schedule capped at 27 games.

[sancho]

You want more meaningful games? Start with applying heat on the man who puts our schedule together. But there isn't an athletics administrator or TV network exec in the country that's pushing for more league games while keeping the schedule capped at 27 games.

I don't just want more meaningful games. I want more conference games. I want to not have gaps in the conference schedule.

The revenue loss on two home games is probably not trivial, but college basketball needs to think bigger picture. The first six weeks of the season might as well not exist at all. It garners no attention, no buzz. Better non-conference match ups aren't the answer - you're still going up against football. There are great college basketball games in Nov every year, and only the superfans even notice.

[SoCalPat]

I've always wanted the season to start in January, which, if I understand correctly, can't happen because of a golf tournament in Georgia.

I think it's shortsighted to believe the revenue from December games against Savannah State would be greater than what comes from a better product all around. Very few teams sell out in college basketball, and the U can't give away tickets to the awful December games. College basketball can either putt along with the status quo or make some changes.

One more thing about the Masters. No sporting event in the world holds TV hostage like the Masters does. CBS is really caught between a rock and a hard place here, as the NCAA Tournament is an annual event whose broadcast rights are right up there with the Super Bowl, which CBS does not get to broadcast annually. The Masters is a money loser for CBS, but it doesn't want to lose the prestige of being the tournament's only broadcast partner. So CBS does what the Masters says, and there's absolutely zero desire on the part of the NCAA to extend the schedule in either direction.

It's why non-conference SOS is such a vital component of NCAA Tournament selection. If schools aren't going to take the steps to improve the product in December, why should they be allowed to participate in the sport's biggest money maker? That's Business of College Sports 101 our current head coach simply does not grasp.

[SoCalPat]

I don't just want more meaningful games. I want more conference games. I want to not have gaps in the conference schedule.

The revenue loss on two home games is probably not trivial, but college basketball needs to think bigger picture. The first six weeks of the season might as well not exist at all. It garners no attention, no buzz. Better non-conference match ups aren't the answer - you're still going up against football. There are great college basketball games in Nov every year, and only the superfans even notice.

There's nothing that can be done nationally to cure this. There's plenty that can be done at the individual school level to change that. In 2014-15, our game against Wichita State drew over 14K on a Wednesday night in December with a 9 p.m. start. With the Pac-12 regular season title on the line and a more ideal start time (Saturday, 7 p.m.) against Arizona, we drew about 800 more fans.

Your more-conference games solution is not only impossible due the economic realities and the calendar, it's pointless when countless examples exist that fans will show up en masse for December games against quality competition. College basketball will always take a backseat in December to the NFL and college football on SportsCenter, and nothing will change that. In Salt Lake City, where the former doesn't exist and the latter is often 2-3 weeks away from playing another game, it doesn't have to be the case.

[sancho]

There's nothing that can be done nationally to cure this. There's plenty that can be done at the individual school level to change that. In 2014-15, our game against Wichita State drew over 14K on a Wednesday night in December with a 9 p.m. start. With the Pac-12 regular season title on the line and a more ideal start time (Saturday, 7 p.m.) against Arizona, we drew about 800 more fans.

Your more-conference games solution is not only impossible due the economic realities and the calendar, it's pointless when countless examples exist that fans will show up en masse for December games against quality competition. College basketball will always take a backseat in December to the NFL and college football on SportsCenter, and nothing will change that. In Salt Lake City, where the former doesn't exist and the latter is often 2-3 weeks away from playing another game, it doesn't have to be the case.

I'm all for better Utah games in Nov/Dec. I would like people in charge to dream a little bigger, but, you are right; on a local level all we can do is schedule good games.

[sancho]

Update on the scheduling discussion: the Big10 is joining the ACC in going to a 20-game conference schedule. Those conferences are both bigger than the Pac-12, of course.

[Scorcho]

Update on the scheduling discussion: the Big10 is joining the ACC in going to a 20-game conference schedule. Those conferences are both bigger than the Pac-12, of course.

rats, I wish that would have been a Big10 vs PAC12 agreement

[concerned]

rats, I wish that would have been a Big10 vs PAC12 agreement

I dont think he meant that Big 10 and ACC are entering an agreement with each other. I think he meant that the Big 10, like the ACC, is going to a 20 game conference schedule, which makes more sense for the Pac 12, since it would mean every team plays every other home and home.

[Scratch]

I dont think he meant that Big 10 and ACC are entering an agreement with each other. I think he meant that the Big 10, like the ACC, is going to a 20 game conference schedule, which makes more sense for the Pac 12, since it would mean every team plays every other home and home.

Not quite. That would require a 22-game schedule.

[concerned]

Not quite. That would require a 22-game schedule.

I could have figured that out if I had two more fingers or toes.

[Scorcho]

I dont think he meant that Big 10 and ACC are entering an agreement with each other. I think he meant that the Big 10, like the ACC, is going to a 20 game conference schedule, which makes more sense for the Pac 12, since it would mean every team plays every other home and home.

:moron: < == my reading comp skills

[FountainOfUte]

Not quite. That would require a 22-game schedule.

I've been hoping that they'd do this from the beginning. We always have four preseason games I would happily put on the alter in order to have a true PAC-12 round robin. Heck, I woulnd't even mind just replacing the conf tourney with the four extra games. But alas, more Cardinal Stritch.

[sancho]

Basketball season starts tonight!

#1 Duke vs #2 Michigan State followed by #7 Kentucky vs #4 Kansas.