Next Year's Schedule

Forum Forum Lehigh Sports Lehigh Men’s Basketball Next Year's Schedule

This topic contains 6 replies, has 6 voices, and was last updated by  hawktalker 12 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #5287

    TMH
    Participant

    Historically Joe has tended to prepare a schedule relative to a team’s strength. Next year has the looks of one of the best teams in recent Lehigh history. What kind of schedule are you looking for to maximize our chances at post -season play?

    #5289

    lehigh90
    Participant

    Roughly 16 OOC games to play with, after the 14 PL games. Would like to see 3-4 guarantee type games vs. powerhouse conferences (Big East, ACC, Big 10, Big 12, etc). Then, 2-3 local A-10 or Colonial games (LaSalle, St. Joe’s, maybe a St. Bonnie’s). One 3 game tourney, hopefully at Stabler. We will call that 9 games. Two against the better Ivies (Penn, Princeton, Harvard). Then of the remaining 5, probably 1 fluff D3 game (hopefully not), and the rest against top tier Metro or Northeast Conf. Would like to see Wagner again, maybe a Long Island or Robert Morris. Maybe an Iona or Loyola. I think it makes sense to try to schedule some games in the State of PA for recruiting purposes, even though we are not pulling those athletes, currently. So, I would like to see a Philly game (Big 5 or Drexel) and a Pittsburgh game (Pitt, Robert Morris) . Would love to see a game vs. Villanova, Temple or Penn St, but that is probably a dream.

    Also, have to factor in that they will probably play the guarantee games against competition where the upcoming senior class grew up. For CJ, that could mean Ohio State for sure. Gabe got his Iowa State game this season and Holden got his Michigan State game this season. But, definitely Big 10 or Big 12 games for those 3. Maybe Iowa makes sense in Iowa City. Or, Michigan in Ann Arbor. Wisconsin, Illinois or Indiana would also be great games.

    #5290
    van
    van
    Participant

    Maybe an Akron or Kent State, much closer to CJ’s hometown.

    #5291

    LU65
    Participant

    Can’t argue with you on your selection, Lehigh90. I certainly think CJ is deserving of another visit to Ohio (was there vs. Kent State his freshman year) and would hope management is looking for a money game (a trip home) in honor of Mackey McKnight, a graduate of Langham Creek HS (outside of Houston) with a home town of New Orleans. Additionally, I would love to see us penetrate the Atlantic 10, Sagarin’s 7th ranked conference which lists 8 teams in their Top 100 (5 within easy reach). They are: UMass, St. Bonaventure, LaSalle, St. Joseph’s, and Temple. Hey, those Philly schools are in the backyard of one Anthony D’Orazio and a quick 40 minute drive up the Atlantic City expressway from Mays Landing, NJ – home of BJ Bailey. As for hosting a three-team tournament relating to our Coaches vs. Cancer participation last year, I would say it has a good chance of happening. Of course, the quality of opponents remains a big unknown. Just ask Bucknell who, thru their participation in the Legends Classic the year before, hosted a similar program this year and entertained the University of South Alabama (D-II). As for the NE Conference, Wagner is the plum. Bryant (336), FDU (333), and St. Francis (PA) (310) were all killers this year. Yet, based on unknown contractual obligations, we may see them again – this time at home – in 2012. I sure the Board will light up in the coming months as rumors spread and contracts are finalized.

    For perspective, here’s a look back at our so-called “Marquee Games” over the past seven seasons:

    2011-12: Michigan State (Big 10), Iowa State (Big 12), St. John’s (Big East)
    2010-11: Penn State (Big 10), USC (Pac 10), Kent State (Mid American)
    2009-10: Richmond (ACC), Dayton (Atlantic 10), St. Joe’s (Atlantic 10)
    2008-09: Rutgers (Big East), St. Joe’s (Atlantic 10), Washington (Pac 10)
    2007-08: Maryland (Atlantic Coast), Penn State (Big 10)
    2006-07: Oregon (Pac 10), Norte Dame (Big East), Miami (Atlantic Coast),
    2005-06: Vandy (Southeastern), Butler (Horizon), Villanova (Big East), Washington State (Pac 10)

    #5292

    TMH
    Participant

    I originally asked this question because the fact that we played 3 major conference teams masked how bad our OOC schedule was. Using Sagarin as a barometer, out of 345 Div-1 teams, outside of the forementioned (Michigan St.,St. John’s and Iowa St.) the remaining 13 games included 2 in the 100-200 range (Wagner and Quinnipiac), 1 Div 3 School (Arcadia) and the balance were beween #204 Cornell and #336 Bryant, most at the latter end.
    I personally think that we will have the capability to be perhaps a Top 80 team next year if the schedule was constructed better. We are right in the middle of A-10 territory but only played Fordham which is a perennial cellar-dweller.

    #5304
    ngineer
    ngineer
    Participant

    No question next year’s team has the opportunity to be the BEST team the University has ever put on a court. Bailey is becoming a force. Reed is able to use a lot of players which benefits everyone. I would expect a midwestern mini-tour–would like to see another Big Ten and a Horizon League–Detroit, maybe, as they seem to be an up and coming program, again. Of course, playing a Big 5 should always be a goal. Exciting times for Lehigh sports: Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Lacrosse..on a roll!!

    #5310

    hawktalker
    Participant

    Precisely because of how good Lehigh should be next year, scheduling will be a challenge. Outside guarantee games, higher RPI schools won’t want to play Lehigh…and risk losing. Losing to a Patriot League team, no matter its make-up, would be on that school’s “bad loss” list at tournament selection time.

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