Couple of things...

-I thought I remember a few years ago, when we set up the MSU game, that we agreed to a 2 for 1 starting at our place with 2 return games to them.
-I thought UWM was a home and home with us going to Milwaukee next year.
-I'm pretty sure Tulane and Campbell were home and home.

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Cigarboy sucks!

MSU was home and home
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger-college-basketball-blog/mississippi-state-loyola-commemorate-50th-anniversary-game-change-141259314--ncaab.html
http://www.loyolaramblers.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/072312aaa.html

There's a whole thread about UWM that might even be on the previous board, but basically they were a replacement for Bradley's return bracket-buster game with us a couple years ago.

Really hope we can replace MSU with another BCS team. Would be nice to face a lower tier B1G team (Northwestern, Purdue, etc.). Creighton would also be a great add to the home schedule. I also think we should aim at scheduling a WCC team (San Francisco would be nice to get on the schedule again).

I know that we almost had Auburn on our schedule this year as a home and home but it fell through (hence Rockhurst).

We may have them next year, though.

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Cigarboy sucks!

Procedural question:
Who arranges the non-con schedule? Is it the coach or the A.D.?

I think the coach does more of the legwork than the AD, or at least that's the case for a major BCS school where the AD worries only about the football schedule. I would assume for us, while she might not be making all the decisions, I'm sure Grace wants her hand in there a little when it comes to putting together the non-conference schedule.

I was going to write about San Francisco in a previous post. I watched their WCC semifinal game last night, and looked up our games against them a few years ago. One of their top players last night played against us when he was a freshman. I'd also forgotten that Rex Walters played at Northwestern for two years.

Just about any WCC team would be good to have on the schedule, considering they are a top 10 conference with Gonzaga, BYU, St. Mary's and an occasional run by USF, Santa Clara, etc. The worst RPI in their league this year was Santa Clara at 212, and they had four out of 12 teams in the top 100. They'd probably be willing to do a home and home with us, especially now that we're in the MVC. Drake, ISUr, ISUb, Wichita State, Bradley, SIU, and UNI all played WCC teams this year, although several games were part of MTEs.

It's really hard to get a Big 10 team to leave their building for a non-con game, unless you face them at a neutral court for an MTE, or in another event such as a mandatory game against an instate rival, a traditional game against a neighboring state rival, or a pre-arranged conference to conference matchup like the ACC/Big 10 Challenge. Here's how many true road games the bottom half of the Big 10 took part in this year: Purdue 1 (at West Virginia), Minnesota 1 (at Richmond), Illinois 1 (at UNLV), Penn State 2 (at Penn, Duquesne), Indiana 0, Northwestern 2 (at Stanford, UIC).

A WCC school would be a great add to our schedule. I wouldn't mind one maybe two guarantee games at really good BCS schools (i.e. Florida not Mississippi St.) or trying to use the United Center to our advantage and play a game there against an Illinois or some other big-time school who wants to come up to Chicago for recruiting but doesn't want to play at Gentile.

Gee ! I know a team who would love to play us at Gentile !! That would be SYRACUSE !! NOT !! They would cry for Mommy if they had to leave NY to play a game--

Seriously--Lot of teams out there--Try the WCC for sure--But do not forget Tulsa, Oral R--and for sure any SEC team--And how about a weakened Wake Forest. which is not so good lately ?? Throw in a couple of weaker teams--E Kentucky, Siena Boston College . All nice names --some good some not so much --BUT far better than what we had this past year --barring Tulane and MSU ( both fine ) Cannot forget Detroit, Milwaukee and V alpo either along with out=r old Pal W Mich--to be selfish Akron and Kent St.

Surely will be interresting to see what LUC will come up with for next year.

Tony Barbee out at Auburn so I don't think we'll see them next year.