[GJGood]

During the postgame last night I heard Coach D mention that the team was going to Puerto Rico for a tournament next season. Somehow I missed it when this information first became available if it was prior to this. I believe this tournament is an actual tournament and not a schedule determined event like the 'classic' the Zips played in to open this season. Coach also mentioned there will be three high majors there. Do we know who those schools will be yet?

Also, I was wondering if we tried to get into this tournament because we will have two Puerto Rican natives on the roster next season? I don't remember this coach doing it before but I always liked coaches scheduling away games close to the hometowns of the seniors on their roster. While I realize AA will only be a junior next year we did play at both Marshall and WVU this year and it is Nitro's senior season. Just a thought.

What else do we know about the Zips upcoming schedules? I know KD eluded to the fact that the return for this year's BracketBuster probably wouldn't be next season because we have the return with Creighton from last year's Bracketbuster next season. I guess I don't understand why we can't or don't have both next season.

Who would you guys like to see the Zips play in future years? I am all about diversity in opponents so I'd like to see us play teams from various parts of the country and that play different styles of basketball. I would, however, prefer that nobody we play has as deep of a rotation of players as we do. I think the ability to be 'fresh' at the end of the game when your opponent cannot be is a huge advantage no matter who the opponent may be.

[Big Zip]

Definitely want Cleveland State to stay on the schedule. I'd also love to see a series with Butler....this has been a down year for Butler but they are consistent and i want to see the Zips in Hinkle Fieldhouse. I am always happy to see Pitt on the schedule and a trip to Columbus next year would be perfect. Dayton and Cincinnati would be fun too. There are so many drivable excellent basketball teams and I would be happy to have most of them.

[Quickzips]

Definitely want Cleveland State to stay on the schedule. I'd also love to see a series with Butler....this has been a down year for Butler but they are consistent and i want to see the Zips in Hinkle Fieldhouse. I am always happy to see Pitt on the schedule and a trip to Columbus next year would be perfect. Dayton and Cincinnati would be fun too. There are so many drivable excellent basketball teams and I would be happy to have most of them.

Although not in GJ's original post, it was mentioned that Cleveland State, Marshall, Midd Tenn and Creighton will all be on the schedule again next year, as well as possibly Detroit.

KD did mention that this team really needs to be challenged more. It sounded very much to me like we will put together a more aggressive schedule for next year. Just the start of it with CSU, Marshall, MTSU, Creighton and a few good opponents in Puerto Rico has the makings of a schedule that would be at-large worthy.

I would love to see any or all of the other teams you mentioned on the schedule.

[zippy5]

I'd like to schedule more teams like us, teams that have trouble getting games with big time programs, but still solid programs. CSU, VCU, some MVC or CAA teams... I realize vcu won't happen again with shaka, but programs at that level are ideal, imo.

[Zipmeister]

During the postgame last night I heard Coach D mention that the team was going to Puerto Rico for a tournament next season. Somehow I missed it when this information first became available if it was prior to this. I believe this tournament is an actual tournament and not a schedule determined event like the 'classic' the Zips played in to open this season. Coach also mentioned there will be three high majors there. Do we know who those schools will be yet?

Also, I was wondering if we tried to get into this tournament because we will have two Puerto Rican natives on the roster next season? I don't remember this coach doing it before but I always liked coaches scheduling away games close to the hometowns of the seniors on their roster. While I realize AA will only be a junior next year we did play at both Marshall and WVU this year and it is Nitro's senior season. Just a thought.

What else do we know about the Zips upcoming schedules? I know KD eluded to the fact that the return for this year's BracketBuster probably wouldn't be next season because we have the return with Creighton from last year's Bracketbuster next season. I guess I don't understand why we can't or don't have both next season.

Who would you guys like to see the Zips play in future years? I am all about diversity in opponents so I'd like to see us play teams from various parts of the country and that play different styles of basketball. I would, however, prefer that nobody we play has as deep of a rotation of players as we do. I think the ability to be 'fresh' at the end of the game when your opponent cannot be is a huge advantage no matter who the opponent may be.

Whenever KD (or any other coach for that matter) eludes, you have to take what they say with a grain of salt. How about Xavier, Evansville, Valpo, and Northern Iowa?

[scottditzen]

At Rutgers and Seton Hall.

Winable games in the nations biggest sports market.

[Blue & Gold]

At Rutgers and Seton Hall.

Winable games in the nations biggest sports market.

Excellent point, Scott.
Xavier, Dayton, Rhode Island, Cincy, Depaul, Butler.
Definitely want to keep Cleveland State; love to hate those guys as much as Can't, and those games are always the most fun.Keep the rivalry with Marshall as well!

[zippy5]

Excellent point, Scott.
Xavier, Dayton, Rhode Island, Cincy, Depaul, Butler.
Definitely want to keep Cleveland State; love to hate those guys as much as Can't, and those games are always the most fun.Keep the rivalry with Marshall as well!

I think A-10, CAA, and MVC teams would be a great start, with a few big names, and a few tune ups as well.

Also, I'm thinking GoZips will make his triumphant return to ZN in this thread to tell us how hard a job scheduling is and to go see Dan Peters if we'd like to help

[GJGood]

Should we try to schedule a Big Ten team or two every year to become more of a name in the Midwest? Or should we play teams more similar to ourselves in leagues like the A-10, Horizon, and maybe even C-USA?

Also, another thing I have thought about lately is a conference challenge type thing. I know there is the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, the Big East and SEC have a similar thing as does the Missouri Valley with the Mountain West. Should the MAC enter a scheduling partnership with another conference as well? If so, which conference is about on par with the MAC in terms of its indidvidula members right now?
Personally, I'd like to see a conference challenge with the WAC, Sun Belt, or C-USA. That way there would be a chance it could carry over to football as well since they are FBS leagues.

[Spin]

Also, another thing I have thought about lately is a conference challenge type thing. I know there is the Big Ten-ACC Challenge, the Big East and SEC have a similar thing as does the Missouri Valley with the Mountain West. Should the MAC enter a scheduling partnership with another conference as well? If so, which conference is about on par with the MAC in terms of its indidvidula members right now?
Personally, I'd like to see a conference challenge with the WAC, Sun Belt, or C-USA. That way there would be a chance it could carry over to football as well since they are FBS leagues.

Not a football conference but on our level is the Horizon League. Could have some great territorial rivalries, as could the rest of the MAC. Imagine an Akron-Can't-Ohio, CSU-YSU-X tournament every year. Or an Akron-Can't-CSU-YSU tourney with 1st-2nd and 3rd-4th place games.

[TPSjugglerdude]

I was unaware about playing Marshall and MTSU again next year, will these be at the JAR? We have CSU for another 2 years at least. I'm excited about the Puerto Rico Tip-Off if thats what it is. There are always some good teams down there. I think we need to play a few teams who will be ranked in the 10-25 area so we have a solid chance at a good upset. I like all of the A-10 MVC, MWC ideas because they are teams who we should be able to schedule home games with. I would like to see us schedule Missouri St since their coach said that he wanted us for the Bracketbuster this year. I think if we are going to schedule teams with bad RPI like FAMU (RPI 344) or NCAT (RPI 258) we should schedule schools with a bad RPI that are name schools. Penn St (156), Auburn (151), South Carolina (164), Clemson (140), Wake Forest (157), or St Johns (171). Wins over these teams would still have the same effect on our RPI, but to the average fan would seem like really good wins.

[agar44]

Definitely want Cleveland State to stay on the schedule. I'd also love to see a series with Butler....this has been a down year for Butler but they are consistent and i want to see the Zips in Hinkle Fieldhouse. I am always happy to see Pitt on the schedule and a trip to Columbus next year would be perfect. Dayton and Cincinnati would be fun too. There are so many drivable excellent basketball teams and I would be happy to have most of them.

I would love to se a tosu vs Akron matchup just to see how we would do.

[trimmy10]

I was unaware about playing Marshall and MTSU again next year, will these be at the JAR? We have CSU for another 2 years at least. I'm excited about the Puerto Rico Tip-Off if thats what it is. There are always some good teams down there. I think we need to play a few teams who will be ranked in the 10-25 area so we have a solid chance at a good upset. I like all of the A-10 MVC, MWC ideas because they are teams who we should be able to schedule home games with. I would like to see us schedule Missouri St since their coach said that he wanted us for the Bracketbuster this year. I think if we are going to schedule teams with bad RPI like FAMU (RPI 344) or NCAT (RPI 258) we should schedule schools with a bad RPI that are name schools. Penn St (156), Auburn (151), South Carolina (164), Clemson (140), Wake Forest (157), or St Johns (171). Wins over these teams would still have the same effect on our RPI, but to the average fan would seem like really good wins.

I completely agree! And likewise, losses to the likes of MTSU, Valpo, and Duquesne look like terrible losses to Joe Akron even though the programs are at least respectable (Valpo and Duquesne) or having an unusually solid season (MTSU).

[The Hip Zip]

I'd love to develop a regular home and home relationship with anybody in the top half of the MVC / A10 or Horizon which we already do to an extent. MVC match ups would really be entertaining with the likes of the Shockers etc.

Love to see a big 10 team come here as well. Keady brought Purdue in here back in 2000 or so, why can't somebody else??

[GP1]

I went to a Charlotte 49ers game last night against Xavier. Good league. I'd like to see Akron get X back on the schedule and some known A-10 teams. Dayton, UMASS, Temple and Xavier come to mind. Hell, throw in Charlotte so I can go se them play. The A-10 is a good league and one we could really test our progress against. I think we would compete well.