Non Conference Opponents -- It's Official

[Zippy989]

Complete Story from gozips.com

San Juan Shoot Out

The Eight team field includes: Clemson, Holy Cross, Liberty, Mississippi State, Mount St Mary's, Puerto Rico Mayaguez and Tennessee-Chattanooga.

@ Lousiville Dec 10th

ESPN Bracket Buster @ Home Feb 18th

2005-06 Non-Conference Schedule

Day Date Opponent Location

Sat. Nov. 19 California (Pa.) (EXH.) Akron, Ohio

Sat. Nov. 26 Youngstown State Akron, Ohio

Wed. Nov. 30 Duquesne Akron, Ohio

Sat. Dec. 3 at Oakland Rochester, Mich.

Wed. Dec. 7 Denison Akron, Ohio

Sat. Dec. 10 at Louisville Louisville, Ky.

M-W Dec. 19-21 at San Juan Shootout San Juan, Puerto Rico

Sat. Dec. 31 Wright State Akron, Ohio

Mon. Jan. 16 at Cleveland State Cleveland, Ohio

Sat. Feb. 18 ESPN Bracket Buster Akron, Ohio

[Captain Kangaroo]

Cal Pa. is a good test for an exhibition. Jake Schifino's little brother finished up there last year. They're always a top team in that division.

What happened to Xavier?

Overall, I give the schedule a B-. Certainly an improvement over last year. FINALLY some games against marquee teams. But, the home non-conf schedule blows goats.

[Akron1]

I like everything but "Wed. Dec. 7 Denison." Those non-Division I teams, always kill the the MAC schools for the at-large bids.

[zipboy]

So 27 games this year? I was hoping for extra games with the San Juan shootout. Do you only get extra games for playing in Hawaii or Alaska?

I like renewing the YSU rivalry. I am disappointed with no Xavier. If we could not get a 2 for 1, then F them.

I am surprised about getting another Bracket Buster game at home. Beat Louisville and we get on TV. Also surprised that there is no playback game with Niagara.

Disappointed in the Denison game. Playing a more marquee team would only help RPI. But then again, we could be in the top 10 in RPI and still not get an at large bid.

Overall, a decent schedule but one that if we are a top tier MAC team, Akron should go 8-3 with this schedule or better.

[Kangaroo Craig]

I'm wondering if the reason they had to schedule these cupcakes at home is because they couldn't get any quality opponents to come here even on a 2 for 1 deal. Maybe the only other alternative would have been to upgrade the quality of opponents at the expense of having very few non conference home games. Unfortunately, I don't expect to see Louisville coming to the JAR anytime soon.

[zip37]

When a team is bad everybody knocks on your door, when you start to get good nobody answers the phone.

With ball ammunition lock and load.

[Kangaroo Craig]

"When a team is bad everybody knocks on your door, when you start to get good nobody answers the phone."

They might knock on your door when your a bad team, but not to come play you at your house. Think of all the marquee programs in this country (ie Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Indiana, UConn, Syracuse, Etc.) When was the last time you saw one of those programs come to the JAR? I remember seeing Purdue a few years ago, but I think that was only done as a favor because we helped them out with a scheduling problem. I think it was still a two there and one here deal.

There's also the issue of guaranteed money. Once we get to the level of national prominence, we still have to deal with the issue of playing in a small venue that does not generate much money. Right now the only option is to schedule those types of games at Gund Arena. That's what the Rock-N-Roll Shootout does. I think we may have played in that event once or twice.

When we start to get good people will be calling us. Their initial offering, like Louisville's this year, will be to come to their house only. If our program ever reaches the level of say Gonzaga, we might then start to see some of those games make it to Akron, but not many in a band box venue such as JAR Arena that holds 6000 fans. Heck, Cleveland State built the Convo and they still can't get many quality opponents because they still suck and so does their attendance.