2015-2016 Schedule

[NowherePoke]

Here is what we know so far for the 2015-2016 Men's BB Schedule:

Home:

Bristol University (NAIA, coached by Jeron Roberts) - Not sure if this is an exhibition or not.
Montana State
Cal


Road:

Indiana State - MWC/MVC Challenge
New Mexico State
Northern Colorado
Denver


Neutral:

Houston - LV tourney, no other details known
Marshall - LV tourney, no other details known
Montana St. - Game will be held in Billings



That's 9 or 10 games known (depending on whether or not Brisol is an exhibition). I would guess we would see 2 more D-1 games (bringing the total to 11). There might be one more game as part of the pre-season tourney with Houston and Marshall and I would assume one more low major home game.

 

[NowherePoke]

It's a little too early to gauge how difficult the schedule will be, but just a few quick thoughts:

1. Montana St. will be better, but still probably sub 250 RPI and we shouldn't be playing them twice. JMO.

2. Indiana St. will be a very tough game. Lansing is a quality coach and they bring back their top 3 players from a team that finished T-3rd in the MVC. They had a tough OOC, but put things together as the season went on (kind of like USU in the MWC). Opportunity for a quality road win here.

3. Houston will be much better as well next year. Whatever you may think of Kelvin Sampson, he is a proven winner and he will have everyone back next year. I think 5 of their top 7 guys were juniors this year. They will be senior laden and with more familiarity with Sampson's system/expectations.



Depending on how things shake out with the last couple of games, I see fewer RPI bombs compared to this past year, but still light on opportunities for "quality" wins.

 

[Wyokie]

Some info on Bristol University (Bears).

http://bristoluniversity.edu/athletics/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not even NAIA. My guess: this USCAA is a level below the NAIA but is half a step above Junior Colleges.

The school belongs to a conference called the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference which is what the PAC-XX was originally know back before Pearl Harbor become famous for the wrong reasons.

 

[J-Rod]

What is with Larry and Montana State? Playing them once a season is too many times.

Thanks for the info NowherePoke.

 

[Wicks]

Great summary NowherePoke!

We were told at fan board meeting this weekend that basketball scheduling especially at home has become very difficult because schools know that they will more than likely lose in Laramie and not get a boost to their RPI.

Also, Shyatt asked for games from every school in the "region" and only Denver, Northern Colorado and Montana State agreed.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I expect the Pokes to go .500-ish in MWC play (8-10 to 10-8) and I really expect MWC players to figure out how to shut down Josh in some games.
Going into the MWC Tourney we obviously have a shot as we are returning the reigning MWC Tourney MVP and a bench full of players who contributed or helped win it this season.

So I think for the Pokes to have an at-large chance, we really need to beat Cal at home, and win almost all of our OOC games away from Laramie.

Cal is going to be good next year and are in play for the #6 recruit in the country, but even if they don't get him, they already have a 4* guy. Rabb is a 5* and is either going to Zona or Cal (from Bay Area). Plus, they will be in year 2 of their coach and should be playing better. Not to mention they beat us last year.
Indiana State being a good team from the MVC could really help as a chance for a good win if they perform well.
Denver and New Mexico State kind of make or break our OOC schedule I think.
They are middle of the road level teams, with chances to be good or bad. Plus we never beat Denver in Denver.
Our OOC schedule could go from "just Cal and Indiana State" to "Cal, Indiana State, Denver, NM State".

Then the Vegas Tourney. I like it.
Hopefully we win them all. And hopefully those teams end up having great seasons.

Pokes really have a chance to grab a handful of wins AWAY FROM LARAMIE which is what is needed to get in the Dance. CSU just showed that tricking the RPI doesn't get you in. What the Tourney wants is teams that can win against quality teams, especially away from home.

Stringing together 4 road wins, 3 neutral site wins, and a win over Cal would be a great way to get us into the conversation for next season.

But at the end of the day, if the team is on the bubble and doesn't get in, you have got to look at 2 games against Montana State and say WTF?

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

 

[Adv8RU12]

I really expect MWC players to figure out how to shut down Josh in some games.

Yes. It will be much easier because there will be far fewer Poke players on the court they will have to worry about.

 

[Wyokie]

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

 

[J-Rod]

The NAIA are actually somewhat of a good idea, because they don't count towards RPI. You can whip up on a team, get players reps, and not hurt yourself in March. But playing Montana State (DI opponent) twice? Ugh.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

 

[WestWYOPoke]

The NAIA are actually somewhat of a good idea, because they don't count towards RPI. You can whip up on a team, get players reps, and not hurt yourself in March. But playing Montana State (DI opponent) twice? Ugh.

Also, due to some of the foreign transfer rules, there are a lot of NAIA teams that are better than D2 teams, so it is, to a certain extent, at least some competition.

 

[joshvanklomp]

Optimistic post...

Playing Montana State twice last year helped our RPI more than playing San Jose twice did

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

Optimistic post...

Playing Montana State twice last year helped our RPI more than playing San Jose twice did

Haha. That isn't saying much though...

 

[J-Rod]

Optimistic post...

Playing Montana State twice last year helped our RPI more than playing San Jose twice did

Haha true. But still...Boise will play Arizona twice in 2015-2016 (once in Tucson, rumored to be playing them in the 1st round of Wooden Classic too). WHY CAN'T WE PLAY ZONA TWICE?!

But hey...we haz Montana State.

 

[fromolwyoming]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

You play who you can schedule. Right now, that's Montana State. The Fluffs have had enough of getting their asses kicked. DU is generally solid and has agreed to keep on the schedule.

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

You play who you can schedule. Right now, that's Montana State. The Fluffs have had enough of getting their asses kicked. DU is generally solid and has agreed to keep on the schedule.

I agree with this completely. My problem is that there has to be teams out there that would be willing to play us (home, away, neutral, whatever) that are winnable games that won't also tank our SOS. How the hell did CSU do it last year? We share 95% of the same schedule and the different 5% wasn't against Kansas or Kentucky. It can be done with winnable games. And don't tell me teams like CSU are a better draw (or potential loss) than Wyoming. You look at all of UW's opponents who played in the NCAA or NIT and not one had WYOMING in the bad loss column. NOT ONE. We are not the red headed step child of yesteryear. Shyatt needs to pull out all the stops and get us some games that benefit us.

 

[BeaverPoke]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

You play who you can schedule. Right now, that's Montana State. The Fluffs have had enough of getting their asses kicked. DU is generally solid and has agreed to keep on the schedule.

I agree with this completely. My problem is that there has to be teams out there that would be willing to play us (home, away, neutral, whatever) that are winnable games that won't also tank our SOS. How the hell did CSU do it last year? We share 95% of the same schedule and the different 5% wasn't against Kansas or Kentucky. It can be done with winnable games. And don't tell me teams like CSU are a better draw (or potential loss) than Wyoming. You look at all of UW's opponents who played in the NCAA or NIT and not one had WYOMING in the bad loss column. NOT ONE. We are not the red headed step child of yesteryear. Shyatt needs to pull out all the stops and get us some games that benefit us.

You point out that CSU and Wyo shared some opponents, and yes CSU had a great RPI. But you forget to mention they did not get in the Tourney. They basically tricked the RPI. The RPI isn't all that it's cracked out to be.
All that matters is quality wins. UCLA got in because they played well in their losses. CSU had a great RPI with no quality wins outside of the SDSU win.

I will take our chances with Cal, Indiana State, Houston, etc.

 

[ItSucksToBeACSURam]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

You play who you can schedule. Right now, that's Montana State. The Fluffs have had enough of getting their asses kicked. DU is generally solid and has agreed to keep on the schedule.

I agree with this completely. My problem is that there has to be teams out there that would be willing to play us (home, away, neutral, whatever) that are winnable games that won't also tank our SOS. How the hell did CSU do it last year? We share 95% of the same schedule and the different 5% wasn't against Kansas or Kentucky. It can be done with winnable games. And don't tell me teams like CSU are a better draw (or potential loss) than Wyoming. You look at all of UW's opponents who played in the NCAA or NIT and not one had WYOMING in the bad loss column. NOT ONE. We are not the red headed step child of yesteryear. Shyatt needs to pull out all the stops and get us some games that benefit us.

You point out that CSU and Wyo shared some opponents, and yes CSU had a great RPI. But you forget to mention they did not get in the Tourney. They basically tricked the RPI. The RPI isn't all that it's cracked out to be.
All that matters is quality wins. UCLA got in because they played well in their losses. CSU had a great RPI with no quality wins outside of the SDSU win.

I will take our chances with Cal, Indiana State, Houston, etc.

No they didn't make the NCAA because we did. Had we lost any of the tournament games, wed been out and CSU would have taken out spot. CSU had a great RPI and were left out because they took a night off in a time of year you can't take a night off.

 

[kansasCowboy]

I also don't think playing Montana State twice is a good idea, but I'm also okay with a somewhat soft schedule next year. I still don't want to be in the 300 range for RPI.

After next year, I really hope we start scheduling up. You can't run with the big dogs if you stay on the porch and pee like a puppy.

Just because Montana State answered the phone doesn't mean we should play them. There has to be someone else who would be willing to play us away or at a neutral site. This crap with MTSU has got to go...Them twice AND a NAIA (NCCAA) (whatever) team is going to kill our OOC AGAIN!!! Enough with this crap.

Completely agree!!!!

If can't find shit on a team, we shouldn't play them PERIOD!!! END OF DISCUSSION. If I was the AD, I'd tell Shyatt to go drop Bristal U. (sp?) and get a team that I can actually find info on.

Playing Johnson & Wales and Kean NEVER HELPED US!!!!!

You play who you can schedule. Right now, that's Montana State. The Fluffs have had enough of getting their asses kicked. DU is generally solid and has agreed to keep on the schedule.

I agree with this completely. My problem is that there has to be teams out there that would be willing to play us (home, away, neutral, whatever) that are winnable games that won't also tank our SOS. How the hell did CSU do it last year? We share 95% of the same schedule and the different 5% wasn't against Kansas or Kentucky. It can be done with winnable games. And don't tell me teams like CSU are a better draw (or potential loss) than Wyoming. You look at all of UW's opponents who played in the NCAA or NIT and not one had WYOMING in the bad loss column. NOT ONE. We are not the red headed step child of yesteryear. Shyatt needs to pull out all the stops and get us some games that benefit us.

You point out that CSU and Wyo shared some opponents, and yes CSU had a great RPI. But you forget to mention they did not get in the Tourney. They basically tricked the RPI. The RPI isn't all that it's cracked out to be.
All that matters is quality wins. UCLA got in because they played well in their losses. CSU had a great RPI with no quality wins outside of the SDSU win.

I will take our chances with Cal, Indiana State, Houston, etc.

No they didn't make the NCAA because we did. Had we lost any of the tournament games, wed been out and CSU would have taken out spot. CSU had a great RPI and were left out because they took a night off in a time of year you can't take a night off.

I think his point was that they didn't have the quality wins to be an At-Large bid. Because if they really did, they'd have still been in even when we made it.