Schedule

[TC4THREE]

So I'm looking at our schedule and trying to decide what our top challenges will be in the non-conference and wondering if we have any top 25 competition.

http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/rankings

Lamar
at Utah
USC (neutral)
at Hawaii
Marist (neutral)
at Georgia Tech
Ball State
Valparaiso
Ohio
Eastern Washington
Tennessee-Martin
St. Mary's

Seems not any of these teams are in the top 25 although Georgia Tech received 2 votes in the latest poll.

In the Big Ten, we currently have the following:

9th - Ohio State
15th - Maryland
24th - Michigan

Receiving votes: MSU, Iowa, IU, Purdue.

Our home-and-away opponents this year are IU, Rutgers, and Illinois.
Home only: Wisconsin, Northwestern, Penn State, Minnesota, MSU
Away only: Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Maryland, OSU

So with the current rankings, we are scheduled to play only 3 games against opponents that are currently ranked and all three of those games are on the road.

Not sure where this leaves us in terms of making the NCAA tourney. I certainly wouldn't want to go into the Big Ten Tournament with double-digit losses.

 

[illiniboiler]

Yep, BT road schedule did us no favors at all. Have to win a lot in pre-season, then prob finish in top 5 in BT and win at least one in BTT. That is my guess. I think next year, this team is going to be really scary, tho losing Keys is a big deal as she is this year's glue. But there are ample others to fill that role. I personally think we will make the Dance, but if it is the NIT, that never hurts a young team which can make a run. Very optimistic about our BT chances. Not national and not sure we will ever be Top Ten.

 

[TC4THREE]

Yep, BT road schedule did us no favors at all. Have to win a lot in pre-season, then prob finish in top 5 in BT and win at least one in BTT. That is my guess. I think next year, this team is going to be really scary, tho losing Keys is a big deal as she is this year's glue. But there are ample others to fill that role. I personally think we will make the Dance, but if it is the NIT, that never hurts a young team which can make a run. Very optimistic about our BT chances. Not national and not sure we will ever be Top Ten.

I think our capabilities could evolve to that of a top ten team by the end of the year. I just wish we played a ranked team or two in the non-conference as I think that would accelerate our growth. As of now, we aren't scheduled to step on the court against a top 25 team until February.

 

[illiniboiler]

Top Ten seems too high, but hoping you are right,

 

[BoilerJS]

Top Ten seems too high, but hoping you are right,

I'd settle for top 25.

 

[TC4THREE]

Top Ten seems too high, but hoping you are right,

Not saying I think we will finish in the top ten. Just that if we learn, improve, and grow throughout the year I could see them competing and having a chance at beating teams ranked around 10th by the end of the season.