Worried about Wisconsin

[njm8845]

getting more losses. I hate how the b10 schedule is so unbalanced.

Don't really see too many more tough games on their slate.

First thing I'd do as commissioner is bump up the schedule to at least 22games.

 

[Frankie611]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. If schools are agreeing to be in these mega conferences, they will have to reduce their cupcake games, just like football. And who cares if there are 1-2 fewer games against some of these 300 rpi teams? Honestly the conferences are so big they are going to contain teams that are really bad anyway, so chances are at least one of the additional games will be a bottom feeder at home anyway. Extend the season by two games and remove two of the cupcake games.

 

[Ben Shadeland]

When I ran through the schedules prior to the MSU game, I couldn't believe how much harder ours was relative to MD and Wisky. I know there's no conspiracy or anything, and theoretically, it should balance out over the course of many years.

Still. It stinks for this year. If we win, we will have accomplished something extraordinary. If there's a tough game to be played this year, you can bet it's on our schedule.

 

[njm8845]

Wouldn't you rather see another game against Wisconsin or Minnesota than half the teams we play before Xmas?

I really don't understand who benefits from good teams blowing out bad teams for the better part of two months.

 

[Frankie611]

To your point, I don't think there ever could be a conspiracy. You never know which teams will rise up to the top. Last year playing Iowa twice may have been looked at as a slight advantage preseason. Wrong. This year having two games against both MSU and Iu would have been looked at as daunting. Still not great, but I don't think anyone is chalking those up as losses before the game is played. Who would have thought Osu would be so bad or that Nebraska would be a road worrior? So even if schedulers tried to give a team an advantage, it may not turn out that way.
Personally from what I have seen of Maryland they are not that good. They beat Iu at home in a sloppy game and have benefitted from schedule beyond that. We will see today when they play at Minnesota. We did what we had to against Wisconsin, we just have to play well and hope for some luck.

 

[DG10]

[QUOTE="Frankie611, post: 1299064, member: 7188"And who cares if there are 1-2 fewer games against some of these 300 rpi teams? [/QUOTE]
AD's and Coaches care...which is why it happens.

It is guaranteed revenue for the AD...equivalent to an NBA/NFL pre-season game in which the same price is charged despite it being a game that is of little genuine interest to fans and not of the same quality, and a virtual guaranteed win is well (which is why the Coaches care...they all are in need of W's, so any that is virtually guaranteed is welcomed.

 

[02Boilermaker]

There is no doubt a real round robin would be better in every way except lost home game revenue for schools. Even another game or two of conference play would be a big improvement for fans.

The reality of this season is Purdue lost games at home to Minnesota and at Iowa. It seems logical to me that we are now left in a position of hoping Wisconsin stubs its toe in a similar, unexpected manner. I'm sure things will change by the end of the season, but as of now:

According to Lundardi's bracket on ESPN: Wisconsin will play 11 B1G games against tourney teams (5 on the road). Purdue will play 9 (5 on the road).

According to Palm's bracket on CBS (and the bracketmatrix aggregator site): Wisconsin & Purdue will both play 10 B1G games against tourney teams (5 on the road for both).

 

[New Pal Boiler]

[QUOTE="Frankie611, post: 1299064, member: 7188"And who cares if there are 1-2 fewer games against some of these 300 rpi teams?

AD's and Coaches care...which is why it happens.

It is guaranteed revenue for the AD...equivalent to an NBA/NFL pre-season game in which the same price is charged despite it being a game that is of little genuine interest to fans and not of the same quality, and a virtual guaranteed win is well (which is why the Coaches care...they all are in need of W's, so any that is virtually guaranteed is welcomed.[/QUOTE]
Seems like some of the lost revenue could be made up with higher ad revenue from premium additional B1G games, not having to pay guarantees to the non-con tomato cans, and possibly greater ancillary receipts for concessions, parking, etc for B1G games.

I think it's just as much the coaches not wanting to have 2 guaranteed wins taken away, as it is the financial component.

 

[FirstDownB]

Badgers have been in the driver seat ever since the win at the barn. Regardless of schedule, they've won all the games they should win. We haven't. Going to need them to drop one or two they shouldn't lose now.

One thing I will be looking for is whether or not they all continue to play within the system, particularly Hayes. His numbers are down from last year, but he is arguably more efficient. If he starts hunting a lot of jump shots things could get interesting.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Badgers have been in the driver seat ever since the win at the barn. Regardless of schedule, they've won all the games they should win. We haven't. Going to need them to drop one or two they shouldn't lose now.

One thing I will be looking for is whether or not they all continue to play within the system, particularly Hayes. His numbers are down from last year, but he is arguably more efficient. If he starts hunting a lot of jump shots things could get interesting.

Down 5 at the half to Rutgers at MSG.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Down 5 at the half to Rutgers at MSG.

25-20....shades of "old school" Big Ten basketball.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

Down 5 at the half to Rutgers at MSG.

I just noticed that. They had a 20/20 half. 20 points scored and 20% from the field (5/25). I'll be shocked if those numbers aren't much better in the second have.

 

[njm8845]

It's a disgrace if they win the B10. They are not a top 15 team.

I'm not saying it's any kind of conspiracy. It's just too bad with such an unbalanced schedule, you have regular season checks that not many would say are the best team. See last year.

If AD's care about revenue, won't more b10 teams bring more butts in the seats and eyes on TV?

 

[TC4THREE]

Ethan Happ is going to cost them with free throw shooting sometime. If not today, it will at some point.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Ethan Happ is going to cost them with free throw shooting sometime. If not today, it will at some point.

Rutgers leading 37-30 with 5 and half minutes left.....Badgers are shooting a blistering 8-42 (19%)....wow. Plenty of time, though, for Wisconsin to pull this out.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Didn't Illinois and Penn State play a game in the 30's several years back? I'll have to check.

 

[Boiler_HD]

This is brutal to watch.

 

[arcb102000]

Wisconsin is laying an egg in MSG. Down by 5 with 4 minutes left to Rutgers. Given Purdue's luck the Badgers will pull it out.

 

[TC4THREE]

We didn't have problems shooting in MSG.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

This is brutal to watch.

yeah....huge 2nd possession for the Scarlet Knights; up 41-34 with 2:30 left.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

We didn't have problems shooting in MSG.

no.....just "elbow" issues.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

two bricks from Rutgers at the FT line.....Wisconsin within three.....smh.

 

[Boiler_HD]

Here we go..... Just do this for us rutgers

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

ummmm....might want to keep track of Koenig....three-pointer puts Wisconsin within one; Rutgers playing Santa Claus here, folks.

 

[Boiler_HD]

yeah terrible defense

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

OT....Rutgers missed four FT's down the stretch.....sheesh.

 

[BoilerDaddy]

OT....Rutgers missed four FT's down the stretch.....sheesh.

At the end of regulation, Happ is 9/14 from the field and his teammates are a combined 6/40.

 

[BoilerAndy]

getting more losses. I hate how the b10 schedule is so unbalanced.

Don't really see too many more tough games on their slate.

First thing I'd do as commissioner is bump up the schedule to at least 22games.

I agree. The other side of this is that Purdue should be undefeated. Beat the teams on your schedule. Especially if you have hopes of being a dominant team and making a deep run. There is still the B1G tourney and the NCAA.

 

[FirstDownB]

Cannot believe Rutgers did not foul Haap at the end of regulation instead of giving him a layup. But they are Rutgers after all.

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

I agree. The other side of this is that Purdue should be undefeated. Beat the teams on your schedule. Especially if you have hopes of being a dominant team and making a deep run. There is still the B1G tourney and the NCAA.

And that could very well end up being the difference unfortunately....Wisconsin made just enough plays to escape both Minnesota and Rutgers in overtime.

 

[rgarlitz]

Didn't Illinois and Penn State play a game in the 30's several years back? I'll have to check.

Ya, PSU beat a ranked Illinois team 38-33 in Champaign in February 2009. The whole country made fun of it.

 

[njm8845]

I agree. The other side of this is that Purdue should be undefeated. Beat the teams on your schedule. Especially if you have hopes of being a dominant team and making a deep run. There is still the B1G tourney and the NCAA.

Purdue should have won those games. But when you have a short schedule, the likelihood of a champion not being the best team is increased.

I hate to say it, but the regular season championship doesn't mean as much as it used to. Nobody except IU fans would have said they were the best team last year. Nobody except Wisconsin fans think they have the best team this year.