Yes I know this is ridiculously early, but I like talking Ohio Basketball, so I thought I'd throw this out there. I know last years games finished the Bobby Mo, Winthrop and St. Bonnies series. The Oakland series too I think. I'm assuming the Belmont return game would be the 2014-2015 season. After removing the buy games, I can only think of two games for next year for sure. I'm sure we have some Morgan State and Maryland Eastern Shores lined up. Anyone know of any other games?
Home Games - Northern Iowa,
Road Games - UNC-Ashville, Richmond?, Marshall?
Possibilities?
I know Aaron works hard and scheduling isn't easy, but I saw the teams below post on basketball travelers message board looking for games next year and thought they were interesting. I didn't list them all, just some I thought were reasonable / attainable.
Home and Home series
- College of Charleston - Start in Charleston.
- DePaul - Home or away to start
- Drexel - Start Home or away
- Duquesne - Must start away from Pitt.
- George Mason - Start away.
- Indiana State - Start in Terra Haute.
- Middle Tennessee State - Home or away to start
- Northeastern University - start either at home or on the road
Guarantee Games
- Ohio State - looking for one game
- Dayton - looking for multiple guarantee games
- Maryland - looking for a guarantee game to be played in College Park
- Notre Dame - Looking for a few guarantees for 2013-2014 season.
- Cincinnati - Offering a competitive guarantees (also offering a home and home but know that wouldn't happen)
Tournaments
- St. Mary's - Looking for teams for the 2013 Shamrock Classic. 4 teams. 2 games each.
- Delaware - looking for 3 teams. Each team will play each other.
- UTEP - Don Haskins Sun Bowl Tournament is looking for teams
Of all the games on there that we should be playing annually, I'd check off UD and UC. I'm not sure what the opponents opinions would be on that, but I don't see how not playing us makes sense for UD, and with the dissolution of the Big East, now, Cincinnati. I don't pretend to know RPI implications for wining or losing against us but in all other ways it makes sense from a fan's perspective, and inexpensive travel for the teams.
Ohio State will never play us under Thad, so scratch that off the conversation. He's said it a number of times, and it's off the table.
I'd be all for Depaul anytime we could play them. Big name that's down, but eventually they'll be back, and will be a good game.
Drexel at this point does nothing for us. 3-4 years ago, I'd have been all about that.
Duquesne or Indiana State are both games I think would be good one for Ohio, along with George Mason with the move to the A10.
The last one on my list: because my family lives in Charleston, I'd be all over a game versus the Cougars, especially in Charleston.
My hope, just like most of this board, is that we can get one home game in December against someone who is a draw for the fans, as well as a nice RPI boost with a win. It'd be nice to see the program have the funds to give a guarantee game to a decent opponent. Maybe we're not there now, but it is something that seems to be necessary for "the next step, or next level".