Yeah, 18 teams less 2 games each is 36 potential games OOC. Most of those aren’t going to the A10 I’d guess, maybe a few.
2025-2026 Non Conference Schedule
- Thread starter Section9.RowD
- Start date
there is still a trickle down effect. It's 36 extra ooc games. they all won't be acc vs. only p5. Tho it does gives them flexibility to add more of those games. whether we specifically benefit is tbd but that's on the staff. is 36 more games in ooc inventory better or worse overall? better.
ACC is doing this cause they got 4 bids last year. Extra in conference games hurt them because they had so many "mid" teams. Same logic would apply to the why the A-10 should not seek to add more in conference games as that won't help us secure more bids either.
I don't see the ACC/Big 12/Big 10 following suit because they are getting all of the bids they could possibly dream of just playing each other.
I don't see the ACC/Big 12/Big 10 following suit because they are getting all of the bids they could possibly dream of just playing each other.
Most, maybe even all, will likely be cupcakes. The ACC went 4-29 against the SEC last year. The 20 game IC schedule had nothing to do with the ACC sucking last year.
Agree ACC is doing this to try to get more bids. But, you can't compare them to the A-10. The ACC still got 4 bids, and had good, but not great, Clemson and Louisville teams go 18-2 IC, behind Duke's 19-1 IC record. So playing 20 IC games gave them separation at the top.
The A-10 got 1 bid and would love to get 4 bids. Shoot, even 2 bids would be an improvement. So, actually the same logic is why the A-10 should go to 20 IC games. Maybe a team like Mason could get 2 more IC wins, possibly good IC wins, and look a lot better for a bid at 17-3. When you are basically a 1 bid league right now, why not schedule more IC games and hope a couple top 4 teams benefit by getting 2 more IC wins?
people look at scheduling like there's a magic formula to getting more bids. there's not. you need to have good teams that win games.
look at the high major games the A10 plays. we lose most of them. heck, we lose too many games against mid majors, and the occasional game against low majors.
the A10 is typically a 2 bid league, sometimes a little better or worse. just like all the best non-power conferences. no scheduling trick will change that.
look at the high major games the A10 plays. we lose most of them. heck, we lose too many games against mid majors, and the occasional game against low majors.
the A10 is typically a 2 bid league, sometimes a little better or worse. just like all the best non-power conferences. no scheduling trick will change that.
The A10 should change its name to the Strong Enough Conference and then sell recruits and committee members on the idea that we all play in the SEC.
Pretty much agree with you Sman. But, I do think, if anything, 2 more IC games would help the A-10 more than hurt. Look at our schedule, and numerous A-10 schedules last year. Cupcakes after cupcakes. Why not replace 2 of those with 2 more A-10 games. 1. Maybe a team on the bubble could get an extra game with a top 4 team and add to their Q1 or Q2 wins. 2. It would give us a chance for a couple better games. Maybe we get Dayton and/or Loyola twice. And, if you get 2 lower A-10 teams....what's the difference in that and all these 250+ and 300+ teams we see all over A-10 schedules anyway?
But, I agree that the bottom line is just win more of the good OOC games you play.
I agree for the A10. we have a hard time getting good games. we take all we can get. reducing our OOC games wouldn't affect the number of good games we get in the OOC at all. it would only drop 2 weak games.
Isn’t this the 50 year anniversary of the A10? I thought I heard somewhere that we are trying to get games against former A10 members who are now P5 as part of the 50 year celebration.
I would just like a non-conference away game within 2.5 hours driving distance of my home in NJ. Is that too much to ask? If we're going to be "the least interesting program in college basketball," as another poster aptly put it, can't the powers that be at least reward this 40-something year old double alum who has lived and died with Spider Basketball since he walked onto the Richmond College side of the lake in 1998 as a skinny freshman?!!
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
The last time we played them was in 2008 in the CBI. Two point loss.
Much closer than the first time we played them in 1915 and lost 59-14.
I think when Rick Houston went off in Beilein first year they were like sorry no more reg season games
That's interesting. yeah it is 50th year. Did that come out of the league office? Not sure I buy it. But one can hope. there r good possibilities. Nova Pitt WVU Penn St. Xavier Temple VA tech Rutgers. Now a few of those teams like Philly Big 5 r already played.
well the article fwiw expressly said the goal was to get more marquee ooc games.
but I certainly don't see them filling with just marquee, so if there were cupcakes, shouldn't that benefit us? We were NET 253 last year and most don't think highly of our prospects for next year.
just curious why do u draw that conclusion? I kinda think the opposite. because teams want those weak games no matter what. for padding wins, selling tickets, getting home games for fans. and logically if u have more OOC openings u have more opportunity for good games. but I think if OOC is reduced rather than the 2 weak games being dropped those are the first 2 to stay.
Law, you are clearly a loyal Spiders fan who has been through the ups and downs since 1998!
Our schedule makers need to show fans like you and thousands of others some respect for their loyalty by scheduling a respectable non conference schedule. I hope they’re working on it right now, not only for loyal fans, but for the players and the rebuilding of the program.
Go Spiders!
Definitely. If we get a neutral game like Clemson, we would certainly keep that. Same with an OOC tourney if we get in a good one. And, if we get a road game like Auburn, of course we keep that. And, we would never give up a good home and home series with a quality team. So, no question, going to 20 IC games would not hurt our schedule at all. It would give us a chance to maybe get another game or two against a top 4 or 5 A10 team who likely has a good NET.
The road game like Auburn? We hardly play those. we should play more. I’d personally like to see it. But they’d be first to go imo. idk why u think of course we keep that kind of game. Based on what? We don’t seem inclined to play them now.
18 a10 games is plenty. 20 almost insufferable. I don’t need more. Not when the ooc games carry more importance. Play a national schedule. Be bold for once. Branding. Culture. Fans & players like the big games. And while yeah there is a chance for 1 more solid a10 game there is a greater chance it’s an average a10 game (last year avg net 137) or worse a 200 Net game.
I’m blocked talking to air. So someone else can reply.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
Mooneyites love pie in the sky "wouldnt it be nice if" thinking on things that they know has a snowball's chance in hell of actually happening.
Similar threads
