MBB OOC Schedule 14-15

[HofstraHockey]

I just got FiOS, so if anything I hope that re-up that deal.

[stuball888]

Just so I am covered, I have cablevision at home and Fios for my business.

[HofstraHockey]

Yeah, no Cablevision where I live. Oh well. I'm glad to see they get some national games though. Hopefully some good crowds to go with it.

[Jojogunne]

I finally watched the Google video where Coach Mihalich discussed the OCC schedule. I'll say this, the man knows his D1 opponents. A few takeaways:

-- It was difficult to schedule higher-ranked opponents with three quality transfers eligible this year. Hoping that will change going forward.

-- The teams that we did schedule play like several of our CAA opponents and will prepare our team for league play.

-- Practice starts Oct. 6, and our home opener with Jacksonville is the first day that teams are allowed to play.[/list=]

Here's a link to the video:

http://www.gohofstra.com/ViewArticle.db ... M_ID=22200

[Polito]

I LOVE this video, and impressed with the fact that they took the time to do it - very well done, and it served a real purpose

FINALLY some level of explanation around who and why we schedule opponents - JM seems to understand what the fans want and need to hear - this guy and his staff do it 'right', SO happy to have him lead the HU program

looking forward to this type of breakdown EVERY yr

[ProudofPride]

Secret scrimmages per Jeff Goodman http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/jeff-go ... scrimmages
Nov. 1 at St Joseph's
Nov. 8 at Penn State

[stuball888]

Nice teams to scrimmage. If we hold our own we should be in good shape when the season begins. Question for the board, How important is it for us to get off to a good start? Can we afford to get off slowly but finish strong?

[dutchalum01]

As long as we're firing on all cylinders come CAA, we can drop a few to start. This coaching staff appears to be strong enough to keep the team in it on any given night - and that was with last years team. Man I can't wait.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HofstraHockey]

I'd still like to see them win some (a lot) of those games.

[Polito]

Ooohhh juicy info, love it! Great teams to scrimmage - solid opponents, should help them get a good game feel before starting official season

I'd love to see them knock off one of the bigger conf foes (NC State, USF, La Salle), but I think we all understand this comes down to the CAA and the tourney in March

I'm sure there will be some 'gel-ing' games, some kinks to work out, esp in the beginning of the year - but this is ALL about getting to the dance - that's it baby.

[Cards]

Based on what I saw at the court last night, I am very optomistic. Given the strength of our OOC schedule, I can see us piling up wins pretty regularly. And as Polito stated, some of hte bigger foes may be our only challenges. I think without going too far out on a limb, we can expect this to be a very sucessful year for the program.

[Jojogunne]

The Columbia game just got a little easier:

http://www.nycbuckets.com/2014/10/meiko ... l-program/

[Captain]

Jojo these may be the 2 College b'ball teams I follow most closely. HU was my 1st college team to watch and admire since I was 12 years old. I went to Columbia undergrad during their prime b'ball years (1969-"73). I then went to HU for grad school. The 2 players who won't play won't make much difference. They have a bunch of big men including Luke Petrasek who HU recruited hard as well. I think it's a real nice match-up and my money is on HU. I will be there (behind the Dutch bench).
I think the last time these teams played it was in NYC and Carlos Rivera hit a last second jumper for the win.

[ProudofPride]

The games against Central CT State and Columbia may have a bit easier for us. CCSU star Kyle Vinales was arrested on Friday for hitting his girlfriend. He is currently not practicing with the team, and no word yet on when/if he'll be playing.
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... irlfriend/
Columbia's leading scorer Alex Rosenberg is out at least 6-8 weeks due to a broken foot. http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports. ... oken-foot/

[Jojogunne]

I could not find the schedule on GoHofstra.com, but here is what I got from one website's report. I added our opponents' RPIs from last year. If we don't go at least 11-2, something will be terribly wrong:

Nov. 14 JACKSONVILLE 282
Nov. 17 @NC State 55
Nov. 21 STONY BROOK 169
Nov. 23 WAGNER 215
Nov. 25 @ South Florida 227
Nov. 28 @ Jackson State 297

Dec. 2 NORFOLK STATE 228
Dec. 7 @ Appalachian State 335
Dec. 10 @ Coppin State 263
Dec. 20 COLUMBIA 127
Dec. 23 LA SALLE 98
Dec. 28 LIU Brooklyn (@Barclays) 300
Dec. 31 @ Central Connecticut State 289

http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball ... etball-rpi

Here's an update of the OCC rankings with the SI numbers added to last year's RPI, plus SI's CAA rankings:

Nov. 14 JACKSONVILLE 282 (RPI) / 268 (SI)
Nov. 17 @NC State 55/55
Nov. 21 STONY BROOK 169/145
Nov. 23 WAGNER 215/291
Nov. 25 @ South Florida 227/249
Nov. 28 @ Jackson State 297/325

Dec. 2 NORFOLK STATE 228/339
Dec. 7 @ Appalachian State 335/305
Dec. 10 @ Coppin State 263/292
Dec. 20 COLUMBIA 127/111
Dec. 23 LA SALLE 98/98
Dec. 28 LIU Brooklyn (@Barclays) 300/330
Dec. 31 @ Central Connecticut State 289/250

CAA Teams (SI rankings only):

146 Hofstra
172 Northeastern
187 Drexel
189 W&M
193 Charleston

238 Towson
255 Elon
254JMU
243 UNCW
263 Delaware

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/20 ... ams-ranked

[HofstraHockey]

Doing some math, Hofstra's opponents' SI rank for OOC games averages a 235, and with the CAA teams added in, it's a 229 (not counting those teams twice, even if they play them twice). So not quite the toughest schedule, but hopefully with some success that can be built up. I have said before though that the importance of playing some winning basketball, even if it comes against some lower level competition, is big. Get the fans energized again, the students back into it, and help yourself a bit with recruiting by at least playing some form of postseason basketball.

I know obviously everyone WANTS an NCAA game, and it is a very realistic goal. That being said, assuming the team makes at least the CAA semis (that should be a benchmark), would you guys be happy with an NIT game (I'd imagine most would)?
A CBI/CIT appearance (maybe less of you)?

A scenario I see could be Hofstra finishing 3rd in the CAA, whoever finishes in 2nd wins the tournament, and whoever is in 1st gets an auto NIT, and they don't want another team from a weak CAA in it. It's not your goal, obviously, but it's not 5 and twentysomething either.

[stuball888]

HH that is a very realistic view. I agree 100%. We can always up the OOC for the next few years but this year we need some easier games to build confidence and chemistry on this team. Not a total cupcake schedule with 300+ RPIs on this schedule.

[Cards]

I have a postseason tourney question. Do you have to declare before the season what tourney you want to be potnetially involved in? For instance, if you declare for the CBI/CIT are you inelegible for the NIT? I thought that was the case, and that a few years ago HU was in with the CBI instead of the NIT - does anyone ealse remember that (or am I halicinating)?

If we dont get an NCAA bid, i would hope we are considered (and elegible) for an NIT bid. I recall being at the Nebraska game and the Depaul game (and others) at the Mack and they were awesome experiences.

[stuball888]

Cards I have not heard that. The NCAA amnd NIT are by selection committee. The CBI and CIT are the leftovers. I think the only thing you have to declare is whether you want to host a CIT/CBI game. I believe the host school w3ill have to pay for that home game.

[Cards]

Thanks Stu - Just in case we are not in the NCAAs, I did not want it to be one OR the other. Hoping for NIT if not NCAA.