A closer look at the 2007-2008 schedule

by Eamonn Brennan in Schedule | August 15th, 2007

In examining the recently released IU hoops sked (click image to expand), a few words come to mind. Let’s take a look:

Cupcakes: Yes, at first glance, the Big Ten schedule is pretty meaty in the middle of the year, but to get there IU gets — deep breath — UT-Chattanooga, Longwood, UNC Wilmington, Illinois State, Tennessee State, Western Carolina, Coppin State and Chicago State. That’s, count ‘em, eight near-guaranteed wins. Granted, they’re peppered with Xavier/Kent State, Georgia Tech, Southern Illinois, and Kentucky … but both Georgia Tech and Kentucky are at IU, and even in Carbondale, Southern isn’t the team they were last year. Before the Big Ten season even starts, IU should be at least 10-2. At least. The days of old — when IU would play top 25 team after top 25 team in the preseason — appear to be over.

Wildcats: This is the preseason game of the year. Since the ACC challenge has robbed us of our annual Duke-or-UNC matchup, Georgia Tech just doesn’t feel very sexy. Will students be as loud when UK comes as they were when Redick was in the house? Will UK fans make an appearance?

Balance: Besides the Feb. 7-16 stretch wherein IU will face Illinois, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Michigan State, the Big Ten schedule looks remarkably balanced. There isn’t much of a road trip there, which will be good news to Sampson; if his team can win at home like he did last year, he’ll be sitting pretty yet again.

25 wins: That’s the goal every year for any top flight team, and there’s no reason, given this schedule, that this IU team can’t accomplish it. Even if IU loses every Big Ten road game (certainly possible), they should still have, say, 21-22 wins. This team has the schedule to make the NCAA tournament without a problem. What happens when they get there is the most pressing question surrounding the upcoming season, the one I’m hoping will have a chance to be answered.

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DCDAVE

I disagree with your statement that this is not like the "days of old when we played top 25 team after top 25 team". Granted, Davis has a couple of BRUTAL pre-Big Ten schedules for YEARS and YEARS IU played in two December holiday tourneys. Those 2 tourneys provided 4 "cupcakes" and there were also plenty of others (i.e. we have usually had 8 or so cupcakes). We are lucky that UCONN, UK and GA Tech are at home but that is the give and take of scheduling.

Also, you have a GREAT website. Thanks for the info.

PostmanE

Dave:

Thanks for the compliment. I didn't mean to suggest the actual days of old, or the glory days under Knight or anything like that ... I was just referring to the couple years when Davis' teams had ridiculous non-con schedules which, in my mind, set them like four or five games behind developmentally each year.

Big A

I agree with you E, the non-conference schedule is a little soft in my opinion, but it'll help guarantee 24-25 wins.

Tyler

I don't know if I have every been more excited for Indiana basketball in my lifetime. I live RIGHT in Purdue country and obviously the paper here tries to take a jab at IU all the time but this year it has been a little different. There are so many strengths this ball club has, it's been hard for them to find a weakness and 'poke fun' at it. Sure the Boilers are heading in the right direction, but I expect White/Gordon and company to lay the smack down on them in Bloomington this year. I also think the football team has a great chance to take down the Boilers at Memorial Stadium this year also.

GO HOOSIERS

Mike M

The only problem I see with this schedule is that we don't start until Nov. Is there any way we could move that up?

kelin

I will admit I had similar excitement in Mike Davis's last year, given the DJ and Marco combo. But my excitement is more now given the confidence in the coach and the players...big difference.

snissen

I see about 23 wins, figuring we're likely to split Illinois, Michigan State and Iowa, and lose to Ohio St. and Wisconsin. Assumedly we can pick one up in the Big Ten tournament.

matt

I might be drinking too much of the Cream and Crimson Kool-Aid, but IU couldn't ask for a better last half of the Big Ten schedule. They should go 7-1, 6-2 at the absolute worst. The one given loss is probably at MSU (always is it seems)But the other games, even though it will be all the predicted Big Boys in the conference this year(MSU,Wisc,Purdue and OSU) those games are at home. Plus Minn. at home and other 2 road games at NW and PSU, which should be the most winnable road games of the season. If the selection committee looks at how you finish the season as has supposedly been bantered around in the past, then IU has a great chance of getting quite a high seed. Anyone else's thoughts on my predictions? Thanks

kelin

I agree with the last half of the season. Am I missing something, but why is everyone so high on OSU? They lost a NICE chunk of their fire power. Not that they will be bad but I think IU should handle them fairly well this year.

kelin

Does anyone have idea how much student tickets are approximately?

IUFan2000

I'd be hesitant about calling the Carbondale game a "cupcake". Remember 2001? We need to be prepared for that game. I think SIU is soemthing like 80-3 at home. Granted they haven't played many top 10 teams there but we cant take that game lightly.

A closer look at the 2007-2008 schedule

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