Starting in 2014, Idaho will be joining the Big Sky, giving the conference 12 teams for basketball. This led to a couple of obvious questions, which the Big Sky answered in a press release last week:
1) Will they continue the double round robin scheduling?
The answer here is no. Currently, with 11 teams, everyone plays each other twice, leaving everyone with 20 conference games. If they continued this, it would give everyone 22 conference games. However, the conference announced that each team would play 18 conference games. While this could cause some inequality in scheduling, I think that is optimal to playing almost all conference games and minimal non-conference games, which would be the case if they played 22 Big Sky games each. It’s not always easy for teams to schedule good non-conference games, but at least this way there is a chance.
2) Will the conference be split into two divisions?
Once again, the answer is no. From commissioner Fullerton:
“However, our administrators felt like 18 games with no divisions will be a better format for basketball, where it becoming increasingly more difficult to schedule home Division I non-conference games. Playing in one division for basketball allows for a more equitable schedule than an 18-game schedule with two divisions. Our schedule will likely be modeled after the Pac-12’s current model’’
What are your thoughts on the announcements?
(My note: I've been enjoying my summer break so far... both with an actual vacation and relaxing, but things should get back into a better routine around here)
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I like the move to 18 BSC games. It opens up more slots for OOC games…however the BSC has struggled to land quality OOC home games so that might be an issue unless a scheduling agreement with another conference can be made.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I would love to see them join some type of like Big Sky vs Big West Challenge. Seems like that would make so much sense!
ReplyDeleteIt would, however my feeling is they don’t want their top programs (LBSU, UCSB?) risking a “bad” loss on the road at Missoula or Odgen…especially since LBSU lost at UM not too long ago. Sac State is fortunate enough to get a couple of BW teams a year (annual rivalry with cal davis, Riverside, CP, UCSB in recent years) but I think it because we are a short bus ride from them.
ReplyDeleteAlso back to the BSC scheduling, any idea on how the non home and home agreements will work? I can see “OOC” scheduling within the BSC occur (similar to what football does) to provide OOC home games. So basically even though certain teams will only count as a BSC game, their respective travel partner would be scheduled the same weekend (minimizes travel and provides a home OOC game) but just not count towards the BSC standings. Follow? You hear any discussions on this?
ReplyDeleteI have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are really great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend.
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