Question: 2009-2010 Schedule release date?

[edwd58]

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Isn't it normally around this time that the basketball schedule is released, or am I still to early? I know there have been a few games announced (Purdue and the Old Spice tournament) but I'm looking forward to seeing the entire schedule, and hopefully an improved strength of schedule.

[TideAlum]

	Quote:	edwd58
	Isn't it normally around this time that the basketball schedule is released, or am I still to early? I know there have been a few games announced (Purdue and the Old Spice tournament) but I'm looking forward to seeing the entire schedule, and hopefully an improved strength of schedule.

In 2007, the basketball schedule was released on August 27th.
In 2008, the basketball schedule was released on September 23rd.

Do you really want an improved strength of schedule? Under CMG, scheduling strong non-conference opponents was without a doubt one of his strengths. Heck, Alabama made the 2003 NCAA tournament almost solely on strength of schedule. I hope Coach Grant maintains the scheduling trend that CMG started.

Alabama will be participating in the Old Spice Classic during Thanksgiving weekend. The opening round opponent is Baylor on Thanksgiving Day.

[bmcklv]

It's been awhile since I said this; but I'm ready for some Crimson Hoops.

[edwd58]

Yes, I would like to see an increased strength of schedule, especially if it brings marquee/name teams into Coleman. Over the past several years I've had my fill of the following kind of teams: Alabama State, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, Alabama A&M, Troy, Chattanooga, Quincy, La-Lafayette, SE La., Nichols State, Chicago State, Jackson State, Lipscomb, La-Monroe, et al. I know we need some games of this type to work out the kinks early on, but goodness, a steady diet of these games is a bit much.

I want more games with teams the calibur of Oklahoma, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State, Notre Dame, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M. We've played all of these teams within the past few years but we seldom get more than two of these type games per year on our schedule (not counting tournaments) and one of them is usually on the road.

In 2003, we played Ohio State, UNC-Greensboro, & St. Bonny in a tournament, Oklahoma, Providence, Utah and Xavier in addition to our conference schedule (which included #1 ranked Florida). Those three tournament teams certainly boosted our SOS. We were ranked #1 going into the Utah game and barely made the field of 64, in my opinion, on a sympathy invite as much as anything.

Playing these lower to mid-level tournament champs may help with SOS to a degree, but it doesn't make me want to drive 100 miles to T-town on a weeknight to watch the game. CMG increased the SOS after getting snubbed by the committee one year, but its not like he bolstered it to the point where we were consistently in the top 10 in SOS.

[BAMA1979]

Saturday, December 19th vs. Kansas State in Mobile

[TideAlum]

	Quote:	edwd58
	Yes, I would like to see an increased strength of schedule, especially if it brings marquee/name teams into Coleman. Over the past several years I've had my fill of the following kind of teams: Alabama State, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, Alabama A&M, Troy, Chattanooga, Quincy, La-Lafayette, SE La., Nichols State, Chicago State, Jackson State, Lipscomb, La-Monroe, et al. I know we need some games of this type to work out the kinks early on, but goodness, a steady diet of these games is a bit much. I want more games with teams the calibur of Oklahoma, Clemson, Georgetown, Ohio State, Notre Dame, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Texas A&M. We've played all of these teams within the past few years but we seldom get more than two of these type games per year on our schedule (not counting tournaments) and one of them is usually on the road. In 2003, we played Ohio State, UNC-Greensboro, & St. Bonny in a tournament, Oklahoma, Providence, Utah and Xavier in addition to our conference schedule (which included #1 ranked Florida). Those three tournament teams certainly boosted our SOS. We were ranked #1 going into the Utah game and barely made the field of 64, in my opinion, on a sympathy invite as much as anything. Playing these lower to mid-level tournament champs may help with SOS to a degree, but it doesn't make me want to drive 100 miles to T-town on a weeknight to watch the game. CMG increased the SOS after getting snubbed by the committee one year, but its not like he bolstered it to the point where we were consistently in the top 10 in SOS.

Now for some facts. The SOS for Alabama is included below:

2008: 55
2007: 45
2006: 12
2005: 31
2004: 1
2003: 20
2002: 18
2001: 81 (the year Alabama got snubbed because of poor SOS)

So, since the snubbing of Alabama in 2001, Alabama's worst SOS was last year's 55...out of 340. True, CMG did not get Alabama "to the point where we were consistently in the top 10 in SOS." He only got Alabama to the point where 4 out of the last 7 years the SOS were in the Top 25. And we all know that SOS was not the issue during the last 2 years...winning was the problem.

You're going to have to get used to watching games against lower to mid-level teams. Every major college program plays these games. As for not making the drive to watch such games, you are not alone. Attendance is always sparse during such midweek games.

Amazingly even after playing "a steady diet of these games," Alabama's SOS was very good to excellent. That wasn't due to luck. That was due to very good non-conference scheduling by CMG. Again, the problem in recent years was not the schedule. The problem was the performance on the court. I hope Coach Grant continues to strive towards a top notch SOS while improving the performance on the court.

[Mc Lovin]

I believe we also make the return trip to Ga Tech. Great, now they have Derrick Favors and two other McDonald All Americans. Also VCU was supposed to come to Tuscaloosa this year but after the Purdue game was announced, it was pushed back to 2010-2011. Combine Ga Tech, Purdue, Kansas St, Baylor with the possibility of FSU, Michigan and Creighton in Old Spice, and the non-conference slate is not bad

[Bama-94-00]

	Quote:	TideAlum
	... So, since the snubbing of Alabama in 2001, Alabama's worst SOS was last year's 55...out of 340. True, CMG did not get Alabama "to the point where we were consistently in the top 10 in SOS." He only got Alabama to the point where 4 out of the last 7 years the SOS were in the Top 25. And we all know that SOS was not the issue during the last 2 years...winning was the problem. You're going to have to get used to watching games against lower to mid-level teams. Every major college program plays these games. As for not making the drive to watch such games, you are not alone. Attendance is always sparse during such midweek games. Amazingly even after playing "a steady diet of these games," Alabama's SOS was very good to excellent. That wasn't due to luck. That was due to very good non-conference scheduling by CMG. Again, the problem in recent years was not the schedule. The problem was the performance on the court. I hope Coach Grant continues to strive towards a top notch SOS while improving the performance on the court.

Agreed, keep playing the good schedules (or improve a little), and win on the court. Things will take care of themselves with those two.

xCMG mentioned they tried to schedule teams that were expected to compete for their conference championship. Basically we have played several good mid-major teams that don't have the big name.

[TideAlum]

Here's the schedule:

2009-10 Alabama Basketball Schedule

The marquee non-conference games will be the Old Spice Classic, Kansas State in Mobile, Purdue in T'town, @ Toledo, and maybe Providence in T'town. Noticeably absent from the schedule is a return trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech. Are we moving that back a year or has it been dropped completely?

[CrimsonChuck]

	Quote:	TideAlum
	Here's the schedule: 2009-10 Alabama Basketball Schedule The marquee non-conference games will be the Old Spice Classic, Kansas State in Mobile, Purdue in T'town, @ Toledo, and maybe Providence in T'town. Noticeably absent from the schedule is a return trip to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech. Are we moving that back a year or has it been dropped completely?

That is great news about Providence. That means that I probably will have a chance to see Bama play Providence up here next year...assuming it isn't on Bama-Auburn weekend.

[TideAlum]

	Quote:	CrimsonChuck
	That is great news about Providence. That means that I probably will have a chance to see Bama play Providence up here next year...assuming it isn't on Bama-Auburn weekend.

It's not. The Providence game is November 20th (the day before the football game against UT-Chattanooga).

[Mongo4Bama]

	Quote:	bmcklv
	It's been awhile since I said this; but I'm ready for some Crimson Hoops.

For sure Hoops will be fun again