Gonzaga, liars or just mis-quoted

[Statman]

This morning, Mike Bobinski was on with Alan Cutler (1530 HOMER). They talked quite a while on many topics, but I thought one of the best was when he talked about scheduling and someone they would like to play. He mentioned Gonzaga. A while back, Mark Few was quoted as having said that they would play anyone, but nobody wants to play them up in Washington State. Mike said that they made a call (what was not the first to them) and said that they would be there next year to start up a series with them. They told Mike, "Thanks, but no thanks."

Hey 'Zags, quit your bitchin' about nobody wanting to play you!

[confusedbulldog]

I'm sure the station and Mike mis-remembered the conversation with Mark Few.

[muskieman]

I have reported this to this board for years. When Skip was here they wanted to play the Zags, when we got them in the NCAA game the AD approached them for a game. Every time they said "No Thanks". I don't understand what they have to lose, except a game.

That is why Gonzaga is dead to me.

[thywillbedone]

liars, kinda like politicians

[joetitan]

to be fair & more complete; Bobo also was specific to state UK had been approached many times but was never interested on any terms, ND has been approached but was not interested, Indiana--especially after this season's defeat-- will not play XU.

On the good news side, Bobo indicated XU & Wake Forest are planning a long term series to honor Skip probably starting in the 2009-2010 season.

Bobo called scheduling the least enjoyable part of his job, referring to scheduling as "liar's poker".

[Statman]

to be fair & more complete; Bobo also was specific to state UK had been approached many times but was never interested on any terms, ND has been approached but was not interested, Indiana--especially after this season's defeat-- will not play XU.

On the good news side, Bobo indicated XU & Wake Forest are planning a long term series to honor Skip probably starting in the 2009-2010 season.

Bobo called scheduling the least enjoyable part of his job, referring to scheduling as "liar's poker".

Appreciate the extra info, but UK, ND and IU aren't complaining that nobody will schedule them in their house. It just seems a no brainer that teams like Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier and maybe teams like New Mexico, Northern Illinois and Butler, perenial good teams in less than stellar conferences should make a better effort to put each other on their schedules.

[Mr. Neutral]

<<...teams like Gonzaga, Memphis, Xavier and maybe teams like New Mexico, Northern Illinois and Butler, perenial good teams in less than stellar conferences should make a better effort to put each other on their schedules.>>

For starters, I you mean Southern Illinois.

While I don't disagree with your premise from OUR point of view, I have to figure that if Gonzaga that they had anything whatsoever to gain by playing us, they would. They apparently don't, and we have to acknowledge that at some point.

And while we may accuse the Zags of "ducking" us, they haven't ducked #1 Tennessee, #2 Memphis, #11 UConn, #22 Wash. St., #27 Oklahoma, and 5 other teams with RPI's between 51-76.

Their non-conf. SOS was #9, while ours was #16, so as challenging as our schedule might have been, theirs was more so.

So, please, no more arguments about how they're "afraid" to play Xavier. They're clearly not "afraid" to play, or lose to, good teams. They just choose not to play us because they clearly feel it's not advantageous to them. We want to them to play us, not the other way around.

[LA Muskie]

Agreed, Neutral. When you are in a class among the Xaviers, Gonzagas, Memphis, BYUs and Southern Illinois of the world you rarely get a more prominent stature in college basketball by playing one another (this year being somewhat of an exception, given Memphis' #1 ranking in particular). You get there by playing big-name, BCS-affiliated programs.

When the 'Zags say they were having a hard time scheduling, they aren't talking about us. They are talking about the likes of Duke, UNC, UConn, Georgetown, Syracuse, Indiana, Ohio State, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Kansas, Texas, UCLA and Arizona. (And, incidentally, they do get a good number of those teams on their schedule anyway...)

[Cheesehead]

I'm sure Gonzaga feels that X is "beneath" them in the world of college basketball. That's why they have no interest in playing X. If they lose to the likes of TN, NC, Duke, extc., they are still viewed in good light and it would be viewed as a good loss but heaven forbid if they lost to X.

[LA Muskie]

I'm sure Gonzaga feels that X is "beneath" them in the world of college basketball. That's why they have no interest in playing X. If they lose to the likes of TN, NC, Duke, extc., they are still viewed in good light and it would be viewed as a good loss but heaven forbid if they lost to X.

I don't know that they think we are "beneath" them. I think there is a healthy respect in both directions (there certainly is on our end -- that's why we want to play them). I think more realistically they don't see the upside. If they're going to play a tough game and risk a loss, they'd rather it come against a big-name BCS school. I frankly can't blame them.

I know there's the Jesuit connection and all, but we need to learn to put those "cute" scheduling stories aside and play the best and MOST PROMINENT teams we can get, just like they do. That said, I think we have a great schedule this year and I exceedingly trust our program's ability to schedule.