Mine Eyes Have Seen the Gory: Elite Schools Play Lame Non-League Slates
October 19th, 2014 - 14:30
By any measure, it was shortsighted of Indiana and Kentucky to let their "Clash of the Titans" rivalry expire a couple of years ago because of colossal coaching egos. Regrettably, the schedule neglect doesn't end there although perhaps IU was clairvoyant and knew half of its roster would be sanctioned for assorted pinhead/pothead reasons. It's equally obscene fans aren't able to enjoy the following potentially great natural non-league matchups between in-state power league members: Cincinnati/Ohio State, DePaul/Illinois, Georgetown/Maryland and Penn State/Villanova.
Tennessee's hiring of an apparent Bruce Pearl rerun notwithstanding, Memphis mentor Josh Pastner didn't discern the benefit in renewing the Tigers' series with the Volunteers. He'd rather just sit at home afflicted with ED (Entertainment Dysfunction) and beat up on out-of-state fodder. Do you think there is any connection between such a misguided mindset and Pastner's pathetic record against opponents ranked in the Top 25? An exhibition-game loss against local Christian Brothers this season could be another indication why the Tigers look extensively beyond state borders to pad their record although they lost by double digits against Stephen F. Austin to kick off a nine-game homestand.
Shortsighted Maryland, rather than coping with an exit fee lawsuit from the ACC, should have faced litigation from Terrapin fans because of woeful non-league home schedule the last several years probably costing them at-large berths in the NCAA playoffs. The Terps' non-league slate upon joining the Big Ten remains "turrible." Shouldn't the overriding view be what's best for the fans, players and game in general? Instead, a striking number of schools should be criticized for their fiasco picking on an excessive number of patsies. Clemson can be criticized for losing at home against Winthrop but the Tigers shouldn't be flogged for meeting the Eagles. How many premium performances has the neglect caused fans to miss out on over the years such as Niagara's Calvin Murphy erupting for a school-record 68 points against Syracuse in 1968-69? In a recent bragging-rights cessation, it's ridiculous that West Virginia intends to nix its series with Marshall.
Two of the last three NCAA titlists - Kentucky and Louisville - oppose each other but should be embarrassed about their non-conference schedules leading up to their annual battle. Rather than insomnia-curing mismatches, how much more interest would there be in Wichita State opposing Kansas and Kansas State, Akron and Dayton against Cincinnati and Ohio State, Tulsa against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Illinois State against DePaul and Illinois, Missouri against Missouri State and Saint Louis, plus Belmont against Tennessee and Vanderbilt? KU may have one of the nation's most rigorous non-league slates for a Top 20 team but the Jayhawks should still have an entertaining duel with the Shockers on the heels of their recent respective Final Four appearances. At some point, Self-serving needs to defer to what's best for the sport. Mizzou's season-opening setback against UMKC probably shows why the Tigers avoid SLU and Missouri State.
In a form of "gaming," a striking number of power league schools "man up" by appearing as if they want to celebrate Black History month in advance during their non-conference slates by overdosing on scheduling outmatched opponents from the MEAC and SWAC. Baylor is virtually an HBCU adjunct member this season with five home games against historically black colleges and universities.
Arkansas, Indiana, Memphis, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Ohio State players, officials and coaching staff should don hoodies hiding their faces in shame during warmups for their non-league home slates. Why would anyone spend their hard-earned money on attending many of these blowouts? Even if an observer detests government involvement, perhaps state legislatures should step in where they can and force power league members to get off their high horse and play the following potentially entertaining intra-state games against quality mid-level opponents:
| Power League Member | Shunned Quality In-State Mid-Major Foes | Out-of-State Non-League Weak Sisters on 2014-15 Home Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | South Alabama and UAB | Appalachian State, North Florida, Stillman, Tennessee Tech, Towson and Western Carolina |
| Arizona State | Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona | Bethune-Cookman, Chicago State, Colgate, Lehigh and Pepperdine |
| Arkansas | Arkansas State and UALR | Alabama State, Delaware State, Iona, Milwaukee, North Texas, Northwestern State, Southeast Missouri State and Utah Valley |
| Auburn | South Alabama and UAB | Coastal Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Milwaukee, North Alabama, Texas Southern and Winthrop |
| Baylor | numerous non-HBCU schools in Texas | Huston-Tillotson, McNeese State, Norfolk State, Prairie View, Southern (La.) and Texas Southern |
| California | Saint Mary's, San Francisco, San Jose State and Santa Clara | Alcorn State, Cal Poly, Cal State Bakersfield, Eastern Washington, Montana, Princeton and Wyoming |
| Cincinnati | Cleveland State, Dayton and MAC schools | East Carolina, Eastern Illinois, Morehead State, North Carolina Central, Saint Francis (Pa.), Stony Brook and Wagner |
| Georgetown | American, George Mason and George Washington | Radford, Robert Morris, St. Francis (N.Y.), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Towson |
| Illinois | Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola of Chicago, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois | American, Austin Peay State, Brown, Coppin State, Georgia Southern, Hampton and Kennesaw State |
| Indiana | Evansville, Indiana State and Valparaiso | Eastern Washington, Grand Canyon, Lamar, Mississippi Valley State, New Orleans, UNC Greensboro, Savannah State and Texas Southern |
| Iowa | Drake | Alcorn State, Hampton, Missouri-Kansas City, North Dakota State, North Florida and Pepperdine |
| Kansas State | Wichita State | Bradley, Missouri-Kansas City, Nebraska-Omaha, Savannah State, Southern Utah and Texas Southern |
| Kentucky | Morehead State, Murray State and Western Kentucky | Boston University, Buffalo, Columbia, Grand Canyon, Middle Tennessee State and Texas-Arlington |
| Louisiana State | Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette and Tulane | Charleston, Gardner-Webb, Sam Houston State, Savannah State and Southern Mississippi |
| Louisville | Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State and Murray State | Cal State Northridge, Cleveland State, Florida International, Jacksonville State, Marshall, UNC-Wilmington and Savannah State |
| Marquette | Green Bay and Milwaukee | Alabama A&M, Morgan State, Nebraska-Omaha, NJIT, North Dakota and Tennessee-Martin |
| Maryland | American, George Mason, George Washington and Loyola (Md.) | Central Connecticut State, Fordham, North Carolina Central, USC Upstate, Virginia Military, Wagner and Winthrop |
| Memphis | Belmont, Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee | Bradley, Jacksonville State, North Carolina Central, Oral Roberts, Prairie View A&M, USC Upstate, Stephen F. Austin and Western Illinois |
| Michigan State | Detroit | Arkansas-Pine Bluff, The Citadel, Loyola, Santa Clara and Texas Southern |
| Mississippi | Southern Mississippi | Austin Peay State, Charleston Southern, Coastal Carolina, Northern Arizona, Southeast Missouri State, Southern (La.) and Western Kentucky |
| Mississippi State | Southern Mississippi | Arkansas State, Clayton, Jacksonville, McNeese State, Mississippi Valley State, USC Upstate and Western Carolina |
| North Carolina State | Appalachian State, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina and Western Carolina | Boise State, Charleston Southern, Hofstra, Jackson State, Jacksonville, Louisiana Tech, Richmond and Wofford |
| Northwestern | Bradley, Illinois State, Loyola of Chicago and Southern Illinois | Central Michigan, Elon, Houston Baptist, Mississippi Valley State, North Florida, Northern Kentucky and Western Michigan |
| Notre Dame | Ball State and Butler | Binghamton, Chicago State, Coppin State, Fairleigh Dickinson, Grambling State, Hartford, Mount St. Mary's, Navy and Northern Illinois |
| Ohio State | Akron, Cleveland State, Dayton and Xavier | Campbell, Colgate, High Point, James Madison, Massachusetts-Lowell, Morehead State, North Carolina A&T and Sacred Heart |
| Oklahoma State | Oral Roberts and Tulsa | Middle Tennessee State, Milwaukee, North Texas, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Prairie View A&M and Southeastern Louisiana |
| Oregon | Portland | UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Northridge, Concordia (Ore.), Coppin State, Delaware State and Detroit |
| Oregon State | Portland State | UC Santa Barbara, Corban, Grambling State, Mississippi Valley State, Oral Roberts and Rice |
| Pittsburgh | Robert Morris | Bryant, Florida Gulf Coast, Holy Cross, Manhattan, Niagara, Oakland, St. Bonaventure and Samford |
| Purdue | Butler, Evansville, Indiana State and Valparaiso | Arkansas State, Gardner-Webb, Grambling State, IPFW, IUPUI, North Florida and Samford |
| St. John's | Iona, Manhattan and Stony Brook | Fairleigh Dickinson, Franklin Pierce, Long Beach State, NJIT, Niagara, Saint Mary's and Tulane |
| UCLA | Fresno State and Loyola Marymount | UC Riverside, Cal State Fullerton, Coastal Carolina, Montana State, Nicholls State and San Diego |
| Utah | Utah State and Utah Valley | Alabama State, Ball State, UC Riverside, Carroll (Mont.), North Dakota, South Dakota State and Texas-Pan American |
| Wake Forest | Appalachian State, Charlotte, Davidson, East Carolina and Western Carolina | Bucknell, Delaware State, Iona, Mount St. Mary's, Nicholls State, Princeton and Samford |
| Washington | Gonzaga | Grambling State, Pacific, San Jose State, South Carolina State and Stony Brook |