B1G Looking at Going to 20 Conference Games

[Franisdaman]

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told ESPN there have been ongoing discussions about moving to a 20-game league schedule, and Michigan State's Tom Izzo feels as though it's heading in that direction.

"I personally see us going to a 20-game schedule," Izzo told ESPN on Monday. "I don't think there's any question it's going to happen -- and I'm not overly against it."

Delany said the coaches haven't voted on whether to go from an 18- to a 20-game conference slate yet. He said the logistics will have to be figured out, especially with recovery time for the players.

It would mean that league play would start in December -- normally a time of year reserved for unbalanced nonconference matchups.

The ACC announced last July that it intends to move to a 20-game league schedule beginning in the 2019-20 season.

If the Big Ten does go to 20 conference games, it gives less flexibility to the nonconference slate. Izzo is known for playing a difficult non-league schedule each year, but he said he would have fewer opportunities because he'd be locked into 20 league contests, a Thanksgiving exempt event, the Champions Classic, the Big Ten-ACC Challenge and also the Gavitt Games. That leaves likely six nonconference dates.


Full story: http://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...6/big-ten-discussing-20-game-conference-slate

 

[mtdew_fever]

I dont see the benefit other than more money.

The conference season is a beat down every year. If a quality team goes .500 in conference play, that leaves them very little room for error in the nonconference schedule.

 

[MepoDawg#]

It'll only happen if all major conferences do it.

 

[DodgerHawki]

I dont see the benefit other than more money.

The conference season is a beat down every year. If a quality team goes .500 in conference play, that leaves them very little room for error in the nonconference schedule.

Benefits would include:

• Not having to pay for non-conference games for crappy teams to travel to a Big 10 school. The average payout for a Delaware State or team of that ilk to play at Iowa or Ohio State is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Increasing the inventory of good games available to show on the BTN (and more advertising $ for those games)
• It would increase the SOS for conference teams by reducing the amount of games against the crappy teams.

 

[Franisdaman]

With 18 conf games, we play 5 teams twice and 8 teams once.

With 20 conf games, we would play 7 teams twice and 6 teams once.

I think 20 games makes for a better, balanced conference schedule

And like a poster said above, with two more conference games, we don't have to pay a couple schools (whose RPI's could be in the 300's) hundreds of thousands of dollars to come to Iowa City..

 

[mtdew_fever]

The SOS brings up a good point. If the Big10 plays 20 conference games, that means they are down to 10 non conference games.

How many teams will be willing to schedule a tough nonconference schedule?

With 18 conf games, we play 5 teams twice and 8 teams once.

With 20 conf games, we would play 7 teams twice and 6 teams once.

I think 20 games makes for a better, balanced conference schedule

And like a poster said above, with two more conference games, we don't have to pay a couple schools (whose RPI's could be in the 300's) hundreds of thousands of dollars to come to Iowa City..

 

[iahawkeyes17]

The SOS brings up a good point. If the Big10 plays 20 conference games, that means they are down to 10 non conference games.

How many teams will be willing to schedule a tough nonconference schedule?

As we've seen in college football sometimes people don't recognize the conference schedule imbalance when you see Big 10 or PAC 12 vs SEC or ACC. How many times do we hear that Iowa plays weak non conference last year with 3 games they had but on the flip side same people ignored the fact last season 13 of 14 SEC schools also played 3 non power 5 teams as well but you don't hear hear nearly same amount of criticism even though Big 10 school play that extra conference game.

One thing if Bball changes can figure Iowa will still have ISU, ACC challenge, UNI/Drake and most likely a pres season tourney. Then some years Big East Gavitt series.

 

[HeRKeYHoPeFuL]

Benefits would include:

• Not having to pay for non-conference games for crappy teams to travel to a Big 10 school. The average payout for a Delaware State or team of that ilk to play at Iowa or Ohio State is in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Increasing the inventory of good games available to show on the BTN (and more advertising $ for those games)
• It would increase the SOS for conference teams by reducing the amount of games against the crappy teams.

This is a really good summary (the bolded points are especially important). As other conferences are playing warm up games, we could see some in-conference rivalry games that will have title implications later in the year. Additionally, given the way the tournament field is selected, having a stronger schedule has historically proven to be important (both in being rewarded for strong schedules or punished for weak schedules). This would be a differentiating point between B1G teams and other major conference teams.

There will obviously be debate the first time we run into a situation where you're looking at one of the last slots and you've got a B1G team at say 17-15 (9-11), but with a top 5 SOS. Remember how that worked out for Vanderbilt this past year (they won a few SEC tourney games to pad their resume, but the thought was that they would get in after winning the first SEC tourney game).

 

[Franisdaman]

Last season we beat Savannah State by 32 (116-84) and Kennesaw State by 17 (91-74). We paid both schools. We also beat Texas Rio Grande Valley by 28 (95-67), but that was part of the Thanksgiving tournament, so not sure what, if anything, Iowa had to pay UTRGV. By replacing a couple cupcakes with 2 additional conference games, Iowa saves money and their SOS should improve.

Btw, there are 13 nonconf games currently so that would go down to 11.

When you look at the 11, it would be:
1. ISU
2. Drake/UNI
3. B1G/ACC challenge
4. Big East/B1G challenge (some years)
5. Thanksgiving tourney
6. Thanksgiving tourney
plus 5 more games as opposed to 7

 

[perryhawk]

With 18 conf games, we play 5 teams twice and 8 teams once.

With 20 conf games, we would play 7 teams twice and 6 teams once.

I think 20 games makes for a better, balanced conference schedule

And like a poster said above, with two more conference games, we don't have to pay a couple schools (whose RPI's could be in the 300's) hundreds of thousands of dollars to come to Iowa City..

If we play 7 teams twice does that mean we go to two divisions? If so, will it be same divisions as football?

 

[And1Hawk]

I'm all for more league games and I'd favor more than 20 but will take 20. League games and intriguing games are what I want as a fan. Any games against the 150+ are snooze fests and pointless.

I'd also be in favor of splitting into 2 divisions too as the previous poster asked about. That could be fun but not sure how to settle the regular season title then?

 

[DanL53]

The AAC has sixteen teams doesn't it?

Myself, I think the Big Ten is heading to 16. And it will become an East/West two division league. So we might as well go to 20 games now. I'm betting Virginia ends in the Big Ten. Any guesses who else it may be?

 

[Ladell-hawk]

I dont see the benefit other than more money.

The conference season is a beat down every year. If a quality team goes .500 in conference play, that leaves them very little room for error in the nonconference schedule.

I agree. 18 league games is enough. I am surprised that the coaches are even open to it.

 

[wcbtee]

I like adding 2 good games and eliminating 2 snoozers.