FanPost

2009-2010 UCLA Basketball Scheduling

3262805164_206b09207c_medium
Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld

As everyone is well aware, we're in a bit of a dead period with regards to our two major sports. Football is in what N aptly described as nuclear winter and basketball has been there for a month now. With spring practice just recently coming to a close though, we've had plenty of football to talk about. While technically we could be waiting on pins and needles about whether or not Jrue will come back, realistically, he won't make a decision for at least a month and probably longer (regardless of your thoughts on him). So, let's talk about what is really the only basketball news right now, scheduling.

Yesterday, the Pac-10 announced what we already knew. UCLA will host Kansas in December as part of the Pac-10/Big XII Hardwood series. The two teams have a combined 31 Final Four appearances and have been among the best programs in the country of late so I don't see how anyone could have an issue with this game. The Jayhawks will be in Pauley and it should bring a buzz to the arena that is often lacking before New Year's Day. So that's one game scheduled.

Last year, Notre Dame came to Pauley (where they were dismantled), but this year the Bruins have to return the trip and go to South Bend for a game on December. The Irish will be a much different team next year, with McAlarney and Zeller both gone and Harangody possibly leaving. This likely won't be a great team next year, but the Joyce Center will provide a raucous environment and good learning experience before we hit Pac-10 play.

As has become the custom with the Bruins under Ben Howland, UCLA will play in a preseason this tournament. Instead of tripping to Hawaii, New York or Kansas City though, the Bruins will make the drive down the 5 to the Anaheim Convention Center for the 76 Classic. Joining the Bruins will be Texas A&M, West Virginia, Butler, Portland, Long Beach State, Minnesota and Clemson. West Virginia could be a top 10 team, as could Butler, while A&M, Minnesota and Clemson will likely all be in someone's top 25. Needless to say, this won't be easy and we could end up with one, two or even three games against high quality opponents.

On top of that, the Bruins will also play in the John R. Wooden Classic against a team to be announced. The Pac-10 is looking like it won't be overly strong next year, but it wasn't so strong last year and yet we still struggled. The conference season is never easy, adding some more tough games to an already tough looking schedule.

The only two issues I've had about CBH's schedule is in years that we don't play a non-conference road game in a tough venue before Pac-10 play and some RPI killing teams. I don't like when we don't hit the road before Pac-10 play because I hate seeing our freshmen and other inexperienced guys going into a tough environment for the first time in a conference game. When I talk about RPI killing games, I don't mean games against smaller schools because there is some thought behind getting our younger guys minutes and playing against a style we'll see in the Pac-10. When I talk about RPI killing games, I mean a game like DePaul that drags our RPI down just for having them on the slate. Everyone knew DePaul would be really, really bad last year and yet we scheduled them anyways. I hope we stay away from games like that in the future.

Personally, I really like what we've got so far. Notre Dame takes care of the non-conferene road game in a tough environment I like, plus I like bringing back the rivalry of yesteryear. The Kansas game should be fun and give us a really tough opponent, who will likely start the year #1, on our home court. I like getting one of those a year. The 76 Classic (can it really be classic in its third year?) has an extremely strong field and having taken a quick look at the fields for the rest of the pre-season tournaments, we might be a part of the toughest one. It's also a major RPI booster because they should essentially be home games with the blue and gold clad faithful packing the place, but it will be considered a neutral game, which is a major RPI help. The Wooden Classic in Anaheim does the same for our RPI and if I were in charge, I'd try to schedule a mid-level team from a top conference like Miami (FL) or Wisconsin. Heck, this could be a chance to play Florida again, although their recent scheduling makes it seem unlikely that they'd even consider a game.

So what are your thoughts on what we've got scheduled so far? I don't want this to become a place to whine about CBH's scheduling philosophy that has merit and has proven to be effective. What do you like and what don't you like with what we've got so far? Who would you eye if you had to fill that Wooden Classic spot? Which Bruins in exile with family still out here has a plan to spend Thanksgiving out here in the sun this year with their family and Bruins at the 76 Classic?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

Trending Discussions