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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2010 > August > 05 > Entry
Comparing Dayton, WSU & Miami hoops schedules
While Miami again has eclipsed Dayton and Wright State when it comes to the “WOW” factor of their out-of-conference schedules for the upcoming basketball season, the Flyers and Raiders have upgraded their opposition, as well.
Charlie Coles and his RedHawks team though are tackling the most formidable schedule in the school’s hoops history — and that is saying something. Every year Miami takes on all comers — many of them some of the biggest names in college hoops — but this season’s line-up is mind boggling.
The RedHawks play at Duke, at Ohio State and at Kansas while hosting Xavier and the Cincinnati Bearcats,. They also visit UD and WSU. Their three opponents for the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic sub regional — Nov. 20-22 — have yet to be announced.
Some think this scheduling is smart — others say suicidal — but Miami doesn’t dodge anybody and, as always, Coles thinks it will pay dividends when his team goes through the Mid American Conference schedule and especially when the Hawks get into the MAC Tournament.
Dayton has some good challenges on the road — Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Old Dominion and Seton Hall — and it brings New Mexico into town on January 1 to give the Lobos their first taste of the Flyers “Pit.”
Those are five Flyers games I’m looking forward to. But Savannah State and Florida A & M, which are played here as part of the Cincinnati tournament, as well Central Connecticut State — all with a final RPI last season of over 300 — are games I’m not. Except for the New Mexico game — along with Miami and maybe George Mason — Flyers ticket buyers don’t get a lot of bang for their buck at UD Arena this season.
Wright State goes to Indiana, Richmond, Charlotte, UC and likely will play Purdue in the second round of the Chicago Invitational in late November. The best teams the Raiders bring into the Nutter Center are Oakland and Miami. Their Bracket Buster opponent later in the season is yet to be determined.
One glaring thing that does stand out on WSU schedule are two games against lesser Division II opponents — Northwood and Tusculum. When scheduling, the Raiders should do better than this. Add in a game with Southern (343 RPI last season) — which is linked to the Chicago tournament — and you have three dogs for the home folks to watch.
Miami plays Division II Saginaw Valley State — another ho hum game — but at least there is a connection. Frankie Smith, the Cardinals’ head coach, was Coles assistant at Miami. And Saginaw Valley assistant coach Chris Coles is Charlie’s son.
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Comments
By Herman`
August 6, 2010 9:11 PM | Link to this
Here is my question that I want The DDN to do an article on:—- WHY DOESN’T WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY HAVE A FOOTBALL TEAM? And I’m not talking about that stupid CLUB FOOTBALL CRAP
By trapper
August 6, 2010 8:09 PM | Link to this
Let, me put it this way. UD dos not need the game. I do not hear UD fans asking for the game. WSU, its fans the media, & observers(which do not an interest in UD) are the only ones cring & moaning about it. It would only help WSU, while hurting UD even if they beat WSU. So why should UD want to play WSU.
By An Observer
August 6, 2010 9:56 AM | Link to this
They’re both mid-majors, a simple fact that WSU embraces and UD flatly denies, over and over again. WSU is much better than a slew of the schools UD plays every year; forcing these ‘excuses’ for games on the Flyer fans is a travesty. The whole argument of ‘standing’ and ‘compensation’ are simply rationalizations by a subset of UD elitists too full of themselves and and their inflated opinion of UD’s superiority over everyone from WSU to X or OSU. The vast majority of both school’s fans want to see the game. Miami sees the light, why can’t anyone else?
By trapper
August 6, 2010 8:19 AM | Link to this
UD would love to play WSU. The problem you keep forgetting is UD can schedule a lot better teams for a home & away deals. It would not make sense for them to do this w/ WSU( Standing & compensation). WSU needs to suck up their pride and agree to play just @ UD & not insist on Home & return games.
By dale1
August 6, 2010 7:56 AM | Link to this
I agree with some of you that WSU and UD should play. They are in the same city and its ridiculous they do not play each other. UD is afraid they will get beat. I can’t stand basketball anyway so I really dont care except to promte our Dayton schools. WSU needs a football team and the stupid liberals running that campus should wake up and realize most students and ex students want a football program. The liberals think football is too violent but they promote all the violence on tv by supporting Hollyweird, does this make any sense?
By Second
August 5, 2010 7:03 PM | Link to this
Flyer5: Now there’s something we can all agree on. Beat it, Tom!
By WSU
August 5, 2010 6:58 PM | Link to this
Mike S: Nobody cares.
By Flyer5
August 5, 2010 6:55 PM | Link to this
Archdeacon, you’re fired. Mr. Sports, you’re the new sports journalist.
By Bill in the Burg
August 5, 2010 4:16 PM | Link to this
Not really fair to point to the Southern game and their 343 RPI. That game is part of the Chicago Invitational that Wright State had no “say” in. Low blow Mr. Archdeacon. Plus, having a “connection” to a DII opponent doesn’t mean crap; they are still crappy games for the fans.
By Jimmy Carter
August 5, 2010 3:38 PM | Link to this
Some of the “bad” games Dayton are playing at home are part of the non-exempt tournament and they did not pick the teams.
By RudyFlyer
August 5, 2010 3:36 PM | Link to this
The Flyers need to suck it up and schedule Wright State. It will improve both schools out of conference schedules and provide a much needed spark to the community. I still don’t understand why UD doesn’t do this. Are they afraid they will legitimize Wright State and thus have a in town recruiting rival? If so, seems silly since I can’t remember when the two schools went after similar players and UD would seem to have an edge with size, history, campus, etc.
By Mr. Sports
August 5, 2010 3:33 PM | Link to this
First, Arch is comparing apples, oranges, and pears. Second, Miami plays the big guys on the road for revenue — they do not draw at home. Third, I, and a whole lot of others, don’t give a crap about UD/WSU playing anywhere, anytime. Last, UD and WSU schedule the way they do because the basketball programs are their biggest revenue generating sport. It’s really not that hard to understand.
By Mike S
August 5, 2010 12:31 PM | Link to this
At the end of the day, at least Miami has the guts to come up to the Nut House and play WSU. UD is scared to lose and damage their reputation in Dayton. All three schedules are good, but what is really going to bring life into the UD/WSU schedules is a crosstown match-up.