CU not on AFA basketball schedule.

[Sexton Hardcastle]

Air Force men's basketball coach Jeff Reynolds said Tuesday his team's 2009-10 nonconference schedule is close to completion.
Reynolds declined to reveal any opponents because "we don't have any contracts back." But he confirmed one team that won't be on the schedule — Colorado.



"I've had some dialogue with (CU) coach (Jeff) Bzdelik about it," Reynolds said. "Nothing's really changed from our standpoint, and that's pretty much where it is."


Reynolds, a former Bzdelik assistant, said he didn't want to play a Bzdelik-coached team again (the teams met in 2007) because they are best friends.



Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told The Gazette in late April that he wanted to see the Falcons play CU and the University of Denver. Reynolds said Tuesday he hasn't spoken with Mueh about it but "I'd be open to talking to him — he's my boss."


More...

 

[Buffnik]

I think it would be cool if we could host a "Colorado Classic" every year similar to the annual Philadelphia Big 5 Tourney (Nova, St. Joe's, Temple, Penn & LaSalle). Either at the CEC or Pepsi. Whatever would get Coloradans enthusiastic about basketball is a win for CU. I'd definitely go if CU, CSU, AFA, DU & UNC played a round robin every year.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I think it would be cool if we could host a "Colorado Classic" every year similar to the annual Philadelphia Big 5 Tourney (Nova, St. Joe's, Temple, Penn & LaSalle). Either at the CEC or Pepsi. Whatever would get Coloradans enthusiastic about basketball is a win for CU. I'd definitely go if CU, CSU, AFA, DU & UNC played a round robin every year.

That would be awesome.

 

[Duff Man]

I think it would be cool if we could host a "Colorado Classic" every year similar to the annual Philadelphia Big 5 Tourney (Nova, St. Joe's, Temple, Penn & LaSalle). Either at the CEC or Pepsi. Whatever would get Coloradans enthusiastic about basketball is a win for CU. I'd definitely go if CU, CSU, AFA, DU & UNC played a round robin every year.

Something like that needs to happen. The area schools need something to get people excited because it just is not happening right now. I think the Pepsi Center would be the best venue (although CEC or Magness are options as well).

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I hear Magness is pretty nice.

 

[Mick Ronson]

I hear Magness is pretty nice.

it's a nice gym. i think attendance-wise (cap. about 7500 for hoops i think) that would be a good place to start such a round-robin or even just a rotating annual double header of CU, CSU, AFA, and DU. as close to a full gym would be optimal for growing "atmosphere" and the most centrally located. then, after it catches on like wildfire and the Front Range is insane for local college hoops...which is inevitable....move it to Pepsi Center.

not a great place to see a concert though. sound is crappy.

 

[buffsyko]

Something like that needs to happen. The area schools need something to get people excited because it just is not happening right now. I think the Pepsi Center would be the best venue (although CEC or Magness are options as well).

I agree but csu fans would want the games at invesco....

 

[unionbuff]

I think it would be cool if we could host a "Colorado Classic" every year similar to the annual Philadelphia Big 5 Tourney (Nova, St. Joe's, Temple, Penn & LaSalle). Either at the CEC or Pepsi. Whatever would get Coloradans enthusiastic about basketball is a win for CU. I'd definitely go if CU, CSU, AFA, DU & UNC played a round robin every year.

They did the Rocky Mtn Classic at Pepsi a few years back & it was a total bust. I don't think any of the schools did a good job of getting their fan bases interested in attending but (as much as I hate to say it), they'd have to bring a big name in to really garner interest from your average college b-ball fan. Otherwise, they'll just go to the closest sports bar & watch the top teams compete.

 

[Duff Man]

I hear Magness is pretty nice.

I saw a couple high school games there back when it first opened. Pretty good venue IMO. As Mick says, it might be the most ideal place because a venue close to sold out is better than the Pepsi center being 1/3 full.

 

[Mick Ronson]

knowing nothing about the specifics of DU's AD, i was working at DU in academic year 06-07 and am down there every couple months or so....they are really trying to grow sports as part of their "identity" as a school and i think they'd host something like that in a minute just to be involved with the other d-1 programs in the state on equal footing. too bad there isn't some other alternative for them than the Sun Belt. for travel and other things, it's not a good fit. that's got to be an obstacle. however, Joe Scott was a great (even lucky) hire for them.

 

[Scotch]

I agree but csu fans would want the games at invesco....

:lol: REP

 

[Scotch]

Joe Scott was a great (even lucky) hire for them.

:nod: I'd bet on DU being the next team in the area making the dance. Seeing how they progressed last season in conference play with how young they were they could make it next season.

 

[sackman]

knowing nothing about the specifics of DU's AD, i was working at DU in academic year 06-07 and am down there every couple months or so....they are really trying to grow sports as part of their "identity" as a school and i think they'd host something like that in a minute just to be involved with the other d-1 programs in the state on equal footing. too bad there isn't some other alternative for them than the Sun Belt. for travel and other things, it's not a good fit. that's got to be an obstacle. however, Joe Scott was a great (even lucky) hire for them.

They need a football team. They could play the likes of Mines, CSU-Pueblo, Mesa, etc. I guess back in the day, CU and DU used to have some epic football games.

 

[Junction]

They need a football team. They could play the likes of Mines, CSU-Pueblo, Mesa, etc. I guess back in the day, CU and DU used to have some epic football games.

DU's problem is that their #1 program is hockey. Their biggest rivals are schools like CC and Minnesota. Schools that they aren't going to be in a conference to play in basketball or football. What you're suggesting for football would be Division II, but they've already moved to D-1 for basketball. The most logical conference for their basketball program really might be the Big Sky conference with UNC. But I think they have their sights set higher than the Big Sky, which is why they went with the Sun Belt. But they'll never really have any natural rivals in that conference... :huh: They've kind of put themselves in a tough spot, honestly....

 

[Scotch]

DU's problem is that their #1 program is hockey. Their biggest rivals are schools like CC and Minnesota. Schools that they aren't going to be in a conference to play in basketball or football. What you're suggesting for football would be Division II, but they've already moved to D-1 for basketball. The most logical conference for their basketball program really might be the Big Sky conference with UNC. But I think they have their sights set higher than the Big Sky, which is why they went with the Sun Belt. But they'll never really have any natural rivals in that conference... :huh: They've kind of put themselves in a tough spot, honestly....

Hoops wise the Mountain West would make the most sense. But pretty sure you'd need football for that to be possible.

 

[NashBuff]

it's a nice gym. i think attendance-wise (cap. about 7500 for hoops i think) that would be a good place to start such a round-robin or even just a rotating annual double header of CU, CSU, AFA, and DU. as close to a full gym would be optimal for growing "atmosphere" and the most centrally located. then, after it catches on like wildfire and the Front Range is insane for local college hoops...which is inevitable....move it to Pepsi Center.

We need something like that...the problem is the history of the basketball programs in this state pales in comparsion to football.

 

[Junction]

Hoops wise the Mountain West would make the most sense. But pretty sure you'd need football for that to be possible.

Do you think they'd be competitive there? I was kind of assuming they wouldn't, and I agree they would probably need football for that to be an option.

Although I guess if they got good enough at hoops to be an attractive draw for the MWAC, the conference might consider taking them as a basketball only member just to even off the number of teams. 9 teams has got to making scheduling a bit of a challenge...

 

[Scotch]

Do you think they'd be competitive there? I was kind of assuming they wouldn't, and I agree they would probably need football for that to be an option.

Although I guess if they got good enough at hoops to be an attractive draw for the MWAC, the conference might consider taking them as a basketball only member just to even off the number of teams. 9 teams has got to making scheduling a bit of a challenge...

Joe Scott's Air Force teams were competitive in the MWC, and he could probably recruit at a bit higher level at DU than the Academy. Magness holds over 7,000 for basketball which is bigger than the Air Force's as well. Given it's in a big city I wouldn't doubt they could be comparable to a Wyoming and CSU. IMO anyway.

 

[Buffnik]

The best fit for DU would be if they could get into the Missouri Valley Conference. Excellent basketball conference, easy on the travel budget, and the MVC would probably do backflips over the opportunity to add the Denver media market.

MVC members include: Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State

 

[Mick Ronson]

i don't think football is the answer. i think part of DU's success as an athletic department is that they've stayed small and rode the hockey success without over-expanding. they've had some success with golf (NCAA regional this year), women's soccer, gymnastics, i assume they are decent at tennis. if you add football and fielding a team that needs at least at least 50 schollies even if you make some of them partial...that means a different set of revenue issues. as is: those 50 schollies are probably a large % of the non-hockey schollies on campus. add 50 more and you need to start making money at the gate for football and there won't be much conference "sugar money" or TV deals. plus, the warm weather, east coasty country club sports (golf, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey) is more the image they want (imo, having been on campus for a year).

it would be interesting to know what their long term vision for hoops is. i can't imagine you take that big step to bring it back to D-1 without some long term idea. i also can't imagine that you see yourself (as DU, a private school with a lot of money coming in right now) as playing roadies at Louisiana-Lafayette down the road. it's not a geographical or cultural fit, by any means.

 

[Mick Ronson]

The best fit for DU would be if they could get into the Missouri Valley Conference. Excellent basketball conference, easy on the travel budget, and the MVC would probably do backflips over the opportunity to add the Denver media market.

MVC members include: Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State

that's an interesting idea.

 

[BuffAlum2007]

The best fit for DU would be if they could get into the Missouri Valley Conference. Excellent basketball conference, easy on the travel budget, and the MVC would probably do backflips over the opportunity to add the Denver media market.

MVC members include: Bradley, Creighton, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State

At first glance I think it's a pretty good idea for DU to move to the MVC, but I'm not so sure that travel-wise the MVC would be anything of an improvement over the Sun Belt for DU...below is a plot of the MVC schools plus DU and you can see that DU is clearly the outlier there, meaning they'd have to fly to pretty much every conference road game/trip (not any worse than the Sun Belt, but IMO not significantly better since a lot of these schools, like many Sun Belt schools, are in smaller towns that are a little harder to travel to...only thing that is an improvement is that the average distance traveled certainly goes down.

One other thing to consider is that, yes, this hits DU pretty hard, but every other school in the MVC is going to have to take one trip a year to Denver by plane, and that hits their budgets as well...schools are trying to cut expenses, and one of the first things that gets looked at is travel costs...this move doesn't significantly benefit anyone from a travel perspective, and I can't see the MVC being too receptive to DU potentially jumping over there...

 

[sackman]

Hoops wise the Mountain West would make the most sense. But pretty sure you'd need football for that to be possible.

Hell, whatever football team they would put together couldn't be that much worse than CSU, so maybe the MWC would take them after all. Especially if BYU and Utah bolt to the Pac 10, which is being rumored.

That aside, I'm not sure I would want another D-1 football program in the state. Even in the MWC, it could potentially create some unwanted competition for the college football dollar, particularly for people in the Denver area.

 

[Scotch]

Hell, whatever football team they would put together couldn't be that much worse than CSU, so maybe the MWC would take them after all. Especially if BYU and Utah bolt to the Pac 10, which is being rumored.

That aside, I'm not sure I would want another D-1 football program in the state. Even in the MWC, it could potentially create some unwanted competition for the college football dollar, particularly for people in the Denver area.

Don't see DU being able to put any better than a D-2 program out there. Just said it makes sense from a hoops angle since there are 3 MWC schools a bus ride away.

 

[sackman]

The reality is that with Title IX, establishing a football program at a school that doesn't already have one is virtually impossible. This is all a bunch of talk. Which is what we do best, BTW.

 

[JRK1212]

Were playing Air Force next year as part of a home/away series.

 

[Buffnik]

Were playing Air Force next year as part of a home/away series.

Thanks, JRK.

Since we've got two 2012 commitments from the Springs area it makes a lot of sense to get more exposure for the program down there.

Also, Air Force was #110 RPI this year so that's a solid OOC matchup that helps to build hoops interest on the Front Range.

 

[tante]

Thanks, JRK.

Since we've got two 2012 commitments from the Springs area it makes a lot of sense to get more exposure for the program down there.

Also, Air Force was #110 RPI this year so that's a solid OOC matchup that helps to build hoops interest on the Front Range.

this was also a high rpi for them and I would expect them to end up in the 200+ range next season. They lose 2 of their top 3 leading scores and their top two rebounders.

Here is their final RPI the past few years:

2010-2011 = 114
2009-2010 = 238
2008-2009 = 270
2007-2008 = 167

 

[Buffnik]

Wyoming is at home, right? That means that AFA would be on the road. I actually want them to be down a bit next year.

It's a good point, though. If you put AFA on the schedule, you can't count on them having an RPI better than 200. Kind of a crapshoot on whether they'll suck and whether the MWC will be good enough to bump their SOS.

 

[JRK1212]

Wyoming is at home, right? That means that AFA would be on the road.

I havent seen that. Just that as you said one series will begin in Boulder and one on the road. Doesent sound like things are completley finalized.

Reading back in this thread, I like the idea of an annual round robin with DU, UNC, AFA, CSU, and WYO. Those games would be much more exciting then watching us play the likes of Maryland Eastern Shore or Longwood.