Rank your team's BB schedule from most likely loss to most likely win: (excluding exhibition games)
Utah St's:
11/19/05 Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 6:05 PM
11/21/05 Middle Tennessee State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:05 PM
11/26/05 Lewis & Clark College Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
11/30/05 Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 7:05 PM
12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/10/05 Weber State Ogden, Utah 7:35 PM
12/17/05 Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 4:05 PM
12/20/05 Oral Roberts Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/22/05 BYU Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
01/05/06 San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 8:05 PM
01/07/06 Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 8:05 PM
01/12/06 Boise State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/14/06 Idaho Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/18/06 Louisiana Tech Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/23/06 Nevada Reno, Nev. 9:05 PM
01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/30/06 Hawai'i Logan, Utah 10:05 PM
02/02/06 New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 PM
02/04/06 Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 6:05 PM
02/11/06 New Mexico State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
02/15/06 Idaho Moscow, Idaho 8:05 PM
02/18/06 TBA TBA TBA
02/23/06 Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:35 PM
02/25/06 Nevada Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
03/02/06 Fresno State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

most likely loss to most likely win:
1. 01/23/06 Nevada Reno, Nev. 9:05 PM
2. 11/21/05 Middle Tennessee State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:05 PM
3. 11/19/05 Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 6:05 PM
4. 12/17/05 Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 4:05 PM
5. 01/07/06 Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 8:05 PM
6. 02/04/06 Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 6:05 PM
7. 11/30/05 Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 7:05 PM
8. 02/25/06 Nevada Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
9. 02/02/06 New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 PM
10. 12/20/05 Oral Roberts Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
11. 02/23/06 Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:35 PM
12. 01/30/06 Hawai'i Logan, Utah 10:05 PM
13. 12/22/05 BYU Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
14. 03/02/06 Fresno State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
15. 01/18/06 Louisiana Tech Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
16. 12/10/05 Weber State Ogden, Utah 7:35 PM
17. 01/05/06 San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 8:05 PM
18. 02/15/06 Idaho Moscow, Idaho 8:05 PM
19. 02/11/06 New Mexico State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
20. 01/12/06 Boise State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
21. 01/14/06 Idaho Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
22. 03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
23. 12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
24. 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster
25. 12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM 26. 12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
27. 01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
28. 11/26/05 Lewis & Clark College Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

ejmpalle Wrote:Rank your team's BB schedule from most likely loss to most likely win: (excluding exhibition games)
Utah St's:
11/19/05 Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 6:05 PM
11/21/05 Middle Tennessee State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:05 PM
11/26/05 Lewis & Clark College Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
11/30/05 Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 7:05 PM
12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/10/05 Weber State Ogden, Utah 7:35 PM
12/17/05 Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 4:05 PM
12/20/05 Oral Roberts Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/22/05 BYU Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
01/05/06 San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 8:05 PM
01/07/06 Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 8:05 PM
01/12/06 Boise State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/14/06 Idaho Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/18/06 Louisiana Tech Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/23/06 Nevada Reno, Nev. 9:05 PM
01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
01/30/06 Hawai'i Logan, Utah 10:05 PM
02/02/06 New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 PM
02/04/06 Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 6:05 PM
02/11/06 New Mexico State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
02/15/06 Idaho Moscow, Idaho 8:05 PM
02/18/06 TBA TBA TBA
02/23/06 Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:35 PM
02/25/06 Nevada Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
03/02/06 Fresno State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

most likely loss to most likely win:
1. 01/23/06 Nevada Reno, Nev. 9:05 PM
2. 11/21/05 Middle Tennessee State Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6:05 PM
3. 11/19/05 Oral Roberts Tulsa, Okla. 6:05 PM
4. 12/17/05 Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 4:05 PM
5. 01/07/06 Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 8:05 PM
6. 02/04/06 Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 6:05 PM
7. 11/30/05 Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 7:05 PM
8. 02/25/06 Nevada Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
9. 02/02/06 New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 PM
10. 12/20/05 Oral Roberts Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
11. 02/23/06 Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:35 PM
12. 01/30/06 Hawai'i Logan, Utah 10:05 PM
13. 12/22/05 BYU Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
14. 03/02/06 Fresno State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
15. 01/18/06 Louisiana Tech Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
16. 12/10/05 Weber State Ogden, Utah 7:35 PM
17. 01/05/06 San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 8:05 PM
18. 02/15/06 Idaho Moscow, Idaho 8:05 PM
19. 02/11/06 New Mexico State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
20. 01/12/06 Boise State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
21. 01/14/06 Idaho Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
22. 03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
23. 12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
24. 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster
25. 12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM 26. 12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
27. 01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
28. 11/26/05 Lewis & Clark College Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

Boy, that sounds like a lot of work....
How about if I just predict that Boise State will beat the Aggies in Boise!

Anybody else got on of these: <a href='http://mariah95.com/sports/bsucalendar/bsuhomeschedule1.htm' target='_blank'>Bronco Home Schedule</a>

A little cut-and-paste...that wasn't so bad. I'm including exhibition games, because we have a score to settle with Humboldt St.

Nevada
Thu 11/03/05 Rockhurst (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 11/12/05 Humboldt State (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 11/19/05 Sacramento State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 11/23/05 at Vermont Burlington, Vt. 7 p.m. ET
Sat 11/26/05 at UNLV Las Vegas, Nev. 7:30 p.m. PT
Thu 12/01/05 at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 7 p.m. CT
Sat 12/03/05 at Pacific Stockton, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
Wed 12/07/05 UC Davis Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 12/10/05 vs. UCLA (Wooden Classic) Anaheim, Calif. 4 p.m. PT
Tue 12/13/05 Seattle Pacific Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 12/21/05 Georgia Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Thu 12/29/05 Louisiana-Lafayette Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 12/31/05 at Saint Mary's Moraga, Calif. 4:05 p.m. PT
Thu 01/05/06 at Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 7:05 p.m. HT
Sat 01/07/06 at San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 3 p.m. PT
Thu 01/12/06 Idaho Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 01/14/06 Boise State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 01/18/06 at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
Mon 01/23/06 Utah State Reno, Nev. 9:05 p.m. PT
Thu 01/26/06 at Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:30 p.m. MT
Sat 01/28/06 Hawai'i Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Thu 02/02/06 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 7 p.m. CT
Sat 02/04/06 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 p.m. MT
Thu 02/09/06 New Mexico State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Mon 02/13/06 Louisiana Tech Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster Reno, Nev. TBA
Mon 02/20/06 at Idaho Moscow, Idaho 7:05 p.m. MT
Sat 02/25/06 at Utah State Logan, Utah 7:05 p.m. MT
Thu 03/02/06 San Jose State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 03/04/06 Fresno State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT

most likely L to most likely W
1. Thu 12/01/05 at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 7 p.m. CT
2. Sat 12/10/05 vs. UCLA (Wooden Classic) Anaheim, Calif. 4 p.m. PT
3. Sat 02/25/06 at Utah State Logan, Utah 7:05 p.m. MT
4. Sat 11/26/05 at UNLV Las Vegas, Nev. 7:30 p.m. PT
5. Sat 12/31/05 at Saint Mary's Moraga, Calif. 4:05 p.m. PT
6. Thu 01/05/06 at Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 7:05 p.m. HT
7. Sat 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster Reno, Nev. TBA
8. Mon 01/23/06 Utah State Reno, Nev. 9:05 p.m. PT
9. Wed 01/18/06 at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
10. Thu 02/02/06 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 7 p.m. CT
11. Sat 12/03/05 at Pacific Stockton, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
12. Sat 03/04/06 Fresno State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
13. Sat 01/28/06 Hawai'i Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
14. Wed 12/21/05 Georgia Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
15. Wed 11/23/05 at Vermont Burlington, Vt. 7 p.m. ET
16. Sat 02/04/06 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 p.m. MT
17. Mon 02/13/06 Louisiana Tech Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
18. Thu 01/26/06 at Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:30 p.m. MT
19. Sat 01/07/06 at San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 3 p.m. PT
20. Mon 02/20/06 at Idaho Moscow, Idaho 7:05 p.m. MT
21. Thu 02/09/06 New Mexico State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
22. Thu 12/29/05 Louisiana-Lafayette Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
23. Thu 03/02/06 San Jose State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
24. Thu 01/12/06 Idaho Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
25. Sat 01/14/06 Boise State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
26. Wed 12/07/05 UC Davis Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
27. Sat 11/12/05 Humboldt State (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
28. Sat 11/19/05 Sacramento State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
29. Tue 12/13/05 Seattle Pacific Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
30. Thu 11/03/05 Rockhurst (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT

Notes:
1. UNLV bumped up some due to Tark Court dedication.
2. Pacific, Vermont, and LaLafayette are all hit hard by graduation, so they're dropped accordingly. However, all three likely have good recruits coming in and could surprise.
3. Georgia returns most of their team, so I'm not counting on much, but I could be seriously underestimating them.
4. NO WAY does Boise catch the Pack napping in Reno again.

clpack Wrote:A little cut-and-paste...that wasn't so bad. I'm including exhibition games, because we have a score to settle with Humboldt St.

Nevada
Thu 11/03/05 Rockhurst (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 11/12/05 Humboldt State (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 11/19/05 Sacramento State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 11/23/05 at Vermont Burlington, Vt. 7 p.m. ET
Sat 11/26/05 at UNLV Las Vegas, Nev. 7:30 p.m. PT
Thu 12/01/05 at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 7 p.m. CT
Sat 12/03/05 at Pacific Stockton, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
Wed 12/07/05 UC Davis Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 12/10/05 vs. UCLA (Wooden Classic) Anaheim, Calif. 4 p.m. PT
Tue 12/13/05 Seattle Pacific Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 12/21/05 Georgia Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Thu 12/29/05 Louisiana-Lafayette Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 12/31/05 at Saint Mary's Moraga, Calif. 4:05 p.m. PT
Thu 01/05/06 at Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 7:05 p.m. HT
Sat 01/07/06 at San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 3 p.m. PT
Thu 01/12/06 Idaho Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 01/14/06 Boise State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Wed 01/18/06 at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
Mon 01/23/06 Utah State Reno, Nev. 9:05 p.m. PT
Thu 01/26/06 at Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:30 p.m. MT
Sat 01/28/06 Hawai'i Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Thu 02/02/06 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 7 p.m. CT
Sat 02/04/06 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 p.m. MT
Thu 02/09/06 New Mexico State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Mon 02/13/06 Louisiana Tech Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster Reno, Nev. TBA
Mon 02/20/06 at Idaho Moscow, Idaho 7:05 p.m. MT
Sat 02/25/06 at Utah State Logan, Utah 7:05 p.m. MT
Thu 03/02/06 San Jose State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
Sat 03/04/06 Fresno State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT

most likely L to most likely W
1. Thu 12/01/05 at Kansas Lawrence, Kan. 7 p.m. CT
2. Sat 12/10/05 vs. UCLA (Wooden Classic) Anaheim, Calif. 4 p.m. PT
3. Sat 02/25/06 at Utah State Logan, Utah 7:05 p.m. MT
4. Sat 11/26/05 at UNLV Las Vegas, Nev. 7:30 p.m. PT
5. Sat 12/31/05 at Saint Mary's Moraga, Calif. 4:05 p.m. PT
6. Thu 01/05/06 at Hawai'i Honolulu, Hawai'i 7:05 p.m. HT
7. Sat 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster Reno, Nev. TBA
8. Mon 01/23/06 Utah State Reno, Nev. 9:05 p.m. PT
9. Wed 01/18/06 at Fresno State Fresno, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
10. Thu 02/02/06 at Louisiana Tech Ruston, La. 7 p.m. CT
11. Sat 12/03/05 at Pacific Stockton, Calif. 7 p.m. PT
12. Sat 03/04/06 Fresno State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
13. Sat 01/28/06 Hawai'i Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
14. Wed 12/21/05 Georgia Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
15. Wed 11/23/05 at Vermont Burlington, Vt. 7 p.m. ET
16. Sat 02/04/06 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, N.M. 7:05 p.m. MT
17. Mon 02/13/06 Louisiana Tech Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
18. Thu 01/26/06 at Boise State Boise, Idaho 7:30 p.m. MT
19. Sat 01/07/06 at San Jose State San Jose, Calif. 3 p.m. PT
20. Mon 02/20/06 at Idaho Moscow, Idaho 7:05 p.m. MT
21. Thu 02/09/06 New Mexico State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
22. Thu 12/29/05 Louisiana-Lafayette Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
23. Thu 03/02/06 San Jose State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
24. Thu 01/12/06 Idaho Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
25. Sat 01/14/06 Boise State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
26. Wed 12/07/05 UC Davis Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
27. Sat 11/12/05 Humboldt State (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
28. Sat 11/19/05 Sacramento State Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
29. Tue 12/13/05 Seattle Pacific Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT
30. Thu 11/03/05 Rockhurst (Exh.) Reno, Nev. 7:05 p.m. PT

Notes:
1. UNLV bumped up some due to Tark Court dedication.
2. Pacific, Vermont, and LaLafayette are all hit hard by graduation, so they're dropped accordingly. However, all three likely have good recruits coming in and could surprise.
3. Georgia returns most of their team, so I'm not counting on much, but I could be seriously underestimating them.
4. NO WAY does Boise catch the Pack napping in Reno again.

Guess we will just have to catch you napping in Boise this year.....
I really hate losing at home to anyone!!!!!!!!!

ejmpalle Wrote:22. 03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
23. 12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
24. 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster
25. 12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM 26. 12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
27. 01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

Did you really intend to put the Bracket Buster game this low? I'd predict that it'll be one of your top 2 or 3 toughest home games. The WAC managed to win only 3 of 10 last year (only 1 of 4 televised games). Three teams (Hawaii, Fresno, Rice) all lost televised games on their home courts. In the only televised W, Nevada beat Vermont by 10, but the game was close until the end. Two years ago, Nevada escaped with a 2-point W over Toledo on a tip-in by Gary Hill-Thomas.

The apparent imbalance between home and away teams may make it a little bit easier of a game, but you should still get a quality opponent.

clpack Wrote:

ejmpalle Wrote:22.&nbsp; 03/04/06 San Jose State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
23.&nbsp; 12/05/05 Middle Tennessee State Logan, Utah 7:05 PM
24.&nbsp; 02/18/06 ESPN Bracket Buster
25.&nbsp; 12/30/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM 26.&nbsp; 12/29/05 Gossner Foods Classic Logan, Utah 8:05 PM
27.&nbsp; 01/27/06 South Dakota St. Logan, Utah 7:05 PM

Did you really intend to put the Bracket Buster game this low? I'd predict that it'll be one of your top 2 or 3 toughest home games. The WAC managed to win only 3 of 10 last year (only 1 of 4 televised games). Three teams (Hawaii, Fresno, Rice) all lost televised games on their home courts. In the only televised W, Nevada beat Vermont by 10, but the game was close until the end. Two years ago, Nevada escaped with a 2-point W over Toledo on a tip-in by Gary Hill-Thomas.

The apparent imbalance between home and away teams may make it a little bit easier of a game, but you should still get a quality opponent.

Good question
I don't see any of the teams listed being all that good. Utah St almost never loses in the Spectrum, especially to mediocre to bad teams. I just think the Bracket Buster is a huge disappointment this year. It was more competitive last year, IMHO. Our return game in 2006-2007 could be a tough one.

Sometimes Utah St is like jeckle and hyde when playing at home vs on the road.

I'm not too comfortable throwing out WAC predictions so far in advance, especially without watching the conference much last sesaon, but here's Idaho's OOC schedule, with predictions.

Least Likely to Win OOC (In Order of Difficulty):

L at Gonzaga Spokane, Wash.
L at University of Washington Seattle, Wash.
L at Washington State Pullman, Wash. (Only by home court, though)

Most Likely to Win OOC (In Order of Ease):

W Eastern Oregon University Moscow, Idaho
W North Dakota State Moscow, Idaho
W Idaho State Moscow, Idaho
W Portland State Moscow, Idaho
W at North Dakota State
W Southern Utah Moscow, Idaho
W Eastern Washington Moscow, Idaho (Eastern was bad last year, but is usually tough)
W at Portland State Portland, Ore.

Unknown:

? TBA Details ESPN Bracket Buster TBA

The road games to Portland State and North Dakota State fall into the schedule after WAC play has already started. I think Idaho comes into the WAC 6-3, with a final OOC record of 8-3 (not counting the bracket buster, since I have no idea who we may be playing). I would not be surprised to see us lose one or two of the games where I predict wins, and also would not be surprised to see us beat Washington State.

In general, I like this schedule, particularly the long stretch of home games against relatively soft competition before starting the WAC season. This will hopefully be a great opportunity to get some confidence up that we never had last year, when we only played one or two home games before jumping into conference.

ejmpalle Wrote:I don't see any of the teams listed being all that good.&nbsp; Utah St almost never loses in the Spectrum, especially to mediocre to bad teams.&nbsp; I just think the Bracket Buster is a huge disappointment this year.&nbsp; It was more competitive last year, IMHO.&nbsp; Our return game in 2006-2007 could be a tough one.

Sometimes Utah St is like jeckle and hyde when playing at home vs on the road.

I agree there seems to be a puzzling mismatch, with good home teams significantly outnumbering the good road teams. But if you're in a position for the game to really matter (i.e., ranked high enough to have a realistic shot at an at-large bid), then you're going to get one of the best road teams, and that's all that matters.

At this point, the best road teams may include: Oral Roberts, Missouri St., Akron, Bucknell, George Mason, Santa Clara, CS-Northridge.

Some other teams that had great years last year should be down this year, but could surprise, include: Vermont, Buffalo, Niagara.

IMO, you'll probably get a tougher game than you're thinking.

LINK: <a href='http://www.bigskyconf.com/articles/artfiles/72278_2006_Bracket_Buster_Saturday_Team_Capsules.pdf' target='_blank'>Bracket Buster team capsules (PDF)</a>

This is a common arguement this year with the bracket buster even since they have expanded the field. Most of the good teams are at home so many are saying there might not be the powerhouse type of games this year.

Here is NMSU's schedule. We play in the preseason NIT this year, and get UCLA in the first round. Obviously a tough chore. UNM, UTEP,Nevada, and TT should all go in the likely loss category, while the directional NM schools, Sam Houston St., and UT-San Antonio could go towards the likely win category. I'll refrain from grading out the WAC, as I need to learn more. NMSU is going to be a crap shoot this season, as everything rides on new people in all areas. (Coaching, and players) Anyway, here is the schedule.

Tue, Nov 15  UCLA  at Los Angeles, Calif.
 Mon, Nov 21  Western New Mexico  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Nov 26  Sam Houston State  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Wed, Nov 30  UTEP  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Dec 03  New Mexico  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Fri, Dec 09  San Francisco  at San Francisco, Calif.
 Sat, Dec 10  Cal State Fullerton/Chicago State  at San Francisco, Calif.
 Tue, Dec 13  New Mexico  at Albuquerque, N.M.
 Sat, Dec 17  UTEP  at El Paso, Texas
 Tue, Dec 20  Texas-San Antonio  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Thu, Dec 29  Texas Tech  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Thu, Jan 05  Idaho  at Moscow, Idaho
 Sat, Jan 07  Boise State  at Boise, Idaho
 Thu, Jan 12  Fresno State  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Jan 14  Hawai'i  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Jan 21  Louisiana Tech  at Ruston, La.
 Thu, Jan 26  Fresno State  at Fresno, Calif.
 Sat, Jan 28  San Jose State  at San Jose, Calif.
 Thu, Feb 02  Utah State  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Feb 04  Nevada  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Thu, Feb 09  Nevada  at Reno, Nev.
 Sat, Feb 11  Utah State  at Logan, Utah
 Wed, Feb 15  Boise State  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Feb 18 Bracket Buster Game  at TBA
 Mon, Feb 20  San Jose State  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Thu, Feb 23  Louisiana Tech  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Sat, Feb 25  Idaho  Las Cruces, N.M.
 Thu, Mar 02  Hawai'i  at Honolulu, Hawai'i

IndyAg95 Wrote:UNM, UTEP,Nevada, and TT should all go in the likely loss category, while the directional NM schools, Sam Houston St., and UT-San Antonio could go towards the likely win category. ... NMSU is going to be a crap shoot this season, as everything rides on new people in all areas. (Coaching, and players)

I think with with a player of the caliber of Elijah Ingram on your team, there is no telling how good NMSU could be. Beating UNM is not nearly out of the question with a player of that caliber on your side. It is a rebuilding year in the MWC and I expect the WAC to shine brightly before them.

Hawaii's Schedule (Not going to bother with WAC Schedule)
============
11/19/05 MICHIGAN STATE
11/22/05 at UNLV
11/26/05 SAINT LOUIS
12/06/05 UNLV
12/10/05 at Wisconsin-Milwaukee
12/20 - 12/23 Rainbow Classic
12/27/05 NORTH CAROLINA A&T
12/29/05 PENNSYLVANIA

This year's Rainbow Classic Field is: Hawaii, LMU, Colorado State, Western Michigan, Iowa State, South Florida, Oregon State, Northwestern State

Most Winnable: LMU (1st round Classic game), North Carolina A&T, Saint Louis
Average: UNLV, Penn
Difficult: Michigan State, @UNLV, @Wisconsin-Milwaukee

WAC_FAN Wrote:Hawaii's Schedule (Not going to bother with WAC Schedule)
============
11/19/05&nbsp; MICHIGAN STATE&nbsp;
11/22/05&nbsp; at UNLV&nbsp;
11/26/05&nbsp; SAINT LOUIS&nbsp;
12/06/05&nbsp; UNLV&nbsp;
12/10/05&nbsp; at Wisconsin-Milwaukee&nbsp;
12/20 - 12/23 Rainbow Classic
12/27/05&nbsp; NORTH CAROLINA A&T&nbsp;
12/29/05&nbsp; PENNSYLVANIA&nbsp;

This year's Rainbow Classic Field is: Hawaii, LMU, Colorado State, Western Michigan, Iowa State, South Florida, Oregon State, Northwestern State

Most Winnable: LMU (1st round Classic game), North Carolina A&T, Saint Louis
Average: UNLV, Penn
Difficult: Michigan State, @UNLV, @Wisconsin-Milwaukee

WAC Fan, can you give us a summary of what you might expect your starting line-up to be? Which other players are going to make a significant impact? How good will Gibson and Sensley be? Thanks!

Also, can other fans give us some insight as to what they expect from their players? I'd like to hear more details on what Idaho has done with their team where they've lost so many Seniors. etc., etc.

At this point only 3 starting spots appear set.

Sessions PG
Charlo SF
Fazekas PF/C

I think Shilo will likely emerge as the starter in the 2 guard slot.

Chad Bell and Demarshay Johnson will compete for the other low post spot and both will play a lot...I think Johnson will eventually be the full time starter. David Ellis may start to take some minutes from Bell by midseason.

Though the Pack can go 11 guys deep, I think they will settle on a 9 man rotation by conference time..

Burleson will backup Sessions
Kemp behind Shilo
Ikovlev will spell Charlo

Seth Taylor will be the zone buster
Curry Lynch is a walk on that won't play much..

The offense will be very productive..The defense will be outstanding, particularly on the perimeter...The interior guys block a lot of shots. The team can go big and play a half court type game or go small and run. Kemp and Ikovlev will help out the 3 point shooting a great deal.

One major concern is replacing the rebounding and toughness of Pinkney...Charlo will need to step it up on the boards.

As for Gibson and Sensley..Both are all league type players with Sensley a serious player of the year candidate.

nvspuds Wrote:At this point only 3 starting spots appear set.

Sessions PG
Charlo SF
Fazekas PF/C

I think Shilo will likely emerge as the starter in the 2 guard slot.

Chad Bell and Demarshay Johnson will compete for the other low post spot and both will play a lot...I think Johnson will eventually be the full time starter. David Ellis may start to take some minutes from Bell by midseason.

Though the Pack can go 11 guys deep, I think they will settle on a 9 man rotation by conference time..

Burleson will backup Sessions
Kemp behind Shilo
Ikovlev will spell Charlo

Seth Taylor will be the zone buster
Curry Lynch is a walk on that won't play much..

The offense will be very productive..The defense will be outstanding, particularly on the perimeter...The interior guys block a lot of shots. The team can go big and play a half court type game or go small and run. Kemp and Ikovlev will help out the 3 point shooting a great deal.

One major concern is replacing the rebounding and toughness of Pinkney...Charlo will need to step it up on the boards.

As for Gibson and Sensley..Both are all league type players with Sensley a serious player of the year candidate.

Hey if Chad Bell falls to 3rd on the depth chart, can you send him our way? That guy's a load.

Quote:WAC Fan, can you give us a summary of what you might expect your starting line-up to be? Which other players are going to make a significant impact? How good will Gibson and Sensley be? Thanks!

Not sure what are our starting lineup will be at this time. Even though almost everyone on the team returns, Riley played so many players last season and moved people constantly around, it's hard to say. I think the biggest question mark is who is playing the Point. Gibson rocks, but he's more of a shooting guard than a point. He'll be starting either way, but I'm not sure what Riley will decide.

If I had to guess, I'd say that the following 4 players will be starters for sure: Matt Gibson(PG/SG), Bobby Nash(SG/SF), Chris Botez&copy;, Julian Sensley(PF). The 5th starter will depend on whether or not Riley wants to go with a 3 Guard Line-up or not. (Nash is really a Wing player who can play multiple positions). I know a lot of people are predicting Sensley to have a break out year this year. I think he'll continue to be solid, but I'm not sure he'll be the dominant NBA Draft type player that a lot of people is expecting him to be. First team all-WAC definitely though.
I expect Deonte Tatum, to see a lot of playing time as well as he may be the only true experienced Point on the team. Matt Gipson I think will be much improved as well. As far as the newcomers go, I've heard good things about Matt Lojeski, supposedly another fantastic shooter. (And with our offense you can never have enough) We'll see where Riley works him in though, he's another Guard on a team that's extremely Guard heavy this year.

nvspuds Wrote:At this point only 3 starting spots appear set.

Sessions PG
Charlo SF
Fazekas PF/C

I think Shilo will likely emerge as the starter in the 2 guard slot.

Chad Bell and Demarshay Johnson will compete for the other low post spot and both will play a lot...I think Johnson will eventually be the full time starter. David Ellis may start to take some minutes from Bell by midseason.

Though the Pack can go 11 guys deep, I think they will settle on a 9 man rotation by conference time..

Burleson will backup Sessions
Kemp behind Shilo
Ikovlev will spell Charlo

Seth Taylor will be the zone buster
Curry Lynch is a walk on that won't play much..

The offense will be very productive..The defense will be outstanding, particularly on the perimeter...The interior guys block a lot of shots. The team can go big and play a half court type game or go small and run. Kemp and Ikovlev will help out the 3 point shooting a great deal.

One major concern is replacing the rebounding and toughness of Pinkney...Charlo will need to step it up on the boards.

As for Gibson and Sensley..Both are all league type players with Sensley a serious player of the year candidate.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kemp starts a few games ahead of Shiloh. Shiloh is a good defensive player but Kemp is a good shooter which they missed from behind the three point strip last year.

I think they entire mystery on this team will be who replaces Pickney.

Here's USU's team:

Centers: Cassiano Mattheus from Brasil (6'10 235 Sr. 1L) who, playing just 15.5 minutes per game last year, scored 6.2 (56.1%), pulled down 2.8 RB and had 22 blocked shots. Has a nice game and is clever under the basket. Not a banger. He's learning to play the US game still. Brasil still plays sissy Euroball. Steve Cobbley from Idaho (6'9 225 So. JC) is hurt and may not play. He scored 6.6 (52.9%), pulled down 2.0 RB at Northern Idaho last year. Arvydas Vaitiekus from Lithuana (6'11 230 Jr. JC) should redshirt. If Cobbley doesn't heal quickly, watch the redshirt come off this somewhat raw player. Scored 5.0 (66.7%), pulled down 3.2 RB and had 1.2 Blocks per game.

Power Forward: Nate Harris, a local (6'7 225 Sr. 3L), one of the top 4 players in the BWC in each of the last 2 years, scored 13.0 (65.2%), pulled down 6.0 RB, and blocked 21 shots. Likes to bang. Has a little outside game, but likes it underneath. Extremely clever. Doesn't get blocked much, even though he's only 6'8 (Stew likes to underreport height. Shhhh. Don't tell anybody). Chaz Spicer is the star recruit from Kankakee JC (6'7 215 Jr. JC). Scored 21.4 (60.6%), pulled down 7.5 RB to get tagged as 1st team all-American in JC. Nate Bendall (6'8 225 Fr. HS) will redshirt. He scored 17.9 and pulled down 8.9 RB to lead his team to a # 2 finish at the Utah 5A State Championships and earn 1st team all-state. Had he not been hurt during the playoffs, he may well have been named the best player in the state. Don't expect to see him for a couple of years. He missions after this year.

Small Forward: Chris Session (6'6 215 Jr. JC) scored 11.6 (49.8%), pulled down 6.7 RB and won league defensive POY in Jayhawk league. Could play PF in a pinch. Durrall Peterson (6'3 210 Jr. JC) scored 14.9 (30.5 3P%), pulled down 6.2 RB, handed out 2.5 assists, and got 1.7 steals. Could spend time at the 2-guard. Nick Hammer (6'6 205 So. JC) just got off a mission and will probably redshirt. As a frosh at Dixie he scored 11.8 (40.2 3P%) and pulled down 4.2 RB. Who knows? Maybe lightning will string twice and he'll end up starting.

Shooting Guard: Jaycee Carroll (6'2 175 So. 1L) is the original energizer bunny who can put it in from anywhere. If he grew up in Kansas instead of USU's backyard (Evanston, Wyoming), he'd have been 2nd team all-American as a freshman. The amazing thing is, he went on a mission out of high school and didn't need a year to get his legs back. Wowzers! He only scored 14.7 (47.5 3P%), and pulled down 4.3 RB. He'll be backed up by Chris Huber (6'1 190 Sr. 2L), another local kid who's more of a combo guard who scored 3.8 (35.3 3P%), pulled down 1.1 RB and got an assist per game in relief. David Pak (6'2 200 Sr. 1L) could play some 2-guard as well. Started at PG last year most of the year (Huber started a couple of games), scored 6.1 (35.2 3P%), and had 2.0 assists per game.

Point Guard: Mike Daniels (6'2 190 Jr. JC) scored 6.0 (32.8 3P%) and got 2.5 RB in JC. They're calling him "Whiskers" because he's so quick. Those who've been watching the team play ratball over the summer and into fall say he's 50% better already than anybody last year at this position. Morgan Everett (6'2 185 Jr. JC) scored 8.9 and gave out 5.9 assists per game at LACC last year. Could work out nicely for the Ags at PG this season. Pak, last year's starter, will play, perhaps a lot, early at PG as the two new guys work into the system. Don't be surprised to see anything happen at this spot.

In short, the Ags are probably more loaded with athleticism and talent than any USU team since Ladell Anderson coached hereabouts and went toe-to-toe with the Wizard of Westwood and Henry Bibby in the Elight 8 game.

Which should put us in the top 4 in the WAC. If the team gells (always an issue with the high number of JCs Stew always recruits), put USU in the top 2.

GOAGS!

I think with with a player of the caliber of Elijah Ingram on your team, there is no telling how good NMSU could be. Beating UNM is not nearly out of the question with a player of that caliber on your side. It is a rebuilding year in the MWC and I expect the WAC to shine brightly before them.

You're right about that. This team is going to be a crap shoot, mainly because of all the new players. Shaun Davis is going to be a good guard, along with Elijah. Unfortunately, Elijah is injured right now, and not expected back until Novenber or December. He'll have to get up to speed pretty quickly, and by the time we play UNM, he may not have his game legs under him yet. I still think a split with UNM is certainly not out of the question.

GO AGGIES!!!![B]