2016-2017 Pre-Conference WBB Schedule

[buffgal]

http://www.cubuffs.com/news/2016/8/...nnounces-2016-17-non-conference-schedule.aspx

DATE OPPONENT LOCATION TIME (MST) TV
Friday, Nov. 11 at Northern Colorado Greeley, Colo. TBA TBA
Sunday, Nov. 13 AIR FORCE BOULDER TBA TBA
Saturday, Nov. 19 KENTUCKY BOULDER TBA TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 22 at North Dakota State Fargo, N.D. TBA TBA
Nov. 25-26 &-30th ANNUAL OMNI HOTELS CLASSIC
Friday, Nov. 25 &-Boston College vs. SMU BOULDER 5 p.m. TBA
&-ST. FRANCIS (N.Y.) BOULDER 7:30 p.m. TBA
Saturday, Nov. 26 &-Consolation BOULDER 5 p.m. TBA
&-Championship BOULDER 7:30 p.m. TBA
Thursday, Dec. 1 SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA BOULDER TBA TBA
Saturday, Dec. 3 IDAHO STATE BOULDER TBA TBA
Thursday, Dec. 8 COLORADO STATE BOULDER TBA TBA
Saturday, Dec. 17 at Mississippi Valley State Itta Bena, Miss. TBA TBA
Wednesday, Dec. 21 WYOMING BOULDER TBA TBA

 

[Buffnik]

That looks like a schedule that should result in a good record and a lot of confidence heading into Pac-12 play.

 

[Goose]

Mississippi Valley State? Do we have someone from that area? Just seems like an odd road trip.

 

[jsmilkst]

We at least get one good early test, and CSU at home. But pretty lightweight. Not that that's necessarily bad this year, but it would be nice to be pushed more before conference schedule hits.

 

[MarkW]

Mississippi Valley State? Do we have someone from that area? Just seems like an odd road trip.

Odd, yes. And no, we don't have anyone on the roster from that part of the country. Perhaps because the coaching staff is new they had to scramble a bit to fill the schedule for this fall.

It's great that CU has CSU, Northern Colorado, AFA and Wyo on the schedule. If they can get DU in addition to these four next season they would then have all the regional rivals on the non-conference schedule.

We at least get one good early test, and CSU at home. But pretty lightweight. Not that that's necessarily bad this year, but it would be nice to be pushed more before conference schedule hits.

I assume by early test you are referring to Kentucky. They could be the toughest opponent on the non-conference portion of the schedule.

CU lost a very close game to CSU last season. CSU made it to the NCAA tourney. It will be interesting to see what happens this season. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that CU wins. Oh, and the same for Wyoming. The Buffs need to re-establish their dominance over these teams.

North Dakota State must be a return match? Otherwise it doesn't make sense either.

In theory CU should win the majority of their non-conference games this season given the schedule. Looks like Kentucky and CSU will be the litmus tests as to how much improvement there's been.

 

[MarkW]

Since CU is playing at Mississippi Valley State which is in Itta Bena, here's a trivia question:

What two famous Americans to MVSU/Itta Bena?

 

[buffgal]

I would guess some of these games were already scheduled before the new coaching staff took over. I know I saw a tweet go out at one point over the summer looking for an away game in late December and there isn't one on the schedule.

We also don't know who all the staff is recruiting. Sometimes games are scheduled in certain areas of the country for that reason.

Very happy to see all but Denver of the front range schools on the schedule. Now to beat them and Kentucky!

I don't think it is realistic to expect this team to win the Pac. They only lost Swan from last season's team and are gaining a well though of Ariana Freeman, Monica Burich and two freshman.

 

[jsmilkst]

I would guess some of these games were already scheduled before the new coaching staff took over. I know I saw a tweet go out at one point over the summer looking for an away game in late December and there isn't one on the schedule.

We also don't know who all the staff is recruiting. Sometimes games are scheduled in certain areas of the country for that reason.

Very happy to see all but Denver of the front range schools on the schedule. Now to beat them and Kentucky!

I don't think it is realistic to expect this team to win the Pac. They only lost Swan from last season's team and are gaining a well though of Ariana Freeman, Monica Burich and two freshman.

Lol, yes.... jumping to "win the Pac" would be, um, smoking some of Boulder's finest. I'll go for winning a couple games *in* the Pac

 

[EdB60]

Well, t;he best you can say about this schedule is that it should be a confidence builder. Otherwise, it is not going to do much to enhancing our national ranking or to help prepare the team for PAC 12 competition. The sad part about this is that a non-conference schedule is supposed to be used to enhance your RPI and provide an away game favorable to your recruits AND their families, both present and future players OR to provide for a possible "regional rivalry" opponent who will provide high attendance for both teams. That is why it makes little sense to waste valuable game dates on the likes of Air Force, Northern Co or Denver. Wyoming and CSU are the real rivalry teams that will bring good turnout and be the type of competition that will prepare us for the rigors of conference play in the PAC.

North Dakota St. is ok for the Minnesota girls, Monica and Annika Jank, Kentucky for Lexi but nothing for the Texans, Kennedy and Brecca and nothing on the East Coast for Zoe or Ariana. If you are going to recruit nationwide, then you have to be able to do this as a consideration to the families, who otherwise have to travel for every game and for the exposure to potential recruits.

We should be trying to schedule more Big 10, Big 12 and maybe even an ACC team instead of small mid major teams from the deep south where there are few recruits and almost no exposure.

I know that for the local fans, the regional rivalries are an important tradition and I can understand and appreciate your feelings on this. It's just that I feel that it is more important to use the non conference schedule for other purposes that will enhance the Buffs on a national level.

 

[Buffnik]

Well, t;he best you can say about this schedule is that it should be a confidence builder. Otherwise, it is not going to do much to enhancing our national ranking or to help prepare the team for PAC 12 competition. The sad part about this is that a non-conference schedule is supposed to be used to enhance your RPI and provide an away game favorable to your recruits AND their families, both present and future players OR to provide for a possible "regional rivalry" opponent who will provide high attendance for both teams. That is why it makes little sense to waste valuable game dates on the likes of Air Force, Northern Co or Denver. Wyoming and CSU are the real rivalry teams that will bring good turnout and be the type of competition that will prepare us for the rigors of conference play in the PAC.

North Dakota St. is ok for the Minnesota girls, Monica and Annika Jank, Kentucky for Lexi but nothing for the Texans, Kennedy and Brecca and nothing on the East Coast for Zoe or Ariana. If you are going to recruit nationwide, then you have to be able to do this as a consideration to the families, who otherwise have to travel for every game and for the exposure to potential recruits.

We should be trying to schedule more Big 10, Big 12 and maybe even an ACC team instead of small mid major teams from the deep south where there are few recruits and almost no exposure.

I know that for the local fans, the regional rivalries are an important tradition and I can understand and appreciate your feelings on this. It's just that I feel that it is more important to use the non conference schedule for other purposes that will enhance the Buffs on a national level.

I generally agree with you. But this might not be the worst season to try to schedule so the team can make the WNIT and build toward 2017-18 & beyond.

 

[MObuff]

I feel bad for Zoe Beard-Fails. I know there is no written rule, but it would have been nice for CU to go to the Washington D.C. area for Zoe's friends and family to watch her play as a senior. Huggins, Watts, and Smith should get a chance for family to see them play.

 

[Cardinal22]

It's hard to be super excited about this schedule. I'm disappointed in the trip to Mississippi Valley State, but what can you do?

I'm interested to see what sort of improvements we see in the Buffs this season.

 

[Buffnik]

I really don't see how it is possible that Mississippi Valley State could even pay the fees to get a home game from CU. Programs like that travel to P5 schools for a payday. Are we sure that wasn't a mis-print? It makes no sense.

 

[EdB60]

I feel bad for Zoe Beard-Fails. I know there is no written rule, but it would have been nice for CU to go to the Washington D.C. area for Zoe's friends and family to watch her play as a senior. Huggins, Watts, and Smith should get a chance for family to see them play.

Yeh, this is exactly what I meant. I don't blame the new staff for this, since schedules are something you should be working on a year in advance, at least. Besides, Zoe has been here for four years and I find it hard to believe that we couldn't have managed to schedule a game with say, Georgetown, George Washington, American U, Old Dominion or Richmond or maybe even Maryland. With the exception of Maryland, any one of those teams would have jumped at a chance to schedule a PAC 12 team on their home court.
If we are ever going to start to win the recruiting wars with the likes of Oregon and UCLA, we are going to have to start paying attention to the things that the successful power teams do and stop thinking we have all the answers. It is not 1999 anymore and this is not a mid major conference we play in, The PAC 12 is the fast lane of NCAA WBB and you either run fast or get run over.

 

[buffgal]

Zoe had a lot of family at the Iowa game in Iowa City. I sat beside them. They said they were from Des Moines, I believe. So some of her family has seen her play. The team stayed several days on that road trip.

I agree with Zoe and Ariana both on the team, a game in DC or near by should have been scheduled.

I am still guessing that a lot of this schedule was put together before this staff arrived.

 

[buffgal]

Saw tonight on Twitter that UCLA got a commit out of Missouri. I am sure they have been communicating with the player for some time, but I hope we will be recruiting nationally. I want to see us win some games in the Pac this year and build on that every year.

 

[MarkW]

My guess is that the new staff didn't have a lot of time or options putting together this schedule. Additionally, as the team is transitioning to a new coach staff there are going to be growing pains so having some easy games isn't a bad thing this season. I would expect the non-conference schedule in future seasons to be a bit more challenging/interesting.

Don't forget that we get Kentucky, CSU and Wyoming here in Boulder.

 

[Buffnik]

My guess is that the new staff didn't have a lot of time or options putting together this schedule. Additionally, as the team is transitioning to a new coach staff there are going to be growing pains so having some easy games isn't a bad thing this season. I would expect the non-conference schedule in future seasons to be a bit more challenging/interesting.

Don't forget that we get Kentucky, CSU and Wyoming here in Boulder.

Seriously, though. Are we really traveling to a SWAC member's gym?

 

[buffgal]

Seriously, though. Are we really traveling to a SWAC member's gym?

They are playing Baylor on the road.

There are only assistant coaches listed on their website. No head coach.

 

[Cardinal22]

While I recognise that I'm spoiled by the proximity of teams on the East Coast, I can't help but wonder why Colorado doesn't reach out and play their regional rivals on a consistent basis. I think that this year certainly is a rebuilding year, but I haven't seen the likes of South Dakota State, BYU, Gonzaga, South Dakota, Creighton, Nebraska, Santa Clara, Montana (I miss Robin Selvig already. GO GRIZ) and others on the schedule. Heck, if we're going to travel east, why not visit Western Kentucky or Dayton, or some other recognizable mid-major whose had some success?

I applaud the need to build up confidence this year and to get the rebuilding process on the road--I'm just curious to see what happens moving forward in terms of scheduling.

Also, does anyone here know which Pac-12 teams are due to travel to Boulder this year?

 

[Buffnik]

While I recognise that I'm spoiled by the proximity of teams on the East Coast, I can't help but wonder why Colorado doesn't reach out and play their regional rivals on a consistent basis. I think that this year certainly is a rebuilding year, but I haven't seen the likes of South Dakota State, BYU, Gonzaga, South Dakota, Creighton, Nebraska, Santa Clara, Montana (I miss Robin Selvig already. GO GRIZ) and others on the schedule. Heck, if we're going to travel east, why not visit Western Kentucky or Dayton, or some other recognizable mid-major whose had some success?

I applaud the need to build up confidence this year and to get the rebuilding process on the road--I'm just curious to see what happens moving forward in terms of scheduling.

Also, does anyone here know which Pac-12 teams are due to travel to Boulder this year?

I think that with the MP time zones being isolated and off the radar of the rest of the country, it's important for exposure to play in the east. Regional scheduling can hurt if it's overdone. Plus, the west is big and it's a lot of travel regardless. It's only an extra 20 minutes to fly from Denver to Charlotte vs flying from Denver to Seattle.

To your question, I just checked and the WBB schedule for 2016-17 is not published on cubuffs.com yet. Pac-12.com doesn't have conference games on its media schedule either.

 

[buffgal]

There is no reason not to play some of the better teams in the Rockies or California once JR and her staff are scheduling the games in totality. This non-conference schedule has the earmarks of a heavily Lappe influenced schedule.

 

[Cardinal22]

Can anyone here attest to what time games typically are for the Buffaloes? What is the traffic like in between Denver and Boulder on those days where games are on a weeknight?

 

[Buffnik]

Can anyone here attest to what time games typically are for the Buffaloes? What is the traffic like in between Denver and Boulder on those days where games are on a weeknight?

7ish on weekdays. Weekends can be any time, really. Traffic out of Denver is a bitch during rush hour. But most of the Boulder rush traffic is heading out of town (many more people work or visit in Boulder than live here), so it's usually not bad coming in on 36 during rush.

 

[buffgal]

One of my season ticket holder friends lives in south Denver and brings the tollway. Says he gets from work to CEC quicker that way. He is south of Arapahoe exit.

 

[Buffnik]

What I'd love to see is a "Buff Bus" that would pick people up from the Westminster light rail stop and bring folks from there to campus. They should at least try this out for football and see how it goes.

 

[Cardinal22]

I mean, if I took public transit from my house, it would take me about an hour and a half to get to the CEC, which doesn't sound all that appealing to me, but it is feasible.

This is where I look at a program like Denver's and weight the option of being able to literally walk to their gym. So y'know, there's gotta be a better option. What's the parking like up at the CEC?

 

[buffgal]

For women's basketball, parking is not a problem unless it's a doubleheader. There is a parking garage and other free parking.

I would not suggest public transit to the CEC. I would think there would be a ton of transfers to get there.

 

[Cardinal22]

It's actually just one transfer, from the E line to the FF1 to downtown Boulder, not as bad as you might expect. As you said, driving is far easier though.