Now, onto the scheduling. Both basketball teams have their schedules out, and both have some very tough fixtures. The cynic in me has two basic reactions to this:
1. The coach has lost his/her mind and should be fired for scheduling opponents that they stand no chance against on paper, there's no way the team will win 20 games this year, the sky is falling, etc.
2. These teams are collecting humongous paychecks to get the snot kicked out of them by the best programs in the country.
I don't think either is really the case here, though. Sure, money determines where the game is played, but if a mid-major program like ETSU wanted to avoid playing so many big schools, they could do it pretty easily. These coaches sincerely want to make their programs better, and the only way to vault yourself to be among the best is to play against the best. Strong showings here, even in losing efforts, will help the team tune up for weaker opponents in conference play. There is a risk, however, that this blows up in the coach's face. If the team gets blown out in those games, it could leave even the most talented teams demoralized, making them easy targets for conference opponents who have had weaker schedules.
One can also look at another team's schedule and see who is serious about making a tournament appearance. With that in mind, it's clear that the men's championship goes through Adnan Hodzic and the Lipscomb Bisons (as if the fact that Hodzic was still there didn't give it away). Like the Bucs, the Bisons open their campaign on the road against a national powerhouse (North Carolina) and also play at Memphis and Alabama in the middle of the year. Both teams also have a punchi-er, lesser program scheduled between those contests, although I suspect UT-Martin will pose a greater challenge to Lipscomb than Milligan will to ETSU (no joke, Milligan is a regular season opponent). The schedule announcements really help set the tone for what looks to be a great emerging rivalry for both parties. I really wish I could be at Allen Arena when the Bucs come to town, and I will most definitely be there when they play at the Mausoleum of Johnson City (see what I did there?).
For the ladies, these sentiments could be amplified several times. Kemp has made out a brutal non-conference schedule that includes visits to Columbus, Raleigh, Murfreesboro (you laugh now, but MTSU has a VERY good women's program), and worst of all, Knoxville. I like Karen Kemp, I think she's an excellent coach, but the thought of what could happen to this team in Thompson-Boling Arena kept me awake last night. Even with a good recruiting class, Kemp would need a small miracle, two UConn transfers, three arrests, six maids a-milking, two Root Beer Barrels and a dental hygienist to keep that game from getting way out of hand. The massive disparity in talent between major programs and mid-majors in women's basketball just tells me that this could get ugly in short order, and a bad loss could linger and affect the ladies in conference play.
And now for the news I'm most excited about: the men's soccer team have new kits this season. They'll be sporting uniforms similar to the U.S. National team in 2008 and 2009, with horisontal blue striping on the home shirt and dark blue shorts to go with it. Hopefullly, I'll be able to get some pictures from the Friday exhibition against Tusculum.
Speaking of which, did you know that the Pioneers have a football team? I'll throw my hat into the ring on that long-standing hot-button issue next time. For now, I leave you with a new tradition here at BBBE.
For whatever reason, cameramen like to take pictures of our beloved (or not-so-beloved, to some fans) basketball coach fully immersing himself in his job. So, without further ado, I present to you the inaugural "Murry Bartow Game Face of the Week," or MBGFW. Enjoy, and feel free to submit your own!
(From the Kentucky game, 3/18/10, courtesy of Associated Press)
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