Ohio State nonconference schedule released (#10 of 12)

Updated: OSU nonconference schedule released (#10 of 12)

Nov. 12: NORTH CAROLINA A&T (298) -- Global Sports Invitational
Nov. 16: at Florida (56) -- Global Sports Invitational
Nov. 20: NORTH CAROLINA-WILMINGTON (237) -- Global Sports Invitational
Nov. 23: MOREHEAD STATE (84) -- Global Sports Invitational
Nov. 26: MIAMI OF OHIO (144)
Nov. 30: at Florida State (42)
Dec. 9: IUPUI (83)
Dec. 12: WESTERN CAROLINA (122)
Dec. 15: FLORIDA GULF COAST (321)
Dec. 18: SOUTH CAROLINA (93)
Dec. 21: NORTH CAROLINA-ASHEVILLE (219)
Dec. 23: OAKLAND (52)
Dec. 27: TENNESSEE-MARTIN (338)

Average RPI/All Opponents: 160.692
Average RPI/Home Opponents: 181
2010 NCAA Tournament Qualifiers (3): Florida, Florida State, Oakland

The Quote from the Coach (courtesy of OSU web site). ...
"We have a great mix of opponents and it will be a challenging schedule," Buckeyes head coach Thad Matta said. "Our November and December games should go a long way in preparing us for what will be a very strong Big Ten Conference."

This schedule is disappointing considering some are pegging OSU as a Final Four contender with the addition of super frosh Jared Sullinger. The only home game of note is South Carolina (maybe Morehead State could be a little tricky?), and there's really no excuse for the Buckeyes not playing in one of the many prominent in-season tournaments. The Global Sports Invitational? Come on, that's not even a real tournament. The saving grace for the Buckeyes is their two Sunshine State road games. Playing in Gainesville and Tallahassee will ensure the 2010-11 Buckeyes are prepared for life on the road in the Big Ten.

BIG TEN NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE RANKINGS (10 of 12 complete)
Average RPI/All Opponents
1. GOPHERS (133.5)
2. Penn State (144.272)
3. Illinois (154)
4. Iowa (158.8)
5. Ohio State (160.692)
6. Purdue (163.083)
7. Wisconsin (182.3)
8. Michigan (183.666)
9. Indiana (220.25)
10. Nebraska (221.416)

Average RPI/Home Opponents
1. GOPHERS (127.375)
2. Penn State (163)
3. Ohio State (181)
4. Illinois (185.428)
5. Iowa (193.142)
6. Purdue (207.142)
7. Wisconsin (214.142)
8. Michigan (216.5)
9. Nebraska (239.181)
10. Indiana (277.666)

This is an interesting schedule. MSU might have one of our "easiest" home non-conference slates with Texas being really our only big home game (maybe South Carolina who you have listed in the 90's in RPI) Our Neutral site/Road games are brutal though.

@Duke
Syracuse @ Madison Square Gardens
Chaminade
Winner/loser of Wichitta State/Uconn
If we win that bracket we face the winner coming out of a bracket of Kentucky, Washington, Oklahoma and Virginia.

Depending on how the Maui brackets play out (who wins the other bracket and assuming we win ours) MSU could play 6 of their 12 non-conference games against BCS schools and have a non-con of
@Duke
N- Syracuse (basically @)
N- Chaminade, Kentucky, Uconn
Texas
South Carolina

I'm curious how our schedule matches up RPI wise. I know Bigten MSU got some breaks. We only play OSU once but it's @ OSU and unlike recent years we don't have the brutal stretches most of our tough games are spread out pretty well.

MSU

MSU's nonconference schedule likely will be the final one I post. Sparty still has one more game to schedule.

As of now, without that one game, MSU would take over the #1 spot. Even if the Gophers' "average RPI ranking of opponents" ends up lower than MSU, I don't think any sane person would argue the Gophers' NC sked is stronger. (please note, I'm just happy the Gophers are near the top of these rankings this year, usually they're toward the bottom) Izzo certainly never shies away from anyone, and this year will be no different.

SS, OSU added another game after they had already released their schedule. They will host Oakland on December 23. That bumps up their OOC RPI (at least compared to last season) slightly, as the Golden Grizzlies finished pretty high last season.

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/Vi...3&SPID=10421&ATCLID=204990126&DB_OEM_ID=17300

You can say there's no excuse for not being in a tournament such as Maui or Old Spice, but clearly OSU wants to get as many home games as they can - they gotta help pay the bills for the pistol & rifle team - therefore they will only play nonconference tournaments that allow them to have a couple home games (such as the preseason NIT & Coaches vs. Cancer, and this season the Global Sports Invitational). The official website claims this season will have a record 20 home games for OSU.

and taht final game is scheduled now. Prarie View, scheduled for Dec. 18 newest victims to the slaughter.THankfully we play some tough enough teams early putting a few cupcakes on there wont be a big deal.

Thanks for the updates guys. The addition to OSU's nonconference schedule will be reflected when I post Sparty's nonconference sked breakdown in a a little while.