Ranking the Gopher Non-Conference Home Schedules since 1992-93

With the Gophers' non-conference schedule expected to be announced soon, thought this might be a decent time to post this. Started this data when I became a season-ticket holder (totals 23 seasons). Current Power 6 programs and NCAA qualifiers are noted.

Based on average RPI of opponents, the Gophers' best home schedule was 1998-99 (Clem's last season). The Gophers hosted a pair of Power 6 schools (#40 Oregon, #88 Seton Hall), not to mention powerhouse Cincinnati. The #9 Bearcats and #153 Winthrop were NCAA qualifiers.

Last season's home slate (opponents had average RPI of 254.777) was the worst by a significant margin, and that's saying something because Tubby had a few stinkers.

Williams Arena/Minneapolis Non-Conference Opponents (1992-93 through 2014-15)
#1 1998-99 (NCAA Round of 64)
Cincinnati (9) – NCAA qualifier
Oregon (40) – Power 6
Appalachian State (86)
Seton Hall (88) – Power 6
Winthrop (153) – NCAA qualifier
Montana State (164)
Eastern Michigan (219)
Sacramento State (296)
Average RPI: 131.875

#2 1995-96
Cal (52) -- @ Metrodome – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Mount Saint Mary’s (65)
Nebraska (73) – Power 6
Charleston Southern (184)
Mercer (210)
Bethune Cookman (289)
Average RPI: 145.5

#3 1997-98 (NIT Champs)
Nebraska (37) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Utah State (48) – NCAA qualifier
Eastern Michigan (60) – NCAA qualifier
Fresno State (76)
Villanova (85) -- @ Target Center – Power 6
Alabama (86) – Power 6
Western Carolina (247)
FAU (259)
Campbell (266)
Sacramento State (304)
Average RPI: 146.8

#4 2012-13 (NCAA Round of 32)
South Dakota State (62) – NCAA qualifier
North Dakota State (75)
Richmond (91)
Tennessee State (105)
Lafayette (153)
Toledo (194)
North Florida (229)
American (277)
Average RPI: 148.25

#5 2005-06
UAB (32) – NCAA qualifier
UNLV (92)
Coastal Carolina (121)
Oral Roberts (131) – NCAA qualifier
Gardner Webb (157)
Chattanooga (168)
North Dakota State (222)
South Dakota State (275)
Grambling (281)
Average RPI: 164.333

#6 2002-03
Georgia (5) – Power 6
Texas Tech (48) – Power 6
Georgia Tech (76) – Power 6
UALR (150)
Oral Roberts (170)
NC Asheville (186) – NCAA qualifier
FDU (248)
Sacred Heart (293)
Bethune Cookman (310)
Average RPI: 165.111

#7 1999-00
Marquette (67) – Power 6
Virginia (76) – Power 6
Maine (115)
Texas-Arlington (192)
Valparaiso (211) – NCAA qualifier
Furman (244)
Morehead State (286)
Average RPI: 170.142

#8 1993-94 (NCAA Round of 32)
James Madison (82)
Clemson (86) – Power 6
Georgia (102) – Power 6
Rice (153)
Western Carolina (205)
Mississippi Valley State (270)
Northeastern Illinois (300)
Average RPI: 171.142

#9 2001-02
Oregon (34) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
NC Wilmington (57) – NCAA qualifier
Nebraska (109) – Power 6
Eastern Washington (143)
Texas Rio Grande Valley (191)
NC Asheville (262)
Mercer (282)
UMES (292)
Average RPI: 171.25

#10 1996-97 (NCAA Final 4)
West Virginia (49) -- @ Target Center – Power 6
LIU (81) – NCAA qualifier
Saint John’s (87) – Power 6
Stephen F. Austin (232)
Alabama State (281)
Mercer (303)
Average RPI: 172.166

#11 2004-05 (NCAA Round of 64)
Holy Cross (66)
Florida State (134) – Power 6
NC Greensboro (138)
Coppin State (151)
LMU (166)
Saint Francis-PA (202)
Lipscomb (219)
Central Michigan (244)
Chicago State (254)
Average RPI: 174.888

#12 2010-11
Akron (107) – NCAA qualifier
Wofford (109) – NCAA qualifier
Virginia (141) – Power 6
South Dakota State (183)
Siena (202)
Cornell (210)
North Dakota State (238)
Eastern Kentucky (262)
Average RPI: 181.5

#13 2013-14 (NIT Champs)
Florida State (54) – Power 6
South Dakota State (138)
Wofford (153) – NCAA qualifier
Montana (183)
Coastal Carolina (196) – NCAA qualifier
Omaha (219)
Lehigh (236)
Texas A&M Corpus Christi (248)
New Orleans (260)
Average RPI: 187.444

#14 2011-12
South Dakota State (43) – NCAA qualifier
Bucknell (89)
Fairfield (115)
Virginia Tech (116) – Power 6
North Dakota State (183)
Appalachian State (258)
USC (270) – Power 6
Central Michigan (280)
Mount Saint Mary’s (292)
Saint Peter’s (305)
Average RPI: 195.1

#15 2006-07
Clemson (45) – Power 6
UCF (119)
Iowa State (135) – Power 6
North Dakota State (160)
Arizona State (221) – Power 6
UALR (228)
Southeastern Louisiana (229)
LIU (308)
South Dakota State (327)
Average RPI: 196.888

#16 1994-95 (NCAA Round of 64)
Cincinnati (22) – NCAA qualifier
Texas Southern (112) – NCAA qualifier
Rhode Island (187)
Middle Tennessee (245)
San Jose State (258)
Central Connecticut (265)
Sacramento State (292)
Average RPI: 197.285

#17 2003-04
Nebraska (92) – Power 6
Princeton (121) – NCAA qualifier
Oral Roberts (157)
Duquesne (161)
Furman (193)
Kansas City (200)
Wofford (274)
Long Beach State (298)
Western Illinois (311)
Average RPI: 200.777

#18 1992-93 (NIT Champs)
Memphis (28) – NCAA qualifier
UAB (107)
UTSA (188)
Middle Tennessee (241)
Tennessee Martin (276)
Bethune Cookman (295)
SIU Edwardsville (300)
Average RPI: 205

#19 2000-01
Georgia (27) – Power 6, NCAA qualifier
Nebraska (94) – Power 6
Louisiana Tech (172)
NC Greensboro (177) – NCAA qualifier
Bethune Cookman (281)
Dartmouth (302)
Centenary (319)
Morris Brown (319)
Average RPI: 211.375

#20 2008-09 (NCAA Round of 64)
North Dakota State (87) – NCAA qualifier
Virginia (114) – Power 6
Cornell (115) – NCAA qualifier
Bowling Green (157)
Eastern Washington (231)
Georgia State (233)
Southeastern Louisiana (247)
South Dakota State (283)
High Point (324)
Concordia-Saint Paul (342)
Average RPI: 213.3

#21 2009-10 (NCAA Round of 64)
Morgan State (103) – NCAA qualifier
Stephen F. Austin (151)
Saint Joseph’s (184)
Tennessee Tech (196)
South Dakota State (234)
Brown (257)
Northern Illinois (261)
Utah Valley (340)
Average RPI: 215.75

#22 2007-08
Central Michigan (184)
Santa Clara (186)
North Dakota State (194)
Army (212)
Colorado State (265)
UC Riverside (288)
South Dakota State (328)
Average RPI: 236.714

#23 2014-15
Western Kentucky (117)
NC Wilmington (146)
Western Carolina (221)
Southern (229)
Seattle (280)
Furman (293)
North Dakota (310)
UMBC (346)
Franklin Pierce (351)
Average RPI: 254.777

RPI Top 50 Opponents (14)
#5 Georgia (2002-03)
#9 Cincinnati (1998-99)
#22 Cincinnati (1994-95)
#27 Georgia (2000-01)
#28 Memphis (1992-93)
#32 UAB (2005-06)
#34 Oregon (2001-02)
#37 Nebraska (1997-98)
#40 Oregon (1998-99)
#43 South Dakota State (2011-12)
#45 Clemson (2006-07)
#48 Utah State (1997-98)
#48 Texas Tech (2002-03)
#49 West Virginia (1996-97)

Power 6 Opponents by Season (30) (*denotes mandated by ACC Challenge)
1992-93 (0)
1993-94 (2): Clemson, Georgia
1994-95 (0)
1995-96 (2): Cal, Nebraska
1996-97 (2): Saint John’s, West Virginia
1997-98 (3): Alabama, Nebraska, Villanova
1998-99 (2): Oregon, Seton Hall
1999-00 (2): Marquette, *Virginia
2000-01 (2): Georgia, Nebraska
2001-02 (2): Nebraska, Oregon
2002-03 (3): Georgia, *Georgia Tech, Texas Tech
2003-04 (1): Nebraska
2004-05 (1): *Florida State
2005-06 (0)
2006-07 (3): Arizona State, *Clemson, Iowa State
2007-08 (0)
2008-09 (1): *Virginia
2009-10 (0)
2010-11 (1): *Virginia
2011-12 (2): USC, *Virginia Tech
2012-13 (0)
2013-14 (1): *Florida State
2014-15 (0)

NCAA Qualifiers by Season (29)
1992-93 (1): Memphis (28)
1993-94 (1): James Madison (82)
1994-95 (2): Cincinnati (22), Texas Southern (112)
1995-96 (1): Cal (52)
1996-97 (1): LIU (81)
1997-98 (3): Nebraska (37), Utah State (48), Eastern Michigan (60)
1998-99 (2): Cincinnati (9), Winthrop (153)
1999-00 (1): Valparaiso (211)
2000-01 (2): Georgia (27), NC Greensboro (177)
2001-02 (2): Oregon (34), NC Wilmington (57)
2002-03 (1): NC Asheville (186)
2003-04 (1): Princeton (121)
2004-05 (0)
2005-06 (2): UAB (32), Oral Roberts (131)
2006-07 (0)
2007-08 (0)
2008-09 (2): North Dakota State (87), Cornell (115)
2009-10 (1): Morgan State (103)
2010-11 (2): Akron (107), Wofford (109)
2011-12 (1): South Dakota State (43)
2012-13 (1): South Dakota State (62)
2013-14 (2): Wofford (153), Coastal Carolina (196)
2014-15 (0)

Opponents by Current Conference
America East: Maine (1999-00), UMBC (2014-15)

AAC: Cincinnati (1994-95, 1998-99), Memphis (1992-93), UCF (2006-07)

ACC: Clemson (1993-94, 2006-07), Florida State (2004-05, 2013-14), Georgia Tech (2002-03), Virginia (1999-00, 2008-09, 2010-11), Virginia Tech (2011-12)

Atlantic Sun: Lipscomb (2004-05), North Florida (2012-13)

Atlantic 10: Duquesne (2003-04), Rhode Island (1994-95), Richmond (2012-13), Saint Joseph’s (2009-10)

Big East: Marquette (1999-00), Saint John’s (1996-97), Seton Hall (1998-99), Villanova (1997-98)

Big Sky: Eastern Washington (2001-02, 2008-09), Montana (2013-14), Montana State (1998-99), North Dakota (2014-15), Sacramento State (1994-95, 1997-98, 1998-99)

Big South: Campbell (1997-98), Charleston Southern (1995-96), Coastal Carolina (2005-06, 2013-14), Gardner Webb (2005-06), High Point (2008-09), NC Asheville (2002-03), Winthrop (1998-99)

B1G: Nebraska (1995-96, 1997-98, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2003-04)

Big XII: Iowa State (2006-07), Texas Tech (2002-03), West Virginia (1996-97)

Big West: Long Beach State (2003-04), UC Riverside (2007-08)

Colonial: James Madison (1993-94), NC Wilmington (2001-02, 2014-15)

Conference USA: FAU (1997-98), Louisiana Tech (2000-01), Middle Tennessee (1992-93, 1994-95), Rice (1993-94), UAB (1992-93, 2005-06), UTSA (1992-93), Western Kentucky (2014-15)

Horizon: Valparaiso (1999-00)

Ivy: Brown (2009-10), Cornell (2008-09, 2010-11), Dartmouth (2000-01), Princeton (2003-04)

MAAC: Fairfield (2011-12), Saint Peter’s (2011-12), Siena (2010-11)

MAC: Akron (2010-11), Bowling Green (2008-09), Central Michigan (2004-05, 2007-08, 2011-12), Eastern Michigan (1997-98, Eastern Michigan (1998-99), Northern Illinois (2009-10), Toledo (2012-13)

MEAC: Bethune Cookman (1992-93, 1995-96, 2000-01, 2002-03), Coppin State (2004-05), Morgan State (2009-10), UMES (292)

Missouri Valley: --NONE

Mountain West: Colorado State (2007-08), Fresno State (1997-98), San Jose State (1994-95), UNLV (2005-06), Utah State (1997-98)

Northeast: Central Connecticut (1994-95), LIU (1996-97, 2006-07), FDU (2002-03), Mount Saint Mary’s (1995-96, 2011-12), Sacred Heart (2002-03), Saint Francis-PA (2004-05)

Ohio Valley: Eastern Kentucky (2010-11), Morehead State (1999-00), SIU Edwardsville (1992-93), Tennessee Martin (1992-93), Tennessee State (2012-13), Tennessee Tech (2009-10)

Pac 12: Arizona State (2006-07), Cal (1995-96), Oregon (1998-99, 2001-02), USC (2011-12)

Patriot: American (2012-13), Army (2007-08), Bucknell (2011-12), Holy Cross (2004-05), Lafayette (2012-13), Lehigh (2013-14)

SEC: Alabama (1997-98), Georgia (1993-94, 2000-01, 2002-03)

Southern: Chattanooga (2005-06), Furman (1999-00, 2003-04, 2014-15), Mercer (1995-96, 1996-97, 2001-02), NC-Greensboro (2000-01, 2004-05), Western Carolina (1993-94, 1997-98, 2014-15), Wofford (2003-04, 2010-11, 2013-14)

Southland: New Orleans (2013-14), Southeastern Louisiana (2006-07, 2008-09), Stephen F. Austin (1996-97, 2009-10), Texas A&M Corpus Christi (2013-14)

SWAC: Alabama State (1996-97), Grambling (2005-06), Mississippi Valley State (1993-94), Southern (2014-15), Texas Southern (1994-95)

Summit: North Dakota State (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13), Omaha (2013-14), Oral Roberts (2002-03, 2003-04, 2005-06), South Dakota State (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14), Western Illinois (2003-04)

Sun Belt: Appalachian State (1998-99, 2011-12), Georgia State (2008-09), Texas-Arlington (1999-00), UALR (2002-03, 2006-07)

West Coast: LMU (2004-05), Santa Clara (2007-08)

WAC: Chicago State (2004-05), Kansas City (2003-04), Seattle (2014-15), Texas Rio Grande Valley (2001-02), Utah Valley (2009-10)

** Non-Division I/No Longer Division I: Centenary (2000-01), Concordia-Saint Paul (2008-09), Franklin Pierce (2014-15), Morris Brown (2000-01), Northeastern Illinois (1993-94)

Thanks for putting this together. It's amazing how many seasons we've had where we didn't play a single game against a team in the Top 75.

Yikes.

Go Gophers!!

Bleed, interesting you mention the top 75.

I struggled with making it a "top 75" list or a "top 50" list. In the end, I decided RPI top-50 opponents -- generally speaking -- are going to be of NCAA at-large quality, even if they end up missing the the tournament. If we refuse to schedule major programs, then at the very minimum our coaching staffs need to identify & schedule at least a couple solid teams/programs that are expected to fit into the 50-75 range.

Certainly since the Gophers regularly started playing in exempt tournaments (every season except one since 2003-04), it's very obvious the school & coaches philosophy pretty much has been, "We'll schedule 1 decent November/December home game for you, and that's it." Thank goodness for the ACC Challenge where we're at least the staff/administration is forced to schedule a decent home game (every other year).