Post by commissioner on Aug 19, 2023 21:21:56 GMT -6
We know this fall's non-conference opponents for 6 of the HL's teams (Detroit, Green Bay, Oakland, Purdue-Fort Wayne, Wright State, and Youngstown State), and more than half for everyone else except Robert Morris, for whom just 5 non-conference opponents have become public.
Good non-conference home games are increasingly hard to find in the HL--the days when teams including Wisconsin, Virginia, Mississippi State, DePaul, etc. would appear seem to be over. Here are what look like maybe the 10 best non-conference home games so far:
1. Florida Atlantic @ Northern Kentucky, Dec. 21. Last year's Final Four Cinderella will attend a ball in Covington, and that's a lucky break for NKU. Easily the best non-conference opponent that HL fans will get to see at home this year.
2. Eastern Michigan @ Detroit, Nov. 21. It at least has some claim to be an old rivalry.
3. Western Kentucky @ Wright State, TBD. Western isn't too far, plays in a solid league (CUSA), and is something of a venerable mid-major, with a long tradition including a Final Four Appearance.
4. Toledo @ Oakland, Dec. 6. Toledo is a short drive away, and is the defending regular season champ and one of the favorites in the MAC.
5. Navy @ Youngstown State, Dec. 21: Navy's rarely been much good at basketball, and even in football, it's been a long time since the academies dominated. Still, the brand--Navy--is one of the best known in college sports.
6. Ohio U. @ Cleveland State, Nov. 11. Early season match up with an in-state team that, like Toledo, is usually a MAC contender.
7. Toledo @ Wright State, Nov. 14. Early season match up with an in-state team that, like Ohio U., is usually a MAC contender.
8. Chattanooga @ Milwaukee, Dec. 22: The Mocs are usually one of the better teams in the Southern Conference, and won 27 games just 2 seasons ago.
9. Ball State @ Detroit, Dec. 6. At least Ball State won 20 games last year, whereas other MAC opponents playing HL teams in the pre-season--Western Michigan (which plays at CSU) and Bowling Green (@ Oakland--had losing records.
10. Fairleigh Dickinson @ Robert Morris, Nov. 26. FDU won 21 games and made the NCAA tournament last year.
Good non-conference home games are increasingly hard to find in the HL--the days when teams including Wisconsin, Virginia, Mississippi State, DePaul, etc. would appear seem to be over. Here are what look like maybe the 10 best non-conference home games so far:
1. Florida Atlantic @ Northern Kentucky, Dec. 21. Last year's Final Four Cinderella will attend a ball in Covington, and that's a lucky break for NKU. Easily the best non-conference opponent that HL fans will get to see at home this year.
2. Eastern Michigan @ Detroit, Nov. 21. It at least has some claim to be an old rivalry.
3. Western Kentucky @ Wright State, TBD. Western isn't too far, plays in a solid league (CUSA), and is something of a venerable mid-major, with a long tradition including a Final Four Appearance.
4. Toledo @ Oakland, Dec. 6. Toledo is a short drive away, and is the defending regular season champ and one of the favorites in the MAC.
5. Navy @ Youngstown State, Dec. 21: Navy's rarely been much good at basketball, and even in football, it's been a long time since the academies dominated. Still, the brand--Navy--is one of the best known in college sports.
6. Ohio U. @ Cleveland State, Nov. 11. Early season match up with an in-state team that, like Toledo, is usually a MAC contender.
7. Toledo @ Wright State, Nov. 14. Early season match up with an in-state team that, like Ohio U., is usually a MAC contender.
8. Chattanooga @ Milwaukee, Dec. 22: The Mocs are usually one of the better teams in the Southern Conference, and won 27 games just 2 seasons ago.
9. Ball State @ Detroit, Dec. 6. At least Ball State won 20 games last year, whereas other MAC opponents playing HL teams in the pre-season--Western Michigan (which plays at CSU) and Bowling Green (@ Oakland--had losing records.
10. Fairleigh Dickinson @ Robert Morris, Nov. 26. FDU won 21 games and made the NCAA tournament last year.
