Blers wrote:Tournaments are decided over a year in advance. This is about par for the course based on our 16-17 season, much like how Savannah was a reflection of our 15-16 results.
First, I don't believe that. There are often several tournaments with TBAs listed, and there are many teams that get new coaches or might have funding issues that cause them to back out.
Second, even if #1 is true, and NOTHING CHANGES FOR TWO YEARS after a team signs up for an MTE, we would have been the #1 or #2 team in that tournament by every conceivable measure in 2016-- conference strength, RPI average over the past two-three years, budget, etc. There is NO EXCUSE for us to be in that grouping, even if we regressed from 2016.
Third, the next time someone suggests that "we shouldn't be worried/concerned about scheduling right now"..... I'm going to link to this really pathetic/embarrassing revelation of the weak teams we're stuck with playing in the only real opportunity to get one or more Q1 or Q2 opportunities.
We can't convincingly claim that we can't find good teams to schedule when we voluntarily sign up for an all-important MTE where no other team is from a conference ranked better than 11th (Pepperdine, from the WCC), and no other team had a previous year RPI better than 143.
I know nobody everybody hates "that guy" who finds things to complain about after we've just had a massive, miraculous achievement like going to the Final Four, but this is a FAIL.