[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

No.  Do they ever schedule true non-conference away games?  Rarely.  I remember them losing to Georgetown, St. Johns, and Temple in the last 7 or so years when they have played away from Cameron. As a UNC fan, I think this criticism is absolutely fair.  When they do schedule true away games in the non-conference, they do not fare well at all. They played Elon at the Greensboro Coliseum today with Elon as the home team.  Granted, Elon is not a national basketball powerhouse, but the Blue Devils are playing them not at their arena, but at the Duke friendly Greensboro Coliseum.  Duke plays teams at Madison Square Garden, Greensboro Coliseum, the Meadowlands and other neutral courts to avoid playing in hostile environments early in the season.  It is a proven fact.  Coach is one of if not the best college baketball coach of all-time.  But, his lack of scheduling true non-conference road games year after year is questionable and really embarrassing.  Is this year’s Duke team going to be ready for a crazy Carrier Dome full of orange and with little to no Duke fans in attendance?  I’m saying no.  Duke plays Notre Dame on Saturday and we’ll see how prepared the Blue Devils are for a true road game with absolutely no true non-conference road games to prepare them this season.    

 

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

As a huge Duke fan, I’ve always wondered this too. It’s been that way for many years. If you really think about it though, that’s the way that most powerhouse teams schedule as well. Most top 25 match-ups in November and December in college basketball are either on neutral courts or are between in-state/regional rivals who are not in the same conference but play annually (i.e. Kentucky/Louisville).

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

As a huge Duke fan, I’ve always wondered this too. It’s been that way for many years. If you really think about it though, that’s the way that most powerhouse teams schedule as well. Most top 25 match-ups in November and December in college basketball are either on neutral courts or are between in-state/regional rivals who are not in the same conference but play annually (i.e. Kentucky/Louisville).

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 I know for a fact that’s not true.  UNC always plays at least one true non-conference away game each year.  Roy makes sure he schedules against former players who are coaches.  It might not be Kentucky, Kansas or Arizona, but Roy always schedules at least one true non-conference away game each year.  For Duke, that’s just not the case.  Facts are facts my friend.  

[JoeWolf1]

 

When Roy was at KU, he’d often promise a non-conference game in his players’ home states. They went to North Dakota after signing Boshee, lol. Any idea if he still does that?

[JoeWolf1]

 

When Roy was at KU, he’d often promise a non-conference game in his players’ home states. They went to North Dakota after signing Boshee, lol. Any idea if he still does that?

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

 I know for a fact that’s not true.  UNC always plays at least one true non-conference away game each year.  Roy makes sure he schedules against former players who are coaches.  It might not be Kentucky, Kansas or Arizona, but Roy always schedules at least one true non-conference away game each year.  For Duke, that’s just not the case.  Facts are facts my friend.  

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

I don’t see how what I said isn’t true. UNC might be the exception but if you go through and look at teams like Syracuse, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, etc. you will see that most big-time basketball programs play nearly all of their early season games at home with most of the exceptions being rivalries, former conference foes (old/new Big East especially), or a special one like the ACC/Big Ten Challenge where home court is not determined by the schools. I will say that there some big-time programs that stray from this type of scheduling for a couple more games than other schools, but the evidence is there that a lot of those programs prefer to stay at home or play on a neutral court.

[CameronCrazy11Participant]

I don’t see how what I said isn’t true. UNC might be the exception but if you go through and look at teams like Syracuse, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, etc. you will see that most big-time basketball programs play nearly all of their early season games at home with most of the exceptions being rivalries, former conference foes (old/new Big East especially), or a special one like the ACC/Big Ten Challenge where home court is not determined by the schools. I will say that there some big-time programs that stray from this type of scheduling for a couple more games than other schools, but the evidence is there that a lot of those programs prefer to stay at home or play on a neutral court.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

It is about money. You have this very valuable resource, a top team. If you play at their stadium, their students get the tickets and their school gets the money. If you schedule a neutral site, you can negotiate the split of the gate.

Also, you need a near perfect record to get the number on seed. Since the number one seed comes with an auto win in the first round, it is very valuable. So they don’t want to run any more risks with their record than they have to. Why take a risk to record and not get the money by playing somewhere on the road? 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

It is about money. You have this very valuable resource, a top team. If you play at their stadium, their students get the tickets and their school gets the money. If you schedule a neutral site, you can negotiate the split of the gate.

Also, you need a near perfect record to get the number on seed. Since the number one seed comes with an auto win in the first round, it is very valuable. So they don’t want to run any more risks with their record than they have to. Why take a risk to record and not get the money by playing somewhere on the road? 

[akhan786Participant]

 Simple. The regular season is to supposed to prepare a team for the NCAA Tournament.

Are the games in the big dance away games or on neutral sites? Coach K selects the schedule he thinks will best prepare him for March.

 

 

[akhan786Participant]

 Simple. The regular season is to supposed to prepare a team for the NCAA Tournament.

Are the games in the big dance away games or on neutral sites? Coach K selects the schedule he thinks will best prepare him for March.

 

 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I can understand the money aspect, but I don’t buy it.  Does Duke need more money?  Of course they don’t.  Why not schedule a series with Kansas or Kentucky?  UNC scheduled a home and away with Kentucky for years from like 2000-2010.  Coach K would never EVER take his team to Rupp.  He would play Kentucky as long as it’s at the Greensboro Coliseum or Madison Square Garden.  Roy has never feared taking his teams in the road.  It could end up being an L, but it prepares you better for conference play.  His title team in 2005 played Santa Clara on the road at their place before heading to the Maui Invitational and lost without Raymond Felton.  What is one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time afraid of by taking his vaunted Bule Devils on the road?  Jabari Parker, great player of course, but how great is he when he’s on the road in a hostile environment and your J isn’t falling, you’re tired and the fans are screaming obscenities at you?  He hasn’t experienced that yet this year and conference play is always more intense.  Last time I checked the court is the same at home as it is on the road.  Man up and go play a road game.  

 

[TarHeelRavenParticipant]

I can understand the money aspect, but I don’t buy it.  Does Duke need more money?  Of course they don’t.  Why not schedule a series with Kansas or Kentucky?  UNC scheduled a home and away with Kentucky for years from like 2000-2010.  Coach K would never EVER take his team to Rupp.  He would play Kentucky as long as it’s at the Greensboro Coliseum or Madison Square Garden.  Roy has never feared taking his teams in the road.  It could end up being an L, but it prepares you better for conference play.  His title team in 2005 played Santa Clara on the road at their place before heading to the Maui Invitational and lost without Raymond Felton.  What is one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time afraid of by taking his vaunted Bule Devils on the road?  Jabari Parker, great player of course, but how great is he when he’s on the road in a hostile environment and your J isn’t falling, you’re tired and the fans are screaming obscenities at you?  He hasn’t experienced that yet this year and conference play is always more intense.  Last time I checked the court is the same at home as it is on the road.  Man up and go play a road game.  

 

[raybeasParticipant]

because they cancelled a long-running series with Indiana because "Coach" Cal didn’t want to come to Bloomington any more. He wanted the series to be held at neutral sites. Said it was the "new way" to play the top non-conference teams going into the future.

[raybeasParticipant]

because they cancelled a long-running series with Indiana because "Coach" Cal didn’t want to come to Bloomington any more. He wanted the series to be held at neutral sites. Said it was the "new way" to play the top non-conference teams going into the future.

[tuck243Participant]

Outside of ACC play the regular NCAA tourney is played at neutral sites.  So, please explain to me why they need to play in a hostile enviorment?  What experience is needed?   Playing at UNC and at Maryland is the only times they will really see this enviorment you claim they need experience for..   I don’t get it…

[tuck243Participant]

Outside of ACC play the regular NCAA tourney is played at neutral sites.  So, please explain to me why they need to play in a hostile enviorment?  What experience is needed?   Playing at UNC and at Maryland is the only times they will really see this enviorment you claim they need experience for..   I don’t get it…

[samosasParticipant]

 Dude, everybody needs more money.  Think rich mofo’s quite stealing?  Negative.

[samosasParticipant]

 Dude, everybody needs more money.  Think rich mofo’s quite stealing?  Negative.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 This would be a credible post if you weren’t a big UNC fan and if it didnt seem like you were just trying to nitpick at your school’s arch-rival whose postseason record indicates that it doesn’t really matter if they play a decent non-conference schedule.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 This would be a credible post if you weren’t a big UNC fan and if it didnt seem like you were just trying to nitpick at your school’s arch-rival whose postseason record indicates that it doesn’t really matter if they play a decent non-conference schedule.

[tuck243Participant]

When it’s "Any Given Saturday" and that one lost in the beginning of the season will stop you from getting to the national championship.   They have a tourney in basketball and normally that’s not a cake walk to the national championship for any team.   WHO CARES about a non-conference schedule.   Just worry about UNC getting killed by Duke in recruiting top players now.  Outside of Ty Lawson, UNC players haven’t amounted to "…." in the league lately…   Worry about that sir. 

[tuck243Participant]

When it’s "Any Given Saturday" and that one lost in the beginning of the season will stop you from getting to the national championship.   They have a tourney in basketball and normally that’s not a cake walk to the national championship for any team.   WHO CARES about a non-conference schedule.   Just worry about UNC getting killed by Duke in recruiting top players now.  Outside of Ty Lawson, UNC players haven’t amounted to "…." in the league lately…   Worry about that sir. 

[samosasParticipant]

Here’s the reason why the big-name teams don’t play away games: you don’t play away games in the NCAA tournament.  You play neutral site games at places like Cowboy Stadium, Madison Square Garden, etc.  Every basketball junkie knows teams don’t typically shoot as well from deep in domes.  Where are final four games played? Domes.  Why would you want to spring a completely new facet to the game at the most important time of the season?  I believe it’s doing your team a disservice by playing these true road games.  Just because it’s good for the fans, doesn’t mean it’s going to be good for the teams.  Good teams can say ‘you come play us because your school needs it and I’ll meet you at a netural site’.

[samosasParticipant]

Here’s the reason why the big-name teams don’t play away games: you don’t play away games in the NCAA tournament.  You play neutral site games at places like Cowboy Stadium, Madison Square Garden, etc.  Every basketball junkie knows teams don’t typically shoot as well from deep in domes.  Where are final four games played? Domes.  Why would you want to spring a completely new facet to the game at the most important time of the season?  I believe it’s doing your team a disservice by playing these true road games.  Just because it’s good for the fans, doesn’t mean it’s going to be good for the teams.  Good teams can say ‘you come play us because your school needs it and I’ll meet you at a netural site’.

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

So what?

This isn’t some novel point you’re making here, it’s the same thing UNC fans have been spewing for years now. But again, why does it matter? It’s not like Duke has been underperforming in the ACC or in recruiting. While they don’t win the national championship every year, all tournament games are played on NEUTRAL COURTS, so it doesn’t seem like a lack of away games could be hurting them there.

[tuck243Participant]

 !!!!

[tuck243Participant]

 !!!!

[Im Your FatherParticipant]

So what?

This isn’t some novel point you’re making here, it’s the same thing UNC fans have been spewing for years now. But again, why does it matter? It’s not like Duke has been underperforming in the ACC or in recruiting. While they don’t win the national championship every year, all tournament games are played on NEUTRAL COURTS, so it doesn’t seem like a lack of away games could be hurting them there.

[Author]

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