That is a completely ridiculous reason...

Posted on: November 28, 2021 at 16:54:31 CT

for scheduling 2 cupcake games in our non conference schedule. If she really puts together a non conference schedule by first looking at her roster and saying “hey, what games are available within 100 miles of our players hometowns”, then she is a fool.

Her job isn’t to do cutesy things to make her players feel good. Her job is to put together a non conference schedule that enhances her teams chances of getting an at large bid to the NCAAs. In fact, that’s her job, and should be her primary goal every year, to make the NCAAs and get the highest seed possible.

Let’s pose these two questions/choices to Hansen:

1. Play 2 cupcake teams within 100 miles of your hometown, and have it lower our RPI and give us 2 fewer chances at a quality win and put the teams at large bid chances in a less strong position.

2. Schedule 2 more games against P5 teams and enhance our tournament resume by improving our RPI and giving us another shot or two at a signature win that impresses the selection committee.

Which one would Hansen choose? It’s a no brainer, because she is a tough competitor. She wants to play in the NCAA tourney so much more than she wants to play 100 miles from her hometown, it’s not even close.