2020-21 MBB schedule

[Rogobob77]

News out this morning: Detroit Mercy will participate in a Multi-Team Event (the “Bluegrass Invitational,” counts as one game) that will include a game at Kentucky and matchups with Richmond, and Georgia Southern.

Previously released info: the Titans have a game at Toledo, December 2.

Detroit Mercy is also anticipated to get two games with Summit League schools as part of the Horizon League’s challenge with that conference.

[titans82]

No home game against Kentucky, either at LCA or Calihan? I thought Calipari would have the connection for next season

[Rogobob77]

No home game against Kentucky, either at LCA or Calihan? I thought Calipari would have the connection for next season

My take: I think even in the best of circumstances, it would be a stretch to fill up LCA for a game with Kentucky. Perhaps there could have been a creative undercard game, e.g., EMU vs. WMU. But now with the virus-related uncertainties, it would be an enormous financial risk to schedule a game there, and the Olympia Entertainment people were likely no longer interested. With the game at Kentucky, a guaranteed sell-out under normal circumstances, KU gets a home game and UDM gets a nice payday. Heard pay games will be less prevalent the next season, so the bean counters at 6 and Livernois are happy to be able to accrue some revenue from this game. Brad gets his homecoming. The game at Lexington may be played with no spectators or perhaps not at all, who knows.

Don’t think a game at Calihan Hall was ever seriously in the cards. I know Detroit Mercy can get up to $100,000 for a really good buy game, I wonder what a major school like Kentucky would want to play a school like us on the road? At Lexington, they seat 20,500 and according to a Google search the average ticket for MBB at Rupp Arena costs $86. So UK might be able to generate $1.7 for a home game. For them to play an out of conference game out of the goodness of their heart and forfeit all that home revenue, they might require a minimum $1 million payout. If we charged a whopping $120 for tickets at Calihan and got a full house, we might break even.

[titans82]

That's a good breakdown, never thought of it like that. I guess I'll still fantasize about a sold-out Calihan being the hottest ticket in town; one can dream big. But, with the present circumstances, the game at UK seems to make the most sense for both sides.

[NC Titan]

Won't the all feel silly when Detroit Mercy thumps Kentucky at Rupp Arena!! Ha!!

If we play and it's in front of an audience, I'll be there.

[Rogobob77]

Schedule summary, some confirmed some speculative (updated 5/4/20):

Non Conference

@Kentucky, 11/13
@Richmond, 11/15
@Hartford, 11/21
@Toledo, 12/2
@Eastern Michigan
@Northeastern
@Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
@Summit matchup TBD*
Summit matchup TBD*
Game TBD


(*Total speculation, but based on last year’s standings and stated objectives to matchup teams of similar strength, I think Denver and Western Illinois are good guesses for possible opponents. Also, because the Horizon now has 11 teams and the Summit has nine, perhaps we’ll only get one game out of that scheduling arrangement.)

Horizon League

20 conference games (now with addition of Purdue-Fort Wayne)

[1975SHjoe]

Bob, I believe that the Eastern game will be away as they (Eastern) played at Callihan on Dec. 7

[Rogobob77]

Bob, I believe that the Eastern game will be away as they (Eastern) played at Callihan on Dec. 7

Yes, you’re right, I corrected above. I read that the Titans renewed a two-game series with EMU, at Ypsilanti this upcoming season, the return game in Detroit in 2021-22. That makes it a really thin non-conference home schedule thus far.

[JDetroitTitan]

Bob, I believe that the Eastern game will be away as they (Eastern) played at Callihan on Dec. 7

Yes, you’re right, I corrected above. I read that the Titans renewed a two-game series with EMU, at Ypsilanti this upcoming season, the return game in Detroit in 2021-22. That makes it a really thin non-conference home schedule thus far.

I like this series and going down to Eastern to watch UDM. Not to far away nice facility's, cheap tickets and good places to eat before and after the game. My favorite pregame meal would be Sidetrack Bar in Ypsilanti.
https://www.sidetrackbarandgrill.com/

[Rogobob77]

From the Detroit News:

“It looks like that Detroit Mercy-Kentucky game is happening, just not at Calihan Hall”

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sport ... 145510002/

[Rogobob77]

Jon Rothstein on Twitter — “Sources: Several power conference programs are putting stipulations in guarantee games for next season that if no fans are in attendance, the mid-major school will only receive travel costs and not the normal guarantee. Another effect of the coronavirus.”

[1975SHjoe]

IMO if the guarantee game turns out to be expenses only, then I would turn that around and ask that team to play a game next year at my home site. Seems kind of one sided to get a home game and pay only expenses. IMO

[Rogobob77]

IMO if the guarantee game turns out to be expenses only, then I would turn that around and ask that team to play a game next year at my home site. Seems kind of one sided to get a home game and pay only expenses. IMO

I guess you can always ask, but I don’t think a program like Kentucky (from this coming year’s schedule) is going to agree to a home and home series with a mid-major school even considering current circumstances.

[Rogobob77]

The Kentucky game date has been reported as Friday, November 13. If the game gets played with fans in attendance, might make a nice overnight road trip.

[Rogobob77]

“Bluegrass Showcase” will have the Titans at Kentucky, Richmond and Hartford:

https://detroittitans.com/news/2020/5/3 ... tford.aspx

Hartford appears to be a substitution for previously reported Georgia Southern.

[1975SHjoe]

Great schedule but recruiting closes in less than 27 days. ]So where is the talent upgrade? Losing at KY by 30 and Richmond by 20 is a distinct possibility .

[titanmac]

we going nct? looks like a good weekend for a roadtrip?

[NC Titan]

we going nct? looks like a good weekend for a roadtrip?

I've been planning to be there for the Kentucky game. Now I'll probably stay for Richmond. Make the drive worthwhile.

[titanmac]

ok. i'm a probable.

[Rogobob77]

There will be more than a few changes in the MBB schedule that was previously in the works due to the recently announced new guidelines for the 2020-21 season, but it looks like the Titans’ game with the University of Kentucky is still in the cards.

CBS Sports reports that Kentucky plans to host its own MTE in a pod format in Lexington, KY. Detroit, Hartford + Richmond are in the final stages of agreeing to play w/ UK in first week of the season. Each team would play each other once. Three doubleheaders over four or five days.