Putting together a basketball schedule is a real art. Coaches who are creative can set up a real advantage for their teams.
Going into the 1998 Galesburg Boys Basketball season, Mike Miller was one of those coaches who was willing to be creative in his approach. The Silver Streaks featured a returning cast that had everyone hoping for a great season. In particular the team featured the All-State tandem of Joey Range and Rod Thompson.
Coach Miller started in the spring of ‘97 to put together a schedule that would challenge the Streaks. He was not concerned if they lost games during the regular season, he wanted the team to be ready to win in the post-season. Galesburg went to shootouts in St.Louis and Chicago twice, in addition he beefed up the other non-conference games. I strongly believed the Streaks were going to have a great season no matter what, but Miller’s tweeking the schedule separated them from some opponents in the post-season.
This past year there were two teams who loaded their schedules. Washington added 4A powers Loyola and Waubonsie Valley, as well as Iowa powerhouse Waukee SW for Iowa. The most challenging schedule was 2A Breese Central’s schedule. The list of non-conference teams they played was daunting- Alton, Effingham, Nashville, Mt.Vernon, Civic Memorial, Edwardsville, T-Town, Belleville East, and O’Fallon.
Another scheduling skill is to adapt to the IHSA rules as they change. Coach Derril Kipp of Maine West adjusted to the IHSA change to allow 5 games in a tourney, and to play 16 games and three tourneys. This set up the possibility to play 31 games. Kipp came up with the idea of making the 5 game tourneys in effect shootouts where he could match good teams vs good teams, and great teams vs great teams. Girls and boys coaches in Illinois followed his model and 5 game tourneys popped up all over.
My Thoughts on Scheduling…
1- As a coach, you want to be in control of scheduling. You want to be the one reaching out to other coaches to set up games. You must keep the AD advised of what you are trying to do. Control of your schedule is VERY important.
2- Some AD’s don’t want the coach to do the scheduling. If you AD is that way, talk to them about how together you could work on the schedule. Try to be as much involved in the process as the AD will allow.
3- The examples I gave of coaches with great teams adjusting their schedules to challenge their teams, it is tough sometimes to get out of existing contracts. Don’t burn bridges with traditional non-conference opponents.
4- While you want to challenge your great teams, you don’t want to be stuck with a schedule that is too tough for the following teams who may be weaker.
5- Today in the IHSA, they have gone from the 16 games and 3 tourneys format. Now the limit is playing 31 games. It can be all tourneys, part tourneys/part regular games, or all regular games. Just as Kipp adjusted to a change in the rules, you need to think about adjusting to this change in rules. 5 game tournaments are no longer a necessary way to get 31 games. Playing in 3-4 game tourneys/ round-robins will allow you to schedule more non-conference games.
6- If you host a tourney, you don’t need to keep trying to fill it up with enough teams to play a 5 game round-robin (unless that is what you want). For T’giving and King type tourneys, I would look at going back to the 4 team round robin type tourneys- just get three games. Give each team varsity and FS games. Crown a champion.
7- Traditional 4-5 game tourneys at Xmas are great during Xmas break. They can be a great way to simulate some of the pressure of post-season.
8- Going to a shootout can be a good way to play a strong oppoenent and often to have a special experience for the players. The best shootouts may provide food, lodging or cash. It has to be special experience to go to a shootout because you are giving up home games.
9- I am really big on hosting shootouts. A combination of girls and boys teams over King weekend can be a great thing. Schedule 2 girls games and 2 boys games. You would be surprised how easy it can be to find some great matchups.
10-King tourneys with more than 3 games in the middle of the season can be exhausting for players.
11- If when you are trying to get games, if you reach out to other coaches and they ghost you- reach out to the AD or have your AD reach out to their AD.
12- You always want to earn your post-season seed on the court. Don’t avoid playing teams in your Sectional complex. Whether you are bad or good, you want to play as many teams in your Sectional complex as possible. If you lose games vs Sectional teams, accept that you are not as good and take the lower seed. If you win games vs Sectional teams, it makes it tougher for people not to give you a good seed. Schedule to take care of your good teams, not your bad teams.
13- When you play a tough schedule, people come to respect that. During the 2-class era, we regularly went to Chicago suburbs and played at least two teams each year- Chicago Maria, Buffalo Grove, New Trier, Maine South, Barrington, Waubonsie Valley. When it came to seeding, I always the thought the majority of coaches respected that we were playing a tough schedule. When we had a similar record to another school, we always got the better seed because of our schedule.
14- Schedule at least one game that will be an “experience” for your team. An experience could be any of the following- Traveling to a different area of the State, playing a school with a rich tradition, being able to stay overnight, someplace you can do something extra- restaurant/college game.
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