The official 2025-2026 Schedule Thread

[mkaufman1]

quick analysis of home schedules
A-10 home schedule is great
OOC schedule is what it is and at this point in scheduling we are very unlikely to get any Quad 1 teams playing us at EagleBank and may be very lucky to get a Quad 2 at EagleBank

	353 Div I programs	OOC/Home
88.25	1 to 88	0
176.5	89 - 176	2	ODU, JMU
264.75	177 - 265	2	Wimthrop, Jacksonville
	266 - 353	3	Penn, New Hampshire, Loyola/Maryland
		3 games left
		A-10 Home
	1 to 88	3	GWU, St. Louis, vcu
	89 - 176	6	Dayton, Duquesne, St. Bonaventure, St. Joes, Rhode Island, Davidson
	177 - 265
	266 - 353
		total of 9

FWIW based on Torvik for ODU JMU Winthrop Jacksonville Penn New Hampshire and Loyola MD

ODU-176
JMU-139
Winthrop-180
Jacksonville-249
Penn-286
New Hampshire-350
Loyola Maryland -310

Total: 1690
Average 241

Id be surprised if we get that average number under 200 or anywhere close, but happy to be wrong.

 

[psyclone]

Flex schedule in conference and OOC scheduling arrangements with other top mid-major leagues is the way to go, but the A-10 office as usual is not willing to even try anything that requires even the slightest amount of creativity.

Maybe because both Dayton and vcu get high-profile OOC games, many at home with packed arenas covered by ESPN, they would resist expanding the A10 conference game schedule or expanding arrangements with other mid-major conferences. What would be beneficial for Mason may not be desirable for them and the A10 Commissioner likes the exposure that those high-profile games brings to the league.

 

[gmujim92]

Maybe because both Dayton and vcu get high-profile OOC games, many at home with packed arenas covered by ESPN, they would resist expanding the A10 conference game schedule or expanding arrangements with other mid-major conferences. What would be beneficial for Mason may not be desirable for them and the A10 Commissioner likes the exposure that those high-profile games brings to the league.

I’m not talking about expanding the A-10 schedule. Flex scheduling gets the best teams in the league more opportunities against the other best teams instead of resume-killing bottom-feeders, not sure why anyone would have a problem with that.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I just want 17 home game this coming season. Given the price increases that's all I want at this point. If we end up with 14 home games like the 21-22 season I'll be pissed. Give me fake value for my dollar please.

 

[jkh1978]

I’m not talking about expanding the A-10 schedule. Flex scheduling gets the best teams in the league more opportunities against the other best teams instead of resume-killing bottom-feeders, not sure why anyone would have a problem with that.

If the top plays each other and cancel out, right or wrong that would hurt them as they wouldn’t look to be in a position of strength. Top in the A10 needs to separate from the bottom or the whole league will be considered to be in the bottom.

 

[Patriotsince81]

In case you haven't seen this yet.

Men’s Basketball to Hold Third Annual Mason Mile/Open Practice on Oct. 4 - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason University men's basketball program will host its third annual Mason Mile and Open Practice on Saturday, October 4 at EagleBank Arena.

gomason.com

 

[psyclone]

In case you haven't seen this yet.

Men’s Basketball to Hold Third Annual Mason Mile/Open Practice on Oct. 4 - George Mason University Athletics

The George Mason University men's basketball program will host its third annual Mason Mile and Open Practice on Saturday, October 4 at EagleBank Arena.

gomason.com

Really? Students do the Mile at 10 am on a Saturday?? I wouldn't think there would be many participants for that event. Picture of the crowd appears to be at night at the soccer field.

Been a long time since I've been a student and maybe even longer since I got up early enough to do a mile at 10am on a Saturday!

**edited original post to change 9 am to 10 am.

 

[mkaufman1]

Really? Students do the Mile at 9 am on a Saturday?? I wouldn't think there would be many participants for that event. Picture of the crowd appears to be at night at the soccer field.

Been a long time since I've been a student and maybe even longer since I got up at 9 on a Saturday!

lol not sure if they want more of the alum crowd to do it or students, sounds like more alums and community. Must’ve changed it up from midnight for some reason.

 

[gmujim92]

If the top plays each other and cancel out, right or wrong that would hurt them as they wouldn’t look to be in a position of strength. Top in the A10 needs to separate from the bottom or the whole league will be considered to be in the bottom.

Flex scheduling requires waiting until a certain number of conference games have been played to determine who plays who over the last stretch. By that point the separation between top and bottom should be obvious.

 

[GMUYoda]

Interesting

https://x.com/SJUHawks/status/1966903810846019763

 

[jkh1978]

lol not sure if they want more of the alum crowd to do it or students, sounds like more alums and community. Must’ve changed it up from midnight for some reason.

You are saying the top of the A10. Now say those teams play evenly and are competitive with each other. Exciting games for those that watch. But no clear team or teams break away. How do people that don’t watch the A10 think those are teams better than the top conferences? I would rather follow the top of the A10 and not the bottom of the SEC but more people want to ignore the A10. Having no break away teams does not draw interest.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Interesting

https://x.com/SJUHawks/status/1966903810846019763

I get it, i guess, if it's part of the contract, but really - sounds like Orc mischief to me!

I thought it was the PLAYERS showcase, not the COACHES showcase.

 

[GMUgemini]

You are saying the top of the A10. Now say those teams play evenly and are competitive with each other. Exciting games for those that watch. But no clear team or teams break away. How do people that don’t watch the A10 think those are teams better than the top conferences? I would rather follow the top of the A10 and not the bottom of the SEC but more people want to ignore the A10. Having no break away teams does not draw interest.

It’s about maximizing the number of Q1 and Q2 games and minimizing the number of Q3 and Q4 games.

“Most people” don’t watch the A10, but they look at Kenpom, they look at NET rankings.

So compare George Mason (T-1st) to Utah State (3rd MWC)

George Mason: 25-8 (15-3) (conference finals)
Utah State: 25-8 (15-5) (conference semi-finals)

George Mason: Q1: 1-4 Q2 (4-0) (9 games)
Utah State: Q1 2-5 Q2 8-3 (18 games)

George Mason: NIT
Utah State: NCAA

 

[jkh1978]

It’s about maximizing the number of Q1 and Q2 games and minimizing the number of Q3 and Q4 games.

“Most people” don’t watch the A10, but they look at Kenpom, they look at NET rankings.

So compare George Mason (T-1st) to Utah State (3rd MWC)

George Mason: 25-8 (15-3) (conference finals)
Utah State: 25-8 (15-5) (conference semi-finals)

George Mason: Q1: 1-4 Q2 (4-0) (9 games)
Utah State: Q1 2-5 Q2 8-3 (18 games)

George Mason: NIT
Utah State: NCAA

Utah State beat a Big Ten school, two American schools, and Saint Mary's.

If they would have beaten vcu and Dayton, and story would have been that Dayton and vcu are not that good losing to Mason.

You want to play a non-conference team to benefit from their conference being overrated.

 

[Portlandian]

This tells me Mason should move heaven and earth to schedule Utah State.

 

[mkaufman1]

You are saying the top of the A10. Now say those teams play evenly and are competitive with each other. Exciting games for those that watch. But no clear team or teams break away. How do people that don’t watch the A10 think those are teams better than the top conferences? I would rather follow the top of the A10 and not the bottom of the SEC but more people want to ignore the A10. Having no break away teams does not draw interest.

I think you meant to quote @gmujim92 when discussing scheduling not me discussing the Mason like.

 

[mkaufman1]

Nonconf Schedule coming tomorrow.

 

[GMUgemini]

This tells me Mason should move heaven and earth to schedule Utah State.

They did play the Bonnie’s last year and best them by 5.

But New Mexico won the conference last year and got stuck behind in the move. They might be a good team to try to get next season.

 

[jessej]

Nonconf Schedule coming tomorrow.

bets? Guesses?
2 home, non D1 and an HBCU
1 away, Quad 3

 

[HoopsAdmin]

Schedule reveal today!

https://x.com/masonmbb/status/1967357070833049886?s=46&t=0sFJ0k3TIq3wHH9Wv3bTug