Posted by: InvestUNM | June 20, 2006 03:40 PM

I think the schedule is good but what makes it one of the strongest schedules ever?. If the UNM Thanksgiving Tourney had at least 1 marquee team then I would agree with Coach Flanagan, but it's still better than Coach McKay's effort. But despite how it may sound, I'm excited for UNM fall sports to begin and with 4 women's bball games to be played here in AZ. I know of at least 2 Phoenix UNM fans that will be there!

Posted by: wendell green | June 20, 2006 10:22 PM

Looks like we do have some good games scheduled, but Georgia Southern, Siena, and Western Illinois are not teams to be thankful for. Delaware State, Sam Houston State, and Northern Arizona are disappointing as well. All of our games don't have to be against powerhouses, but we should be scheduling teams with a higher RPI.

Posted by: Andrew Leo Lopez | June 21, 2006 06:32 AM

This schedule is a gross affront to the fans and an abasement of the players on the roster.
I would be embarrassed to give some of these tickets away to clients.
Will UNM lower ticket prices for this dog?

Posted by: LoVoz | June 21, 2006 07:27 AM

I'm just happy to see no rust gathering three week layoff across the holidays. I wish they'd schedule Kelly Graves' Gonzaga squad for the Pit tourney again. My prediction? Twenty four wins, MWC champs, a good tournament showing. Maybe THIS will be the year we see what Flanagan can do with quality players ungimped.

Posted by: Leonard | June 21, 2006 08:45 AM

Man oh man, some people are never satisfied. I'm very greatful for what Coach Flan and crew are able to put together for their schedule. It's great to see that we're playing both Arizona schools, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma. And let's not forget about Nebraska. Count 'em, that's 3 OOC games vs the PAC-10 and the BIG-12 in the same year -- that's great! I think that fans forget that the OOC schedule is supposed to help the team get ready for the conference schedule & the NCAA tourney...not potentially destroy 'em.

Thanks Coach!!! :-)

Posted by: Iliana Limon | June 21, 2006 08:49 AM

OK, Mr. Lopez.
Would you care to elaborate on your opinion and explain why this schedule is such an insult to fans and players?
It is on par with last year's schedule in terms of RPI, a point I outline further in a story to be posted on Tribune's Web site later this morning.
It certainly could be stronger, but I don't think it is an embarrassment by any stretch of the imagination.
As for the ticket prices, I'll get back to you on those. They haven't been set yet.

Posted by: Andrew Leo Lopez | June 21, 2006 12:45 PM

Because of the Pit, the fans, a huge budget funded by the taxpayers, and yes to a certain degree the High Schoolers [it is a proper noun], UNM has had recruiting classes better than the players they replaced for about eight years by my reckoning.
Our girls almost to a man have been just wonderful for many, many years. I compare them in many important respects to the players on the roster of my graduate alma mater: Stanford.
It simply cannot be a source of pride to our players to play or beat some of the turkeys on the schedule for the new season.
Very few, if any, of the players on the turkeys could play for us. If few, if any, players on the opposing team could play for us why bother having them on the schedule?
For me the real measure of a worthy opponent is whether anyone of their players could play for us. If one is a top player on a top roster, why would one want to bother beating up inferior teams? The team was embarrassed to hang a hundred on hapless Utah Valley State. Our girls, in blunt terms, are just too good for some of their opponents. Worse they will play down to their competition rewarding the fans with an awful experience.
UNM fans are generous and loyal, but loosing patience with a coach who schedules turkeys and calls it wonderful. He is simply manipulating the won loss record.
There is an old adage, "actions speak more loudly than words." Attendance at Lobo women's basketball games peaked three seasons ago. Facts are stubborn things. Empty seats confirm my opinion. Not suspect judgement affected by emotion. The marketplace is solidly confirming my opinion about scheduling. So too by the way is the selection committee of the NCAA tournament.
For the umpteenth season, since Garcheck's senior year, I will buy my set of season tickets. I expect to do so until my days are done.
However, the number of season ticket holders is declining. One of the reasons fans are staying away is the turkeys on the schedule.
Arizona State put their tournament together not Phlanagan. Phlanagan merely said yes. Few fans will see ASU play against us. Few fans give a hoot about FAU. Many New Mexicans would like to see Nebraska in the Pit while Queen Bee is still on the roster and before she gets demoted. But it ain't gonna happen.
We ain't gonna see any of the Arizona tournament and Phalanagan said yes or would not see ASU again. Saying yes helped bring UCLA to the Pit. the PAC-10 can pick and choose its opponents. Also, UCLA expects to beat us to make up for a prior whipping. UNM needs to play and beat Pac-10 teams for recruiting all the way from the Mississippi to the left coast.
Thus, the Arizona tournament was in many respects forced on Phlanagan.
Therefore, this fan, like many others, discouts the Arizona tournament.
What the fans see in the Pit is what counts for our admission money, which is supplemented by our tax dollars for a huge budget, maintaining the Pit, and building the Davalos practice facility.
Team records from inferior conferences are not a measure of interest to the fans. Playing in the Big Dance does not impress unless from an important conference.
Consequently, our players and the fans are ill treated by Phlanagan's schedule and average attendance will again decline.