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Big Ten slate expands to 18
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by Dave McGrath
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
It seems as if Bo Ryan's constant complaints on the length of the Big Ten schedule haven't fallen on deaf ears, after all. For years, the UW men's basketball head coach has called for the conference's season to be 20 games, with each team hosting and traveling to every school in the league.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Big Ten announced it will be expanding the league schedule to 18 games, meaning teams will now only play two conference opponents once per season, as opposed to four.
While it isn't the perfectly balanced 20-game schedule Ryan is looking for, it is a step in the right direction.
"This is a great decision for the league. I've been on record as wanting to play a 20-game schedule, which would mean you play everyone home-and-home," Ryan said in a statement released by UW Athletic Communications Tuesday. "Increasing the number of league games is great for the conference and for the fans of the Big Ten."
It is unclear exactly how the league schedule will play out. The Big Ten won't be able to rescind byes from teams, since one team will always be exempted from league play — with 11 teams, only 10 can play at once.
It is also likely that Big Ten teams will lose two non-conference games to compensate for the addition of the league contests.
"There are still some details that need to be worked out as to how everything will play out, but I'm sure the schools will work together to get everything resolved in a fair manner," Ryan said.
Purdue head coach Matt Painter was also pleased at the decision to expand the conference schedule.
"I think it gives our conference a more balanced schedule," Painter said in a statement. "It's a step toward crowning a truer regular-season champion. I also think it has the potential to help our overall conference RPI and gives our fans another home Big Ten game to watch."
The schedule change will also reportedly apply to Big Ten women's basketball.
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