Agreed. Long stream of consciousness to follow:
I think it is time for the B1G to look at ways to help the member schools that want to be better positioned to compete nationally. I don’t see the NCAA (loosely translated that means the Power 5 schools who are currently weather advantaged) to change the season.
My suggestion would have the B1G reduce the league season games and IMO, ideally take the 8 highest RPIs for the tourney that identifies the automatic league rep. This in turn would allow the schools more opportunities to schedule teams at anticipated RPI ranges they desire. In IU case we should limit the in state games and certainly very rare if ever weekend sets in state. I personally would not make annual West coast trips but rather every other year at most.
I would focus instead on home and home series with the likes of UL, UK, ND, MO, Vandy, TN for example. In lieu of the almost exclusive local mid week local games I would also try to line up a couple mid week single game home and home sets with Power 5 pairs, e.g Texas & A&M, Florida & FSU, VA & VaTech around spring breaks.
Shorter version upgrade schedule significantly (this year was awful). I think this helps recruiting because .. exposure. Maybe we keep some of the Zack Thompsons, Devon Mann’s, Michael McAvene, and Mike Doolins 150 miles closer to home.
Finally I would seek to open the season, with the weakest southern grouping I could find before upgrading the next two weekends and then come home to the local schools and if bad weather cancel, don’t schedule Cincy on Tuesday after flying back Sunday evening from a 4 game set in Dan Diego and if the weather is questionable cancel.